There were three main Sunburst Les Pauls that Kossoff used: the Clapton one, the stripped-top one and a ’59 ’Burst that he acquired slightly later that went on to be owned by Arthur Ramm David Clayton, Free Appreciation Society “After that you can find photographs of him using the ‘Stripped Top’ ’Burst at Morgan Studios in May, plugged into a wah pedal that he was using for the track he was recording at the time,” Steve continues. “The first picture of Koss with that guitar that exists was taken on 6 or 7 April 1969,” he explains, referring to images of Kossoff playing live at the Golf-Drouot club in Paris.
“I’m as certain as I can be that the stripped ’Burst is actually the All Right Now guitar,” Steve says. Steve is a seasoned tech and guitar restoration expert and also has the distinction of being the only tech permitted to maintain Kossoff’s ‘Stripped Top’ 1959 Les Paul, which today belongs to an anonymous private collector. Steve Clarke authenticates vintage guitars for Bonham’s auction house and is also the author of the book Famous Frets, in which he traces in forensic detail the fate of some of rock’s most celebrated guitars, from Marc Bolan’s Les Paul to Pete Towshend’s Strats.
(Image credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images) However, leading authorities on Kossoff’s music and guitars believe that honour probably belongs to another guitar – a 1959 Les Paul Standard with a stripped top that Kossoff acquired in obscure circumstances in spring of 1969. Given the Darkburst’s high-profile associations, many have assumed it was the guitar that Koss used to cut All Right Now. According to some accounts, the Custom later passed into Albert Lee’s ownership. One of the best-known is the 1958 ‘Darkburst’ that he acquired from Clapton during Blind Faith’s ill-fated 1969 tour, with Kossoff reportedly swapping a 1957 Les Paul Custom for the ’58. Kossoff owned and played several ’Bursts during the short years of his life. It wasn’t the only thing Kossoff had in common with Clapton – he also shared his love of late-50s Les Pauls, which were slowly becoming recognised as classics by clued-in players. I’m as certain as I can be that the stripped ’Burst is actually the All Right Now guitar Steve Clarke, author of Famous Frets
I think Kossoff said he listened to what Clapton was doing with Cream and slowed it down.” A lot of people have put it into their playing now because of him, but back then there was nobody who was doing that slow vibrato. “Everybody talks about it, but go back 40-odd years and it was outrageously different. Familiar now, Kossoff’s playing style was strikingly original in 1970, Bernie Marsden recalls. Kossoff’s urgent riff and expressive vibrato were part of the magic that propelled the song to No 2 in the British charts and No 4 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the States.
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