Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray has a Les Paul-shaped swimming pool - and yes, it’s called the Les Pool

Gibson released an impressive signature Brian Ray '62 SG Junior last year, but the Paul McCartney sideman has a pretty cool personal collection of vintage electric guitars as well.

In the newest episode of Gibson TV’s The Collection, Mark Agnesi joins Ray at his home in Palm Springs to see and hear some of the drool worthy instruments he’s amassed over the years – among them an almost pristine ’59 Les Paul 'burst and a heavily worn ‘57 Gold Top that was Ray’s main guitar during his years playing Etta James. 

“It looks like it’s been dragged behind a motorcycle,” Ray says of the Gold Top.

Other guitars in Ray's collection include a ‘57 Les Paul TV used by the character Richie Cunningham on Happy Days, a one-of-a-kind sunburst ‘62 Les Paul SG Junior and a ‘62 Les Paul SG with ebony block, which served as the inspiration for Ray’s signature SG Junior.

(Image credit: Gibson)

Oh, right – there’s one other Les Paul at Ray’s home: his Les Paul-shaped pool named, ‘natch, the Les Pool. And just because he could, Ray turned the headstock into a hot tub.

“Did you clear the IP with our legal department?” Agnesi asks with a laugh.

You can check out more episodes of The Collection at Gibson TV.

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Richard Bienstock

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.