The One and Only Les Paul!
The One That Started It All!
Photo from the 2001 AES show. Les Paul and Whirlwind's president Michael Laiacona. Les and Michael found common interest while Michael was one of the principals of MXR, the originators of the famous guitar effects pedals in the 1970s. |
Where would guitar players be today without the contributions of this man to the music
world? Essentially unchanged since 1952, the Les Paul solid body
electric guitar has provided its signature sound in jazz, rock, blues, soul,
southern rock, country . . . if there's a guitar part being played, you just
might be listening to a Les Paul!
It was also his pioneering work with multitrack recording and his million selling recordings with his wife Mary Ford (where he played as many as twelve simultaneous guitar parts!) that won Les acclaim as an inventor, producer and virtuoso guitarist. Through the years, Les has continued to play live and record ("Chester and Lester" with the late Chet Atkins being one of my particular favorites.) We couldn't be more proud than to count Les as one of Whirlwind's long time friends! |
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Here is a 1953 Les Paul goldtop guitar that is on display at the Whirlwind factory. It was
given to the founders of Whirlwind, Michael Laiacona and the late Bonnie
Gardner by Les himself. This was one of a number of guitars that had been given to Les by the
Gibson Guitar Co. Les wanted to thank Michael for all of the MXR effects that Michael had sent him through the years. He said he went through his collection and "picked out a good one". Michael asked him to sign it so he used one
of those vibrating engravers to etch a personal message on the back of the
headstock and later wrote a letter of authenticity.
We're often asked, "What's it worth?". Well, first of all, it's not for sale. Second, how do you figure what a 1953 Les Paul might be worth when it actually used to be "Les Paul's Les Paul"?  "To Bonnie & Michael Best of Luck from Les Paul" |
Click for enlarged photo |