Reviewed by:
DIMEinOURheart, on july 19, 2007 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 1106
Purchased from: Guitar Works
Features: I bought this guitar in early 05 and was made in the USA. It has 22 frets on a Ebony neck. The body is made out of solid mahogany and is Alppine white in colour and has gold hardware. The guitar originally had Gibson pickups, 2 humbuckers in a 3 way configuration but I switched them to EMG 81-85's. One of the great things about the guitar is the case Gibson gives you. Extremely well built and locks up. // 9
Sound: This guitar is perfect for my playing styles. From the influences of JImmy Page and Zakk Wylde it suits both styles. My setup uses lots of distortion so one of the key things I wanted was very little noise and a lot of sustain. The guitar makes very little noise if any until you really crank up the power. To describe the tone on this guitar I would say it has very good low end and Smooth highs. This guitar can play almost any style from metal to jazz. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: This guitar had absolutely no flaws from what I could see. The beautiful white fininsh looked exactly the way it did on their site. With the style of music that I play the action was set up almost as if I set it up my self. Just low enough to the fret board that I could rip through scale and high enough that there was no buzzing. The only problem that I had was the pickup selector and it was fixed in minutes when I brought it back in to the store. // 10
Reliability & Durability: This guitar is extremely reliable and built like a tank. Since I got the selector fixed I have had no problems with it and needed no repairs. There is only one thing that has bothered me and that is he bridges gold finish has started to fade just a little bit. I do suggest that you do put strap locks on the guitar because like most Gibsons they put tiny little strap buttons. Other then those 2 problem I haven't had any problems. // 9
Impression: I love to play metal and this guitar is a perfect match. After 4 years of playing I still haven't found a better guitar then this for me. The Sound is amazing, comes at a cheap price, likes are stunning, and is totally reliable. I don't wanna be one of those people that say they would buy it again if it were stolen but I think I would. If you're strapped for cash get this guitar and if you're not buy a Gibson Custom. // 10
Reviewed by:
ShimmyShimmy, on december 08, 2006 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 1200
Purchased from: Guitar Center
Features: I have the 2003 model. It was proudly made in the USA! The flamed Maple top is not the best quality, but then again I never wanted the studio model, it was just given to me because the store ordered the wrong thing. Of course since is is a Les it is going to be made of a nice piece of warm sounding Mahogany, which gives an awesome fat tone. The tuners hold the strings tuning very well, but after the years of work this guitar has done they don't do the same job they used to, but they still do it well. // 10
Sound: I play mostly punk, pop rock, '80s shred and metal. I bought this guitar for one reason and that was for the tone. I love the les paul's tone and in my opinion it is the best guitar for recording. The neck is no Jackson or Ibanez, but for my band it gets the job done. The guitar makes no extra noise what'soever. I would say that you can get pretty much any type of sound you want out of this guitar depending on your amp settings. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was pretty much perfect out of the box. I have Faith in the Gibson quality. They know how to do their shit. I love it. The action and playability are what you would expect out of a Les Paul if you are familiar with them. Not the best not the worst, it is no Jackson, but again it does what it was made to do very well. // 9
Reliability & Durability: Ultra reliable. This thing is a rock. I have never had a problem with it. The reliabilty is unmatched, the durability is legendary. I use this guitar at every gig, and usually don't bring a backup unless I am on tour. Speaking of touring my guitar has seen it's share of abuse on stage and on the road, and it never fails me. // 10
Impression: I have been playing for the better part of 8 years. If it was stolen I would be forced to buy another because I couldn't record without my les paul tone. I couldn't Live without this tone, I know tone is preference, but for the most part it gives that big guitar tone that everyone loves. I couldn't really say I hate anything about this guitar because I knew when I bought it I would not be able to do whammy bar dives and shred on the upper frets. If that is the kind of guitar you are looking for check out a Jackson or Ibanez. That is your guitar! // 10
Reviewed by:
|T4Z|, on october 16, 2006 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: Long and Mcquade
Features: The Les Paul Studio Plus is made from a select, solid mahogany body with a two-piece book-matched, AA grade maple top. My sample came in a beautiful desert sunburst with plenty of flame maple showing through. The top appears less thick than the carved top on my 1998 Les Paul Standard, and there is no body or neck binding. But to my eye, those omissions do not take away from the eye-pleasing appearance. The guitar has a 24.75-inch scale, 22-fret neck with the typical Gibson trapezoid inlays. It feels similar, but with a little less girth, to the current Les Paul Standard neck. The head stock is adorned with gold plated Kluson Vintage style tuners, and the 17-degree head stock angle ensures the infamous Les Paul sustain. Besides the gold Klusons, other gold plated hardware includes the tune-o-matic bridge, stop-bar tailpiece, Gibson’s 498 bridge humbucker and 490R neck humbucker, selector Switch, strap hangers and volume and tone pots (black "speed" knobs). The PUs, which are often described as PAF-like with extra midrange and output, come standard on many guitars including the Les Paul Standard. The Studio Plus includes the same high quality Gibson case that the Standard ships with. A trans red color option is also available for the guitar. // 10
