On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
"No. 6" Les Paul Deluxe (serial no. 133592)
Gibson American
Pete Townshend
Not on view
Pete Townshend is known for his aggressive showmanship, which includes his “windmill” strumming technique and destruction of his instruments. This guitar was one of nine numbered guitars used on tour with the Who in 1975, each set to specific tunings and capo settings for various songs. This organization, along with a customized strap-lock system, was developed by Townshend’s guitar tech Alan Rogan. The headstock for this instrument snapped off after a December 23, 1975, show at London’s Hammersmith Odeon as the guitar came flying out of a second-story window, breaking into two pieces when it hit the ground. In 2002, the body and headstock were reunited and restored by luthier Cristian Mirabella.
Technical Description:
Mahogany body and neck, carved maple top, rosewood fingerboard; 24¾ in. scale; gold finish with cream binding; set neck with pearloid trapezoid inlays and cream binding; inlaid mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and gold silkscreened “Les Paul” signature on reconstructed headstock; two mini humbucking pickups, three-way selector switch, two volume and two tone controls; nickel tune-o-matic bridge, pickup covers, and Grover Rotomatic tuners, clear and gold plastic bonnet knobs, cream plastic pickguard; Letraset “6” sticker stuck on to lower body, truss rod cover removed, stock tuners replaced, custom strap lock system by Alan Rogan, neck and headstock reconstructed
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