Article: You've come a long way, baby! The Les Paul's five fabulous decades.(Les Paul Gibson electric guitar)(Cover Story)

Gibson could hardly have anticipated the impact the Les Paul would have on popular music. Introduced at a time when the company desperately needed a sexy solidbody to offset its conservative image, the Les Paul filled the bill with its pinup-girl curves and flashy gold paint. But in addition to being a handsome hunk, the Paul possessed a fat, wailing tone that would endear it to legions of players for the next half-century.

While most guitarists know what a Les Paul is, its designer remains something of a mystery. Guitarist/inventor Les Paul claims that he came up with everything except the guitar's arched top, which he credits to Maurice Berlin, head of ...

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