Pros: Mind-blowing tone, massive sustain, Gibson guitars maintain good dollar value - a good investment.
Cons: Read my review...
The Bottom Line: The New Les Paul Standard is for guitarist looking to own the Industry Standard! It's tone, sustain and playability is second to none...
vanwarp's Full Review: Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar
In 2002, the Gibson Les Paul Standard was updated with vintage-style new Burstbucker V pickups w/Alnico magnets and it also sports a smaller, vintage style headstock and plastic "keystone" tuner buttons. Furthermore, it has a "fat" '50s style neck, but it is also available with a "fast," slim taper '60s style neck.
Now, if you’re going to own a Les Paul Standard, it may as well be a Gibson, right! Well, only if you own a Marshall! Why? Cause a Gibson into a Marshall is a match made in heaven...otherwise you better test drive first to make sure your new guitar matches whatever amp you own. Although I'll agree that any 2000$ guitar should sound very good when played through just about any amp.
What you get essentially with a new Gibson Les Paul Standard, is a center-joined figured maple cap which sits on a base of South American mahogany complete with a nitrocellulose finish. All of this to provide you with that classic warm biting sound that the Les Paul Standard was designed to create in the first place. The new models come without the pickguard attached but they provide one in case you decide to have it installed...
Another minor modification that I like and think that it actually helps to make it look better is that the hardware is now nickel instead of chrome-plated. Everything else is as you'd expect to find it with: Kluson-style tulip heads, a tune-o-matic bridge with a stud tailpiece, small alloy strap buttons, a Rosewood fingerboard equipped with 22 medium size frets and pearl trapezoid inlays, two pairs of amber colored plastic knobs to control the volume and tone for each humbucker and, a three-way shoulder-mounted toggle switch.
So how does it actually sound and play?
The new specifically voiced “Burstbuckers” recreate that classic vintage tone, that fat, warm and crisp sound that the Les Paul Standard is noted for. The neck pick-up is great for leads, a wonderful fat, creamy sound. The bridge pick-up has a very decent biting sound ideal for distortion. Both rear and front pick-ups combine for a nice heavy sound. If you’re looking for a Zeppelin-like tone, then look no further.
Factory set-up was flawless. The guitar comes equipped with 10's which is the string gauge I regularly use and prefer. I love how it looks and I really love how it sounds, simply a lot of fun to play.
Les Pauls are somewhat heavy, and if you sweat a lot the nitrocellulose finish tends to get sticky. Keep a damp cloth close to wipe the neck clean and smooth. Moreover, bumping your guitar onto vinyl, rubber or any hard surface will leave disgusting marks on your nitrocellulose finish, bummer!
Whenever I test drive a new electric guitar, I play it unplugged. I cautiously listen for the acoustic sound of the guitar unplugged. If the guitar sounds good unplugged, I plug it into an amp. If I don’t like how it sounds through that amp, I plug it into another amp. If I still don’t like how it sounds, well...one could always replace the pick-ups. This is a good way to find an excellent deal on a second hand guitar. If by chance the guitar sounds horrible unplugged and trust me on this - ‘cos it really doesn’t matter how good the guitar looks - there is simply no replacement pick-up that will make that guitar sing. This is my method of distinguishing between the real deal and a potential lemon.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
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Gibson Les Paul Studio Worn Electric Guitar; A no-frills studio guitar with all the tonal characteristics you love in a Les Paul. Get your fill of T...More at American Musical Supply
Gibson Les Paul Studio Worn Electric Guitar; A no-frills studio guitar with all the tonal characteristics you love in a Les Paul. Get your fill of T...More at American Musical Supply
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
The arrival of the Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar in 1983 offered guitarists all the essential elements of a Les Paul Standard, including a ca...More at Amazon Marketplace
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