- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Jawbone; illustrated edition edition (1 Sep 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1906002142
- ISBN-13: 978-1906002145
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 15 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 276,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Exactly how did a batch of about 1,500 guitars produced at the end of the 1950s become for many players and collectors the most desirable electric guitars ever made? Through a series of interviews with players, collectors, guitar-makers, dealers, and others, "Million Dollar Les Paul" attempts to answer this crucial question. The Gibson Les Paul Standard, a solidbody electric guitar with mahogany body, two pickups, and a three-colour sunburst maple top, was made from 1958 to 1960. When players such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page began to play examples in the 1960s and 1970s, the legend of the 'burst' began. Who are the other musicians who play these hallowed instruments and who are the collectors who seek them?It seems only a matter of time before a 'burst' sells for $1 million. At present, the record hovers around half that, but as one prominent dealer admits: "We no longer say, 'I don't see how prices can go any higher.' When it comes to sunburst Les Pauls, they always do." Leading guitar historian Tony Bacon has written this non-technical new book in which he goes in search of individual examples of a guitar that originally sold for $280 and have now become worth a fortune. He delves into the science and attraction of the 'flamed maple' guitar and asks why so many players and collectors now bow down at the altar of the revered Gibson Les Paul Standard.
About the Author
Tony Bacon is one of the world's best-selling authors of books on guitars and guitar players. His many titles include The Ultimate Guitar Book and Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One for the anoraks....,
By
This review is from: Million Dollar Les Paul: In Search of the Most Valuable Guitar in the World (Genuine Jawbone Books) (Paperback)
....which was OK, 'cos I am a bit that way...
The book explores how the Les changed the sound of popular music in the 1960s, primarily because a bunch of English boys wanted to sound like their American blues heroes, and got Les Pauls because they'd seen them on album covers; and talks to various people about why they love the Les - although pioneers Clapton and Jeff Beck have been pretty much solidly Fender since about 1970 (fools!). The book looks at the history of the Les, but the meat of it is about the orginal Les Paul Standard, of which only 1500 or so were made between the introduction of the cherry sunburst finish in 1958 and the model's demise in 1960. Where it gets a bit geeky is talking to the guys (mostly wealthy) who collect these original "Bursts" (as the cognoscenti call them) - some have 4 or 5 or more of these, and tend to be fanatical about the figured or "flamed" maple top rather than whether it plays well (even Gibson had the occasional off day) - epitomising the obsession of the collector to OWN, rather than enjoy something for its intrinsic worth (i.e. as a musical instrument). One of these originals is worth into the hundreds of thousands of dollars these days, and they don't come one the market very often. None is worth a million yet although I suspect that either of Clapton's orginals - the one used to record Bluesbreakers (the Beano album) in 1965, or the one used for Fresh Cream in 1966, might be worth that for their iconic status: unfortunately, both were stolen, so no-one is going to be able to offer them with any proper provenance. What is almost as interesting is Gibson's belated realisation that they had spawned a classic, and their total incompetence at actually reproducing them - when they reissued the Les in 1968, they did so in the Custom and the Goldtop variants, which (although fine guitars in their own right) was not what people wanted: they wanted one like Clapton/Peter Green/Jeff Beck/Mike Bloomfield et al. This coincided with the takover by Norlin Industries, and, as with Fender, the accountants took over, introducing cost-saving laminated necks, using up Epiphone mini-humbuckers (which looked just wrong), and other changes which moved the Les away from the original Burst concept. Eventually, they got wise, and introduced a Heritage (1950s lookalike) range in 1980. The range has expanded since, with a variety of signature models (eg Zakk Wyle, Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Page) - at extra cost - and replica Bursts, now available in 1958, 1959, and 1960 variants. It ia actually impossible to recreate the originals, because production back in the 50s was a bit by-and-large (for example, the ladies who wound the pickups weren't totally fussed about the number of turns), so they are all probably a little bit different. If you want a book with lots of pictures of guitars, forget it - there aren't any. If you want a book about music and bands, this is not it. If you're interested in the Les, why it was created, and what has happened since, this is a good read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For fanatics especially,
This review is from: Million Dollar Les Paul: In Search of the Most Valuable Guitar in the World (Genuine Jawbone Books) (Paperback)
If you, like me , have an anorak in the cupboard under the stairs that only comes out when you hear the hallowed words 'vintage les paul, if your ears prick up at the magic years 1958,59 and 60 ,and Burst has nothing to do with party balloons then this is the book you have always wanted. Every aspect of these iconic guitars is covered- why they're good, how they've become so valuable, who's got 'em, had 'em or sold 'em
and lots of tales from owners. The legendary Clapton Beano Burst is put under the investigative microscope (although it's now whereabouts not known} and many other famous ones discussed.A few nice pics at the front but if you want technicolour guitar porn buy elsewhere-this is all well and humorously written dissertation and facts about these beautiful instruments.Made me wish I hadn't sold mine....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Burst,
By
This review is from: Million Dollar Les Paul: In Search of the Most Valuable Guitar in the World (Genuine Jawbone Books) (Paperback)
Fascinating glimpse into the history of the Les Paul Burst. Tends to get a bit bogged down in some areas and would greatly benefit from more and better colour pictures to illustrate this beautiful instrument.
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