Les Paul Studio versus other Les Paul models

[joebloggs]

I also own a 2016 Les Paul Studio Faded. I have swapped out the BB Pros for a custom set of PAFs and vintage wiring. The guitar feels fantastic to play and now sounds as good as any LP STD.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by joebloggs

I also own a 2016 Les Paul Studio Faded. I have swapped out the BB Pros for a custom set of PAFs and vintage wiring. The guitar feels fantastic to play and now sounds as good as any LP STD.

Sweet. What's the custom set?

[joebloggs]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Sweet. What's the custom set?

They are Monty's PAFs. Worth the money IMHO. The middle position now gives me a fat sounding Tele bite. They are outstanding.
https://www.montysguitars.com/collec...paf-pickup-set

https://youtu.be/HTdcl-2Nkb0

[C-ville Brent]

I'm fortunate enough to own two Gibson Les Pauls. A Studio and a Traditonal. The Studio has 490R/490T pickups and the Traditional (2014) has 59 Tribute humbuckers although they seem to have only made them, at least with that name, for a couple of years. The Traditional has all the binding and is noticeably heavier with a more robust neck. Although they sound different, they both sound like Les Pauls. I don't think you're sacrificing a lot of sound with the studio, generally no binding.

I toured the Gibson factory in Memphis a few years ago. They generally make hollow and semi-hollow body guitars there. There was a room full of folks with razor blades scraping paint off of binding. I asked the guide why they didn't just mask the binding before spraying and was told that doing that didn't work well. I guess that's at least some of the extra cost when getting an LP with binding.

[LyleGorch]

Throbak 101’s and 50’s wiring did my LP Limited a world of good.

[PAPADON]

This one sounds and plays


as good as this one


and on some days this one is better than both.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by C-ville Brent

I'm fortunate enough to own two Gibson Les Pauls. A Studio and a Traditonal. The Studio has 490R/490T pickups and the Traditional (2014) has 59 Tribute humbuckers although they seem to have only made them, at least with that name, for a couple of years. The Traditional has all the binding and is noticeably heavier with a more robust neck. Although they sound different, they both sound like Les Pauls. I don't think you're sacrificing a lot of sound with the studio, generally no binding.

I toured the Gibson factory in Memphis a few years ago. They generally make hollow and semi-hollow body guitars there. There was a room full of folks with razor blades scraping paint off of binding. I asked the guide why they didn't just mask the binding before spraying and was told that doing that didn't work well. I guess that's at least some of the extra cost when getting an LP with binding.

Gibson tends to get a lot of flak on their pickups but I like them a lot. The 490R/490T is a great combo (my studio has the 490R/498T, which is a hotter set). The 57 classics are well respected too. I haven't played the new 59s yet.

Thanks for the info on the paint/binding. I didn't know that. Guessing that pulling the tape up could potentially pull up some paint too?

[Beachrunner]

I've got an Alpine White 2013 Studio and I really love it. Has a nice weight at 8.08 lb. Great feel, tone, and playability with this one. I picked this one out of four others offered at the time, at Sam Ash. It was definitely the pick of the litter.

It's got the coil-tapped 490/498 pickups - and while they aren't my preferred pickups, they do sound good in this one, so they're staying.

It's got the granadillo fretboard, but mine has one of the darker granadillo boards.

Here are the specs taken off the Gibson site:

Mahogany body with Solid Carved Maple top
Mahogany neck with slim, fast ™60s-style profile
Coil-tapped 490R and 498T humbucking pickups in the neck and bridge
Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
TonePros vintage style tuners with 16:1 tuning ratio
Includes Gibson hardshell case

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Beachrunner

I've got an Alpine White 2013 Studio and I really love it. Has a nice weight at 8.08 lb. Great feel, tone, and playability with this one. I picked this one out of four others offered at the time, at Sam Ash. It was definitely the pick of the litter.

It's got the coil-tapped 490/498 pickups - and while they aren't my preferred pickups, they do sound good in this one, so they're staying.

It's got the granadillo fretboard, but mine has one of the darker granadillo boards.

