I think he was influential on a number of different levels and I don't know what direction music in general and guitar in particular would have taken without him... whether we'd all be rockin' with semi-hollows or strats or whatever...

Kinda' really hard to pick one... but since the music was there and we were already amplified and headed toward louder guitars...I would have to say his influence when it came to recording techniques like multi-tracking and overdubbing and his pioneering in the use of effects like delay... no... wait... the guitar... have you seen pics of his recording LP?... no wait his music and and talent as an entertainer, he was an excellent musician....

Dunno.... can't decide.... I do know that he should have gotten a lot more press than he did... I mean come on... Les was way more important, in my view, to the music world and didn't get anywhere near the press that MJ did, and all I can say is shame on the media. We should have all been crying in the streets and making a scene.

Most significant contribution? I believe multitrack recording was his idea - he may not have invented the technology, but the idea behind it.

I agree with robbiusa as far as the credit, or lack there of, given Les by the media. In my opinion he was among the top influential musicians ever, yet few people know very much about him generally speaking. Perhaps he was not controversial enough.

... yep, you gotta wonder... now MJ is back in the news... and whenever I mention Mr. Paul, most people I talk to give me a blank look.... wtf?

Les Paul's dedication to music and playing, his pioneering efforts in recording and multitracking, and his contributions to the design of the electric guitar should be the stuff of legend and taught to every person that even dreams about playing guitar or recording music.

Les Paul should be the inspiration that we all aspire to emulate... talk about a role model. He had goals and ideas and fought to make them reality.







Instead the world spends more time remembering a man.... and I can't even bring myself to say that name again... who had no clue and spent most of his adult life trying to be someone he wasn't.... the butt of many jokes and much scorn while he was alive.... and now that he's dead people can't seem to get enough... go figure. I couldn't leave this part up there even close to a real hero.

I think it's because he was so old. The guy was over 90. He was a pretty big star at one point so if he had croaked in the 60s or so, it probably would have been a bigger deal. If MJ had died of old age at say 85, it wouldn't have been the circus it was.

Les's biggest achievement in my opinion would be multi-track recording and effects...as someone mentioned the early technology was based all on his ideas. it's only been about the late 90's that the modern digital technology was surfacing or at least becoming affordable. before then, it was all about multiple recording heads on the same tape.

I think someone would have come up with the solid body electric guitar eventually anyway. There was a race between Fender and Gibson and the lap steels that were common in the early years of amplified music were basically a proof of concept even if they weren't technically a solidbody guitar as we know it today.

His music, unfortunately is not as well known as his other achievements...at least not to younger musicians...not to take away from his prowess as an entertainer and musician, just that it did not receive the same kind of attention as his inventions and ideas.

Maybe you are right... but it still pushes my buttons... all this sensationalist crap and meanwhile a great man goes relatively quietly into the dark....-------------> not the biggest MJ fan here.

I guess Les' age did have allot to do with it. Also the fact that the other guy (I won't mention his name cause I know people are sick of hearing it) was constantly in the spotlight, even if often in a negative light. For me it is almost better that Les went the way he did. Much more dignified if you ask me. He is a silent hero, left to be remembered and admired only by those who will truly appreciate his talent and contributions; not a bunch of spectators only in town to see the circus. Les displayed brilliance and talent combined with humility and character and that in the end is what separates him from the other guy.

Just finished watching the Les Paul documentary "Chasing Sound". Very cool to see all of the truly great musicians that were part of the documentary. They all had a genuine appreciation of the contributions Les made. I highly recommend it.