thelespaulman
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There's not much quality gear demos available about '50s Les Pauls played in a high quality modern recording environment by a skilled guitarist. Here's one I go back to time and time again. I think it's a great example and explains the reason people tend to talk about these things - sometimes laughably - with a religious awe.
There's certain times and places in history when everything comes together just fine. In the history of electric guitar making I believe it was the invention of the Les Paul model and the exceptional materials available in that short 8-year time period.
Listen to the endless capability, musicality, dynamic range and the insane clarity that this '59 Burst produces. You can easily hear the classical guitar, the Strat and the Tele in there too, all in one package within the reach of the volume and tone pots. The bell-like and glassy clarity and super percussive note attack on the low-end throughout every pickup position and every pot adjustment is absolutely crazy. Just like the true violin-like sustain up high when he unleashes the beast.
I believe this is not "the Les Paul sound" in the way the majority refers to that - certainly not the typical big fat, often boomy and muddy short-scale mahogany guitar tone that symbolizes the "LP sound" in many people's mind.
Listen to it from the fixed timestamp until 09:37 to hear all the nuances as he goes through the different adjustments and pickup positions:
There's certain times and places in history when everything comes together just fine. In the history of electric guitar making I believe it was the invention of the Les Paul model and the exceptional materials available in that short 8-year time period.
Listen to the endless capability, musicality, dynamic range and the insane clarity that this '59 Burst produces. You can easily hear the classical guitar, the Strat and the Tele in there too, all in one package within the reach of the volume and tone pots. The bell-like and glassy clarity and super percussive note attack on the low-end throughout every pickup position and every pot adjustment is absolutely crazy. Just like the true violin-like sustain up high when he unleashes the beast.
I believe this is not "the Les Paul sound" in the way the majority refers to that - certainly not the typical big fat, often boomy and muddy short-scale mahogany guitar tone that symbolizes the "LP sound" in many people's mind.
Listen to it from the fixed timestamp until 09:37 to hear all the nuances as he goes through the different adjustments and pickup positions:
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