Gibson exployees initially derided Leo Fender’s Broadcaster/Telecaster as a crude design that resembled a toilet seat, but by 1952 Gibson could ignore the solidbody electric no longer.

Gibson began working on a more elegant design with a carved top that not only identified it with Gibson’s tradition as the company that invented the carved-top guitar but also would be difficult for Fender to copy without considerable new tooling.

To ensure maximum publicity and support for the new model, Gibson enlisted the most popular guitarist of the era, Les Paul, who had been an ardent proponent of the solidbody electric guitar for over a decade. Paul contributed his own patented bridge/tailpiece design and suggested a metallic gold top finish to further distinguish the Gibson from a Fender.

The Les Paul Model debuted in 1952, on the heels of Les Paul and Mary Ford’s #1 hit “How High The Moon”.