Les Paul CNBC Interview 1991

[@satinwhip]

I saw Les perform at the Iridium in 2006. His playing was clearly compromised because of his arthritis but every so often he'd peel off a run and I'd look up in amazement. He still had it. It was a pleasure to meet him, shake his hand and thank him for everything he created. Rest in peace, Les.

[@stephencampbell2735]

Kind words

[@john-kl3ux]

The word genius is thrown around a lot but this guy was an absolute genius in every sense of the world.

[@matthewdotson2186]

For real! He designed the Les Paul, invented multi-track recording, no big deal, and then basically paved the way for modern rock and roll and pop music. And to top, he was a virtuoso who could shred!

[@SuperStrik9]

Thanks for everything you did Les. With your music and inventions such as the Les Paul guitar and multi track recording among other things, you made the world a better place.

[@waretafai]

"I haven't mastered it, yet" that's how you know, bro. He's the real deal.

[@rustyaxelrod]

Les was an amazingly clever man, the music industry and us listeners owe him a lot. When his arm was broken in the car wreck, he knew it would be immovable after it healed so he had it set in a playing position. Forward thinking and dedicated to his future. RIP Les Paul. In these politically charged times, I think it’s cool that I can “thumbs up” a video produced by CNBC.

[@lionheartroar3104]

Thank Les for every electric rock and roll record ever recorded, multi tracking and overdubbing.

[@ralphtouch8962]

Former Ampex tech

[@reghunt2487]

I saw Les Paul at Fat Tuesday's 3 times I think. One of those times he was playing a black LP Junior I think, and it had these really big pickups. I asked him about them, and he confirmed they were something he was working on but didn't give details, but he handed me the guitar to try. So I got to noodle on his guitar for a few minutes(!) Super nice guy. Never caught him at the Iridium, wish I had. Pure genius.

[@berfsk]

They were low impedance pickups ... he called the guitar super brute ...but the pickups were too large and didn't work out for him...Fat Tuesday's Les was in his prime... I worked for Les and was his friend was with him till his passing at white plains hospital

[@reghunt2487]

@@berfsk That is wonderful to know. Thanks very much. I really treasure that memory and am so glad I got to catch him when I did.

[@MrHumpah12]

"The guitar is such an interesting instrument because it's the best bartender, house wife, mistress, crook, psychiatrist you could ever find"-Les Paul Yep.... Perfect...

[@alexyang8440]

what an inspiration! words just fail to express.

[@jcsolomon6470]

He's the Tesla of Recording!😮And Guitar Innovations!😊

[@liamflairty8944]

As a Wisconsinite I absolutely cringed at him saying waukeesha

[@operatingfromtheditch]

RIP Les, thanks for everything

[@sheddski2942]

The fact he goes back so far and still got the licks and lived into his 90s jamming is incredible to me he has to be right up there with Henry Ford Edison and Harley-Davidson for his inventions and we all know electricity first Harley Davidson second automobile third and les Paul

[@airplaneB3N]

Besides for Ford and Edison. They both lived for money and not for actual craftsmanship in my opinion.

[@cravinbob]

Thomas Edison was a charlatan who hired inventors and roundly abused Nikola Tesla. He does not belong in any discussion on this level.

[@yestoES355]

Happy to know my Gibson Les Paul goldtop has such a passionate history. I’m 18 and had very little knowledge of les Paul.

[@berfsk]

Lespaul.org

[@yestoES355]

chris lentz yeah thanks!s

[@sethherron313]

18 with a goldtop les paul.....lucky you

[@jamescullen6158]

18 with a gold top? i was 60 when i got mine.

[@Group_Anonymous]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nikdrown]

I’m not a Les Paul guitar fan but the admiration I have for him

[@SHOzFST]

That man is an absolute legend

[@SocraticIAM]

Purely admirable genius with a sense of humor who was known to ask, " who the hell is Leo"? The wood with his name inscribed that has been near and dear to my heart is easily the dame he describes and more❗

[@69dragster]

gee RIP les and thank you for your wonderful invention

[@CAVERWOOD]

Those records with Mary Ford are some of the best records ever made !!

[@jamescullen6158]

calling the then fat tuesdays club in new york a sweaty beer joint i find very offensive. it was small but i used to go many times to see les paul and the guys. great days.