Sound: The guitar came with Gibson .09-.42 strings and were promptly changed to .10-.46 sized strings, which are my personal favorites. Set up was excellent from the factory with intonation dead on, even with the string change. I did notice that the "B" string saddle rattled when I bent a note on that string. I turned the screw a few turns and then readjusted the intonation. That took care of the loose spring. I played the Les Paul Studio Plus through a 1966 Deluxe Reverb, 1999 Fender Twin Reverb reissue, a Marshall JCM2000 DSL201, and a solid state Fender Deluxe 90. Through all the amps the guitar was pure Gibson tone. It sounds like a Les Paul, but the character is slightly darker. Acoustically, my Les Paul Standard rings with more treble because of the thicker maple top. The Les Paul Studio Plus is more mahogany sounding with a warm compressed tone, great for power chords and neck PU jazz runs. The excellent sustain was as good as my Standard. All this Gibson Les Paul sound comes from a significantly lighter guitar than my Standard — which is a whale in terms of weight. The Studio Plus is so much easier to play when strapped around your neck. This is a Les Paul a little guy can play. One caveat: the guitar still weighs enough to snap off the steeply angled head stock if it falls on a hard surface. Keep it in the case or locked in a stand. I had no complaints with the Studio Plus. The only thing I would change are the PUs. I like the 490/498 PUs, but I like the Classic 57/57 Plus PUs a little bit more for clean work. They are not quite as sharp in the midrange. // 7
Action, Fit & Finish: As previously mentioned, the guitar has a 24.75" scale, 22-fret neck with the typical Gibson trapezoid inlays. It feels similar, but with a little less girth, to the current Les Paul Standard neck. The head stock is adorned with gold plated Kluson Vintage style tuners, and the 17-degree head stock angle ensures the infamous Les Paul sustain. Besides the gold Klusons, other gold plated hardware includes the tune-o-matic bridge, stop-bar tailpiece, Gibson’s 498 bridge humbucker and 490R neck humbucker, selector switch, strap hangers and volume and tone pots (black "speed" knobs). The PUs, which are often described as PAF-like with extra midrange and output— come standard on many guitars including the Les Paul Standard. // 9
Reliability & Durability: The Les Paul is Often played live, and the guitar will withstand years of durability. With Solid hardwear and strap buttons, it would withstand a lot of playing, depenable enough to bring it to a gig without a backup! The finish is perhaps one of it's better qualties, will withstand lots of playing and will last year. // 8
Impression: The Gibson folks were excited about the introduction of this new product and rightly so. The Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus is one great humbucker guitar! It is lighter, less expensive, sounds like a premium Les Paul and has a killer look. What else do you want? // 6
Reviewed by:
vampwizzard, on july 18, 2006 0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Features: 2006 Made in USA from Gibson, 22 fret maple topped mahogony, mahogony necked Les Paul Studio. The deluxe is a new line from Gibson this year. The finish is a natural blonde color, which is fantastically done. Tune-O-Matic bridge, standard Les Paul controls. I'm not sure what the stock pickups are, but they are alright. Nothing special, but definately to standard with other Gibsons. Non-locking tuners. Came with hardcase and care kit. Pretty standard Barebones maple topped Les Paul Studio. // 9
Sound: I play in a rock and roll outfit, and I was testing guitars in the 1,000 dollar range. I wanted a Les Paul for the tonal differences from our lead player's Strat. This thing delivers. Mahogany is its own distinct sound. For most Studios, the problem is how muddy they sound because of the large mahogany body. The other studios were way too dark toned for my ear. The maple top made a huge difference. The notes were crisper and the whole sound thickened and was more puncuated. The Les Paul sound is, the Les Paul sound. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set up terribly from the factory. The strings were not wound on well enough to maintain tuning, and the strings were not that old. The guitar's top was a little improperly lined up but it was still a fantastic top. Everything else seemed to be ok. Not the type of setup youd expect for a guitar that expensive. // 7
Reliability & Durability: I played the thing for almost 2 hours in the shop through all of the amps. Les Pauls are built like tanks, always have been, always will be. The finish was top notch on the top, but id be wary of the other areas. The back and neck would probably get dinged pretty well over time. However, that is true with most guitars. // 8
Impression: Overall, I decided to pass on this guitar. The reason was the price/quality. I didn't want to pay 1,300 for a Gibson LP that wasn't quite up to sound, finish, and the setup was terrible. I would've felt much more comfortable with a higher quality instrument. I would say it's a great guitar, but the one I played in the shop was not setup well. // 8
Marco89
: Nice looks! Saw it in the shop in the rootbear finish I guess.. The same one as on the picture. Nice looking guitar, looks better than the LP standard plain tops to me... But I say gibson is going backwards, I hear lot of complains about the factory setup. It has to be perfect for this price ey? POSTED: 07/19/2006 - 03:18 pm / quote|
vampwizzard
: I really disliked the lack of tonal diversity.. it went from muddy to muddier when i tried it in the shop. And that was with treble way up. IDK i might just not be able to control an LP like a strat. POSTED: 07/20/2006 - 07:44 pm / quote|
sk8nroknazn
: I have this guitar in amberburst and I personally think the cleans are amazing with the stock Gibson pickups, although for leads, they weren't hot enough (go figure). so I replaced the pickups with the EMG Zakk Wylde set recently and it sounds amazing now, highs are nice and defined and the lows aren't as muddy. POSTED: 07/22/2006 - 02:50 pm / quote|
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