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Jaco Pastorius used this 1962 Fender Jazz Bass with The Weather Report and throughout the majority of his recording and performing career.
  
Pictured Above: The Bass of Doom Signature model and the BOD as it appears today (it was refinished after it was stolen in 1987.) |
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In the first part of my tribute to Les Paul I mostly touched on the contributions made with the solid body electric guitar but he also should be remembered for his innovations in regards to recording.
In 1948, Paul released the first multi-tracked recording “Lover (When You're Near Me) from his garage. “Multi-tracked” meaning multiple layers of recordings blended together in the construction of a song. Paul accomplished this feat not with tape but with multiple acetate discs. A tedious and painstaking process, Paul reportedly went through over 500 acetate discs to achieve the quality he desired for the song. Soon after this with the financial backing of Bing Crosby and Ampex, Paul developed a tape machine for Ampex capable of multi-tracking. This opened the door for more freedom with recordings: more instruments, more separation, more control, and more possibilities. Spacious musical landscapes with numerous layers and effects are possible thanks to the pioneer efforts of Paul.
Les Paul also achieved a great deal of success as a recording artist both solo but more so with his wife Mary Ford as a duo. Paul made records in many different genres including jazz, country and blues. He won 2 Grammys at age 90 for his album “Les Paul: American Made World Played” and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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On August 12th we lost one of the most important and key figures in the advancement of music on so many levels. He single-handedly started a musical revolution with the invention of the electric solid body guitar and the technology required for multi-tracking, a recording technique that exponentially expanded the possibilities in recording.
Les Paul is synonymous with the guitar. The guitar in general but also for the famed Gibson Les Paul guitar which was designed by and played by Paul for so many years. He is generally credited with the invention of the electric solid body guitar although Leo Fender is also credited with advancements to the instrument as well. The prototype guitar Paul created, "the log" was a 4” x 4” piece of lumber that Paul attached a pickup, strings and a bridge to. This primitive precursor to the more sleek model that bore the inventor's name can be seen on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
The Gibson Les Paul has become one of the most sought after guitar models. There have been many variations of the Les Paul including the Standard, Classic, Custom, Studio and Jr. Examples of some famous Les Pauls and their owners are:
Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page w/ Sunburst Les Paul Collection
Neil Young
Neil Young's "Old Black" Les Paul w/ Bigsby Tremolo
Duane Allman
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Duane Allman leaning in on a couple LPs
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