The Les Paul Appreciation Thread

[Diamondjimi]

What more can you say. Perhaps the most timeless, amazing guitar ever designed. And the man who is responsible for the incredible advances in audio technology in the last century ...

The Wizard of Waukesha
Les Paul-The Man. Musician, guitarist,entertainer, inventor ...

Post all things Les Paul related HERE!

If you're a Gibson Les Paul like me, throw up your pics of your L.P.

I'll start off with mine...

It's a 1996 LP Classic Honeyburst with a 5a flamed maple top.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Federaljim/MyClassicLP2.jpg

[Diamondjimi]

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[kwame k]

Here's a good one, Jimi.....

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[Diamondjimi]

Embedding is disabled so here's the links...

Part 1 of 5
YouTube - Les Paul Documentary (Part 1 of 5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vomuse9tok)

Part 2 of 5
YouTube - Les Paul Documentary (Part 2 of 5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff1dmh1XA2w)

Part 3 of 5
YouTube - Les Paul Documentary (Part 3 of 5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N95BEtnBIjA)

Part 4 of 5
YouTube - Les Paul Documentary (Part 4 of 5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOFjfK4juRE)

Part 5 of 5
YouTube - Les Paul Documentary (part 5 of 5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PnEsG8SOPI)

[chefcraig]

Include this, from the day the man went on...http://www.rotharmy.com/forums/house-music/56055-les-paul-has-passed-away-94-a.html

Seriously, it works. http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sad-smileys-452.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Animal-Smileys/)

RIP once again, Mr. Paul.

[GAR]

Two things confuse me with the modern Paul:

1) How many fucking A's mean - what, about the guitar> I've seen "AAA-Top" Les Pauls on feebay get more money than other "AAAAA-Top" Pauls with fancier grain.

2) What is to all this reissue "Rev" shit.. Rev2, Rev6 I think it's up to Rev 8? Does this mean Revision 1 is an original 58 59 or 1960, and the first reissue from 1982 is Rev2? Or do I have this all wrong.

You know this shit, LesPaulBanhappyforums man. You tell me.

[Diamondjimi]

Here's a good one, Jimi.....

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Goddammit, those Hulu vids. won't stream outside the U.S....
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SDKT9od4OF0/SdanHUeodNI/AAAAAAAAACE/iyzyG2gNp0w/s320/ray-charles-i-cant-see-shit.jpeg

Is there a Youtube copy out here?

[Diamondjimi]

Two things confuse me with the modern Paul:

1) How many fucking A's mean - what, about the guitar> I've seen "AAA-Top" Les Pauls on feebay get more money than other "AAAAA-Top" Pauls with fancier grain. You tell me.

The A's represent the grade quality of flame figuring in the Maple top.

A system similar to the way hotels are rated.
1 star being the type of hotel you and Lefty spent your honeymoon in and 5 star being the type I stay in when I'm out of town or on vacation in the tropics..

Hope that helps...


Hey I'm sure you have some in "storage". Why not throw up a couple of pics of yours?

[kwame k]

Fuck Jimi, that sucks....looking for ya.

***edit***

A ten min clip is all I could find....

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[GAR]

Hope that helps...

If you're saying people rate it themselves on a scale of one to five, 5 being highest, no that's not really helpful because interpretation leaves the scale to be all over the place.

Case in point, your AA-1/2: the top is all flame, then descends into a Plain Jane throughout the lower body.

Especially where you want flame most visible: behind the tailpiece.

So either you Les Paul-heads live and die by the personal interpretation, or else there really is a factory standard to grade by?

BTW any thoughts on my second question: What the hell is the R for in R6, R9 etc Les Paul Reissues?

[kwame k]

If you're saying people rate it themselves on a scale of one to five, 5 being highest, no that's not really helpful because interpretation leaves the scale to be all over the place.

Case in point, your AA-1/2: the top is all flame, then descends into a Plain Jane throughout the lower body.

Especially where you want flame most visible: behind the tailpiece.

So either you Les Paul-heads live and die by the personal interpretation, or else there really is a factory standard to grade by?

BTW any thoughts on my second question: What the hell is the R for in R6, R9 etc Les Paul Reissues?

Hey bitch boy!

Got any props to give to the man that made modern music possible or do you just like to bitch like your BFF, Black Fag.....

