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Waukesha, Wisconsin – Les Paul’s Birthplace, Home of Gibson’s GuitarTown and Guitar Artist Tom Noll

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Regular readers of TheGutiarBuzz have heard of Tom Noll, the artist behind the “Name the Painting” contests that we host.

Tom Noll and his 10-Foot Guitars

What you may not know, is that Tom also played a huge roll in the Gibson GuitarTown project in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the birthplace of Les Paul.

Gibson Guitar chose the birth and resting place of guitar legend Les Paul for one of its acclaimed GuitarTown community arts project. Waukesha GuitarTown features 10-foot tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul model guitars, and a series of regular size Gibson guitars, artistically designed by acclaimed Wisconsin artists and displayed in front of the city’s landmarks and businesses.

Each guitar celebrates a musician, personality or artist unique to the region’s history, with guitar sculptures sponsored by local businesses and individuals.

The Waukesha GuitarTown Project unites the Waukesha area music, art and business communities with a mission to raise funds to better the lives of those served by local charitable organizations, including Waukesha school music and art programs, the new Waukesha County Museum Les Paul exhibit, and the new Waukesha Community Health Center.

The launch event occurred this past June 1st, in honor of Les Paul’s birthday.

Other Gibson GuitarTown cities include Los Angeles, Cleveland, Miami, Orlando, Austin, Nashville and London.

The local news station (Fox 6) took an in depth look at the making of and meaning behind Guitartown in Waukesha this summer. Watch this exclusive video of two of the artists actually from the hometown of Les Paul toiled away with the project of a lifetime.

You just may recognize one of them…

[CLICK HERE] to see several progress shots of Tom as he painted the 10-foot guitar and to find out how you can order a print of the photo above!

The Les Paul Swimming Pool

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It’s going to be 106 degrees in Phoenix, Arizona today – home of the GuitarDaddy.

(106°F = 41.11°C)… That’s pretty hot!

Les Paul Swimming Pool (by Aqua-Tech)

So what’s a hot guitar player to do on a hot Arizona day?

Jump in the pool!

No, this is not my swimming pool — but I sure wish it was! This image has been floating around the internet for a while and I have been waiting for the perfect day to publish it here on the Buzz.

Today’s the day!

This amazing swimming pool is shaped like a Les Paul guitar and was designed and built by the Canadian pool company, Aqua-Tech.

As the story goes, a passionate (and anonymous) guitar collector walked into their office looking for a company that could design a guitar-shaped swimming pool for his backyard.

Aqua-Tech presented him with an exact replica of a Les Paul Custom guitar!

Measuring 19 meters long, the inspiring swimming pool is very unique – perhaps the only one of it’s kind in the entire world!

Interview with Guitar Artist Tom Noll of Creative Bone Artworks

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Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the man behind the brush, world-renowned artist and owner of Creative Bone Artworks, Tom Noll.

We had a great time talking guitars, painting, Harley’s, Les Paul and life.

Here is the transcript:

What is life like for you on an average day?
Well, waking up is a good start. I never take a day for granted and I fill it with creativity. I’m always envisioning what I can transfer from brain to canvas, and how I can best capture my subject. A long ride on the Harley is always a good brainwave session.

How long have you been painting “professionally”?
My oil painting has only been the last 4 1/2 years. I’ve worked in the design and advertising world for 32 yrs., and after a serious health scare decided to start my Creative Bone Artworks and create a vibrant body of work to leave behind.

The Freeman Newspaper, November 21, 2009

What made you choose Rock-n-Rollers and Guitar Players as your painting subjects? I mean…have you ever painted a picture of a barn in a wheat field?
Starting out with fluid watercolors in the late 70’s, I painted the barns and landscapes and did the art fair circuit on the weekends. Recently, I painted the large 8’ x 9’ Bob Marley on request from a client and fell in love with the energy. Now, I live for the positive response to my work, and the happiness that I see it brings to others.

Is it your goal to one day meet the person that you painted? You know, the “artist” meets the “artist” kind of thing? Have you been able to meet anyone that you painted?
Yeah, its always great to meet that person after you’ve spent weeks looking into their psyche to discover what moves them, to bring them to life on the canvas. One such situation was my fortunate meeting with Les Paul, and hanging with him for an afternoon.

