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Jimmy Page's No. 2

Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
183
I ran a search here on ‘Page’s No. 2’ and found some info but I’ve never really read much about this guitar. Is there any information on how much it was played live and on what songs? I guess the same goes for the studio albums. Are there any examples of it’s tone compared to No. 1? I’m surprised there isn’t more out there on this ‘Burst. Especially since it does have it's serial number and it might have a history that may be traceable. I get the impression that it may have not been used much at all, live or in the studio. Does anyone here have any thoughts or information on this Les Paul?
 

zensurfer

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Nov 3, 2004
Messages
1,151
Good luck!
Most can't figure out which guitar even was Page's #1 LP, let alone #2 (obviously, the other one). :lol
 

Pooker

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May 30, 2003
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543
I'm pretty sure Jimmy used it primarily for playing Kashmir live, and had it tuned to DADGAD.
Pics (nice burst :yah ):

Page29-1703-1.jpg

Page129-1703-1.jpg
 

zensurfer

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Nov 3, 2004
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Pooker, I've always thought the same as what those pics show, but some say otherwise...
 

Pooker

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May 30, 2003
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543
Stage lights & cameras can confuse the colour, but the top-figuring clearly identifies #1 (slant, with flatsawn grain at the edges) from #2 (tight wavy flame).

Also, #2 had the 'secret switches' under the pickguard.

Nice pic of #1 showing the grain:
PageLP1-1.jpg
 

The Shifter

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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
3,397
Here's a bigger version of the pic above that really shows the figure. I wonder if at some point, this became the Dazed and Confused guitar, since the rosin on the bow might make for some sticky issues?
jp.lp2.jpg
 

Tonebender

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Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
721
Number 2 didn't really seem to see much action. #3 was the backup for #1 while from `77 onward #2 seems to have been the backup for the Danelectro. As a matter of fact I've never seen a post `75 pic of #2 in action. As has been posted previous, camera angles and stage lighting can make it really tough. If all else fails there's this to remember: #1 gold Grovers, #2 Chrome Grovers.
 

Greco

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Apr 23, 2006
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2,181
I've heard you can tell by the smell....


oh I give up! :rolleyes: :hee
 
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
183
jp-replica-sm.jpg


Don't forget his replica #3

FLICKOFLASH, now that's one guitar I don't recall ever reading about. That's one thing I love about this forum, someone always comes up with new info just when I think I've heard/read it all about a particular subject. That's why I started this thread in the first place, I knew there would be info and photos on Mr. Page's NO.2 LES PAUL I didn't know about. Thanks to all!
 

huw

Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Messages
920
Live:

For the 1975 tour aquired #2 as the main backup guitar - some bootleg videos show Jimmy & his roadie doing the quick change bit, and some show that he played the same song on one guitar one night, but on the other the next (because of string breaks). It was also, as stated above, used for Kashmir, in DADGAD.

From 1977 on the Danelectro was used for Kashmir, & #2 becomes just a backup - again as stated above there are very few photos of it in use from this tour, so he seems to have still favoured #1 heavily.

On both these tours #2 is easily distinguished as during those years it had an exposed bridge pickup. (Prior to late 1972 #1 had its bridge pickup exposed, then a cover went back on it).

On the 1980 tour it is honestly anybody's guess, because there just aren't enough good quality photos (at least that I've ever seen) to id them.

By 1982 both #1 & #2 had both pickup covers on, so during The Firm years it needs a good photo to tell tham apart. Still - around this time is when Page (probably) had #2 modified with the fancy switching options, so there is now a distinct reason for him to choose that guitar over #1 for particular sounds.

By the 1990s (P&P, JP & The Black Crowes) #2 still has both covers on, while #1 has the exposed bridge pickup. Photos & video of Page throughout these periods show that he still uses #1 for the bulk of his standard tuning playing, but does swap to #2 for some songs, & not just when he breaks a string (similarly he has some songs that he chooses to play on the cherry b-bender LP).

Studio:

Well, let's be honest here - most of the time, who knows. The only one I can say with any certainty is (IIRC) Take Me For A Little While by Coverdale Page - in a Guitar World interview where he revealed what gear he'd used to record the album he id-ed that solo as being played on #2, both pickups on, out of phase, because he just couldn't get a suitable sound from his other guitars.
 
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