Les Paul and The Gibson Legend

The modern series of Les Paul models keeps a musical legend alive. And we've got (almost) the lot, at Rainbow Music! 

From the full weight Traditional that makes no compromise over its quest for the perfect tone; to limited editions like the Gibson Les Paul Custom Classic, or the Light Vintage in Sunburst; right through the Standards, Traditionals and Juniors; they are all waiting here for you to try at the Rainbow Music Store in Carlisle.

If you can’t call personally, you can purchase in moments via our secure online shop... which you are already visiting! 

What Makes a Classic Gibson Les Paul?

The distinctive shape of the single cutaway, the top mounted strings and the exquisite colours that complement the guitars’ tonal variety, are guaranteed to have you playing till your fingers fall off! The range of subtly different models that have been developed recently and the reintroduction of classic specifications from the 50s and 60s allow Gibson Les Pauls to feature in almost any style of music where there is sonic space for an electric guitar.

It's More Than Just a Shape!

It’s not just shape that distinguishes the Les Paul heritage from competing guitars. The multiple hardware options; innovative & remodelled heritage pick-ups and in some models the hand wired connections, put the power of the sound in your hands.

Remember: it was Gibson who introduced the game changing humbucker (PAF) pickups, which got rid of that annoying mains hum, which undermined great music, played on guitars carrying old style single coil magnetic pickups. You know you’ve got heritage and experience, as well as innovation, working for you when you buy any Les Paul in this store!

From its first appearance in 1951, through to its modern reincarnations, This Les Paul endorsed range of solid bodied electric guitars has been a mainstay of the Gibson Guitar Corporation and countless musical legends! Though it carries the Les Paul name, the basics of this prestigious line were designed by Ted McCarty: with Les Paul, a very popular musician of the day, being asked to endorse the new guitar.

Les Paul's Contribution

Les had spent years doing his own experiments in guitar “modding” and had even come up with a solid-body creation that he nicknamed "The Log"! However, the accepted wisdaom seems to be that his only real ”design” input was the gold colour of the face (the eponymous Goldtop) and a trapezoidal tailpiece that was soon superseded. Since then it has emerged in many variations to tease the musical appetites of generations of aspiring musicians.

The Les Pauls were first designed as a 2 model range. There was a regular version; forever known as The Goldtop and the Custom variation; upgraded with more capable hardware and finished in black. The constant march of technology and competition forced changes to the pickups, woodwork and electronic components and it is this constant evolution of design that has made the Les Paul series such a long lasting line of guitars. These guitars were built for connoisseurs!

For the Budding Player

To satisfy the demand from aspiring players and a younger market, the Melody Maker appeared on the scene and was pitched at a lower cost but retained much of the design of the fully endorsed Les Pauls. Later, came the Junior, which also satisfied the beginner market. It turned out to be a pretty capable creation itself, being taken up by a surprising number of professional players.

What Happened to Les Paul the Man?

Les Paul actually played his own Les Paul Guitar live every week in New York, until he died in August 2009. Even in these twilight years, he was using a heavily modified 1971 Gibson "Recording" guitar, with a slab mahogany body, which he’d rigged with personalised electronics. RIP Les Paul and thanks for the Paulveriser sound!