[Diamondjimi]

Case in point, your AA-1/2: the top is all flame, then descends into a Plain Jane throughout the lower body.
:rolleyes:
You're only seeing one angle. The grain looks much better and deeper in person (obviously).
But a killer top isn't everything. Tone is...
If this LP didn't have great sustain and a beautiful tone I wouldn't want anything to do with it.


BTW any thoughts on my second question: What the hell is the R for in R6, R9 etc Les Paul Reissues?

I believe so...

[jhale667]

"Plain-Jane" my ass...that top is killer! There IS such a thing as "Flame overkill"...I tend to like the slightly more understated ones.

And one can't say enough about Mr. Paul's contribution to modern music, SO much more than just the guitar.

Great thread, DJ. :baaa:

[Diamondjimi]

"Plain-Jane" my ass...that top is killer! There IS such a thing as "Flame overkill"...I tend to like the slightly more understated ones.

And one can't say enough about Mr. Paul's contribution to modern music, SO much more than just the guitar.

Great thread, DJ. :baaa:

Thanks bro, Les is da man!

The top on mine isn't just flame it has some deep burls to it, as well as long grain lines that run perpendicular to the neck which are more visible depending on the angle that you're view it...

[Panamark]

I love Les Pauls !

Only one here in the collection at the moment,
its an early 2000 model studio plus desert burst...
(My wife's, not my selection, but nice to play)

I've had a few Black and white customs along the
way, and intend on getting another.

The fenders and Ibanez's are outnumbering the
Gibsons at our little housie at the moment.

Action is required !!
As for Les Paul the man, I know about him, but
unfortunately he didnt get much exposure in Oz....

[jhale667]

Thanks bro, Les is da man!

The top on mine isn't just flame it has some deep burls to it, as well as long grain lines that run perpendicular to the neck which are more visible depending on the angle that you're view it...

Yep, and like you said, wouldn't matter if it didn't sound BEEFY...which fortunately yours does! :cool:

Someday I'll find a Les Paul that I just must have; I've come close a couple of times...always kind of wanted a black Custom, too.

[jhale667]

Jeff Beck paying tribute to the Master on the Grammys...

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[Panamark]

The black custom with the white or ivory trim...
(and white scratch plate)
:uck:

[GAR]

I believe so...

Um, do you even know which R yours is?

[GAR]

The black custom with the white or ivory trim...
(and white scratch plate)
:uck:

That's the one! Same as the one in the Randy Rhodes poster Jay's got pinned to the ceiling, above his bed.

I am surprised the Canadian taxing system has left DiamondJimJim enough pennies to afford the one really nice, unfucked up thing he has in his possesion.

Unlike those painted Marshalls downstairs in his folk's cellar.

[Panamark]

I want one !

Would you believe I have had two previously and sold em....
Biggest regret on selling gear (apart from my original Marshall)
that I have ever had. I think thats why I need to get another
to repent from my youthful stupidity !

[Panamark]

I did replace the same model Marshall I owned..
(And its six feet behind me as I type)
Its really cool, split channel JCM 800 with
reverb and a silver cloth late 60's slanted cab....

Just need the LP back..

[GAR]

My first good guitar was a Ibanez goldtop. The headstock said "IC" only, and the neck was thin and fast, pretty straight too.

[Diamondjimi]

That's the one! Same as the one in the Randy Rhodes poster Jay's got pinned to the ceiling, above his bed.

I am surprised the Canadian taxing system has left DiamondJimJim enough pennies to afford the one really nice, unfucked up thing he has in his possesion.

Unlike those painted Marshalls downstairs in his folk's cellar.

Wow, throwing poo around the room already, eh Poofinger Troll!? :shiznit:

One page in :rolleyes:.......you were really showing some restrain there... :Loser:

Save your shit for the Dump!

[Diamondjimi]

My first good guitar was a Ibanez goldtop. The headstock said "IC" only, and the neck was thin and fast, pretty straight too.


See Shorty, this is called "staying on topic"!

You need to focus, Baldy, focus!

[jhale667]

That's the one! Same as the one in the Randy Rhodes poster Jay's got pinned to the ceiling, above his bed.


It's RHOADS, asshat! :tongue0011:





What a maroon. :hee:

[GAR]

The default terms for "sunbursts" and "goldtops" are Les Pauls and their copies.

