Table of Contents

Buying a Gibson Les Paul, used and new options, pitfalls, authenticity issues, getting the right Les Paul for the job. Pre-gig checks, tuning, stageside repairs. Routine maintenance and servicing. Set-ups and careful 'customising'. 17 case studies of specific instruments, including an original 1953 Gold Top, Peter Green's 'Greeny' '59 Sunburst, 2006 Standard '60s neck, Epiphone '56 Goldtop, Epiphone Special, Heritage 12-string Re-issue, Jimmy Page No.2 Re-issue, 'Robot' Tronical and HD 6X Pro. Dimensions and weights, buying spare parts, model identification. 'Under the hood' with key players: how the pros set up their Gibsons and related hardware, including Les Paul, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Jimmy Page and Joe Bonamassa.

About the Author

Paul Balmer has played and taught guitar for 50 years. His background includes broadcasting (TV and radio), video/DVD production and authorship of many books. Besides Haynes’s highly praised series of guitar manuals, and the Drum-Kit Manual, he has written the acclaimed official biography of Stephane Grappelli, the jazz violinist, and is a contributor to the Penguin Encyclopaedia of Popular Music. He lives in Oakley Vale, Northamptonshire

Reviews

“Definitive” – Performing Musician magazine.
“Genius” – MI Pro (Musical Intrument Professional)