blake da teleman
New member
whats the difference between the lp standards and customs? just curious.
lp standards vs. custom?
- Thread starter blake da teleman
- Start date
Hellion
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
The early LP Customs had a solid bookmatched body usually made out of mahogany. The Standards had a maple cap laminated to the mahogany body. I know, it seems like it should be the other way around. Later, they started putting maple caps on both. Customs usually have gold plated hardware, Standards are nickel or chrome. Customs have the big pearloid peghead inlay, Standards have the signature. Customs have large rectangular fretboard inlays and multi-ply binding, Standards have trapezoidal inlays and less intricate binding. Does that help?
The early LP Customs had a solid bookmatched body usually made out of mahogany. The Standards had a maple cap laminated to the mahogany body. I know, it seems like it should be the other way around. Later, they started putting maple caps on both. Customs usually have gold plated hardware, Standards are nickel or chrome. Customs have the big pearloid peghead inlay, Standards have the signature. Customs have large rectangular fretboard inlays and multi-ply binding, Standards have trapezoidal inlays and less intricate binding. Does that help?
jmh151
Active member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Cosmetics, and different fingerboard wood which may add a slight brighter tone to the Custom.
Customs have multi layer binding on the front, back, and headstock and single layer on the fretboard, which I understand is very labor intensive and expensive to do. The Standards only have a single layer on the top and neck. The Customs have a large inlaid mother of pearl diamond motif on the headstock which again, is expensive to do, standards have a silkscreened Les paul logo, but both share a pearl inlaid gibson logo. Customs have ebony fretboards which are a few buck more than the rosewood used on standards. Customs have real mother of pearl block fingerboard inlays, (expensive) standards have plastic perloid trapezoid inlays (cheap). Customs have gold hardware, (more xpensive, but not much) standards have nickel hardware. Finally, the pickups- new customs have 490/498 pickups, standards have the newer and more favorable burstbuckers.
On the used guitar market, customs and standards arn't that different in price. However, new, Customs are about $700 more, and you're generally just paying for cosmetics.
Cosmetics, and different fingerboard wood which may add a slight brighter tone to the Custom.
Customs have multi layer binding on the front, back, and headstock and single layer on the fretboard, which I understand is very labor intensive and expensive to do. The Standards only have a single layer on the top and neck. The Customs have a large inlaid mother of pearl diamond motif on the headstock which again, is expensive to do, standards have a silkscreened Les paul logo, but both share a pearl inlaid gibson logo. Customs have ebony fretboards which are a few buck more than the rosewood used on standards. Customs have real mother of pearl block fingerboard inlays, (expensive) standards have plastic perloid trapezoid inlays (cheap). Customs have gold hardware, (more xpensive, but not much) standards have nickel hardware. Finally, the pickups- new customs have 490/498 pickups, standards have the newer and more favorable burstbuckers.
On the used guitar market, customs and standards arn't that different in price. However, new, Customs are about $700 more, and you're generally just paying for cosmetics.
strat_master
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
also customs are only available through the gibson custom shop, meaning alot of money. Standard are available through gibsons regular line as well as the custom sop, but those are historics. Most hardcore traditional les paul fanatics will tell you the standard is the best les paul out there, while other may say otherwise. Its all personal, me personally i prefer the nickel/chrome hardware over gold, and would much rather own a standard over a custom.both are excellant axes with a few differences.
also customs are only available through the gibson custom shop, meaning alot of money. Standard are available through gibsons regular line as well as the custom sop, but those are historics. Most hardcore traditional les paul fanatics will tell you the standard is the best les paul out there, while other may say otherwise. Its all personal, me personally i prefer the nickel/chrome hardware over gold, and would much rather own a standard over a custom.both are excellant axes with a few differences.
ledzepp29
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
if you've got the money and like the look of the custom better than get it, but they basically sound the same, the fingerboard wood is the only difference which isn't that noticeable. Since I'm a true les paul guy at heart I'd like to have a custom as well a gold top someday...collect em all!!(in a hot wheels commercial voice)
if you've got the money and like the look of the custom better than get it, but they basically sound the same, the fingerboard wood is the only difference which isn't that noticeable. Since I'm a true les paul guy at heart I'd like to have a custom as well a gold top someday...collect em all!!(in a hot wheels commercial voice)
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
I've owned a few of both, the customs are a little heavier, and have more treble bite (ebony noard). The standards are warmer sounding due to the rosewood.
Standards come with single top binding and neck binding, customs have triple binding on both top and back as well as headstock.
