Les Paul - cheers, mate.

Just heard he's died. Here's a lovely little movie:

The guitar was actually out of production when Eric Clapton recorded this

with John Mayall - a year or so later it became the biggest selling guitar of all time. Have a listen - at 0:57 you start hearing something no-one had used before; feedback. A killer signature lick at 1:11 and then from 1:22 a solo that still brings the hair on the back of your arms to attention.

Cheers, mate. We owe you.