Gibson Les Paul Studio

2004 Made in USA; Nashville, TN. 22 frets, mahoghany back and neck, carved maple top, red wine stain with semi flamed wood showing through(Very nice!), gold hardware with Grover kidney shaped tuners, two tone and volume controls with black top hats, H/H 490R/498T passive humbuckers. The body is supposed to be "slightly thinner" than the conventional Studio but if it is thinner not by much. The fretboard is rosewood with 3/4 sized trapeziod inlays. The 3/4 trapeziods and the Grovers(Thank you!) are the only differences I can see that are different from other Studio models. It does have a cheap pickguard that I plan on changing for a 3-ply. It was supposed to come with a gig bag but came with a TKL hardshell Gibson case instead, much to my delight. Also included a multiwrench and paperwork consistant with a new Studio. I am surprised at how nice this guitar was for the money($750). I don't know if it was an overstock or second or what but I've gone over this thing with a magnifying glass and can't see any defects. I expected a cheap version but was surprised by the looks which are actually better than the conventional Studios I looked at.

I play metal, rock, jazz, country, and fingerpick. This guitar does it all. I use a Laney Pro Tube 50 through a Marshall 1960A 4X12 cab when I need distortion and this guitar sounds awesome. I also have a Peavey Special 130 that I use for clean sounds. This guitar goes from metal/shred to mellow jazz and country without a hitch. I love it. It does not have the Fender twang for that I use a Warmoth strat with Fender Lace.

The action wasn't bad but needed lowered and the intonation was off. Pro set up fixed all that. I strongly recommend a pro set up on any new guitar. Everything else was top rate. I went over this instrument looking for flaws and found none. The craftsmanship is excellent. I've heard Gibson get a bad rap on other reviews but this isn't one of them. Everything was tight and solid. I cant' believe the top is flamed!

This guitar will definitely stand up at a live gig. I'm pleased with the fact it came with Grovers as opposed to green key Klusons which in my opinion are junk. The only things I'm changing on this guitar are the nut(I'm chaning to graphite), the strap buttons(Strap locks) and the pichguard. I recommend putting strap locks all guitars. I wouldn't use any guitar on a gig without backup.

I e-mailed Gibson for info. on this unheard of guitar and...no help there. They did get back to me but said the specs were the same on all Gibson Studio Les Pauls and that this one was "slightly thinner" than others. I measured and it isn't. It's the same. I don't know if this guitar was NOS or what but you won't find any info. on it anywhere.
I got it from Musician's Friend and thought I was buying a cheap($749) guitar and was delighted to find it was better than standard. Got a hardshell logo case and Grovers so I'm happy. I'm giving customer support a 9 since they did get back to me in 24 hrs.

I've been playing for 39 years and own a bunch of guitars including a Gibson ES-135 from the 50's. I've owned and played every guitar you could possibly think of and this is the best value for the money I've ever seen from Gibson and from Musician's Friend. I really lucked out this time, this one time. Usually you get what you pay for with the exception of the old USA Peaveys which in my opinion are the best guitar values out there.....ROCK ON~PONO!

Mine was made in 2004 in USA, 22 frets, nitrocellulose finish, tone and volume for each pickup,2 humbuckers,mahogany body with a maple top, ebony fretboard, gibson deluxe tuners, gibson usa hardcase came with it. only an 8 because it doesn't have a coil tapper and there's no binding on the body.

This guitar suits all of my styles, and i play everything! blues, metal, punk, rock, pop. but what it really excells in is classic rock like led zep, ac-dc and stuff. I play through a marshall solid state mg, sometimes a digitech rp 200 aswell and it's brilliant! the bridge pickup is perfect for those 10 minute solos and the neck pickup has got a really creamy tone that's great for bluesy stuff.

The guitar was set up fine. everything was perfect although i did have to lower the action slightly.

This guitar was built like a tank! i've only had it 3 weeks so it hasn't had a lot of time to break but the guys at gibson know how to build a guitar. the only problm is the nitro finish. it cracks from any severe temperature change, it gets rubbed off by leather and synthetic leather, and you can't put it on a normal stand because the rubber stuff destroys the finish.

I've been playing 4 years and if this were stolen, i would rip the guys guts out and feed them to him! then i'd buy a les paul standard. it's the best all round guitar you can buy for the money, i compared it with the tokai love rock, and epi les paul custom. It blew them out of the water! If you're thinking of buying one then go for it. you'll never look back.
if you have any questions please email me.

I have a beautiful ebony 1993 studio with full size mother of pearl trapezoid inlays.It has a seymore duncan humbucker in the bridge position and a gibson humbucker in the neck position.The tuners are schallers that stay in the best tune no matter how hard you play I love those tuners.The neck is a fifties style round back that just fits in your hand perfectly and lends itself out for perfect playing. I got this guitar from Carl Sandoval who made Randy Rhoads polka dot flying-v. I go to him for adjustments on my other guitars and he had this one lying around and he sold it to me me for a lousy 250.oo dollars can you believe that.

This guitar gives out a great full sound which makes playing rock music a dream. I play it through a Marshall jcm800 amp and must I say that it is unstoppable.

The guitar has perfect action of course I had Mr. Sandoval give me that adjustment right before I purchased it from him and I havent had to adjust it since.

This guitar is made like a tank. I have a Gibson Explorer I use as a back up guitar but I usually dont have to resort to using it unless a string breaks while I am playing.Th finish is getting a little dull but I know that it has plenty of life in it still.

I've been playing for about 15 years and I've been in plenty of bands mainly playing rock music and I usually have had Jackson guitars and Charvel strats but ever since I started playing Gibsin Guitars there is no looking back.Since I got my studio guitar it has given me a greater respect for the Les Paul and I cant wait to get more of them.

This is my first LP after playing a strat for 15 yrs. and WOW! no comparison there! I was originally looking for a standard when the nice guy at guitar center asked me if I had thought about a studio and actually I had not but when I played one they felt and sounded the same.The studio just doesn't have all the fancy binding around the body and it even has the same tuners as the standard which shocked the hell out of me!!I ended up buying mine from ebay and it is a 2001 wine red w/chrome hardware.Absolutely beautiful.This guitar is built and then some.It is heavy and it feels like heaven to the fingers.Anyway,if you're thinking about buying one it truly is money very well spent.Oh yeah,if you're confused about gibson or epiphone- gibson only usa made top notch woods and build,lasts forever.epiphone made in china,indonesia,japan and other places.Pick em up side by side in the store gibson is way heavier than epiphone due to quality woods. The les paul studio is a guitar that will forever keep you happy!!

Like heaven! Growls nicely with bridge pickup but also has very warm jazzy neck pickup.Middle pickup sounds as good as the other two!If you like to do alot of pinches you will now love to do them!Overall,les paul studio has very versatile sound from chunky and hot to warm and fuzzy.I run mine through a 5150 head to ampeg 412 cab. Can get a very nasty metal sound or southern rock or whatever sound.The guitar kicks serious butt!!!I think this guitar would sound good out of a tiny gorilla practice amp!!

No complaints here either.Beauty,beauty,and more beauty!! Everyone has setup preferences that are best suited to their playing style.The action is fine for me because I'm not a shredder,but if that's you then you might want to have a shop lower the action for you.The bridge is adjustable but you can only go so low before you get fret buzz.Strings bend really easy.Whole step bends-not a problem!Some guitars you end up hitting the other string due to the fact that bending them takes more effort.Not the les paul!!

I would use it on stage without a backup only if I had straplocks because the stock ones are tiny for such a heavy guitar.God forbid you should drop it.Could you imagine how awful you would feel! If your a stage or standup player GET STRAPLOCKS!! Other than that the finish lasts as long as you let it(take care of it and it will take care of you)gold hardware does wear off.Mine is chrome but it is personal preference.The chrome will rust if you let it go so either of them looks sweet.Speed nobs are cool and pickup switch will last.

have not dealt with and probably will never deal with

I love everything about this guitar.It is in my opinion THE ONLY guitar there is.Again,not to offend lovers of other guitars but it truly is a remarkable piece of work that will bring you,your kids,your grandchildren,your great granchildren etc.. hundreds or possibly thousands of years of enjoyment!!J U S T G O B U Y O N E ! ! ! !

My guitar was made in the U.S.A. in 2001 (September 11th after checking with the serial number). Has standard Les Paul 22 jumbo frets and controls. Mahogany body and neck with maple top and finished in beautiful pewter. It came with a Gibson gig bag (top quality) and accessories pack.

I play mainly rock (classic and heavy) with a bit of contemporary music and metal. I play it through a Marshall MG15CD and a Boss ME-50 Multi-effects unit. The gibson humbuckers are an absolute joy and deliver awesome rock sounds in all three settings, although the neck pickup can sometimes be a bit woolly on the lower frets. If it's rock you play then this is the guitar for you, if you want funk or pop by a strat (but don't as I hate them). For the money I doubt that you could buy a better sounding quality rock guitar.

The standard factory setup was ok but I have actually raised the action to eliminate fret buzz. It's a problem on Les Pauls as the frets are so large. It is perfect now and doesn't slow down my playing at all. The body and pickups are perfect.

This guitar is built to last. Everything about it is quality and over-engineered. Buy bigger strap buttons though as they are quite small. Even with a gibson at this money you get a nitro-cellulose finish that will improve with age and will not look cheap like other makes.

Never had to.

Don't hesitate if you are thinking of buying a Gibson Les Paul Studio. They are fantastic guitars that give you the true Les Paul experience at half the cost of a Standard. I would not consider parting with this guitar with anything other than a Gibson, and even then it would have to be very, very special.

gibson les paul studio, 3 way switch 2 volume, 2 tone ect.........
the only features i would like to see are locking tuners, maybe coil taps, and strap locks stock. I am completley satisifed with what it has though so its like what a reviewer said below an 8 out of 8

i play rock, jazz, and blues and this thing kicks ass for rock. tons of chunk, great mids, great highs, this is the ultimate rock guitar!

cant comment on factory set up because i got it used, after set up by store owner though plays BEAUTIFULLY, wow what a difference!

les pauls last forever, but i havent had this one too long so i wont comment here.

havent dealt with gibson and hope i never have to

i love this guitar, exellent value used. everybit as good as a standard for 1/2 the price, cant be beat just play as many as you can to find the best one!

Everyone knows the features on a Les paul. So I'm not going there.

It's a Les Paul, what would you expect from the insturment that defined popular music. This specific one was just bought but is a 1990 model. I just sold a 2004 model to get this one, reason... the newer models chamber the bodys, taking away from the fullness of the guitar, not much, but enough that I could notice. The downsie, my 2004 only weighed 5lbs or so, this one weighs in around 9-10lbs. It's worth it though, sounds great.

Ok, this guitar is almost 15 years old, it looks unbeleavable. The finish never faded after al these years of play. The gold hardware(which on my 2004 faded after a week)dosn't look like it's been touched. They must of done something diffrent back then cause it dosn't seem to fade like they do now.

These guitars are some of the most reliable out there, the electronics are top of the line, great stuff, well made. I never go without a back up, but I would never worry about this guitar stoping on me. The tunners suck though, change them right away and it's all good!

Gibson is great, they will always help you out.

Nothing I would want to change about these guitars. I have loved them for years and will continue loving and buying them till I can't play anymore. Then I will just hang them so I can admire there beauty.

Gibson Les Paul Studio, bought December 2004. This guitar has stock specifications -- check Gibson web site for details. Wine red with chrome hardware.

Giving it an 8 only because I know that other features theoretically exist that this guitar does not have, but there are none that I am missing! So I guess you could say 8 out of 8.

Very rich, full sound. 'Treble' pickup has nice cut and even a little twang. 'Rhythm' pickup is perhaps a tad too 'thick' and resonant making it a little less clean on clean - if that makes any sense, but I'm just being picky. In the middle position you get a wonderfully rich and full-bodied sound, but with some cut.

I compared it very carefully side by side in the shop with an LP Standard, playing extensively both clean and distorted. Both sounded excellent in their own right, but I neither was 'better'. The Studio was 'growlier' and the Standard was a bit 'smoother' or 'bluesier'. So it's down to preference. Difference was extremely subtle anyway, and wouldn't be noticeable unless you played them side by side in a quiet room with no other instruments!

Off the rack, the action and neck relief were already perfect. No fret buzz at all. Intonation is just slightly out, but the shop will do me a free setup as part of the sale.

Fit and finish are totally immaculate, other than what seem to be some naturally-occuring nicks in the edge of the rosewood fretboard. If I'm really picky I'll point out that one of the electronics access plates on the back isn't aligned 100% correctly with the cavity in the body that they've carved out for it.

Seems very solid and tight, but only time will tell!

n/a

I had been shopping for an LP Standard. But when I compared the two side by side, I could not tell any quality differences whatsoever, either with the sound or the build. The sound was practically identical, and personally I thought the Studio was a nicer, cleaner looking guitar.

So, even though I had the budget and willingness to buy a Standard, I saw nothing in that guitar that justified it. I asked myself, "name one thing about the Standard that you like better." I couldn't do it, so out the door I went with the Studio, at half the price!

I bought this used about 9 years ago--it's a 1991 Black Les Paul Studio (made in the USA) with an ebony fretboard and trapezoid ivory inlays. The guy who owned it before me replaced the Gibson tuners with black Grovers. He gave me the originals but I've left the Grovers on. Not sure what other features I'd want in a guitar, except maybe the ability to split the humbuckers and use them as single coils every now and then.

It's solid Mahogany and weighs a ton. A couple years ago my left shoulder was bigger than my right because of gigging/having it strapped on for 5+ hours a week. The Gibson molded case it came with has seen better days. It's done an admirable job protecting this guitar all over the country but I've had to add angle braces to keep it from splitting open, I've replaced the hinges, and the handle and one of the latches are pretty much broken. But the pink fuzzy inside and satin cover sheet look great and command respect.

The sound is fantastic. My preference is blues lead but this guitar is pretty versatile. Not the same clean tone as a nice Fender but as soon as you add just a touch of distortion this thing really sings. My first amp was a Peavey Special 130 and it even sounded good through that but I've been using a Marshall half stack for the past 8 years and love it. I used to have a mid 70's Fender Twin Reverb but this guitar just sounds much better through a Marshall.

I can take this guitar and my Boss Blues Driver pedal and plug it into any amp and the tone is great. Great for thick rhythm sounds using the neck pickup and sharp solos with the bridge pickup. Using a wah-wah pedal mostly depressed also sharpens the tone nicely.

The action on this thing is amazing. As good or better than any Les Paul Standard I've played. On the rare occasions I let someone else play her they are very impressed. I can do things soloing on this guitar that are just flat out not physically possible on other electrics. Regular polishing has kept the black finish nice and shiny.

I gigged/practiced/recorded/travelled with this guitar 3+ times a week regularly for 6 years and it held up awesome. The thing is a tank. The only reason I brought a backup to gigs was in case I broke a string. The guitar came with strap locks and I recommend them. I did have to replace the pickup selector switch once and re-soder a couple of those connections but I chalk that up to normal wear and tear.

I've been playing 11+ years, this was my third guitar but I consider her my first wife. I used to own a beautiful USA Tele and it didn't hold a candle to my Gibson. I also have a Gibson Blue Ridge acoustic, an Epiphione 12-string and a Seagull. If it was stolen I'd launch a nationwide manhunt. (I've memorized the serial number and use it as my lottery numbers.) Seriously though if it was stolen after I stopped crying I would probably spring for a Les Paul Standard--another Studio just wouldn't be the same. If the house were on fire this is first thing I'd rescue.

By far the best money I've ever spent. My sentimental attachment to this particular guitar notwithstanding, I can't imagine a better electric than the Les Paul.

to the best of my knowledge I bought a 1992 Les Pual studio wine red finish with gold hard ware. The reason I purchased this guitar was I needed the classic les pual feel and humbucking sound. The guitar came with Seymour Duncan JB and pearly gates pickups; I went back to restoring this guitar with new gibson gold finish 490R & 490T pickups. Sounds great and true to gibson. I don't know if the 92 model had these pickups or not ; but I noticed that the pickups aren't the same number , so I don't know if they are balanced per se. I know that SG's had 490's pickups in both neck and bridge position and they sounded great. I really think balanced pickups are the best tone. I really dig the Gibson ebony fretboard , I saw a new LP supreme with ebony fretboard with blonde streaks! I guess this model was made before the mass marketing and lessed quality that gibson now exhibits; a real shame becuase overall it's a great company with great designs. I've got the original gibson case by TKL, the lock doesn't work , but they case is still good. I wish I didn't have a case that said the brand name on it beucase of un wanted attention on gigs. A great guitar with the classic sound and feel from LP's

After I put the gibson pickups, they sound really came through nice a warm and clean. All the subtle overtones and sustain the guitar produces with the mahagonay woods really shines clear. The feel is nice and easy, you can play really relaxed with a nice big tone. I really think gibson makes a good pickup and many folks underestimate their sound quality.

Action is great, really easy to play. It does balance well on the shoulder but like most LP's, not the carved chamber ones; they're heavy. They do strian you when you play in sitting postition on your knee, so get a strap and balance the weight on your shoulder for compensating your hip and back.

Over time , the gold finish hardware has faded, except for the kluson tuners for some reason. Even my new gold pickups have diminished to to light hand contact. the red wine wood finish is classic and really red , not brownish like other tints.

I don't know how the factory set up was since I purchased this one used. It was set up really nice from the seller/tech, played like a dream.

Very stable, does well in lots of climates. stays in tune, neck set is stable, electronics are good , not noisy. My strap buttons were replaced so I don't know about the originals. I'm wearing out the finish from my arm sweat , kinda of turning it milky/greyish tarnish color.

Overall, very well made, made in the USA still!

I've called Gibson for other matters, great customer service , very professional.

I'm a professional guitarist in the AFM (11-637) I've used this guitar in all types of gigs, great guitar for any style of play. I would have a hard time replacing this guitar, since I like the pickups so much compared to the new LP studios! Very classic guitar, every rock player should own one!

Rescued in 2002, 1993 Les Paul Studio. Black laquer finish with ebony fretboard and chrome hardware. Block inlay on fretboard, deluxe tuning machines. Found it in a pawn shop covered in "tobacco" residue from previous owner. Fretboard was dingy, jack plate was bent, and two tone knobs were missing. Few minor dings here and there, pickups and pickguard were scratched up, i honestly don't think it had ever been wiped down since Gibson packaged it up new. This thing led a hard life and needed a good home. Came with a very plush Gibson gig bag and shop owner threw in a Marshall G50CD. I'd say I got my money's worth.

Makes a very nice compliment to my Fender American Series Stratocaster. They get equal time in the studio and on stage. I've played blues, classic rock, metal and it fits in very well. There is nothing like the sound of a Les Paul through a Marshall Stack, sends chills up my spine. Not noisy, unless i want it to be. I play througha GNX3 and it really makes this guitar versatile.

Guitar was very rough when i found it. Gave it a setup, polish, strings, replaced control knobs and jack plate. Now plays like a brand new one. Love the laquer finish, it is aging quite nicely. Pickups are scratched but thats the way i found it. Routed and aligned perfectly. Hardware is holding up well. Still using original tuners with no problems.

Very reliable. It gets alot of stage time and studio time. Just finished a demo and this thing snarled and growled like a true Les Paul shoud. Strap buttons were replaced with straplocks. Finish is laquer, have had issues with certain guitar stands messing up the paint, but overall holding up well after years of apparent abuse by previous owner.

Never had to deal with them, but I'm sure they would back up their products.

Been playing Since 1987, do alot of session work and some live cafe', club, local bar stuff. I feel like i rescued this abused guitar and gave it a new life. In return it has given back to me ten fold. There is no mistaking the classic Les Paul growl when i crank into this guitar. It isn't a nice quilt top or flame top, and will never be a show piece or collectors item. Instead it is a true workhorse. Live or studio or just jamming, it has never let me down and i don't forsee it ever doing so. I hold a deep attachment to the guitar after seeing the condition it was in. If someone ever steals it, i hope they die a cruel, horrible and slow death.

I bought this guitar in june of 2004. There arent any special features. The things i like the most about this guitar are the tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, and the sounds potential.

This guitar is made of Mahogany with a Carved maple top, and im sure you already know that from one of the other 250 reviews just like this one. Hand made in nashville tennessee. 50's rounded neck profile, 22 frets, 490R 498T pickups. Nothing special 8 of 10.

I play all types of music. This guitar is good for all types of music.

I changed the treble position 498T pickup. Its a great pickup, i just thought the pickup was too bright, and unclear on this guitar. It sounds awesome on an SG though. All i needed to do was change the treble position humbucker. TRY TO GET SOMETHING AS DIRTY SOUNDING AND NOT BRIGHT AS POSSIBLE TO COUNTERACT THE DISPICABLE MAPLE TOP! ITS TOO DAMN BRIGHT! I put a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker in the bridge. It made a big difference for the better, but still.

Playability? If you play lead, and play frets 15 and on, you will hate this guitar. This guitar is EXCELLENT for the rhythm guitarist. The fat neck is solid for rhythm. Lead is a different story.

Personally, i think this guitar is too awkward, fat, and stubby for me. The only good thing about this guitar is the killer beefy sound. Can be bright, but i took care of most of that problem. The only thing that keeps me from selling the guitar is the sound and the fat neck for rhythm. WHen im not playing anything solish, then ill use this. I would suggest getting a REALLY DIRTY PICKUP for this guitar if your a rock guy because it makes the guitar growl with power. I just think that we as rock and metal guitarists should use this guitars fat body to its potential, toss the pussy pickups, and put one of the pickups i mentioned below in it. Trust me.

Overall. I give the sound a 10. Why? It may be bright, but...soundwise, it doesnt get any better. It doesnt. Especially after you change the 498 to a more fitting pickup. Go to www.dimarzio.com and check out the X2N, D Sonic, and check out the Gibson 500T. Those are the pickups i suggest.

Good finish. What can i say, they did their job. It shines, looks good. Hey, what am i gonna say?

A ROCK i SAY, A ROCK. I suggest changing the strap buttons, they are small. Theyve fallen of my strap a few times. Besides that ITS A ROCK, A ROCK I SAY, A ROCK.

Gibson is the best. Excellent service.

Overall. Heavy, awkward, heavy, unplayable lead guitar. The only thing i like about the guitar is for rhythm, and its sound(with the right pickups...the fat body equals fat beefy tone).

2001 MIA
Carved Maple top
2 volume
2 tone
HH
490R/498T



the tuners suck. my epiphone stays in tune much better. albeit, my epiphone sheraton is a very nice guitar, but you'd think that the extra hundreds that this thing costs it'd have twice the tuning stability.

i feel that the tune-o-matic is a horrible design. never did like it. too often my strings break at the bridge. damn burss.

the neck is fat. gotta love it.

came with a brown case and the velvet(ish) colored interior. very nice. i prefer it over the new cases which are black with the grey interior.

gotta knock off points for the tuners.

When I jam with people, I play typical rock. By typical rock I mean along the lines of bands ranging from ACDC to (old) Oasis to Bush to The Sex Pistols. When I'm working on my own material, my tone much more resembles the newer Oasis tone. I generally use my Maxon OD808RI in front of my blues jr or hot rod deluxe or i just crank up the blues jr, full throttle preamp volume, and lose the maxon.

I really dig this for my rock tone, but when I'm doing my own stuff I tend to lean more towards my Epiphone Sheraton. I prefer semihollowbodies for my signature tone.

Regardless, the Les Paul does sound sweet. It sings with sustain and has more body than most other guitars.

the action was okay when i got it. i set it up to my likings when i got it, but i do that with all of my guitars. but yeah, the action was pretty decent which is strange for gibson, their action usually sucks, especially the recent ones. i can't tell you how many es333s i played and every single one had terrible action and intonation except one, but that was used so i dont think it counts.

pickups were adjusted fine. i've not touched them.

finish is decent. its a dark green. most people think its black until they see it in a certain reflection in the light. i'm not huge on the visual appearance so i don't particularly care.

i must say though, some of the upper frets are a bit iffy.

the saddle on my high E string is really lose on my tune-o-matic. thats my only complaint here.

i've been playing since January of 2000. I've had several electric guitars including two fender strats, a fender MIJ tele (very nice), brian moore i8, gibson sg, gibson blueshawk, and others. I got this guitar a little over two years ago and i've had it longer than any other guitar (acoustic and electric) that i've ever owned. When I got it, i was really big into rock. I had the Marshall JCM halfstack and what not so it was PERFECT. Now, its still a very nice alternative to my usual semihollow, slightly distorted tone. If it were stolen I'd probably get another Les Paul somewhere down the road, but I'd probably just fix the wiring in my Epi first.

If you like rock or blues or metal and even jazz (i prefer hollow bodies and semis though) the Les Paul is a great choice, especially the studio.

My Les Paul Studio is a 2003 build, 22 frets, solid top, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, 2 humbuckers (490R and 490T), Passive electronics, Body is mahogany with a carved maple top, finish is a beautifil fireburst with gold hardware, bridge is a tune-o-matic with a stop tailpiece, old school 3 a side tuners (Gibson deluxe), fat neck which is maple with a rosewood fingerboard and jumbo frets, came with a Gibson hardcase. This is how guitars are supposed to be made... never leaves you wanting

This baby is made for rock and blues, face it, you own one or want one. I use it with a Marshall JCM 900 4102 and it just sings tone and sustain. It is not noisy at all and the whole package makes a beautiful full, toneful sound which can be varied so much thanks to the 4 seperate volume and tone controls. There is nothing to dislike about this guitar, it is perfect

Factory setup was rubbish but the tech played around with it and then I took over for final touches. It doesnt take much to get it setup the way you want and it is a small part of it... all guitars really should be setup properly to be all that they can be. The pickups were set fine, mostly it was the action, oh and the 10's should be 11's (strings). There were no flaws on her but thats what you expect when you buy a Gibson

This guitar is as solid as they come, hardwearing, tough, a true live guitar, hardware (gold) will fade if not looked after but who cares? the vintage, worn look makes it look even better. I recommend getting straplocks on it though. I use this baby live with other guitars but not as backup... you can easily depend on this tank!

