Favorite Players Playing a Les Paul Deluxe

[65Firebird]

Hi, was wondering about your favorite players that played a Les Paul Deluxe. Scott Gorham was the first I thought of.

 

[jrgtr42]

Mike Ness, though the mini-buckers in his have been replaced by P-90s.

 

[Triplet]

Toy Caldwell played one.

 

[metropolis]

Steve Hackett for me. Between having his Les Paul Customs stolen at the end of 1972, and him buying his '57 Goldtop in '74, he used a sunburst deluxe (which was also stolen) and a goldtop Deluxe (which became his backup guitar once he got the '57).

Despite him stating on his site that he used his '57 on things like Firth of Fifth and Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, I've never found a picture of him with that guitar prior to 1974 so believe it was actually a deluxe all along.

Edit: Early 1974 photo with the gold deluxe after the sunburst was stolen

 

[thin sissy]

Well you opened up the thread with one of the greats, Scott!

I'll throw in Robbo as well

 

[65Firebird]

Ah, Yin and Yang.

 

[fernieite]

Pete Townshend.

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe | Pete Townshend’s Guitar Gear | Whotabs

thewho.net

 

[Dilver]

Mike Ness, though the mini-buckers in his have been replaced by P-90s.

Mike F’ing Ness.

The guys from Thin Lizzy have said in interviews that the Deluxes were all that were available to them - they wouldnt have played them if they had the choice. Mike Ness seeks out 70s Deluxes and has his tech out in Seymour Duncan P90s (I think they’re ceramic).

 

[thin sissy]

Mike F’ing Ness.

The guys from Thin Lizzy have said in interviews that the Deluxes were all that were available to them - they wouldnt have played them if they had the choice. Mike Ness seeks out 70s Deluxes and has his tech out in Seymour Duncan P90s (I think they’re ceramic).

Mike Ness is great! I think he said that he likes the maple necked ones the most.

Regarding the Lizzy boys, Scott has said that his Deluxe was terrible. Also last I heard it was stolen. He still made great music with it though . I think Robbo really likes his though! It was stolen and recently returned to him, and he also used it even though he had a 50's goldtop. The Custom he used for a while I THINK I remember reading that he didn't think it was that good, but unless anybody can back this up take it with a big grain of salt.

 

[jrgtr42]

Mike F’ing Ness.

The guys from Thin Lizzy have said in interviews that the Deluxes were all that were available to them - they wouldnt have played them if they had the choice. Mike Ness seeks out 70s Deluxes and has his tech out in Seymour Duncan P90s (I think they’re ceramic).

A little while ago I found an interview with Mike on |Youtube where he talks about his background, his influences asnd about his gear. He talked a lot about the acoustics, but spent some time on the LPs also. |I do remember him saying that he likes the SD P90s, but I don't htink he mentioned ceramic or not. I also don't remember if he mentioned maple or mahogany necks are his preference.

 

[Strings Jr.]

Barry Bailey from ARS.

Unmistakable sound.

 

[65Firebird]

Pete Townshend.

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe | Pete Townshend’s Guitar Gear | Whotabs

thewho.net

Did Pete play them or smash them??

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Did Pete play them or smash them??

Yes.

A very different guitarist, John McLaughlin, was also photographed with a Deluxe in the 1970s:

 

[Emiel]

Pete Townshend obviously:

Buck Dharma played one too:

 

[fenderbender]

Early Kraftwerk era Michael Rother played one...

 

[lhric]

Jeff Carlisi from 38 Special played a 1969 Deluxe goldtop.

 

[Elmore]

I will second Barry Bailey from the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Check out this tone and playing.

 

[VamboRool]

Jeff Lynne from ELO played one with the glitter finish, sort of remember it being a blue one.

 

[IMMUSICRULZ]

Jimmy Page played a 69 Gold Top, refinished in red:

 

[VamboRool]

In the Showtime documentary "If I Leave Here Tomorrow" on Lynyrd Skynyrd both Allen Collins and Gary Rossington are seen with Deluxes.