Were you able to show him your work? What did he think?
Oh yeah. He was very humbled and he signed several prints and the original oil painting. Its one thing to nail his image, but then you have to get his ax right. With Les Paul…talk about pressure! We used the painting as the backdrop to his book signing that day, and I gave him the framed print #1. He was thrilled! Ultimately, the image filled the front of the local newspaper on the day he was laid to rest.

Tom Noll painting Les Paul

You know when you can put a guys image on his fan’s living room wall for that constant recognition, who wouldn’t be pleased with all that that brings.

I keep missing Joe (Bonamassa) at his shows, and twice friends have delivered images to him for me. Once in Milwaukee, before I had painted him, he was shown what I was planning to do with him in that cool gold lame suit, and then after it was done, he saw an image of it finished in LA and he approved and signed a photo print to me. I’d had a “Name the Painting” contest with his fans going at the time, and I was told Joe wanted to submit an entry, but, well…he’s a busy guy.

Tell me about your guitars! When did you start playing?
I started on a Fender Squire, but I was really challenged and it didn’t even feel right. Then one day I said to myself, “well ya dumb &#%&, you’re lefty handed. So I flipped it over and restrung it, ala Jimi style…and immediately I sounded exactly like him…ha, ha!

Les Paul Signing

Do you have a favorite axe?
Well, the Squire is now retired on the wall, graced with a Joe Satriani signature, and I’ve purchased 4 lefty guitars. I’ve got an electric acoustic guitar, a Martin Backpacker for on the Harley, a Custom Tele, but the Les Paul is probably my fav.

Tom, you have painted an amazing list of past and present musicians. How do you go about choosing who will be on the easel next?
You know, I’m pretty approachable, and often its by request…and if the subject is someone I’m passionate about, I’m off and running. I’ve also done my fair share of custom paintings for clients that the public never sees.

Most guitar players will play guitar well into the late stages of their lives. What about painters? How long do you see this creative drive staying alive in you?
Hmmm…I’m guessing the lifestyle of a musician is a bit more “late night” than mine. If they can hang in there, I’ll be right behind them with my brush. Then, as with the late Gary Moore, now that he’s passed, its my obligation to capture his spirit forever.

Other than painting and playing guitar, does Tom Noll have any other passions?
Ha, ha…step into my garage!

Tom Noll and his "Red Ripper"

Thank you Tom!

Design Your Own Les Paul!

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I read that Gibson alone offers over 150 different varieties with their standard, reissues and artist series. Add to that all of the other manufacturer’s models and you have several hundred different “looks” to pick from.

BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH!!!

DesignLesPaulFor all of you wanna-be guitar designers, click on the image to the left and watch your screen morph into a guitar designers pallet of options.

Be patient as this site may take a minute or two to load…but I guarantee it will be worth the wait!

This is an amazing graphics application that will allow you to customize the Color (Plaintop, Flametop, Quilttop), Body (Finish, Binding, Pickguard), Neck (Ebony, Rosewood, Maple, Inlays), Pickups (Bridge, Neck, Screws), Hardware (Tuner, Bridge, Controls, Toggle) and so much more.

[Read more…]

Gibson Releases Les Paul Tribute 1952 Guitar

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Gibson Les Paul Tribute 1952PRESS RELEASE:

The passing of the incomparable Les Paul in August 2009 broke the hearts of guitar enthusiasts around the world.

What can never be broken, though, is the legacy of innovation and creativity that he built during 94 years of constant musicianship.

Though the original guitar he designed in 1952 has informed every Gibson guitar since, our engineers were inspired anew to handcraft a guitar just the way Les demanded it nearly 60 years ago. Never before has a Les Paul guitar been so completely designed to Les’ original specifications.

Until now.

Anchored by a golden mahogany body, maple top and rosewood fingerboard, the Les Paul Tribute 1952 is equipped with an all-new bridge that’s an exact replica of Les’ original 1952 patent. Our luthiers have also added historical interest with details like stamping “prototype” into the back of the peg head and staying true to Les’ preference for P-90 pickups.

The Les Paul Tribute 1952 honors the most important figure in all of guitar history and the guitar he designed and loved.