Never dealt with them but the website rocks and most dealerships look after you. I bought mine from Jacksons rare guitars and I got so many freebies thrown in! I doubt many people will need support.

Ive been playing for 14 years and I own this LP studio, a washburn N1, an ESP EC-50 and a BC rich Bich... this is my fave by far. If it were stolen Id definately buy exactly the same one. Owning a Gibson is the best feeling, it makes you want to play more and you sound so much better. I didnt play any other guitars, this one chose me when I picked it up.

I wasted so much time and money buying inferior guitars, I wish Id just saved up and bought this one in the beginning... maybe a Flying V will be next.

Pricing is a little extreme but I suppose there isnt a lot you can do about that... no point in buying an Epiphone to save a little, they dont compare! but Ill take off a point because they are so much more expensive in Australia

Don't know when it was made, wine red with gold hardware.

Great all purpose guitar. Especially well suited to blues, rock. Play mostly through a peavey effects processor but sounds great through my vintage solid states and one tube fender bassman too! (Baseman with really old and dirty DOD overdrive awesone)

I bought this one used but it plays really great. Nice, low action. The only finish problem is that I guess I play it too much and I am starting to feel the inlays (though not when I'm furiously trying to play it)

I have had some hardware issues...three way came loose early on and I had to get it fixed (broke a connection). Jack is impossible to keep tight. No playability issues to date and I have had it for about seven years.

n/a

Super great and terrific. I am trying after a custom guit on ebay now, will let you all know if it is as good as reputation. I wish I had a Langcaster. Also, studio really plays like the $1000 and up Les Pauls, I don't know if I would spend the money when this product is so good!

Everybody knows...simplicity...no fancy tricks!

Most people post a review after 2 days of the purchase of an instrument, this review is 9 years after my purchase.
First of all, I've never heard an electric guitar sounding that good acousticaly! It realy has tone. This guitar doesn't need high output pu's to simulate sustain, like with other Dimarzio equiped guitars.
Don't get me wrong, I have 3 ibanezzes Jem. They sound amazing, have good sustain but the main reason why they have sustain is because of the pu's. The difference is that the Gibson sounds much warmer and has a more natural sustained sound.
It has more sustain than any guitar and sounds very "fixed".

Inlays not that good but what the hell...

Because of its simplicity, the most reliable guitar ever. The only hing that you can't do is swapping the neck but who wants an epiphone les paul???

Most of you know the stats for this guitar. If not check out another review. I LOVE my new Les Paul. I got it from Guitar Center. I got a limited editon its Metallic Black, 1st one since the 70s and it has platinum hardware, because of Gibsons platinum anniversary this year. I came new out of the box with a nice setup. I suggest anyone wanting something better than they have save up and get this guitar. NOW!

This guitar can get just about any sound that you want. Of course it helps if you run a Mesa Boogie 20/20 power amp with it. I play mostly Punk, Metal, and some Rock. But I do like to play alittle bit of everything. My set up is just my Mesa 20/20 (1st edition, the one with the chrome face) and a Rocktron Gainiac. I dont use any effects. My cab is one I made myself.

This is my 1st Gibson and everything was to my liking out of the box. Except I do need to get the neck adjusted a little, it does buzz a little.

This guitar is solid. I think that it will last for ever.

NA

I have been playing for 3 years and havent played anything better. I also own a Schecter Omen 6 (my 1st guitar) loaded with an EMG 85/81 setup. I would make sure as hell I would get another one if it were to be stolen. I chose this over a SG standard and I liked that but it was too lite for me. So I went with this one. And you should too.

This is a 2002 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Left Handed)with a beautiful deep transparent wine red color and gold hardware. Pickups are stock 490R and 498T. The tuners are Gibson Deluxe Green Keys. I believe that the neck is a 59' style. It's a little wider than what I am used to but didn't take long to adjust. Very nice aged-looking rosewood fingerboard with trapazoid inlays. It came with a black reptile case that is awesome. Even though the studio models don't come with body and neck binding like the higher priced models, they are still eye-catching. I love the look of it.

I play lead guitar in a praise & worship band at my church. Our style is very much like Journey and Foreigner. This guitar gets this sound perfectly. I run the Les Paul through a Zoom GFX-8 straight into the mixer and have captured any sound that you can get through any amp. I knew that Les Paul's were known for their fullness in sound, and this one is no different. I have read reviews about the stock pickups that come with these Studio's and the majority say they don't like them. To me they have the best balance in sound I have ever heard. Rich & full sound that is not at all muddy yet not overly bright either. It's perfect in my opinion. I have found that I can get any sound out of it, from hard rock to melodic rock to jazzy/blues to clean country. This thing can do it all. I have been using a 2001 Fender American Series Stratocaster(Left Handed) that I bought new back then and got a great sound but it lacked in the bottom end that I can get with this Les Paul. Between the two guitars that I have now, I can cover the whole spectrem. In my honest opinion, a Les Paul and Stratocaster is all you need to cover every style.

The guy I bought this from had it professionaly setup before selling it. The action is perfect. It stays in tune and there is no fret buzz anywhere. The finish on this thing is flawless. The gold hardware after two years has not tarnished at all. I can't find a single flaw on the guitar. It's as perfect a guitar as I have ever seen.

Les Paul's are built like a tank. The finish looks to be very solid and seems to be able to withstand alot of playing. I do think that over time the gold hardware will start to tarnish at some point. But the key to keeping all of it like new is to clean it after every gig. The only thing I can say on the downside is about the strap buttons. They are a bit small. I will be replacing them with something else. I don't feel real safe straping on a 9+ lbs. guitar with the strap buttons that come on a Les Paul. Other than that, it's great.

I have called them in the past solely on inquiring about there left handed models. They were helpful and friendly, but as alot of people know the left handed line of top quality guitars are limited and seem to get discontinued quickly. I don't hold Gibson for fault on this, simply because most guitar makers are the same do to the lack of demand. I rate this as no opinion due to me not having to need their service. And I hope I never have to.

If this guitar was lost, broken, or stolen I would surely get another one. I have been playing for 20 yrs. and in that time I have acquired many guitars. Currently I own a Alvarez 12-String, a Alvarez 6-String, a Alvarez Classical, a Gibson/Epiphone Strat style electric, a Fender American Series Stratocaster, and now this Gibson Les Paul Studio. What more could I want.

Gibson Les Paul Studio made in april 1993 obviously in U.S.A., 22 frets, maple top (not laminated). 3 way switch, 2 tones/ 2 volumes, 2 humbuckers (490R 498T), mahogany solid body, maple top, mahogany neck. Finish in transparent wine red. Tune-O-Matic bridge, Gibson Deluxe tuners (vintage style), Ebony fretboard. All the hardware is golden, I prefer nickel (it lasts more), and I prefer modern locking machine heads but for a vintage style guitar the installed hardware is the right-one.

Great sound for Blues and Rock, also suitable for jazz. I use to play it with a 2.0 version POD directly connected to a P.A., I play it also with a fendere Hot-Rod deluxe amplifier, both configuration give a great result, warm sound, very dynamic and powerful solos.

The original set-up was terrible, very high action, actave totally out. I had to bring it to a techcnician that set-up it very well. For the other finish the guitar was good, the fretboard was comfortable and all the thing seemed to be at their place.

The body, the fretboard and the neck are as new (the guitar is 11 years old), while the pick-ups and the bridge are loocking a little damaged, that's why I prefer nickel hardware instead of gold. I installed a cuple of safe-lock strap buttons instead of the original ones because the guitar is heavy and the strap esaly came out and made the guitar fall. For everithing else i think that the guitar is reliable and will last more than the owner.

If you want a certain kind of sound, you have to buy a Gibson, ibought a Studio because the price was lower than a Standard but the sound is the same and the feeling good. I'd like to buy a standard one.

2003 Les paul studio, Ebony with chrome h/w.
You all know the score already. I would like to say that the les paul has always had the advantage over strats because a) you can mix pickups, b) you can do the stuttering thing (at the end of londons calling) and c) you can do drop tuning in the middle of a gig and all of the rest of the string won't go out of tune. Right that's that off my chest. Don't need/want a wanky bar. The studio has every you need without having to pay for the stuff that you don't need (binding, inferior burstbuckers, extra weight and a pretty top)On the minus side i will say that the grovers, as fitted to my epiphone les paul are superior to these deluxe tuners in that they turn smoother and feel more positive. However I have had no tuning problems, they look nicer and dare i say it, I think they make the guitar sound better due to the lighter weight.

The best sounding guitar I have owned. I've had a 98 les paul standard(One dimensional, dull sounding, heavy lump)then I moved on to a 89' USA strat which was my third and last strat (too thin sounding).The studio definitely sounds more dynamic than the standard and has a whole lot more sustain than the strat. When playing live the sound you can feel the guitar ringing in your hands. It's just very natural woody sound that cuts through and the controllable feedback nicely predictable and there if you want it which for me is all the time.

Not good. The gibson logo (a transfer on the studio) is misaligned, the saddle slots are not perfect, the laquer has not been applied to an area around the stop-tail,the action and intonation were both out,the machine heads were loose, the frets feel "square", the finish is black all over and sticky(nitrocellulose!!) This is annoying on a brand new guitar and some people would have sent it back but all the about points DON'T MEAN JACK SHIT!!!!.

Sort out the intonation and action yourself
I have played the guitar in and the frets are fine
Who cares about the logo
The stickiness of the neck wears off

My advice to you is to set it up and play the damn thing and you will realize that all you care about is the sound, the playability, the feature and the reliabiliy, Although my transamber epiphone looks, plays and is finished better.(oops, sorry gibson)

Solid. Doesn't go out of tune. Pay #8 for some schaller straplocks as you'll need em cause the buttons are too small. You can take it to a gig, take it out it's case with no need to tune, play for 2 hours and not worry about a thing. A workhouse.

N/A

Played for 15 years. Best guitar i've owned - not the best playing, not the best looking, not the best finished but whatever, i've totally fell for it because I've played gigs in the past and have been unhappy with my sound and now i've found the sound i'm after - I have sustain, controllable feedback, dynamics, everything. I use either a laney LC50 or a Marshall AVT50 amp mic'ed up for this. I'm happy and for the first time in years i'm not looking through the mags searching for my next step up.

Pretty standard stuff on this guitar. However these are the guitars that set the standard.

Here are the specs right from Gibson's site:

Les Paul Studio
Manufactured in: Nashville, TN
Download Les Paul Studio Datasheet

BODY
Top Species: Carved maple top
Back Species: Mahogany

NECK
Species: Mahogany
Profile: '59 Les Paul Rounded
Peghead Pitch: 17?
Thickness at 1st fret: 0.818"
Thickness at 12th fret: 0.963"
Heel Length: 0.625"
Neck Joint Location: 16th fret

FINGERBOARD
Species: Rosewood; Ebony on Classic/Alpine Wht, Platinum
Scale length: 243/4"
Total Length: 18.062"
Nut Width: 111/16"
Width at 12th fret: 2.062"
Frets: 22
Inlays: Pearloid trapezoid, none on Platinum

HARDWARE
Plating Finish: Chrome or Gold
Brushed Chrome on Platinum
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Knobs: Black Speed
Tuners: Green Key

ELECTRONICS
Neck Pickup: 490R Alnico magnet humbucker
Bridge Pickup: 498T Alnico magnet humbucker
Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch

CASE
Exterior: Black Reptile Pattern Hardshell
Interior: Dark Grey Plush with Black Shroud
Silkscreen: Silver 'Gibson USA' logo

Rated an 8 since I'd prefer to have the ability to split pickups on a stock guitar. Just for the extra versatility. If you don't care about that stuff then bump this rating up to a 9.

Total Rock and Roll with this guitar. And total Blues. And total ability to play to Country to. Gotta love it. You just back down on the volume with a great tube amp and you'll cover lots of tones.

Since this guitar has a maple top it really helps bring out some bite and not as dark as solid mahogany guitars.

Tons of sustain as expected. Sustain and tone come with a price: Weight. Its no Parker NiteFly that's for sure.

Bought it used from Guitar Center. This guitar was near mint condition. No signs of wear at all. They could have resold it as new and no one would have known the difference. Appreciate their honesty.

Fretboard was too dry when I got it. No biggie. Slapped on new strings, oiled the fretboard and this thing is a freaking lighting sled of action!

Frets were dressed pretty well. Small nit-noy stuff around fret work, inlays...but nothing to dissuade me from getting this tone machine.

Routing is freaking great! Pulled the pickups and rear plate just to check out the super neat finishing techniques inside. God Bless Gibson on this too.

Would have rated a 10 but had to oil the fretboard and file out the G-string slot in the nut since the G-string kept popping out on bends.

I'd rather put in a little elbow grease and save some big bucks on a quality ride like this.

Feels like it could withstand tons of abuse. Solid. Nothing is loose. All bolted down really well. Well have to see how long the gold plating lasts though. It wears off way too fast on my Epiphones...hopefully this will take more wear and tear.

Haven't gigged it yet...but totally expect it to make it without backup.

Haven't dealt with Gibson yet personally so don't know. Emailed them for a build date on my guitar so we'll see how long it takes them to get back to me.

Been playing almost 20 years. Have owned a few electrics in my life time. This is by far my most expensive guitar. Have taken pride in the past of getting great tones and great playing guitars without spending much money. However, I figured I'd not go cheap for once and get a true classic guitar that will not depreciated as much or as fast as all the guitars.

I tried and compared tons of guitars and this is what I ended up with. Sold my Wolfgang Special and a Parker NiteFly for this thing. Neither one played as well or had as much tone. I expected more from Gibson and the price payed and I think this guitar has delivered the goods.

1991 gibson les paul studio mande on the US of A. It has 21 frets i think. mahoganybody and neck. You know the features. just check the gibson website. the only difference is that on the newer ones they use rosewood fretboards. mine has ebony-i like it better. The newer ones seem to be heavier. The newer ones just dont feel the same. maybe cuz i bought mine used and its broken in. It has a vintage sunburst finish(beautiful).

This gibson screams! i would never change the stock pickups. Think classic Marshall crunch. This guitar suits my style perfectly- I play jazz, rock, blues, funk...pretty much anything, and this baby can handle it. I play this guitar through a crate 212 120 watt combo and a fender 110 25 watt combo. In my opinion it sounds better through the fender (duh). the sustain very rewarding(partly because of the set neck, dense mahogony, and maple top) and its very resonant. Again, very versitle. Each pickup has its own volume and tone. Very Cool. The pickups are transparent sounding and retain clarity at high gain settings. Bridge pickup-amazing, although i wish the neck pickup was a bit lower output so that it doesnt push the clean channel into overdrive when i try to play jazzy stuff. But no big deal- I just roll back the guitar volume a little bit.
No guitar sounds perfect, but this one is pretty close.I give it a 9.

i got it used so the factory setup doesnt apply, but it took very little adjustment when i switched the 9 guages for DADDARIO 10-52's. I sut it up myself-plays like a dream.pickups were adjusted good.everything else is flawless.

This guitar is a tank- i mean that not only is it durable, but it has some weight to it too, but thats another thing. It will withstand live playing if youre not one of those guys who swings the guitar around your body trying to look cool. The finish has held up nicely from being used and from 1991. I use a dunlop cleaning maintenence kit so that helps. I took off the old strap buttons and installed dunlop strap locks(highly recommended, but washers work just as good. It is very dependable, but ill never gig without a backup. Thats plain stupidity. I might break a string. thats my only reason for a backup.

Im 17. Ive been playing 7 years and some months. I own A PRS knockoff with a duncan custom bridge and seymour duncan jazz neck pickups, a squier strat, a Fender Frontman 25R combo amp, A Crate gx212 combo, A dunlop crybaby, monster cables, and a digitech rp100. If it were stolen i'd find another made 1993 or earlier. Theres no reason for me to pay 1150 for a new one. I like the way the older ones are feel. I wish it came with a metal jack plate-the stock one is plastic and non durable and will be changed. It would be cool to have a coil tap switch, but then again thats what a strats for.Id like to have locking tuners although the stock ones are pretty stable. Ill probably get locking grovers. I just couldnt pass it up for the price. Very well built. kinda makes me want to buy only American made stuff. Nothings perfect---9

This is a 2004 US-made model. Mahogany body, maple top, the usual LP fare. 3 way switch, 2 tones, 2 volumes. APassive Gibson 498T in Bridge, and 490R in neck. Transparent wine red finish, single cutaway body style with tune-omatic bridge. Rosewood fretboard, mahogany neck. Came with Gibson case.

The sound of this baby is awesome. It's got that nice and warm beefy sound, with killer sustain. Through my Marshall AVT50, it can handle pretty much everything from squeaky-clean blues, to more distorted-blues rock, to classic rock, and hard rock, not exactly great for metal, but I almost never play metal, anyways. The pickups give a great punch, the neck delivers AWESOME lead tones, and the bridge will give you equally amazing rhythm tones, and can even do lead work really well. The middle selector is also great if you want to play something on the clean channel, it delivers a nice bright, yet beefy sound. My only complaint is that the neck pickup doesn't do bassy stuff real well, but then again, most neck pickups sound exactly like that, but if you fiddle with the tone knobs, you can get some nice sounds for rhythm stuff, but they're just not as good as on the bridge pickup. Which brings me to something else, the bridge pickup tends to be a little noisy, but not too much.

Out of factory, the setup was great. The action was a tiny bit too high for my tastes, but it can be lowered really easily with the tune-o-matic. The intonation was dead on from open string to 22nd fret. Everything was great.

Quite reliable, solid as a tank. I'd say it could take abuse for well over 20, 30, 40 or more years. Hell, it's a Gibson, right?

I've emailed Gibson several times, and they responded within 24 hours. Very helpful and polite. This guitar also has a Lifetime Warranty.

I've been playing just under a year, and I truely love this guitar. It'll probably stay my main guitar for quite a long time, as it seems to take the abuse I put it through very well. I also love the sound, and even though people may complain about their necks, I, myself, truely love the feel. This baby sounds great both clean and distorted, and that's the reason it simply is amazing. It's also a great deal for the money (comparing it to other Gibsons), but you can always haggle, that's what I did, and got almost 1/3rd of the price off.

It's a standard les paul set up, two humbuckers, two volume, two tone with a 3-way pickup switch. I really like the tuners though, they stay in tune very well. It also came with a deluxe hardshell case, so I was happy. The pickups are the 490R in the neck and the 498T in the bridge. I love the bridge pick up. My guitar is a Wine Red with the Gold Hardware. They say the gold hardware can ware off which I don't doubt one bit if you don't take good care of it. Just make sure you wipe your guitar off after your done playing it and it will be fine, remember sweat is the enemy of the guitar.

This guitar rocks, it's just what I needed. My groups music is pretty heavy and this guitar delivers. I play it ran through varies effects, delays, trelmlo, wah stuff like that and then it all goes into my Marshall Mode 4 which is plugged into two Madison 4x12. This set up rocks, it's clean and clear but at the same time can be brutal if I want it. The neck pick up is great for them creamy sounding leads as well.

The guitar was set up great, but I never like the factory set ups, as soon as I got it home and before I even plugged it in I cranked the tail piece down as well as the tune of matic to get the string closer to the fret board. But thats just me, I like a low action. The guitar has no flaws, scratchs or anything, it's a Gibson and they know how to build a guitar.

As far as I know this guitar will withstand a live performance as well as months on the road. My Epiphone Les Paul did great on the road and I would only expect more from this guitar. But I won't know what shes like on the road or live for a few months when were finished with our newest record.

Never had to deal with Gibson, not yet anyways and I hope I don't have to anytime soon, but the warrenty process was easy as can be, and thats cool.

I have been playing for 10 years now and this is my 5th guitar. I love it, I have wanted a true Gibson Les Paul since I first laid eyes on them. This one in particular was the one I wanted for the past 6 months and I finnally got it and it's everything I had ever dreamed. If anything happened to this I would probablly cry and then go buy another one just like it.

Les Paul Studio 2002, (Alpine White GoldHw) USA. Ebony fretboard.
Solid case.

It has fat, full and lovely sound. It works great for every style I get into. HardRock,Blues, Funky, Jazzy, 70'sPowerRock... I use it through Cry-baby->TubeWorks RockOverdrive->EH BigMuffPi->EH SmallStone->Sovtek Mig-100H->Sovtek 4x12.
I doesn't make noise at all.

When I bought my Paul I felt very surprised. I have not to adjust anything to start playin with my band. It was even in tune (Standard D#) Tune half step upper and start playing.
Pick up selector and both volume and both tone controls make no noise at all.

I had it for a few months so I'm not sure, but It seems to be for all life.

It has 2 years warranty. I'm in Europe, I thik in the USA the warranty is forever...?

I'm in love with my guitar!!! if it's stolen or anything, I would buy another one.
The only thing about it is that because of the color (white), it gets dirty ten minutes before I get it from the case...

A 1998 model made in usa all studio made in usa 22fret 2 humbucker 496rt 498rt the rest you know

The sound is fucking good when i buy this LP i was a 12 years boy and its a dream for me now i have 19years i play for 11 years and its the fucking best guitar i have i use a 65' deluxe reverb amp and the sound il to beautiful to explain :P no noise full sound me i like to play some 70' rock like acdc and led zep so its perfec i love thios guitar

the finish of my studio its unbeliveble a forest green whit gold hardware the paint is perfect il like the decal of wood SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH IM A QUEBECOIS !!! french hehe

durability is the most important point the only thing broken on my guitar is the tone bouton but the rest is build like rock i use this guitar 6years now and its never broke i use it on stage with no back up

???? i dont know

i been playind for 12 years aproximatly now i have 3 guitar a gibson les paul studio 98 a fender stratocaster custom shop 69' model time machine and a fucking gretsch 6120 chet atkins 1962 ORIGINAL my dad sold to me :D if il stolen i buy another one its sure i love the versatibility of this guitar so BUY IT

This is a 1995 Les Paul studio, wine color, with chrome hardware purchased at a hole in the wall music store in Griffin Ga. Made in the USA with a black pickguard which was soon removed for personal choice. It has the standard two humbucker config and rosewood fretboard. The color is solid with a bit of grain coming through, its definently not pretty wood, hence the solid color. It came with a gig bag that has since been dumped for a more substantial case.

I already own a 1986 LP custom so I already love LPs, but I liked the wine colored model and it responded very well playing it in the store for a while so I purchased it. I use it with a crate Vintage tube combo amp. The electronics are top shelf, quiet, and the pickups sound like LPs should sound. Blazing with distortion and ballsy clean. It has the traditional LP balls. My pickup selector switch malfunction in 2001 and had to be re soldered.

Finish was superb and still looks great, I take very good care of it. I assume the store set up the guitar, but I set the action a tad lower when I got it home. I have made one adjustment to the neck over the years, a very minor one , and its back to perfect. The hardware is showing some minor wear, nothing to be worried about though. There were no flaws on the guitar and after 9 years only one very minor ding.

This guitar withstands live playing and it will last. Only after about 5 years of owning it did I notice how it sounds better today. But this is not uncommon with guitar woods. Factory strap buttons were gone a long time ago and replaced with locking straps. I can depend on this guitar it onle let me down once ( pickup selector switch) I could use it on a gig without a backup (but I will never do that)

Never delt with Gibson, never needed to. I would never let anyone I didn't know (their expertise) to service this guitar unless it needed major repair. Warranty has long expired I suppose.

Been playing 20 years. I would hate it seriously if I lost it or it was stolen. Not sure if I would buy it again unless my other LP got gone too, I would probably buy some sort of PRS, or Carvin type guitar. I love its reliability, and of course its looks because nothing looks better than the LP shape, but most of all I love the sound.It practically plays it self, so much easier than straight neck bolt on strats. I also own 1986 Gibson LP custom (black)Carvin Bolt, Yamaha se 250 (first electric), 2 1962 Strat copies I built myself from plans (s,s,s and 1 H ) and a 1988 Epiphone LP junior (with steinberger tremelo!)that is in the midst of a total breakdown, redesign (chucking that trem!)and overhaul. Amps include 1998 crate vintage club 50 tube combo, and a 1985 Peavy classic chorus 130 combo (that just won't die already)and various pedels, processors, and my 1986 proco rat distortion box.

you know

10, for me, I coulda went with the classic, with the 500, and 496 pick ups, but definitley too snappy for my tastes, I LOVE 490's, and when I want a harder edged sound the 498 is just fine, seriously, though the neck 490 is a wonderful pick up, extremely versitile for blues rythem, and jazz, you know happy major scle stuff, very pretty, the 498 rocks, sorry aboot stressing them, but in my opinion, these burstbuckers that are being outfitted on the standards and what not are junk, go 57' classic, 490, 496, 498, and 500, if you can well worth it, you can really make any of those pick ups (especially the middle 490, 496 and 498) do anything

Solid as a rock, NO complaints, except for after a while, it kind feels like you're carrying a rock, but that goes with the territory, no biggie, I would suggest and kind of locking strap mechanism,

would withstand anything, I've had my share o problems, but I can't recall anyone i know having major problems with Gibsons, including myself, c'mon dudes, they're all handmade in Memphis, the folks know what they're doing

100%, had a few questions, which were answered basically before I could even ask them

I understand the phenomenon with Gibsons', especially Les Pauls, I'm sure you have others picked out (custom, 57 gold top), but honestly, having played many of them, I say you can't go wrong with a studio or classic, they're not ridunkulously expensive, and can anyone honestly think of something majorly different you'd gain by spending an extra grand, I think by the point you decide to spend on a Gibby Les, it pretty much depends on the player, not the tool, maybe a few tricks here and there, but you'll get crazy mileage out of any Gibson, they're well crafted, and sound delicious

This is a 2004 gibson lp studio ebony chrome hardware, it was handcrafted in the usa like all gibsons. Has 22 frets, solid-top, 2 vol 2 tone, mahogany body carved maple top, tune o matic bridge, gibson vintage tuners, big fat neck, comes with a reptile skin gibson usa hardcase, and tool.