I guess you dont' know enough about the features of your guitar to tell us which R you think it is?

Aren't you on that corksniffer board and read about that? They have alot of comparative posts on Gibson pickups, but way too much info about what and which R versions are which.

Do us a favor and post a "whats mine" thread over there and let em tell you so you can continue about your thing there. If that's really yours.

[GAR]

It's RHOADS, asshat!

Like a catscoop to the litter, Jay is so easily led..

http://polizeros.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/horse-blinders.jpg

.. or should I say "mislead"?
/owned

[jhale667]

Got anything to say about Les Paul, GARy? Or shall I start moving your troll posts? :fufu:

[GAR]

Yes I do:

Do you have a clue as to which reissue revision number DJ picked up, or what?

I'm sayin - don't look at me for that Q and A, it'll just be guesswork. And I don't have enough pics of what this is, either, to say which I think it is.

[jhale667]

Don't look to me for it either, not a Les Paul owner. Figured you would've Wiki'd the answer by now at least...:rolleyes:

But here's the master doing the tune Beck covered...:killer:


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[Diamondjimi]

Yes I do:

Do you have a clue as to which reissue revision number DJ picked up, or what?



Why the fuck do you care so much about my stuff or anyone else's??? :Loser:

Here's a shot taken while back when I had the Burstbuckers in it. They had nice tone but I preferred the output growl of the originals (496R & 500T) and decided to throw 'em back in...
I've since replaced the bridge PU with a Duncan-JB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Federaljim/LesPaulclose.jpg

[Nitro Express]

Jeff Beck paying tribute to the Master on the Grammys...

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That girl can sing. Nice tribute.

[Nitro Express]

I got to see Les play in New York about nine years ago. Seems like yesterday. He would go straight to the bar after the set and meet the people. He played great. I thought Brazil was really cool.

[Nitro Express]

My first real good guitar was a 1972 Les Paul Custom. Like a fool I traded it for a Kramer. The worst thing I ever did. That guitar was the fretless wonder but it played and sounded great. Nobody wanted those in the early 80's and I traded a clarenet for it.

[Nitro Express]

I love Les Pauls !

Only one here in the collection at the moment,
its an early 2000 model studio plus desert burst...
(My wife's, not my selection, but nice to play)

I've had a few Black and white customs along the
way, and intend on getting another.

The fenders and Ibanez's are outnumbering the
Gibsons at our little housie at the moment.

Action is required !!
As for Les Paul the man, I know about him, but
unfortunately he didnt get much exposure in Oz....

Les Pauls are just sexy. I always loved the knob pattern, the arch top, the floratine cut, the sex inlays on the neck. It just pure class and looks good with a tuxedo or with ripped jeans.

[Nitro Express]

YouTube - Eddie Van Halen - from Les Paul & Friends concert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atSdjLb0T14)

Les Paul and EVH.

[GAR]

I met Les once in 83, he said he could see how my single-cutaway guitar was inspired (meaning, inspired by a Gibson Les Paul).

In 89 at NAMM, shook his hand, and we talked about his tinkering.

Another time I saw him he was surrounded by the suits in the Gibson booth, back when they exhibited on the main floor.

[jhale667]

Why the fuck do you care so much about my stuff or anyone else's??? :Loser:

He likes you. And your gear isn't imaginary, either...:hee:


Here's a shot taken while back when I had the Burstbuckers in it. They had nice tone but I preferred the output growl of the originals (496R & 500T) and decided to throw 'em back in...
I've since replaced the bridge PU with a Duncan-JB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Federaljim/LesPaulclose.jpg

That is NICE. :baaa:

[Reverberator]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u146/reverberator_2007/P101209_1818.jpg

Yep it's an Epiphone but it is of nice quality I got this for doing this shit.......

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I don't do that anymore but I kept the guitar , I'm more into strats so I wouldn't necessarily buy a Gibson anyway.

[Diamondjimi]

What's with the dude in the video? He can't take his eyes off his hands. He should practice more. :hee:

Epiphone makes some quality guitars especially in recent years.

Their Elite series is def. worth checking out if someone is interested in owning a Les Paul, but doesn't wanna dish out $2500+ ...

