(MUSE) "It's a Les Paul that looks like a SG" (mention)

Total Guitar
December 2003 (Issue 117)

EH7 TG explains it all...

 Matt Bellamy is not the only rock star to own one of these weird SG/Les Paul hybrid guitars. Remember the cover of TG115 that starred James Hetfield of Metallica, grasping his Gibson SG? Well, if you look a little closer, you'll see that the headstock actually bears a Les Paul name plate. Confused? Allow us to explain.
 By 1961, sales of the Les Paul had declined to such a point that Gibson made a decision to revamp the range, reputedly to compete with the popular more futuristic designs of arch rival Fender. The result was a completely new guitar: a double cutaway mahogany bodied axe that still carried the Les Paul name. It wasn't renamed the SG (Solid Guitar) until 1963. Hence, if you're lucky enough to own a 1962/1963 model, it'll bear the legend "Les Paul" - despite looking like a SG. 
 The possible reasons for the name change have become the stuff of legend. It could be that Mr Paul just didn't like the new guitar's shape and asked for his name to be removed, but there is another conceivable explanation. In the early 60s Les Paul was in the throes of divorcing his wife and musical partner, Mary Ford, and it's possible the wily old goat didn't want to sign a new contract with Gibson in case she could file for a share of the loot. 
 Whatever the reason, the guitar has enjoyed huge success with garage bands everywhere and top players like Robbie Krieger of The Doors. 
 The original Les Paul model was reinstated in 1968 after Eric Clapton and blues legend Mike Bloomfield made players realise it was actually quite good after all. 
 The rest is history. 

Picture credit: Total Guitar.  

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