Epiphone Les Paul Studio Review - How Close to Gibson is It?

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price.

Gibson's best-selling guitar is on a regular basis the Les Paul Studio, which is understandable, since it permits its owner some of the features of the more pricey Gibson Les Paul at a much more inexpensive cost.

Nevertheless, at over $1,000, the Les Paul Studio is still out of the price range for many people, especially younger players. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is an attempt to bring the feel of the Gibson model to a more inexpensive level.

Features

The Epiphone Studio model features a mahogany body and set mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard. Chrome hardware is standard equipment, as is a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece. Pickups consist of two open-coil Alnico Classic humbuckers.

Performance

With a list price of less than $400, it's certainly much more inexpensive than the Gibson equivalent. But what about the guitar itself?

We were delighted to see that the instrument has a set neck rather than a bolt-on, which is what you ordinarily see with guitars in this price range. That's not a bad thing, since many good instruments (i.e. Fenders) have bolt-on necks, but having a Gibson with a bolt-on would seem just plain weird. Regarding the wood, it uses mahogany for both the neck and body and has a carved top.

With respect to the guitar's other features, it has a rosewood fretboard, chrome hardware, a tune-o-matic bridge, and stopbar tailpiece. Electronically, the Epiphone has two Alnico Classic open-coil humbuckers.

Given the cost, we found this instrument to be a strong beginner instrument. However, you might have to budget for some modest upgrades.

The action was very nice. Some buzzes were present here and there, though, because of some high frets (not uncommon).

The instrument's selector switch and volume pots were a bit scratchy, but not too bad. The humbucking pickups supplied some truly nice blues and rock tones.

Nonetheless, those are relatively bargain-priced fixes and minor complaints. When you realize that the price of a new Epiphone Les Paul Studio is around $350 and that a used one goes for around $200, it's difficult to complain.

The Bottom Line

All in all, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a extremely good beginner-level instrument at a competitive price. It would make a fine first instrument or even practice instrument for a more experienced player.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Les Paul Studio

List Price: $606.00

Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com

Pros: Good value; nice guitar for the price

Cons:Noisy pots and pickup selector; a few high frets

If you need to locate the absolute cheapest price of a new or used Epiphone Les Paul Studio anywhere on the Internet, then you've only got one place to look! Ray's Guitar Shop offers the best prices on all used and new electric and acoustic guitars for sale anywhere. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop!

Gibson Les Paul Studio Review - Read Before You Buy!

With its playability, sound, and low price, it's easy to consider why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson's most popular models.

Since 1983, the Gibson Les Paul Studio has been one of the company's best selling guitars. Though originally directed at studio players (hence the name), it has since become a favorite instrument for both recording and live use.

Features
The Les Paul studio has a carved maple top with a chambered mahogany body, contributing to its low weight. The neck is mahogany as well while the fretboard is either rosewood or ebony, depending on the finish. Stop tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge are standard equipment, as are 490R and 498T Alnico 2 magnet humbucking pickups. Depending on the finish, you'll get either chrome or gold hardware. The familiar two volume knobs, two tone knobs and three-way switch are included, as is a Gibson hardshell case.

Performance
The first deviation from the standard Les Paul you'll detect is the lack of body and neck binding. However, the Studio model still has the essence of the classic Gibson tone.

The neck is sure enough Gibson through and through. It reminded us of a 50's LP, which in all likelihood helps the guitar grab that chunky sound Gibson is so well-known for. The pickups (490T and 490R) also help catch this classic tone.

Despite its name, the Les Paul Studio has earned an outstanding reputation as a live guitar workhorse, due in no small part to its decreased weight. The chambered mahogany body make the Studio model an excellent guitar for gigging because it has the LP sound without the LP weight.

The model we reviewed came with a classy black finish and gold hardware. Fit and finish were superior throughout. The frets were well-polished with hardly any buzzing present.

The rosewood fretboard was pure Gibson down to the instantly distinctive trapezoid inlays. From lead guitar to thick power chords, the instrument felt, played, and sounded like a much more expensive Gibson guitar.

If you're wondering what the distinctions are between a Les Paul Studio and a more traditional model, it's actually pretty easy. The Studio model lacks body and neck binding and has a chambered, lighter body.

The Bottom Line
With its playability, sound, and, of course, low price, it's easy to consider why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson's most popular models, and we give it our heartfelt recommendation.

Name of Gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio
List Price: $2,169.00
Manufacturer Info: Gibson Musical Instruments; gibson.com
Pros: Wonderful action; good range of sounds; excellent value
Cons: None

If you need to find the cheapest price on a Gibson Les Paul Studio, then there's only one place you need to shop. Ray's Guitar Shop has the cheapest prices on all new and used instruments. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a B. C. Rich Warlock, a Carvin Bolt, a Fender Stratocaster, or a Gibson SG. If you're searching for cheap electric guitars, then Ray's is the place.