As a pathetic musical gearhead, I can tell you all about Les Paul. His tone is the tone I love, his tinkering is the kind of tinkering I like to do (although I’m even more sympatico with Leo Fender, a guitar-builder who couldn’t play guitar), his life always made me envious.

I mean, the guy was still gigging in his 90s. I’ve managed to keep gigging at 49, but I feel fairly certain I will not be gigging in my 90s (if, indeed, I *see* my 90s, which would be a surprise). He made one of the two iconic rock ‘n’ roll guitars and definitely the nastier of the two (the Gibson that bears his name).

Les Paul died today. Here’s his obit on NPR.