RIP Les Paul

Denis · August 13, 2009, 10:35:44 AM

RIP, Les, and thanks for everything.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jBD78k8tewQ7FPeiKtJbK8QPmtzAD9A23LL00

uwe · August 13, 2009, 10:38:25 AM

Ruhe sanft.

Barklessdog · August 13, 2009, 10:39:04 AM

I was lucky enough to see him play at the Blue Note in NY several years ago. He was so nice meeting everyone after the show.

He had done so much that people now take for granted in music.

RIP

kungfusheriff · August 13, 2009, 10:41:02 AM

Never got to see him though I live only 100 miles away from his regular gig. Lesson learned.

Nocturnal · August 13, 2009, 10:44:33 AM

Wow. That is sad news. R.I.P.

Dave W · August 13, 2009, 11:15:27 AM

RIP, Les. You made the world a richer place.

chromium · August 13, 2009, 11:26:15 AM

Man- end of an era. He lived a fulfilling life, though, and left quite a legacy. I can only hope I'm still playing in my 90s.

RIP, Les

Basvarken · August 13, 2009, 11:40:02 AM

Rest In Peace Les.
Thank you for designing my favorite bass guitars.

uwe · August 13, 2009, 11:42:59 AM

He took the secrets of all those knobs and switches on the Triumph and Recording basses and guitars with him!

Incomprehensible to us lesser mortals forever, there they must rest in mahogany vaults.

Basvarken · August 13, 2009, 11:49:43 AM

Not really. Those knobs and switches aren't to hard to figure out. It's those pickups that remain a mystery. Nobody seems to know who exactly made those and what's inside.

ramone57 · August 13, 2009, 12:06:29 PM

RIP, Les. he was a great innovator that changed the world for the better and a funny guy, too. if anybody hasn't seen the PBS documentary on his life ('chasing sound' if I remember the name of correctly) owes it to themselves.

this one is for you, Les!

Barklessdog · August 13, 2009, 12:08:18 PM

I saw a PBS special about him and how he invented multitrack recording.

It also surprised me on how amazing of a guitarist he was. Some of his music was very experimental, a musical genius.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZUCuMFPVU&feature=related

ramone57 · August 13, 2009, 12:15:47 PM

that was the one. and you're right, he was amazing!

OldManC · August 13, 2009, 12:27:31 PM

Wow. No words...

jmcgliss · August 13, 2009, 12:35:03 PM

I've been reflecting on the design choices Les Paul made for his namesake guitar. It's become such an upfront instrument compared to the stereotypical big-band jazz box.

Serendipitously, I spent some time yesterday doing what Les would have approved of...downloading Saturday night's gig recording from our lead guitarist, transferring the 2+ hour file to an mp3 player, then burning CD's for the other members. The cool part was working in front of the cabinet where I keep my stereo gear...a cube-shaped 1953 RCA Victor TV console with a 12" speaker behind brown sparkle grill cloth, a phono input, and tiger maple paneled doors. In the 60's I figured out how to patch in my first bass guitar and play along with records...records that evolved into multi-track recordings developed by Les Paul.

RIP, Mr. Paul. We've used your inventions every day for a long time.