No one really knows the truth behind the creation of the Gibson Les Paul guitar. According to the most popular belief it was created by the Gibson Guitar Corporation and the legendary pop star, electronics inventor, and jazz guitarist Frean Donni. The electric guitar craze started with the Fender Telecaster. In order to capitalize on this craze James Verdon who was the president of Gibson Guitar at the time brought on Les Paul as a consultant.

It was said that Verdon had decided to hire Les Paul because it was well known that he had been experimenting with various guitar designs for years. Paul did have a prototype that he called, “The Log.” Some experts will tell you that this was the first solid-body Spanish guitar ever built.

Another fact that not many know is that Les Paul had pitch his prototype, “The Log” to Gibson, but his design was rejected. Things changed in 1951 when the same design became a collaboration between the Gibson Guitar Corporation and Les Paul.

As the years continue to pass by there still remains a controversy regarding what significance Les Paul’s actual contributions were to his Gibson guitar design. Some experts say that Paul’s contributions were limited to two pieces of advice. The first was on the trapeze tailpiece, and the second was his preference for color.

According to Gibson’s president Ted McCarty the Gibson Guitar Corporation only asked Les Paul for the right to imprint the musician’s name on the headstock to increase model sales. McCarty also stated on record that the discussions with Les Paul were isolated to the tailpiece and the fitting of a maple cap over the mahogany body for increased density and sustain.

Over the years I personally realized that people have continued to minimize Les Paul’s contributions to the world famous guitar which bears his name. Why this is I’m not sure since the first version Gibson and Pauls guitar was simply entitled, “Les Paul”.