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.
Les Paul Standard (serial no. 8 2453)
Gibson American
Paul Kossoff
Eric Clapton British
Not on view
Gibson, at first skeptical of the electric solid-body guitar, introduced the Les Paul model in 1952 to compete with Fender’s Telecaster. In 1958, they debuted the Les Paul Standard, featuring a mahogany body with a figured, domed maple top; this referenced the craftsmanship of the classic archtop guitar in modern solid-body form. Produced only until 1960, the original Les Paul Standard is one of the most sought-after guitars ever made. This example was owned and played by the late Paul Kossoff of Free. He acquired it from Eric Clapton when Blind Faith and Free toured together in 1969.
Technical Description:
Mahogany body and neck, carved maple top, rosewood fingerboard; 24¾ in. scale; sunburst finish with cream binding, set neck with pearloid trapezoid inlays and cream binding; inlaid mother-of-pearl Gibson logo on headstock; two PAF humbucking pickups, three-way selector switch, two volume and two tone knobs; nickel-plated ABR-1 tune-o-matic bridge, pickup covers, Kluson tuners, cream plastic pickguard, gold plastic knobs
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