McSeven Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Does anyone know why Jimmy chose the Gibson Les Paul for most of his playing? What is it about a Les Paul that works for Zep and their music. Are Strats and Epiphone too wimpy for the type of music that Zep takes on? Its very interesting why certain guitarists take on certain guitars. I personally like the look of the Les Paul Gibon. It looks sexy to me. Strats look like a Machine gun. Telecaster look like a kite. Sg Gibson or the Angus guitar from AcDc look like a little devil. Mc7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Jimmy used a Telecaster on the first album. Then Joe Walsh told him he had to have his 1959 Les Paul. When Page plugged it in, he was hooked. It was all about power and tone. The rest is history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzzoso Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 After Led Zeppelin I Jimmy's main guitar was the Gibson Sunburst Les Paul 1958 and 1959. I believe he had one to complement the other. Onstage and in the studio. Plus a myriad of other guitars. Acoustic and electric. I personally think that it is iconic image of a picture of Jimmy Page playing his Les Paul. I have seen hundreds of pictures of Jimmy and his Gibson Les Paul. They all are very Powerful images. I am sure that Eric Clapton fans (of which I am one) would say the same thing about Eric and his Stratocasters. Same with Angus Young and his Gibson SG. However, in my opinion some of the most Powerful and Iconic images of all-time are shots of Jimmy Page with His doubleneck Gibson SG (EDS-1275). We all know and Love this guitar. I personally think that Jimmy Page started a highly tough precedent when He unleashed this guitar upon the world back in 1971. I am sure there are purists out there that would say that Jimmy was not the first musician to play this instrument (and I know he wasn't), however, did they make as much of an impact on rock and roll as did our Jimmy? I was very sad to hear of the passing of the man himself: Mr. Les Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSeven Posted September 4, 2009 Author Share Posted September 4, 2009 After Led Zeppelin I Jimmy's main guitar was the Gibson Sunburst Les Paul 1958 and 1959. I believe he had one to complement the other. Onstage and in the studio. Plus a myriad of other guitars. Acoustic and electric. I personally think that it is iconic image of a picture of Jimmy Page playing his Les Paul. I have seen hundreds of pictures of Jimmy and his Gibson Les Paul. They all are very Powerful images. I am sure that Eric Clapton fans (of which I am one) would say the same thing about Eric and his Stratocasters. Same with Angus Young and his Gibson SG. However, in my opinion some of the most Powerful and Iconic images of all-time are shots of Jimmy Page with His doubleneck Gibson SG (EDS-1275). We all know and Love this guitar. I personally think that Jimmy Page started a highly tough precedent when He unleashed this guitar upon the world back in 1971. I am sure there are purists out there that would say that Jimmy was not the first musician to play this instrument (and I know he wasn't), however, did they make as much of an impact on rock and roll as did our Jimmy? I was very sad to hear of the passing of the man himself: Mr. Les Paul. Lzzoso are you saying that Jimmy Page popularized the Sunburst Gibson? I think he did. Also the Sunburst Gibson to me looks sexy. I have a Bullet Strat and I want to trade it in for a Epiphone which is basically an imitation Sunburst Gibson. I guess in my mind all Zep songs have to played on a Sunburst Gibson Les Paul. The Gibson Les Paul just has this sexy superhero look to it. It just looks like it has so much more power than a SG Gibson and Strat and the Flying V. Mc7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I'm guessing much of it had to do with the versatility of the LP. Although it's known for it's thick tone the LP really is a versatile guitar with it's individual volume and tone controls for each pickup and the 3 way switch. Musicians tend to think of guitars as tools and more often than not fans and non players connect with the visual aspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonzoLikeDrumer Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 And, it can hold a sustaining note for a week! Like Nigel Tufnel once said ... "You can go off and have a bite to eat and come back later and it would still be ..... Wa, aa, aaahhh!" What a wonderful slab of lumber they are!