Gibson Review: Les Paul Studio

History:

Purchase: I aquired this guitar mail order from Peter Cooks Guitar World (London). I first spotted it on their web site. Price paid £679 (GBP) including black Gison HSC.

What I Like About This Gibson Les Paul Studio: This guitar is in a limited run Saphire Blue. It is a lovely colour. It is built like a tank as you would expect from Gibson. The finish/setup was near perfect out of the box. I only had to make a slight intonation and pickup level adjustment. The pickups are the 490R/498T. These used to be on the Les Paul Standard until they were replaced by Burstbuckers. The sound is superb. The bridge pickup has the fat powerfull tone ideal for 70's rock riffs through a valve amp. The neck pickup can be backed off to get the rich Claptonesque 'woman' tone. The guitar has also been blasted through my Boss GT6 and a friends POD liveXT and it can handle acoustic simulation to the fatest Zakk Wylde tones although i believe it is at it's best direct into a valve amp. This guitar has chrome plated hardware and has no top, or binding. I also own a Les Classic which has a nice top, binding and nickel hardware with the higher output 496R/500T pickups but I feel the Studio is as good if not better. The pickups on the Classic can be a bit 'hot'. The neck is slightly fatter than the slim taper neck on the Classic but still very playable even with my small hands

What I Do NOT Like About The Gibson Les Paul Studio: Not a lot I don't like. The hardware is cheaper than on a Classic or Standard but this is reflected in the price. If you want the features double your money.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Quality Rating: I have no complaints about the construction or quality. It is heavy and robust. It will outlive me.

Review Summary: A fine rock/blues instrument with good tone and playability. Half the price of a Standard too.

Rating of this Gibson product: 5

This Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitars Review Submitted By: Donny, UK

Review Date: 2005-01-06