In the late ’60s, Jimmy Page was hunting for the right guitar. Having moved on from his days with the Yardbirds and now forming the foundations of Led Zeppelin, he was searching for a Les Paul that felt right—one that could deliver the power, warmth, and sustain he needed for the heavy sound he was shaping. At the time, Page had still been using his Fender Telecasters, including the iconic “Dragon” Tele he played during early Zeppelin shows and on the first album.
Joe Walsh, then with the James Gang and a rising guitar hero in his own right, heard about Jimmy’s quest. Walsh owned a pair of Gibson Les Paul Standards—both from the golden era of 1958–1960—and he thought it was absurd that Jimmy Page, of all people, didn’t already have one. Out of generosity and respect for what Page was doing musically, Walsh decided to offer one of his guitars.
He picked the Les Paul he liked slightly less and flew it across the Atlantic to deliver it in person. “I laid it on him and said, ‘Try this out,’” Walsh later recalled. Page played it, loved it instantly, and asked what he owed. Walsh simply charged him for travel expenses—no profit, no markup. “I just thought he should have a Les Paul, for godsakes!” Walsh said.
That Les Paul quickly became Page’s main instrument. It’s the guitar heard throughout *Led Zeppelin II*, recorded in May 1969, and it went on to define the thick, melodic tones of Zeppelin’s sound. As Page’s collection grew, he began referring to that special Les Paul simply as “Number One”—his favorite and most trusted guitar for years to come.
