Les Paul
We would be remiss in our duties as repairmen, luthiers, and those interested in the subject if we were to ignore the passing of Les Paul. He worked with some of the biggest talents early in his career. At his peak, he was one of the most successful musicians on the planet racking up several top ten songs. He combined jazz and western swing to create a new style all his own.
While it is true that his name will always be associated with the eponymous guitar, as bass players we owe him a debt of gratitude. Les Paul was one of the first people to experiment with and create a solid body instrument. An inveterate tinkerer, he worked on recording, effects, and guitar design for decades. He was responsible for flanging, chorusing, and multi-tracking. He was one of the first to employ low impedance pickups and onboard preamps, typically found on most pro gear. Try to find a medium priced or high end bass guitar without these features.
NYT obit Gibson obit
