les paul guitar collection
Below is a glimpse at a few of the hundreds of Les Paul’s guitars. His guitar collection, like his career, spans 8 decades. Les started playing guitar in the 1920s and his earliest guitars, like his L-5, would’ve been new at the time he purchased it them. As his musical career evolved, so did his guitars. Les modified, innovated and created guitars to suit his needs. In addition, other renowned guitar players including Segovia and Django Reinhardt gave Les Paul guitars out of respect and camaraderie.
One of three 1940s Epiphone guitars highly modified by Les Paul and referred to as the Klunker. This is Klunker #3.
Selmer Maccaferri Guitar gifted to Les Paul by Django Reinhardt’s son
Mid 50s Les Paul Custom Highly Modified Les Custom Electronics with Low impedance pickups and Bigsby Tail piece
Early 1960s Vincent Bell Coral Sitar
Early 50s Miniature Les Paul Gold Top #2 made so Les could prove he could play the high notes directly on a guitar for “How High The Moon” and “Lover”. Skeptics thought the high notes were recording techniques.
Classical guitar given to Les by Segovia
1959 Gibson Doubleneck 6 and 12 string highly modified with mic input on upper cutaway
1952 Les Paul Standard Gold Top
1951 Fender Nocaster serial #1751 Gifted to Les by Leo Fender
1950s Les Paul built Experimental Log Guitar
1950 Gibson Upright Bass in Gold Finish
