He later veered between the Les Paul and the Fender Telecaster, but Bloomfield's use of the Les Paul, as did Keith Richards' with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton's with John Mayall influenced many others to use the model. This was the guitar Bloomfield used as a member of the Electric Flag, and on the Super Session album and concerts. In due course, according to biographers Jan Mark Wolkin and Bill Keenom, Bloomfield swapped that guitar for a 1959 Les Paul Standard and $100.
Ritchie Blackmore used a 1961 ES335 from 1962 until 1970.
Matt Bigland ( Dinosaur Pile-Up) uses a black Explorer.Dickey Betts ( The Allman Brothers Band) uses a variety of Gibson models including a 1961 SG and a 1957 Les Paul.Chuck Berry used an ES-350T early in his career, later switching to ES-345s and ES-355s.George Benson played a Gibson L5 until he entered into an endorsement deal with Ibanez.Wayne Bennett ( Bobby Bland) used a white Byrdland.After Bennett's death the guitar was given to musician Anthony Top Topham. The guitar was given to him in 1968 by Peter Green. Anthony Duster Bennett (British blues singer, harmonica player and musician) played a 1952 Les Paul Goldtop throughout his career.Franny Beecher played a black 1956 Les Paul Custom throughout his career with Bill Haley and the Comets in the 1950s and early 1960s.Sam Bush performing with a Gibson Mandolin Beck told an interviewer: "It had a deep powerful sound and you could use it to imitate just about anything - violin, sax, cello, even a sitar." Beck also used an "oxblood" coloured 1954 Les Paul Standard, with PAF pickups, from 1972 to 1976 and is pictured with the guitar on the cover artwork of his Blow by Blow album. Beck's fascination with the guitar sprang as much from his interest in Les Paul, the man, as from his love of the guitar itself. Jeff Beck ( The Yardbirds/solo) purchased his first Les Paul, a 1959 model, for £150 while a member of The Yardbirds.Martin Barre ( Jethro Tull) has used numerous Gibson models over the course of his career including a sunburst ES-330, a 1958 Les Paul Special and a 1959 Les Paul Standard.
Since his death, Gibson has discontinued all Chet Atkins models and Gretsch has resumed the manufacturing and distribution of the Chet Atkins line. Atkins also helped to design several innovative acoustic/electric models including the SST, the CE, and the C.E.C.