I play any type of rock and this guitar definately suits my style. I run my lp thru a digitech rp-50 to an old roland cube 60. The pickups do not buzz, they are silent. It has a very rich sound. This guitar plays great soft and clean, or heavy and crunchy. I dont have any dislikes about the sound of it, it sounds awesome.

When i recieved my guitar the action was PERFECT, not too high or low. The pickups were adujusted perfectly as well. This guitar came with absolutely no flaws or anything, i clearly made sure of that.

This guitar would definately withstand live playing. Im sure i wont have any problems with the hardware theyll last a lifetime. The finish seems very thick. The strap buttoms were on just fine, but i replaced them with straplocks, the original were pretty small. I could definatley depend on my lp, nothing bizzare has happened only the natural things like broken strings. This guitar does come slightly out of tune quite often, if i could get locking tuners my lp would be perfect. Of course like all lps it is quite heavy, but im used to it, but my shoulder gets sore after a while of playing. I would probably not have to bring a backup for my lp, but i would to be safe.

The customer support on this guitar was really good. I ordered this guitar and recieved it in a week, set up perfectly. I havn't had to deal with gibson personally. Im pretty sure the warranty is a lifetime.

Ive been playing for a year and a half. Besides my setup, i own an epiphone 80's acoustic guitar. If this were stolen or lost i would by a new one. I love the nice thick sound of this guitar, the feel of the neck, and pretty much everything else. Theres nothing i hate about this guitar, the tuners could be a bit better, but overall there okay. My favourite feature is probably the thick neck, its really comfortable to play. I comapared this guitar to a peavey evh wolfgang, and an gibson sg special. I chose this guitar because it had an all around better sound, the finish on the neck was most comfortable, and the pickups were most powerful. I just wish it had grover locking tuners, that would be just perfect. Overall i think gibson makes the nicest guitars and they did a great job on mine. Im going to continue to buy gibson products, even if they are expensive its worth it.

Std Gib Studio features. Great Gibson case with shroud. Rosewood neck. Fireburst Maple top. Gold hardware. Added Schaller strap locks. I gave it a 9 because the tuners chould be better than the Green Gibson Deluxe tuners.

Acceptable sound. Not as muddy as most people claim. Pretty much sounds like "old time rock n roll" music. No noise that I can hear when close to my current amp. I am using an original Crate CR-1 amp and a Crate MX-10. Would like to buy a tube amp someday. Play mostly blues and old rock and the stock pickups work great on both styles.

Action had to be lowered. Constant fret buzzing. Turns out this guitar is SUPER sensitive to the A/C or heater. Neck is constantly changing and have had to have it setup several times at my guitar dealer. I love the looks. I tried all the Gibsons in the store from the cheaper Studios to the more expensive Customs and ES series and this was the only one without fret buss, in the beginning! This is my first Gibson and probably my last one. This is a great guitar and I have mixed feelings about it, but I'm leaning towards keeping it since it is a joy to play once I ignore the buzz.

Have knicked the back of it with a music stand and I was ready to cry. Didn't do much damage, but seeing the knocj just pisses me off. The guitar is not as heavy as it's more expensive siblings. I'm too lazy so I play it sitting down.

N/A

Overall, I'll probably keep this guitar since it is a Gibson and I've always wanted one. If this was stolen, I'd take it as a sign and buy a PRS or something. Still, these guitars are too overpriced. I just recently purchased a Carvin CT4M PRS-style guitar. I look forward to getting it when it is shipped 3 months from now!! I think it'll be worth the wait. I'll probably put this Gibson away and never talk about getting another one again.
Guitars that I've had - Carvin CT4M (soon), Gibson LP Studio, Godin SD, Epi Std DLx, Epi Classic, Godin Radiator, Godin LGX, Godin LG, Fender Am Std Dlx, Fender Sqr, Ibanez RG, Celebrity Applause, Fender Bass (a BASS!!??)

Mine's ebony (black) with trapazoid inlays. I got it used with stock pickups (490R-498T), Sperzel locking tuners, SKB case (not a freedom), and it had the Schaller strap bottons for the straplocks. These mods were a big plus in my buying this guitar. Why ibson doesn't sell them standard with a hard shell case is beyond me, but hey, someone went ahead and threw one in with the deal so I'm happy. Oh yeah, it has a mahagony body and neck, maple top, ebony fret board, Tune-o-Matic bridge/stop bar tail piece. The only gripe I have with Gibson is this: when you look up the specs on the 490 and 498 pickups, the after market ones have 4 conductor wires, but if you crack open a Les Paul Studio with stock pickups, they'll have a single wire with the braided shield, making it un-tapable. Most people wouldn't notice or care, but it would be nice to have the option.

It sounds like a Les Paul; Standard, or Custom (unless equipped with Burstbuckers). Deep thick humbucker sound that's not too over the top. The wood compliment sounds rather throaty when compared to a Maple neck guitar. The main thing is, when you pay extra for a standard, or custom, you're paying for cosmetics. Transparent finish, and binding, maybe a little more mother-of-pearl. The Custom has a ebony fretboard, but anyone who's gonna pay the extra for a custom is gonna pay that much no matter what. Soundwise though, the Studio sounds every bit as good as its more expensive bretheran.

The action was set well upon purchase. The neck is set so no worries about gaps. Mine has a few wear marks on the neck just from being played that much. The pickups have never been touched since I've had it. The finish is great except where the previous owner had their stickers, but this is not Gibson's fault.

I think these guitars have more then proven themselves on countless stages. The harddwere is well designed. The newer ones seem to be coming with "Classic" tuners, which I've never been a fan of, but mine has Sperzels anyway. I highly recomend either Sperzel or Schaller Tuners. I also recomend straplocks on every guitar, but especially Les Pauls due to the location of the top strap button.

I only dealt with Gibson a few times, but they are tough to get a hold of.

This guitar is exactly what I expected. I needed a good guitar, I love Les Pauls and for $400 I couldn't go wrong. I think Studios are the best bang for your buck at normal new cost as well. I may switch out the pickups to a p90 in-humbucker-shape to go along with the 10" speakers of my Silvertone 1485 (this amp doesn't do well with the 490-498). This guitar would be worth replacing, but if I had to go new, I'd probably pay a little extra for the Classic, with the 496-500 pickups. The Studio is definalely a great guitar, even for a "lesser" Gibson. Other low line Gibsons have shotty fret work I've noticed, and the Les Paul Faded is closer to an SG with its wood compliment. This guitar has become the bar by which others are measured as far as the sound I'm looking for.

My Les Paul was made in June 2003 in the USA. It's a regular Les Paul guitar, the same as the Standard but with the older pickups and no binding on the neck or body. Before i bought this guitar, i was slightly wary about the chunkiness of the neck but when you get to hold this thing i think you'll find that the neck is good chunky not bad chunky - very comfortable. It came with a good quality Gibson case and i also got some polish and a strap thrown in to. Not loads of features but if it was features i wanted, i would buy a food processor.

In my own time i play a lot of Blues and Classic/Modern Rock. I also play in a band that's a little more avante garde and i found that this guitar works well in all situtations. I play through a Marshall Guvnor+ into a Marshall AVT 100 amp. If you want a good clean sound - you can get a nice strumming tone like on stairway to heaven or a chunky jazzier tone. Distortion and this guitar's bridge pickup go so well together. I found this guitar does everything from lightly cranked 60's rock to Zakk Wylde high gain lead.For some more modern styles this guitar can sound a bit to traditional but the best thing is it has a real "presence" - even under distortion the sound doesn't get lost in the mix.

This guitar was exemplary when i bought it. Compared to a PRS CE24 that i tried at the same time, the fretwork didn't seem so precise but still the finishing was top class. The guitar was set up perfectly and was harmonically in tune. There are a lot of horror stories about the lacquer on Gibbos but i've had no problem.

The one problem i had was that the jack socket kinda fell apart after a little knock but like a woman, if you treat it well it'll provide you with years of great "service". I also recommend putting some of the rubber bits from Grolsch bottles on the strap buttons to avoid any accidents.

I've never dealt with Gibson so i don't really have an opinion.

I've been playing about 3 years now and this is my first "proper" guitar. This guitar has a top quality tone that'll make your playing stand out in a live situation but it'll also expose bad playing too. It reeks of quality from the nice wine red finish to the really heavy body. I wish this guitar was white so i could look like Randy Rhoads but apart from that it's nigh on perfect.

Tengo una studio de 1992, por supuesto americana.La pague 750 dls en argentina , usada.
Con 22 trastes (no me vengan con giladas son suficientes para cualquier guitarrista de verdad)
2 humbuckers y los controles de cualquier les paul (1 volumen para cada mic , 1 tono para cada mic , llave de 3 posiciones)
Los mics q trae son unos alnico pasivos.

No existe nada mas versatil a la hora de tocar q una buena les paul , no me vengan con las cagadas de ibanez ni ese tipo de boludeces , esas son guitarras para nenas.
Mis guitarristas favoritos son de la decada pasada (gilbert , kotzen, wylde) o sea q en casa toco lo q quiero y en vivo responde perfecto , lo mismo con mi banda Jaque Reina en la cual afinamos en do.
No es ruidosa para nada.
La uso con un wah jim dunlop cry baby , un compresor ed-1 de marshall y un super chorus boss.

gibson es sinonimo de prolijidad , nada mas q decir , (encima mi studio es deluxe , con todos los accesorios dorados)

una gibson dura toda la vida.

Hace 8 a?os q toco y creo q nada va a superar la fuerza de una gibson , son para rockear , bvlusear o lo q mierda quieras.
Si me la robaran buscaria al ladron y le meteria una par de ibanez por el ojete a ver si son tan angostas como dicen. y si no lo encontrara trataria de comprarme una custom!!!!!

It's a Les Paul ... You know the features
Mine is black with gold hardware and trapezoid inlays

I play mostly the early Black Sabbath stuff and it sounds great for distorted sounds.
Altough I used it most of time for heavy music, you can find all kinds of tone ... from clean jazz sounds to bluesy overdrive from classic rock "hotter than hell" distortion!
It's a killer guitar!

The guitar was buzzing in the upper frets, I took it to a complete set-up and it has been playing flawlessly ever since

Rock-solid guitar .... will last a lifetime

Never dealt with them

I've been playing for a little over 4 years and this is my first "real" guitar ...
I've compared it to a Les Paul Standard, but that was just too much for my wallet!
This is the "real deal" ... go and get one and you will not regret!

You know what you're getting.. It's a design classic..!

The LP is not famous for it, but there are a great variety of tones available from this guitar. I play a wide range of modern rawk (not metal) and some classic stuff too with a twinge of blues/country and I just love the sounds... The natural cellulose finish (more on this later), glued neck and mahogny body give it richness, transparency and sustain- even when unplugged! The bridge pup has a great lively, lead tone and the 'middle' position is highly usable on clean sounds. If I had to fault it it would be on the neck pup, just falls a tiny bite short of that defined richness for me... But hey aren't these the same pups that come as standard on the Custom..? Three times the price and you get a bit of gaudy styling and an extra 1/8 inch...? I am not complaining!

I got an excellent deal from a well know west London guitar shop, which meant no frills and a factory set up!

The nut was cut to high for the factory strings in it (9-46 I believe, but felt more like 10s to me) which meant the action was too high for my taste at the first few frets. The fret ends also felt a little rough when moving up and down the neck- some people don't mind this from an unbound neck but I do and it's not hard to get right. The intonation was ok but not perfect, pup heights approximated optimum positions.

An extra #30 spent on a pro set-up (buffed fret ends, properly filed nut, adjusted bridge action and intonation, new set of 10s, pups adjusted for optimum output) and it plays fantastically- I am 100% happy with it. But why should I have had to have done this? Some people claim Gibson send 'em out expecting them to be set up again (hence the nut being undercut etc) but surely this can't be true..? I know the studio is the 'cheap'end of the lp range but it ain't cheap compared to Fender etc...

Plus points- can't fault the bookmarking (love the simplistic styling of the studio) and love the sound of the cellulose finish (I hear it will age beautifully too...) once I'd got use to the stickyish feel (a decent cloth is a must). Minus points for a few tiny splodges (glue or finish?) at the neck/body join- easily avoidable surely?

When using a JMP100 re-issue head and cab I noticed a distinctive humming when not playing which can be stopped by touching the bridge. This suggestes to me that the guitar is earthed through the bridge, it has only happened on one specfic amp.. Again, avoidable...

I decided to show a few friends my new acquisition late one Saturday night. Gravity caught me off my guard, off popped the strap on the body and down she went. The result- a perfect mould of the strap button in my lovely wooden floor (I caught it as it hit the ground). But not a single mark on the guitar- it's a tank, so many plus points there.

A lesson was learnt- strap locks are a must! How many years have they been making these guitars?.. again there must be a simple solution?

After a relatively short time the gold hw began to tarnish slighlty due to a reaction with my palm. This is really rubbish and reading below, a common problem. I cloth it down before and after playing- no difference.

The natural finish, whilst sounding great, gives in too easily to buttons, belts etc for my liking (a necc evil I suppose) and the ebony colour means it shows up finger prints and dust like no other. Polish away!

But you can sure depend on it! Anmd the tolex case that comes with it can only lenghten its lifetime.

Gibson's lifetime warranty sounds superb... except it doesn't apply outside the USA (surely the UK qualifies as the 51st state these days?) and Rosetti (Gibson's UK distrubtors) no longer give a warranty (aboslute rubbish) referring you to your original shop's warranty which is for one year.. Hmmm.

Don't be put off by my fault finding, there are a lot of positives that have been said below that I won't repeat.

I have highlighted the small faults I have found because I believe they are maddeningly easy for a company like Gibson to solve (I am sure they know about these issues) and it's important to bear these things in mind when buying. Overall, the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

I love this guitar, love its tone, love its looks and love its value for money (in terms of the Gibson LP range only). I am really happy with it and hope that guitar playing will still be cool when I have grandchildren so they can have it!

1995 USA 22 frets 2 Humbuckers 2 vol/2tone.
Finish is dark wine red with chrome hardware.
Classic stripped down rock guitar.

I bought it to replace my Epiphone Les Paul Standard, which looked the part, but didn't feel good to play, and never really felt like my guitar. This guitar is a BEAUTY. I've never been so involved with a guitar in my life, it chose ME. It has that crispy tone just before it barks and roars which tells you it's the real McCoy.

I love everything about this guitar even the wear and tear the previous owner gave it. The guitar was set up so well that I didn't realise even after my 18 years of playing that a guitar could feel so easy to play. The guitar was 2nd hand so the guy in the shop must know his onions. It is just worn in nicely and I will never sell it.

I have yet to gig this baby. On one hand I can't wait to, on the other, I'm scared of letting her out into the big bad world, but I know I must. I think as long as you don't drop a Les Paul, it will last you forever.

This is where Gibson have really managed to mess up. As one of the most famous names in rock, they seem to have employed the geeks from school who were too limp to be memorable. They would not properly answer my questions, or tell me why they couldn't transfer registration of ownership to my name. I will buy Gibson guitars again, and look forward to the day that I can afford a Standard, but sometimes second hand guitars are the ones you buy. It was the SAME price as a new one but was of a higher standard being a '95 model. If they want to sell new guitars, they shouldn't try and cut corners for profit.

Pro for 3 and a half years, own a Rhodes, Takamine EN10C (see review) Fender Performer 1000 (see review) Marshall AVT20 (review coming) Roland Cube 30 (review coming) and a Japanese Fender Telecaster. This guitar is such a beautiful thing, it is a joy to play, listen to and look at. Like I said before it chose me and I would replace it with another one if I lost it. If only Gibson didn't employ such benders to run their "customer support"

Gibson Les Paul Studio
2 volume, 2 tone, 3 way switch
Chrome 490R 498T humbuckers
6 strings
fireburst

Rich clean tone....even with heavy distortion.

Great action...easy to play...finish is great.

It was a great guitar, but then it happened. I was sitting there playing some skynyrd and doing some great pinches. The next thing I knew Heard a loud pop and intense pain. I took my bandana off and looked down "WOW" I said! The headstock broke clean off, bounced off the fretboard and richocheted into my left testicle. Other than that it is a pretty rigid guitar.

They still havent got back to me yet!

not bad, just be careful with the neck! Wear a cup!

I'm reviwing a 2001 Ebony Les Paul Studio 2 humbucking pickups (stock Gibson 490R and 498T)with chrome hardware and Kluson style plastic button tuners. The usual Les Paul stuff, mahogany body with maple cap, 2 volume 2 tone controls, tune o matic bridge ect. It is what it is, you're not buying features here, you're buying the "tone".

I play classic rock, R&B, some top 40, and a little country. My setup for playing clubs is Les Paul/American Standard Strat/Warmouth Telecaster into Marshall Ed-1 Comp>Vintage Jen Crybaby Wah>VooDoo Labs Proctavia>VooDoo Labs Sparkledrive>Menatone KOB>Boss CE-2>Line 6 MM-4>Boss DD-3 into a Musicman RD 112 One Humdred.

Typically a Les Paul suits classic rock/hard rock, and it does so in spades, but I also find that it works for many other tones I'm after. The only tones missing for me are those in between sounds in the 2 & 4 position on a strat. Obviously it's a case of different horses for different courses. A Les Paul has a tone suited for some songs, and strats for others.

I was pleasantly surprised at how bright my guitar was. I was fully prepared to ditch the stock Gibson pickups because they have a bit of a reputation for being muddy, but this guitar must have a particularly resonant maple top. It doesn't lack treble at all, but it's not ice picky either. Mids are woody and complex, and the lows are there to round out the tone without muddying things up.

The fretwork was excellent and the action is great. It was sort of low when I got it, and I was able to lower it even more with no buzzes. This thing plays like a dream now.

Initially I was having problems with tuning stability. It turned out that the strings were binding at the nut. The fact that I use 9's tells me that the nut was improperly cut at the factory. I'm still not 100% sure that I won't replace the Kluson style tuners with Grovers for a more solid feel and even better stability.

This guitar must have spent quite sometime in the store before I bought it, because there was arm wear present on the body. The finish dulls slightly at the top of the lower curve where your right arm rubs on the body. Also, the all black plastic "look" of this guitar did nothing for me. I replaced the pickup surrounds and switch tip with creme, the speed knobs with gold ones, and the pickguard and switch cover with peraloid. None of these problems affect playability, but ya gotta look good, right.

This guitar was well put together. No mystery rattles or loose parts. It's solid and will last. I'm not sure if the arm wear issue is indicative of the finish quality or not. I always use a backup, but not necessarily a double humbucker, mahogany body, maple cap model.

Never had occasion to deal with Gibson.

I've been playing over 25 years and I've owned over 40 different guitars over the years, including a 1970 Les Paul Custom. I'd rate this guitar highly and feel it's a great value compared to a Standard. Cosmetically, I wish it had bindings, but I may even look into having them added later. This guitar plays like a dream and sounds great.

Bought it used a october '02.. It's a '92 modell with a wine red finsh, chrome harware and an ebony fingerboard.. Doesn't have that nice Gibson logo in pearl like the standards though..

It's the best guitar I've ever heard, and I've tried a lot of guitars! I've worked in a guitar shop, and tried almost every guitar out there.. Love the fat neck this guitar has. The pickups sound unbelievable! It's the stock ones that says Gibson USA.. I play punk/rock, rock and it suits my needs perfect..

I bought it used, so it came set-up like it's previous owner liked wanted it.. The strings were to close to the neck and the pickups were a little bit low.. It has a few scratches, but I think that only adds personality.

I use this guitar with my band, and I never worry that something will go wrong with it..

Been playing for about 8 years now.. If it was stolen, I would probably do anything to get it back.. Can't imagine not having this guitar by my side.. I knew the first time I tried it that there was something special about it.

HERE'S THE DEAL, guys will tell you the Studios are LP light and to steer away from the Gibson low end crap. I was focused on a LP Classic because I dig the ceramic pups and the overall look---hell I wanted a Standard, who doesn't, but I need to feed my kids. I got the Studio because of this ridiculous price and because I thought the black and chrome looked evil. I plugged it in and had to hold on for dear life. This thing is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Sure, I'd love to have gone with the Classic, but the Studio is ALL Les Paul ALL the time.

Born July 27, 2003, ebony with chrome hardware, a badass looking guitar. (I don't get the whole gold hardware craze. Makes an axe look like a Toyota.) You know the basics, a LP with alnico pups, no binding, gibson tuners, tune o matic bridge. Nice finish, a black mirror. 1/8" less mahogany than a Standard, but hell, its plenty heavey for me. Great case. Can't believe they used to come with a gig bag. Love the fat neck--thicker than my Martin!

The best sounding, most versatile humbucker guitar for under a grand. Played Schecters, Ibanez, PRS Santana, all good, but not an LP. Plus, a USA made instrument. Pups are hotter than I thought. Spits fire turned up, so I keep them around 7. I love the dual volume / tone pots, the whole LP design. It is such a competent rock guitar that I think it doesn't get the recognition it deserves for being a really great jazz and blues instrument. There are even a few twanky country tones available through the bridge pickup. My guess is if I can't get the tone out of it its becaus I frickin don't know how.

Was kinda worried after reading about so many horror stories coming out of Nashville. But this jewel has no flaws, straight neck, frets in great shape, action pretty good from the factory. I had my guitar guy do a set up and really, there wasn't much work for him to do. Dude shoulda payed ME to play with it.

Won't be droppin it on the headstock. First thing I did was put in strap locks. Otherwise, I think you could hammer railroad ties with it. If an intruder breaks in my house, I hit him with the Paul. No, check that, I just play an A chord. He runs from the house with bleeding ears.

It will probably outlive me, so when my newborn daughter joins a punk band in 2016, she won't need a new guitar.

I have contacted Gibson numerous times and they have always been great. I had an intonation question on Sunday, called left a message and that afternoon a nice Nashville gentleman called me back! They were very helpful in my deciding between the Studio and Classic. I was concerned that I needed to pay up to get a "real" Paul and they assured me the Studio would get it done. It dose and then some.

I've been playing a while, I'm not great by any means, but I know how I want to sound. This guitar has an amazing range from soft jazz to thrash metal. I find myself discovering new tonal possibilities with each practice. I have an '88 USA Strat and a Martin D-15. I play through a Peavey Classic 30. Its all good. There's always more gear out there and more money to spend, but I'm really happy with my stuff.

2003 Gibson USA Les Paul Studio "Swamp Ash" came from Misc. Music Sales in a factory sealed box. To my suprise the guitar was tatally set up perfect with .10's and no flaws! The natural finish on the swamp ash body and natural satin finish on the nmohagany neck make a cool combination to the already sweet sound of a Les Paul.

Features an ebony fretboard with no inlays. Very refreshing to be honest. A swamp ash body that provides a wide variety of tones by using the volume and tone controls. Unlike any other Les Paul I've owned. Pickups are the same as the Standard (490R and 496T)

Lots of sound here...Very airy and natural sounding. This is my first guitar I've had with the natural satin finish. The finish or lack thereof seems to not dampen or hold back any sound at all like a finished guitar does. (My sound testing was done with a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier 1x12 combo) This guitar has a loud sound to it without it even being pluged in. Good sign for a great sounding guitar. No muddiness to the sound, crisp and clear on the clean tones as well. Has a little "spank" to it! probably due to the sound characteristics of the swamp ash body and ebony fretboard, yet this guitar retains all the balls of Les Paul is known for in all of pickup selections. Thumbs up!

Action was a little high for me but I lowered it my to my liking. No flaws in the finish at all. Satin finishes are had to screw up! If you are wanting a museum piece, this is not the guitar for you as the guitar feels very natural. You can feel the wood grain but the more you play it the better it naturally polishes it self.

Reliable! except for the typical weak spot (headstock) on all Les Pauls.

Very nice guitar. Destined to be a classic. I mean, when is the last time you remember Gibson making a Swamp Ash Les paul? Great purchase! Great value for under a $1000 Tyr one!

This guitar was born on august 14th 1997, black with gold mechanics and a rosewood fretboard with full size pearl trapezoid inlays. This guitar also has a fully thick mahogany body, later models were slimmed(supposedly because people werent buying LP Standards when these were identical except the bindings)It originally featured the Neck 490 and bridge 498 alnico pickups.

The way I described this guitar to my parents might give you an idea of what youre dealing with here: Its The grand piano of guitars, increadible sustain with full huge tone. We did a recording recently where we compared it to a Shecter C1+ aswell as an Crucianelli vintage semi-acoustic and everyones opinion was that hearing the gibson was like having a lid lifted of the sound.
But the stock bridge pickup(498t) just didnt cut it, its a very average pickup that just doesnt cut it so I replaced it with a DiMarzio Super Distortion and that really kicked the tone towards heaven, absolutely top notch proffessional sound. A very clear and classical sound like 70s rock but it can go to the farthest deathmetal/grindcore extreme without a problem.
I have a very widespread playing field that goes from extreme metal to jazz and this guitar can do it all very convincingly, versatility yes. I have played it through loads of amps too so the tone is in the guitar rest assured of that.

