In 1983, Gibson presented what was to soon become one of its most popular guitars, the Les Paul Studio. As its name suggests, the instrument was initially directed at studio guitarists who wanted the Les Paul trademark sound without all the aesthetic bells and whistles.
Eschewing such adornments as body and neck binding, the Gibson Les Paul Studio bears most elements that contribute to the Les Paul tone.
For starters, the Les Paul Studio bears a neck that is reminiscent of a classic 50\’s Les Paul, which helps add to the guitar\’s chunky, thick tone. The 490T and 490R pickups also exude the Les Paul sound in both lead and rhythm work.
Even though it was to begin with designed for use as a Studio instrument, several guitarists soon learned that the lighter weight made it perfect as a gigging guitar. Why? It\’s simple. The chambered body results in a lighter weight, which makes it desirable for 2-3 hour sets.
We went over a Les Paul Studio with a black finish and gold hardware, and we were very pleased with our findings. The fit and finish were simply first rate. The fretwork was impeccable and we couldn\’t find a single flaw with the finish.
It also sports a beautiful rosewood fretboard with immediately recognizable trapezoid inlays, a Les Paul hallmark. It played and sounded like Les Paul models costing hundreds if not thousands more.
So, the most substantial differences between a Studio model and, say, a Les Paul Standard are the neck binding and the lighter weight. The neck binding is just a matter of looks and doesn\’t affect sound or playability, and many guitarists really prefer the Les Paul Studio because of its lesser weight.
It\’s easy to see why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson\’s most popular models, and we give it our heartfelt recommendation.
If you want to find the best price on a Gibson Les Paul Studio, then there\’s only one place you need to shop. Ray\’s Guitar Shop has the best prices on all used and new guitars. It doesn\’t matter if you\’re looking for a B. C. Rich Warlock, a Carvin CT6M, a Fender Stratocaster, or a Gibson Flying V, Ray\’s is the place.
