The Gibson Les Pauls, the 1958 - 1960 “Bursts”: A Short History - featuring Jeff McErlain

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In order of appearance
Jeff McErlain:
www.jeffmcerlain.com/
Joey Landreth:
www.joeylandreth.com/
RJ Ronquillo
www.rjronquillo.com/
Jason Isbell:
www.jasonisbell.com/
Jared James Nichols:
/ @jjnicholsmusic
***Amazon links for the books mentioned
"The Musical Instrument Collector" by Willcutt and Ball:
amzn.to/3D9WQQF
"The Beauty of the Burst" by Yasuhiko Iwanade:
amzn.to/3ll4aTx
"The Gibson Les Paul" by Dave Hunter:
amzn.to/3ocH83n
"Sunburst" by Tony Bacon:
amzn.to/3185Ats
"Million Dollar Les Paul" by Tony Bacon
amzn.to/3d1Yr0u
"Sunburst Alley" by Vic DaPra
amzn.to/3d1Yr0u
Here is my short history of the Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls, built in just three years from 1958 to 1960, they are now some of the most valuable guitars in the world. Oh, the guitar in the thumbnail is considered to be the "first burst". Notice the multiple piece top.
Thanks for watching.
Keith
*** Five watt world participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In simpler language, this means that whenever you buy something from Amazon from a link on here, I receive a small percentage of its price.

[@plexibreath]

In 1977 I was 21 years old and had a job making $5 and hour. I wanted a Les Paul like Jimmy Page played, so I went to Norm's Rare, which was in a small house, and got to play a burst Les Paul Standard, it faded to sort of a green hue. I loved it and asked how much he'd sell it for, he said $3500. Well in those days buying a Les Paul at $5 per hour, even if it was only $3500, was as unobtainable to me then as the same guitar is today. But in 1978 I did manage to get a 1955 Les Paul Custom that had been refinished sunburst and had been routed for humbuckers, for a very good price, I still have that one.

[@sixstringcity3931]

Awesome story! It hit me b/c I was mowing yards for $5-10 a pop for a year or so to buy a new 1988 Gibson LP Custom in Alpine white- it was $655. All these years later and wishing Id never sold it. I just bought an unburst standard from Norms this week!

[@bartvanriel6767]

Enjoy it, play it and never get rid of it if you can help it

[@scrantonguitar]

In 1981 at the age of 14 I dug out part of a neighbors in ground pool by hand. . Made enough to buy my friends white early 1970s sg. Still grieving its sale 35 years later ✌🏼

[@guyroger4131]

Any pics...

[@danschneider9921]

In the same time frame as you are talking about I bought my first "real" bass, a 1960 Fender Jazz bass "stack knob" for $350. No one really cared about "vintage" basses then. How things have changed.

[@jonzu4]

I love that Coors commercial where Les Paul is at a bar and some guy is playing guitar on a Gibson Les Paul. Les asks to play it and then plays an awesome lick. The guitarist ask Les his name and Les says, "It's on your guitar."

[@zeppelinboys]

I had no idea Coors was peddling their "beer" back in the 50/60s (I assume the commercial was shot then). I always thought Coors (yellow can) became a thing in the 1970s.

[@vladv5126]

That moment when your coffee is ready and you notice a new short history video.

[@samsantanamusic]

Could timing be any more perfect? ;)

[@paulwhite7125]

For real though. Good stuff to drink a cup of coffee ☕ to. Cheers!

[@vladv5126]

Yep. Super chill vibe to these videos.

[@michaelmiller237]

Now I want 5watt cocoa

[@naciremasti]

Unpopular opinion: I'll never be a single cut fan. Popular opinion: Keith's become the predominant guitar historian on youtube.

[@auntjenifer7774]

Hey get a Les Paul special double cut ! They are my fave playing but the burst looks so nice !

[@andrewgarcia3136]

i've been playing les pauls for 15 years. let me tell you, no one, and i mean NO ONE plays them for comfort lol. basically all of us tolerate the shape and the weight of the guitar for how it sounds and plays and how pretty it is.

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

@@andrewgarcia3136 *SO* true!

[@jimmybags1494]

I second this opinion

[@graxjpg]

@@andrewgarcia3136 good to know lol, I don’t like the sound that much more than an SG so I will save my wallet the trouble LOL

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank for having me involved once again my friend!

[@casparnielsen7653]

Growing up in the 80´s, Knopfler and “Money for nothing” was the icon of the burst.

[@vladv5126]

It was an LP junior on the recording though so not a burst. He did play a burst live though.

[@terrycolletti6793]

And on the music video for money for nothing he was playing an 83 LP. Those guitars are very desirable among collectors and have become known as the "Knophler Run LPs"

[@RiffsAndBeards]

Saddle up, boys here we gooooooo

[@wesleyalan9179]

Lol! Isn't this channel the shiz'nitt!!😅

[@donnyhall2535]

FLUFFFFFFFF! There is a tube screamer clone on eBay, one chassis 2 pedals. TS808 & TS9, $28-$40 depending on seller. I bought one just to say I gave it a shot and it's actually pretty good. Check it out man, might be worth a review. Just a suggestion. Love your channel and Keith's as always. Very informative and I learn a lot of the little things most players and some techs don't know or haven't learned as of yet. I think I'm very knowledgeable, but you can never know everything about anything. Unless you're George Gruhn.

[@fivewattworld]

FLUUUUUF-meister! Always good to (virtually) get to hang out with you man. :)

[@denverrandy7143]

Definitely gonna go look up original "Burst" les Paul's around this time to see what I'll most likely never have.lol never say never.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Burstingly good history. Thanks Keith!!

[@misi6misi659]

You missed the very first burst ever played on American TV by a british rock star. Keith Richards playing his 59’ with a Bigsby on Ed Sullivan.

[@slashgee7827]

Was definitely going to add this, Richards' influence is overlooked in the burst lore, a few of them went through the Stones. Mick Taylor is also one of my favorite burst players.