I bought it used so I cannot answer for the factory setttings but I was able to set the guitar up so good it practicly plays itself, the string height is perfect and the intonation is very good(not buzz feiten good obviously).Its something with the frets too, theyre just the right height and width for my playing. In short, it is difficult to find a guitar that you can adjust to near-perfection but this guitar can do it.
It had no flaws except the gold paint on the bridge is comming off slowly as all gold-plated stuff does eventually. The finish is great too, I can use it as a mirror. It did have very pale rosewood fretboard which wasnt very atractive but I dyed the wood black with some leather dye and now it looks amazing.

This guitar is a rock(weightwise too, this is one of those really really heavy LPs some people dont like..almost 5kilos), it can probably take being smashed through a wall but the stock strap buttons are too small so I had them replaced with locking ones.

never dealt with them.

Ive been playing for as long as this guitars has existed, it came out of the factory when I got my first guitar(an unknown Charvel soloist model) Apart from the two guitars mentioned I also own a 1960's Eko Tramp II. But this guitar is my favorite and the one I play the most, I got it for my 20th birthday(2000) and i have fallen completely in love with it. The only other thing I wished it had was a Buzz Feiten intonation system but it really doesnt need it.
If youre thinking about going out and buy one of these I just want to say that not all LP Studios sound as good as this one so youll really have to look and when you find it, throw away the stock pickups and replace them, you wont get full potential from your guitar without top-notch pickups.

I play an ebony Gibson Les Paul Model '97 Studio guitar made in the USA. It was bought second-hand in May 2001 from Crane's Music in Cardiff and it was love-at-first-strum, despite it being customised in what I later learnt to be quite a bizarre set-up for a Les Paul.
There is a fair old weight on this guitar, but the thought of playing an instrument constructed from mahogany is reassuring. The hardware and pick-ups are all chrome. As far as I can tell both pick-ups look like the standard issue Alnicos but I am unaware of whether they have been replaced at any point. The controls on this guitar are two volume, two tone and a 3 way selector switch and it has a tune-o-matic bridge. The guitar came with a Gibson USA gig-bag and they also threw in a strap and some plecs.

I play a lot of Led Zeppelin, and then a broad spectrum of music around that; from Metallica to Artimus Crisis, Pink Floyd to Blur. I find that using this guitar I am able to achieve such a wide variety of tones - ranging from bright, passive or trebly tones to chunky, rich mid-tones. I particularly enjoy the sustain and tone I can get with this guitar on most decent amplfiers, most notably Marshall amps (I use a Marshall Valvestate VS65R amp for praciticing and gigging). The down-side is that it feels strange whenever I play a more airy guitar such as a Stratocaster as I am so used to the chunkiness and full-on-ness of my Les Paul.
I can also get some superb sounds out of the guitar through a crybaby wah-wah.

When I bought this guitar the action was unusually high, but I left it for over a year before getting it sorted out. Although not noticabely affecting the sound produced, adjusting it did improve my ability to use the guitar to its full extent. I advise anyone that finds the action on their guitar too high/too low to get it adjusted to suit your needs - you will feel much more at ease with your guitar.
I think its about time I got some new pick-ups put in the guitar to further improve the sound quality, as the ones I have in at the moment are just typical standard issue pick-ups that have probably been pushed to their limits.
The only flaws with the guitar was that there was a huge mark on the bottom of the instrument near the jack-input. This is the reason for the significant reduction in price the shop were asking for this guitar.

This guitar is so solid that you feel one-hundred percent sure its not going to fall apart on you mid-performance. If looked after properly and cleaned regularly it fells as though this guitar could survive until the end of time. There is nothing flimsy or unstable about the guitar. I've used it for lots of gigs and I've never had a back-up guitar; its never let me down.
I've played the guitar more-or-less every day since I bought it and it shows hardly any signs of wear. I keep it nice and clean (essential when you own a black ebony guitar like this) and remove any dust that builds up. I see no signs of the finish wearing off.

The people who sold me this guitar were very helpful and I think I got it for a reasonable price (somewhere between #600 and #700 if I remember correctly). I feel quite safe buying a slightly older 97 model asI generally think older stuff was built to last longer.
The guy who adjusted the action on the guitar was Simon Jones from Swansea who was very helpful in explaining to me the peculiarities of the guitar's configuration when I bought it and did a fine job adjusting it to my specifications.

I have been playing guitar for somwhere between 6-7 years. I started off using a Les Paul copy made by Hohner which did the job initially, but became ran down due to a combination of it generally being a cheap guitar and being overused and mistreated. When I bought this Gibson Studio it was a moment of pure excitement as I realised that I now owned a proper guitar with the capabillity of creating the sounds I wanted.
If I could ask one question to the people who sold me this guitar I would inquire about the bizarre high-action set-up and would have asked more about the previous owner i.e. where did the large scratch come from, and in what ways had the guitar been altered in the shop?
The only foreseeable problem I can see with this guitar is that it weighs quite a lot more than your average solid-body electric guitar and I am quite prone to having an achey back. I may consider buying a lighter guitar in the future that I can switch to at various points in my band's set.
Overall I can vouch for this being an all-round dependable instrument with high-quality tone and feel.

My studio is a 2003 Wine Red with gold hardware. It was made in Nashville, Tennessee. I have a diamond plate pickguard and truss rod cover that I bought from pickguardfx.com. This guitar has 490 and 498 humbuckers, with four speed knobs (two for volume/two for tone.) Came with Gibson USA case.

This guitar fits my style perfectly. I use this with a Marshall JCM 800 2203ZW, Limited Edition Zakk Wylde head and stack, a Dunlop Rotovibe, a Morley Bad Horsie, and a Boss SD-1. This guitar is not noisy, even with a high gain amp. This guitar can achieve a great full sound. I can make it a metal master, a classic rocker, or a bluesy acoustic. It has a great variety. I like the sound very much, but I do want the EMG Zakk Wylde 81 and 85 pickups.

This guitar was set up good from the factory, and I've had no problems with it. Nothing has been wrong with it so far. I've never seen any flaws so I'll give it a ten.

I think my guitar will withstand live playing. None of my gold has wore off yet so I'm pleased. The top of the guitars finish has dulled a little bit, but that's because I sweat alot and I play it 24/7. The strap buttons are solid but I'm putting Dunlop strap locks on it anyways. I wouldn't use this guitar without a backup only because I play a variety of styles that I need different tunings for.

Never talked to Gibson.

I've been playing guitar for a little over 2 years and I own my Gibson, a Schecter C-1 Elite, an Ibanez Destroyer, an Ibanez RG-270, a Fender Jimi Hendrix Strat, a Fender Mexican Strat, a Marshall JCM 800 2203ZW, a Fender Twin Amp, and an Ibanez IBZ10 for home usage. I wish I could have gotten my Zakk Wylde pickups with it. If it were stolen I'd kill the son of a bitch that took it and I'd probably buy a Gibson Les Paul Custom. I love just about everything about it but the pickups. I compared this guitar to PRS's, Fenders, Gretschs, BC Richs, Jacksons, Schecters, Peaveys, and Ernie Balls and it out shined them all. I highly recommend this guitar to the rocker on a budget.

As below. Mine is a 2003, ebony with rosewood fingerboard, chrome hardware, yadda yadda...

Compared to my 1977 Les Paul Custom, this one is a lot brigher. I use it for just about everything (country, jazz, blues, etc.) and find it just as versatile as my Strat. The plain black finish was a little hard to get used to at first, but I'm liking the unpretentious nature of it now. No bindings, just a maple top on mahagony. Lovely full Gibson tone! Weight...well that should be dead issue now. I can live with it.

The set up from the factory was okay, believe it or not. I might want to change the nut in the future to make for wider spacing but everything else is fine.

Haven't had it long enough to comment on this one. May do an update later.

I've been playing guitar for 35 years. I also have a USA Srat and Tele, as well as a Larrivee and Yamaha classical. I play the electrics thru a Fender hot rod deluxe. I didn't have to play too many other Gibsons. I know that you can't go too wrong with them. But I would never buy a guitar without playing it first. I check the usual (cracks, alignment, tuners, etc.) and then let my ears have the final say. This is a great value. It's a no frills Les Paul that has the same pickups and carved top as the best ones. I don't think you can possible go wrong with one of these.

95 Glossy Black Les Paul Studio. Pearl trapezoid inlays, 490 and 498 Humbuckers, 4 volume and tone knobs, 22 frets...Finish was glossy black, no binding, pickguard had been removed (I bought a pearl one for 15 bucks and it looks great). Neck is a bit fatter than I am used to but not as fat as some I have played. Mine came with a gig bag, I think the bag originally went to the Les Paul Jr the guy was selling, but oh well it was brand new.

I play mostly grunge/alternative/rock/metal. So pretty much everything really from Neil Young to Zeppelin to Foo Fighters and Metallica. This guitar works great for what I wanted. I learned on a Dean Avalanche (strat copy) that is a great guitar in itself but didn't have the balls I was looking for. I fretted (no pun intended) over several guitars to upgrade, but was set on a Les Paul Body style. Didn't think I could afford a real one, so I went back and forth around the 500 dollar range with the PRS Tremonti SE, Gibson Faded Special, an ESP, Dean EVO, or Epiphone Les Paul. Was just about to order a Tremonti when I found this honest to goodness Gibson LP Studio in the Austin Classifieds for $600. I paid the guy $500 bucks when it was all said and done. Have to say I can't believe I thought about buying anything else. Sound is...well...like a Gibson. There is a reason these things are the standard. Output blows my Dean away on either neck or bridge setting. Tone controls actually control the tone. Humbuckers are dead quiet.

The action was all screwed up when I bought it, someone had lowered it all the way down so all the strings were touching the frets. But the bridge is so easy to adjust, a few turns of the thumbscrews and I was playing with decent intonation, and no buzzing. Once I took it to BooLou Bass and Guitar in San Antonio...they set it up right and it plays like a dream. The inlays are perfectly and tighly routed, finish is great. Set neck is tight and totally solid. If you know anything about Les Pauls you will know its heavy. So if your a puss and can't handle it don't buy it, get a strat. Its not as heavy as a Standard or Classic, however.

Read all the other reviews and they will tell you that the strap buttons will give out. They do. I played mine for all of 5 minutes and my strap came off while I was playing. 15 bucks later, I had some strap locks and no more worries. Someone before I bought it dropped it, and a couple of the original tuners' pegs are loose, but the tuning is rock solid and I have not had any problems keeping in tune. Lots of people like to switch to grovers or others, but mine have been working great despite loose pegs. I don't gig yet (working on that) but will have no doubts gigging with it.

Never talked to them, the web page has lots of cool stuff on it though like instructions on how to read the serial numbers of Gibsons.

500 bucks for a Gibson LP Studio with no problems?? are you kidding it was a great deal. I have been playing off and on for 8 years or so, just recently started really getting into it and improving. If it were stolen I would tear my hair out, have a fit and go buy a LP Standard or Classic just because I want to look like Jimmy Page and I'll prob never get as good a deal on another studio. I wish it had tits and really long legs so I could spend even more time with it but other than that I am very satisfied.

1993 made in the USA, big(jumbo?) frets, 2 volume, 2 tone, gloss black finish, grover tuners, ohsc

And the two best parts ...
* ebony fretboard
* two P-90 pickups

I've been using humbuckers for the past ten years, but now I've found another great sound ... P-90'S !!! Tony Iommi had p-90s in one of his early SGs, Pete Townshend was notorious for his ... Leslie West as well. It's funny, not long before I picked this guitar up, I was listening to Mountain and totally admiring West's tone.

For me, this guitar is a hard rocker. I'm into the Sabbath, Mountain, Clutch, C.O.C. type of sound/style. This guitar is perfect for that. It can be thick, full, crunchy and bitting sounding.

I don't play much clean stuff, but this axe has a great clean sound as well.

I have two Carvin X-amps that I alternate. One has EL34s, the other 6l6's. Both get run through a HiWatt cabinet with 4 12" GT75 celestions. And both Carvins have been biased hotter for more power tube crunch.

I also have a Boogie Subway Rocket for "at home practice."

I haven't played it through either the EL34'ed carvin, nor the Boogie yet, but I'm confidant that it'll sound great.

On the 6l6'ed Carvin, this axe just roars. These pickups in conjunction with this body style just make the perfect combination for the burly, crunchy, gnarled tone that I like. And switching pickup configurations and making volume/tone alterations during a song is easy. The tonal possibilities offered here are very useable too.

I usually keep may gain around five so that the power tubes can add their character as well. The rest of my equipment is a Boss EQ out front used as an overdrive (boosting mids/highs and volume), a Dunlop Wah out front, and a Marshall Jackhammer for when I play a song requiring high gain. In the effects loop there's a Boss BF-2 Flanger.

This was bought used so the store set it up for me before I bought it. It has 10s now and the action is fine. It plays like a Les Paul should.

I still need to mess with the neck pick-up adjustment a little, but I'd only be improving on an already great tone.

The only problems this guitar has is what appears to be a neck repair (but not an ugly or really bad one) and it has some battle scars. Also, some previous owner installed some tiny screws on the front in positions that look like they would hold a bigsby, but I can't see a bigsby being held down by these little things. Who knows?

All these little things just add to the guitars character. It's a workhorse and it's very much my style.

Hopefully the neck repair will hold. Other than that, I foresee no future problems, so long as I don't drop it!

This guitar is now my number one stage guitar.

n/a

I've been playing 10 years. I bought my first Gibson (1974 SG Standard) about a year ago with the intention of playing it out. It sounds and plays WAY better than any new standard I've played (and it was cheaper) But it's such a nice guitar that it hardly makes it to band practice. So my main axe has been a 1981 Ibanez Blazer (an inexpensive yet excellent playing and sounding guitar).

But now I finally have a Paul of my own, and you'd better believe that it will get some stage time! It has the sound I want, it has the feel I want, and it has the character I want. I've never seen a Studio like this one, and I hope I never do again. It makes this one that much more special.

Made in 1999 USA. 22 frets, carved maple top mahogany back.
One Volume and one tone knob for each humbucker.
Think it's alnico picups.
The body is mahogany, and the fingerboard is rosewood. Black finish.
Chrome-finish on the metal-pieces.
Tune-O-matic bridge, tuners brand i really don't know.
Came with a standard gibson case and tools.

I used to play 70's rock'n roll.. early Kiss/Black Sabbath, nicely mixed with early punk (Sex Pistols, The Jam, Kennedys, and later punk (NOFX, No USe for A name, and so on) which this guitar really is best suited for in my opinion, although you could also play a mean blues on it. Used it wit a Marshall JCM 80.
The guitar can be noisy indeed, but when played clean also can bring a more "pristine" sound. I'd say a full sound.
What i dislike about it, is that it's kinda "muddy", which makes it hard to play 50's rocknroll without it sounding like 60's rock'n roll..

The sound is "just right" for hard rock, punk and in some cases blues, but would leave a rockabilly or jazz musicians pretty unsatisfied.

I'd say the guitar was pretty well set up from the factory, although I lowered the bright E,B strings a notch. I can not recall it having any finish-laws at all really.

The guitar will absolutlely withstand live playing, and keeps in tune for ages. It's very dependable, and weighs as much as half a car, so i suppose it is built to last.
The only thing that's not up for the job is the cable-intake. This has a tendency to loosen and eventually fall off, which is not a good thing in the middle of a gig.

Haven't tried it.

I've been playing guitar for 8 years, and own a epiphone accoustic, and a Washburn J9.
I probably would've bought this guitar again if it was stolen from me, but not entirely sure.

Hate about it: The muddy "bass" tone when I would like a bright tone.
Love about it: The full and rich sound playing slow blues, and the crunch on punk.

Typical Les Paul specs. Fellow Paul lovers know the drill.

I play classic rock and some gospel.This axe is so smooth it could cut through butter. Very mellow when needed or the nastiest sound you could dream of.

Had to file the nut down a bit.As many users before me have stated BUY STRAP LOCKS AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE!!!!!!!!

This axe will outlive me. Can be used as a baseball bat.Watch that headstock, other than that very reliable. Finish on mine was purrrrrrrrfect.I would gig with my Paul without a backup.

Liftime warranty. My 3rd les paul and never needed it.Very helpful when I asked them anything.

I love it.People who wine about the price should check out the resale values the Les Paul brings!!!!!!!

2003, USA made. Solid swamp ash body, mine has a one piece top, mahogany neck w/ 59 profile, satin transparent nitro finish, has Gibson hot alnico 498 in bridge, 490 in neck. No coil taps or other features. Nice and simple, but just enough control to get a good variety of sounds. Every thing else is Les Paul, nuf said.

This guitar will do everything. However, this is NOT your father's Les Paul. I like that. It has an amazing punch and pop to the sound, swamp ash is my favorite tone wood. With the mahogany neck, you don't get the tele sound, it has a pop but is much more rich and full. By pop I don't mean bright, it isnt, but it just has that rich snap that only swamp ash can give you. The best of both. It is very cool to be able to get that sting and sustain from the same guitar. Metal to country without a problem. But then roll back the tone on the neck, and you get some very usable warm clean sounds. This is my new favorite guitar.

I was very skeptical, based on some of the lower priced Gibsons I've seen lately. No flaws, stunning grain pattern, setup like a dream. No sharp frets or buzzes, no imperfections. Nice job Gibson.

Wood and strings, gee, not much to break or fade away. The satin finish should take a major beating and never show it. My only nit would be strap locks and locking tuners, but I can do that later.

My experience with Gibson has been good. I wouldn't say great, but good. They are kinda stuck up, but they are professional and treat you with respect and get the job done.

Playing 30 years, been through a lot of gear. If this went away, I'd have to get another. This is the one I always reach for now, regardless of what I want to play. It will fit in any environment on any stage and do the job with a unique sound that I won't be without again. There is not a better value on the market today.

2003 Fireburst with gold hardware. All else already mentioned.

Love these pups. No need to change. Afterall, isn't that why we bought these overpriced things?

Action SUCKS!! Definitely needs to be professionally setup but I haven't had the time nor want to know how much it would cost. Replaced the strings and lowered the action but there are some severe buzzing in the middle of the neck. Returned it to the dealer a couple of times but it seems it needs a more professional fix. Considering selling or trading this for a better made Asian/European guitar. Neck is getting sticky so I constantly have to keep wiping it down. My Godin SD does not have this problem.

Getting used to the weight and would not mind playing a gig without a backup. Still, the buzz is very annoying even if it's not heard through the amp. I currently use a Crate CR-1 with Digitech RP200A.

N/A

WOuld not buy another if something happened to it. Chances are I'm getting rid of it. I've already gotten rid of my Gibson Melody Maker. Thinking of a Carvin or Schecter or Godin guitar. I play mostly blues and classic rock so I'm even considering the low cost Ibanez Artcore series. I've played the Gibson Classic, Standard, SG, and even the Custom at the dealer. Amazing, they all had terrible buzzing and the Studio was the only one with the best sound...at that time. Talking about a waste of money. Damn Gibson...

2001 Emerald Green Gibson Les Paul Studio. All the features i need.

Great warm, fat tone. I got into jazz recently and this thing is great for it (damn well should be seeing as though les paul is a jazz player!). as we all know, the rock tones are just superb. i love playing along with my ACDC and Kiss CDs. I can go from Oasis to Coldplay to Interpol to Bon Jovi. The tone has never ceased to amaze me. I'm a blues player at heart and this thing has that down. as well as all the style's i ventured off into.

action was perfect considering i got it used from a professional musician. finish is alright. i dont care for the color. the emerald green always looks black unless its in the light. and even then... I took the pickguard off cos its black too. i thought about getting cream mounts, gold knobs and a cream pickguard, but i think i'll let it be. dont fix what aint broken is what i always say.

its fallen, been dropped, traveled with. the only thing i can imagine breaking is the headstock.

This is actually an update review. I've had this guitar for over a year now and i love it more now than i did when i first got it. i play through a marshall dsl1000 halfstack and a fender blues jr. when i play through the blues jr i go through a boss DS-1 and SD-1. I love my tone. sounds fantastic. the feel is great. i love the big necks. almost like playing an acoustic. i dont mind the weight, in fact, now it feels funny when i play anything with less weight. such as SGs and strats. if i lost it, i'd get another. in fact, i think i'm going to if i dont get a standard. i've went through 2 strats, a tele, brian moore, gibson SG, and a gibson blueshawk but my les paul is the best. i've sold all others (except the tele, but its on sale right now). i play jazz, rock, blues, and funk and it suits me quite well.

My LP is 2003 model made in the U.S.A brought brand new in june.
It is a Les Paul, you all know whats it has in the way of features so I won't bore you with that
Colour: Wine red, but the catalogue calls it "Cherry Red", amazing flame top. Came with a cool Gibson USA Hard Case. I gave it an 8, because there are other guitars with more features, but hell they those guitars are no where near a Gibson.

I play hard rock, blues and punk. This guitar plays them perfectly. You can go from a scorching blues to an all out hard rock and all places in between with no more than a flick of the toggle switch. As has been mentioned before, all les pauls are different so try a few, I was lucky enough to find one that played, sounded and felt just like the standard i had also tried. I play through a dunlop cry-baby and a Marshall mg100gdfx and mg 4x12 cab and this really gives me the great full Les Paul tone that I was after. Pretty suprising when you consider the amp is 100% solid-solid state. I am still considering maybe replacing the pick-ups with some seymore duncans or the new burstbuckers to clean up the sound a bit, but the stock ones are great sounding, just alittle muddy in the neck position.

The factory setting were great for me, but everyone has their own tastes. The finish was fantastic, even friends of mine who don't play guitar could appreciate the beauty of this axe, and of course being a Les Paul it will probaly age really nicely giving itself that great worn look. My only problem with it was that the lead Jack and the toggle swith became really loose after a couple of weeks, But I tightened them up myself and I have had no problems with it again. I have heard that other people have had the same problem so if you buy one get that checked out by someone at the store.

This guitar will last forever. Everything on it seems really solid. I would recomend getting strap-locks, I haven't got any but I will be, not that I have drop it or anything, but the though of doing so gives me the chills. Even though I don't think you will ever need it, always gig with are back-up, if you don't you are just tempting fate.

Never had to deal with them, so I wouldn't know.

Ive been playing for about 10 years and honestly this is the best guitar I have played. If it were stolen I would might consider other guitars but I doubt I would find something as good as this guitar so I would buy new a one as soon as I could afford it. I compared it to and Fender USA strat, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Maton Mastersound and the Les Paul Studio, despite costing more than the Strat and the Mastersound, one hands down on tone feel and playablitly.

LP Studio Ebony/Chrome made in Jan 2003 (160th on that day - Nashville factory). Comes with a Canadian-made "Gibson USA" HSC. The price is no mistake. That's the best you get direct from the wholesaler when you live in the third world.

The sound is great, rich and lush. The neck pickup sounds good for jazz, and that's what the guitar is mostly used for. The sustain is strong, but certainly not "endless". It compares well in this respect to a Telecaster.

The factory set-up was poor. Intonation was OK on 4 out of 6 strings. The neck relief is very excessive at about 1mm! The action was suitable for slide playing. This is of course not serious since it can all be remedied quickly. However, the finish is poor - cracks in the paint close to the bridge, uneven, glue marks on every inlay and many of the frets, rosewood fingerboard has machining marks and looks quite porous. The tuners look cheesy. The rest of the hardware is good. I remember I didn't really mind the factory 010's.

This is certainly a strongly made guitar. The nitrocellulose finish will definitely not last, but that's probably not too serious. Straplocks are necessary.

No experience.

Although the sound is good, I certainly would not replace this guitar if it were lost, which means most likely - stolen. My hands are oily, which is great for recognising my wineglass at a party, but bad for playing a Gibson. The neck becomes sticky within minutes of playing and affects further playing. The weight is unjustifiably high. There is no value for money here, and I'm convinced that Gibson sells these guitars on nostalgia. They will probably be worthless for the next generation. I love the sound, but I can't stop wondering what would happen if one ripped the Gibson pickups and fitted them onto a polyurethane-coated Telecaster.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Fireburst with Chrome hardware (2003)
Simple 2 tone, 2 volume, three way toggle switch
490R and 498T stock pickups
rosewood fretboard, maple top, mahogony back and neck
green key tuners
Tune-O-Matic bridge
50's style rounded neck
Hardshell case included (no shroud)

I've rated this as only a seven because lets face it, there are other guitars out there with more features, but, it suits me and is exactly what I was looking for so I am not grumbling! :o)

Well, sound wise it covers a range from heavy rock through to blues and smooth jazz. It won't do funk too well but I have a Strat so between the two of them I have most genres covered.

Currently playing it mainly through a Line 6 Guitar Port though I have just purchased a Line 6 Spider 112, but it is still boxed at the moment. What I am trying to say is that it sounds awsome, but then I am listening to it through pc speakers or headshones, but the tone is there and it pleases me. Got it mainly because I had to have a Gibson LP in my arsenal and I have been dabling with jazz for a while and the Strat doesn't sound too hot for that style.

The stock humbuckers seem fine to me, maybe a bit muddy compared to the PRS Singlecut I tried out in the shop, but I love the roundness to their tone. On saying that I may go for a couple of the new Burstbuckers at some point in the future.

It is a Les Paul and has a Les Paul sound ... not the most diverse guitar in the world, but certainly one of the most distinctive.

