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Whats the best Les Paul book

duaneflowers

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
2,522
BOTB was my initiation into the Lore... Les Paul Legacy, The GIBSON Les Paul Standard 1958-1960, Million Dollar Les Paul and The Gibson Les Paul are all great reads as well.

I'm still digging Burst Believers for the awesome porn though...

71489911_10219320417777777_644711785546383360_n.jpg
 

Rich R

In the Zone/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
4,999
Get 'em all. There is different info in each that all adds up to a more complete picture. I also find Ted McCarty's biography by Gil Hembree to be a great resource, not so much about LPs but about Gibson history and lots of little tidbits about how they did things.

Thaks for the tip, Tom--I wasn't aware of that one, and will get it ordered.

I have all the books others have mentioned, and they are all very good. However, my desert island one will always be BOTB. It's the one that literally caused me to buy a Burst: I read it one weekend, and bought a Burst that Monday! There was clearly no more time to lose! :lol:

The pics are fun, but I've just never seen anything that can top Iwanade's discussion and analysis in one long essay
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,919
The Gibson Les Paul Book-Tony Bacon and Paul Day I'm pretty sure was the first one I got back in the early '90s then rolled onto Jay Scotts and Vic's ones at the time and then BOTB.
With the Burst Believer series we've been spoilt for sure also:2cool

No 'best' one for me..........it's a pilgrimage that continues on.
 

Dave P

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2001
Messages
967
There's a lot of great books out there now.
Robb Lawrence did a really great job on the Les Paul Legacy books.
Vic DaPra and his Burst Believer books.
Of course Beauty of the Burst.
If you can find Burst Gang, it has a lot of great pictures, but unless you are fluent in Japanese, you won't be able to read it.
 

Victory Pete

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
254
I have The Beauty Of The Burst, great book but the print is ridiculously too small. Trying to read it now.
 

fernieite

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
608
Had my eye on that one

Pun intended? :ganz

I like the Beauty of the Burst, Burst Believers III and IV, the Les Paul Legacy 1915 - 1963, the Gibson Burst, and 50 years of the Gibson Les Paul. Hard to pick a favorite... :hank
 
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El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,655
Beauty of the Burst - hands down my favorite with all of those glossy color photos and descriptions .
 

neuroy

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
253
Tone Man by Kunio Kushida shows great pics . Also some Explorers in there and something which does not exist :
beautiful black wrap tail LP Std from 1967 !!!
Unfortunately only pictures without comments.

And :
"The Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958-1960". Also in Japanese , but a huge book with nice big pics.
 

Steve Craw

Formerly Lefty Elmo
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
5,292
I like Robb Laurence's Les Paul Legacy book. This is a great book for all-around info for the whole Les Paul series. If you want something more centered toword just 'bursts, and pic-oriented, Vic's Burst Believers series are hard to beat.
 

KS 5150

Active member
Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Messages
137
Personally, I started with BOTB & then acquired pretty much all of the booked named here. Absolutely love Million Dollar Les Paul, & the Burst Believer books are great for stories & eye candy.
 

Grog

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
561
+1 on Robb Lawrence’s set of Les Paul Legacy books. He covers models that most books don’t mention.
 

gmann

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
6,140
Tone Man by Kunio Kushida shows great pics . Also some Explorers in there and something which does not exist :
beautiful black wrap tail LP Std from 1967 !!!
Unfortunately only pictures without comments.

And :
"The Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958-1960". Also in Japanese , but a huge book with nice big pics.
Kunio`s book is great but I wish it had more info. If you`re friends with him on FB he will answer questions.
 

neuroy

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
253
Kunio`s book is great but I wish it had more info. If you`re friends with him on FB he will answer questions.

Good to know !

I am no facebook member and do not intend to become one....

But I really like to learn about the " 1967 LP Std " . I didn't ever come across that one anywhere.
I guess Kunio knows his business, but can this LP be real ?
 
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