[@fivewattworld]

True, but he really isn't cited as influencing folks to buy Bursts the way Clapton and Page did.

[@thekitowl]

@@slashgee7827 mick bought Keith’s original burst before he joined the stones, so that LP made it’s way back into the band. Sadly stolen in the 70’s.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Who just couldn't watch the whole video without picking up their own Les Paul...?? It's 4:30am in Australia, so I couldn't plug her in... but I still had to hold her awhile...😄

[@ZombieXee]

Yup, grabbed her about 2 minutes in.

[@robertemerson1087]

I literally want to play my Standard every time I hear a guitar or someone talks about it.

[@DanCooz323]

I'm about to go grab one of mine, at 10am!

[@nikolaibarbarich7887]

Haha I'm was strumming mine too in Melbourne Australia!

[@pharmerdavid1432]

Which one...?

[@sbrollins76]

Don't forget that Keith Richards was playing his '59 with Bigsby at least 2 years before the Beano album. It's in some of the earliest TV appearances for the Stones and it's the "Satisfaction" guitar!

[@ngsanfo7927]

This! I was looking to see if someone commented this before I did. Being a Richards/Taylor fanatic, I found myself getting a bit angry for this not being mentioned in the video, even though I still loved the video🤣

[@iannicholls7476]

Although it is true that Keith pre-dates Clapton and Bloomfield as a Burst player I don’t believe that he kick started craze in the same way that they did.

[@ngsanfo7927]

@@iannicholls7476 maybe you’re right but seeing as these British musicians were all pretty close, Clapton gifting Richards his #1 Telecaster, it’d be safe to assume that Keith’s playing of his Burst was an influence. Keith was revolutionary, being the first to use a stomp box as well as utilizing Tweed Fenders to get a sound replicated by many etc

[@iannicholls7476]

@@ngsanfo7927 I think Clapton himself has said that he was very influenced by seeing a Freddie King album cover where he is holding a Les Paul.

[@thekitowl]

@@iannicholls7476 apparently it was seeing & hearing Andy Summers playing his newly purchased burst that led to Eric getting his first burst. Andy told Eric where he’d bought it & said they have another on the wall , so the next day Eric went & got it. When that burst was stolen, Eric convinced Andy to part with his burst . That album had the guitar tone Eric wanted, only later did Eric find out that Kings LP had P90’s.

[@ludlow555]

Growing up in Chicago in the late 70s, I drooled over the bursts owned by REO Speedwagon’s Gary Richrath.

[@thundergroot22]

Maybe some guitar players short histories like: Frankenstrat: A Short History

[@JazzRockswithAdam]

Being an Eddie Van Halen fan, I don't know why I didn't think of suggesting that myself!

[@msbrech]

Or a history of The Black Strat? Personally I'm hoping we might get a Short History of the Rick Turner One.

[@alpha120689]

Jason Isbell playing “Red Eye” was a big moment for him. In an interview he told the story about that day. On his way home from playing it for that video he got lost trying to get home. He couldn’t get the guitar or the feeling it gave him out of his mind. As soon as he could he called his accountant to try and get the money to purchase it and there was no way that was going to happen. So he decided he’d play every weird gig and birthday gig he could to be able to pay for it. He eventually got the guitar and plays it often not only on records but on tours as well.

[@mazzfoxtrot]

I was so happy when Jason got Red Eye. If anyone deserves a burst, it's that dude.

[@VPicksGuitarPicks]

I was friends with Ed King and I know that guitar quite well.

[@mikew9788]

That is a cool story

[@Brannington]

Can we just talk about how rad RJ's shoes are in that blister top clip?

[@flguitarist8298]

A short history of the "lawsuit" guitars of the 70s/80s and how japanese companies transitioned from making they're own designs to copying gibson and fender would be cool

[@benallmark9671]

Very cool , great idea I hope he does it.

[@MrWumbologist]

This would be cool!

[@Chaosdude341]

That would be very cool!

[@theccarbiter]

thatd be cool

[@davisphillips6409]

I would love to know more about that.

[@jollyreefer6192]

Slash's famed '59 LP replica was made by Kris Derrig, not Max Baranet. It's possible that Slash played another replica made by Max Baranet. However, THE '59 LP replica used by Slash on Appetite for Destruction and nearly all of his other studio albums was made by Derrig. It's definitely one of the most valuable guitars in the world now.

[@MattyK-USA]

Keith, you've literally become our very own Ken Burns of the world of music gear. Yet another killer job, and what a topic! Thanks for sharing your passion with us all, mate. 🙂

[@rogercoles3973]

Joe Perry picked up a 1959 burst while on the road with Get Your Wings. He used it almost exclusively on the next album Toys in the attic. It ended up being owned by Slash after Joe lost it to bankruptcy. Slash ended up giving it back to Joe many years later.

[@IamMagPie]

A couple of decades ago, I bought my first expensive guitar while visiting Manhattan NY for the first time in my life; a Gibson Les Paul. Had Les Paul autograph the pickguard when I visited the Iridium jazz club. It's still one of my top 5 guitars in my collection and I always take it with me when on stage. I've also read that Paul McCartney has a 1960 (?) "lefty" Les Paul. That is indeed a rare bird.

[@williammills3632]

William Mills I was in a lil band while stationed in Germany. We went up near Hamburg to record an album. The engineer had a small studio in his house. He also was an accomplished session guitarist. My guitar/amp wasn't recording well.. So he went and got a guitar for me to play. It was his 58 burst and his Marshall Bluesbreaker combo. I have never and will never forget that magic moment.

[@davidsommerville2213]

The ‘like’ button needs to be replaced by a ‘love’ button. This video is a half-hour of heaven. Thx to 5WW for a great video about a legendary instrument.

