Guitarists who use the Les Paul: the dignified aura of a classic guitar

Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.

Gibson’s Les Paul, alongside Fender’s Stratocaster, is one of the most iconic electric guitar models and is beloved by players around the world.

Originally released as an artist model named after the jazz guitarist Les Paul, its construction and the high-output pickups known as humbuckers pair exceptionally well with rock-style overdriven tones.

Thanks to that appeal, many guitarists have chosen it as their instrument of choice.

First manufactured in 1952, it may appear a bit “old-fashioned” from the perspective of the 2020s, more than half a century later, yet it also exudes the dignified presence of “the electric guitar.”

Here are some famous guitarists known for their use of the Les Paul.

[The Regal Aura of a Classic Guitar] Guitarists Who Use Les Pauls (1–10)

PATA

X Japan - Kurenai

Pata, known to anyone who plays guitar as the guitarist of X JAPAN, is a Gibson collector who reportedly owns several vintage Les Pauls.

As a guitarist who pulls off fast playing with a traditional look, he’s definitely someone you’ll want to check out.

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Zakk Wylde

OZZY OSBOURNE – “No More Tears” (Official Video)

Zakk Wylde, who is said to have been the longest-serving member of Ozzy Osbourne’s band and is active as the guitarist-vocalist of Black Label Society.

His Les Paul with the spiral finish is an iconic guitar.

The Les Paul’s rich, heavy tone suits heavy music very well.

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Randy Rhoads

‘Crazy Train’ from “Thirty Years After The Blizzard” DVD

A legendary guitarist who, while serving as the original guitarist for the Ozzy Osbourne band, tragically passed away at the young age of 25 in a plane crash during a tour.

He was among the first to incorporate classical elements into intense genres like hard rock and metal, making him one of the guitarists who drove the evolution of rock guitar from the 1970s into the 1980s.

When people think of Randy Rhoads, the image of the polka-dotted Flying V is strong, but in fact, the guitar he used the longest was a Gibson Les Paul.

Many of the songs and guitar performances that left a profound impact on later generations may well have been born from the Les Paul.

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Hoshino Takashi

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[Dignity of the Classic Guitar] Guitarists Who Use Les Pauls (11–20)

Gary Moore

Gary Moore – Still Got The Blues (Live)

Gary Moore, a guitarist and singer from Northern Ireland, is also known as a devoted Les Paul user.

This song features a smooth, thorn-free neck pickup tone and delivers guitar solos with long, satisfying sustain.

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Yui Hirasawa (the anime K-On!)

Yui Hirasawa in 30 Seconds #shorts

Hirasawa Yui, the guitar vocalist from the anime K-On!—who may be the most famous and popular female guitarist in Japan—also uses a Les Paul.

She’s a beginner but owns a vintage guitar.

She’s even named it “Gīta” and dotes on it.

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Masatoshi Mashima

Masatoshi Mashima / Longing for Andalusia

Marcy—Masatoshi Mashima—the guitarist who has been a member of three legendary bands, The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows, and The Cro-Magnons, and has left his mark on the history of Japanese rock, also uses a Les Paul as his main guitar.

The balance between his generous, full-bodied sound and his husky voice is exquisite.

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