All the Les Paul models have me confused.

Top Jimmy

Top Jimmy

New member
I would like to buy a Les Paul in the near future but the models confuse me.
Standard, Standard Traditional Pro/Plus/etc, Studio, Studio Deluxe, Custom, Deluxe, each seeming to have sub groupings.

Is the basic progression: Studio, Standard Traditional, Standard, Deluxe, Custom? Is there overlap, say a Studio Deluxe is better than a standard traditional?

Some have Brobuckers and 57's, Studios have 490R's, some P-90's, which is the classic Les Paul pickup? I'm assuming the 490R is the worst since it's on the cheapest model.

Neck shapes different per model?

Are they all chambered now?

I read the wiki and went through musicians friend trying to sort it all out and I'm still not sure.

The Studio seems like a good value, is there something I'm missing out on compared to the Standard Traditional or Standard other than cosmetics?

And yes, I will play them before buying, I just like to know my stuff before going in.
 
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Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

Yes, that is the basic progression.

You've pretty much got a handle on it

Gibson is the Seymour Duncan of guitars with confusing / overlapping product lines and non-intuitive names :D
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

I'm no expert, but I'll try to not give you too much bad info.

Studio is kind of the bottom of the heap for USA Gibsons (for the most part anyway) - In this case it means no binding on the body and neck, typically a less-nice-looking maple top, and a silk-screened rather than inlayed Gibson logo.

Standard and Standard Traditional are more or less at the same level - each just having different features. The Traditional is basically what you'd expect from a Les Paul (except in this case it is weight-relieved). The "regular" Standard has an asymmetrical neck profile, chambered body, TonePros hardware, locking Neutrik jack, locking tuners, etc. So mostly things you might consider upgrades, but if you want a regular neck and not chambered, you'll have to go with the Traditional.

The Les Paul Deluxe (I am pretty sure) is not in production these days. On a Deluxe you would find similar appointments to a LP Standard, but with mini-humbuckers. These days it just seems like Gibson is using "Deluxe" as a way to denote models which are slightly-dressed-up versions of other models. (see Studio Deluxe)

The Les Paul Custom is, first of all, made by the Custom Shop dept. As for tangible differences, they have different pickups (490R/498T), ebony fretboard, more binding, fancier inlays, etc. I think at some points in Gibson's history the Custom model has been all mahogany, but at this point I think they are using a maple top.

As for your other questions, most people would probably call an original PAF the "classic" LP pickup. I think Gibson has made most of their pickup models to be more-or-less PAF-ish.

Neck shapes do differ per model - you can find out what neck is on each model on the Gibson site.

LP Standards (not traditional) are chambered, I think most of the other models are just weight-relieved.
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

If you go on Ebay and sort all the Gibson Les Pauls from highest to lowest in price, it'll put everything into clear perspective. Then at least you'll see what you're able to afford. For me, used Standards on Craigslist are the best use of funds. I'd do that before ever buying a new Studio model.
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

All studios but the studio deluxe are chambered, the deluxe is weight relived 9 hole swiss cheese.
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

I wish they would have left it the way it was a few years ago.....Studio, Classic, Standard, Custom. It was much easier to figure out what was what and what their appointments were. I can't even keep up with what is what nowadays.
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

I would say you could add the following (from entry on up):

USA Studio Faded Series
USA Tribute Studio Series
USA Studio (gloss)
USA Studio Plus
Standard
Standard Traditional
Custom

There are variations of each, but that is the basic layout. As for pickups... individual preference really. The 490r is not really the "cheapest" since it comes as the neck pup on the Standard (or did, at least).
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

AniML said:
Gibson is the Seymour Duncan of guitars with confusing / overlapping product lines and non-intuitive names :D
Click to expand...

Do you think they are worst than Fender?

Standard, American Standard, Highway 1, American Special, Special Edition, Deluxe, American Deluxe, Road Worn, Classic, Classic Player and now - the Road Worn Classic Player.


Take that Gibson! Fender wins again. :nana:
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

Top Jimmy said:
Is the basic progression: Studio, Standard Traditional, Standard, Deluxe, Custom? Is there overlap, say a Studio Deluxe is better than a standard traditional?

Some have Brobuckers and 57's, Studios have 490R's, some P-90's, which is the classic Les Paul pickup? I'm assuming the 490R is the worst since it's on the cheapest model.
Click to expand...

I think you have the order right.

In my opinion though, there is no overlap. Anything in the studio line (with exceptions of course), will not have "better" features than a traditional or standard. They are deluxe, when it comes to the studio line. If you hop to the next section (Trads and Standards), you hit another level.

And if you asked me which is the classic LP pickup, I would have to go with the 57classic neck, and 57 classic plus bridge. They are pretty, pretty sweet.
 
Re: All the Les Paul models have me confused.

Wow. I am definitely confused, though you never know what some off-kilter thinking might bring. I think the late 80s/early 90s V90s were some of the best guitars ever slapped together in Nashville, made, it seems, by slapping bits and pieces and features from other guitars on a V. Those 60s Tributes sure do look cool...
 
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