Product Description

Introduced in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul has become the world's second most popular electric guitar, favoured by legendary guitarists such as Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, Neil Young, Jimmy Page and Slash. Designed by the great musician and innovator, Les Paul, with help from Gibson craftsmen, this guitar has constantly evolved and in 2007 an all-digital model was launched. Today, while original models change hands for thousands of pounds, almost identical Epiphone and Gibson models are mass-produced for sale worldwide. The Gibson Les Paul remains a classic instrument and, with the help of this practical 'how to' manual, will last a lifetime.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6667 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 175 pages

About the Author
Paul Balmer has played and taught guitar for 40 years. His background includes broadcasting (TV and radio), video/DVD production and authorship of several books. Besides Haynes's Fender Stratocaster Manual, he has written the acclaimed official biography of Stephane Grappelli, the jazz violinist, and is a contributor to the Penguin Encyclopaedia of Popular Music. He lives at Oakley Vale, Northamptonshire.

Customer Reviews

Paul Balmer does it again!
Paul Balmer manages to write a fantastic book about a fantastic creation, with new interviews and pics of all your favourite guitarists/guitars.

he even manages to put aside his love of the Fender Stratocaster - for evidence of this love, see the Haynes Stratocaster manual, another AMAZING book!

in short, this book will tell you everything you need to know about owning and maintaining a Les Paul. it won't, however, make you feel any better about not owning a 1959 Les Paul Standard. i nearly cried at some of the pictures in this book...

Disappointed with Haynes Les Paul Manual ! ! !
I bought this book hoping to find useful technical data - stuff I could actually use to help me to work on guitars of this type. Things like wiring diagrams / explanations and detailed information about things like capacitors, pots etc.[eg. "What to do if you want to do this or that"]. That was my mistake. This `manual` is full of beautiful photos of Les Pauls and contains excellent descriptions for the potential buyer or Les Paul drooler, but very little that is actually useful to the repairer / restorer. Just another Les Paul photo album - not a manual.

Great book
This is a good PRACTICAL book and I own a copy which I have read.

I also have a '76 Les Paul deluxe (in immaculate condition - £1450 on EBay).

With many old Gibsons, a lot of remedial and maintenance work is necessary - this book certainly helped with my old and delicate guitar.

I will say, a good RECOMMENDED guitar tech is still invaluable.