Here's a Epi Elite Sunburst for around $1100.
http://www.12fret.com/new/epiphone_elite_les_paul.jpg

[Diamondjimi]

I met Les once in 83, he said he could see how my single-cutaway guitar was inspired (meaning, inspired by a Gibson Les Paul).

In 89 at NAMM, shook his hand, and we talked about his tinkering.


Nice how you returned to this post to edit(spin) it 15 minutes later.

So what's the spin here?
(A) That you actually met him?
(B) That he could see that you were the only Tool walking around NAMM with a sad homemade guitar with a single cut-away made from plywood (no case) and thought he'd make the little fella with the Danny Bonaduce hairdoo feel better about himself?

:lmao:

[Coyote]

Couldn't be arsed to buy a Gibson these days...

Especially since one can find good replicas for a fraction of the price.

[Diamondjimi]

Couldn't be arsed to buy a Gibson these days...

Especially since one can find good replicas for a fraction of the price.

I'd be interested in checking out a Burny or a Orville LP...

http://www.stefansundin.se/gitarr/bilder/burny/burny.jpg

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/members/lp_junkie-albums-guitars-08-picture7341-dscn0155.jpg

[GAR]

Nice how you returned to this post to edit(spin) it 15 minutes later.

So what's the spin here?


I thought I shared too much intially, and decided to reduce 6 paragraphs down to 3 sentences for those of the lower comprehension skillset.

[Diamondjimi]

If you don't have anything constructive to add to this thread FUCKOFF !

[GAR]

He likes you. And your gear isn't imaginary, either...:hee:



That is NICE. :baaa:

50% percent flame = AA-1/2. Period.

If you want to sell it DJ I know it will take well to black lacquer when I send it back to the the factory for refin work.

[jhale667]

If you don't have anything constructive to add to this thread FUCKOFF !

Agree. Quit shitting up a thread dedicated to Les Paul, GAyR. It's fucking weak.

[jhale667]

Couldn't be arsed to buy a Gibson these days...

Especially since one can find good replicas for a fraction of the price.


Someday I'll find the "right" LP, bet it a Gibson or a replica...not really in any hurry, only slightly GASsing for one at the moment, more so lately thanks to this thread...:biggrin:

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[GAR]

Repetitive, arpeggiated 12-th fret harmonic sweeps @1:12!

XLNT find..

[Diamondjimi]

Someday I'll find the "right" LP, bet it a Gibson or a replica...not really in any hurry, only slightly GASsing for one at the moment, more so lately thanks to this thread...:biggrin:

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What's amazing about Les is that even back 50/60 years ago, his chops are f#@kin incredible. No one could touch him...

[Nitro Express]

Jeff Beck played How High The Moon at the Grammys pretty well but Les played it better and played with more notes. He had that style that was his only like all great guitar players have.

[Panamark]

Thanks DJ, I can see why he was so repected.
I seem to remember seeing him play with his wife
(I guess it was his wife) they both had Les Pauls ...
Kinda more country than anything, if I had to
pigeon hole it.. But some great work !

How did the Shadows get so popular ?
This guy burns em :)

Perhaps different era ?

[jhale667]

What's amazing about Les is that even back 50/60 years ago, his chops are f#@kin incredible. No one could touch him...

So true...the dude is HAULING ASS in those two clips...just amazing, especially considering it was the 50s...

[Hardrock69]

Friend of mine has an Orville LP.

I only have an Epi LP Studio that my friend sent me for my bufday last year.
Wish I could afford a Gibson, but oh well, maybe someday.

[Diamondjimi]

Friend of mine has an Orville LP.

I only have an Epi LP Studio that my friend sent me for my bufday last year.
Wish I could afford a Gibson, but oh well, maybe someday.

Lay-away plan bruther, lay away!;)

How's your friends Orville? Make him an offer!

[Diamondjimi]

It's true taht there's nothing like the real thing, but I do find some other company's versions of the LP appealing...

I'm kinda diggin ESP's "Eclipse"

http://www.espguitars.com/images/guitars/eclipse-custom_stblk.jpg


They make great stuff. Haven't tried one of these, but I bet it plays like a mofo...

[jhale667]

I'm always checking out Edwards Les Paul replica auctions on Ebay. They look pretty cool, but I'd still want to check out a couple in person (y'know, without necessarily going to Japan) before considering buying one...

