Paul Bearer

Regarding Clapton’s Beano Les Paul: I get the historical significance of the guitar, but why are you celebrating a guitar when it’s the player who made it special? The Eric Clapton who played that Les Paul was a blisteringly sharp player who turned the world on its head for a few years before becoming a “singer-songwriter.” I’m much less interested in what happened to the guitar than I am in what happened to that guitar player. —R. J. MAT HER S

I was a Yank in London in 1966 who had the great opportunity to witness Eric Clapton perform with the Bluesbreakers with that lost Beano Les Paul. And I can tell you first-hand that the tone of that guitar live was unbelievable. But never forget it was Clapton who created it. The magic tone continued even after the guitar was stolen, but it makes for a highly entertaining story nonetheless. Thanks for shedding light on this mystery. Here’s hoping someone finally cracks the case.—TERRY MA THIS ON