Gibson Les Paul Studio

USA model. 2004.
Mahogany Back, two piece maple top (top is thinner than those used on standards just for the record)
Mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard.
standard LP controls (2tone/2vol. 3 way selector)
2 gibson HBs.
Fireburst, chrome HW.
Tune o matic
came with a gibson hard case. and care kit.

this was a hard one to give a number to due to the fact it is still just a guitar with those features. it doesnt have an on board amp or synth or any other crazy device so i cant give it ten, but it has everything it needs....

i use this guitar for what it was very originally designed for! playing JAZZ! although it sees a lot of blues also. and no style is out of the question.

the guitar can handle pretty much anything with just a little tweaking.

i have changed the stock pups for a SDJB and SD'59. not to improve the quality but just becasue i wasnt so keen on the 'modern' sounding pups.
this allows for good jazz by rolling down the tone. and the JB can have a very good good overdrive sound (think jeff beck, fusion days)
although it can prety much reach any sound needed, i use a BOss EQ just to help it along.
the sound is very bright in both positions now with the replaced pups so i find myself rolling back the tone more than i did before.
i love the way this guitar can get a very full sound, rich with harmonics. but can mellow out for more relaxed styles.
best thing of this guitar is how i am able to express myself with any sound i need. i do think that a coil tap would be helpful and i will probably add one at a later date.
with sound there is nothing i dislike.

i give it nine as it isnt perfect. but nothing would be, its a comprimise. it does the best any single guitar could do.

i had this guitar set up by a highly acknowledge tech as soon as it was bought.
everything was clearly perfect, although since then i set up my own guitars to how i liek them to be.
there wasnt one fault on this guitar at all. (except for some finish was over the top of the tailpiece, this happens on every single guitar i have ever seen with this tailpiece)
the finish was absolutely spot on, being a burst it isnt the easiest to do, and this one has not even one mistake. i thinnk when people complain of getting a 'lemon' i have the opposite, an extroainarily superb one.

this guitar has withstood about one years worth of HEAVEY abuse. it generally was taken on the bus twice per day 6 days per week. not only that but it has survived small pub gigs. im a highly overprotective person when looking out for my guitar so this may help. but even so accidents cant always be prevented. it has a solid finish that doesnt seem to dent easy (has a dent, not a chip, on the headstock where it hit the ceiling) all HW is still shiney, pups that came with guitar dulled quickly but could easily be polished up. there is one major scratch ironically casued by a piece of foil on the polishing cloth. good wear around the controls and esp the pick up selecor, but for an average of about 5 hrs each day playing thats very little.
i had strap locks installed right away as i didnt want to drop this guitar. i use this is my only guitar when gigging (although as a band we have a spare) but ive not had one problem, ive broken just one string on it since i had it (bending up abotu two tones...) i trust this guitar with my life.
one problem i have had is with the pickup selector ocasionally cutting out when switching to the treble pup, this can be overcome with a special technique. so ive not had it sorted.
for those it may concern schaller strap lock screws do not fit into the guitar and so others are needed.

9 because it is perfecy except the switch.

they were very helpfull when just asking them questions, found out it did in fact have a thinner maple top to the standard LP.

took a very long time to get to me (about 3 months)

when compared to my previous 6 guitar thi stands out above the rest.
an epi LP was my first guitar and since then i have loved them. i have had two epi LPs an SG copy.
whilst looking through other guitars/sounds ive has a fender strat/fat strat and a GandL strat. this is efinately of the best quality. when choosing a guitar i looked at the LP standard and classics. i actually prefered this one. i didnt like the classic becasue the neck was too thin, simple. i didnt liek the standards purely becauase they seemed to be just fancy. the pups were nicer in the standard but as it turned out it didnt matter. also i liek having no binding on the neck, for me that is a huge bonus.
i am also a big fan of a plain top. unless it is very highly figured.

i took marks off becasue it doesnt complete my guitar selection, i would still ike a hollow body and a 54 custom LP. for different sounds.
if anything i wish it had a brazilian rosewood fretboard... other than that it is perfect.
if it was stolen (it wont break), i would definately buy another or buy a custom shop LP. (id love a 1954 LP custom with an oxblood finish... and no binding on the neck and a brazilian rosewood fretboard)

I bought this guitar secondhand via the Internet.
It is a 2001 model, build on day 101 from that year in the USA.
Chrome hardware, straplocks, came with Gibson hardcase fitted with pink protective material that looks realy ugly with the otherwise beautiful wine-red finish of the quitar.

