Gibson has unveiled the latest evolution of its Studio range of Les Pauls, overhauling the fan-favorite gateway electric guitar with smart new features, electronics and aesthetics. The Les Paul Studio has long been a staple of Gibson’s six-string stable, and has been seen as the go-to mid-range LP for those who want a genuine Gibson build but don’t fancy forking out for a more expensive Standard, which start from around $2,599. With that in mind, these updated Studios weigh in at exactly $1k cheaper than the Standard instruments they’re inspired by, but they come with a suite of appointments that lift the humble, no-frills range to new heights.
To start with, the Les Paul Studio offers an Ultra-Modern weight-relieved mahogany body, in a bid to make this version “lighter and more comfortable to play”. It’s joined by a plain maple cap, as well as a SlimTaper profile mahogany neck. Elsewhere, there’s a 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard, which arrives with some tasty binding.
Studio ’boards are usually unbound – save a few rare limited runs – so this extra touch (along with the acrylic Trapezoid inlays) brings the model cosmetically closer to its source material. As for hardware, there are 22 medium jumbo frets, a Graph Tech nut, Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons – which return to the fray after previously getting relegated in favor of Grover Rotomatics – and the standard Stop Bar/Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge combo. The most intriguing appointme.