[@brucesimak631]

Keith, I was enjoying this video and then you mentioned something that just about made me spit out my coffee. You mentioned Jeff Beck's Les Paul was damaged while on a U.S. tour. I SAW THAT HAPPEN! I imagine I'm one of the few people around that remember that. My buddy Don Henry, who recently passed, and I were leaning up against the stage when Jeff finished his set. He put his Les Paul on top of the Marshall stack he was playing through. A minute later his roadie came out and pulled the guitar off the amp by it's strap. The strap let go and the guitar hit the floor and the head snapped off! When Jeff came out to do a second set he had the busted guitar in hand and acted like he was going to throw it into the crowd. Then he thought better. Wonder if the roadie got fired. That happened at a small venue in Chicago called the Electric Theater. For 5 bucks we saw two sets with our elbows on the stage. Jeff was 5 feet away. We couldn't hear birds for a week after the show.

[@fivewattworld]

Great! Story man! Thanks for taking the time to share it here.

[@garyginther6742]

That roadie really did deserve to get fired, and a swift kick in his 'control cavity'. Never pick a guitar up that way! Especially that one. No respect, for the instrument, OR the ARTIST!! He was clearly in the wrong line of work.

[@nine9whitepony526]

@@garyginther6742 Kicked in the control panel....I love it 😆

[@Richard_Lush]

Boy I remember those days like yesterday. Cheap seating, lots o noise and weed. I would have loved/hated to see that. That sticks in your brain👍

[@VI-fq5do]

The Fender Bass VI : A Short History?

[@manuelkruize9869]

YES!!!

[@louderthangod]

Absolutely. I’ve never understood why they aren’t more popular. I have 3.

[@manuelkruize9869]

@@louderthangod I think one of the reasons is to nice And not alot use case

[@donnyhall2535]

Been asking for that one for many moons guys. Unfortunately Keith doesn't have a Bass VI. But he did tell me to check out the Bass VI video Zack Child's did on his channel, Ask Zack. He does a really good job and is super knowledgeable on vintage gear. I wouldn't steer you away from FWW, Keith does an amazing job. But that was his suggestion to me. Thought I would share.

[@louderthangod]

@@manuelkruize9869 They work great for so many things. From tic-tac sounds in country, to Robert Smith in the cure. I use my for dark ambient music as well as doom metal. They sound beautiful for cleans, like the left half of a piano and make for really great, melodic work that has power to it.

[@Bag-Of-Toys]

Fascinating that there are ALWAYS people to "Thumbs Down" ANYTHING. What could you possibly disapprove of?

[@ileutur6863]

Even more fascinating is why there are people who notice enough to even care about it. It could be a bot, someone's kid randomly tapping on a screen, an old dude who can't see. It really doesn't matter at all

[@randalclarke5487]

@@melvynobrien6193 they are absolutely overrated and overpriced

[@mauromalatesta]

Damn strat fans!

[@Bag-Of-Toys]

@@mauromalatesta Ha! There it is.

[@jamiemorgan4146]

@@randalclarke5487 just ones opinion. Not fact.

[@rosieotis]

The Slash “Epiphone version of a Gibson reissue of a copy of an original burst” is the best.

[@BrainChowMein42]

It’s insane to think a guitar that lasted the duration of about three years can have a history that spans to today as “the holy grail.” They’ve been reproduced, reissued, and carefully built by luthiers down to every detail; all of this to meet a demand that’s been around for the past 50 years. Sure, Korina guitars may go for more money by rarity alone, but these Bursts are the cream of the crop of the Les Paul; Gibson’s definitive solid body; and have a long list of artists who played them with an even longer list of songs played on them. Absolutely the best of the best. Good work as always, Keith.

[@jimtalbott5218]

Rhythm and Treble on the poker chip instead of Rhythm and Lead. Really enjoyed the history lesson. Great job.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Song Remains the Same defined Les Paul for me. I saw it a few times as a midnight movie at the local mall theater quite a few years back. I've thought of the burst as the ultimate guitar of its type ever since.

[@Guitar5986]

The story on Joe Perry's '59 is pretty interesting as well. Kudos to Slash for gifting it back to him on Joe's 50th birthday. Also, Eric Johnson owned it at one point. Excellent video!

[@thomaspick4123]

How about Seymour Duncan and the Jeff Beck Esquire? After specking it out, Seymour should have given it back to Jeff. As Jeff pointed out, it is not even being played. The instrument is sitting inside some case or hanging on a wall somewhere.

[@franktaconelli9095]

oh boy a new 5WW...is it a coincidence I am wearing my 5WW T shirt?? Something to watch while the wife watches Entertainment Tonight 😎

[@xjohn1970]

After I watched this video on a Friday last April 2021 I went to to Huber Breese Music on Saturday the next day here in Michigan and bought a Gibson Cherry burst 50's Les Paul Standard . I been wanting one and this video pushed me over the edge. what a amazing Rock/ Blues Guitar. I will keep it forever.

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

I’d love to see you have a Netflix series where you do basically this, I think you are so good at story telling I’m your own way

[@jimhansen5395]

Why not just do it here on KZbin and save us all the cost of the Netflix subscription?

[@PibbXtraGaming]

Saw Jeff McErlain in the title and had to drop what I was doing and watch! What a great, knowledgeable player.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@G60syncro]

Forgot the name of the guy in Israel who built '59 replicas and posted the whole process on the TDPRI forum... It's an epic build thread and the amount of research he did is just incredible!! If you're a nerd it's a must read!! ***Edit*** Brain fart unfarted... It's Gil Yaron!! He even spelled his name in Gibson font on the headstock so his exact copies wouldn't be passed off as authentic!!

[@jimamsden]

I have a '67 gold top that a friend refinished about 30 years ago. It had the small humbuckers which have since been replace by Tom Holmes pickups. It the nicest thing I own. But oddly, I play a Variax JTV-69S with Jerry Amalfitano pickups most of the time. Mike Bloomfield was the inspiration and lead to the Les Paul. It was the first thing I bought on time, I was a sophomore in college at the time. But I seem to be attracted more to single coil pickups and like technology.

