| Gibson Les Paul | |
|---|---|
 Gibson Les Paul | |
| Manufacturer | Gibson |
| Period | 1952–1960 1961–1963 (in SG form) 1968–present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid, Semi-hollow, Chambered |
| Neck joint | Set neck |
| Scale | 24.75 in 628.65 mm |
| Woods | |
| Body | Mahogany (often with a maple top) Swamp ash (rare) |
| Neck | Usually mahogany Maple |
| Fretboard | Usually Rosewood Ebony Maple Richlite |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Usually Tune-O-Matic |
| Pickup(s) | Usually 2 humbuckers 2 P-90s 3 humbuckers |
| Colors available | |
| Originally gold; many other colors subsequently produced. | |
The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1952.[1] The guitar was designed by factory manager John Huis and his team with input from and endorsement by guitarist Les Paul. Its typical design features a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top and a single cutaway, a mahogany set-in neck with a rosewood fretboard, two pickups with independent volume and tone controls, and a stoptail bridge, although variants exist.
The Les Paul was originally offered with a gold finish and two P-90 pickups. In 1957, humbucking pickups were added, along with sunburst finishes in 1958. The 1958–1960 sunburst Les Paul, today one of the best-known electric guitar types in the world, was considered a commercial failure,[citation needed] with low production and sales. For 1961, the Les Paul was redesigned into what is now known as the Gibson SG. The original single-cutaway, carved top bodystyle was re-introduced in 1968. The Les Paul has been produced in many versions and editions since. Along with Fender's Telecaster and Stratocaster, it was one of the first mass-produced electric solid-body guitars. Due to their versatility, Les Paul electric guitars have been used in a wide range of music genres, including rock, country, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz, reggae, punk, and heavy metal.
- ^ Bishop 1990, p. 3