Ik bought the quitar because of the lack of features and I love it. I do own an Ibanez guitar with loads of features (tremelo, fine tuners, locking nuts) which I more and more dislike... The fine tuners wear very quick and a simple drop-D tuning is a real pain. With this guitar even drop-C tuning works really fine.

I am not a very good guitar player but I like very clean arpeggio sounds and also gothic, very heavy dark music. I use an ENGL screamer 50 combo and the combination with the LP studio is just excellent.

When I use the neck pickup and select the clean channel of the ENGL, it sounds very detailed and full, love the sounds of it. Also, there is much more detail in the sounds, compared to using the Ibanez.
On my Ibanez, I used the combination of the front and rear pickup al lot but I seldom use this on the Gibson.
On the bridge pickup and one of the distortion channels of the amp, it is a very agressive and deep sound. Tuning down is a delight.

I use the tone dials both on full. Playing with the volume of the bridge pickup really is very cool, at 75% it give a much better, deeper tone than when used full scale.

The action was very low, a bit too low in my opinion. The guitar came with really cheap 0.09 strings and sounded a bit dull. Also, the previous owner had the guitar under his bed for 2 years without using it and the frets were is not to best shape.

I cleaned the quitar and now looks like a new one. Action is not 100% yet but is coming there. You can use a very low action indeed. Plays really well. Neck was thicker then the Ibanez. Took me a few hours to get used to that but now I do not want to go back anymore!

One BIG disadvantage is the finish... It is very fragile. During cleaning I introduced a new scratch on the back of the guitar with a button. Also the guitarshop advised me not to use a quitarstand with rubbergrips! Seems that the finish of the guitar cannot stand it!?!?!?! Unbelievable for a guitar with a pricetag like this...

The quitar is build like a tank, tuning is solid, no problems there. I think I will use this quitar for years to come.

Just one big disadvantage: the fragile finish of the guitar.

No experience in this field.

I am not a very experienced or talented player but I love every minute playing guitar and trying to jam along with my favorite music. The ENGL/ Gibson LP studio combination sounds excellent for my purposes.

And, I really like the looks of the guitar!

2005 LES PAUL STUDIO IN WINE RED WITH CHROME HARDWARE.
ALL STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THIS MODEL .
SUPPLIED WITH GIBSON HARD CASE AND ACCESSORY PACK.
PAID &699 (UK POUNDS STERLING).

I PLAY IN A THREE PIECE BLUES AND ROCK BAND, THE GIBSON SUITS MAINLY THE ROCK SONGS WHICH ARE COVERS OF 60`S AND 70`S CLASSICS.
IT HAS A NICE GROWL TO IT WHEN PLAYED WITH MODERATE GAIN, IT IS DEFINITELY A ROCK GUITAR .
I USE IT WITH A FENDER HOT ROD DELUXE AMP MODDED WITH A CELESTION 100 WATT SPEAKER, MY MAIN GUITAR IS A FENDER STRATOCASTER DELUXE 2004 WHICH IS IN MY OPINION FAR MORE VERSATILE AND TONEFUL WITH THE S1 SWITCHING SYSTEM .
THE GIBSON DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TOP END TO CUT THROUGH THE BASS AND DRUMS ON CERTAIN SONGS HENCE MY AFFECTION FOR THE STRAT.

