Gibson: The Sounds & Players of the Les Paul

Fun fact for you: Gibson’s founding date is closer to the founding of the United States of America than it is to today. Dating all the way back to 1894, Gibson began as a mandolin manufacturer, later going on to invent the archtop guitar and becoming a prominent manufacturer of hollowbody and acoustic guitars.

The Les Paul came quite some time later, landing in 1952 equipped with P90 pickups and the now legendary gold finish, now known as the Goldtop Les Paul. It competed directly against the initial offerings from Fender and quickly became a vital element in the progression of rock music. While Gibson has introduced numerous other electric guitars over the decades, including the edgy Gibson SG and the oddity that is the Firebird, none have managed quite the same level of fame and widespread use as the Les Paul.

What guitarists use Gibson Les Paul guitars?

The Les Paul has been a mainstay in rock and blues since its original launch. From twin Les Paul guitars driving the vast majority of Thin Lizzy’s catalogue to Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, the Gibson Les Paul has an endless number of players. Some of the most notable players include Slash, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Zak Wilde, Ace Frehley, Peter Frampton, and Les Paul – the very man himself.

What makes the Les Paul special?

Gibson is right alongside Fender as the most influential guitar brand on the planet. It might have six strings, pickups, and a jack, but the Les Paul couldn’t be more different than its contemporaries in the Strat and Tele. The shorter 24.75” scale length has a huge impact on the feel and playability of the guitar, while the double humbucker pickup arrangement was unlike anything heard from Fender’s single coil offerings.

More changes come from the set neck design that many feel boosts resonance, as well as the independent tone controls for each pickup that open up a wide range of possibilities to experiment with. We won’t comment on the iconic headstock and its propensity to escape from the neck – that’s just part of loving Gibson guitars.

Peter Green: Fleetwood Mac’s Oh Well (1969)

Peter Green is an almost mythical piece of rock history. He was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac – a band that needs no introduction – and wrote countless incredible blues-driven songs detailing his challenging past.

Fleetwood Mac’s Oh Well is a prime example of the aggressive blues playing that made Peter Green such an iconic guitar hero. His 1959 Gibson Les Paul, known as his ‘magic guitar’ and later referred to as ‘Greeny’, became a signature of his until it passed on into the hands of Gary Moore and eventually Kirk Hammett. The pickups were wound out of phase from one another, a modification that seemingly happened by accident originally and has since become a mod many players do to chase the unique sound.

How to get the Oh Well tone

Grab yourself a Les Paul and start cranking the gain on a 100-watt Marshall stack. That’ll get you a good bit of the way, but the iconic tone is not an easy one to capture, given the modifications mentioned before. Realistically, however, we’re playing the blues – make it sound your own and just dive in.

  • Gibson Les Paul
  • Pickup selector at the middle setting (bridge and neck)
    • Bonus points for flipping your neck pickup!)
  • Plenty of gain to break up and distort the signal

Gary Moore: Gary Moore’s Still Got The Blues (1990)

Gary Moore was a Northern Irish musician known best for his close (albeit sporadic) involvement in Thin Lizzy, including multiple tours and the Black Rose album, as well as considerable success as a solo musician throughout the late 70s and 80s. While Parisienne Walkways and Out In The Fields might be the hallmark tracks people would point to as Moore’s finest, Still Got The Blues deserves to be up there in the conversation.

The song is anchored on the A minor scale, following standard pentatonic patterns and progressions. We’ve included the iconic intro and recurring lead melody that the song is so well known for, and have included a spectacular live performance from Gary Moore to get a feel for the phrasing. As with any blues track it is all in the delivery, the vibrato, and the sustain you apply to each note.

How to get the Still Got The Blues tone

You might sense a pattern here. Grab your Les Paul, crank up your Marshall stack, and throw a bit of reverb into the mix. One of the beautiful things about the Gibson Les Paul is how reliably you can get the signature tone with a minimal amount of kit. We’ve put a refresher below, but it’s always best to keep it simple and let the playing technique do the talking.

  • Gibson Les Paul
  • Pickup selector at the bridge pickups
  • Marshall amp
    • Plenty of gain from the amp to get the needed grit
  • Reverb pedal
  • Delay pedal

The Bottom Line

The Gibson Les Paul stands as one of the most iconic electric guitars ever made and is the sound of countless legendary albums from the past 60 years. It’s aggressive when it needs to be and soulful when the moment calls – the Les Paul is a true extension of the player and is why so many resonate with the intangible beauty of playing a Gibson over other brands. We have some incredible Gibson guitars in stock at Guitar Guys and more coming in every day. If you see something that you like, why not get in touch and book an appointment today?