Electric Bard

When Gibson launched the Les Paul model solid body electric guitar in the 1950’s, they hit on an extraordinarily successful design that is still in demand today. Before the 50’s were done, Les Paul models included several features that are still the benchmark as must-have features on any quality electric guitar:
• a cutaway on the guitar shoulder allows easier access to the higher frets, an absolute necessity for any modern player today
• a two pickup configuration, the basic foundation of many tonally versatile electric guitars
• an adjustable bridge, for accurate intonation no matter what gauge of string is being used

Gibson has introduced many different solid body electric guitars over the years, either based on the Les Paul or as a complete departure from that design template (or as auto manufacturers would say, “platform”). The selection of Les Paul styles available now is amazing, with something for almost every budget. The most popular models stick close to the traditional platform, although Gibson have been very creative and untraditional with models like the Les Paul Standard 2010 Limited model, which features just about every imaginable sonic variation you could ask for with its dizzying array of pickup possibilities, not to mention Gibson’s somewhat unfortunately named Robot Tuning technology.

At an MSRP of over $6000USD, it’s not for everyone. But if there was going to be a new fangled Les Paul for everyone, I offer three simple suggestions for a design update that can retain the same sound, and very nearly the same look, as the tradition demands.

1. Reconfigure the volume and tone controls. They’re too far away. Let’s go from this:

to this:

2. Move the pickup selector switch and put it behind the stop tailpiece. It’s more efficient and you’re less likely to hit it by accident.
3. Add coil taps to the pickups, so they can be used in humbucking or single coil mode. This is already available on a very limited number of models, but as a standard feature it would add a lot of sonic variety to an iconic guitar.

There it is, three little ideas to update the Les Paul without stepping too far away from its venerable roots. If Gibson incorporated those three ideas into a new Les Paul platform, they could then offer all kinds of variations on the theme. Maybe they could call it the 21-Series, as in 21st century. I’d have to have one, that’s for sure!