<P> In 1950, the ancestors of Fender Telecaster (Fender Esquire and Fender Broadcaster) were introduced to the musical market and solid - body electric guitars became a public craze . In reaction to market demand, Gibson Guitar president Ted McCarty brought guitarist Les Paul into the company as a consultant . Les Paul was a respected innovator who had been experimenting with guitar design for years . He hand - built a solid - body prototype called "The Log", often suggested as the first solid - body Spanish guitar ever built . "The Log" was given its name from the pine block running through the middle of the guitar whose width and depth are a little more than the width of the fretboard; conventional hollow guitar sides or "wings" were added for shape . Although numerous other prototypes and limited - production solid - body models by other makers have since surfaced, it is known that in 1945--1946, Les Paul had approached Gibson with "The Log" prototype, but his solid body design was rejected . </P> <P> In 1951, Paul, McCarty, and his team at the Gibson Guitar Corporation began work on what would eventually become the Les Paul Model . Early prototypes are very similar to the final version . The new Les Paul guitar was to be an expensive, well - made instrument in accordance with Gibson's reputation at the time . Although recollections differ regarding who contributed what to the Les Paul design, it was far from a replica of rival guitar manufacturer Fender's models . </P> <P> Additionally, Gibson's president Ted McCarty stated that the Gibson Guitar Corporation approached Les Paul for the right to imprint the musician's name on the headstock with the intention of increasing sales; in 1951, Gibson presented Paul a nearly finished instrument for approval . Subsequently, McCarty claimed that design discussions with Les Paul were limited to the tailpiece and the fitting of a maple cap over the mahogany body for increased density and sustain, which Les Paul had requested reversed . However, this reversal would have caused the guitar to become too heavy, and Paul's request was refused . Paul states that the original Custom should have had the maple cap and the Goldtop was to be all mahogany . The Custom did not appear on the market for another two years following the introduction of the Goldtop; it is possible that Gibson had planned a full model range of guitars (with a roll - out over the course of several years) at the time when initial specifications were being set . Les Paul's contributions to the guitar line bearing his name were more than cosmetic, but certainly included them . For example, Paul specified that the guitar be offered in a gold finish, not only for flashiness, but to emphasize the high quality of the Gibson Les Paul instrument . The later - issue Les Paul models included flame maple (tiger stripe) and "quilted" maple tops, again in contrast to the competing Fender line's range of car - like custom color finishes . </P> <P> The 1952 Les Pauls featured two P - 90 single coil pickups, and a one - piece,' trapeze' - style bridge / tailpiece with strings fitted under (instead of over) a steel stop - bar . </P>

When was the first gibson les paul made