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 However, in my opinion some of the most Powerful and Iconic images of all-time are shots of Jimmy Page with His doubleneck Gibson SG (EDS-1275). We all know and Love this guitar. I personally think that Jimmy Page started a highly tough precedent when He unleashed this guitar upon the world back in 1971. I am sure there are purists out there that would say that Jimmy was not the first musician to play this instrument (and I know he wasn't), however, did they make as much of an impact on rock and roll as did our Jimmy? . Funny how this one slid under the collective radar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzzoso Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Lzzoso are you saying that Jimmy Page popularized the Sunburst Gibson? I think he did. Also the Sunburst Gibson to me looks sexy. I have a Bullet Strat and I want to trade it in for a Epiphone which is basically an imitation Sunburst Gibson. I guess in my mind all Zep songs have to played on a Sunburst Gibson Les Paul. The Gibson Les Paul just has this sexy superhero look to it. It just looks like it has so much more power than a SG Gibson and Strat and the Flying V. Mc7 Being the great and unwavering Led Zeppelin fan that I consider myself to be, YES, I would say that JIMMY PAGE, did popularize the Sunburst Gibson Les Paul far more than any other musician in the history of Rock and Roll (besides Mr. Les Paul himself). I realize that some may consider that a pretty Powerful statement (and Opinion), I believe it to be factually accurate. Can anyone name someone more influential than Jimmy Page that played this same guitar. I am sure there are some, but MORE influential than Mr. Page? YES, for whatever reason, there is something very sexy about this particular guitar. Being a complete heterosexual (meaning a very "straight" male who loves WOMEN), I would say that the Sunburst Gibson Les Paul would look better being played by some "HOT" Hollywood actress with big tits. But lets face it, other than that, I cannot think of someone in particular, besides Jimmy Page, that makes this guitar look and sound the way we all know and love. Can you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huw Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 ...I would say that JIMMY PAGE, did popularize the Sunburst Gibson Les Paul far more than any other musician in the history of Rock and Roll (besides Mr. Les Paul himself)... I'll give you two... In the UK, Eric Clapton. The LP was an out of production, unfashionable instrument before EC adopted it, paired it with a cranked Marshall combo & recorded the Bluesbreaker's album. That album is the one that created a guitar tone millions have tried to copy. People who have never heard that album have heard other people trying to copy it & have in turn been influenced themselves, second hand. Keith Richards had played one before him, but Eric Clapton is the guy who made LPs cool & desirable in the UK. In the USA, Mike Bloomfield played a similar role. He used Fender amps so created a different tone, but he was equally influencial in the sheer number of players he inspired to seek out LPs. Search around on the Les Paul Forum (and others) and time & time again those are the two names it will always come back to. If you haven't been directly influenced by one or both of them, you have definitely been influenced by someone who has... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonzoLikeDrumer Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Ummmm... I think maybe .... Peter Frampton, and Tom Scholz come to mind for me. And there is also Billy Gibon's and Joe Walsh too. With the newer group's I can say guy's like Slash. I've seen lot's of POP group guitar player's with a Les Paul and Marshall set up, even with today's "teenie boppers". While Jimmy's "Zeppelin years" rig is one that you don't see to much in today's group's (since the 1980's) what with the varied feature's now offered with the newer "Master Volume" Marshall's and all the other new gear around. The Marshall and Les Paul set up is a staple in lot's of music from the 1970's to today, if you ask me, it's true that Jimmy had a big part in making that so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huw Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 A big part, indeed. But the previous claim was not "big", it was "biggest". Lots of people helped to get teh LP into the popular consciousness - Frampton, Walsh, Gibbons & Scholtz you've named. There are others too, Ace Frehley, The Allman Brothers Band etc... Page was certainly a big part of this, but not the biggest. But before all of them, there were Clapton & Bloomfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59LesPaul Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 ....and don't forget Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.Brad has said on more than one occasion that he saw a Led Zeppelin concert,and went out the next day and bought a Les Paul....still plays it today. ....not to mention Peter Green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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