Designed in the early 50s by Ted McCarty in collaboration with popular jazz guitarist (and electronics innovator) Les Paul, the Gibson Les Paul subsequently became one of key axes in rock history.

Adopting a solid-body (as opposed to a hollow-body more suited to jazzier acoustics) resulted in deeper, more flexible and potentially harder soundscapes from its pickups. And indeed they didÂ…

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page ramped up hard rock with his, as did Jeff Beck and Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones. But it's not all sound and fury – Roy Orbison discovered its crying beauty while The Edge has twisted many effects out of its highly versatile frame. In short, it's probably the ultimate electric guitar in rock history.