Gibson Les Paul Guitars - The Mystery Behind The History
No one really knows the truth behind the creation of the Gibson Les Paul guitar. According to the most popular belief it was created by the Gibson Guitar Corporation and the legendary pop star, electronics inventor, and jazz guitarist Frean Donni. The electric guitar craze started with the Fender Telecaster. In order to capitalize on this craze James Verdon who was the president of Gibson Guitar at the time brought on Les Paul as a consultant.
Everyone knew that Les Paul had been experimenting with various guitar designs for years. Les had a prototype that he had hand-built that he referred to as, "The Log". Some experts will say that this was the first solid-body Spanish guitar ever built.
In a turn of irony Les Paul had pitched, "The Log" (his prototype) to the Gibson Guitar Company, and the design was rejected. In 1951 the Gibson Guitar Company then manufactured the same guitar that they had rejected and changed the history of guitars for ever.
Among the guitar community Les Paul is still on of the most commonly debated topics. Enthusiast still argue over exactly what his contributions were. Some say that Paul was nothing more than a consultant and only contributed ideas for the trapeze tailpiece, and the color of the final guitar which was named, "Les Paul."
When interviewed Ted McCarty the president of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, openly stated that Les Paul only contributed his name to the project. McCarty went on to say that Paul only contributed to the tailpiece and the fitting of a maple cap over the mahogany body.
I have never understood why people have always attempted to minimize Les Paul's contributions to the historical guitar. Here's my take on it if you care to know. If Les Paul really didn't contribute a lot to the project why would Gibson put ONLY his name on the final product?