Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan played a Gibson les paul Triumph in Oasis's first video Shakermaker. Paul talked about it to Bassist magazine
"Noel told me to buy that Gibson bass originally, after he'd seen it in the shop," comments Oasis basser Paul 'Guigs' McGuigan. Yeah, he's a lad, that Noel Gallagher; you're never left in any doubt as to exactly whose baby Oasis is. Noel was the one who returned to kick the assembled ass of the original ragtag Oasis four-piece (nee Rain) which fancied itself as a band (with brother Liam on vocals) after world-hopping stints working as a guitar tech with fellow Mancunian combo the Inspiral Carpets. Noel was brimming with ideas, songs, indisputable confidence, not too mention the total megalomania required by any aspirant world-conqueror, demanding the very souls of the first version of the band with the legendary statement: "If you're in, you're mine, seven days a week, 24 hours a day and we're going for it big time..."
When Bassist ran a recent 'My Bass Is' feature on the rare-ish Gibson Les Paul Triumph basses ('It Takes Two, Baby'. Feb 1996), at the last moment we tried hard to think of a high-profile user as demonstration of the instruments in action, both for reference of looks and sound, but we drew a blank. The Gibbo Triumph never got the user kudos awarded to the lighter, funkier EB3, for instance, with its veritable user list. And so Bassist went off to be printed , then guess what? The very next day Oasis were on Top Of The Pops with bassist Paul McGuigan plugging away on a Les Paul Triumph bass...Well, not quite an LP Triumph, rather from the info Paul gave us, an Les Paul Professional, the very short-lived predecessor to the Triumph, visibly distinguishable from its forebear mainly by virtue of dot inlays, rather than block types. Instant user profile!
"We'd never seen one before," elaborates Paul, ensconced in the new A&R guitar and bass-lined suite at Fender's UK HQ, Arbiter's in Hendon. "I think it was £450 the shop wanted; I got it for £350. I think it's top. We've used it in the studio a few times and I've tried to use it on rehearsals, but it just doesn't suit, it's too boomy. It's good, though, I like it like that but it drowns other things out. I think Gibsons are a bit over the top with bass sound that way."
The bass pictured is clearly a Les Paul Triumph - the mention of the Les Paul Professional perhaps refers to a different bass?
Gibson Les Paul Triumph for sale
1972 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass Walnut
Tarzana, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3400
Up for sale, an incredible and unique 1972 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in a Walnut finish. Norlin era. Made in Kalamazoo, MI USA. All Original, stock with its Black tolex hard case.
11 0 Lbs, which is average for a Les Paul Bass
This short scale bass guitar has an Incredibly comfortable Mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. No volute, perfectly straight, allowing low action playing well all across the fretboard.
The two low ... more
ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1970s Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass Walnut Orig. Case
West Islip, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3580
HAS AMAZING TONE AND SOUND WITH A REAL NICE SMOOTH FEEL AND ACTION ALL TUNERS, ELECTRONICS, GIBSON PICK UPS, SWITCHES, VOL , TONE. WORK REAL WELL ALSO AS SHOWN HAS A TINY HAIRLINE ON GUARD BY INPUT JACK CONSIDERING THIS GEM IS APPROX. 50 YEARS OLD AS SHOWN IN REAL NICE ORIGINAL CONDITION BUT TO BE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME SCUFFS, SCRATCHES AND NORMAL USAGE WEAR .PLEASE ... more
Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass 1972 - Natural
West Newton, Massachusetts, 024**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2399