So far so good. A little bit of fraying on the tone and volume controls, but nothing too bad. The fireburst finish is lovely and the chrome hardware is worth asking for (most shops seem to stock the fireburst only with gold hardware) as it really sets the guitar off well.

Action is fine on the set of 10's that came with the guitar, frets appear smooth and i can't really see anything that would make me want to send it back.

I went for the studio because of the price, but I don't miss the binding at all. in fact had I gone for the Standard at #1,400, I would have paid an extra #300 and got myself the Singlecut that the store had instead and it has no binding on the neck or body either, so I kinda like the bare wood without the plastic so I'm happy with it.

One thing I didn notice is the maple cap isn't book matched, which isn't too bd, but it would be nice if the grain on both prts were going in the same direction. Still it is only a minor gripe.

I gave it an 8 cos there are flashier guitars out there, but I am not a great player so I tend not too enjoy the attention flashier guitars attract! ;oP

Not had it long enough to say ... I do wish they Gibson would put some locking strap buttons on them as standard, as i am basically bricking myself everytime I put it on and stand up as it doesn't feel too stable ... guess thats cos I've had them on my Strat since I got it a decade or so agao ... Fender fit thema s standard on their US models by the way ... gibson take note! :)

Finish wise, well I hear a lot of stories about nytro-cellulos (sp?) being better for tone etc, but after reading the manual that came with it, I do wish that maybe it had a polyeurothane finsh instead as it does seem like it reacts to far too many things such as leather straps, rubber stands, sweat etc. I mean tone is good, but I get it from my fender in bucketloads and PRS go with the modern harder coatngs ....

On saying that, I do like the finish and I love the look of the aged Gibsons you see around from time to time so as mine grows old with me I'm sure I'll be glas it is done the way it is done ... I'm just in the new toy .. "shit I might damage it" frame of mind :)

Never had to deal with them apart from a query on their website ... which took 2 days to answer despite their claim of 24hours, so maybe it's good mayybe it's bad ... I will tell you if I ever have to deal with them in earnest.

They did answer my website query to my satisfaction though so I'll give them a 9

Playing for about 18 years now ... mostly bedroom stuff, I do it for the enjoyment and relaxation not for the money ... strictly a hobbyist.

Other gear I have, Yamah Accoustic, La Patrie (Simon & Patrick) classical, Fender USA Strat Plus (1990), Peavey Envoy 110 amp, Line 6 Guitar Port (awsome peice of kit!!!!!!!!!!!), Line 6 Spider 112 and a Zoom GFX707 (great little portable effects box!). Guitar wise I still prefer my Strat, but it is a close run battle, but I guess you always favour your first born to a certain extent ;o)

I've always wanted a Gibbo though after getting the Strat so I can say that I am very very very happy with the guitar and would replace it if it got nicked. However, I do think Gibsons on the whole are overpriced. I mean, minus the binding and ebony fingerboard, and 1/8 of an inch of maple, this is pretty much the same guitar as a Custom, yet it costs almost a third of the price, so whilst I would say that my guitar is great value for money, I wonder what exactly it is that you are paying extra for in the standards and customs that can justify such a mark-up.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Wine Red with Chrome hardware (2003)
Simple 2 tone, 2 volume, three way toggle switch
490R and 498T stock pickups(passive)
rosewood fretboard, maple top, mahogony back and neck
green key tuners
TUne-O-Matic
Rounded neck
Hardshell case included

I like to play thrash metal and it is a good guitar for that. The neck is nice and fun to play on while the guitar itself produces a fat tone that is good for any style of music. I've used it through an Ampeg head through a carvin 4x12 cabinet, using a metal zone. Guitar can make any variety of cound, from great distortion tone to great clean tone. There's nothing i dont really like.

The guitar was set up great right out of the factory. It played great right when i picked it up. They set the action real low and it was a perfect distance from the bridge pickups. Pickups were also great. The finish is very nice and as a surprise i got an AA flame maple top which doesnt usually come on studios. THe only flaw was the not quite perfect finish on the the top part of the fretboard, its a little bumpy, but other than that he guitar is flawless.

This guitar looks and feels like it could last lifetimes. The hardware is great, the finish is great, although if you are playing it constantly and onstage as well it might need to be refinished in about 25 years. The strap buttons are too smal and im gonna get straplocks really soon. I would definitely use this guitar on a gig without a backup.

This is the only bad part about the guitar. I ordered it and it came in really fast but it had gold hardware and not chrome, that made me mad. So i sent it back to the factory to get a different one. About a month went by and he owner of the store i was buying it from called them up and asked about it and they said it got lost in the shipping department of the factory. So they sent it UPS ground and didnt overnight it despite their mistake so i still got my guitar, but long afteri should have. Although im glad they didnt somehow destroy it, thus making them better than some other companies.

I love this guitar, it is everything i had hoped for and more, i've been playing a Double Cut special with P-90's and this guitar blows it away. I would definitely want this guitar again if it got stolen. I really like the flametop and the fat neck. It blows away other guitars ive played, jacksons, other the double cut les paul, any ibanez or anything, it is amazing. I wouldve bought a higher end les paul like a standard or custom but i didnt have the money, this is a great guitar for a cheap price. This guitar is a great guitar.

My Studio is a 2002 wine red with gold hardware. 59 rounded neck, feels great!, Maple top and Mahogany body, rosewood fret board and 490/498 pickups. Vintage typ tuners and Black speed knobs. Came with hardshell Gibson Case. This Guitar is everything i ever wanted. I wasn't interested in the frills so i went with the studio and it's great.

I play primarily blues and some classic rock. I play through a Musicman HD212 and a Roland Blue Cube, either way this thing rocks. I don't know why everyone is not happy with pickups if the guitar is set up professionally it sounds great.I have a Hollow Body with Gibson 57 Classics and they are completely different. The 490/498 are full and really crunchy. Compared to 57's they are not as "clean" but i can get almost any sound i want out of the Studio.

The set up was good from the factory, better then most but i always have my guitars set up by a pro to my taste. This guitar containe no flaws and i insepected dozens of guitars before i decided on this one. Every thing on it was as it should be and as much as hate to say it the guitar was as close to perfect as your going to get.

I play live with this guitar every chance i get. I have no fear playing this Gibson anywhere and any time. The finish is excellent but it takes a while getting used to the nitrocellulous. I recomend that you follow Gibsons advice on polishing it. The gold will wear off from sweat and wear but anyone who expects otherwise is a novice. If you want it to last by real GOLD covers or take them off. I always have a back up when gigging because you never know what life has instore for you.

Gibson has one of the finest customer support teams i've ever dealt with. They are responsive and have suggestions for you. I have dealt with them on various guitars i've owned mainly for advice on upgrades and such and they are just really great people who care!

Been playing for about 20 years and am very satified with my guitar. I own a Epiphone Broadway with Gibson Classic 57's and a Schaller TOM Bridge, i also own a Fender Strat. I paly through the Musicman HD212 and for practice the Blues Cube.If it where stolen i would by another Gibson Les Paul and most likely a Studio. I compared this to every guitar, spec for spec and this is the best bang for the buck

A 1995 model (or so I was told), gold-plated components, yada, yada, you know the drill (no point in repeating everything).

It's a Les Paul so there's no vibrato bar. Not that I'd really *want* one on this kind of guitar, but that's beside the point. The lack of one is a limitation anyway.

Big, beefy, bassy sound. Very loud (when the volume is > 7 or so). I guess I could change the stock pickups for something that gives me a little bit more definition, but that's about the only possible improvement I can think of.

Oh yes, the Les Paul sustain is there. And the tone. A Les Paul can sing, it can howl and growl like no other electric on earth. If you have played Strats only, you won't believe your ears when you try a Gibson LP. You can actually *feel* the neck resonating with the sound.

There is a limitation, though. With the bridge p/u + tone set to 10, I can get a slightly punchier sound (a bit like a Les Paul Special), but you really cannot get clean or bright tones from this guitar. Just like someone else said, the tones from this guitar range from dark to even darker.

Keep in mind, this was a used LP. And it definitely looked like one. The gold colour had largely worn off from the p/u covers, and there were minor dents and scratches in various places. But I didn't buy the guitar for the looks, I bought it for the sound.

Fortunately, the previous owner had set the action quite well. I only needed to lower the top-side action a little bit (a millimeter) to make high note bends a bit easier.

This guitar is quite heavy. I am not a particularly skinny guy, I can bench well over 225 lbs, but I find myself feeling uncomfortable after jamming around for a while with the guitar hanging from my neck. I can well see that this could be a problem for some guitarists. But to be frank, one of the reasons why I prefer Gibsons to Tokais (Japanese Love Rocks can sound VERY Gibson-like), is the weight. Tokais simply don't "feel" right... they are too light!

This guitar fills a gap in my collection. I am glad that I chose it instead of an Epiphone or some other cheap Korean junk guitar. Sure, those Korean copy guitars may look gorgeous, but that isn't much of a comfort when they are built of cheaper materials and completely lack the tone of a Gibson (and no, upgrading the pickups will *not* help when the materials are poor to begin with). At least for me, the sound of a guitar is more important than the looks.

That said, I *do* think that this guitar is essentially a one-trick dog. What it does, it does superbly, but this is *not* what I call a versatile guitar. All other guitars that I have (Fender Strat, Jackson Soloist etc.) are lightyears ahead in versatility. They may lack the inimitable growling tone of a Les Paul, but they can be used to play virtually any kind of music. When I tried some Satriani instrumentals (that call for a relatively bright and clear lead tone) with the LP, the sound was cumbersomely heavy (no matter how much I adjusted the tone and volume knobs), making the result unintentionally comical. And I wouldn't even dream of trying to play classical music (w/clean sound) on a Les Paul.

In any case, I am very happy to own this guitar. I can see numerous uses for it.

I have a 1993 Les Paul with an ebony fretboard. Gold Hardware. 490R and 498T pickups. You know the rest. It's a Les Paul.

I play blues and rock, along the lines of jimmy page, jimi hendrix, carlos santana, and pearl jam.

From guitar to amp my setup looks like this: LP --> dunlop crybaby --> boss dd-5 delay --> boss ch-1 chorus ---> mxr phase 90 ---> ibanez ts-9 tubescreamer ( amazing pedal. I want it modded by robert keeley though) ---> fender hot rod deluxe.

To be frank, I generally hate Les Paul studios. Especially the new ones. Really they are not bad compared to crappy korean made guitars, I am just spoiled by mine. I have tried studio's in countless guitar stores when I am trying new effect or amps and they all sound anemic and feel like toys compared to mine. I bought it a year and a half ago. It was not in mint condition when I bought it ( there are a fair number of dings in the finish), but it still cost as much ( or more than ) other used / new studios. I looked at the guitars and thought it was a rip off. I tried them out and found out why. This is by far the sweetest studio I have ever played. I love the 490R in the neck. It sings with so much more sustain than most other neck pups on studios, but retains its loose, dark tone that I just love for blues and some rock solos. Very, very rich and full sounding. The tone control for the 490R is very responsive, though does plateau a little bit. The 498T at the bridge is very hot, though I have heard slightly better. Searing tone that works wonders for Page type leads. Volume control plateau's a lot. There is a large boost when turning up to 10, which is common among LP's, but only changes a little bit more before totally muting the volume. It is hard to make this guitar noticably quieter than full on volume. I don't have any real complaints about this. I like volume. My band on the other hand....
Very heavy mahogany body gives great sustain. Feels substantially heavier than the new ones.
Part of the secret of this guitar is the neck / fretboard. It is the only neck on a studio that feels as good as top of the line LP's. The fretboard feels absolutely wonderful. Like butter. Very solid and dense. Couln't ask for more. I don't know where this came from. I have'nt seen any other studio's with an ebony fretboard and such a nice feeling neck. It may have been custom ordered. I don't know.
Sounds very rich, bottom line.

Because of the dings in the finish it seems odd to give it a 10, but I don't really mind. Has a rare very dark oxblood red wine color. I bought it from a very professional store that had set it up perfectly. I have'nt played on many guitars with better action and general feel. Only a very nice es-335. The hardware had oxidized a bit, though this does not affect the playability at all. It is only very slight on the surface. Guitar works perfectly.
The store installed a new pickguard on the guitar. I'm assuming the last one was beat up pretty bad. They installed one of the black LP custom pickguards with the white outline. Looks much classier than the plain black ones they put on other studios.

It looks like its been through a lot. Plays as good as ever.

Haven't ever dealt with them.

If it were stolen I would put all my efforts into finding it. It is an absolute gem. To replace it I would have to purchase a much more expensive guitar like a custom or 335 ( I like semi-hollowbodies. want an es 335, too spendy. I like the 333 a lot though) The more my playing progresses and the more my ear for tone evolves the more I love this guitar. My ultimate recommendation is to keep playing guitars until you find THE ONE. You will know when you find it. when I got it I was only beginning to understand the wondeful world of tone freaks. Don't settle for any studio. keep looking, you will know.

The only thing this guitar is missing in terms of features is a whammy bar- but everyone knows that with a gibson dont they? You know the spec- two humbuckers, 3 way toggle switch etc etc. This guitar is a lot more veritile than people give it credit for. Made of mahogany so it weighs a bloody tonne, thats when i pick up my strat, when my back starts caving in!

Im into hendrix, led zep, srv, old blues stuff as well as chilli peps and the like, and it sounds great whatever you play. It may not have the openess and brightness of single coils but it has plenty of what i'd call 'bite' and it sounds unbelievably fat, the sustain is ofcourse brilliant. You can actually get a very passable van halen tone out of it too! This is a superbly versitile guitar, the only things i cant imagine it handling too well are country and possibly funk, as its sound is to fat and creamy for that.
The thing i love about this guitar is that it never gets shrill and weedy as you go further up the neck like my Mexican Strat does- it just stays full and sweet where-ever you play it. This sweet, warm sound is perfect for the blues, especially on the neck pickup!
Why do people say strats are the most versitile guitars and les pauls are a one trick pony? I have noo idea!

Theres one thing about this guitar people might not like- the black finish, because it shows up the slightest scratch, scratches that just come from playing in general, from the plectrum.
Apart from that, nowt negative.
Oh, i gotta mention the fretboard-unbelievable! Its the smoothest and slickest neck ive ever seen and the fret finishing is flawless- a joy to play.

Looking at this guitar i cant imagine it falling apart! Hmmm the finish...read what i said before- honestly though, i think guitars look cool when theyve been used and abused and the finish starts wearing down into the wood, but i guess thats not everyones cuppa tea.
One negative thing- the strap buttons are too small- better get some locks for em, so i dont break my foot when i drop it.

i have no idea, never dealt with em.

Been playing about 5-6 years and teach part time. I also own a mexican strat, fender squire (the old type, with the small headstock), a cheapo westfield bass, two tanglewood acoustics, one of them a very nice jumbo.

To be honest, i got this partly because i was starting to tire of the blues and i thought this was mainly a rock guitar...how wrong I was!
What do i love about it? The playability and sound- which are utterly faultless. This baby is here to stay, make no mistake!

Gibson USA Les Paul Studio. Nothing special that hasn't been mentioned already. Great Gibson tone, thick... My only complaint is the tuners could be better, and that the tuners were the round style, not the vintage style. It would be a lot easier to replace without having to drill new holes.

I've been playing for roughly 5 years at this point, and I play though a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100, into a Marshall 1960A cab, that I replaced the speakers with Vintage 30's and added some batting. This guitar kills! By myself, I play just about every kind of music that could involve a guitar, even some that don't, but outside of that, I play 70's rock, to full bore death metal. This guitar can cover it all.

The finish has some thin spots, but out of the box, it played beautifully. Also of note, it has a spot on the neck, between the 6th and 7th fret where it looks like it was bumped before the finish went on, or while it was still soft. I don't care - this guitar is destined to be my main guitar, and this kind of shit is bound to happen. Not all Gibson's are cut from the same stone - you have to pay attention to what your getting, or you could end up with a POS.

Strap buttons- anyone buying a les paul, knows they should replace the buttons with some strap locks. Also, these are heavier guitars than strats, so a nice wide strap (leather being the best) is very helpful.
As stated earlier, the finish seems a bit thin in some spots, but this is easily fixed due to the nature of nitrocellulose finishes - just spray some nitro thinner on it, and let it 'melt' the pain, then wait for it to dry - then buff it out.
The only thing I really fear is the "Gibson Break" - but I figure as long as I am careful, I have nothing to worry about.

Gibson - love them or hate them, they do pretty well for a company of thier size.
Wildwood Guitars - who I bought this from ( http://www.wildwoodguitars.com ) has AMAZING customer service. My first order, was a blue/teal flip-flop, which arrived with a crack in the finish at the neck/body joint - they called FedEx to pick it up, and proceeded to ship me another one (once I decided to get a plain ebony one instead, though, they checked into the availability of a replacement as well!)
Due to Wildwood's Customer Support, they get a 10+ - Gibson, so far, I have more good things to say than bad.

This is my second Les Paul, the first being a Studio Plus in Desert Burst. This guitar is for my daily usage, and I will play it until it breaks or I do. It has great Gibson tone, the finish is easily repairable (unlike poly finishes) and it will only sound better with age. If it was stolen I would miss it, and promptly file an insurance claim to get a replacement, then try and hunt down the f@ck that took it. I think they cost a bit too much, and they have some issues with QA, but not like they had a few years ago.

2000 USA
2 humbukers - Alinco 490T I think
Wine red, gold hardware
Everything else is pretty standard

I play mostly Metal and blues - Metallica, Megadeth, Symphony X and dream theater stuff. This guitar sounds bloody awesome! It has the right amount of pinch and cruch while delivering phat and very ballsy lows. I run it throiugh a Marshall Valvestate 100R combo that is also driving a JCM 1960 angled quad. If you stab a chord this thing will punch you in the guts with its very defined low end kick, and the highs sound amazing.

This thing is a pleasure to play. The neck is considerably thicker than the shit old Ibanez I have, and I'm a big fan of the xtr jumbo size frets. The action isn't as low as a few top-end guitars, and occaisionly get a little fret buzz, but that is only when I get lazy in technique. This guitar otherwise seems to be flawless, until.......

I have played with this live many times, and it always passes with flying colours. The gold hardware however has worn to silver where my hand rests, and it seems to get a build up of crap on it afer a few months. The only major bad thing is the strap buttons. They are ridiculously unaffective. I found this out for real last week. I feel like an idiot not getting strap locks. Its has fallen off me a few times, but luckily I've held it, but this time it dropped to the ground, and landed on the headstock with a SMACK. I picked it up and the neck wood had twisted and put a gaping split down it. GET STRAP LOCKS!!! I needs to be gued and clamped for a weeks and a half and I have gone nuts without it.

Got the shop I bought it from to repair it

This guitar is the best I've ever owned. It kicks the shit out of anything else I've heard that is not astronomically expensive. I would never replace it, not ever. I just hope it is fine when I get it back from Jackson's, that broke my heart and temper when it cracked, and since then I've been stuck with a mate crap fender that sounds like a tin can in comparison. I WANT MY GIBSON BACK

Year: 2003, Made in the USA
Frets: 22
Top: Carved Maple
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany, Ebony fretboard (no inlays), '59 Rounded Neck
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3 way selector
Pickups: (H/H) Neck: 490R, Bridge: 498T (hot)
Finish: Nitro-Celulose - Platinum
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with Stopbar
Tuners: Grover (non-locking)
Case: Platinum Case w/ black silkscreened Gibson USA logo

Nothing is perfect, that's why I give it a 9. However, it is a very impressive looking Les Paul (compared to traditional Les Pauls)

I mostly play Rock, and some Nu-metal stuff. Actually, this guitar has a very versatile sound. I think it would work for almost anything except, perhaps, the most extreme death-metal type rock.

Overall, the pickups are extremely quiet. Playing with pickup combinations, and volume and/or tone knobs for each pickup can produce a very wide range of sounds from a bright metalic sound, to a full-bodied rich sound. Very loud, the hot 498T is pretty loud compared to passive pickups, but not as hot as an EMG 85.

Again, nothing is perfect, so that's the reason for the 9.

Action was set pretty low at the factory, that suits me just fine. But I needed to adjust the truss-rod as soon as I changed the strings (but I guess that's normal for a drastic change in string gauge, the guitar has 12's set up at the factory, I switched them for 08's)

No visible flaws on guitar, however the pickup selector switch was a little loose, something that could happen during shipping, easily fixed by turning the switch to tighten it.

I would most certainly gig with this guitar. The finish seems a little fragile, like it would wear off easily, but seriously, faded paint on a guitar give it character.

Haven't dealt with them, so, no opinion.

Compared to my '87 Jackson Soloist, this guitar is somewhat heavier, but it weighs well on the shoulders and is not uncomfortable.

It has a very rich/full sound, while the Jackson has a more 'lighter' sound to it.

The neck is wider and fatter than the Jackson's, but it feels very solid and actually more comfortable than the thinner Jackson neck.

Model: 2002 Gibson Les Paul Studio
Frets: 22
Body: Carved Maple Top on Mahogany
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 1 3-way Pickup Selector Toggle
Pickups: 490R Alnico Humbucker at Neck, 498T Alnico Humbucker at Bridge
Finish: Wine Red Finish
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with Stopbar
Tuners: Gibson Deluxe
Neck: '59 Les Paul Rounded
Case: Black Reptile Hardshell. Dark Grey Plush Interior with Black Shroud. Silver "Gibson USA" logo silkscreened onto cover.

Sound is very hot and somewhat bright. Both pickup are a little too hot for the classic sound I'm after but still very usable for more modern hard rock and metal.

With the pickup tone knobs set on about 5 or 6, the sound become a bit more warm with a hint of a jazz sound. The guitar's sound is almost instantly recognizable and has the ability to produce and reproduce a wide variety of sounds and tones.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the sound but am looking into a more classic rock, Zeppelinesque sound.

This is actually my second LP Studio. I had mine custom-ordered with the nickle finish and no pickguard. The "loaner" LP Studio that was lent to me was setup pretty well. Action was set perfectly for me and the intonation was about 90% good. When my guitar came, the action was ultra low and the intonation was about 40%. Fit and finish of both guitars was excellent. These guitars are well-made and practically bulletproof.

As I mentioned above, the guitar is preactically bulletproof. I don't understand why a few f you have said that you would not play this beast live. I would and will in a flash.

The hardware seems quality but again, as I mentioned earlier, I'll probably replace the pickups but for sounds reasons- not quality reasons. I'm always wary of toggle switches but this really is a tough switch. Not even a hint of weakness and seems to be able to take my abuse without a problem.

The finish is beautiful. It's a deep, semi-opaque, wine red stain that shows the natural grain of the maple.

Strap buttons are superficial at best. A pair of $15 strap-locks should be used for any guitar worth more than $15 in my opinon. I suggest the Schaller Strap-Locks. They're very well made and won't budge.

Never needed to deal directly with Gibson. It comes with a non-transferable Gibson Lifetime Warranty. Can't really ask for much more that that. I plan on keeping this guitar so the waranty is perfect.

I've been playing for about 14 years but that includes a 7 year hiatus. I did about 3 months of research before buying this guitar. There were no surprises except that my guitar played better than any that I played in the stores. If it were lost or stolen, I would absolutly buy it again. My favorite aspect of this guitar is the playability. It's so, so easy to play. It makes me feel as though I never set the guitar down. I've built my finger strength back up in only a matter of weeks. I can't put this guitar down. I love it.

basic les paul build
22 frets
2 humbuckers
3 way switch
4 nobs
nothin fancy

i dont like the fat necks for punk, but its great for metal

sounds really sweet, i get hard fat sounds with my bridge and, if i want, i can get a much warmer sound from both or just the neck

my style is punk/hardcore, metallica is the only metal i listen to, it seems to have great sound for both these styles. i try to broaden my muscal veiws just because u get better with more techniques, and for blues (which is a bore to lsiten to, but i have had experience playing it for over 5 years now) it has a pretty gnar sound to it too.

i put it thru my beefy avt50 combo, gets a real mean sound, and doesnt lose the niceness of the tone

factory fit? wouldnt kno bought it used.
i got it with different tuners, grover rotomatics i beleive.
got the nut replaces first thing cuz it sucked, but i think the guitar is around 5 years old and well used so it was warn out, and the original owner obviously never replaces it.
the finish was pretty genaric, and was chipped, but i'll base the finish off all the lp studios i see at guitar center, and they look way rad, mines just old lookin

its very reliable, i did have one problem with it, the wiring in the for the pickups was screwed up bad, so teh pickups went out, and i had thot they died, which pissed me off. but it was just the moron who previously owned it, messing with teh wires and such, no big deal, cheap fix, and i woulda done it myself if i knew exactly what was wrong wit it

never had to deal with gibson

this is the very first electric i have owned, and i never really got good untill i bought this, it was just easier to play the crap i like (thrice, thursday, metallica, afi, and so on...)
i have been palying only 2 years now, but i got alot of musical back up so i kno good tone when i hear it.
i own 1 (used to be two) other cheap acoustics, a 33 year old yamaha fg-150, and i used to have some lyle acoustic.
if it were lost or stolen, i couldnt afford it again, i'm, poor. but i'd hunt that F**KER down and ....... get it back. . .
i compared this to my friends guitars, which are two fender strats, a jackson charvelle, a gibson les paul 50th aniversery, and some cheap ibanez. personally i like the feel of the neck more on mine then any of theres, except maybe the jackson, if the truss was slitly adjusted.