[Diamondjimi]

I'm always checking out Edwards Les Paul replica auctions on Ebay. They look pretty cool, but I'd still want to check out a couple in person (y'know, without necessarily going to Japan) before considering buying one...

They look pretty good. Specs seem on the level.

[Nitro Express]

Friend of mine has an Orville LP.

I only have an Epi LP Studio that my friend sent me for my bufday last year.
Wish I could afford a Gibson, but oh well, maybe someday.

Show up to a large music store the Guitar Center. Pose as a Gibson representative (make some fake ID and wearing clothes to press the point). Tell the stupid clerk you are in charge of quality control and some bad guitars have gotten out and you are there to take the bad guitars back to Gibson in Tennessee and repair them. The dolts might believe you and you can pick the Les Paul of your choosing.

[Nitro Express]

Wearing a nice suit, being clean cut, talking intelligently, acting like you belong there, and some fancy badges and ID amazingly can get you into places you would never think you could get into. The more likable and professional you are the better. If men are the gatekeepers, have a female version of the above and you will own the fuckers.

[jhale667]

Show up to a large music store the Guitar Center. Pose as a Gibson representative (make some fake ID and wearing clothes to press the point). Tell the stupid clerk you are in charge of quality control and some bad guitars have gotten out and you are there to take the bad guitars back to Gibson in Tennessee and repair them. The dolts might believe you and you can pick the Les Paul of your choosing.

Doubtful. One call to the corporate office would bust you. And the buyers (and store managers, probably even the guitar dept. manager) would have to know if that kind of crap was going to happen in advance. There'd be stock "transfer" hoops to jump through - would not be that simple.

[chefcraig]

Doubtful. One call to the corporate office would bust you. And the buyers (and store managers, probably even the guitar dept. manager) would have to know if that kind of crap was going to happen in advance. There'd be stock "transfer" hoops to jump through - would not be that simple.

I dunno J, the same basic premise worked perfectly in Midnight Run.

The "Litmus Configuration"

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[MAX]

You guys ever see this finish?

It was available in 2007 and I'm so pissed that I didn't buy one when I had money!!!

It's called "latte creme." name gives the queerios but a beautiful paul, imo.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2433278074_4585375e92_b.jpg

[Reverberator]

I like it . My white is going cream too with age and I can't wait untill it's gone all over ....it's a bit patchy at the moment.

[MAX]

This was the only LP I've ever owned but and unfortunately, I had to sell it a year ago. :( It had a stellar, classic tone.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u237/berdasco/lespaul1.jpg

I loved the finish cos I like colorful axes.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u237/berdasco/axes2.jpg

[MAX]

If I ever get another paul, I want a goldtop and I'll 86 the pickguard and the pickup covers.

like this...

http://i.ebayimg.com/10/!BZDBCP!!Wk~$(KGrHgoOKi4EjlLm,3Y5BKkvh(3(1!~~_12.J PG

[Nitro Express]

Doubtful. One call to the corporate office would bust you. And the buyers (and store managers, probably even the guitar dept. manager) would have to know if that kind of crap was going to happen in advance. There'd be stock "transfer" hoops to jump through - would not be that simple.

You are making the assumption that the staff at Guitar Center are smart enough to know how to use a phone.:biggrin:

[Nitro Express]

Also even if they could make the call to the corporate office they would get stuck in the phone menu, stay on hold listening to muzak for hours until a real human picked picked up the line. Of course the corporate representative would be an outsourced agency in India representing the corporate office in Tennessee. I mean basically, in the low levels of corporate America, nobody knows shit nor do they really care. If the store took TARP money to stay in business, just look at it as you getting some of your tax money back. All these stores should have failed last year anyways.

[ZahZoo]

Show up to a large music store the Guitar Center. Pose as a Gibson representative (make some fake ID and wearing clothes to press the point). Tell the stupid clerk you are in charge of quality control and some bad guitars have gotten out and you are there to take the bad guitars back to Gibson in Tennessee and repair them. The dolts might believe you and you can pick the Les Paul of your choosing.

You really don't know much about Gibson's business culture... they'd be on to you before you finished saying the word "quality". If a store owner could afford to be an authorized Gibson dealer they'd know quality or not they'll keep shipping you inventory you don't need whether it's shit or not...

