Is the sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard really the greatest electric guitar ever made? This books aims to answer that question, even if so many players and collectors have already sounded a loud “Yes!” Famously playedby Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, this fabulous instrument, known simply as the Burst, has become a legend.

Through a series of interviews with players, collectors, guitar-makers, dealers, and more, Sunburst unravels amyth and puts into sharp focus how 1,400...