Les Paul turns ninety today. Slash plays a Les Paul, as does Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, and Peter Frampton. But Les Paul is not just a Gibson guitar. He's a real person. And Les Paul, surprise, plays a Les Paul. At ninety, he releases his first album in more than a quarter century later this summer.

If you want to hear some sweet guitar music listen to Les Paul/Chet Atkins Guitar Monsters. The series that Atkins made with other guitarists is all pretty cool.

Playing a guitar is one thing, but having the foresight, ingenuity and creativity to design and make one is quite another.

Each Les Paul that comes off the assembly line may look the same but every person that plays one expresses his own energy, sound, and style into it. They are all individual masterpieces.

We have Les to thank for providing Pete Townsend with his famous #5 guitar. Happy Birthday Les.

It's all about the pickups baby.

Heavy mothers those Les Paul's. Beautiful action though and fine tight necks.

First album in 25 years at 90? Amazing.

I hate to say this, because the Les Paul is a fabulous guitar...But, in addition to borrowing parts of the design, PRS improved dramatically on the Gibson pickups (with the Dragons), and became the superior instrument. Smith couldn't have done it without Les Paul, though.

Hey Feck,

You may be disappointed to know Noel Gallagher, guitarist/songwriter of Oasis, now owns Pete Townsend's famed Number 5 Les Paul, which I believe he used in all performances of Baba O'Riley.

Gallagher, has sold off a lot of his collectibles, but he has kept other famous Les Paul's on some of his best Oasis songs. His two favourite Les Paul's are a black 1970's Les Paul, and an older, collectible he bought from Johnny Marr from the Smiths, who bought it from John Entwistle in the '80's, who got it as a gift from Townsend.

Altogether now Feck, in a cockneyed accent: "Oasis! Oasis! Oasis!"

Gallagher is an excellent guitarist, and you can hear it on their new album. Go out and buy "Don't Believe in the Truth," the first new Oasis album in three years, in stores now.

Oasis bites.

I'm a Fender man, myself. But you have to respect Les. He was once in a bad car accident. Instead of taking a break from the guitar (while recovering) he simply had his arm brace set in an awkward position that would still allow him to play guitar. Now that's dedication!

Any model made by Fender and Gibson are generally fine guitars and probably the most popular for good reason. Strat and SG being two of the best of both lines.

Funny how companies like Gretsch and Rickenbacker have become some of the more obscure instruments out there as they too are great guitars.

Historically, Hagstrom made one of the finest three pickup guitars available before the Strat cornered that market.

Cheers Finbar. I was aware that Noel now possesses Pete's #5. I didn't know he has sold off much of his collection, which I understand was quite extensive. I am curious to why he would sell such unique and priceless memorabilia.

Do you think Noel, the good lad that he is, is selling pieces of his collection to help brother Liam from creditors? Has that wanker pissed threw all of his Oasis cash?

Lester and Chester - Great album with Chet Atkins!

Shame on Entwistle for selling that which he received as a gift. Bloody bad show.

Oasis is the houseband in Hell.

Seriously, is there anyone that hears the chorus from Wonderwall that doesn't have to fight the urge to slit their wrists?

Oasis is awesome.

Noel for Prime Minister.

"Wonderwall," while never a number 1 single in the U.K., did reach number 1 in the U.S. I believe.

You're gonna love this Homer, "Wonderwall" (Oasis, 1995) was voted the best British song of all time in a new poll conducted by the U.K.'s Virgin Radio, and the results were announced on Monday (May 30th). "Wonderwall" beat tracks by Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Police. 8,300 Virgin listeners voted.

The Top 10 British songs of all time, according to the poll, are:
1. Oasis - "Wonderwall"
2. Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
3. Led Zeppelin - "Stairway To Heaven"
4. The Beatles - "Let It Be"
5. John Lennon - "Imagine"
6. The Police - "Every Breath You Take"
7. The Jam - "Going Underground"
8. Verve - "Bittersweet Symphony"
9. Robbie Williams - "Angels"
10. The Stranglers - "Golden Brown"

I think the poll is ridiculous, but I thought I'd pass it along. I think Wonderwall is awesome.

You're a psycotic individual, probably made so by repeated listenings to that awful song.

It's like nails on a chalkboard....

Just goes to show you - the Brits are nuts. Too much inbreeding.