American made, 22 frets, two volume and two tone controls, H/H, came with a hard shell case. over all very nice

The sound is awesome. In my opinion humbuckers blow single coils out of the water. I use it through a Marshall DSL401. That amp with this guitar make for some very rich, fat tones. It suits my style fine (which is rock and some punk) but it would be perfect for just about anything

The action was a little high to begin with, but with a simple adjustment to the bridge, it was fixed. no big deal. The only other problem was that the pickup selector wouldnt use the treble pickup unless it was all the way up. It was a really easy adjustment as well. other wise it was flawless.

I dont play live, what more can i say. The strap buttons wont come off... its really solid. I havent had a single problem with it since I got it a year ago. very nice. The only reason i wouldnt gig without a backup with it: Id break a string. I have no reason to doubt its functionality.

never dealt with them, but then i havent had any problems.

Ive been playing for around a year. If it were stolen, and i could get the same price for it, i would buy it without thinking twice, but i got it for like 400-1000 dollars off. I love it. The only problem with this guitar is that it will make you hate crappy guitars and wish you could never play one again. I was looking at an Epiphone Les Paul and was going to buy one, but i know there was going to be a sale the next day at Palen, so i waited. When I got there I saw this one for 700, just 100 more than the Epis so I said Heck yes! Overall its an awesome guitar. The only reason not to get one is if you have enough money for a L.P. Standard or a PRS.

2000 USA made finished in wine red. All of the hardware is chrome and the scratchplate and knobs are black plastic. Individual tone and volume controls for each pickup. It has a mahogany body and neck, maple top, rosewood fretboard, Tune-O-Matic bridge, Grover tuners and standard 490R and 490T humbuckers. The dealer also threw in a Gibson branded TKL gig bag. It's got everything I need...basically.

Upgrades I've made:

- Direct replacement white Gibson nut....they just don't seem capable of fitting one properly at the factory. The original nut was too low, wasn't sloped to account for string thickness and was worn to some extent by me. Plus some idiot in a guitar shop chipped it right by the bottom E slot which caused string buzz.

- GraphTech String Saver saddles. Wow! These made a huge difference in playability and tone!

- Gibson speedknobs....those top hat knobs are useless if you have big fingers and play gigs.

I play funky/jazzy rock and a little bit of blues, but mostly modern indie rock (eg Foo Fighters, Chili Peppers) type stuff. I run it through a Boss GT6 digital effects processor (using no preamp models) into the front of a Marshall AVT50.

The guitar's full of high mids and bags of tone, which you'd expect any Gibson Les Paul to possess. Like any other Les Paul, it's hard to make it sound like anything else (i.e, no coil taps etc), so it's not exactly the most versatile guitar in the world....but it sounds like a Les Paul, which is why I bought it. (I just get sick of hearing people moaning that they can't make one sound like something else!) For hard rock and general high gain sounds, the bridge pickup excels, growling through the Marshall. The neck pickup has good clarity and definition and is particularly good for clean jazz chords/runs and with a little bit of overdrive it's great for blues lead.

I would thoroughly recommend to anyone that if they own one of these guitars and they already love it, fit a set of GraphTech saddles.....you won't believe how the acoustic volume,sustain and definition are improved!

This was my number two guitar for a little while, but it's been my favourite right now. Les Paul Standard?.....paaahh....don't waste your money. Forget the edge binding and the flametop, make a couple of cheap upgrades. then let your ears be the judge. That's all you have to do to get a beast that sounds like the full #1,800 schbang!

The factory setup was poor, but not in terms of action. Gibson go through phases of setting up their guitars with whichever string gauge they have a surplus of at the time. In my case, I was unlucky to get 9s. Fitting 9s on a guitar with so much tone is nothing short of insane in my opinion. I changed to a custom gauge of 10,13,17,28,38,48 which suits my style perfectly. 10-46 seemed a little too light. I got a full setup when a guitar tech recently changed the saddles and nut and it plays like a dream....better than I ever thought it could. The action's low as hell and there's virtually no buzz at all. My guitar tech believes the trick with a Les Paul is to get the neck as straight as possible before adjusting the bridge height, and I'm inclined to believe him.

The pickups were adjusted fine, but I played with the pole piece heights a little to find the best balance.

The bridge/stop piece and truss rod routing is great, but I was surprised that the factory didn't bother to spray inside the control cavity. I also had to blow a fair amount of sawdust out of there. Doesn't matter though...the wiring's all clean and tidy.

There are no flaws in the lacquer or any of the woodwork. All hardware was fitted very securely and the switches have only needed a light clean in two years. When these guitars are new, the neck feels pretty sticky sometimes and you have to keep wipng this residue off. This is sweat reacting with the lacquer, but after one year this stopped completely. Just don't put polish on the neck, because it will retain the solvents that you actually want to leave the lacquer. I just hate the quality of the soft, crappy saddles and the poor nuts the factory fit. These are a couple of the most essential parts of a guitar and corners should never be cut on these. Apart from these, I have no negative comments to make.

This is my main guitar and I play gigs with it fairly regularly. It's super-dependable during gigs and I would play without a backup, especially now that the GraphTec saddles have seriously reduced the chances of string breakage. I did however have to remove the tiny strap buttons in favour of Schaller strap locks. I jump around a bit, so it was inevitable that the guitar would have hit the ground running at some point :-)

Overall, it's solid as a rock,and the nitrocellulose lacquer is just starting to age nicely after two years...if anything I think it's getting a little darker, despite the fact that that this type of lacquer gets thinner by its very nature as the solvents evaporate over time. Who cares if the finish starts to wear here and there? It'll look better, and it's a working guitar...I play it like mad...I don't sit around gazing at it.

Never had to deal with them.

I've been playing for seventeen years now. In addition to the Les Paul, Marshall AVT50 and Boss GT6, I own a seriously beautiful limited edition Gordon Smith 20th Anniversary Graduate...my pride and joy, but I only really use it when I'm looking for sounds the Les Paul won't produce.

If this guitar were stolen, I'd probably go for another Les Paul of some description, but not necessarily a Gibson, seeing as their prices have become over-inflated and ridiculously unrealistic. I'm just glad I bought mine at the right time before they went up by 30%.

I love everyting about my LP and do not hate or evfen remotely dislike anything about it.

My Les Paul is not a regular American Studio, It is a special model called C-1 . Iwasn't able to match it with other studio's in the Gibson site so I'll consider it as a Studio.
Well, Its a 2002 American Les Paul Studio C-1 ,Solid top, has 2 volume controls and 2 tone controls ( one volume and one tone control for each pickup) and has a 3-way control.
It has two humbackers, and it is passive.
The bridge is a Tune-O-Matic style bridge. Has 22 jumbo frets and included came a real Gibson hard case and a screwdriver.
It has all the important features .

I play everything from metal to classical music. I found that this guitar is suitable for any kind of style.
I am playing my LP through a Boss V-Wah and a Boss Metal-Zone into a Marshall G30CDR amp.
The sound is great and clear it very full and supplies that vintage sound that just hits me every time I turn my amp on.
The only thing you won't be able to have fun with, is a Whammy Bar which I think is not that important...
I enjoy this guitar and the sounds it gives me . It just never fails!!!
The minor sit back i found was that power chords for Black Metal and Death sound a little bit spftier than it should be but I give it a 10 becaucse it doesnwt get any better...

The guitar was on display in a glass window and as I was told was never removed from there more than 4 times for a check....
The set up was fine though I need to go and have one because of the extencive use I do with it...

This guitar will last for a long long time....
The finish is great and it shines...
It would manage through a rock concert if it has to and the starp havenwt failed me yet.
I would depend on it to setisfy the goods in any gig and without backup.

Never dealt with them.

I have benn playing now for a couple of years now. I own another Fernandes electric guitar and an Admira classic guitar.
If this guitar was stolen I'd find the thief and kick the shit out of him untill he would give me my guitar back !!! I guess that if it was not to be foumd I'd buy a new LP of any kind but I will always dream of my love and drift to the times that I have played on it.
I love this guitar in every aspect of it !!!! I take great pride at it's clear full fat sound and warm overdrive that can easily imitate Hendrix's start....
I came into that store in Tel Aviv to buy the best I could find and buy the guitar that will be my great guitar which I could use in my gigs with my band.
I only wish it had a Whammy Bar but I mannage perfectly without it.
I came into the store and tried many guitars including an American Standart Strat and an Ibanez S and each had one feature great (Fender-great clean and an Ok distortion, and the Ibanez that had a remarkable distortion and a very crapy clean) and then the Shopper gave me the Les Paul . From the minute I played my first note on it I knew that this guitar will be mine. Everything fitted, the sound, the price, the finish, the frets and the ease of playing fast shreded licks to soft and quiet tunes...
I think this guitar is PERFECT and I recomend that if you have the money for it buy it because you will never regret it.

mine is a 97, i bought it used about 4 mo's ago. i got a great deal at just $600, wine red/gold. i wanted that year cuz of the better normal size inlays, and the new ones are only 2/3 the gurth of the average lp. it has factory tuners, factory pickups, factory everything. flawless not even a little belt nick on the back. the neck is that nice wide 50's style. a perfectly crafted instrument.
you need only to upgrade the tuners to grovers

i have owned an army of ibanez, g&l, fender, epiphone, and at one point a kramer. but this guitar is a priveledge to play on.
i play it through a monstrous chain of floor pedals mainly powered by a boss gt3 and the lp pulls its weight
no dislikes

the nitrocellulos finish gets oily looking fast so keep plenty of gibson polish handy. i was tod to be careful when shining the gold hardware, but i think it looks cooler when they fade a little.
no flaw in this department

straplocks!!!!


this is the ultimate live app instrument. i havent even broken a string, which i have a tendency to do during those energetically charged moments live.

no need

i know its all a matter of personal taste for every musician, but really i urge everyone to go get one now.
just dont get the new ones, they arent quite a les paul

This is an update to a previous review (from 2000, under "Pudro"). It is still a 1993 Studio model, features are listed below. I thought I'd provide a longer-term update, now that I've had this guitar for 5 years. A pro-setup (anbody in MN who needs a setup talk to Guitar Center in Edina for Dave Rusan - free neck setup!) for 11's, as well as new tuners, a new nut, fret dressing, 3 new pickups, new potentiometers, and even pickup rings and knobs have been installed. New equipment played through includes a mid-90s Fender Hot Rod DeVille (60W Tube, 4x10 Combo), a Marshall DSL2000 (100W Tube, 4x12 Half-Stack), and a PODxt through various monitors.

If anybody is looking for replacement humbuckers, read this. I was not thrilled with the stock (490R and 498T) pickups sound, which was quite muddy. I originally swapped the bridge pickup for a Gibson 500T with a push/pull pot which gave single-coil and humbucker sounds. It was OK, but the output was FAR too high, distorting any amp near it. Recently, I replaced the pickup again with a Seymour Duncan JB. I must say that Adam Jones of Tool was my inspiration for pickup choices, which also resulted in a Jazz for the neck. They work quite nicely together. CTS pots from Allparts.com were installed, 500K Audio for volume, and 250K Audio attached to one coil of each humbucker (to roll between SC and HUM sounds). The Jazz is the real star here, sounding obscenely luscious through anything and everything. The sound is warm and bassy, quite thick, with a lot of high-end sparkle as well. The SC sound of this pickup has little sustain, but sounds a lot like a strat. Definitely a 10. The JB is wonderful for rock, with huge sustain and harmonics. It is, though, perhaps a bit too middy for my tastes; it's about an 8.5. The two pickups together balance well, somewhat complimentary.

Pro setup is in place, so I can only comment on the ability to adjust the guitar. It has a lot of give-and-take on the tension rod, so finding an optimal amount of relief is easy. The bridge is the only item stock on this guitar now. I had an Earvana nut installed, which eliminated the presence of any sour note on the guitar. I'd HIGHLY recommend it, only 25 bucks. Schaller tuners replaced the factory originals, which broke (like my old Epiphone's). These guys are beautiful, with durable gold plating. Not one single slipping string now. The finish is in the "character" phase, meaning it is beat to hell now. Just the way I like it. The laquer is either too thick, or the stain is too dark, cuz you can't really see the grain of the wood. It's a shame, since dark red on mahogany is beautiful in theory.

This guitar still has been played live only once (I'm a drummer, not a guitarist, by trade). Hardware has been replaced. Finish is fine for playing, but the guitar dents quite easily. Schaller straplocks are installed and, though the wood has stripped and needs to be filled and redrilled, haven't failed me. I must say that, by all acounts, this guitar should have snapped in half by now. With my old band, it did a face-plant on a cement floor (BARE cement) from standing height. The pickup selector switch came undone, the little plastic knob broke, the assembly was thrust into the cavity inside the body, and the poor thing had about 10 new dents and scratches. But once re-assembled, it played fine. Also, it has taken a lot of abuse from unworthy guitar stands, and the headstock is still fully intact. I believe it was dropped from a few feet onto that same concrete floor while inside of a nylon gig bag, and came out still fully in tune. She's a tough mother...

I've only corresponded with the company twice, once for a repair on an Epiphone, and once through e-mail to date this beast. A slow turnaround (6 weeks to replace a tuning peg) plagued the first incident, and they gave adequate e-mail response.

I've played these things for 9 years now. I've owned a "Terminator" guitar, a crappy Kramer, a crappy Ibanez, a mediocre Epiphone, a good California Strat, this sweet beast, and a Washburn acoustic. Amps it has been seen with include a 90s SS Peavey, a '62 Blackface Fender (mmm....), a 100W Marshall Valvestate half-stack, a 90s Fender Hot Rod DeVille, a 100W Marshall DSL, and a PODxt. It prefers the tubes, especially the Marshall. If stolen, it would be replaced with a comparable early-90s Studio with the same upgrades, possibly a different bridge pickup. By far, the best value in American guitars that I've seen as of yet. And, if you want to sell one, do it in Canada 'cuz these things go for about $2200-$2500 up there (before exchange rate).

1996 Les Paul Studio. Ebony with gold hardware. Everything on it is stock. Came with Gibson gig bag.

Sounds great! I play through a Marshall VS230 with a Boss DS-2 distortion pedal, a DOD chorus pedal, and a Vox Wah pedal. I play all kinds of rock and metal. This guitar has a rich and full sound, as one would expect from a Les Paul. The bridge pickup by itself does not sound that good playing clean, that is why I got that chorus pedal. However the neck pickup sounds great.

I had to adjust the action a bit, it was a used instrument. Guitar had some dings and armwear, and some of the gold on the neck pickup is wearing off. The screws in the pickup rings are starting to rust-the guitar came from Florida-can you say humidity?

This guitar would do fine in a show. The hardware is rock solid, it just comes off from sweating while playing. The finish is great. The strap buttons are solid, but with a guitar this valueable, why would you not have some kind of strap-locking system??!!?

N/A

I have been playing the guitar for 17 years and have owned around 15 guitars. This guitar is certainly one of the best sounding and playing of them all, next to my U.S. Strat w/ Seymour Duncan Lil' Screamin' Demon pickup. If it were stolen I would definitely go buy another. It is so comfortable to play and it sounds so good-awesome sustain! I have compared it to some Epiphone Les Pauls, and this one is so much smoother playing.

2002 made in Nashville - blue-teal flip/flop, excellent case w/ pink lining. Everybody knows the new LP Studio set-up and electronics so I won't bore you with something you won't read.

I play in a cover band that does everything from classic rock to brand new alt. stuff. I run it through an ABY switch with a Line 6 Pod and Tech 21 Powerhouse 60 on one side and a Fender "Evil Twin" on the other, both thru an Allen & Heath mixer and Mackie PA. The Pod gives me the easiest access to the vast variety of tones and effects that you need to do a variety of covers and the Twin gives me the straight balls-to-the-wall tube tone. Analog and digital can live together in harmony.
The sound the I got out of it straight out of the box was typical Les Paul. Any song which requires the LP rock tone is covered. While it sounds nice enough clean that's not what I bought it for. I use it mostly for the ballsy hard rock sound. I use the bridge pu almost exclusively on the guitar and in fact I keep the neck pu turned all the way down and use the selector switch as a cut-off switch. This is the tone that I bought it for. If the song requires a nice clean tone I use my American Series Tele or my rodded Strat.
The tone is pure Gibson. Our other guitar player has an early 70's Standard (it has a Deluxe tr cover, but it is a Standard). We did a side-by-side comparison, he thru a MusicMan 212 and me thru my Twin. We eq'd the same and there was very little difference in tonal qualities. Clean or overdriven, they were very, very comparible. Any differences were mostly do to our playing styles. He admitted it before I did. That couldn't have been easy for him. He's had his LP for 30+ years.

I bought this from Musicians' Friend so I didn't try it until it arrived. It came out of the box fairly well set-up but I always have my tech. set up my guitars with 10-52's right away anyway. But it was usable right away.
The finish is perfect. The blue/teal flip-flop is the coolest color out there, especially for a stage guitar. The color shifting that occurs when the lights hit it is mesmerizing. You see so many wine reds and sunbursts that I wanted something different. I like them all but color is an individual taste thing.
I switched the tuners to Grovers because Gibson tuners are rather hit or miss.
No binding anywhere, but that's a good thing. It looks much cleaner without it. I had the pu covers taken off so with that black pg and black pu's. it's one bad looking mofo.
The pu selector gets loose sometimes and the neck tone knob has a sticky spot where it hangs up a little bit. Minor stuff.

I've been using it live for about 8 months now and it's solid as a rock. Stays in tune all night. The jury is still out on the durability of the finish since it is new. The paint is made by BASF so I think it will stand up. They are a quality company. No problems yet.
I change my strap buttons to the Dunlops anyway. I strongly suggest putting strap locks on this baby. I hate to see a grown man cry. (I've seen a SG and a LP get dropped and the necks/head snap - ugly scenes).
Is it dependable? Of course. It's a Gibson. They sort of have a track record for dependability.
I typically carry 3 guitars with me for variety of tone and different tunings. But I wouldn't trust any one guitar to the point of not carrying a second. Same with amps. Back-ups are your friend.

Has a lifetime warranty but I hope I never need it. So far, so good. Haven't had to contact them.

I have been playing on and off for about 30+ years. Got back into it seriously again about a year and a half ago. I also have an Amer. Tele and Strat, Schecter C1+ (which is set up with baling wire for really low tunings), and several other electrics (Fender, Danelectro, Schecter). I have 6 amps total but my main ones are listed above. Various stomp box effects and the Pod. Also have a Taylor 410ce and an Ovation Elite Standard for acoustic guitars.


I bought this guitar because I needed the "Gibson" sound. I'm a Fender man at heart but I have to admit that I'm impressed with this guitar. It sounds great, looks great, and is solid as a rock. Plus, who wants to play a really expensive LP on stage? While I don't want to bang it up I don't have to worry as much about it as I would a vintage, vintage reissue or other high-end LP. Dings happen. And let's face it, the woods, the electronics, and your playing style are what determines the final sound straight thru an amp. This is the same guitar as the more expensive LPs without the cosmetic bells and whistles. Binding and fancy inlays are nice but they don't effect the tone. I'm going to get a high-end LP one of these days but that will stay at home or go out on special occasions. And I won't buy that one from M'sF.
The one thing that I don't like is that the neck is painted the same color as the rest of the guitar. (The entire guitar is bt f/f except for the front on the headstock, which is black. Since the back of the neck is painted it gets sticky when you start sweating. I carry a towel just for wiping the neck and fingers every few songs that is seperate from my sweat towel. That helps considerably.
If it was suddenly gone I would buy another one without any hesitation. It's the working mans' LP. I love it so much that I am getting an Explorer Pro next. There really is no other way to get that Gibson sound and feel except to buy a Gibson. Now you don't have to get a second mortgage to get one that sounds every bit as good as the expensive ones, real vintage notwithstanding.

What features ??? Stopbar ????

Peace of shit, it cost me 1,700.00$, and it makes sounds really weird. I have a ibanez 350dx, an it cost me like 600$, and its much better, much better sound. I always wanted a Gibson Les Paul, it was my dream guitar, but when i bought it, i told my self, why did I by this crap. My ibanez maid from Korea is much much much better.

The look is nice. But who cares about the looks, its how the guitar plays.

Its been now 2 months that I bought the guitar from Steve's Music Store. When i got home, it had this HUGE scrach, and really deep in the wood behind the guitar. (and i bought all of my guitar at Steve's, and its a pretty cool place). But what in the hell???? What kinda store that sell guitars that the bridge is ***ed up, it make all kinda of weird sounds that ordinary guitars doesn't make. And this Huge scrach, AND I PAID 1,700.OO$ ****ING DOLLARS !!!!!!

Don't but this crap, i thought gibson was better then that. its now locked up in my room cuz Steve's music store cant do anything (maybe xcuz they just wanna get rid of that shit). im now still playing my ibanez. and until i finish paying my gibson, im playing with my ibanez.

2002, usa, the same thing you'll see in the other reviews...I really love the brown leather case that came with it. I'm disapointed with the fact that the studios didn't came with the translucent aged golden volume and tone knobs...the ones on this models are black. Boring look. I have to say that I would love to have my guitar without the freaking black pickguard, but it's a question of taste. Ah yeah, and the picture on the web site show a les paul studio with some silver tuners. I was like "cool looking tuners!" and it came with the vintage platic ones that always go out of tune. For the price I think there's not enough options...I would have take a Gibson studio plus but they only come with gold hardware that go off with the time....that sucked. Otherwise, it is a pretty guitar.

This guitar is heavy and sounds heavy. No probs with the sound, it is very smooth. Sound classic with my marshall jcm900 stack. No noise at all. Way better that my mex strat!

Well my mex strat may not be a 1300$ guitar but at least it is robust and it has a comfortable finish. I feel I have to wash the les paul after every jam 'cause it becomes greasy all the time. Oh and yes, don't wash it with anything 'cause the finish is soooo fragile. I used to wash my mex strat with somr kleenex, but the les paul requires to be more delicate.

Buy some strap locks! It slipped out of my strap on the floor. isshhhh! Damn it so frustrating for a guitar like this to have those no good cheapos strap buttons and parts. Where's my mex strat?

I use the les paul studio in gigs, cause I love the sound and style of it. I'm afraid my guitar will look pretty abused soon with the damaged finish.

It is disapointting...I dreamed about the day i'll would buy my gibson, I guess, if I could come back in time, I rather wait to buy myself a Gibson Standard (the colors are so boring...) or a PRS of the bottom line....

I've got a 2001 Les Paul Studio (got it on christmas so its only about 3 1/2 months old). if you know anything about a Les Paul Studio, then i dont have to type out all the stuff. if you dont, o well, go to the gibson web site. it basically has all the stuff you really want or need in a guitar and with the 3-way switch, you can do a Randy Rhoads type thing where it sounds like its going on and off real fast.

I play: Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Swamp Metal, and some clean sounding stuff. It dominates all these catagories.

The guitar could have come from heaven. Nothing was wrong with it.

This guitar, without a question, will last for generations. Its the most reliable guitar you can get. This is the only guitar anyone could ever need. Back-up guitars are for people who have guitars that just dont cut it. With this, i wouldnt even think to bring a back-up.

Im not sure, but i think its a lifetime warranty. You dont even need a warranty with this.

Ive been playing for about 17 years now and ive played many many different kinds of brand name guitars, and this is absolutely the best. If your considering one, get it. Its the best. Everyone knows what a Les Paul is. Thats because its te best guitar made.

I bought a 2001 Les Paul Studio in the 'Blue Teal Flip Flop' color. pretty much the same as any other studio: mahogany body, regular gibson 490R and 490T humbuckers, stopbar tailpiece, 1 volume and 1 tone for each pickup, 3 way switch, you know the rest...

I play in a goth/punk band (similar to AFI's style), and i also play each weak at our church service. Those are two pretty different situations, and the Paul handles each one perfectly. In the neck position, i can get that fat growling clean tone they're known for, and in the bridge position, its got enough bite to to come out and punch you right in the face. Seriously, it's driven sound from the Dual Rectifier can make you want to eat rabbit flesh. The neck and middle settings are very deep thick toned, but the bridge pickup isnt quite as bright as i would like it. Definitely nit-picking here. The pickups are much quieter than any guitar i've had before, even quite a bit more so than my bandmate's gothic SG. The fat sound comes partly from the fact that this guitar was about 600 pounds. more on that later.

The only thing i have to say about this guitar is that its not very player-friendly. if you're gonna buy one of these, check out every one the store has to offer. Mine just isn't that quick. the paint that its finished in (blue teal flip) really isnt a smooth feeling paint, so it makes the action feel that much more clumsy. Since its a studio, it doesnt have the binding on the neck, and as much as i like the sound of this guitar, i would be lying if i said the neck/fretboard seam felt firstrate. i actually used to have an epi les paul standard that whips this thing on the comfort meter. The action was set up by the store i bought it at, and it feels solid. not super low, but no buzz, no anything. feels rock solid. thats because it probbaly is a rock now that i think about it. This thign is freakin heavy. easily twice as heavy as the epi standard. This is partly what gives it its fat sound, but i dont have to tell you it gets annoying to wear it around, much less any kind of "high energy" shows of the punk rawk fashion. i actually use my 2001 mexican telecast over this most of the time just because the neck/fretboard of the gibson feels like i got gipped for my $1000

I've had this guitar for about 10 months, and it is in the shop right now. the neck pickup has a short in it, making it do lots of wierd stuff. but not all the time, so that just makes it an unreliable guitar. i wouldnt even bring it to a show, much less start playing the show with it, just because i dont know if i'm gonna be able to get sound out of it or not. i bought it at a store that was far away from where i lived because i got a good deal, so i was just this week able to bring it back for its warranty work. we'll see what happens... i know most gibsons last forever, and i'm not saying all of them must suck, but im just telling you that mine has had problems. Also the blue teal flip color dulls really bad after just a little playing. where your pick usually scrapes the instrument will really lose its shine especially with this odd finish. I thought it looked really nice, but now i'm sorry i bought it.

