Les Paul guitars feature a distinctive solid-body design.
The Gibson Les Paul is one of the most recognizable electric guitars in the world. The style is so well known that many companies offer a "Les Paul" style guitar, but to true aficionados of the instrument, nothing replaces the original. The Les Paul was originally designed by Les Paul and Ted McCarty in 1952. Many elements of that original design have remained the same right up to the current models.
Headstock
The headstock on a Gibson Les Paul is distinctive. The headstock starts narrow near the neck then flares out sharply. Then, it traces an even arc upward where the top end is cut in a shape that looks somewhat like a smiling upper lip. The headstock features three tuning heads on each side of the wood and will have the Gibson logo printed on the top. A name plate near the neck sometimes indicates whether the model is a Studio or other special model. The words Les Paul are printed perpendicular to the Gibson logo on the headstock on some models.
The Neck
The necks for various Les Paul guitars have slight differences. The 22-fret neck is the norm on guitars such as the Les Paul Standard; however, 24-fret versions are available on certain guitars, such as the Buckethead Signature model. Some of the most visually identifiable features of a Les Paul are the neck inlays. The mother-of-pearl inlays in the distinctive trapezoid shape usually identifies a Les Paul neck instantly. Most Les Paul necks have been mahogany.
Body
Les Pauls are solid-body electric guitars in a single-cutaway style. Changes to the basic shape of that body have been minimal since the original models in the '50s. A mahogany and maple construction is mostly associated with the Les Paul. Bodies are available in several distinct finishes that are identified with the GIbson brand. These include heritage sunburst, goldtop, cherry burst and the ebony finish sometimes referred to as the "Black Beauty."
Electronics
Les Paul electronics have changed more over the years than other elements of the guitar. The guitars normally features a standard two-humbucker pickup configuration. However, the pickup type and materials used has grown and shifted with the various models over the decades. The original Les Paul was fitted with single coils, but the two-humbucker configuration has been the standard since the late '50s. Notable exceptions appeared that used a three- or one-pickup configuration instead.
