12
In response to the rising demand for 1950s-style Les Pauls, the carved-top models were re i n- t roduced in 1968. A new model, the Les Paul Deluxe, featuring mini-humbucking pickups a p p e a red in 1969. The Special was revived in the 1970s and the Jr. re a p p e a red in the 1980s. The Flying V, Explore r, and Fire b i rd were also brought back into regular production, as musi- cal styles began to catch up with these ahead-of-their-time designs.
While the original four Les Paul models continued as the foundation of the line, Gibson off e re d new variations, such as the Studio, Classic, and Double-Cut Standard, in order to give musi- cians all the features they wanted in a Les Paul guitar. In the 50-plus years of the Les Paul, Gibson has off e red more than 100 diff e rent variations. In 2003 Gibson honored Les Paul for his achievements as a perf o rm e r, re c o rding innovator, and guitar designer by presenting him with a special Artist for Eternity Aw a rd .
As Gibson celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Les Paul in 2002, the company rocked the guitar world once again by introducing the first digital electric guitar. It re p resents the biggest advance in electric guitar design since the instrument was invented, and more o v e r, it serv e s notice that Gibson electric guitars will continue to epitomize the highest levels of Quality, P restige and Innovation.
