The single-cut strut

THE SEVENTIES WERE defined by the earliest wave of proverbial guitar gods — giant-slayers posturing at the stage’s edge, casting their lurid spells over unwitting audiences. The preeminent choice of magic wand? The Gibson Les Paul. But as the Eighties surged, the Les Paul’s fall was steep. Coinciding with that tumble from grace was a rise to prominence for technicolor, hot-rodded rigs. These seemingly mutant creations crafted in presto guitar labs were suddenly slung over the sweaty shoulders of droves of MTV-era icons.

Through synchronized bombast, this new generation of heroes wielded Jacksons, ESPs, haywire B.C. Rich rigs and eye-catching Ibanez JEMs. There was, of course, one notable exception: Slash, who is widely credited as saving the single-cut during the shred era. The Nineties would also prove challenging for the Les Paul, with alternative and indie six-stringers taking to Fender Jaguars, beat-up Strat, twangy Telecasters and 12-string Epiphones instead of the load-bearing stalwart. Now, that’s not to say the Les Paul died entirely; it’s always had its supporters. But somewhere along the way, it became chic to eschew Les Pauls in favor of various new kids on the block.

There are still plenty of Frankenstein rigs strewn across stages worldwide. But finally, it seems the Les Paul is experiencing its rebirth. With the resurgence of classic rock among young listeners and the resultant forming of “new wave of classic rock” bands, Les Pauls are once again being brandished by the masses. Some may lean on other guitars or deny the Les Paul’s versatility, but in the modern age, many young guns are making the model cool again.

What follows are 10 players, all of whom are giving the Gibson Les Paul a new lease on life.

10. Dane Pieper (Classless Act)

CLASSLESS ACT TOOK the world by storm with their debut record, Welcome to the Show, which coincided with their inclusion as openers for the Stadium Tour — which featured Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett and Mötley Crüe — last summer. And while Griffin Tucker often gets the lion’s share of attention, Classless Act’s über-energetic rhythm guitarist Dane Pieper steals the show. Pieper is a ball of fury known to jump and jive while slicing through heavy riffs. He’ll often execute Eddie Van Halen-inspired kickflips and David Lee Roth-esque mid-air splits while jumping off the drum riser, all while delivering bone-crushing rhythms.

9. Sammy Boller

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