Les Paul

A brief break from the summer songs.

There's little I can add to the many tributes and remembrances of Les Paul that have appeared since his death two days ago. I do think it's worth pointing out that, while all that's being said about his technological innovations is true, there would probably be a lot less attention being paid to his passing if it were not for (a) the guitar that he designed and (b) the fact that it bears his name. Many years ago it passed into the highest reaches of rock music fame, which has happened to far fewer instruments than people.

Of all my own favorite Les Paul players, the first that came to mind was someone who was instead strongly associated with the Stratocaster: Mr. James Marshall Hendrix. But Jimi would pick up a Les Paul from time to time, in particular to play his original blues "Red House." If a Strat can look strange upside down, a Les Paul looks even stranger. But Jimi made it work, as usual.

Another connection between Paul and Hendrix is the story of how Les Paul "discovered" Jimi Hendrix in 1966, but that's a story you can find elsewhere.