The Gibson Les Paul: A Short History 

Nice to see some of the earlier short histories getting a redo, not that the older ones were bad :)

I bought a Les Paul deluxe in 1973. It has everything that people complained about. It’s been a fantastic guitar.

Keith - you are like the Ken Burns of the guitar world. Your ability to draw us in and hold us is a tribute to not only your storytelling prowess but your production skills as well. Your Five Watt World is such a breath of fresh air and I can assure you that you are very much appreciated! THANKS!

I just love that Les Paul (RIP) started working on his own prototype at the Epiphone factory. Authentic AF!

My grandson was born on Les Paul's 100th birthday, June.9th, 2015. I finally broke down and bought a 2018 Traditional to pass along to him. 💜

The resurrection of the Les Paul after a 6 year hiatus is a remarkable saga. The Flying V & Explorer even more so.

Excellent. Redos mean I can rewatch even more. These histories are such great comfort food. Thanks!

I’m so glad you’re updating these. They’re honestly the best on RU-vid. I believe Les’s version of the story.

I have owned many styles of guitars. The Les Paul is by far my favorite. No matter if it is a Gibson or a copy, it is an awesome instrument.

This and the Fender Bassman Short History are my favorite.

Better than Trogly's daily dose of clickbait and guitar misinformation.

Awesome. I love the original "Short History" vids. I hope you plan to revamp all of them. This was well done.

Your work on the short histories are the equivalent of Rick's "what makes this song great" -- instant RU-vid classics. Loved the original version of this, absolutely love the update. I've watched them all and will watch any new installments or updates. I always learn so much from these! Thanks Keith!

As a person who loves Les Paul's ....awesome video

Playing guitar for over 50 years I'd always been a Strat guy since most of my favourites played them. Your original short history of the Les Paul piqued my interest and now I have two. A lemon burst Standard and a 12 String that I built myself around an early 70s MIJ Epiphone acoustic neck. Your videos are not just informative and entertaining. They inspire. Thank you!

I just had the chance to get my hands on a 2011, Les Paul 59 reissue in mint condition. That guitar was kept by a collector who didn’t play guitar. And that guitar is a dream in all aspects. Sounds, and plays great. The burst is just brilliant in a gloss finish. For me it was just my M2M configuration. That guitar will stay with me forever……

Loved it. I am up for part 2. The Looong History!

KEITH! What an unexpected treat! Thank you so much to you and your team for such magnificent work! Incredible balance of depth without minutia, and your unparalleled image selection is always a joy. I know this will get lots of rewatches from me as all your short histories do. So good! ✌️😌🎸

The Best Les Paul Short History Yet. Thank you!

Another Fantastic and extremely comprehensive history. I wish you’d made this is the mid-70s, but then again, it wouldn’t have been nearly as complete, but it would have saved me a boat load of money and been a valuable guide in my Les Paul misadventures.

Oooo ooo ooo do a short history of the tele redo. I do/did love these updated episodes. Thank you 5WW

As a Les Paul fanatic this is a most welcome video. Still rocking the Barber 5 Watt World BUSS. Killer tone dude

It would be nice to have records of Gibson’s decision making process and specifics of why there were so many misses in the late 60s and 70s when it came to models and builds.

All your early references were ringing true to me, we must be the same age, I too learned to drive to Jail Break and Kiss Alive, a good time to be alive. We just missed the draft, that was heavy on my mind growing up.

Nice… thank you. So many whistle stop tours of the Les Paul model leapfrog from the “log”, straight past goldtops and end up at the late fifties ‘bursts with unseemly haste, so this more in-depth & informative cruise has been great fun! 😊

Curt Kirkwood is a notable player of a Gibson Heritage Series Les Paul. He played one for most of the Meat Puppets' career. He got everything out of that guitar - metal/hard rock riffs, jangly sounds, country and psychedelic noises. It showcases the in my opinion now somewhat forgotten versatility of a Les Paul.

Im not sure how this didn't show up in my feed a month ago? 98K views as of today. Thoroughly enjoyed it this morning, Keith.