THE SET UP IS GOOD WITH A NICE ACTION AND GOOD PLAYABILITY,THE GENERAL BUILD QUALITY IS GOOD.
THE BOOKMATCHING IS NOT GOOD NOR IS THE GENERAL FINISH QUALITY WHEN COMPARED TO MY FENDER. ON THE BACK THE WOOD HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT BEEN SANDED TO THE STANDARD I WOULD EXPECT AND THE LACQUER FINISH IS MARRED BY THIS, ALSO THE LACQUER HAS AN ORANGE PEEL EFFECT ON THE HEADSTOCK WHICH SPOILS THE APPEARANCE.
THE LACQUER AT THE JOIN BETWEEN THE FINGERBOARD AND BODY IS POOR AND ORANGE PEELED TOO.
I BELIEVE THE FINISH IS NITRO CELLULOSE AND IT ONLY CLEANS UP NICELY WITH CERTAIN POLISHES ie DUNLOP 65 I FIND WORKS BEST.
I DO NOT LIKE THE NECK FINISHED IN NITRO CELLULOSE BECAUSE WHEN MY HANDS GET SWEATY THE NECK BECOMES STICKY AND HINDERS SMOOTH PLAYING, NOTE MY STRAT HAS A SILK FINISED MAPLE NECK AND IS FAR SUPERIOR TO PLAY.
OVERALL THIS GUITAR HAS FLAWS IN THE FINISHING DETAILS WHICH SPOIL ITS APPEAL AND FALLS WELL BEHIND THE STRAT DELUXE IN TERMS OF QUALITY .
IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE BASE MODEL IN GIBSONS RANGE.

I DO USE THIS GUITAR FOR GIGGING AND WOULD TRUST ITS RELIABILITY .
I LIKE TO HAVE A CONTRAST BETWEEN GUITAR SOUNDS TO MAKE GIGS MORE VARIED BUT I WOULD NOT BUY THIS GUITAR MODEL AGAIN, I WOULD SAVE MORE MONEY AND BUY HIGHER UP THE GIBSON RANGE IN THE HOPE THAT THE FINISH IS BETTER .
COME ON GIBSON GET YOUR QUALITY CONTROL SORTED.

I HAVE NOT USED THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT YET.

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 25 YEARS AND ALSO OWN,

USA FENDER STRAT DELUXE 2004 IN 3 COLOUR SUNBURST
TRADITION MTQ
FENDER HOT ROD DELUXE AMP
LANEY VC 30 AMP
YAMAHA PACIFICA MS 311
YAMAHA APX 5A ELECTRO ACCOUSTIC
FENDER GDEC
MARSHALL AS 50R

I WOULD LIKE COIL TAPPING IN FUTURE AND A BETTER FINISH QUALITY , I WOULD SAVE A FEW HUNDRED QUID MORE AND GET A LES PAUL STANDARD .

2005 Les paul Studio, tobacco burst, USA made. 24 fret solid body 3-way selector, stock, passive, H-H configuration. body and neck are mahogany, weighs close to 10lbs! tune-o-matic bridge. beautiful guitar. came with hsc, dealer threw in stand, strap and strap locks free.

I play everything, literally. old Jazz, blues, classic rock, southern rock, country, metal, modern rock, pop, the only thing I don't play is rap. The sound is very full and is definitely a les paul, very thick and warm. The treble setting is bright enough for pretty much anything that would otherwise be played with a strat, ie srv. The rhythm setting is very warm and is great for jazz comping and can be brightened up a little with the tone knobs. Doesn't have quite the range that I would like through a crybaby wah. I'm using a peavey studio pro 112 transtube amp, and it's a match made in heaven. with very little knob turning, it's easy to go from jazz to modern to metal and back, quickly. Even as versatile as it is, you can't escape that it sounds like a les paul. luckily, a les paul sounds great.

Factory set up was literally perfect. intonance was dead on right out of the box, even the truss was set well. I live in upstate ny with harsh cold winters, and warm humid summers, I bought this guitar in winter, it is now summer, and the truss rod needs no adjustment, nor does the intonance, and it is checked weekly. the gold (plated) bridge has worn off some of the gold rather quickly, within a week. small visual flaw that makes no difference to me, but I figured I should include that point. the finish is really easy to scratch, don't wear a belt, even if you have a shirt covering it. I've broken a number of D strings, and one A string due to the bridge. an upgrade is in order, but until the intonance needs to be fixed, I'll stick with the stock tuneomatic.

This guitar is a great live partner. As with any guitar it requires retuning if you play in a different environment than the guitar is stored (temp differences). The guitar holds a tune real well, and is easy to tune super accurately. I never play a gig without a backup, but I have yet to need it. string change is quick with the tuneomatic and takes less than 3mins from breakage to tuned (personal record). I've replaced the strap buttons with strap locks, and I would recommend the same for anyone, but especially with such a heavy guitar.

