In the market for a Les Paul, should go Studio or Special??

[2taall]

Hey all,

I am looking for a Les Paul. I would love to buy the Standard, but I really can't justify the cost of one as I am not a professional musician, or even in a band. This puts me in a situation of buying either a Humbucker equipped Les Paul Special for 450-500 used, or a used Les Paul Studio for around 600-700.

Can anyone tell me the differences tonally from the Special and the Studio.

Thanks.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: In the market for a Les Paul, should go Studio or Special??

Specials are all mahogany, Studios are mahogany with a maple cap (you'll get a brighter tone due to the maple cap). Studios are generally much better guitars (much less quality control issues). I've played several Specials where my hands nearly got torn from bad fretwork. Studios are well worth the extra coin, I feel a good one can even give some Standards and Classics a run for their money.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: In the market for a Les Paul, should go Studio or Special??

A few things that would make a difference to me, but you would have to play them before you'd know which feels/sounds better to you.

SPECIAL- Thinner 60's slim taper neck, All mahogany body (which will give you a slightly warmer overall sound than a regular les paul in most cases) Thinner body (less mass) does not have a carved top. Should have the same pickups as the studio, although some versions like the double cut come with p90's (single coils).

STUDIO- Thicker 59' rounded neck, Mahogany body with maple top (more balanced tone), Has a carved (contoured) top. Pretty good humbucker pickups just like the Special (they're not bad for stock pickups). The Studio will weigh more than the special. I think the fit and finish on the studios is a notch above the special.

You might want to double check my specs, I'm spittin this out of memory.
Both the prices seem on par for used price considering their respective retail prices.

Personally, I have played quite a few Epiphone les pauls in the last year that were much better than anything they were making a few years ago, they are a very good deal for 379.00$ on most online stores. I wouldn't have a preference between a good one of these and the Gibson studios.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: In the market for a Les Paul, should go Studio or Special??

I'd get the nicest Studio you can find for the money. Maybe try to snipe one off Ebay, and save yourself a few hundred.

Another nice guitar in the $500 price range is the PRS Singlecut and Custom SE's. Also, some of the Washburns.