CNBC reports that Les Paul, legendary guitarist and guitar designer, has died at age 94

13 Aug 2009 | snarks_when_bored

[snarks_when_bored]

Les Paul has died at age 94. His electric guitar designs and innovations were central to the development of rock guitar artistry beginning in the early 1950s and continuing to this day. He was playing to the very end, too, in small groups in New York clubs.

So long to a great one...

[TheStickman]

RIP. Not only did he have an excellent ear and help pioneer some excellent instruments, he was an exceptional player in his own right.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Another great Les Paul player...

[Fresh Wind]

Booked in God’s studio, what a session that will be!

Farewell.

[TheStickman]

You married a very complicated and weetawded man, my dear.

[BCR #226]

Rest in Peace. Thank you for what you helped give to the world. The music world is saddened by your loss.

[Iron Munro]

Thanks for the post and the link.

What a wonderful performance by two great talents!

[wastedyears]

That's a shame

[visualops]

oh boy there’s your guy

[Fresh Wind]

A bit too big to post:

http://www.case.edu/events/amm/images/lespaul.jpg

[visualops]

yep

[Banjoguy]

If one would listen and become familiar with Les Paul's total body of work, you would hear some of the most creative and technically precise guitar playing ever recorded, which,IMO, has never been matched.

additionally I have always been impressed with the breadth of his repertoire.

Yes he had his electronic devices, but nonetheless, the music needed to be played and no one did it better.

[Peter Horry]

Post 49

You are right, when you are a master you can move effortlessly from country, rock and blues as well as other formats. I saw a special about Paul, some time ago, where one segment was a “jam session” With B. B. King. After they were finished I exclaimed “dang, the man missed his calling”, it was awesome.

[wastedyears]

Sure changed rock. Him and Leo Fender.

Leo Fender, Les Paul and Jim Marshall were the bones that rock and roll were founded on.

[wastedyears]

Adrian Smith with his customized gold top.

[Mad Dawgg]

"RIP. Not only did he have an excellent ear and help pioneer some excellent instruments, he was an exceptional player in his own right."

Les played live every week at Fat Tuesday's in New York for years,( Ithink he finally stopped in 2001) there was a waiting list to get in to see his show, and you never knew who would show up to jam with him.

The list of great Guiatarists that would show up to Jam with him would fill a book! BB King, Clapton, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Steve Cropper, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Man would I have loved to have seen and heard all that music live!

[TheStickman]

Lifeson was a major influence on me growing up and later on my style of playing. A few years ago I was given a DVD of Rush performing live and during his solo on La Villa Strangiato I thought I was looking into a mirror.

[Manic_Episode]

[Mad Dawgg]

"additionally I have always been impressed with the breadth of his repertoire."

I once saw him do a 14 note arpeggio across two octaves in 6/8 time.

Riffs like that would make Joe Satriani blanch!

[Beloved Levinite]

I had the pleasure of seeing him play at the jazz club in NY where he always played. (name escapes) Great player & great sence of humor, as well. I had an 80's LP custom "Silverburst" that I sold. Beauty, but too damn heavy. It made my shoulder hurt after 3 songs.

RIP Les Paul the Great

[paulcissa]

I grew up one town away from his family's estate in NJ. My dad did some auto upholstery work for him in 1967 and while we were there, Les dragged me around his studio for hours that felt like mere minutes.

I held a guitar for the first time during that encounter and have been playing stringed instruments since then. Les Paul truly influenced me as a young man.

RIP dear sir, you are loved and will be missed.