No one will be showing up to take poor quality stuff back to anywhere...

[Nitro Express]

You really don't know much about Gibson's business culture... they'd be on to you before you finished saying the word "quality". If a store owner could afford to be an authorized Gibson dealer they'd know quality or not they'll keep shipping you inventory you don't need whether it's shit or not...

No one will be showing up to take poor quality stuff back to anywhere...

That's true. I've heard the dealer horror stories of buy all this or we will pull the line.

[jhale667]

Figured I'd bump this thread, didn't really deserve a separate one, but still kinda cool...was reading something Slash posted on Facebook about his new Gibson Derrig replica-replica; how funny is that -Gibson reproducing a replica of their own guitar? :hee:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y_bcbohoK2s/S1itA_GAx9I/AAAAAAAAAr0/u0B7qJ4iSMw/s1600/Slash-Appetite-Les_Paul.jpg

Anyway, it's got "vintage-spec" Duncan A2 Pros (apparently the specs have changed over the years) that are supposed to sound pretty cool. I think it's kinda average-looking as far as LPs go...:umm: and they don't quite look like the one(s) they're based on (the middle one in this pic is Slash's fave of his 3 Derrig replicas apparently):

http://www.slashsworld.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/59-replicas.jpg

Also saw the "Pearly Gates" replica poking around on the Gibson site (which I like a lot better):

http://images.gibson.com/Files/1df5a09a-3488-4ab8-ae35-72ff3fbadc5f.jpg

Gibson - Gibson Guitar: Electric, Acoustic and Bass Guitars, Baldwin Pianos (http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/Billy-Gibbons-Pearly-Gates-Les-Paul-Standard.aspx)

Looks as though Gibson's gone "signature" model happy as well with Jeff Beck (so cool he is simultaneously endorsed by Fender AND Gibson), Mike Bloomfiled, Mick Jones, Joe Bonamassa, and Steve Jones models, and a Jimmy Page "No. 2" replica...which is apparently a replica of Page's backup LP, which if I'm not mistaken has a slightly different switching system...

[rustoffa]

I've been fooling with a '56 VOS Goldtop recently. Not even slinkys make a huge difference with the brightness problem

[jhale667]

I've been fooling with a '56 VOS Goldtop recently. Not even slinkys make a huge difference with the brightness problem

Bright guitar need darker pickup. ;) Or maybe only a magnet swap on the existing one. Whatcha got in there?

[Diamondjimi]

Sounds like a pickup might be microphonic or possibly out of phase...

Or what Jay sez. ;)

[rustoffa]

Bright guitar need darker pickup. ;) Or maybe only a magnet swap on the existing one. Whatcha got in there?

Two soapbar P90's from the VOS drunkards @ Gibbo. Not bright at all...kind of an inside joke with myself I guess. Freaking phenomenal guitar...lotsa knobs!!

[Hardrock69]

If I had money to blow, I would surely dig a Pearly Gates replica. Only thing is that 2 guitars right next to each other on the production line are going to sound different, even with all the same components, electronics, etc.

So just having one does not guarantee it is going to sound as kickass as Pearly Gates.

Goddam...when I saw them in 1976 he still had Pearly out on the road with him. Fucking goddamn guitar kicked my motherfucking ass as surely as if Billy had smacked me upside my fool head with the thing.

[Diamondjimi]

Last week, I described the greatest purchase of my life ...Rick Derringer's 1958 tobacco sunburst Gibson Les Paul.

Working two jobs and saving money for over a year, I paid $650 on May 2nd, 1972, for a guitar now worth six figures...

Here's the story of how Jeff Beck tried to intimidate me into selling it to him...

Poor Rick Derringer!

About 5 months after selling me his 'back up' 1958 Les Paul, someone on the guitar grapevine told me that Rick's 'main' guitar, a 1959 cherry-sunburst Les Paul had been stolen. This was an all-too-common occurrence for rock stars on the road back then. Airlines, in particular, were notorious for "losing" or destroying guitars.

One afternoon, just before the holidays, my phone rang. It was Rick.

With a sort of tired, apologetic, voice-of-authority, he said, "Hey kid, look, I'm sorry, I really am, but, I'm gonna have to take that Les Paul back. But, I'm gonna give you $1,000 for it, just to make this a little easier for you."

