# Guitarist Les Paul just died! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303 "2009-08-13T16:10:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/21 "2009-08-13T18:17:03Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > From the NYT obit: _His childhood piano teacher wrote to his mother, “Your boy, Lester, will never learn music.”_ The teacher went on to say, “Music’s going to learn _him_.” ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/22 "2009-08-13T18:23:54Z")
I found this bit from the obit quite telling. I had never heard this before: > [@](#): > > They were touring in 1948 when Mr. Paul’s car skidded off an icy bridge. Among his many injuries, his right elbow was shattered; once set, it would be immovable. Mr. Paul had it set at an angle, slightly less than 90 degrees, so that he could continue to play guitar. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/23 "2009-08-13T18:51:32Z")
Whoa - I just read the obit; he died about 10 minutes from my office. I didn’t know he was in White Plains, NY… I have told this story on the Dope before, but here is my Les Paul memory: A couple of years ago, he was playing his usual Monday night of 2 sets at Iridium in NYC - yes, at age 92. I went to see him, and at the end of the set, he got the usual “Hey Les - how about a picture?” - “Sure!” he says “Lemme get the band” - he calls his band from their instruments and they crowd around him. He calls out to the guy with the camera “Ready? Okay - 3, 2, 1…” and right when it’s time to snap the picture, he flips the guy the bird - Les’ finger is gnarled with arthritis and juts out in, like, seven different directions - and he has the biggest shit-eating grin on his face. The crowd went nuts and cheered and Les asked the guy “You got it?” and winked… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/24 "2009-08-13T18:53:44Z")
How many times will we hear the words, “Vaya con dios” the next few days? He really was amazing, though. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/25 "2009-08-13T19:47:58Z")
A man who created a retronym. For hundreds of years it was a guitar. Then came Les. And it had to be renamed the acoustic guitar. edit: spelling ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/26 "2009-08-13T19:53:57Z")
My first guitar was a 1972 Les Paul Custom, cherry sunburst with gold hardware, just like Frank Zappa used to play back in the 70s. I still have it, I still love it. I met Les at the Gibson booth during CES here in Vegas a few years back. Really nice guy, very self-effacing. Genuinely seemed to appreciate hearing how much we all appreciated him. And he seemed quietly pleased that so many people had the same interests he did, and that he was able to help so many people get happy from listening to or performing music. C ya Les. Gonna miss ya. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/27 "2009-08-13T20:11:49Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I found this bit from the obit quite telling. I had never heard this before: > > > [@](#): > > > > They were touring in 1948 when Mr. Paul’s car skidded off an icy bridge. Among his many injuries, his right elbow was shattered; once set, it would be immovable. Mr. Paul had it set at an angle, slightly less than 90 degrees, so that he could continue to play guitar. According to the album cover of his _Greatest Hits_ The doctor insisted the arm had to come off. Les pleaded then insisted they fuse it in a play position instead. The surgery was innovative for the time. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/28 "2009-08-13T20:45:57Z")
My Les Paul story comes from my grandmother who has also passed away, but not before telling me this little nugget when she learned I had acquired my '72 Les Paul Deluxe… Back in '66, my grandmother was working in the admin of a catholic school in the NYC - northern NJ area. Les had one or all of his children enrolled there - I can’t remember. Anyway, he used to hang out in the offices there and charm the ladies every once in a while. One day he was there talking about this amazing guitar player he had seen playing live in the Village a couple of nights before. He was floored by the guy and was angry at himself for not getting the players name because he wanted to help him get noticed by people in the business. Unfortunately, not many women in her office hung out in the Village that much and had no idea who he was talking about. Les never did get a chance to talk with the unknown virtuoso until a couple of years later - after he had made a name for himself in England and come back to the US. That’s right - it was Jimi Hendrix. Les almost beat Chaz Chandler to the punch… By the way, my grandmother hated rock music. She knew who Hendrix was, but only because Les had talked so highly of him. She thought Les was a nice fellow, just a little to crass for her prudish tastes… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/29 "2009-08-13T21:50:31Z")
