Les Paul's 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Maker
Les Paul
(American, 1915 - 2009)
Maker
Gibson
(American, founded 1902)
Date1954
ClassificationsMusic
DescriptionLes Paul's 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom, no serial number, in black finish. The guitar features a black body with a gold Bigsby tailpiece. The guitar has been heavily modified by Paul.This prototype guitar was owned by its namesake – guitarist, luthier, and inventor Les Paul. He used this guitar in recordings and television performances and tinkered with its components to create his vision of the perfect solid-body electric guitar. He often swapped pickups and electronics in the search of his preferred sound.
Paul was unhappy with the original line of Gibson guitars bearing his name and sought to correct them on this model. Nicknamed “Black Beauty,” many of its experimental components later became industry standards.
Les Paul (1915-2009) was a renowned guitarist and inventor. He and his wife Mary Ford formed a musical duo in 1949, leading to 16 Billboard Top Ten hits. Paul’s contributions as a musician and inventor of recording techniques helped influence the newly formed rock and roll genre.
