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.

A Quick Guide to Gibson Electric Guitars

Gibson electric guitars enjoy immense popularity among today's rock guitarists with no other company coming close except for Fender electric guitars. Ironically, when Les Paul first approached Gibson with his ideas for a solid-body electric guitar, the company said no. It had been manufacturing acoustic guitars since the 19th century and executives were no doubt concerned how that reputation would be affected by an electric guitar.

The introduction of Fender's first solid-body electric guitar in 1948, the Broadcaster, may have given Gibson second thoughts about its initial position. Les Paul was brought on board in 1950 to develop his ideas, and in 1952 the first Gibson electric guitar went on sale. Even so, Gibson declined to put its name on the guitar, naming it simply the Les Paul. It wasn't too long afterward before the Gibson name was included.

After the Les Paul, Gibson went on to introduce several electric guitar models, many still being sold today as part of Gibson's regular electric guitar line or as reissues or limited edition models.

Gibson Les Paul: Though Jimmy Page's main electric guitar in the early days was a Fender Telecaster, he is best known for playing a Gibson Les Paul. When it comes to rock machismo, there is the Les Paul and no other.

Several version of the Les Paul are available today with the Les Paul Standard and the Les Paul Studio being the most common. Gibson also offers several reissues and custom models ans well as a signature series such as the Slash and Joe Perry signature Les Paul models.

Gibson SG: This electric guitar was introduced in 1958. Angus Young is the most notable guitarist to play a Gibson SG, and of course Gibson sells an Angus Young signature model. Like the Les Paul, the SG comes in a standard model as well as reissues.

Gibson Flying V: The Gibson Flying V electric guitar found its popularity mainly among heavy metal guitarists. It has been around since 1958.

Gibson Explorer: Another Gibson electric guitar that was popular among early heavy metal guitarists. It isn't very common and is sold as a reissue. The guitar's design was considered too futuristic in 1959, and it was discontinued due to poor sales.

Gibson Firebird: Gibson Firebirds manufactured between 1963 to 1965 are known as reverse bodies, because the body of subsequent models changed to its current design after Fender sued Gibson over the design.

Gibson 300 series: There are several models in the Gibson 300 series of semi-solid electric guitars. The most popular is the ES-335 played by B.B. King and Chuck Berry. The other models are the ES-325, the ES-345, and the ES-355.

Gibson Melody Maker: These days the Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars feature the Les Paul design. The Joan Jett signature model has the SG double-cutaway shape.

Jeff Meiczinger has been playing guitar for 20 years. He has an electric guitar blog, the Electric Guitar Guide

Gibson Guitars: Explorations in Innovation

The tradition of quality associated with Gibson guitars dates as far back as the late 1800s when Orville Gibson started the company with his skill and interest in the guitar. Probably one of the keys to the success of the company then and now is its tangent for innovation. This innovation continued through economic hardship, which saw the introduction of the L-5, ES-150, electric guitar. While the company originated as a manufacturer of mandolins and guitars, it was the design of the ES-150, the company's first electric guitar that hailed them to the top of the list of guitar manufacturers. The innovation in the company originated with guitarists such as Lloyd Loar and Les Paul, whose ideas were used to create some of the company's most innovative designs.

Reviewing the Original Gibsons

The Les Paul Standard is by far the most popular of all Gibson guitars. It was way back in the early 1950s that it was introduced as the company's premier solid body electric guitar. Today the Les Paul Standard has several variations, including the Les Paul Standard Faded, Les Paul Standard Double Cut, Les Paul Standard Limited Edition, and Les Paul Standard Premium.

While many guitar manufacturers find ways to cut corners to assemble guitars as fast as they can, Gibson continues its tradition of hand making each guitar it produces. The Gibson acoustic is the classic tradition of guitars. Gibson continues to make the classic acoustic guitars in natural wood. It's probably the case that if you learned how to play the guitar in elementary school, that your music teacher had an inventory of Gibson guitars. The value of these guitars has not decreased, although many musicians probably wish the price would decrease! Classic Gibson acoustic guitars such as the SJ200 and the Hummingbird are still as popular as when they were first introduced, although most people purchase them as collector's items.

Electric guitars were made to play rock music, right? This message couldn't get any clearer with Gibson's release of a replica of the guitar associated with Angus Young of AC/DC. Usually when makers of guitars reproduce a classic, they tend to add additional features that actually take away from what was so great about the original. The Angus Young Signature SG is basically a mirror image of the classic guitar.

The list of famous individuals who have counted on the traditional quality and innovation of Gibson guitars is long. This relationship is probably due in part to the Gibson company's solicitation of professional guitarists to assist in designing innovative Gibson guitars. Who else knows more about what "serious" guitarists want than the professionals who push them to their limits? Celebrities that have been longtime fans of Gibson guitars include Paul McCartney and Jimmy Page. Aside from the outstanding pickups, Gibson guitars for electric guitar lovers are generally custom-made to order. It is probably the case that the Gibson electric guitars feature some of the most unique styles and designs. The Gibson Firebird Studio Electric, L4 CES Archtop, and the Gibson Zakk Wylde Les Paul electric guitars prove that there are no limits in the how Gibson is able to allow a guitarist to explore the creative limits of Gibson guitars.

For more more information about Gibson Guitars please visit http://www.guitar-directory.net