Gibson Les Paul Standard: The Guitar of Choice for Top Music Icons

Jimmy Page’s self-titled autobiography, released last October 14th, paints a clearer picture of one of music’s most recognised icons. Jeremy Gaunt of Reuters writes that while the book primarily tells of Page’s journey in an ever-evolving music industry, it also tackles the more obscure chapters of his life—such as his stint playing in a Danish club in 1968, for instance. One thing’s for certain, though: the pioneer of the hard rock guitar riff still waxes sentimental over his beloved Gibson Les Paul Standard:

Pointing to the Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar he holds in the book’s final photo, he said: “I got that guitar in 1969, and I played it all the way through. Most people, they substitute it with another one, but even at the O2 (reunion concert in London) I was playing that. If I was going out playing next year, I would be playing that guitar.”

Page, now in his 70s, favours the Gibson Les Paul line of guitars for his gigs. He’s not the only famous musical personality to do so, however. Other music icons including: Bob Marley, Randy Rhodes, and Saul “Slash” Hudson of Guns N’ Roses fame have also performed with a Les Paul in hand. That said, originals of these guitars are quite rare these days and do fetch a hefty price when sold or auctioned. In fact, only a small number of guitar stockists in the U.K., such as Rainbow Music, sell genuine Les Paul guitars—particularly the Gibson Les Paul Standard, which is the most recognised instrument in the line.

What makes the Les Paul Standard the instrument of choice for Jimmy Page and other famous musicians? For the most part, these guitars are widely regarded for their rich, thick, midrange tone and the ability to sustain notes longer than other guitars. All this is possible thanks to a solid mahogany body design, which eliminates feedback whenever a note is sustained. These traits make Les Paul guitars really attractive to rock, metal, and blues guitarists all over the world. The current Les Paul Standard takes these elements further by including modern enhancements such as a coil tapping mechanism and the Min-ETune automatic tuning system.

While any of the music icons, we've just mentioned, will agree that the 2014 Gibson Les Paul Standard is a good buy, this classic guitar is always at its best, used with the right kit.

From plectrums, to save the hard working guitarist’s precious finger skin from non-stop playing. Guitar tuners, though usually redundant for seasoned musicians and capable of unleashing storms of protest amongst enthusiasts, are quite useful learning tools for "beginners" who are just getting into the "Les Paul" experience. As with most everything... satisfaction comes from practice and the help of the most crucial accessory, an equally capable amplifier, the Les Paul novitiate should be able to appreciate this excellent guitar as viscerally as Jimmy Page clearly does to this day, across the genres.

(Source: Autobiography a long stairway into Jimmy Page's life, The Columbia Dispatch, October 23, 2014)