Yeah **BigShooter** that’s a great story; definitely part of the legend. I just finished Jeff Beck’s bio (based on a rec from a Doper) and read how Jeff was the one to induct him into the RRHoF and their mutual respect. I just pulled out my '57 Les Paul Special (with a TV Yellow finish) and went a few rounds. Thanks Les. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/30 "2009-08-13T22:12:01Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > It’s sad, but I feel the same as I did when Dr Suess died - he lived a good, long life and died loved and respected by millions. It doesn’t get any better than that. > > From the NYT obit: _His childhood piano teacher wrote to his mother, “Your boy, Lester, will never learn music.”_ Well said, gaffa. And playing right up to (almost) the end! RIP Les. ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/31 "2009-08-13T22:20:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [The New York Times obit, in which Les Paul accurately compares himself to an accidental Thomas Edison.](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/arts/music/14paul.html?_r=1&hp) > > -Marley, who’s played a Les Paul Jr. Special since 1994. I got you beat by 20 years, **Marley**. I picked up my first LP in 1974. The man influenced us all. It has been said but truly, anyone who ever played electric owes him for any success. Hawk ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/32 "2009-08-14T01:12:58Z")
Coincidentally he died only a couple of days after the 100th anniversary of [Leo Fender](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Fender)’s birth. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/33 "2009-08-14T04:29:43Z")
RIP, Les. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/34 "2009-08-14T06:01:37Z")
RIP, Les. You’ll be sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/35 "2009-08-14T11:08:24Z")
He did so much more than just play (very flash) guitar. I hope I still have a Guitar Player (I think) interview where he decribes his original sound-on-sound techniques involving cutting acetate discs using a flywheel and weight (dropped out of an upstairs window to give enough duration). It’s possible I’m remembering this wrong (but it’s surely too odd for me to just have made up). In the same _guitar magazine_ article he describes getting a phone call in the middle of the night from Groucho Marx to come over and help fix his (Groucho’s) train set. Quite versatile old Lester. BBC Radio 4 had a couple of good tributes playing a short medly of quintisential Les Paul (the guitar) tracks. One last night on an arts program and this morning on the main news (with Bob Harris pointing out how important he was in terms of pioneering multitrack and other ‘trick’ recording techniques). On both occasions one of the selections was Pagey playing _Whole Lotta Love_, but last night’s program used the studio version (which might just be a Telecaster?) this morning they used the live version, which definitely is a Les Paul. Looks like someone at the Beeb knows their stuff. SC another proud Les Paul owner. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/36 "2009-08-14T16:04:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I just pulled out my '57 Les Paul Special (with a TV Yellow finish) and went a few rounds. I refuse to believe this without pictures :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/37 "2009-08-14T16:10:32Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > I refuse to believe this without pictures :eek::eek: Here’s [my baby](http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n86/WordMan567/1957LPSpecial-bodyfront.jpg). Basically, Gibson’s version of a Telecaster - a plank with microphone’s stuck in it. Sublime. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/38 "2009-08-14T16:14:24Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > An era ends… I so disagree. It was begun by Paul, but as long as anyone plays, or attempts to play that intricate, flashy, yet intimate style that was so much his trademark, the era will continue. And I think they will continue. He just started it for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/39 "2009-08-14T16:26:56Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Here’s [my baby](http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n86/WordMan567/1957LPSpecial-bodyfront.jpg). Basically, Gibson’s version of a Telecaster - a plank with microphone’s stuck in it. Sublime. Dude, beautiful… ever had it appraised?? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303/40 "2009-08-14T16:33:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Here’s [my baby](http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n86/WordMan567/1957LPSpecial-bodyfront.jpg). Basically, Gibson’s version of a Telecaster - a plank with microphone’s stuck in it. Sublime. There’s a two click rule for porn, man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarist-les-paul-just-died/506303.md?page=3)