Click on the guitar photo to link directly to GIBSON USA.

Hey Buddy… Wanna Buy a 1960 Gibson Les Paul?

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I’m in the middle of reading the book “Million Dollar Les Paul ” by Tony Bacon (a full review will come in a future post).

1960 Gibson Les PaulIt’s a fascinating read about “The Burst” as it was known in the late 50’s and how it was the axe of choice for guys like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. If you can find one of those around today, it could fetch up to $1,000,000.00 – even in our current depressed economy.

Many high-end guitar dealers admit that while there is no logic as to why the value continues to rise on these vintage classics, they still do.

It appears that there is no end in sight as to how high they will go. As long as people are willing to pay more to own one of the few remaining early LP’s, the prices will still skyrocket.

Well, how about a 1960 Burst?

The picture above is a stunning 1960 Gibson Les Paul cherry sunburst that is for sale right now on eBay. Click on the picture and you will link to the auction – as long as the auction is still there…

The auction says: From Norman’s Rare Guitars: Here’s another one from Norm’s personal stash. This is a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst with original hard shell case and all of the hang tags in dead mint condition. Yep, that’s about all I can say about that. If you have any questions on this guitar or any other guitar we have listed, please feel free to contact Mark at Norman’s Rare Guitars 818-344-8300

The “Buy it Now” price is $325,000. Sounds like a steal to me! It’s a few years “newer” and hey… you can save over $600,000.00!! So tell me, who do you know that has a $325,000 limit on their Visa or Master Card?

Maybe you should just start with the book…

We Miss You Les Paul…

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August 13, 2009 we lost the man who created The Electric Guitar!

I have posted links to “The Chop Shop” in the past and it seemed appropriate today to provide a link to “The Chop Shop Hall of Fame” page that honors Les Paul, and includes a high-resolution (free) download image of the man himself.

From the Chop-Shop Hall-of-Fame Page:
Lester William Polfuss (forever known as “Les Paul”)
Born: June 9, 1915, Died: August 13, 2009

LesPaulChopShopLes Paul was born Lester William Polfuss. Les started playing music on harmonica at the age of 8. By the time he was 13 he was playing guitar in a country band. At age 17 Les dropped out of school to join a radio band at KMOX in St. Louis.

In the mid-30s Les decided he need to make his acoustic guitar louder, and extracted the magnetic receiver from a telephone, used it as a pick up in a 4” X 4” log, inserted into his instrument, and helped create the solid body electric guitar.

In 1947 Les invented a system of sound on sound recording using 8 different guitar parts to create “Lover (When You’re Near Me).” He did the recording with shellac disks. Les would record a track onto a disk, then record himself playing another part, in addition to the 1st recording layer by layer until he was satisfied. This is the 1st known example of multi track recording.

In the early 1950s, Les made a number of revolutionary recordings with his wife, Mary Ford, who sang. These records were unique at the time for their heavy use of overdubbing. Their hits included “How High the Moon,” “Bye Bye Blues,” and “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise.”

In the 50s Gibson incorporated this design and created the Gibson Les Paul, one of the best selling guitars of all-time.

In 1954, Les continued to develop this technology by commissioning Ampex to build the first eight track tape recorder, at his expense. From this point, he was known as the father of the modern-day recording studio.

In 1978, Les was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 1983, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.

In 1988, Les was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1991, The Mix Foundation established an annual award in his name; the Les Paul Award, which honors “individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology.”

In 2005, Les was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Les was inducted into the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He is also an honorary member of the Audio Engineering Society.

Rest in peace Les Paul, we will NEVER forget you.

Rest in Peace Les Paul… 1915-2009

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The guitar community was saddened today when one it’s true pioneers passed away. Les Paul died this morning from complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

Gibson Lifestyle called les Paul “The world’s most influential, innovative guitar player and inventor.” To read the entire article from the Gibson site, click HERE.

It is not possible to write about Les Paul’s enormous contribution to the guitar world in one simple guitar blog post. Instead, I will ask you to do this:

If you own a Les Paul guitar, take it out of it’s case today and stand it prominently in your home as a statue to the man who changed music forever…and for the better.

But just before you do… watch this:

Here is a classic video with a historical perspective on the early years:

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