Such an important inventor in the Electric Guitar field and in recording techniques. One of the first to realise the importance of a solid body.
I think he was in his nineties. Oh how the times move on.
He collaborated with Gibson to produce the famous Gibson Les Paul guitar.
Traditionally the Gibson Les Paul was made of mahogany. Classic sound typified by Santana. The Fender Stratocaster was made of maple. Classic sound typified by Hendrix. I understand maple was also used in the Les Paul, but its sound was more mahogany influenced.
The other difference between these two classic guitars, was that the Stratocaster used a single-coil pickup, while the Les Paul used a dual-coil pickup known as a humbucker. I expect that is due to a dual-coil having significant hum-reducing effects. With a single-coil you have to be careful of hum - especially which way you face.
I have used humbuckers, but eventually returned to high-output single-coil. It is expensive to keep experimenting as these pickups cost around $100 each. Plus the whole deal of digging around inside the guitar with soldering irons.
Humbuckers have a very stable sound which gives them a heavy, grounded effect - they seem to sit flat against the sound wall, whereas single-coil have a lot of air around the sound - they seem to sing and fly.
But humbuckers generally have a much more powerful, punchy output, which avoided the necessity of using a lot of sound enhancing gear, so rock guitarists tended to prefer them.
These days it doesn't matter so much as most professional guitarists us digital effect units which can do whatever you want (except give a good sound).
The Gibson Les Paul is a beautiful guitar, with a wonderful sound.
Good playing Les, in the other world - at least you will get the full use of your arm back.
