Warbird Information Exchange

Les Paul passes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090813/us_nm/us_paul_5

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" excuse me stewardess I speak jive"

I saw that.., my heart sank.,. but to be honest.., i did not know Les was still around!

My best to the best!

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S.

Yeah. Died right here in my local hospital, too. I guess it's sad when anyone dies. But, in cases like this it seems more appropriate to toast a life well lived. The guy made it to 94, outliving his ex-wife by 32 years. He had many fascinating experiences, and was not just a rock star but a hero to rock stars. For at least several more generations, his name will be associated with an invention and product that has given joy to millions and done harm to no one. And to repeat the most important part of that: he outlived his ex-wife by 32 years. I'll drink a whiskey to him after mangling a few chords on my LP tonight, but I can't feel too sad about it.

August

Good old Les. His life was the story of 20th century music, from country to jazz to pop to rock. You can learn about Les from the film Les Paul - Chasing Sound.

In defense of his ex-wife - Mary Ford was a genius, a brilliant singer with an exquisite sense of phrasing and - in Les' words - "an ear like a hawk." Whatever their personal differences, we should remember Mary for the inspired artist she was. Twenty bucks says Les would agree with me.

Back to Les. If he had never invented anything, he would be remembered today as a great jazz guitarist. On the other hand, if he were only a mediocre guitarist, he would still be remembered as the man who gave us the electric guitar and multi-track recording. In aviation terms, he was both a great pilot and a great engineer.

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The main winding was of the normal lotus-o deltoid type placed in panendermic semi-bolloid slots of the stator. Every seventh conductor being connected by a non-reversible tremmy pipe to the differential girdle spring on the up-end of the grammeters. Moreover, whenever fluorescent square motion is required, it may also be employed in conjunction with the drawn reciprocation dingle arm, to reduce sinusoidal depleneration.

So you live in WP?

Boy that place has grown over the past decade!!!

Where would music be without les and his inventions? Eeek.., i am afraid to think about it!

Cheers!

Here is to you Les.., !!!!

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S.

Scarsdale but WP is the nearest hosp. My kids were both born there.

Yes it has grown, quite a vital downtown too.

August

Lest there be any doubt of Paul's genius (or Mary's), check out this 1953 video from Alistair Cook's "Omnibus" show.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/08/14/le ... lista.html

This clip also makes me think that in the past 56 years, the technology of television has advanced a lot more than the quality of programming.

August

One question that occurs to me is to wonder where "the Log" is. For the uninitiated, I am referring to the piece of 4x4 lumber with a guitar neck and hardware attached to it that became famous as Paul's first solid-body electric. It quickly grew "wings" in the shape of a standard guitar body to avoid ridicule, but they were detachable and its true origin as lumber was always apparent. I have seen so many photos of it, some relatively recent and with Paul, that I assume it still exists and possibly Paul still owned it at the time of his death. Surely an artifact for the Smithsonian.

August

No other instrument looks or sounds like a Les Paul! With the violin shaped curved top to its classic round bottom and curvy waist. The sound,tone and sustain have never been matched. Aside from all of the other inventions Les created the Les Paul is number one with me! I have always wanted a Les Paul but never could afford it, now that I can its almost like asking the prom queen to dance. I have played a Strat for many years and have come to the conclusion that the best rock sound comes from Fender and Marshall amps, with a strat and Les Paul! I have such an appreciation for the Les Paul that the guitar I've been building is an exact copy of a gold top. The dimensions are the same (scale, saddle, bridge, pick up lay out, neck, finger board and fret spacing) The shape is more along the lines of a Gibson Explorer, but its a carved, book end matched quilted maple top with a mahogany back. So to Les I thank you for the musical inspiration!

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" excuse me stewardess I speak jive"

The log may be here in Seattle at the EMP? They have a HUGE collection of guitars!

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" excuse me stewardess I speak jive"

He shows the log in that documentary listed above. At the time, it was still in his posession. That movie, btw, is available to be watched online if you have a Netflix account.

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/F ... itars-708/

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Fittingly? That would be like saying: "Fittingly, the original Wright Flyer is now housed in the Dayton Ladies' Historical Society." Oh well, at least it's preserved.

August

I offered no comment.

"We have both kinds of music - country AND western."

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Sounds like you might be from the southern U.S.?

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" excuse me stewardess I speak jive"