Les Paul Studio vs. Les Paul Standard

I am a young aspiring guitarist who has been playing for many years, however, I am not by any means wealthy. I was thinking of getting a job over the summer so I could buy a Les Paul. My question is what is the difference between the Standard and the Studio, besides the slight difference in the pickups? One of my friends said that the Standard is heavier which gives it a nicer tone but they didn't feel like either one was heavier than the other when I played it at the store.

the woods are different if I'm not mistaken, and the metal parts aren't of the same metal.

Of course LP's are a ripoff.
Its like everything else, you pay for the brand.
Sure epiphone sounds the same, but if
you want some luxury, if you want that "Gibson"
on the neck, you have to pay alot more.
Its nice to show your new Epiphone or Squier to
your friends, they are often just as good as the real deal,
but dont tell me you would like to have that famous "GIBSON" shining on the neck. I would.
And I dont want to hear any "O but the brand doesnt matter at all". Of course there are people that dont care about the brand, but Im sure that most people do.

I say this a lot, but I'll say it again. Look around for a Yamaha SBG 1000, 2000, or 3000 from the late 1970's to the mid-80's. I have an '86 SBG 1000 that I bought new. I've modified the wiring and the hardware a bit, as well as changed the pickups.

The 2000 & 3000 have fancier cosmetics, but the big difference is the brass block set into the body, under the bridge. The sustain available is amazing!

If you really want a Gibson, go for it. Though I think your ears might lead you in unexpected directions if you close your eyes while you make your selection.

THe only reason to buy a gibson is that you'll sell it for at least the amount you have bought it.

I've played Epiphones before and they are not nearly as nice as Gibsons are. I mean, they aren't $1000 cheaper just for the name. If that were true then capitalism would have either raised the price of Epiphones or lowered the price of Gibsons.

Originally posted by ZoSo
...I mean, they aren't $1000 cheaper just for the name. If that were true then capitalism would have either raised the price of Epiphones or lowered the price of Gibsons.

LOL... you've never ridden a Harley for any distance, have you?

yeah i got a gibson lp studio and put in a seymour duncan '59 in the neck and full shred in the bride pos. I havent found a better sounding guitar anywhere. When i test out epiphones at the store, they dont feel nearly as nice as a gibson. I agree with ZoSo.

:cool: Slasha

There is nothing wrong with the Epiphone LP copy, but if you have the money, I'd get the real deal. The new Les Paul Standards are way overpriced these days, but the guitar is made of better wood, has better hardware and electronics, and just sound better than the knockoff models. Sure you can always upgrade the electronics and hardware in a guitar like the Epiphone and it will sound good, but there is nothing that compares to the sound of a guitar that is made of quality wood. The Les Paul Standard definitely falls into that category. The Epiphones made today generally do not. If the Studio is made of the same wood as the Standard, I'd get it and upgrade the hardware and pickups if you needed to at a later date.

Pony One, I have to disagree on you about the neck difference between the LP and the Strat. I went in the music store wanting a LP Studio, but the neck was too big and uncomfortable, so I then played a fat strat and the neck was perfect. I loved how the edges were rolled off. But in the end like everyone else has said, it all depends on your feel and hearing, not the looks or name.

There is definitely a considerable amount of capitalism at play when it comes to the overpricing of Gibson guitars and I do agree with you that Epiphone makes some nice stuff. With that said, I still notice a difference in terms of overall sustain and response between the Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls. Mind you, I would not advocate buying a Les Paul for the ridiculous prices they charge these days, but there is a definite audible difference between the garden variety Gibson Les Paul Standard and the Epiphone Les Paul copy if you plug them in and play them without any effects.

I've got and epiphone LP Standard and a Squier Strat and I love them....wouldnt trade them for the real deal ever. I have to admit thought I've always wanted a Gibson LP Custom....basically becuse they suit my way of playing, they look good and yeah i admit it, they scream 'I got money' at anyone in the audience who knows their guitars.....but at least I know for sure I'm not one of these dumbasses who thinks you gotta spend a ****load of cash on gear just to sound good. I knew this kid back when i was at school whose parents were loaded and bought him a Guild SG copy, but his technique was abismal and for all his money he had no talent for music at al. I myself am happy with the sounds I can get at the moment on my two guitars and a Marshall Valvstate.

If your looking for the sound you like dont forget the amplifier provides a good deal towards this......that sounds really obvious but i've heard so many people play with expesive guitars and crap amps and they're sound isnt worth a damn.

Plugged one of these that a friend of mine got a while back into my musicman 50 watt and it sounded good...played real well...nice neck...pretty good fret job .Unfortunately I only played a few licks on it so I can't go much further but I did like it.

My bad Pony, I see what you're talking about now. Personaly the best feeling neck to me is the PRS "wide-fat" neck. To me it's neither wide, nore fat. My next favorite neck would have to be an Ibanez. I used to have an RG-420, and it had to be the easiest playing guitar. The neck was almost too small, but since I have small hands it fit just right.