1952 marked the beginning of the modern day guitar revolution. It was in this year that Les Paul and Gibson teamed up to create the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have probably experienced this guitar in someway or another. You may have gone to a live a show and seen your favorite musician playing it or you've heard it on your favorite record, this guitar is a staple in the music industry and has been since its creation all those years ago.

The story of the guitar's burth is a little different depending on who you ask. Les Paul is responsible for adding elements to the guitar such as the trapeze-style tailpiece. Les Paul was a very popular Jazz musician at the time. When the guitar was created, Ted McCarty was in charge of Gibson. There are claims that the guitar was completely designed before Gibson ever talked to Les Paul. Gibson did this to get an endorsement for their new guitar from a well known jazz and pop guitar player.

Despite the legendary status the Les Paul has these days, believe it or not, it was rejected when it was first introduced. Les Paul's prototype was called 'The Log' and it was rejected when he submitted it. His thought was to put electronic pickups onto a solid guitar as opposed to the semi-hollow bodies that were popular then. His unique design spurred the industry in a new direction and expanded on the idea of the electric guitar that became wildly popular. Since then, Les Paul's guitar has gained traction with guitarists through the decades to finally rise to icon status.

The rich, storied history of the unique Gibson Les Paul electric guitar still attracts guitar enthusiasts and collectors to this day. The unique tone spectrum of the guitar is used by many studio musicians. Many notable musicians use this guitar still today. Some notable users have been: Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, The Edge, David Grohl, Eric Johnson, Ted Nugent, Keith Richards and many, many more. It has a rich clientele that continues to grow, making this guitar one of the most landmark electric instruments to hit the market.

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Iron maiden, The band won ‘best live band’ last night to the delight of headbangers everywhere. (UP THE IRONS!). I went to Maiden’s twickenham gig in June last year, and there were 5 seperate full-sized merchandise stands around and inside the venue which were always packed. one of the music industires dirty secrets: bands dont make money on album sales generally, but on touring and merchandise sales. For bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica who sell thousands of t-shirts at concerts this is a very sweet piece of pie, considering twickenham holds 55,000 people for concerts, and a t-shirt was £20 each, not knowing the sales figures we cant really do the maths -im betting its a HUGE number in the five figure region. But when they were a smaller band in the late 70’s early 80s Merch sales were keeping them on the road until 1983’s ‘number of the beast’ exploded and took them to the next level as a band. Cannibal Corpse’s bloody imagery that is shown on their t-shirts have kept them making a living out of their music and on tour for years.

Promotional merchandise can also help get your bands name out there.

People will buy cool looking merchandise to wear/ display, out in public, which will be seen by other people, and if they also like the design/ logo, they may come to a gig or at least check out your myspace page. The more people are exposed to your logo, the more can become interested and quickly become merch buying fans. Unless your a die hard fan, most people will buy one copy of the album (why would you need anymore?) but 2 or 3 t-shirts to wear out.

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Thanks to those that leave comments and/or suggestions, good or bad, I take notice of all of them.

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Chesapeake Bay is an all-encompassing name that includes the likes of Baltimore and Annapolis in Maryland as well as Norfolk and Virginia Beach, in Virginia. The bay itself is huge, making for a scene of rich activities, history and wildlife fit for a steady stream of vacationers. If you’ve yet to visit, consider checking out a quiet corner of the bay sometime. Specifically, if you find yourself actually needing a vacation and not just half-heartedly accepting one, rent yourself a waterfront retreat that will reward you for all your hard work in more ways than one.

There’s no doubt about it, life is simpler, kinder and gentler by the water. Bay front homes invite easier breathing at first sight, and their tendency to bring people together for games, meals and laughter is pretty universal. As you’ll see when you arrive, having a home rather than a hotel room will add a sense of fortune and enchantment to your gathering, so bring the whole crew along and see what merriment occurs.

Larger homes make great excuses for family reunions, formal or informal. Maybe, in this day in age, getting mom, dad, and the kids all in the same room can seem practically impossible, so accomplishing it during your upcoming trip will be like a reunion of epic proportions. Many vacation rentals are pet-friendly, too, so even Rover will be able to join in the fun.

But back to Chesapeake Bay, picture a gem of a vacation rental located along the east shore; a short drive from DC, St. Michaels, and Easton. These towns have all you’ll need as far as restaurants, nightlife, marinas and festivals, but you won’t be spending all of your time there by any means. Nope; believe it or not, you might end up pretty attached to your beach front estate. The fact that is has a kitchen for whipping up quick meals, a room filled with games, a luxurious patio overlooking the serene bay views, and even a heated pool in the backyard all mean that everyone will be perfectly satisfied with spending a day (or two, or three…) at “home.”

If you fancy yourself more of an upper shore person, there’s a place for you, too. Located on the Elk River, a great spot for canoeing and kayaking, you’ll find a restored 1850’s farmhouse that might make your heart flutter. It also has a heated pool, as well as a screened in porch, central air, and a DVD player. Conveniently located near a boat slip, you’ll be able to head to the Delaware Canal in the space of just 10 minutes. This region is a hotspot for antiques, and a theatre and several dining establishments will help to make each day complete.

Even if you’re taking an intimate trip with your significant other, the one who you can barely remember thanks to both of you being so busy lately, there’s a rental to fit your needs. Properties come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, including mini, cute, and affordable. Get cozy with your sweetheart in a tastefully decorated cottage a mere 50 feet from the water’s edge and about thirty miles from Washington. You may want to take a trip to the city, or you may end up snuggling your days away. The point is, it’s your choice.

If you’re picky about where you stay, go online to check out detailed pictures, descriptions and reviews of all the Chesapeake Bay Vacation Rentals available. You’ll surely come across something that speaks to you, so get ready to make a reservation sooner rather than later.