---
product_id: 4159667
title: "50 Years Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars"
brand: "tony bacon"
price: "R1018"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/4159667-50-years-gibson-les-paul-half-a-century-of-greatest
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# 50 Years Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars

**Brand:** tony bacon
**Price:** R1018
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** 50 Years Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars by tony bacon
- **How much does it cost?** R1018 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/4159667-50-years-gibson-les-paul-half-a-century-of-greatest)

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- tony bacon enthusiasts

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## Description

50 Years Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars

## Images

![50 Years Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1CpMNH4zKL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Encyclopedia of Gibson Les Paul
*by C***T on April 23, 2013*

Tony Bacon has done a tremendous job chronicling the birth of the Les Paul in Kalamazoo Michigan to its' current manufacture in Memphis Tennessee. In an attempt to break into the market of solid body electric guitars (Fender had already introduced its' own in 1950--the Broadcaster which later became known as the Telecaster) Ted McCarty and Company put their heads together and came up with the design of the Gibson Les Paul. With tweaks and adjustments suggested by the guitar's endorser, Les Paul himself, this beauty of an instrument was introduced to the world in 1952.Bacon does an outstanding job detailing the history of this magnificent instrument and it's evolution to the apex in design achieved by 1958. Ted McCarty introduced the Tune-O-Matic bridge in 1954 and Seth Lover introduced his amazing humbucking pickups in 1955 and both of these keen inventions were employed on the Les Paul guitar shortly afterward. The Les Paul guitars that Gibson manufactured between 1958 to 1960 (now known as the LP "Standard") are the most sought after electric guitars in history.This book outlines the changes in ownership of Gibson during the LP years from CMI (up to 1969) to Norlin (up to 1986) to current private ownership (Juszkiewicz & Berryman) and production changes to the LP model throughout the years. Currently the Les Paul 'Burst guitars made between 1958 and 1960 are seen as the holy grail of electrics. As time rolls on and more of the 'Burst guitars are locked into bank vaults, players will be forced to re-evaluate the Les Paul guitars made during the Norlin years. Particularly the Les Paul Deluxe models manufactured between 1969 to the late 1970's, This design employed a sandwich body, a three piece slim-taper maple neck with a volute, and mini humbucking pickups that fit nicely in the P-90 cutout of older models. Norlin may have made these changes simply to save a buck (the mini humbuckers were leftovers after Gibson acquired Epiphone) but these guitars have a fantastic sound, amazing sustain and a clearer tone (albeit not "fatter") than the standard LP's which utilized Seth Lover's PAF humbuckers.To sum up, this book provides an amazing history lesson about the Les Paul. Fine writing, excellent photographs and a great reference section at the end of the book. I recommend it to any LP enthusiast, from newbie to aficionado.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 50 Years of Gibson Les Paul
*by P***R on August 22, 2024*

Tony Bacon is the best person to get guitar reviews & info about certain types of guitars!!Bacon is the best!! This book is great my Les Paul should be in it!!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Somewhat lightweight
*by M***L on October 13, 2013*

You dont listen to Beatles songs to hear wicked guitar solos, and you dont by a Tony Bacon guitar book for deeply serious reading.Like his other, similar format book on Fenders, this book includes sidebars noting news events happening in the world at the same time as Les Pauls were released. Its not a bad gimmic in itself, but can you imagine the Beauty of the Burst book doing the same thing?? Of course not (and dont even get started with why Tony picks certain news items as being important and others, not. Its not *supposed* to matter, which is fine, but neither do these books themselves seem to matter much.) Another gimmic Tony beats to death is having headings in bold print every few paragraphs that try to be clever or funny. He's written so many guitar books its as if he's decided that his style is as important as his content.Tony Bacon has a new burst specific book coming out in February, and we shall see what he makes of it.This book is nice.. the pics and text are fine-- Tony Bacon (by now) has gotten very comfortable writing guitar specific books and it shows. If you are nuts enough to buy Les Paul specific books, then this is the best one Bacon has put out. Its worth the money.. and you probably already own Beauty of the Burst.The correct strategy seems to be buying up books like this, used, at a low price, and not worrying too much about the authors quirks. For around $5 its a bargain, and if it winds up in your bathroom as ThroneReading, then so be it.

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-17*