[@matthewdotson2186]

His simplified adapted-playing style here is still miles ahead of my playing, and I'd consider myself a "good" guitarist.

[@glennknauer2696]

What a genius and happy go lucky guy.

[@rillloudmother]

not long after this was the first time i saw him at fat tuesdays.

[@sonijam]

Wonderful

[@EdValencia]

In the early 90's, Les Paul used to have a gig at the Iridium every Wednesday night. Can't believe he is gone.

[@jopestv1063]

It's been 10yrs since Rhubarb Red went to play with the angels, and I still miss him. Damn, it doesn't matter how much I listen to him, his tone & technique still gives me goose bumps. Love you Les (& Mary, too!).

[@JMLsMUSIC]

8:34 to the end of the video. wow incredible

[@frankdiscussion2069]

Actually Ted McCarty designed the Gibson Les Paul and Seth Lover designed the PAF humbucker. They just stuck his name on the guitar. Also Les Paul did not invent the disc cutter as they were around before the invention of the recording tape. He was just showing off his "home made" one.

[@skaneverdies]

Just in case you missed it - this dude built a god damn LATHE with crap he found around the house.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

For real!

[@ryanhogge8]

I simply don't understand how this man is never ranked by the critics as the #1 guitarist of all time.

[@sambo9855]

That man never played a note in bad taste!

[@rosieotis]

Legend.

[@guitorb]

Do you have a song in your heart but you haven't the time, patience or ability to articulate the various parts to other musicians? Record all of the parts yourself. This is what Les Paul means to me. Thank You, Les!!!!

[@Skibble5150]

Genius

[@BradReid]

The man!

[@mark11967AD]

If he would have made these creations of a similar magnitude today Les Paul would be a billionaire. Thank God he lived when he did.

[@lespaul3d]

Fantastic. Thanks Chris.

[@allenjones3130]

Rest in peace, Les.

[@elbecko7969]

Wow

[@tedcabana]

Les Pauls greatest influence was Les Paul. Never was a better.

[@utube321piotr]

Great Man.

[@RobertJohnson-pf9dz]

0:18 He's the... Thomas Edison of recording??

[@noahh4682]

I was thinking the same thing, all these reporters and writers are not very well educated people.

[@bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb77]

OH YEAH i love my 2 les paul customns thank LES or i would have never had them

[@timducote5713]

Les did not design the Les Paul guitar; Gibson had already designed it in reaction to Leo Fender's Telecaster. Gibson called up Les for an endorsement, the same way that Gretsch called up Chet Atkins to sell guitars. Neither had any say in the initial designs.

[@bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb77]

@@timducote5713 ha ive watched countless shows bout les and like i said thanks les or id never have what i have

[@zadentalma1784]

anybody know what the last song is called?

[@FB1BB1BB1]

Somewhere, Over the Rainbow

[@indigohammer5732]

Eight track in 1953!!!

[@bessied.5694]

If Les Paul didn't play between 1965 and 1980 as he claims in this interview, then how did he manage two albums of duets with Chet Atkins in the late 1970's?

[@timducote5713]

Because Les Paul was a notorious liar.

[@briansilcox5720]

I went to a great Les Paul "concert" in 1976 at the Great American Music Hall. It was a bit before the album with Chet, but what a showman!

[@bessied.5694]

@@timducote5713 ; My point exactly.

[@timducote5713]

@@bessied.5694 Les Paul claimed to be the progenitor of many things - most of which was not true, including: 1. He did not create the electro-magnetic pickup 2. He did not create the solid-body guitar 3. He didn't even design his signature model Gibson guitar. The only part that he had a hand in was the long bridge/tailpiece on the first years model that was changed to the tune-o-matic the next year. Paul Bigsby made a small, solid-body guitar for Les Paul, prior to the Gibson solid body bearing his name, after his accident for Les to play while recovering in the hospital. Les Paul lied for years about the existence of this guitar until Bigsby's original patterns emerged with Les's name on them. If I remember correctly, the guitar turned up at a garage sale of someone who lived next door to Les Paul. Les claimed that when Gibson redesigned the Les Paul model from the traditional Les Paul to the SG in 1961 that he had his name removed because he did not approve of the design; he said that the "sharp" horns could injure his hands when playing fast. The fact is that Mary Ford had filed for divorce and he didn't want her to be able to get his lucrative royalties from guitar sales. I don't know why so many myths were built up around Les Paul but it is amazing that not only did he not correct the record but he knowingly helped to promote them.

