Which Paul to Call the 1?

indianation66 · February 16th, 2010, 02:36 PM

Ok, I can't take it anymore. I've got to find out because the web isn't helping. I just got a notification about the Jimmy Page Custom Les Pauls. However, the info I needed wasn't in that note. I know he has his # 1 Les Paul, and his # 2. One is a '58, one is the '59 he bought from Joe Walsh for $500. I've read both is the # 1. So which is it? Which Paul, the '58 or the '59 is the #1, which is the # 2? I'm sure I'll get the correct answer here.

...wisdom

tonyj · February 16th, 2010, 04:43 PM

Without going into a great deal of detail, I quote from "The Les Paul Legacy" Vol 2, by Robb Lawrence. (2009)

Quote by Pat Foley (Gibson Entertainment Relations).

"We are currently working with Jimmy to recreate his number two Les Paul with the four push/pull knobs and the switches under the pickguard
This is the fourth electric we have done with Jimmy, the others being his number one Les Paul, a double neck SG (EDS 1275) ,and the three pick-pickup Custom with the six way toggle."

Paul Balmer also clarifies it in his "The Gibson Les Paul Handbook" (2009).

He states that a '59 Sunburst was the one that was modified with a shaved neck and push/pull pots which split the humbuckers.

The Joe Walsh acquisition was a 58 Standard very similar in appearance to the 59. This one was modified with the addition of two switches under the pickguard, one for series/parallel switching, the other phase reversal switch.

He has used both guitars for three decades.

The Gibson 'Les Paul Jimmy Page Signature Model' was copied by Roger Giffin at the Gibson's Custom Shop from the modified '58 Joe Walsh Standard. This was his 'Number One' guitar.

The modified '59 Sunburst is his 'Number Two' guitar.

I hope this helps.

Wally · February 16th, 2010, 05:40 PM

INteresting, tony.
Sidenote: Back in the '90's, I purchased a used L.P. Custom from the late '80's that had 4 push/pulls. In addition, there were 3 terminal strips on top of 3 of those pots. I copied the diagram....I have 10 pages of diagrams. There 33 sonic options there....some might have been duplicated or sounded very simular. Very interesting guitar, and even without the switching was the best Custom I have ever played. IT was good acoustically. I don't know who did the wiring, but it was professionally done...very neat. I have seen schematic/diagrams of what Gibson used to call the Jimmy Page wiring. IT is nothing like what that Custom had on it.

S. Rock · February 16th, 2010, 05:42 PM

thanks, tonyj. so, that's how he gets all of those different sounds. hidden switches and push-pull knobs.

indianation66 · February 16th, 2010, 07:41 PM

I started reading this link, and I'm more confused then ever. It states that a Page tech in the 80s used the year '58 to describe his Paul #1, but it wasn't. It was a '59, as is the # 2. The link also states that the '59 is actually a '60, with some '59 guts. I don't know anymore. There is also confusion that it was given to him by Joe Walsh, but I remember reading a Walsh interview and the interviewer said he heard it was "sold" to Page for $500. Walsh said, "That sounds about right." What gives? Only Joe really knows...

...wisdom through confusion

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/vint...1-58-59-a.html

tonyj · February 16th, 2010, 11:03 PM

The video contains the statement laughingly made by Jimmy Page on two occasions that Joe Walsh "insisted I buy it", - and he was thankful he had.

Mr.Page also states that this guitar is his Number One, - 'his mistress, etc' and is 'irreplaceable'. He also refers to changes made to his 'No.2' guitar at 1min 30 sec of the video.

Therefore, right from the mouth of the man himself is confirmation that his 'Number One' guitar is the one he acquired from Joe Walsh. A guitar that Joe had had 'refinished'. The neck on this guitar is "how it came".

You will notice the bridge pick-up has no cover, which makes this guitar easy to recognize in photographs

indianation66 · February 17th, 2010, 09:14 AM

Scroll down with interest...

...wisdom

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibs...aul-101-a.html

tonyj · February 17th, 2010, 11:08 AM

I'm not too sure when this Jimmy Page (post#5) interview took place, but I did see a 2007 interview that the BBC did with him prior to the Zep 2007 reunion - Jimmy had just broken his finger - and Jimmy's hair was steel grey at that time.

This one obviously took place at least a year or three (or more) sooner than this (post#5) interview.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/vint...1-58-59-a.html

indianation66; I totally agree on the confusion, as I have read conflicting 'facts' re the two guitars in question, from the same source.

Other than Joe Walsh who possibly knows just what guitar he bought, before he passed it on to Jimmy, Jimmy is the best source for what he considers to be his Number One and Number Two guitars.

That at least we have figured out - I think.

Great thread by the way. Remember to share your research.

Other than that, confusion will continue to reign.

Wally · February 17th, 2010, 11:22 AM

Well, I for one am happy for the confusion. That gives me enough time to save up the bucks to buy them whem they come up for auction, right? ROTFLMAO I can hear the auctioneer now...
" I have $4,000,000 EUro, who'll give me $5M Euro?" LOL And that would be the bidding for #2! (8^O... The sky is the limit with these, right?

KennyF · March 5th, 2010, 05:57 AM

As I remember... Loooooong before the LPF, MLP, etc; Page's #1 was widely referred to as a '58. No citations here. That's just the way I remember it.

Although, I'm quite sure that there are a lot of people who wish that this wasn't true, including the people at Gibson. After all, the '59 fits more neatly into "The Holy Grail" equation, right?

At the end of the day, the year isn't the important issue... It's the history behind it that makes it what it is.

Or not...