23:01 not to forget Robby Krieger of The Doors ‘64 ‘67 & ‘68 Gibson SG Special

I'm 61 now and I am 100% certain that I lived during the period of the most incredible music, Ever. I dare say that the single greatest 10 year period was 1968 to 1978. No other time frame comes close. Growing up in the Philly area, Music was a critical part of life. We didn't have smartphones or internet; we had to use our imagination. Album after album, you sit and listen and the mind just goes off on it's own. Kiss Alive put my imagination into overdrive. Without ever seeing the band live, the mind filled in and those thoughts remain forever. I bought my first guitar a Carvin DC-150 while deployed in 1984. Taught myself how to play. Played for many years and even switched to bass and did some very big gigs. I'll never forget playing a Les Paul in the 1990's. It left a long lasting impression. I was mostly a Strat and Tele player. A few years ago, I had finally treated myself to a Les Paul, Wine Red with Gold hardware. It's a 2001 that I found on Reverb. After all these years, I finally have one. It's easier to play because it has a shorter scale length. Bends are much easier. PAF pickups pump out amazing tone and I can cover all the sounds I need. If you've ever thought about getting a Les Paul, do it.

Mary Ford was the GIBSON girl of the late 1950's.

Well done! I remember your first video/s on the Les Paul and now seeing this one was another treat! 👍

This video brightened up a grey saturday, for sure. And made me play my LPs the rest of the day. :) Thank you, Keith.

Thank you, Keith, for your time, effort, and energy in writing and producing yet another great installment in the "Short History" series.. IMO, these videos are the gold standard by which the subject matter documented is judged, preserved, and is completely enjoyable to sit down and watch.

Absolutely fantastic comprehensive review and context of the historical significance of the Les Paul. Thanks Keith

Wow. What a trip that you put this video together right now. Tomorrow I’m buying a Les Paul studio. It’s gloss black with a beautiful white fur case.👍🏻

So much great information...thank you for all the hard work you put in to your videos, Keith.

If I ever played a solo as absolutely perfect and pure as the one Jeff plays a little after the 17 minute mark I would set my guitar down and weep for there would be no more worlds to conquer.

Wow what immense details that comprise what is one model that became an icon! I didn’t know anything about anything when I bought mine new in 2001, luckily it ended up being one of the better ones.

Boy, Jeff could not keep the smile off his face when he was playing Billy Gibbons’ licks!

Yayyyy! Finally some love for the Spaceman Ace Frehley. Love him or hate him he has inspired millions of players around the world. And I was one of them. We love you Ace! Great job once again Keith. Thank you!

I just love this. Having owned several '50's Les Paul's, I have to say the '59 re-issues are pretty damn good. Thanks Keith

Thought I had gone back in time- Excellent updated release

Another excellent body of work. I really enjoyed it. Thanks Keith !!!

The best and most insightfu history I've seen of a fabulous instrument. 👍

Near the end of his life I attended a Les Paul show at "Iridium" nightclub in Times Square, right across the street from the Ed Sullivan Theater (where Stephen Colbert records The Late Show). Thanks for this tutorial.

Always worth the time to watch. Thank you 5WW.

EXCELLENT , THANKS FOR THE LES PAUL HISTORY LESSON, I HAVE 3 , 77 STANDARD, 2019 GOLDTYPE PROTOTYPE, 2015 DELUXE GOLD TOP , I LOVE THEM LIKE MY KIDS , THANK YOU KIND SIR !!!

What a wonderful video! I leaned a number of new things, thanks!

Well worth the 47 minutes, thank you!!

You had me at Les Paul 😂. Thank you for this video series!

I had Boston on college. No one had that. Guitar Player Mag topped me off I still use my School Rickman Sustainer. 😀😀😀

This is up there with some of your best content. Well done. 🙌

Superb! Once again Keith, you've outdone yourself.

Love Five Watt World! Love long format videos! Keep it up!

I love this channel so much. Thx Keith for all you do

I was just having a look around youtube and noticed a severe lack of deep dives on Hiwatt amps. I would love to see one of these short histories about these underappreciated amplifiers.

Great update Keith! Thank you sir!

BEAUTIFUL!!!! BRAVO!!!👏🏽 🎉 Thank you for all the research!!!

This is a masterpiece Keith, worthy of the legendary Les Paul.

Excellent work!

Keith, thanks for this, it's so impressive and valuable... I never stop learning from you :)

Man I remember watching the first one of these thinking “how does this guy only have 15k subs?” What difference a few years makes

what amazes me is that out of the 643 59 bursts made only 1000 are accounted for...lmao

I've watched this twice. thanks for your incredible work!