[@midlifemotox]

Thanks,,, You have gotten this bitter, old grouch back into guitars again. After being in the music biz, in one form or another for over 40 years, the guitar seems fresh again.

[@neromoore]

One of my customers at work actually owns one of the first run bursts and decided to surprise me and bring it in one day and actually let me play it! The burst had faded over the years but it was all original from the wiring to the pots to the pickups. I don't even wanna say how much he said it was worth but I believe he originally purchased it in the 80s. Also fun note. He had it in a vintage (not sure if it was also original) hardshell Gibson case that he kept within a very large rough looking gig bag. His logic was that it got the protection of the hardshell but since he had it inside a shifty looking gig bag, no one would bat an eye and would just assume it was some basic guitar.

[@TimatorA]

IM OBSESSED WITH BURSTS RIGHT NOW! Couldn't have had this video pop up in my feed at a better time.

[@GypsyLane]

My very first concert, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, 1969 Led Zeppelin, I was in 9th grade, my parents drove buddy drummer George and I…our ears rang for 2 days. I’ll never forget it! Cheers.

[@ShiftingDrifter]

This video is a guitar lover's cork-sniffer heaven!

[@alexanders562]

Ace us the guy who burned the burst into my brain. Everyone else did a lovely job over time, but it was Ace for me.

[@jamiemorgan4146]

Ace ???? 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 Listen to some real players that play a burst, Page, Jeff Beck..

[@alexanders562]

@@jamiemorgan4146 I have. Too bad they left their mark with me after Ace. I did not say he is some sort of superior musician, and I definitely don't need your permission to like the guy that had smoke coming out of his guitar.

[@fredchatham6680]

This looks like a good place to put this rant. Prior to discovering FIVE WATT WORLD I was perfectly happy obsessing and losing sleep over the next 12 to 15 guitars on my wishlist, and kept detailed notes on what I would do to each. The main reasons for each choice was mostly because I didn't have one. I didn't necessarily like any of them the way they were new out of the box, and planned mods to make them more palatable. Honestly, Keith made me think about what I already had that hasn't been played much or often enough where I'd be surprised to find rusted strings and sometimes strings rusted thru enough to break. String change day was expensive. Thank you Keith for helping me break that cycle. I'm not considering selling anything I already have YET, but I'm not looking for anything new. If I stumble across something in a pawn shop or a local selling app that I truly can't live without, I have the money ready.

[@fivewattworld]

Glad I could help Fred. Me on the other hand just bought a new guitar....but in my defense, I sold two guitars and five amps at the same time. :)

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@fivewattworld You’ve inspired me to consider doing the same. I’m seriously considering selling most if not all of my electric guitars to get one really nice Custom Shop (or vintage) guitar. However, I’m so amp obsessed that I don’t think I could ever do that with my amps.

[@terryjohinke8065]

Wow Keith ! That's the most comprehensive brakdown of the 58-60 "bursts". Thanks. ( Terry from Oz.)

[@edseelig9465]

Great to see my 1960 sunburst Les Paul #0 7444, which I owned from 4/12/81 until sometime in Oct. of 2013 when Walter & Christie Carter sold it to their friend, Ed King. An incredible sounding, playing, & looking unfaded blood burst! Also, a surprise, via Carters', the '57 Les Paul Standard w/ 2 piece figured top, which I helped an estate here in St. L. County salvage the former gold top w/ early PAFs. It was poorly hand refinished when it was handed to me to restore or in this case, w/ nice 2 piece figured top, get it refinished in a nice old late '50s burst. The top was an awful opaque orange to proper cherry color for the back, neck, sides & outer area of the sunburst. It took ages due to the people doing the work, but eventually was completed, & was an excellent guitar.

[@Stratocus]

While I've been a Strat guy for the 50 years I've been playing guitar I've only recently become fascinated with the Les Paul Bursts and offer my deep thanks for another fascinating video that has expanded my understanding and appreciation.

[@stratcat4450]

I have owned a 60's sg, an 335 as well as a beautiful 50s es175 over my 50 years of playing. I have a friend who spent a small fortune on a les paul even though he cant really play. None of these guitars did it for me. I still love my fenders better. In my old age.i play a tele all the time except when I need the strat for the vibrato bar. In the end if you don't work your ass off practicing it don't matter what you play on.

[@runabout76]

A famous one missed in the list of famous ones is Paul McCartney's 1960 Lefty. Great video as always Keith! Love your content.

[@jamiemorgan4146]

The King of Bubble Gum...

[@oncearoundthemapleleaf9041]

Another wonderful well told story. Has a novice guitarist.I had the opportunity, over 30 years ago, to borrow a 58 burst off a girlfriend's father. A guitar he bought brand new because he thought it was the most beautiful thing he ever seen. I wanted to hear it through my Gibson Apollo GTV 95 (if I remember correctly) amp that I had recently purchased. I compared it to my then brand new 1988 Gibson es 335. Hearing both guitars through the sorely disappointed in the sound of my 335. The Burst was an amazing guitar to hear and feel hand.

[@jamesmedlin9681]

Most of my life, I had a saying " fast Fords, Fender guitars and faster woman. And never owned anything but a strat of some kind. But a few year's back I picked up a 2009 Les Paul studio. And I fell in love with it. And while I still do also love my strats, there is something special about some Gibson guitars.

[@JGlassy]

Damn Keith you did it again! I couldn’t agree more that the stories behind these famous instruments help drive their value-and now you and this “History Of..” are a solid part of that value too. Loved hearing Jeff and R.J. ‘s contributions too!

[@MrWumbologist]

My favorite Burst-related story is Jason Isbell's. He's told it many times but apparently he demo'd the Red Eye Les Paul in this video and couldn't sleep that night, and then called his finance person the next morning asking if there was any way he could possibly finagle it it and he was apparently told it would be financial suicide. Undeterred, he called his agent and told them he would do virtually any gig and then after some time it would finally be his.

