50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars by Tony Bacon (2002, Paperback)

Synopsis
The guitar of choice for countless successful and aspiring rock musicians, the Gibson Les Paul is arguably one of the great rock & roll icons, its thick, solid tone ideal both for soloing and for grinding out monolithic slabs of sound. With the aid of some mouth-watering photographs of models both ancient and modern (the Les Paul made its debut in 1952), Tony Bacon explores the origins and development of the instrument, from its eponymous innovative designer's early experiments with semi-solid bodied guitars he called "clunkers," to the sleek, classic shapes of the present day. He itemizes the subtle changes in design over the years, relating the stories of the different models' origins, and the widely differing musical styles of the artists for which they were created, including Jeff Beck, Marc Bolan, Freddie King, Sting, and Johnny Thunders. In equal parts useful informational resource and drool-worthy display of the unobtainable, 50 YEARS OF THE GIBSON LES PAUL will provide hours of fascination for guitar enthusiasts and novices alike.

Key Details
Author:	Tony Bacon
Language:	English
Publisher:	Backbeat Books
Format:	Paperback
ISBN-10:	0879307110
ISBN-13:	9780879307110

Size
Thickness:	0.5 in
Weight:	24 oz

Publisher's Note
This volume celebrates the golden anniversary of the solidbody guitar endorsed in 1952 by guitarist Les Paul. It explores the various models developed in each decade, revealing individual specifications and the unique qualities that led Paul to say, "You can do anything with this instrument." Illustrated with 200-plus photographs of instruments and famous players as well as Gibson catalogs, ads, and other memorabilia, it also highlights the Signature Les Paul models made for legendary performers and provides historical context to the guitar's evolution. Also included is a reference section of specifications, dating methods, and a model chronology from 1952-2002. The author of many books on the guitar, Bacon served as an advisor to a BBC documentary titled Guitar Legends . Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)