All those iterations, and it still doesn’t get any better than a junior.

Theres something comforting & relaxing about this channel... been watching for years great work as always !

Love your videos but the Les Paul video’s are my favorite.Ive watched all of them countless times & they never get old.Rock on!!!

As someone who knows nothing about guitars in general, but knew I HAD to have a Les Paul because of Jimmy Page, I’ve been trying to learn about guitars and this model. This has helped me tremendously understand not only “okay that’s a Les Paul”, but why it’s so regarded and why I love it so much. I’m at the very beginning of my journey with any guitar, so lots of research is happening now and your video has been tremendously helpful in me understanding not only what, but why I should look into a Les Paul. Thank you so much for your work in creating this. This is exactly what I needed.

Once again absolutely killed it.

The Who’s world record entry for volume wasn’t at Leeds. It was at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in 1976, by which time Pete was playing Les Paul Deluxe’s, but still through his iconic Hiwatt CP103’s/DR-103W’s, which really were the source of the volume.

I think the term 'Humbucker'and the concept of hum cancellation coilings had earlier been used for DC energised speaker electro-magnets on radio sets from 1930's

Great video! I love Les Paul's and what a great way to share the history!

Keith I love watching your history about guitars and gear. Long formats don't bother me at all because so much information gets packed into your videos.

been waiting on this one... just picked up a flagship Custom shop "Les Paul Custom" with the 5A 1 piece top, and OMG.. However, I did replace the pickups with some under wound PAF's and the caps with the paper bumblebee's ..

Great video once again Keith. Thank you for making such in-depth videos. FWW is one of my favorite channels on youtube.

Thanks for another amazing video Keith! No one does it better!

One of your best. I have a 68 custom and it was great to see how it is positioned in this story. Many thanks!!

I can't imagine the time and effort you put into these videos and keep it at an hour. I think you did a heck of a job describing the journey that the Les Paul has made in 75 years.

Amazing attention to detail, and pictures of the earliest models must be taken of rare survivors... incredible video Keith!

Great video and thank you or all the work and time spent to get all the history of this fabulous guitar to us. Truly appreciated!

It was an easy and entertaining watch. Very informative.

Really great job. Keep up the great videos. Much appreciated.

Fantastic presentation of the Gibson Les Paul history. Love it !

What an awesome history lesson, thank you so much for sharing!

Well done. I’ve developed a creeping interest in a 50s Goldtop, since the first Les Paul I ever played was a ‘52, in 1974.

Groovy baby , I just ordered a copy of ' Beauty of the burst ' today , Ive been wanting the book for many years , better late than never, Thanks !

My favorite show,haha, thanks for keeping it short enough for me. Love my studio.

This video is just one of the many reasons I love the 5 Watt World! 💖

Of all the channels to which I subscribe, Five Watt World continues to be at the top of the list for quality of content, such as this. Keith, you continue to create some the best researched, most interesting, and most relatable guitar content on RU-vid. Love the channel.

This was so fun and informative. Thanks Keith. Appreciate you and the community. Peace

Such a lovely video of the history of my favourite guitar. Thank you so much!

I love all of your long from guitar content, thank you!

Damn Keith!! You are so good at these history videos.

Thanks for the outstanding history lesson, five watt world. Awesome channel!

Nice, I like knowing the history of a guitar I own. As always, your accuracy and touch is appreciated. You are a great historian, and you can play a bit too. Thanks K.W.

Do em all again, you deserve the views

I was wondering what the purpose of this upload was. You had already done a segment about the Les Paul, Keith. I liked how this one is expanded past what you included in the earlier one.

These short histories were viewed just at the time I got interested in building my own guitars. Before these, I really didn’t know much about the history of guitars (I didn’t know the difference between a Telecaster and a Stratocaster). I had an Epiphone Les Paul but, although I had been playing since 1970, I knew zip about how it was constructed or set up. I didn’t even know it had panels on the back and I had owned it for twenty years. Thanks, Keith. You and a few other RU-vidrs have given me quite an education.

Thanks for the research and the video...very much enjoyed it. I believe the Studio Standard (with binding) came out in 1983 and not 1984 as mentioned...that is what my serial numbers indicates...

Nice job! As a life-long LP player, this was very interesting. Although most of the info is available other places, this is a succinct yet nicely chronological history. You should publish it in some form!