[@robertdusziii4125]

The Red Eye history prior to Jason is the real story. RIP Ed King.

[@bobsteel6916]

Vic Dapra is so cool! I haven't seen him for years, he's AWESOME!

[@Hikaru109Ichijyo]

thanks for this . . .only 1500 LP bursts made but 3000 are left never gets old . . .I love the LP . . .

[@prospectnyc]

This video is so good! Nicely done! Hope to see more Five Watt World Les Paul videos (p-90 gold tops, custom shop, custom builds, P-90's, etc).

[@ryansnydercg]

Ahhhh the illustrious burst - absolutely killer video as always Keith!

[@jamesmedlin8552]

Late again, but I’ve always been a Fender fan, my dad was a Fender fan. Listening to Stevi Ray and Hendrix. Fenders have been a way of life!! A early 60’s Strat was his best friend and now it’s mine. Learned how to play on that old Strat. And it means the world to me. I’m 40 today, and I learned Stair way the Heaven and maybe I was 10, on dads old 62. But I recently bought a 2009 Gibson Les Paul Studio. And I swapped the pickups for a set of Burst Buckers Seymour Dunkin’s. And playing though dads old Fender amp makes a fantastic sound and is my new thing. I’m sure I’ll pick up the Strat and relive memories with dad. He passed in 2016 from cancer. But that old Strat seems to be the embodiment of my memories of dad. Playing unplugged and watching the news at the same time. I still can’t do both!!! But my point is, there really might be something special about those P.A.F guitars.

[@jimmyrecce8787]

I have played two burst...the first one was a 1959 in the mid 70s...it belonged to a very good guitar player who played in my uncle's country western band..I was 13 years old....he had bought it in a pawn shop in the late 60s for like 500 dollars....he sold that burst to a collector about 10 years ago for 250,000 dollars...the other one I played was a 60 burst when I was stationed in the Air Force in Tucson Arizona...that one I could have bought for 5,000 dollars..it might have well been 500,000 dollars for a 21 year old kid...but both of them were still the very finest guitar's I have ever played...🎸🎸🎸

[@converter42]

Learned a lot from this Short History. I had no idea that the modern burst color schemes emulate variations in the faded standard cherry sunburst scheme. It’s fascinating to see the influence that the LP has had on guitars and music.

[@dennisflock3958]

Still the most beautiful guitars...

[@groseromedia]

A history of the Peavey T-40 or 70s Peavey gear in general would be awesome!

[@RussBMCSGT]

Gibson are my all time FAVORITE manufacturer & the Les Paul my all time favorite guitar. I own 4 Les Pauls & an SG but I have owned many more Gibsons in my lifetime a 1957 ES-225, an 07 ES-135, an early 2000’s Les Paul Standard, early 2000s SG Standard, early 2000’s ES-335. Today I own a 1996 Wine Red Les Paul Studio, a 2007 Heritage Cherry Sunburst Les Paul Custom Shop, a 2008 Les Paul Classic Gold Top, a 2020 Tobacco Burst Les Paul Standard 50’s & a 2017 Heritage Cherry SG Standard. So... I have 2 Bursts & I love them! I love all of my Gibson guitars!

[@kevinking2468]

I had a 59 burst in my hands in '84 - A young married couple had inherited it from the husbands father... Asking price $700 - I passed because I thought it had been abused and stored improperly causing the finish to fade and crack ( I was young, green and knew nothing about vintage Gibson's) I literally think about this a couple times a week... If only I could turn back time.

[@th-pl3nx]

I love your videos. Always instructional. Unless I missed something, Keith Richards was the first "star" to use a Les Paul (1959) beginning in 1964, thus the "Keith Burst". Ian Stewart sold Keith's guitar to Mick Taylor who was looking for a Les Paul and playing with John Mayall at the time. And of course, Taylor joined the Stones in 1969.

[@nikolaibarbarich7887]

God dam red eye sounds great ! Jason's playing is next level too !

[@paulcowart3174]

Great video....one thing people don't consider EC's burst was only ten years old and B Gibbons only 15 years old when they used their bursts on those iconic recordings

[@WillyPDX94]

Another finely produced and invaluable Short History. I appreciate these so much. The prices these guitars now command are literally insane. When someone like Jason Isbell buys a burst, I know he bought it to play it, not just to own it. I love that. And there are guitar aficionados who have collected vintage instruments for decades because they love them and they want to preserve the history. I like that, too. But there will always be people with loads of money who buy precious things just so they can say they have them. That makes me sad, because those are the people who continue to push the market prices on rare vintage instruments beyond the reach of most musicians and preservationists. Personally, I don't need to own a Burst to appreciate its beauty, history, and innate value. All I need for that is a 5WW Short History. So thanks, Keith.

[@dabsafe]

Iconic; the only description needed. Any guitar player that tells you they’d rather have any other axe, they’re liars. 🇨🇦👍🎸

[@mariodriessen9740]

I swear I'm not lying when I say that the Les Paul is the only guitar of all the big ones that I never fell in love with, unless they're dc's or SG shaped. O, and Flying V's. I love Explorers, but I never loved Flying V's. I do find them beautiful, but I never felt comfortable playing them.

[@robertemerson1087]

@@mariodriessen9740 I understand that, I just love the sound they make, nothing quite like a bridge pickup on a Les Paul and every one of them is a work of art, I’ll never forget opening the case for that first time.

