HEADLINE: Joe Walsh Recounts Iconic Guitar Gift to Jimmy Page That Shaped Led Zeppelin Sound
In a story that has become legendary among rock aficionados, Joe Walsh recently revisited the moment he played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of Led Zeppelin. The Eagles guitarist opened up about a fateful transaction involving a now-iconic Gibson Les Paul—one that would go on to define Jimmy Page’s career and the sound of classic rock.
At the time, Jimmy Page was still playing his old Telecasters from his Yardbirds days, but he had begun searching for a Les Paul to capture the heavier tones he was hearing in his head. Page turned to Walsh, who had two Les Pauls in his collection. Walsh decided to keep his favorite and offered the other one to Page—at a price that simply covered travel expenses.
“I laid it on him and said, ‘Try this out.’ He really liked it,” Walsh recalled. “So I gave him a really good deal. I had to hand-carry it; I flew there and everything. But again, I just thought he should have a Les Paul for godsakes!”
That guitar became Page’s go-to instrument, famously used to record Led Zeppelin II in May 1969. Over time, Page began referring to the guitar as his “Number One,” using it throughout Zeppelin’s meteoric rise and beyond.
What began as a generous gesture between friends ended up influencing generations of guitarists and shaping rock history. Walsh’s humility and foresight underscore the deep camaraderie and respect that exists between musicians—and serve as a reminder of how one act of kindness can echo through music forever.