In a friendly but hard-edged way, I replied, "Rick, the guitar is mine. I paid cash for it. I have the receipt. It's not for sale."

This clearly flummoxed Mr. Derringer.

"Huh!? I... uhhh... hmmm... I, uh... I'm gonna call you back."

Six months later, Rick did call again... "Okay, listen, Binky, I'm going to give you $2,000. I gotta have that Les Paul back."

"Rick, what can I tell ya, I feel bad, but, it's not for sale and never will be."

Then, a year later...

"Hey, Binky, it's me, Rick Derringer. I'm willing to give you $5,000 for that guitar."

"Rick, I'm really sorry, man... But, you can offer me $20,000, it's still not for sale."

Silence ... and then, "You know what, kid ... I sold it to the right guy! Enjoy the guitar, Binky."

"I do every day, Rick. Thanks, man."

By the late 1970s, several years later, the entire concept of "vintage" electric guitars had become, and remains, a major sub-culture amongst rock musicians and fans. And by now, after playing a few dozen gigs at CBGB and Max's Kansas City and The Coventry Club using my Les Paul, it was fairly well known in collector's circles that I owned the 1958 tobacco-sunburst that I'd bought off of Derringer in May of 1972. 



One of the earliest vintage guitar brokers to the stars was a guy from California named Robb Lawrence. One day, I got a call from Robb, "Hey Binky, I'm in New York for a few days. I'm busy doing this coffee-table photo book. It's going to be portraits of famous guitarists and their vintage Les Pauls. Jeff Beck's in town and he doesn't have an old Les Paul with him. Can I borrow yours for a photo-shoot?"



"Well, hell yeah, as long as I come with the guitar."

"Uhhhh ... Hmmm ... Y'know, Jeff isn't very friendly, I just don't think that..."



I cut him off, "No me, no Les Paul, Robb!" I knew of Jeff's reputation for crankiness. Too bad. Robb somewhat reluctantly agreed to my being included.



Two days later, the morning after a great show by Mr. Beck at Philharmonic Hall in support of his groundbreaking "Blow By Blow" album, I met Robb, who was sporting an entourage of three nondescript guys about my age, in front of the Navarro Hotel on the extremely posh Central Park South aka 59th St. Up we all went to Jeff Beck's suite high above Central Park. Jeff opened the door, he was alone, and invited us in with all the warmth of a blizzard. He flopped down on the couch in the baroque living room portion of his temporary digs and asked, nice and surly, "So, where's this guitar?"



Robb motioned me to open the case. Somewhat dazzled by the presence of one of my Ultra-Heros, I handed my Les Paul to Jeff Beck. Sitting on the edge of the couch now, he started playing fast lead guitar about 2/3 up the neck. Played it for about 60 seconds, unplugged.

He then slowly looked up at me with ice cold eyes and said, as menacingly as he could manage, "Y'know, mate, this looks an awful lot like the one that was stolen from me."

 I had taken a seat in the armchair next to Jeff. I immediately stood up, and looking down at him, said, as coldly and emphatically as I could manage, "Yeah, well, Jeff, it isn't!"

He laughed and said, "Okay okay, calm down, man. So how much do you want for it?"

I replied, "Jeff, are you under the impression that this guitar is for sale? Because it's not. Not now, not ever."

Jeff seemed to shoot a dirty little WTF? look at Robb.

Was something weird going on?



Puzzled, and more than a bit put off, I decided to blow this popsicle stand. But first, I pulled a Bic pen outta my guitar case and sat down next to Mr. Beck on the couch and said, "Jeff, it would be an honor to have your autograph on the back of my Les Paul."



Jeff, genuinely aghast, groaned, "My God, man, you can't be serious. That would be sacrilege!" Everyone in the room made "How lame!" noises at my embarrassing 'groupie' move. Robb even said, "I'm sorry, Jeff."

Ignoring everyone else, I said, in a cocky conspiratorial tone, "Dig in nice and deep with that pen, Jeff."



He looked at me, and for the first time, actually connecting with me, broke into a huge grin, nodded, and said with his eyes, "Kid, you're all right." As requested, he dug in deep, signed the beat up back of my guitar, and handed it back to me. I stood up, put the Les Paul back in its case, latched it up, and turned to Jeff Beck and said, "It's been a real pleasure meeting you. I have been a huge fan of your playing since the Yardbirds and I thought you were just great last night, too." Jeff thanked me, "Cheers, mate."

