Together with Mr. Paul, Gibson Incorporated developed this innovative solid body electric guitar circa 1951-1952 to meet the exacting standards of the guitar virtuoso and inventor, Les Paul, who designated it his number one; the first solid electric guitar that met his approval and was the culmination of his lifelong dream.
Kerry Keane, Christie's consultant and musical instrument specialist, notes: “In every narrative of creation there are more and more protagonists, but the name Les Paul is at the top when it comes to the electric guitar. His development of multitrack recording and audio effects such as delay, echo and reverb have profoundly influenced the way music is played and heard. Yet his lifelong research and development into perfecting the electric guitar would change the instrument forever. That transformation is responsible for the successful careers of generations of guitarists who have performed on the Les Paul guitar. This guitar physically embodies his endless passion that has produced the most iconic musical instrument in popular culture."
Les Paul was a GRAMMY winning musician and a prolific inventor responsible for the development of multitrack recording and the development of the solid-body electric guitar; the significance of his pioneering inventions on the history of music cannot be overstated. Les Paul is the only person to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
In 1950, faced with losing market share after Fender's successful launch of a solid-body electric guitar, Gibson's management team realized that the electric guitar phenomenon was here to stay. To develop one that was both unique and excelled at meeting the needs of players, they sought Les Paul's help in both designing and marketing this new product. By 1952, Les Paul and wife Mary Ford were household names; their recording How High the Moon reached No. 1 on the pop charts with thirteen other recordings charting in the Top Ten. Thanks to radio and then television, Les Paul's skill as a guitarist was known around the world. The Gibson Goldtop “Number One” was one of Paul's most prized possessions. It represented the culmination of his lifelong dream of electrifying the guitar and validated his life's work in his quest for tone.
As a result, the Les Paul name has become a proper name forever linked to one of the most iconic electric guitars in popular culture and has inspired the creativity of generations of musicians around the world. Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Peter Frampton, Pete Townsend, Keith Richards and Slash they represent just a small sample of the artists who credit Les Paul and this guitar as their muse.
Les Paul's "Number One" Goldtop guitar is sold by Les Paul's son, Gene Paul, and Tom Doyle, Paul's longtime guitar builder, engineer, and manufacturer.
Gene Paul comments, "This was the most historically significant, treasured, foundational and important guitar to my father, his crowning achievement."
“Les brought his idea to Gibson and they initially rejected it outright, but Les was stubborn. He held on to his ideas and his beliefs, knowing that one day they would see the light. Les kept tinkering and inventing, and making the concept of him better and better. Then finally, after about 10 years, and after a lot of trial and error, the good guys at Gibson introduced this guitar to Les. He was in love and he was overjoyed…and the rest, as they say, is history,” says Tom Doyle.