[@bessied.5694]

@@timducote5713 ; The latest claim I've seen recently is that he invented the harmonica rack. If that's true, he must have gotten word to Ernest Stoneman about it, who was playing guitar and a racked harmonica in the mid twenties.

[@mehermusic2154]

he didn't invent the electric guitar. however he was one of it's earliest and most brilliant innovators. also a killer player. and, how about the tesla of the guitar instead of the edison

[@KC9UDX]

He did. Someone else might have done it earlier but he still invented it.

[@timducote5713]

@@KC9UDX No he didn't and your statement makes no sense. Someone else did it earlier but he invented it?

[@KC9UDX]

@@timducote5713 so you don't believe two people can independently invent the same thing? History books are going to be very surprising.

[@jimmiejames4674]

He sure did invent the solid body electric guitar.

[@berfsk]

Your welcome

[@KC9UDX]

Nobody mispronounces Waukesha anymore

[@tobyhiddens7233]

He has his arm stuck in place because almost lost it and just had doctor fuse it.

[@jamescullen6158]

calling the then fat tuesdays in new york

[@enricosanchez894]

CNBC, get a clue. How High The Moon by Les Paul and Mary Ford predated Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock by two years. And his hometown is Waukesha, not WauKEEsha.

[@CK3KSF]

Jimmy and Pete played Strats.. But I get it...

[@bartstarr100]

WakEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEsha lol

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Who is Les Chrintz?

[@xzysyndrome]

Les Paul did not invent the electric guitar...fuck sake...

[@noahh4682]

Notice They never mention or say “solid body” when they made that statement. Man I hope no one tells them fender beat Gibson by a year on the first mass produced solid body electric guitar...

[@KC9UDX]

Yes he did, foul mouth. It doesn't matter if someone else did at the same time or earlier.

[@timducote5713]

@@KC9UDX Paul Bigsby was making solid-body type guitars prior to both Fender and Gibson. Fender was the first with the mass produced solid-body guitar. The Gibson Les Paul, like the Gretsch Duo Jet, was a reaction by Gibson and Gretsch to the Fender Telecaster.

[@KC9UDX]

@@timducote5713 Gibson doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Les Paul built an electric guitar without knowledge of anyone else doing it.

[@ozzynotwood]

@@KC9UDX If someone else did it earlier then how is Les the inventor? 🤷‍♂️

[@michaelszczys8316]

Reminds me of some of the wild things I have created from used junk over the years, only 10,000 times better.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Rickenbacker invented it. Sorry classic cliche

[@robertmartinez4174]

Les Paul didn't invent The Electric Guitar.

[@timducote5713]

Very true. That is a myth which, for some reason, will not die.

[@robertmartinez4174]

@@timducote5713 The Production Company probably had to say that Les Paul invented the Electric Guitar as A Condition of allowing them to film or tape Les Paul.

[@I_0..0_I]

Les Paul did not invent the electric guitar, did not invent multitrack recording nor invented the solid body guitar. He was a clever entrepenour with an ability for story telling and a smart musician ehi was very clever in giving the idea that other people work was his own.

[@horstvazinksi3408]

All in all, he did invent and pioneer multi-track recording. Everything else you mentioned I agree with.

[@I_0..0_I]

@@horstvazinksi3408 the multi track recording machine that he used was invented and given to him by ampex. The first multitrack dates to the end of the 1800 and the invention of stereo sound. Multi track on tape was made commercially available in the 40 50s. Les Paul did not have the knowledge nor the skills to produce or invent such sofisticated equipment let alone the capitals to invest. He was a good guitarist in a time if great inventions and discoveries, we are lucky he didn't claim to invent nuclear reactors. Ah btw several studios around the world where already using multitrack.

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

Script logo amp

[@ShawnBrandon888]

He is an arrogant you know what.

[@horstvazinksi3408]

You can be arrogant if you were Les Paul