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 Majestic Aura of the Classic Guitar: Les Paul-Using Guitarists (21–30)

Sugizo

Zessai

Sugizo, the guitarist for the two titans of the visual kei scene, LUNA SEA and X JAPAN, has recently launched a YouTube channel called SugizoTube.

He is known for releasing a Les Paul–shaped signature model through ESP.

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Wata

Boris Boiler Room Tokyo Live set

Wata, the sole female guitarist of Boris, a band with a cult following worldwide.

Her signature is the thick, massive sound she draws from a mountain of stacked Orange amps and a Les Paul.

This live footage was captured by Boiler Room, a popular channel known for uploading DJ sets and more, documenting Boris’s performance in Tokyo.

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[The Classic Guitar Dignity] Guitarists Who Use Les Pauls (31–40)

Matthew Kiichi Heafy

Trivium – The Sin And The Sentence [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Matthew Kiichi Heafy, a guitarist of the metal band Trivium, hails from Yamaguchi Prefecture.

He has a seven-string Les Paul signature model from Epiphone, a Gibson subsidiary.

Lately, he’s been favoring an all-white Les Paul—even the pickups are white—and he wears his strap over both shoulders to reduce strain.

He’s a friendly, approachable guy who streams on Twitch, sharing game playthroughs and guitar practice sessions to connect more with his fans.

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Neil Westfall

A Day To Remember – All I Want

A Day to Remember is a hugely popular pop-punk band from Florida.

Guitarist Neil Westfall is known as a devoted Les Paul fan.

He has his own signature model from ESP: a white body with gold pearl, a single humbucker, and just a volume knob—a true no-frills, tough-guy spec.

As a guitarist from a band that’s been active since the 2000s, he’s having a big influence on today’s kids!

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Matt Pike

Sleep – Dragonaut [Official Video]

Sleep, the legends of stoner rock.

They’re a band still fresh in our memories thanks to their long-awaited visit to Japan in early 2018.

Their hallmark is real, no-gimmick volume powered by stacks of amps.

There aren’t many men who can truly pull off the traditional look of a Les Paul.

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Björn Gelotte

COFFEE WITH OLA – Björn Gelotte of In Flames

In Flames is a metal band from Sweden.

When people think of melodic death metal, many probably think of them.

Guitarist Björn is famous for consistently using a traditionally styled Les Paul.

The thick sound that comes from a Les Paul set up in drop A# is absolutely amazing!

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Uchino

COFFINS – Live at Hellfest 2015 – [PRO – SHOT] – (2015.06.20) HD

Coffins are a doom legend from Tokyo active since 1996.

Their guitarist Uchino—iconic for his sunglasses and Les Paul—delivers a fat sound with a three-step-down tuning.

They’re highly regarded overseas as well.

This footage is from their appearance at a famous festival in Belgium in 2018.

His whammy bar work is a must-see!

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In conclusion

We’ve picked out some representative guitarists known for using Les Pauls.

They match the Les Paul’s appeal—its thick, sustained sound and a tone that can be both sweet and edgy—perfectly with their playing styles.

As an instrument, while the fret spacing is relatively short, the upper register can be harder to play due to the thick neck, which is why it tends to be favored more by emotional rock guitarists than by technical players.

The Les Paul’s main lines are the Standard and Custom, with derivative models like the Special and Junior also available, each with its own distinctive look and sound.

Noticing the differences among them is a fun perspective for guitar enthusiasts.