Les Paul photo with mandolin

[foldedpath]

Don't get excited, I don't think this has anything to do with Les Paul experimenting with our beloved 8-string wonders.

But I saw this new web post on the npr.org site today, with a header photo showing a young Les surrounded by a bunch of guitars, holding an archtop under his right arm, and holding a mandolin in his left hand.



Can't quite make out the manufacturer name... it's an A style with F-holes and definitely not a Gibson.

Probably just a promotional shot where he borrowed a mandolin from whoever he was recording with in the studio. I just thought it was cool to see 'ol Les holding a mandolin, even if he didn't play it. Apparently somebody was playing mandolin with him, at that time!

[Joey Anchors]

It might be a Harmony.

[F-2 Dave]

Kalamazoo?

[Ivan Kelsall]

Les Paul used many instruments other than guitars to compile his 'multi-tracked' music & mandolin was one of them. He also used a Uke on some recordings. Many of the instruments he used would be speeded up or slowed down to produce the effect he required & then mixed in with the rest of his multi-tracks. There was a TV programme about Les Paul aired on UK TV a few years ago,& what that guy couldn't play wasn't worth thinking about - although i think he gave the Trumpet a miss !. His incredible ingenuity in making the things he required in order to record music the way he wanted,in my mind,put him in the genius class for sure - an incredible musician & inventor,
Ivan

[journeybear]

I think it's a Harmony, too. If I blow it up too much the logo loses definition. But it looks like that to me.

[Ron McMillan]

Don't get excited

not much chance of that

[Ray(T)]

Mandolins aside, would it not have been Les Paul's 100th birthday last weekend?

[LongBlackVeil]

That's a Kalamazoo headstock I'm positive

Wonder if he knew how to play it

[John Rosett]

At least he took his shoes off before he walked across all those beautiful guitars...

[UsuallyPickin]

Ivan said it .... genius level talent ..... an amazing life's work .... R/

[journeybear]

That's a Kalamazoo headstock I'm positive

Yes it is, upon closer inspection.

I'm quite sure he didn't walk over those guitars, but sat there while they were piled around him. Like offerings to a powerful potentate, as it were.

I would like to point out a subtle subtext. There are eight guitars and one mandolin - and a rather inexpensive one at that - which demonstrates the relative value of these instruments. Yes, it takes eight guitars to equal the magnificence of a single mandolin. Sounds about right.

[jaycat]

I wonder when that photo was taken. I have a 1942 Kalamazoo KM-12 that looks EXACTLY like that. THAT COULD BE MY MANDOLIN!!

[lenf12]

Just to 3rd or 4th the opinions above, yes, it's K'zoo KM-12...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[JEStanek]

Yesterday, June 9 would have been his 100th birthday. That's why NPR did the piece on him (linked in the OP).

Jamie

[lenf12]

Yesterday, June 9 would have been his 100th birthday. That's why NPR did the piece on him (linked in the OP).Jamie

Terry Gross interviewed LP on "Fresh Air" in 1992 or so and replayed the interview yesterday too. He was a very special, independently thinking genius. The portion about "inventing" delay was very refreshing because he gave credit to another guy (his drummer?) who told him to move the playback head further or closer to the record head (on a tape recorder) to vary the delay time. Great stuff!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[des]

At least he took his shoes off before he walked across all those beautiful guitars...

He's playing them with his toes - that's something. But with his socks on - that's something else entirely!

[des]

And if you look at his left hand position - angled like a violinist. He could surely play the mandolin....

[allenhopkins]

Recent thread, similar subject.

[zedmando]

That guitar is one of his Clunkers--modified Epiphone archtops--mostly with sheets of metal & metal bars in them to make them more solid & less resonant.

He actually recorded with them more than the Log which is probably better known...

[Charles E.]

Recent thread, similar subject.

AllenN posted in this thread that Dempsy Young played Les Paul inspired tunes and while I did not find Goofus, I did find Alley Cat...





Great playing.

[journeybear]

Hmmm ... different mandolin in that sheet music photo. Maybe he had MAS?