[@mariodriessen9740]

@@daviddawson1718 : That’s why there are so many different guitars. For me the strat is the most comfortable guitar to play while remaining to look good. And the placement of the volume knob is perfect. For me anyway. I prefer the sound of the Les Paul though. I have 5 strats and 4 of them have a humbucker in the bridge position. I do own a beautiful Les Paul, but that’s the Les Paul Standard Lite DC. I love that guitar. And my favorite, a black Gibson ES-347. The first guitar I fell in love with was the SG. So my first guitar I bought was an SG. Unfortunately back then I didn’t know the difference between a Gibson and a Maya, hahaha... It’s crazy, because when I finally had the money to buy a real one (2nd hand), it was sold and I bought a Stratocaster instead. That was 40 (!!!) years ago. I never got that SG. ☹️

[@mariodriessen9740]

@@daviddawson1718 : Are you kidding me?!?! Man, ever since I’ve been to a Scott H. Biram gig a Gibson ES-125 or something very similar is the dream guitar for me. But they’re extremely rare in Europe. Wonderful!!!

[@drippinglass]

A new R9 sounds the same. Heck, any Les Paul with humbucking pickups is close enough.

[@DadRockKid]

This video of yours Keith in my reserve to watch after I get my first right Gibson Les Paul and after months of hunting, here I am... Vijay

[@rebelcat420]

Glad to see you reference Vic DaPra. Great guy! Lives right up the street from me. Bought most of my guitars from his store.

[@khalaziafaqih367]

Like first, watch then

[@punkly8423]

lmao exactly

[@jordandangelo180]

Always. You know it’s going to be good and he put a lot of effort into it so I always like first.

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Done!!

[@allezjohn]

A couple slight corrections. When you mentioned Slash recording Appetite you suggested it was the '90's... Appetite was recorded in 1987, and hit the top of the charts in August 1988. The Les Paul copy (aka the Appetite Burst) was made by Kris Derrig. Some other guy owned the shop, but Derrig was actually the guy that built the guitar. And the photo of Slash you had from the November Rain video (Yes that was the '90's), he is holding a real deal Les Paul. That one is actually the Joe Perry '59. I believe the story goes that JP got divorced, his ex wife sold the guitar... eventually Slash bought it and toured with it for years. Then Slash gave it to Joe for his birthday!

[@chriskrueger1865]

The "some other guy" is Jim Foote and his shop is Music Works. Jim made guitars for Mark Kendall of Great White, amongst others

[@orbitaljellyfish808]

Thanks for clearing that up so I didn’t need to :)

[@traceyoungs1637]

That was great Keith! And yes, in the late 1970's, I had a Hondo Les Paul copy- "ice tea" burst😄

[@knockoutguitarist087]

EVERY VIDEO YOU DO MAKES ME WANT TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER GUITAR. I love my four Les Pauls but there’s always room for one more

[@birbbander]

Oh boy this is exciting.

[@VI-fq5do]

Ayy notification squad

[@birbbander]

@@VI-fq5do we out here😂

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

@@VI-fq5do yup 😂😂

[@pillsburymusic]

Another excellent short history. I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THESE VIDEOS! haha :)

[@cjw3129]

Awsome story my freind i always smile when a new 5 watt story shows up on my alerts on my phone one of my favorite you tube channels I learn alot thanks again

[@mefirstandthegimmiegimmies5160]

Never owned a les paul but reading the comments about saving up as a kid/young man to buy a guitar led me to want to share my story. In the mid 90s I was 14 and cut yards and trimmed trees all summer in my neighborhood to save up $600 bucks to get a MIM Strat and amp (small marshal). still have both to this day and play on the little amp in the living room with the strat still plugged into it. been about 30 years and has a few dings but still sounds great. Make your kids work for what they want. They will appreciate it more

[@stevenbryan7586]

I agree. The value comes from the collective stories of all the players that have inspired generations. There was only this one time in our history, and this was the guitar that came to symbolize it. Great video!

[@hkguitar1984]

I remember seeing a real '59 Burst for sale in 1981, if my memory is correct the price at the time was a ridiculous $10K. None of us could imagine a used Les Paul being worth that much money! Ha ha ha, joke was on us!

[@charlesbolton8471]

Those were the good days before investors got involved in the guitar market. I wasn’t old enough to to be guitar shopping in 1981, but I got to play a 1953 Telecaster at a vintage dealer in 1992 or 1993 and it was priced at $10,000.

[@michaelheller8841]

If only I had 10k to spend in the early 80's.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@michaelheller8841 Exactly, back then it took me almost a year to save up $1200 for a 25th Anniversary Stratocaster.

[@michaelheller8841]

@@hkguitar1984 Funny you mentioned a Strat too. At its very moment I'm having a Strat made for me as close as you can get the original Strat sounds. Noiceless pickups? no way lol. I want all that Strat noice.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@michaelheller8841 Very cool Michael. I too am building a Stratocaster, specifically to 1962 specification. I choose 1962 because it is my year of birth and I can't afford a real 1962 Strat. Back when I was young had I the forethought I could have easily purchased one and still have it, but no. That is why I tell all younger players to purchase a guitar made in the year you were born. I may seem kind of silly now, however when you get older it just seems kind of nostalgic to have one. Anyway, yes, Noiseless pickups are really only suited for high-gain applications where noise is an issue, and with high-gain it doesn't really matter much what kind of pickup you use (IMHO). For my '62 build I've a roasted Ash 2-Piece body with heavy grain/figuring. My goal is to finish it in a faded Surf Green lacquer and then relic it. I've purchased a set of Fender custom shop pickups labeled '57/62 as well as an aged set of Custom Shop hardware for the same time period. I found a guy on Reverb that sells nitro relic AllParts necks at a good price and I opted for the FAT neck profile, a full inch thick at the 1st through the 12th frets. Once the weather warms up a bit I'll start painting the body, I figure that will take me about a month with drying times and all. I really squeeze a lot of enjoyment out of guitar, both building and playing. Also, in general the hobby keeps me out of trouble (mostly). I think its great you're going for the vintage sound/tone. I've a modern Strat with Harmonic Design pickups and its great, however it doesn't sound vintage at all as its more of a jack of all trades working guitar. What color are you choosing for the body? Rosewood or Maple fingerboard?

