The Story of the Slash 1958 Les Paul First Standard

The original Les Paul Model featured a gold finish from its introduction in 1952 until it received a new cherry sunburst in 1958 along with a new name, “Les Paul Standard.” It debuted at the July 1958 Music Industry Trade Show in Chicago but it didn’t catch on until its beautiful appearance and resonant properties inspired the likes of Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Duane Allman, Peter Green, Joe Walsh, Joe Perry — and eventually Slash — to perform with one.