Here are the specs taken off the Gibson site:

Mahogany body with Solid Carved Maple top
Mahogany neck with slim, fast ™60s-style profile
Coil-tapped 490R and 498T humbucking pickups in the neck and bridge
Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
TonePros vintage style tuners with 16:1 tuning ratio
Includes Gibson hardshell case

<<snippet pic>>


<<snippet pic>>

What a beautiful Les Paul! Sometime special about a white or creme Les Paul (or SG). My wine red Studio has the 490R/498T and I like them - great for hard rock and metal. 498T is probably a little too hot for mostly cleaner stuff.

[Beachrunner]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

What a beautiful Les Paul! Sometime special about a white or creme Les Paul (or SG). My wine red Studio has the 490R/498T and I like them - great for hard rock and metal. 498T is probably a little too hot for mostly cleaner stuff.

Thanks, Dru.

Yeah, the Alpine White finish on this one is blindingly white (which I love), and it should yellow up some with age, but it's still pretty white after 6 years!

You are spot on with the verdict on the 498's. Great for gain and the hard stuff, but not so great with cleans.

I've got an SG and a 335 w/ 57's for those cleans, though!

[PTony]

I found this very interesting...specifically how it relates to Epiphone/Gibson.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u0I5Xc1rk-c

Having owned Les Paul’s in various forms I can add that wiring (pots, caps, switches, jacks, and even the wire used) greatly affects tone (this isn’t limited to just LP’s). Typically higher end guitars get better quality wiring. Of course they also can have better pickups, tuners, nut, saddle, etc...but wiring is often underestimated. Quality wiring and a 50’s wiring schematic on a LP are a must. And, those two items alone greatly effect the tone.

Typically upgrading those items costs around $100 (parts). I’ve done it MANY times. If you can solder, read a wiring diagram, and have some time... these are easily attainable upgrades that can be done without paying a luthier. And, imho should be done before ever considering swapping pickups. Many pickups aren’t as bad as they may seem...if they’re adjusted properly.

What does all of that mean? Well, in my experience, and imho, you can easily have a quality LP for FAR less than the price of a Standard. I’ve said it before, and it’s worth repeating...I believe a person should buy a guitar blindfolded and base purchases off of feel, tone, and comfort. I think many would be shocked to find that they prefer a “lower priced/valued” model. Sometimes our eyes lead us when in all reality, our ears and hands should have the ultimate say.

Just my opinion. Ymmv, etc.

Enjoy your new LP. Sounds like you’ve got a great guitar.

[aknow]

Every Studio, especially models after 2010 have had bad, muddy sounding pickups. Unnecessarily heavy and clunky, they're usually losers.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by C-ville Brent

There was a room full of folks with razor blades scraping paint off of binding. I asked the guide why they didn't just mask the binding before spraying and was told that doing that didn't work well. I guess that's at least some of the extra cost when getting an LP with binding.

Could be urban legend, and maybe you learned about this in your tour..

I have heard that to be properly trained to install and complete the binding work at Gibson, it's like a 2 year apprentice ship the builders have to go through until they are able to handle it on their own.

[Beachrunner]

Originally Posted by aknow

Every Studio, especially models after 2010 have had bad, muddy sounding pickups. Unnecessarily heavy and clunky, they're usually losers.

Thank you for your very knowledgable Gibson Les Paul Studio expertise.

I will immediately be throwing mine in the trash now since they are such disgusting instruments.

So I am really glad that I read your post. I would have stupidly just kept on enjoying mine for years to come, had I not read your very informed opinion. Thanks again!

[PAPADON]

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Originally Posted by rmp

Could be urban legend, and maybe you learned about this in your tour..

I have heard that to be properly trained to install and complete the binding work at Gibson, it's like a 2 year apprentice ship the builders have to go through until they are able to handle it on their own.

I've got an ES 137 Custom that is a sweet sounding and playing guitar but to that I would say that in traditional Gibson fashion they went ahead and sent their "D" students directly to the production line. I know that because mine and others I've tried have the most atrocious binding transitions that I've ever come across even on budget priced off shore imports. The pronounced ridge between the body and the binding on a guitar at this price range is nothing less than disgraceful.