Looking for Songs that Illustrate the Classic Les Paul Tone

[GulfportBound]

Originally Posted by AaeCee

This. IMO it's the definitive clean LP sound. Also gets my vote for the finest instrumental blues recording.....ever.

I agree with the first statement. I would agree with the second if not for . . . .



The sheer beauty in Bloomfield's playing on this track . . . there are no words.

[waltkh5]

Heartbreaker - Led Zep. The opening riff made me run out to buy a Les Paul as a kid.

[tjmicsak]

And dedicated to the namesake of the man himself....

[Waxhead]

Originally Posted by teleluvver

Hey Everyone,

I have been a Tele player for 20 years, and I'm getting ready to buy a Les Paul. I can name countless songs that have killer Tele tones, but I'm not as well researched on the Les Paul. Here's the question: In your opinion, what song or songs define outstanding Les Paul tone? I'd like to keep it to music from the 60's and 70's, but don't let that stop you. Thanks.

Try a whole album - a recent one.
"Mojo" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Mike Campbell uses one LP on every track and I'm glad he didn't use a Telecaster on it cause it wouldn't have sounded half as great

Then other older classics are any of NEil Young's electric songs on every album from "Live Rust" to "Le Noise".
Most have sublime distortion tones with "Ragged Glory and "Weld" having some of the best heavy recorded tones in the history of music.
I've never seen Neil with any Fender - not his style at all

[Telefan]

For me the Beano album is hard to top!

[clint]

The perfect LP tone is very subjective but I was just watching on VH1 Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones and was thinking to myself, "Mick Taylor's Les Paul tone is absolutely perfect." It had that nasal vocal quality that I really think gives the LP a unique sound.
Check it out some time. Here's a YT clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmfi3UbDPnQ

[robertkoa]

The Jam at the end of *" Can't You Hear Me Knocking " by the Rolling Stones when they turned into a great Fusion Band ( ?! )- listen to Mick Taylor.

In fact just about any Mick Taylor ( with Mayall, Stones, etc. ) will often demonstrate great lower gain LP Tones that can happen with great finger vibrato ( and playing).

All the previous posts with higher gain are great examples also- of course- there's TONS of them, too many to pick just ONE IMO.

*EDIT- OOPs- that was an ES 345 at the end of the Stones Tune. Corrected by JWK Below ( thanks.). Most of Taylor's Stuff was LP- but not this Track.

[Amplite]

ZZ Top "La Grange"
"Frampton Comes Alive" album
Allman Bros - Fillmore East (Sometimes SG's were used but Betts mostly used Les Pauls)

BTW a lot of Zeppelin stuff was a Tele

[JWK]

Originally Posted by robertkoa

The Jam at the end of " Can't You Hear Me Knocking " by the Rolling Stones when they turned into a great Fusion Band ( ?! )- listen to Mick Taylor.

In fact just about any Mick Taylor ( with Mayall etc. ) will often demonstrate great lower gain LP Tones that can happen with great finger vibrato ( and playing).

All the previous posts with higher gain are great examples also- of course- there's TONS of them, too many to pick just ONE IMO.

I distinctly remember reading an interview with Mick Taylor years ago where he stated that was an ES 335 at the end of CYHMK.

I've been wrong before...anyone else remember this?

[jo2012]

Almost anything by Joe Bonamassa. Ballad of John Henry album specifically

[AaeCee]

Originally Posted by GulfportBound

I agree with the first statement. I would agree with the second if not for . . . .



The sheer beauty in Bloomfield's playing on this track . . . there are no words.

Another great one for sure. Bloomfield and Kooper had some truly amazing chemistry between them.

[fjf]

Originally Posted by AaeCee

This. IMO it's the definitive clean LP sound. Also gets my vote for the finest instrumental blues recording.....ever.

Boy, I really agree that his studio tone is one of the songs I continue to visit time and time again. All of MB tone is this album sound so organic.

[robertkoa]

Originally Posted by JWK

I distinctly remember reading an interview with Mick Taylor years ago where he stated that was an ES 335 at the end of CYHMK.

I've been wrong before...anyone else remember this?

Thanks -I stand corrected on this- I think he said a "brown ES 345 " on one quote when I looked it up.

[tim gueguen]

Originally Posted by Amplite

ZZ Top "La Grange"

Much if not all of the guitar on that is supposed to be Strat.

[hotraman]

Originally Posted by dgood

This.... along with a classic Marshall tone