1 yr warranty. otherwise I have not dealt with gibson myself.

been playing 10yrs, have/have owned stratocaster (sss), silvertone, daggistino, memphis, fender jazz bass, peavey studio pro 112 amp, peavy bluesbandit 210 amp, and tascam portastudio2. I tried out many many many guitars and went to 8 different guitar shops, when it was time to purchase, I was sure. if it were stolen, I would buy one in a second, no question about it. definitely worth every penny. the best way to describe this guitar, ballsy. The only thing I could possibly wish on this guitar; coil tapping to get a little more of a strat sound. I recommend it, if you're still not sure, come to one of my gigs and hear it for yourself.

Well, I guess I don't really have to tell you anything about the features of the Les Paul Standard. Mine is transparent wine red and has the gold hardware and was made in 1997 in the US of A. I give it a nine for features, because it has all I need (I'm not into the tremolo stuff and all that) - but the tuning mechanics could be a bit better (I guess this is an old Gibson problem).

I've been using different kinds of guitar (Fender, Ibanez), but my favorite is the Les Paul in combination with almost any Marshall amps. It just sounds so "right".
My Les Paul still has the original PUs and I'm really happy with them!

I can't really say how the factory set-up was, as I bought it in 2000. There already were some smaller chips in the body, but nothing bad and they haven't worsened.

Playing the Les Paul for five years, it never let me down. Concerning durability, this guitar is like a rock!

Bought it used, no warranty, never had to deal with Gibson.

I've been playing for about 15 years (my LP for about 5) and still love the Les Paul Studio - it just goes so naturally with my kind of playing (classic rock/punk/"alternative").

Mine was made in 1994. I bought it in November of that year. Wine red with chrome hardware. Mohogany W/maple top. Ebony fingerboard. Typical Les Paul features. Tune-o-matic bridge. I have replaced the tuners with Schallers.

Sound is fat and rich. Lots of sustain. Very smooth all the way. It can reach a full range of sounds and styles.

Action is great. Smooth player. Never needed to be set up. Finish was the only complaint. Paint chipped away from the headstock around the edges within 3 months. It hasen't gotten much worse but still it dissapointing in a guitar at this price.

Aside from the finish the ret of this guitar is perfect. It always is reliable. I switch between this and a Telecaster and both are work horses I can count on

Never needed any so I can't say

Been playing for 35 years. I play through a Pevey Studio Pro 65 watt solid state amp.

There is nothing on this guitar that I hate. The finish has not gotten any worse over time and it plays as smooth as anything I've ever played.

2005 LP Studio, wine red color

I play rock, punk and blues. Good for all three. Nice deep sound. Great sustain. Very mellow in tone.

This is where the problem was. The fretboard was thinner than the neck so there was a slight dip where the two met on the top of the neck and the finish was flawed and bumpy to the touch. The bottom of the neck was perfect. Nice smooth finish and the fretboard met up with the neck. But on the top it looked bad. It broke my heart to take the guitar back. It sounded great the the set up was perfect from the factory.

Only had the guitar one week.

I emailed Gibson with pictures of the fretboard and they emailed me back within 24 hours. Not bad. They were nice and told me I could return the guitar or send it back for warranty evaluation. I brought it back to my local guitar store.

This guitar passed all Gibson inspection points in the factory. I don't know how. The finish on the top of the fretboard was not perfect. Some people out there would probably say "Who cares?". As long as it sounds good, that's what matters. But I shelled out 1200 bucks and I want a perfect guitar from the get go. I know have to wait another six weeks for another Studio. I hope this one is pefect. The sound is fantastic though. I really hated bringing it back.

I have 2 '96 studios, ebony and wine red, and a 2002 Smartwood. The studios are more like a standard LP, the studio is lighter and something seems a little off, but still a quality axe. I can't believe the guys that say they take off points for not having a coil tap switch or the neck is too wide or too thick, etc. Come on, it's a Gibson Les Paul, if you didn't want one, why did you buy it? They have been made pretty much the same way for decades and you know what you're going to get if you get one. The slim 60s neck would be a nice option, but the guitars are quality. Also, I don't buy the crap about Gibson pickups being no good, if you know how to set up an amp and the guitar controls, they're hard to beat. They souond up 2 or 3 dB from many other humbuckers. The features are standard traditional LP style, what you'd expect.