The warranty is supposed to last as long as i own it, so we'll see. as i said before, its been in the shop having wierd electronic problems. the neck pickup is shorting out half the time. its in the shop, so i'm assuming they should eventually fix it...

I've been playing for about 6 years, and not just a punk rawker. i've got quite a few hours of credit at LSU's School of Music. I play alot, and i love the Les Paul tone, but this is a large, heavy, uncomfortable guitar. You can call that an opinion, but play one first. i also do not recommend the blue teal flip finish because it dulls VERY easily, and is not a slick-feeling finish, making the neck feel cumbersome after the slightest bit of wear. If it was lost or stolen, i would buy something else just for the heck of it. Heck i'm thinking about trading it right now... For the $1000 that it costed, i expected something that i would want to play. the truth is, i would rather play my $300 telecaster.

Blah, too lazy to go find exact specs, it's a typical Les Paul, humbuckers, tune-o-matic bridge, comes with a very nice case :)

I mainly play the blues and older rock/metal (Think Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, old Metallica, stuff along those lines). I am a younger guitarist, still in high school, but I hate all that "nu-metal" screamer crap. The sound is perfect for any kind of metal or hard rock, and pretty good for the blues. One problem I have it that the low E string dominates over all the others, overpowering them.

W/ treble pickup is has a sharp, although not too sharp, sound, good for lead rock/metal playing. Very bright. Rhythm pickup has a round, full sound, very fat and good for more mellow tones. I use this one more, personally.

I use an old Marshall solid-state amp and a Wah-Wah pedal, I rarely use much distortion or anything, I much prefer a clean sound. This guitar is very good for it.

My guitar came with low action, so I raised it a bit, and it's good. Mine came pretty well set up overall from the factory, I like it a lot! Best guitar I own (although I don't own many, since I'm still a kid)

Although I've heard some bad stories about the tuning heads, I haven't had any problems with them yet.

I got the ebony finish w/ gold hardware. If you're have a choice, don't get the ebony w/ gold look. The gold hardware is a real pain to clean, it'll wear away and look pretty bad unless you clean it off! And fingerprints show up very easily on the ebony finish, so, although it looks really cool, don't go w/ all that :)

Although I haven't really played live, I'm not in a band, (not many kids @ my school play intruments) I have heard good things about it.

Hardware will last, although after reading some reviews I'm going to watch my tuning knobs some more :\

Strap buttons are not thick enough! My guitar has come loose from it's strap several times, fortunately I have been holding it every time it's happened! Get strap locks!

Haven't dealed with them. Lifetime warranty! woohoo!

I have been playing for several years, and I love this guitar! I got it for Christmas as a present last year, from my uncle, who has been playing guitar for longer than I've been alive.

If it were stolen, I would probably not be able to afford to buy it back, but I would definately want another :)

I love the nice, rich, fat sound the humbuckers give off! This thing sounds awesome! The only problem I have, as mentioned earlier, is how the low E string dominates over the others.

This is a great guitar!

Body: Carved maple top, Mahogany back
Neck/Profile: Mahogany/'59 Rounded Les Paul
Fingerboard/Inlay: Rosewood/Pearloid trapezoid
Scale/Nut Width: 24-3/4" / 1-11/16"
Bridge/Tailpiece: Tune-o-matic/Stop bar
Hardware: Chrome
Pickups: 490R Alnico magnet humbucker, 498T Alnico magnet humbucker
Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch

Mine is a new 2002 and has the Wine Red finish. It came with a very well made hard-shell case. It just arrived yesterday and I had to force myself to put it down after many hours of playing. The only thing that it doesn't have that I might want from time to time is a vibrato tailpiece...but hey, I LOVE this guitar!

I play rock and blues. I also just purchased a Marshall 50DFX at the same time I got my Les Paul . It is an awesome combination for what I do. This is just a hobby for me, but I've been playing for 35+ years. I had a 70s vintage SG Std a long time ago and parted with it very reluctantly. I totally loved that guitar and the sounds I could get from it. The sounds from the Les Paul are just a little sweeter than my old SG. The Les Paul is truly unique.

Aftrer reading some of the negative reviews here, I was a little nervous about setup from the factory and fit/finish. I bought mine mail order, so what I ended up with was out of my control. Of course, had there been any significant problem(s), I would have sent it right back. As soon as I opened the case, I carefully inspected for any scrathces, cracks, etc in the finish. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, because my guitar arrived flawless.

The setup was also near perfect. The action was set just right for me and intonation only slightly off on one string.

I'm hoping more come out of the GIbson factory like mine, vs. some of the poor reviews I've read. I couldn't be more pleased.

Even though I just got it yesterday, I'm rating this guitar a 9. It looks extremely well made and I can only imagine that if I take care of it...it will takecare of me. The only thing I will change is the strap buttons to locking ones...and soon.

Like I said, I've been playing mostly as a hobby for 35+ years. I also own an Alverez acoustic. Besides the SG I had, I once owned a VOX hollow body tear drop. My first guitar was a $45 Kay with one pickup....lol. But it served it's purpose.

My new Les Paul will be with me for the rest of my days...and I plan on living a long time. Like most others here, if my Les Paul was lost, I'd most definately replace it. And if it was stolen, I'd crawl through rain, snow, and broken glass, if necessary, and track the SOB down....probably would have to cut the suckers hands off to prevent further thefts. I'm not a voilent person, mind you, but messin' with my Les Paul is like messin' with family.

1995 American Studio, 22 frets, laminated. I bought this guitar used, but it came with all of the original pieces. Features are the same... Wont talk about price, I'm in Canada! And I got an incredible deal on that took me days to negotiate.

Incredibly brilliant. I (like most of you reading this) am playing, and have been playing in bands for years. I've always loved Gibson's sound (sometimes the SG lags, but still is brilliant). Anyway, I read somewhere else on this site that a guitarist was completed by other guitarists after playing live with his axe. I played a charity show for the needy that attracts alot of musicians. Afterwards I was approached by not one, but two labels (yes they were the smaller ones, but talk about "striking a chord") From lead to rythem settings, this guitar is SAMOOOTH!! I have 0 complaints on the sound of this guitar, and it has become my personal favorite guitar.

Now the bad news. Again, I read something similar on this site. THE D TUNING NOB FELL OFF!!!! I can understand that it is on older guitar, but Gibson?? I have a trusted tech that looks after all of my guitars, so when he fixed it and assured me it would not happen again, I was a little eased, that was almost a year ago, and no more problems. Yes, the g string tends to go out of tune, but that's the tech's job. And all of the fearful ONSTAGE emotions that ran through my head are gone.

See above.

Never to deal with them.

Overall, after everything is said and done. I love this. If you have a tech that you trust (some of them can be sheisters) then this guitar is a perfect 10, honestly. If you dont have a trusted tech, I give this guitar an 8 because the sound is still incredible assuming you get to play it before the tuning nob falls off. I play it through either a Fender deville, or a Vox Valvetronix (get this amp by the way), and I have to say that the Fender tele has become a little lonely. If you'd like to see pics of this baby, please check my old bands website at www.odyssey1002.com

i bought this one new in 1995 for around $500, from a mom & pop music store in town. it's a beautiful wine red with chrome hardware. it has a toggle switch with 3 settings and there are 2 tone knobs with 2 volume controls, one for each pickup. i stuck with all the original parts it came with and have just replaced the strings on and off over the years as needed. it came with an SKB hardshell case.

i have been in many bands over the years and done many different styles, and the les studio pulls them all off well. it can do punk, metal, hard rock, but it also can do country and pop. i used a boss distortion pedal and switched the toggle to "treble" for an onstage cover of smashing pumpkins' "drown" and got several compliments from guitarists in the audience (and i was playing thru a 25W SEARS amp i got in 1986!!!). switch to the rhythm channel and you've got a full, rich, bassy tone that makes everybody smile. this guitar is great if you're pulling down duty as the sole guitarist in your band, as it has a huge sound.

right out of the box, the action was great and everything worked. it still plays nice nearly 10 years (and many gigs) later, no crackles or messed up wiring. the only problem is the low E string gets way louder than the other strings. i had the bridge adjusted profesionally and it's still too loud.

this, unfortunately, isn't a reliable guitar. first off, one of the tuning knobs broke off! just fell off one day, hadn't been mishandled or thrown about. i repaired it myself but don't trust it now.

also, like other reviews stated, the G string will not stay in tune for anything. it's difficult to get it half decent, and it goes out by the time the song ends no matter how careful you are when strumming.

further, the guitar is quite heavy (as in weight) so i'd advise strap locks or your strap will pop off and the guitar will fall on the floor.

the finish is very sensitive to oil from the hands and sweat. you have to use some kind of polish to keep it looking good.

lastly, i've found that in the last year, the stings have been breaking quite easily. never had that problem before. so invest in some saddle string savers too.

not needed.

i've been playing guitar for over 15 years. i'd definitely miss this guitar if it were stolen or lost, but more than likely it'll break before then. i love gibson products but i'd probably buy one of the better-made les paul models instead of another studio. if not for the cheap knob and the tuning problems i might re-consider.

this guitar is made in nashville tennesse U.S.A It has a tune omatic bridge. 22 frets. Rosewood finger board. carved maple top mahogany back no binding. controls- 2 volume 2 tone. wine red with gold hard ware a little flame. pick ups- 490R anlico manget humbucker, 498t alnico hum bucker.

I think the guitar sounds good but it depends how you set it. I use the tremble pickup when im using distortion. gives me a nice zack wydle type of sound. If i turn down the distorion to about four i get a decent hendrix sound. I alson play on the bridge pickup clean when i trying to get that hendrix sound. I use the middle and rhythm position for the blues and set the amp on clean. Like bb king or stevie ray vaughan i set the amp more bright for srv tough. If i decied to play a little country like merle travis i'll use the middle positon. so i get a good variety of sounds. I use it with a shity crate gx 15 amp. i tried it with nice 50 watt fender amps tough which sounds great. I plane to get a new amp soon!

every thing was set up pretty good but the finsh stared to faded alittle on the back i bets it will fade more thats why i gave it a nine.

only had it for a week cant say.

never delt with them.

i own a fendr mexican made strat and cort acustic-earth 100. overall rating is it has dam good sound and pertty well made. the only thing i dont like is the finsh started to ware thats why i gave it a nine not ten.

Directly from Gibson's web site:

Body:
Carved maple top, Mahogany back
Neck / Profile
Mahogany/ '59 Rounded Les Paul
Fingerboard/Inlay
Rosewood /Pearloid trapezoid
Scale /Nut Width
24 3/4"/11 1/16"
Bridge /Tailpiece
Tune-o-matic/Stop bar
Hardware:
Chrome or Gold (Gold on mine)
Pickups :
490R Alnico magnet humbucker
498T Alnico magnet humbucker
Controls:
Two volume, two tone, three-way switch
Strings
Les Paul Signature .009-.046

It came complete with hard shell case and truss rod tool. It was built at the Nashville Plant, and if I read my serial numbers correctly, it was the 365th instrument to be stamped on July 27 2002 ... gotta love Gibson's serial number system!

The sound on this guitar is everything my former SG, Epi Sheraton and Epi Les Paul Studio weren't: rich, full, smooth and creamy. I thought the Sheraton was a smooth sounding guitar but man does this guitar put things into perspective!

Played through my trusty Marshall JTM 310 it's pure class in an axe. Some may complain it sounds too thick for their tastes, but that's precisely why I got it! There is a bit of noise if played near my PC's monitor, but that's a complain I've had with every guitar I've ever owned.

I literally had to sit down in front of a rack with 7 or 8 Les Pauls at try each ... this one felt right to me: the action was comfy from the factory setup, the pickups sounded just right (unbelievable how the different Les Pauls on the rack -all Gibson - could sound, play and feel so different from one another!) ...

But I love it: the wine red finish lets some gorgeous Maple curl show through, it is mirror smooth and if I get any fret buzz at all, it's due to my own sloppy technique!

Compared to the SG I used to own, this Les Paul does indeed play like butter!

This guitar is spotless, quite well put together. The only part I'd worry about are the stock machine heads, but so far so good. Treat with care and respect it'll last!

Never dealt with them.

I don't want re-spark the debate on how Gibson's quality control is the pits, nor do I want to make a mountain of a mole hill. But I find it pretty scary that out of 7 or 8 Les Pauls, only that one sounded, played and felt right to me ... shouldn't they have all been the same?

But on the other side of the coin, I must confess that there isn't a guitar out there that comes close to a "good" Gibson Les Paul. There is an aura of pure class oozing from that guitar, it is a pleasure to play. It is a tad heavier than I like - my trusty Fender Stratocaster feels like a feather in comparison - but it's not uncomfortably heavy, a padded shoulder strap makes it effortless.

Word of advice: try as many as possible before buying, I was dumbfounded to realize that through the same amp some Les Pauls sounded thin (try like rusty nails), some much too dark ... yet all use tha same woods and pickups go figure. I selected the one that played, felt and sounded right for me, when you're going to fork out that kind of cash on a guitar, you'd better as hell be happy with it!

made is 2002,wine red, 496r, and seymour duncan custom humbucker in the bridge.
Tune-o-matic bridge, 59 rounded neck, 22 frets, trapizoid inlays, 3 way toggle switch, 2 volume and 2 tone, passive electronics,arch top, maple and mahogany, made in the U.S of course.

very good for classic rock to metal. exceptionally well on the clean channel but it sounds the best on the overdrive. has the awesome les paul tone. it gives you a natural bass. great for leads. I play a lot and i use a cheap crate solid state 2x12 which sucks because i want a tube amp really bad but i am in debt from buyin this thing. it was worth it though. perfect for playing AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith etc....... Even though this model does not have binding it still sounds awesome. i recommend it to every one. And i recommend going somewhere to buy it because you know what your looking for and you want to get a guitar that you will enjoy playing for a long time. the 489t pickup that was originally in this sounded good but it really wasn't suited for high gain playing and it sound like every thing you played was all moshed together. i recommend finding a used seymour duncan. i got mine on ebay for $38.

i am the lead guitar player in my band. I have been playing for a good 7 years. Getting this guitar has helped tremendously. Although i did have a problem with the action and the strings. I like to use ernie ball .10-.46. The gibson ones were good but only for certain songs. The action was set quite low. Being a lead player i like the action to be set kind of high so i can bend easily and get the best sound out of my guitar.

9 lbs. good lord. this thing is very reliable. Only i recommend getting some strap locks just to be safe. I use schaller. Could easily used with out a back up.

never delt with them. only to send in my warrenty.

Very good guitar that maintains the sound that you always wanted. even though binding would make it look even better than it already does it still sounds like a les paul should. The only thing i hope to have next is a marshall jcm 800 2204 lead series head and 1960 cab.
i played this same guitar through my friends crate tube amp and it rocks. I would recommend it to anyone who swears by the music of the past. ROCK AND ROLL. IF ANYONE IS LOOKING TO SELL A JCM 800 LIKE THE ONE LISTED ABOVE THEN PLEASE EMAIL ME.

A Les Paul Studio, no binding, gold hardware, set neck, 2 humbuckers. Mine's wine red, and seems to be a little lighter than most others I've seen. The top is maple, and has a little flame here and there. The tuners are gold Grovers, which is strange, because I've seen some that have the standard plastic jobs.(?) I'm glad I got the Grovers, since I've always hated the 1950's plastic tuners. All Les Pauls come with a case, and mine was no exception.

My Paul sounds fantastic for my taste in music, which is mainly hair metal/hard rock, and the ocassional jazz riff or two. I have an Ibanez RG570 that I thought was king, until I brought home this big wine red hunk of wood and plugged it in, and what a difference! The chords come through strong and clear. Individual notes ring with clarity and focus. I run mine through a Marshall AVT50 live and a PODxt for home recording, and it sounds good through both. There's a growl that this thing produces that I've always been searching for, but was never able to find until now. I can get pretty much any sounds I'm striving for, but I must say that my Ibanez is better at clean sounds with it's middle single coil, than with dual humbuckers. I like the fact that I can split the pickups and do the "stutter thing" that Les Pauls are notorious for.(Yeah, I know it's stupid, but it's the small things in life, you know?)

This category gave me a hard time. My guitar is flawless, which surprised me. I held almost every Les Paul my local music store had, which is a lot. Wether it was another Studio, or a $3500 custom, they all had blemishes or poor workmanship of some sort. I was looking at the new Voodoo Les Pauls, and you could see where they machine sanded the side of the neck where it meets the body, looked like waves in the wood. A wine red Les Paul Custom I looked at had Stain bleeding into the binding! For as much money the Gibson demands for their stuff, a guitar shouldn't leave their doors until it's PERFECT IN EVERY WAY! Anyway, my finish is great. I've never expected a new guitar to be playable right out of the box, so I'm not one to whine when it's not in tune. However, the intonation was WAYYY OFF! It was obvious that it was not setup at all from the factory, since all of the bridge saddles were straight in a row. All of the hardware was perfect, and was tightened. I need to say that mine was custom ordered from the factory without the pickgaurd. I've always hated the pickgaurds, and think that they not only make the guitar look dated, but hides the rest of the beautiful body lines. Without the pickgaurd and with the gold hardware, my guitar looks pretty close to the Les Paul Studio Plus! Since all of my past axes had Floyd Roses, having a standard bridge is a big improvement. I have short fingers, but I can play MUCH more comfortably on my Paul than on my Ibanez. The strings seem spaced further apart, which makes picking and chording a little easier for me. I can't get the action down as low as my Ibanez, but the more I play it the more I like it just as it is now. I'll give it a 10 for my guitar, but a 2 for every other guitar I looked at at my local music store.

This thing is SOLID! It's a big departure from the thin-necked thin-bodied guitars that I've been playing for years. I LOVE the weight. It just feels so much more...substantial... than anything else out there. It's balanced well and is surprisingly comfortable to play sitting down. I really thought I'd miss the molded arm rest the strats have, but I've not missed it yet. I'm not too crazy about set-neck guitars, but mine's made me a convert. I guess I get scared thinking that if anything ever happened to the neck it makes it expensive firewood. As everyone is pretty much aware, the straplocks are a joke. Thin as a pencil, and hardly anything for the strap to grab onto. I replaced mine with staplocks the day I got it. After all these years I can't imagine why they still put those cheap straplocks on them! I would rely on this axe more so than my Ibanez, since it (thankfully) does not have a Floyd Rose. It's so nice to just install the strings without a pair of wire cutters. Also, if a string breaks, I can finish a song now. Life is good....

I gotta say, they are really good about correspondence! Their website states they respond in 24 hrs, and they aren't lying. The responses I received answered my questions, and were to the point. It has a lifetime warranty, but let's hope I don't need to test them on it.

I love this guitar!!! Been playing for 18 years now. I've owned Fenders, Ibanez, Jacksons, Charvels, and ESP's, and no one can ever know what they are missing until they play one! I have always regarded the Les Pauls as an "old farts" guitar, and resisted owning one for years. Since I never had enough cash to lay down for them, I rationalized that most folks that bought one were buying a name. Over the years, I've bought and sold guitars from almost every major manufacturer in my quest for a "keeper". I would always buy something that I could afford right now, instead of saving for something better later. Well, I'd finally had enough, and told the wife I need to end the insantity, to which she agreed. My only complaint I have, is that Gibson has their stuff WAYYYYYY overpriced. Don't get me wrong, they make a good product, but how can they justify $1000 or more for a guitar they've been making since 1950? There is nothing exotic or unique that Gibson puts into their guitars that no one else can't replicate. If their workmanship was second to none, I would feel a little better, but when I see stain runs on a $3000 guitar I'm outraged! (Even though as a hipocrate I bought one anyways;) When I was looking at all the models at the music store, I put an Epiphone next to a Gibson, and at first I didn't think they're would be much of a difference, but boy was I wrong! Other than having the same body style, they are two different guitars. The Epiphones don't have the same heft, tone or feel that the USA versions have. I seriously considered the Les Paul Studio in limited edition colors, but I didn't like the neck with no inlays, and I'm not a big fan of the metallic front with the black back. Anyway, I really like my new axe, and hope it lasts as long as I need it to. For the prices Gibson charges for these things, I'd be in sad shape if my Paul was ever stolen! My only last gripe, is that I wish they offered the Studio's in more colors. It's no secret that the Studio line outsells everything else, and yet they only offer a paltry 4 color choices. How about a quilt-top or flame-maple top Studio? (They offered them in the past, bring them back!)

Ok got a 2001 lp studio hot rodded to hell and back.
a les paul is a les paul gibson wise (with the exc. of a special). never seen one i did not like.

I play srv, so if u can play SRV on a lp and not strat and it still sound like him ur doing good...but i wouldnt have a strat.i also play alot of aerosmith which is one of my fav bands along with every other classic rock band u can think of and it sounds bad as hell everytime i pick it up

Mine is chromed out the ass, so i love it.

Only a gibson is good enough!

DAMN GOOD

What up! Mine is a 2002 Gibson Les Paul Studio in Wine Red (really, the only "good" color in the new Studios). It came with a really nice black "Gibson USA" hardshell case (new ones don't seem to have a pink interior). Everyone knows what Les Paul is, so I won't bore you with the details. It's pretty much you run of the mill Les Paul, so it really isn't loaded with features. Still, it's all I really need, so for my purposes, I give it a 9.

I have a very broad range of styles. It ranges from lighter rock (U2, REM), classic hard rock (Led Zeppelin, GNR, Aerosmith, but mostly Bon Jovi), SOME of today's rock (Creed, Our Lady Peace, Default, Nickelback...NOT NU-METAL!!!), and, finally, up to old-school Metallica. I also do a lot of original stuff influenced by U2 and Creed. I just run my LP into a Line6 POD (great little red kidney bean, but will soon get a Marshall). I have kept everything on the guitar from the day I bought it, except now it has 10's instead of the stock 9's.

Does the LP Studio sound good? HELL YEAH!!! Most importantly, it is a true Gibson Les Paul, and sounds like one. If you don't like Les Pauls, then you will HATE this guitar (who can honestly not like a Les Paul?). But let's look a little further into the details. First pretty much every pickup position has a great clean sound. The bridge position handles the U2 sound almost perfectly (think Pride, Until the End of the World, or Walk On...that's the sound.). It has very bright characteristic to it, but NEVER too harsh or shrill. I found that it can do a cool rhythm sound with open chords. With both pickups on, it gives a more rounded and warm, but still bright clean sound. Very pleasing to the ear. This is what I use mostly for mellower parts of my material. The neck pickup is a little dark and in the D, A, and E strings a little muddy, but far better than any other guitar in its price range. To give you an idea, the intro to Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" is really close to the sound I'm describing.

Now to what makes the Les Paul so famous, its CRUNCH!!! It can go from "Whole Lotta Love" to "Sanitarium." I only use the bridge p/up for distortion, but will sometimes use the neck position for Richie Sambora's bluesier solos. The distortion sound from the guitar is top notch. The distortion has a very pleasing grind and decay to it when it sustains. Oh yeah, I defy anyone to find a better sustaining guitar than the Les Paul. Studios are no exception. When I went to buy it, I played Bon Jovi's "In and Outta Love" and "Keep the Faith," and it was amazing how good it sounded. The solos by themselves were is what led me to buying. It probably wouldn't be good for nu-metal, but you need a cheap Ibanez for that.

This sound is all I could ask for. The best testiment to its sound is the reaction I get from people listening. So many people have told me that I am lucky to have such a guitar. Even the two other guitarists in my school have told me the same (NOBODY plays ANYTHING at my school. Everyone's a teeny bopper or a white kid trying too hard to be a rapper. That's why I'm not in a band). It would be nice if it had a little twang to it, but I'll get a Strat for that. For the Les Paul sound I payed for, it is 10. It REALLY is that good.

When I tried it in the store, it seemed to play like a dream. The action was low from the start. However, there was a few intonation problems, most serious being on the high E, G, and D strings. It also was suffering a little in the way of fret buzz on the low E. The neck also needed an adjustment, It happens this time of year in the Midwest. I just got it set up, so everything is perfect now. Most of these problems were hardly noticeable, accept when playing the upper registers. On the bright side, the tuners do their job very well. Replacements would be a waste of money.

I don't mean to have a "glowing" review, but I think I quite possibly got the best looking LP Studio in Wisconsin. The maple top was shimmery and alluring, and even has a partial flame to it! It is also a noticeably brighter red then others I have seen. The gold hardware is also an eyecatcher, and has not oxidized at all, yet... The lacquer finish just adds to the beauty. Some have stated that it feels sticky when sweat gets on the lacquer, I have not had this problem, and I sweat more than anyone when soloing. I have a pool beneath me when I done with the solo for Metallica's "One." I have had numerous people, both guitarists and people who can't play the triangle tell me how beautiful my LP is, some on multiple occasions.

It is definitely, a great guitar, but its intonation and fret buzz will dock a few points.

I play live twice a month, and jam now and then, and this guitar definitely has held its ground. After a month of ownership, it has not had any problems whatsoever. I will soon put straplocks as an insurance policy, but the buttons are good enough for now. Also, unlike my older Epiphone, it doesn't break strings every week. In fact, in over a month, the strings haven't even begin to rust yet, and I sweat like a mother when shredding.

Never dealt with Gibson, but the store I bought I from has been very helpful. I guess it happens after you dump a grand on a guitar. The reason I got it cheaper was because of an invitation to a closed door sale. Now that's service.

