1. I'm glad it got a mention.
  2. My thought was that he bought it in New York when they were there in St Patrick's 1982. I'm very surprised that he used it in the Ritz gigs a few months earlier, in late 1981. It could be an option that Les Paul was rented/borrowed, and he liked it so much that decided to buy it a few months later?
  3. I guess we will never know. I read an article from 85 recently and he said he uses stock gear off the shelf. I know he bought a lap steel in Nashville in 82 used at Red Rocks. In 82 he had a small rig.