[@AntarblueGarneau]

I grew up in Burlingame, California a suburb of San Francisco in the 50s and 60s. I remember the immense impact that Eric Clapton's playing on the Beano album had on the then music scene when it was released in 1966. I bought a copy when the "Beano" album came out and played it daily. My impression it that Clapton's playing re-defined the sound and the technique of rock guitar from then on. We had been used to George Harrison's playing and Keith Richard's Chuck Berry stylings. I had heard many local bands in 1963, '64, '65. The guitar template was Chuck Berry's style and many guitarists in bands were required to play at least one Freddie King composition; "Hideaway," "Sen-Say-Shun," or the very popular "San-Ho'Zay" The trends in that time period changed fast and in a linear fashion. There was a quick fascination with Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker 12 string playing with the Byrds in 1965. Then the SF bands Jef Air and Grateful Dead. I was playing in bands at the time. The guitar of choice in 1963 was the Fender Jaguar and within a year or so the Gretsch Country Gentleman. The Freddie King emulators were playing Jags, Jazz Masters, Mustangs and I even saw a Strat once in awhile. The Beano album and the introduction of Eric Clapton to us kids in the American suburbs put an end to all that! Before that Jeff Beck's playing with the Yardbirds was popular Mike Bloomfield playing on his '59 LP lit the world on fire! But after the release of Beano the Les Paul HUNT was on! You couldn't just buy one at the local music store, they were no longer made until their re-introduction by Gibson in 1968. So there was a search in pawn shops, newspapers, second hand bulletin's. The stories about Les Paul 'finds'; began to grow. My friends little brother bought a LP goldtop with amp and case from an old woman for $125! I had an original 1954 Strat with serial# 0417 then that I got in a trade for an old Kay archtop. I couldn't have sold it for $15 then! Like everybody I wanted a les Paul! I even went on a couple of Les Paul 'hunts' myself driving to Gilroy and Santa Cruz to no avail! I did get a Les Paul until 2003! And it was a Gibson custom shop reissue. I think the Clapton/Beano moment was "Ground Zero" for the Les Paul craze which continues to this day the result of decades of fetishizing and collector's mania!

[@swampt.6898]

This short history of a guitar that is notoriously responsible for Rock's most incendiary solos and chords that sound like a granite avalanche could not have been more informative or inclusive! Whether your fascination is with the instruments, the artists, the legendary tonality, or the alchemic ability to turn a guitarists imagination and fantasy into the sound of emotional reality we can hear, this video amazingly has it all! Well done Keith, hats off!

[@mickeybeam8124]

This dude does such a great job as narrator. His voice is clear, and doesn’t look like he’s reading a script!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Mickey…but I am, :). But hey, I wrote them.

[@BNGamesYT]

That same nostalgia is the same reason why Gibson prices their new guitars as if they were vintage.

[@stevenbeecheymusic]

Dang, some beautiful and interesting stuff in this video. Great work as ever Keith :)

[@austinknowlton1783]

Keith you did kinda omit my favorite and most influential (for me at least) Burst player, Gary Rossington from Lynyrd Skynyrd and his Bernice. I was only 5 when that plane went down but was obsessed with Skynyrd as a teenager (still am, lol) and the sound of Gary's Burst through a Peavey Mace helped shape my adolescence.

[@chriskethan5952]

Don't forget the late, great Gary Richrath. He was an absolute Burst playing monster....

[@fivewattworld]

Had that double live album from before the more commercial REO. Loved it in HS.

[@historyman1447]

@@fivewattworld ...GR + LP + REO = Ridin' the Storm Out! LP GOLD

[@fivewattworld]

Exactly!!!

[@davidfreiboth1360]

I'm sitting here wondering why I well up with emotion as these pieces build to their inspiring conclusion. After some thought I think I may finally be getting a sense of what it is. While these outstanding productions are ostensibly about the gear they are really about the passion for fine music. The technical info is entertaining and the history illuminating but what gives these gems their punch is the script and delivery. Keith, your gift is the art of bringing to life how these instruments make the music that moves us ... the music that touches our very soul. That is why I get that unexpected rush of emotion as you deliver the "outro". No other KZbin production does that. You may be a very good musician but you are an gifted educator.

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks David. The writing is what takes the time.

[@LD10000]

My old 90s roommate had a Max Les Paul for a few weeks, the Gibson logo was backwards.... I couldn't fathom the expense of guitars back then, I was always broke. Good for you for getting a new guitar!

[@mikepfeifer3687]

BEST EVER!!!!’ Great job Keith.

[@msromike123]

Do you think they will appreciate to Stradivarius violin levels? 1100 made 244 known to exist, $2 million average value. I just wonder if 60s rock music will persevere in popularity as classical orchestral music has. The use of guitar in contemporary pop music certainly has dwindled, will the value of the instruments follow? Great video! Gave me a lot to think about.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Did you know that Squier violins (Yes, THAT Squier, going back to the 19th Century) were once referred to as "The American Stradivarius"?

[@Nordic_Sky]

I've owned three of them. Some of them are supernatural, others are.... well, just OK. The amazing ones feed the frenzy. In the '70s and '80s the new guitars were so bad, going vintage was the only way to get a great guitar. Now guitars have gotten so much better a player doesn't have to spent a fortune to get a terrific guitar.

[@jamiemorgan4146]

Still, the reissues are Nothing like the originals.

[@Nordic_Sky]

@@jamiemorgan4146 I've had both and I think some of the new ones are really good. And many of the old ones are... meh.

[@derrickforeal]

@@Nordic_Sky its hype. New guitars are so much netter as they know what they are doing today.

[@Nordic_Sky]

@@derrickforeal The quality control is super tight now and CNC machines have produced very consistent guitars. And plekking technology really helps too. That said, guitars do vary, so it's important to find one that suits you. Play it acoustically before plugging it in.

