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...