Still feeling annoyed that something was off about the whole situation, I walked out of the suite to the elevator without saying goodbye to anyone else.



About six months later, out of the blue, perhaps as a peace offering (and one I definitely appreciated), Robb sent me a color slide of Jeff Beck, sitting on that couch, playing my Les Paul. It permanently resides in the case with the guitar. In fact, Robb's truly excellent and definitive two-volume book, "The Legacy Of The Les Paul", which took decades to complete, features a full page photo of Jeff Beck with my guitar on page 251 of Volume One. My name is even in the caption! Thank you very much, Robb!



On August 12, 2009, Les Paul, the man, finally left for Heaven at the age of 94. Most of us know his name because of Jimmy Page or Slash or Billy Gibbons or a 100 other famous and semi-famous guitarists who have sworn by Gibson Les Pauls for the last few decades. The true Rolls-Royce of electric guitars.



But, the fact is, not a single song on your iPod's play-list would sound remotely the way it does without Les Paul, the man, not just the guitar. Les Paul INVENTED the solid-body electric guitar. Les Paul INVENTED multi-track recording. Les Paul INVENTED reverb and echo. Les Paul INVENTED variable speed recording. Les Paul INVENTED mixing. Basically, a man of monolithic musical importance.



Two great quirky little stories about Les Paul stand out for me and exemplify the man's intuitive genius...


When he was a teenager, back in the late 1920s, Lester was sitting in his living room playing an acoustic guitar. He suddenly had a flash, walked over to his parents' Victrola, yanked the arm off and rammed the needle into the face of his guitar, and started playing through the machine's big horn (like the one that dog is sitting next to in the old RCA logo). Was that the literal beginning of electric guitars?



And, as far back as the 1940's, the way Les Paul would know he had mixed a track properly was through the following methodology: He'd have the studio engineers hook up the recording console directly to his car's radio in the parking lot. He'd go out and sit in the driver's seat and listen to the playback of the mix coming through the radio, and would then go back and tinker with it until it sounded right... in... his... car!



In the 1980's, I had the great fortune to catch Les Paul performing a few times at a club called Fat Tuesday's here in New York. He performed there every Monday, and later at a place called Iridium, for almost 30 years.

His playing was simply ridiculous. In his 70's and 80's he could just destroy virtually every rock player you've ever heard. Inhumanly fast and creative, with a totally wacky sense of humor. The closest any rock guitarist has ever been able to come is maybe my aforementioned hero, Jeff Beck, on a really good night.



On one of my visits to Fat Tuesday's, I took along my 1958 Les Paul for The Man to autograph. After his set, I knocked on the door of his dressing room. I heard Les call out, "Come in." He was sitting in this dark little room with an old guy his age, obviously a close friend. I apologized for the intrusion and told Mr. Paul that I was hoping he'd be willing to autograph my Les Paul.

"Sure thing, my friend. Let's see it." he answered.

When I took it out of the case, he said, eyes gone wide, "I can't autograph that. It's a real one!"

Les Paul called my guitar "a real one." I treasure that phrase coming from the man himself.



I took out a pen and, just like his prize pupil, Mr. Beck, he semi-reluctantly, semi-delightedly, dug in on the back, "To Binky / Keep Pickin' / Les Paul."



The last time I saw Les Paul perform, I took my Dear Departed Dad. After the show, as Les was standing by the bar having a club soda, my father walked up to Mr. Paul and said, "My son tells me you're responsible for an amazing amount of technological advances in guitar design and recording techniques. That's all well and good, but, Les, I want to thank you for the music."

And, as they shook hands, both those old coots got tears in their eyes... and I've got chills just typing that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/binky-philips/jeff-beck-tries-to-buy-my_b_749334.html

[kwame k]

Killer find, Jimi :beers8:

[Diamondjimi]

Cool to see the dude stick to his guns about not selling it or caving to Beck ( must've been off the scale around this time). He seemed to gain Jeff's respect by standing up to him.
I have that book with the pic.of Beck and the dude's guitar but I can't find the pic. on the net.... Oh well, cool story anyway. ;)