[@mylogify]

I tried out a new Gibson LP Custom Shop, 58 or 59 Reissue, SG and SG Reissue They were amazing.@@jamiemorgan4146

[@motorosso3349]

Thanks for the summary of the LP Burst history.

[@biloneil5259]

Great episode. Yes, I plinked along on my Les Paul while watching.

[@merlozeppelin]

I'll never understand the need to pay an obscene amount of money in a 58-60 Les Paul when you can buy a lot of Les Pauls built in the last 30 or 40 years for a fraction of the price, and it will be just as good a guitar. Then again, I'm not a collector. Great video as always

[@drippinglass]

It’s all just make believe. 😀

[@donewithmodernlife]

As someone who just bought his first real Les Paul after 30 + years of playing Fenders but always keeping an eye out for “that” LP I definitely agree. Gibson is making some outstanding guitars these days.

[@caca_spaniel_1239]

Bought a '83 custom for $2300 and it kicks some serious ass. I'll take what nobody else is willing to buy because they are too caught up with "the real thing" or a good replica of it.

[@honeysucklecat]

I gather you’re not a yuppie.

[@merlozeppelin]

@@honeysucklecat I'm a working musician, or at least I was before the pandemic.

[@blazer6248]

I thought Slash's replica was made by Kris Derrig? Edit: he has 2 from Kris and 1 from Max from what I understand. That's what the Premier Guitar article says. And the the Appetite guitar was a Derrig guitar.

[@fivewattworld]

Hi JC. My buddy Dave Onorato knows Max and that's where that story's coming from. I'm sure the guys at PG have their own sources. I just had to choose which story to go with so chose Dave's. It's also why I listed Kris as one of the top Burst "conversion" guys.

[@MrScrofulous]

@@fivewattworld Really though, it's a fake, as famous as it is. But it's a good fake, made by an American, so it gets a pass.

[@BrianRomeroArt]

The AFD guitar was made by Kris Derrig. That’s the one with the Zebra pickups. Slash has been very clear about this. The Max replica was bought for the tour after the album was recorded and can be seen in the Welcome to the Jungle video. It has uncovered black pickups. As someone who’s played a Derrig “Les Paul’ in real life, I can assure you it’s not even close to a perfect replica of a ‘burst. While they are great looking, playing and sounding guitars, many obvious details are incorrect. The inlay alone look nothing like what Gibson used in the 50’s or early 60’s. Max wants to take credit for the AFD guitar... but former GNR manager Alan Niven who bought the guitar for Slash, says he got it from Jim Foote’s shop where Kris Derrig once built out of. To give credit to Max, his replicas are near perfect recreations. Other than this misinformation I enjoyed this video. Keep up the great work!

[@MrScrofulous]

@@BrianRomeroArt This is what Slash says in his autobiography. He didn't have a decent guitar to record his solos with, approached Paul Stanley, to whom he had been a dick, got told to pound sand, and the producer, Mike Clink, sourced the guitar for him and tweaked the amp settings. The same amp from SIR that Slash promptly tried to steal, but the cartage crew snuck it back onto the truck.

[@BillDutton]

Always time well spent.

[@cedricbaccay633]

Greatest way to start the day!!!!!

[@xdoctorblindx]

And 40 years from now, the only story about the bursts that will remain with be "the guitars that Joe Bonamasa owns."

[@playergradevintageguitars6884]

Ha! Used my pics of my zebra PAFs! 😅

[@drippinglass]

Doesn’t a guy named Dirk Ziff have a bunch as well?

[@somethingbl]

Hey, at least he plays them!

[@DamnboyAintright]

I can easily understand why someone would collect guitars, no two are exactly alike. They feel different. They react different. This is why I couldn't be one of those people who blindly buy guitars online. I have to go to an actual dealer, sit down and spend time with a guitar before I spend money on it.

[@popsfereal3192]

But guitar roulette is half the fun!

[@fredstevens799]

@@popsfereal3192 I've bought >10 guitars online and haven't regretted a single one - all good-awesome actually, especially after a nice setup and some "axe-sharpening" hardware upgrades!

[@fredstevens799]

funny (?) story: GC is having a big sale at the moment and sent a flier advertising it. I spied a Gretsch that caught my attention and called the local GC outlet to see if they had one on site - they did! so I went down to the store to check it out - first visit in over a year! I have bought several guitars online with no problems (see note above) but felt punk b'cause the cognoscenti ALWAYS handle the axe before buying. So now I could really check it out up close and personal. The ad (even the hang-tag!) said the guitar had locking tuners but on inspection, this was not the case. I pointed this out to the salesman and store manager but they said it was Gretch's problem and they could not do anything about it. I said I would contact GC corporate but they laughed and said I would never get help that way! Ultimately (I bought the guitar anyway - great price on sale and fantastic guitar! - put the upgraded tuners in myself.) I contacted GC via their online customer service. They wanted to help but they had no connection to the actual stores that sold their stuff and could not do anything directly either. (Had I bought it online it would have been NO PROBLEM!) They instructed me to re-call the store and tell them to call GC, blah, blah, blah... after an extended cluster @#$# a (different) store manager did contact GC and got me a $50 credit! Also, very often the guitar you are lusting for online is simply not available to handle/inspect locally - the new paradigm: "buy before you try" - with good return policy, this works ok but is a bit of a hassle - decent trade off?

[@michaelmiller237]

Tone, it's a hell of a drug

[@jared305]

I bought my Gibson LP Standard (2007) on Reverb. It came from Alabama up to costal Massachusetts. My absolute favorite instrument I own! It plays in that perfect zone of putting up a small fight to make you play a little harder but is still mostly easy so you’re only fighting it, not having a full boxing match with it. It sounds like a Tele on steroids, and it looks gorgeous. Sometimes, the risks are worth it!

[@larrysquires5321]

Pleasure. Well did, sir. Well did.

[@L.Scott_Music]

I didn't know the guitar was named Pearly Gates. And thus the name for the Duncan pickups. Ah, the little bits you miss in life sometimes.