Various Les Pauls
I have recently become interested in picking up a Les Paul but am unfamiliar with the practical differences among the several models and would love some information on this. Thanks.
# 1
Arnold,
I am planning on purchasing a Faded Cherry Les Paul Studio, so in my excitement I have researched a lot on Les Pauls. Here are some basics:
To create a foundation on which to explain other Les Pauls, we will start with the Standard. The Standard is just what it sounds like, Gibson's standard for their most famous guitar. It has a bound and chambered mahogany body with a maple cap. It has Burstbucker Pro pickups, and acrylic inlays. The price at Guitar Center for these is about $2,700. Expensive, but you are getting THE Les Paul.
Next in line on the price range, are Les Paul Traditional Pros, these are about $2,000. These guitars were built for the traditionalists who prefer an unchambered body.These guitars also have the cosmetics of an older guitar, like creame-colored pickguards. The pickups are a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position, and a '57 Classic in the neck. It has a 60's neck, which is slimmer than other types, like the 50's. The pickups can also be split so they act like single coils rather than humbuckers. I have played these, and it was a decent guitar, I just can't help but love the Faded Studio though...
Next are Studios, these were made for musicians who could not afford the price of Standards, but still wanted a great playing and sounding Les Paul. Regular Studios have un-bound bodies and " less appealing finishes" than the Standards flame maple designs, though I think they still look nice. So it was the aesthetics that were removed to make a Studio, not he tone, nor the playability.Regular Studios have 490r pickups in the neck and 498t pickups in the bridge.In my opinion, still great guitars.These guitars cost about $13,000.
Finally, my dream guitar, the Faded Studio. The Faded Studio is a Studio without a glossy top, allowing the mahogany to show it;s beauty. Yes, mahogany! Theses guitars have mahogany bodies AND mahogany caps, producing a warmer sound rather than the maple cap's tone with more clarity.These guitars have Burstbucker Pro pickups like the Standard, and cost $800.
Gibson has many other Les Paul models, like the Custom, Supreme, BFG, Dusk Tiger, and various artist series guitars. These are just the more modest (in both price and concept) Les Pauls that I happen to know about.
If you need more clarification on pickup types, binding, guitars, or anything else, just check out Gibson's website, www.gibson.com to find your answers. Hope this helped.
Your fellow guitarist,
Blueknight
I am planning on purchasing a Faded Cherry Les Paul Studio, so in my excitement I have researched a lot on Les Pauls. Here are some basics:
To create a foundation on which to explain other Les Pauls, we will start with the Standard. The Standard is just what it sounds like, Gibson's standard for their most famous guitar. It has a bound and chambered mahogany body with a maple cap. It has Burstbucker Pro pickups, and acrylic inlays. The price at Guitar Center for these is about $2,700. Expensive, but you are getting THE Les Paul.
Next in line on the price range, are Les Paul Traditional Pros, these are about $2,000. These guitars were built for the traditionalists who prefer an unchambered body.These guitars also have the cosmetics of an older guitar, like creame-colored pickguards. The pickups are a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position, and a '57 Classic in the neck. It has a 60's neck, which is slimmer than other types, like the 50's. The pickups can also be split so they act like single coils rather than humbuckers. I have played these, and it was a decent guitar, I just can't help but love the Faded Studio though...
Next are Studios, these were made for musicians who could not afford the price of Standards, but still wanted a great playing and sounding Les Paul. Regular Studios have un-bound bodies and " less appealing finishes" than the Standards flame maple designs, though I think they still look nice. So it was the aesthetics that were removed to make a Studio, not he tone, nor the playability.Regular Studios have 490r pickups in the neck and 498t pickups in the bridge.In my opinion, still great guitars.These guitars cost about $13,000.
Finally, my dream guitar, the Faded Studio. The Faded Studio is a Studio without a glossy top, allowing the mahogany to show it;s beauty. Yes, mahogany! Theses guitars have mahogany bodies AND mahogany caps, producing a warmer sound rather than the maple cap's tone with more clarity.These guitars have Burstbucker Pro pickups like the Standard, and cost $800.
Gibson has many other Les Paul models, like the Custom, Supreme, BFG, Dusk Tiger, and various artist series guitars. These are just the more modest (in both price and concept) Les Pauls that I happen to know about.
If you need more clarification on pickup types, binding, guitars, or anything else, just check out Gibson's website, www.gibson.com to find your answers. Hope this helped.
Your fellow guitarist,
Blueknight
# 2
Nice info blueknight. :D
I would add that there are neck radius differences too. There is the 50's era style which is rounder/thinker and on various 50's reissues and the current Studio. The 60's era profile such as on the Traditional which is slimmer and more tapered then the 50's. Then the Asymetrical such as on the current Standard.
While the beefier neck radius like the 50's profile will add to the tone and sustain a bit, it may be a consideration depending on the size of your hand. My ES has a 50's radius neck and is still pretty comfortable to play and my hands are not particularly large. Still, neck radius is a consideration.
I would add that there are neck radius differences too. There is the 50's era style which is rounder/thinker and on various 50's reissues and the current Studio. The 60's era profile such as on the Traditional which is slimmer and more tapered then the 50's. Then the Asymetrical such as on the current Standard.
While the beefier neck radius like the 50's profile will add to the tone and sustain a bit, it may be a consideration depending on the size of your hand. My ES has a 50's radius neck and is still pretty comfortable to play and my hands are not particularly large. Still, neck radius is a consideration.
# 3