The Gibson-made instrument, called the Holy Grail of Guitars by some, is being sold by Tom Doyle, the late Paul’s longtime friend, engineer, co-inventor and guitar tech.
“This happens to be the first prototype of what we call the Black Beauty. It was sent to Les in 1953, 1954,” Doyle told CNN, holding the instrument with shiny pearly inlays on the guitar neck glinting back overhead lights. “This is the beginning of the proper Les Paul guitar. “
Doyle explains virtuoso Paul would hold notes on the guitar, sustaining a beautiful ringing that seemed to model in part a melodic Bell Telephone tone of the early 1950s.
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“When it came to difficulties where this guitar wasn’t coming back to well, he (Les Paul) would say ‘Bring it back Tom, do what you got to do to make it play,’ ” Doyle laughed.
“When I was doing this work for him it was a great honor. Here is my idol asking me to do work on his guitars.”