I have been playing for just over a year now, but its been a long year, with 6 hour nights of playing and practicing being common. I don't own much in the way of gear, just this LP, a Line6 POD, an Epi Special II, and a Squier Sidekick, and some cables. God forbid if this guitar were stolen or lost, I would go to the store and buy TWO to replace the one I lost. It really is a great, all around rock guitar. The best parts of the guitar would be its sustain, playability, and its sheer SOUND! Anyone looking for a guitar in this price range should give the Studio a shot. Trust me it'll be worth your while. It is best guitar I could hope for.

Now I would like to get something off my chest. I have heard a lot of reviewers here bash the hell out of younger players like me. They say that all of us are a bunch of "Rectumfrier-loving, death metal, punk idiots who own 30 stompboxes and don't give a rat's ass about playing and care more about how 'killer' their sound is."

First of all, I absolutely HATE the Rectumfrier sound. I think it is sterile, overpriced, and WAY OVERUSED AND OVERRATED. Granted, I like some modern rock, but hearing the same distortion over and over again is one reason that I am getting farther and farther from it.

Also, I do admit that a lot of younger reviewers are guilty of the effects pedal and "sound over skill" thing, but not all of us. I, for one, am extremely serious about my skill as a guitarist. For a year, I have busted my ass in my bedroom playing the likes of Jimmy Page, The Edge, Slash, and the almighty Richie Sambora and getting my timing and technique right (oh that's a first on this site). I also don't wish to sound like every other idiot on the radio, and have attempted to develop a unique style that is me, not the radio's. If I did, I wouldn't have a Les Paul right now, rather a PRS (Which I also think are overrated).

Did you notice that I do not own ANY pedals. I believe that the best guitar sounds are made with the hands, not some Japanese piece of shit. There are some good young guitarists. They are just hard to find.

1993 Gibson Les Paul Studio made in the good ole USA. 22 frets, solid maple top... you all know the setup. Wine red finish. Gibson "vintage tuners"/ Came complete with hard case for $800.

I play literally everything with a distorted electric guitar in it except punk. Fits my style very nicly (very diverse). It can make my crappy marshall solid state combo sing with the best of them. Not noisy at all except when I am playing thrash but that kind of comes with the territory.

Guitar was set up by mark at mark's guitar loft. All in all it was very good. The tuners suck but that is to be expected with kluson's

Do the works built like a tank mean anything??? The finish will probably wear over time but I think that will add to the beauty of the guitar. Sraplocks are of cource a must but other than that I would gig without a back up no problem.

Mark will be doing all my repair work thank you.

This guitar has been my main axe since I bought it but it will probably become my number two when I get my standard. It smokes my epi any day of the week. If it were lost I would need to be put on suicide watch because it is my first les paul.

91 Les Paul Studio, American made
22 frets
Mahogonay back with maple front
Usually gibson les paul control config
The guitar is stock
Finished in ebony

For the style of music i play( tool-radioheadish) it fits perfectly with my modded JMP. I use a lot of effects and does seem to add much noise and was grounded properly. Had a nice bit to it and sounded very full. Maybe could be better for clean, a little to bright. Nothing in its price beats is sound with a cranked marshall.

Action was alright needs adjusts though. Pickups were set up well. Guitar showed some wear but was holding up well after ten years

Very reliable, will last a long time.

No contact dont need it

Great guitar for the price and a great start for those wanting a Les Paul

I have a 1990 Gibson Les Paul Studio, it is amazing. Made in USA, 22 frets, carved maple top, 3 way, 2 hum, you know, you've seen what it has. Everything on this Gibson is almost perfect for me. I have been running it through many different kinds of amps, marshalls, fenders, peveys, but my favorite amp is my crate gfx-212, it works really well with my kind of music and this guitar. I'm sure that i could get a better sounding amp but my crate does do this Gibson justice.

I play mainly emo, punk, and acoustic stuff but i always like learning classic rock, jazz, blues, and anything that gives me a challenge. The pickups are great for all types of music, they work really well with the maple/mahogany body. I did change the pickups though, to a semour duncan 59' in the neck and a distortion in the bridge. I could've easily lived with the stock pickups, i just needed a little change. It never gave me any problems, always a perfect sound in any situation, clean or distorted, in a gym or in a small room. If I could describe the clean sound in one word, i would use the word "silk" and the distorted sound can be crunchy, fat, or whatever you choose. This is what makes a les paul a les paul, the sound. Tone means everything to me.

Remember that this is a 1990, if you played it, you would think that it was maybe 1 or 2 years old. It plays just like a new one. I've had this for 3 years and I've only had to get intonated one time. It seems like the people at the Gibson factory spent a lot of time making sure that it would last a lifetime. I've never had any regrets, never had any major problems. It has easily been my favorite guitar, not even a Les Paul custom could beat this guitar to me. The only replacement for it would be another pre-1996 studio that has had the same amount of love and time poured into it or a Gibson les paul flourentine.

I've used this guitar live many times with no problems in sound and feel. But this is where you notice the age of the guitar, the only problems that I've had are the strap buttons coming loose ( i changed them to locking buttons b/c gibsons buttons are horrible), the p/u selector switch button fell off, and the jack plate broke. Other than that, I can depend on this guitar without a backup.

I've never had to deal with them, my practically flawless guitar.

I've been playing for 5 years, and this guitar is up there with the higher priced gibsons and if i lost it or had it stolen, i would come up with the money to buy another old studio, the new ones are crappier. Mine has an ebony fretboard, like the custom, and it is a full 9.5 lbs. it is exactly like the standard except it doesn't have binding, I can't tell the differance in the sound or quality between the standards and my studio. Maybe I lucked out and got a great toned guitar or maybe all of them are like this. It has a better tone than most PRS's and all of the fender guitars that i've ever played. It blew fender out of the water!! For the price and value, this guitar is probably one of the best. Gibson makes great guitars for anyone who wants a great guitar. they have a perfect range of guitars, but they treat all of them the same, no matter how much it cost, they put just about the same amount of time into each and every one. It was well worth my money.

1996 model. Came with standard LP hardware- tune-o-matic/stop tail, 2 humbuckers 2 tones, 2 volumes and a 3-way switch. Mahogany neck and body with maple top finished in white with gold hardware. Came used with a Guild hardshell case. I have since upgraded to Sperzel locking tuners and Rio Grande Pickups. I also made the tune-o-matic and stop tail into a tone pros locking style with a drill, tap, and four set screws. I also ditched the pickgaurd and toggle switch cover(you know the thing that says rhythm/treble under the switch) to give it a more custom look. The pickups are also uncovered. It would have been a 7 stock, but with upgrades a 9. A 10 maybe if it had a fine-tune tail piece, or a PRS like stoptail.

I'm in a christian rock band that plays a melodic rock style similar to Kutless/Delirious. We play quite often and this is one of my two main guitars (the other is a Godin LGX-SA which so far has been amazing, review coming soon). I use it mainly through a Mesa 3-channel Dual Rectifier, but also have a Johnson JM 250, and run either into a Johnson 412 Cab. With the Mesa head I use a Ibanez TS-7, Crybaby Wah, Boss BF-3 Flanger, and Ernie Ball Volume w/the Boss Stage Tuner. I replaced the pickups at about the same time I got the Mesa so I can't really tell about the stock pu's through the Mesa, but it sounded decent through the Johnson, but after replacing the pu's with the Rio Grand Texas/BBQ combo the guitar really began to sing. The low end became thick and rich with lots of clarity and thump, the high end lost it's brittleness and sounds really nice and smooth, and the mids are clear and really make the guitar amazingly versatile. It can go from pristine clean to rock mayhem and never loose clarity. Although I have to admit through the Mesa it doesn't sound that much different than the other guitar players stock studio into a 2-channel dual rectifier. But mine does have more bass and a can get some really raw(nice high gain brown,kind of like a P90 w/o the hum) tones out of it. I think that has more to do with the Mesa than anything. But through the Johnson I can sound like practically anything(except single coils). I think it could really hang with a PRS single cut, but nothing's perfect and the pu's were almost $200 so I give it a 9.

Action was a little low when I got it and was set up for 9's and I prefer 10's. So I adjusted it to suit me. I have since added the sperzels, graphtech nut and saddles, and drilled and tapped the bridge and tail piece. Most of this is because I didn't want to ever go out of tune. It never was much of a problem, but the sperzels eliminated it and made string changes easier. I added the graphtech stuff to keep from breaking strings (which I rarely did any ways). They really improved staying tune for long periods of time. With them I can bend into the stratosphere and not even need a bit of retuning. I can go for days and barely even touch tuning pegs. In fact the break-in of strings now seems to take minutes instead of a day. It's during this time when you seem to have to do more tuning as tuning one string slightly affects the other, and retuning that string affects another. So when you change strings if might take a little longer, but once it's set IT IS SET! I was unimpressed with the tonepros mod. I didn't notice the increased sustain but it already had very good sustain so maybe the strings don't lose much energy into the bridge/tail piece, but I haven't had to mess with them since I set them. There is no way they could come out of adjustment soI guess it added some piece of mind and requires less maintenence. As far as playability goes, it's probably about time for the frets to be recrowned, but overall plays and feels good(maybe not PRS but should be as good or better after I recrown the frets). The neck is nice and beefy and seems to fit my hand really well. The finish is nice, but when I bought it there were some chips in it. How they got there I don't know because after 2+ years I haven't added any. Overall it plays great and with just a minor fret job ought to play like a $2000+ guitar, but until then it gets and 8

I would depend on this guitar for the rest of my life and plan on having it that long. I could have gigged without a back-up but I always had another guitar with me and never used it. It was there for string breaks ect. I did add straplocks also because I didn't like the angle of the upper bought stap button, and was afraid or dropping it. I now have a Godin which is just as good of a guitar plus it has acoustic and synth sounds, but the Gibson still gets used a lot. The Godin has more features but the Gibson just rocks a little more. So I now use the Godin for lighter stuff and the Gibson for the pure rock and roll. I don't think it could be any better in this category.

Bought used and haven't needed them.

I absolutely love this guitar. For what I have invested (approx $1000)it can't be beat. I think if you're looking for a nice rock, blues, ect. guitar this is the way to go. You can buy a nice used one, put in some pu's (Rio Grandes or maybe Seymour Duncan Jazz neck and Custom Custom bridge as came in my Godin STOCK!) add some locking tuners and you should have a gigging musicians guitar. If anything ever happens you haven't lost a $2000+ dollar guitar, and no one will be able to tell the difference in tone. I won't give it a 10 because I haven't played everything yet and there could be something better (David Thomas McNaught guitars maybe?), but for the price to tone ratio it ought to be an 11.

(2) 1992 Les Paul Studio's 1, was black, one was Wine Red.
I bought one new for around $700 in 1992, then got one in a trade in 1993 equivalant to about $400. I did not like either of them at all. I played a $3000 Gibson Les Paul Custom, which was 1000 times better. should have saved up to buy a 'real' les paul. for some reason the studios are crappy, very hit/miss with them. price tag reflects that.

Studio Pauls come with Gibson Gig bag, no body bindings, trapezoid inlay, crappy "Gibson Deluxe" tuners, chrome hardware, standard humbucker setup. Save your money and buy a real Les Paul.

Almost got the 'Paul tone, but the playability didn't compare to other real les pauls i played, or even to a nice high-line EPIPHONE LES PAUL!!
could never get G-string to stay in tune or intonate correctly.

Ok, for a second-rate gibson, not ok for how much these things cost. Back in 1992 when i got mine, you could actually buy one for $599. i guess it would be similar to today's Les Paul Special with the flat top from musician's friend.

never played it live, because it wouldn't stay in tune.

unknown

Save money and buy a real Les Paul, Beware if looking in the used market, play it first, make sure you dont get a dud. beware of jacked-up prices, i have seen these guitars in pawn shops for $700+

Stripped down LP to its essentials. While still keeping THAT tone

Played through a Marshall AVT 50, it makes me wanna cry, it sounds so smooth and defined and sounds so sweet distorted. Classic Jimmy PAge tone, growling metal tones, screaming tones and warm jazz tones, this thing can do it all.

Action was decent, strings that came were complete crap, and were too light, so I switched them out for some 10s.

it is solid as a rock. And it weighs like 10 pounds too.

Im not sure about Gibson but the store I worked with was wonderful

could not have asked for anymore from a guitar

1998 model, I bought it used from a Guitar Center. Wine Red color with gold hardware. All the other options are listed 169 times on ths page, so I won't bore you further.I gave it a 10 due to the color and finish quality.

The sound on this particular guitar was very impressive. I play at home, for my own enjoyment and love the way this thing sounds. For classic rock and a cool boogie woogie tone Les Pauls are hard to beat.

As I bought it used, I can't say it came from the factory great. It was perfect for me, though. The wayit played was a big reason I bought it.

As I said, I play at home only, so that's how I judge a guitar. This thing will last FOREVER with my playing so it gets a resounding 10 from me. But do get a hard case for it. These guitars are expensive, so treat them as such!

I doubt I'll ever have to find out.

I've been playing for over 10 years, and started off with a piece of crap Samick stat copy. Switched to a Talkamine 12 string acoustic then picked up this LP. I love it, and hope it never gets stolen. American guitars are that good, and Gibsons are even better. The sound and playablity are first rate, the construction is awsome and , after all, it's a LES PAUL! Play several in the store and find one YOU like. Don't pay too much attention to the trim levels, just find one that suits your fingers and ears. If it ever were stolen or lost I would buy another one, or possibly a SG. They are expensive though, and only for this it gets an 8 for value.

usual les paul studio, black, gold finish, made in the states probably around 97. well, when i saw it i just paid for it, i love white lp's but this is the real s**t! the finish is ok, but i have to say when you sweat it feels like crap!! that's why i armed myself with a sharp razor and stripped the paint of the neck, i almost fucked my lovely guitar up, but now it feels perfect, and i have to add, maybe a little sexy...easy, i'm not lonely!. one thing guys, after a couple of months playing it almost daily, i've noticed the gold starts fading away, that is sad, but nothing lasts forever and anyway it gives a played in look. i've also taken out the scratch plate, the little 'rhythm-treble' plastic bit and got dunlop locks for my fat leather strap. nice stuff carlos says

as soon as i bought it i plugged it on a boss metal zone and a dunlop wah... it sounded just like adam jones from tool, that was cool. now am back to my line6 flextone and there is a bit of muddiness at times, you have to know how to handle les pauls, but when you get it they are hot stuff!! not that brilliant for a clean not jazzy sound though, i guess nothing beats a tele there...

i got it second hand from a guy that had no name and never played it. i have no idea how that setup thing you do to guitars is done, i just get 11 strings on, being careful not having them buzzing, and the pick ups with no volume differences between them. i'm not a fan of the finish as i said before, but then again it does look great!! nice fat neck, feels almost like a baseball bat, just right!

it is a brick with strings, no kidding, it will survive a nuclear bomb and on top of that it never gets out of tune!! dependable 24/7

no idea bro... they are supposed to be good, after all thay make the nice guitars we all love..

been playing for 5 years, it;s my life man! got a line6, a takamine acoustic and a epiphone les paul that has been the victim of my dark side quite a few times.. it has a pseudo-psychedelic finish now...anyway, it wont get stolen and if it does i'll get in the guitar shop and steal a nice custom... nothing beats a les paul, but i have to say prs looks nice, i'm just afraid to try them again cause first time did shake me..

Solid body mahogany, glued on mahogany neck, etc., etc.

I've been playing classic rock and hard rock for over 30 years now, and never had the money to buy the 'real' les paul. Had an Ibanez copy of one, plus several other guitars, including most recently a Fender strat and a Schecter C-1+. But when I plugged this baby into my amp OH MY GOD! There's just nothing that comes close to that SOUND! It's infinitely fat and yet clear, not muddy at all. I've spent countless hours trying to get that sound out of my Schecter, put all sorts of different pickups on it, but to no avail. To all you other guys out there looking for that TONE (you know what I mean), don't make the same mistake I did. Quit screwing around with cheap guitars and get the real thing. I know they're expensive, but just sell a bunch of that other crap you don't need or get a paper route or something. It's worth it! Oh yeah, I'm running the guitar into a Digitech GSP5 processor, than into a Marshall valvestate stereo rack mount amp, then into two ADA 2X12 cabs, but this guitar would sound good plugged into a transistor radio! The bridge PU gives that fat yet cutting overdiven sound for power chords and solos. The neck PU is mellower, but still not muddy. Great for blues. Clean the guitar also sounds great: warm and clear, especially when using both PU's together. There's nothing that I don't like about the sound. SO what that it doesn't have that Fender twang, I have no desire to split the coils on these pickups like I did on my Schecter. No need for other pickups, either. These are perfect (and believe me, I've tried most Seymour DUncans and DiMarzio's on the market).

The setup from the factory was absolute CRAP. The action at the high E was OK, but at the low E it was about a quarter inch off the neck! That with the worthless factory strings it came with made me want to send the thing back when I first played it. Another thing that bugged the hell out of me was that the rosewood neck has NO INLAYS! You know, the little dots or trapezoids that mark the 3rd, 5th, etc. frets? There are little dots on the side of the neck, but that's it. Now this is a limited edition blue metallic, so this only applies to these limited edition LP's with the funky colors, since I know other LP studio's do have inlays. I must say though, that after playing it awhile with a strap it didn't bother me since I'm looking down at the side of the neck anyway. But it might be bothersome playing it sitting down (don't know, haven't tried that yet). Anyway, after lowering the action and putting on some light guage strings it played MUCH better. In fact, the rounded 59 style neck suites me just great, even though I usually prefer thin necks because I have small hands. Another thing that I might have to adjust is the position of the A sring at the bridge, it's just slightly off. The tuners on this thing are pretty cheesy, but they'll do for now. The neck's nice and straight, no fret buzz, even with my low action. Finish is beautiful: blue metallic on the FRONT of the body only. THe sides and back are painted black, as well as the neck. What happened, they run out of blue paint?

Haven't gigged with it yet, but no worries there. This thing is built like a brick shit-house. Heavy as a SOB.

Haven't dealt with them.

Like I said: been playing for 30 years, mostly semi-professionally. Bought and sold lots of guitars, but this one's going with me in my grave. There's only two guitars that I need now to cover everything: a Fender strat and a Gibson Les Paul. Of course I knew this already when I was 16, but hey, I had to experiment. The only thing that bugs me a little is the fact that it has no inlays on the fretboard. If this would bug you: check before buying! If this guitar were stolen, I'd kill the motherf.... who did it, and yes, I would buy another one if this one were damaged or gone. Oh yeah, it comes with a 'nice' brown hard case with a pink interior and pink satin sheet that covers the axe, sorta looks like a coffin on the inside. But, it fits the guitar like a glove, and it'll do for now. Bottom line: if you're debating to go buy one: debate no more! You won't regret it!

The beginner version of the most famous Gibson. Mohagany body an neck, maple top, gold hardware, coated R-490 Alnico V humbuckers and all the other typical Les Paul features. Mine was made 1996.

The stock sound was may be average, so I replaced the pickups by "Van Zandt Truebuckers" with coil-splitting - and from now on this babe run the way I exspected. It sound's like an old Les Paul has to sing: Powerful with a lot of sustain. My favorite tone over an JTM 45 Marshall Top: Neck 9.5, bridge (split) 8.5 (both tones at 0-point) in an Ibanez tube screamer for soft growling and over the JTM. Great!

The stock hardware wasn't really the 1st choice, so I changed it for good Schaller stuff and grover tuners. It works more exactly, gives more brilliance in sound. There was to do a lot of adjustment-works (although the last owner hadn't played it very much) - all strings were snarling. Now it's okay. To have better results it would be necessary to work out the fretboard exactly.

My axe has a weak headstock, which had to be fixed twice.

Gibson - very kind and helpful, but the replacementpart are too expensive.

The Les Paul Studio is to me a simple and good instrument, very reliable etc. I bought mine, because it was good deal an worket a little better (!!!) than those, I tried in the music stores. So up to 1300$ for a new one is too much, the slogan "only a Gibson is good enough" simply a joke. There are many copies which are the same or better quality. Some are products of the same trust, for less than half the money. Gibson should think, if it's reasonable, that only the most expensive models are made with the necessary care and the highest possible quality. Made in USA should be a sign for quality not only for high costs. So if my "Paula" was stolen, it only would replaced if I found one well made 70's axe for very good prize.

2002 Gibson Les Paul Studio,Wine Red, Maple Top, 3 way Selector, 2 Volume & 2 Tone. 490R & 498T Humbuckers. Gold Hardware, Tunomatic/Stopbar Bridge. 59 rounded neck, Jumbo Frets, maple Neck w/ Rosewood Fret Board, Maple top Mohogany Back. Came with Case.

Sounds great for Rock & Blues. This guitar has balls and i am very impressed with it. I would have preferred 57Classic Pickups which i have in my Hollowbody but thats just my taste, these pickups are better then i thought they would be. The rig is very comfortable and has a really nice feel to it. With the proper set up the neck is like butter.

Action was very good from the factory but i did need to have a better set up done. Once i had the neck adjusted and the intonation set it was outstanding. I can not find any flaws in the finish and the rest of the guitar is as good as it gets.

I think this guitar would take a brutal beating. It's really built well. I alway gig with a backup so it has nothing to do with the guitar but it's just me. If i had no choice i would gig without a backup but i have the choice.

Ask Gibson a question and you will get an answer. I have discussed many issues with them over the internet and they are always willing to help. Their service is truly out standing.

I've been playing for about 15 years and own various guitars from Fender Strat to Full Hollow Body. I would buy this guitar again it is a great value compared to many other guitars on the market. I play through a MusicMan 212HD and various effects units like a little PX3 to a DOD and the guitar is just outstading

Bought from Soho soundhouse (London) this is the 99' model before they introduced dot inlays (for a short while), black with chrome hardware, grover machines, 3/4 traperzoid inlays all other elements are as the standard. Bought with my inheritance this really was "the" guitar for me (well i can't afford a PRS thats for sure) and certainly beat my strat copy which was bugging the hell outa me. Having the binding and full size inlays of the Standard would have been nice. But then at the price the shop was asking for no mere cosmetic plastic trim could justify the cost. Came with hard shell flight case (note to self need to get proper gibson brown and pink fluffy case).

As a rough idea I mainly play in a Rock sylee ala PJ Harvey/ Manic Street Preachers/ U2 to give a few examples. The Les Paul really suits my playing style, giving a really nice fat sound with a good bottom end and a brilliant tone to soloing. I am at the mo using a Valvestate VS230 combo (chorus) and a Boss DD-3 Pedal and the inclusion of the Les Paul has really made a difference compared to the borrowed Hondo II (Double cutaway humbucker copy). Further improvements could be made though that is in the area of the amp.
Whether clean or distorted it really sings in the tone and sustain department (this being my opinion other ears would probably hear different).

My one only complaint would be with a sound problem i've been getting recently. All of a sudden the sound on clean would die down and the sustain on distortion would fade. Now i've had the dodgy VS230 checked out and played with other guitars/ guitarists and nope not a problem. I suspect that the wire to the jack socket is faulty. On closer inspection i have found a serious bend in the wire (which is probably impeding the signal from the pots/ pickups). Other than that the finish is fine and the guitar still looks as new as when i bought it (okay i'll admit after a fair few gigs it bears it's small battle scars with pride, including the mark of forgetfulness when i forgot to take my belt off before playing).

Great live and fully dependable, though i am considering a Tele as backup. Note to others, i know its been mentioned more than once hear, but for a guitar that costs get strap locks for it, or you will hear the lovely sound of mahogany on stage floor (crack!!!). Will need to get new pickguard/ rear covers (they've cracked round the screw fittings due to cleaning (and sound problem mentioned earlier))

Never used though responded quickly when i contacted them, to find ut model etc...

I've been playing now for about ten years (7 of which in a band giging regularly). If lost it or if it was stolen i would be distraught, not only is this a great guitar but it is also a reminder of how i got to buy it (see above)... If i had the money i would buy a PRS, though how many guitars can you buy before you are satisfied (silly question)...

everybody knows this guitar so I don't have to explain it.the one I tried out was a lefthanded black studio.I didn't bought the guitar just tried them out.

the sound was awfull.I'm sorry I have to say.maybe that was because it was a lefthanded one I don't know.I tried it out with an Engl amp wich are very good amps.I just couldn't find a right sound with the pick up configuration.well the sustain was there no problem.but it didn't sound sweet or screaming warm.just harsh.I used to have a gibson studio that was okay.Actually I don't see why people are still buying them.they are way overpriced and there ar far better guitars on the market than gibson.And as a lefthanded guitarist they ask much more money.And you don't have a lot of options unless you are a millionaire.I think the people who buy them just don't know better or just buy it for the name.

okay

I purchased a gordon smith graduate 60 les paul model lefthanded.It cost a lot less than a studio and is superior to a gibson on price quality.the studio sounded like crap comparing to the graduate. Used to dream of gibsons and fenders and guitars like that.but now I know better they're just mass produced leftovers from the time they made quality.

mahogany body and neck maple top rosewood fretboard jumbo frets i hvae many in different colors including white pewter wine red black and red i love these guitars

im in a houston punk band called mist and i run these guitars through a mesa dual rectifier and it sounds amazing the pick ups have high gain but hvae a focused sound

every thing about them is great except the necks get stick because of the paint but thats just part of having a gibson

i play live with these all the time and they still hold strong but i would never gig with out a back up with these or with any guitar

havent had to deal with them

i have been playing for 10 years and im in a houston punk band called mist and we open for alot of the punk bands that come through here and i still havent found a problem with these but with my schecter c-1 and ibanez rg470 i constanly find myself out of tune with the other guitarist but these stay in tune i would recomend them to any guitarist