Electric guitar by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1952 (NMM 5916). Les Paul's impact on the history of the electric guitar cannot be underestimated. Gibson's Les Paul model, introduced in 1952, is one of the great classic designs that remains in production to this day. The solid-body Les Paul guitar, made from mahogany with a maple veneer, originally came in a gold metallic finish on the top with a clear lacquer on the back or, more rarely, with an all-gold finish, as on the Museum's example.