Les Paul, the jazz guitarist who is credited with creating the solid-body electric guitar that became the dominant sound of Western rock’n’roll music, has died, aged 94.

The jazz pioneer, whose passion for musical innovation brought the guitar into the limelight after years of neglect, died at a hospital in New York after complications from pneumonia.

Musicians from all over the world paid tribute to the musician, whose self-titled guitar, the Gibson Les Paul, contributed to the birth of rock’n’roll.

Keith Richards, the guitarist from the Rolling Stones and a friend, said that Paul’s influence was total. “We must all own up that without Les Paul, generations of flash little punks like us would be in jail or cleaning toilets.”

Saul Hudson, the guitarist better known as Slash from Guns N’ Roses, said that playing with Paul was a humbling experience. “Les Paul was a shining example of how full one’s life can be,” he said. “He was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I’m honoured and humbled to have known and played with him over the years, he was an exceptionally brilliant man.”

Born Lester Polsfuss in 1915, Les Paul started playing music at eight and played guitar semi-professionally. But his Gibson Les Paul, along with the Fender Stratocaster, became the defining instrument of the 20th century.

Paul first attempted to overcome the problems of amplifying an acoustic guitar by stuffing his instrument with rags, and then plaster of Paris, to muffle feedback. He then built a guitar out of a railway track and by 1941 had refined his invention to resemble the first guitar made of solid wood. In 1951, Gibson put the idea into production.

Paul said: “The electric guitar was laughed at. They called me the character with the broomstick with pick-ups on it. It was terrible. Before we came along the guitar was an apologetic wimp — the weakest, most unimportant guy in the band. As soon as we put a pick-up on him, and a volume control, he became the king.”

Paul, who also pioneered multi-track recording and echo effects, was a significant figure in the jazz world, and has been cited as an influence by George Benson and Stanley Jordan.

Pat Metheny, a jazz guitarist, said that Paul’s influence on pop and rock was hard to overestimate. “He is one of those rare figures, maybe the only one, whose fingerprints can be found in nearly every aspect of the way that music has been played, produced and listened to over the past half-century of recorded sound.

“He was also a hilarious and charming figure off the bandstand who delighted every musician he met with his many tales and insights. Any encounter with Les was always something to remember and cherish.”

Joe Satriani, a fellow guitarist, called Paul the “original guitar hero”. He said: “Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed.”

Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman of Gibson Guitar, said: “His influence extends around the globe and across every boundary.”

Paul’s success as a recording artist lasted well into his old age. In February 2006, while in hospital, he learned that he had won two Grammys for Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played, an album he released after his 90th birthday.

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