One of the best heavy rock guitars ever built or that will ever be built. You know the sound if you listen to great classic rock.

These still need setup, the Smartwood needed fretleveling, it was bad, the studios set up nicely and look great. Nothing on these axes can't be fixed as they have been around as long as rock.

This guitar is pro quality, that's what they're built for and what you pay for, they could use like everyone says, some decent strap buttons, but on an axe like this, use strap locks and feel secure. I don't see why you couldn't play one of these at any gig or studio.

Gibson seems a little standoffish, the main drawback to the company. Luckily, support is seldom if ever needed.

Just play one and you'll see what it's all about.

1992 Les Paul Studio. Similar to a Standard but without the binding on the neck and body. Body is thinner. The Maple top is much thinner than it's big brothers too. Ebony fingerboard with real nice full-size trapezoid inlays. Gibson 490R/498T pickups.

Different than the other Pauls. Front pickup sounds smooth and fat, rear pickup is only good for overdriven sounds. Clean it's mud city. A bit heavy but the body works and it's very sustaining and resonant. One draw-back, the neck is not particulary fast or comfortable. OK for single notes but a bit on the chunky side for chording in an awkward way. Feels like a Tele U Fender neck with a bit more girth(roundness). Like someone mentioned the Epiphones do have better feeling necks. Especially the Epiphone Les Paul Custom.

Here's were I was disappointed. The fingerboard is a bit narrow for the neck so theirs a ridge on each side where it meets the neck wood. A groove like the binding is missing. Quality control? Somebody forget to match/sand it? Ebony Shrinkage? Other than that it's your basic Gibson craftsmanship, nothing to write home about.

Oh it's durable no doubt but if I could spare the cash I would use it for firewood. It's just not a good feeling guitar. It does sound pretty good in the neck postion however.

N/A

IMO your better off with an Epiphone Elitist or Fernandes Ravelle with upgraded pickups. If you want a Paul go the extra 9 yards and get a reissue Standard, Junior or Special. It just does not cut it. I got a Ravelle in a deal I could not resist and it's 10x the guitar the Studio is in craftsmanship and feel. It probably does not have the quality woods but it sure beats it out in most categories.

Bought new at end of February 2005. In beautiful blacker than black ebony nitrocellulose finish, with chrome hardware, green Gibson deluxe tuners, black fur-lined case, with accessory pack - lead, strap, polish and polishing cloth, and five sets of spare strings. Staggeringly good value for money.

You never seem to see a Studio in comparative tests in the Guitar magazines. It's about the same price as a lot of mid-priced pro-guitars, and imho better than anything in its price range.

I play blues, Jazz, a bit of classical, some classic rock. This guitar does them all. It's got tone by the bucket from both pickups and bags and bags of sustain. I've been using it this week with a little Peavey Rage, but am looking forward to having a bit of a blast through my Roland ST-100 when the neighbours have gone out.

Played great out of the box. Set up just right. Strings aligned properly on the neck. The finish is flawless bible black. The absence of binding on the studio makes it look thicker than the LP standard. A great big lump - no wonder it'll sustain forever.

Rock solid guitar that'll go forever, and will keep in tune even if you bust a string at the climax of that 5 minute solo. The strap buttons are quite small - so get a planet waves strap with a locking thing built into each end or a set of Schaller straplocks.

Rosetti supports Gibson in the UK - they have a prompt service for parts, etc.

I've been playing for too many years. I have a number of other guitars. I've been a Fender player for years. I always considered Gibson's to be big and unweildy with gloss coated, and therefore uncomfortable necks. Recently, on a whim, I bought a Gibson Les Paul Special with 2 p90 pickups - and fell in love with it. I've just graduated to the studio - which has so many bangs to the buck it's a revelation. Just think - if I'd got one earlier I might have been a success like Jimmy Page or Slash. Ho hum!