Hey guys I know this is a Fender thread but...we are a classy bunch soooo I just wanted to say Rest in Peace to Les Paul....without him and Leo we might not be here....anybody have any stories of meeting him or anything....let's hear it.

_________________
Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

I read that this morning , my friends that only play Les Paus did not even know about it , 95 years old .I have a friend that has a picture with him on his myspace page , too cool

I met Les Paul when I was about 16 and playig the Roostertail in Detroit with The Air Speed Indictor. He gave me his straw hat!

Hope you still have it!

_________________
Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Its a sad day. The guy did more for modern music than any 10 men. As much as I love my MIA strat, my #1 is a Gibson Les Paul.

wow that was a long time ago, my uncle worked there

God bless Les........now, he and Leo can really come up with one hell of a guitar!

I'm 150% Strat man...but you got to give credit where credit is due...Les Paul is a great man and has done many many great things for music.

RIP Les.....and dont stop playing and or making dreams come true for all.


Jimmie

Yes, it's sad to see an original pioneer go, but he did live a long, accomplished life. May he rest in peace.

Gibson did their level best to ignore the Telecaster when Leo introduced it as the world's first production solid body electric guitar. They also tried to persuade their other rivals - Gretsch - that they should ignore it too. Ignore it in the hope that by doing so they would stifle it, and all the implications of the solid body guitar.

When the Broadcaster/Esquire/Tele started to make significant sales and they realised that the solid body was not going to go away, it was Les Paul Gibson turned to. He had originally approached them with his 'Log' solid body prototype and they turned him away. So the story goes, the CEO finally realised the writing was on the wall and said "Get Les in here, and tell him to bring that damn log.." Obviously the rest is history.

We also need to remember that Les Paul was the pioneer of multi-track recording - using techniques he developed from modifying a german tape recorder that had come into his possession. These were not available for the domestic market at this time.

Even if he was never a Fender man, we all owe him a very substantial debt. And he was also a sh*t hot guitar player into the bargain!

In January 1948, Paul was injured in a near-fatal automobile accident in Oklahoma, which shattered his right arm and elbow. Doctors told Paul that there was no way for them to rebuild his elbow in a way that would let him regain movement, and that his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. Paul then instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. It took him a year and a half to recover.

(from wikipedia)
that is dedication
RIP
ENOUGH SAID

he lived a good life.
he left a legacy that has imortalized him.

Apparently they were either acquainted or according to some--very good friends.

In nay case they are both a big part of electric guitar history.
That's their legacy.

I also enjoyed some of Les's music-
Here's a link to one of my favorites-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpkWBoRVHU

_________________
It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

The man went much beyond Fender or Gibson. He will truly be missed.

Les Paul went beyond guitar names and I think it is the right thing to do to mention his passing on this Fender forum.

I am wsur3e all the guys at Fender feel the same for a fellow inventor and musician.

RIP Les in that great gig in the sky.