Customs have Grover tuners and standards have Klusen style deluxe tuners
Customs use regular 498T/490R and standards use Burstbucker Pros
Standards come with fat 50's or 60's slim taper necks, Customs only come in fat 50's
I've owned a few of both, the customs are a little heavier, and have more treble bite (ebony noard). The standards are warmer sounding due to the rosewood.
Standards come with single top binding and neck binding, customs have triple binding on both top and back as well as headstock.
Customs have Grover tuners and standards have Klusen style deluxe tuners
Customs use regular 498T/490R and standards use Burstbucker Pros
Standards come with fat 50's or 60's slim taper necks, Customs only come in fat 50's
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Not to hijack this thread but while we are at it, could someone explain how the Studio LP is different?
Not to hijack this thread but while we are at it, could someone explain how the Studio LP is different?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Aren't they basically a no-frills version of the standard? No binding, very simple inlays.
Aren't they basically a no-frills version of the standard? No binding, very simple inlays.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
So same tones and quality just less frills?JB_From_Hell said:
strat_master
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
ya, i loved all the studios ive played, the main differneces are the costmetics. When comparing the current les paul studio to a older lp standard (490r and 498T pick ups in both) The studio lacks binding, and of course the quality of wood will be lower as well. If you compare the studios of toda to the newer standards there is qute a bit of difference as the new standards have flame tops, beter pick ups (burst bucker pros) and what i think beter quality in construction. This is what i got from playing them in the store, however, the studio is an amazing guitar either way you can't go wrong.
ya, i loved all the studios ive played, the main differneces are the costmetics. When comparing the current les paul studio to a older lp standard (490r and 498T pick ups in both) The studio lacks binding, and of course the quality of wood will be lower as well. If you compare the studios of toda to the newer standards there is qute a bit of difference as the new standards have flame tops, beter pick ups (burst bucker pros) and what i think beter quality in construction. This is what i got from playing them in the store, however, the studio is an amazing guitar either way you can't go wrong.
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Thanks for the info, it helped alot!
Thanks for the info, it helped alot!
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Yea, the studios are pretty much the same as the standard minus the binding, only comes with fat 50's neck, and the wood is ugly cuts (solid colors only, no flames), and also has the old 498T/490R pickups. Sounds about the same otherwise. The studio is the lowest of the Les Paul line that still delivers true Les Paul tone/feel. Also a plus, is if you get one in alpine white, they have an ebony fretboard. Late 80's - early 90's are good (full thickness bodies, trapz inlays) as are 2001 - current. But the late 90's - early 2000 were pancake thin bodies and dot inlays so stay clear of those.
Yea, the studios are pretty much the same as the standard minus the binding, only comes with fat 50's neck, and the wood is ugly cuts (solid colors only, no flames), and also has the old 498T/490R pickups. Sounds about the same otherwise. The studio is the lowest of the Les Paul line that still delivers true Les Paul tone/feel. Also a plus, is if you get one in alpine white, they have an ebony fretboard. Late 80's - early 90's are good (full thickness bodies, trapz inlays) as are 2001 - current. But the late 90's - early 2000 were pancake thin bodies and dot inlays so stay clear of those.
rinse_master
Member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Mine must be one of the first "back to normal" ones (thick body, trapezoid inlays), that was lucky!!TattooedCarrot said:
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
IMHO, some companies keep a pretty consistent build quality over the entire product line. PRS, for instance... you don't pickup a CE 24 and say, "Man this thing feels like a POS compared to that Santana II."
Gibson is not one of these companies.
IMHO, some companies keep a pretty consistent build quality over the entire product line. PRS, for instance... you don't pickup a CE 24 and say, "Man this thing feels like a POS compared to that Santana II."
Gibson is not one of these companies.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
I'm not up to speed on current models (too expensive now, back when I played Gibson Les Pauls/Explorers /SGs all the time they were more reasonably priced because everyone else wanted Jackson/Charvel/Ibanez super strats) But I always preferred the Standards over the Custom for sound. The 2 customs I had (one a late 80's the other a early 90's model, black & white respectively), sounded brighter as someone else mentioned. More treble-y and bassy than the standard with less mids, and at the time, the pickups were exactly the same from Standards to Customs.
I believe it's the ebony board and the better tuners on the custom, as I had an mid to late 80's Les Paul Standard from the custom shop that I bought used (was one of 500 made, IIRC) that had a gorgeous red finish, gold hardware (had diamond shaped strap buttons, real cool), same tuners as the custom, creme binding and an ebony board (standard Trapezoid neck inlays though) and it sounded bright just like a custom...and the darn thing was REALLY heavy..heavier than any other Les Paul I've played/owned.
I'm not up to speed on current models (too expensive now, back when I played Gibson Les Pauls/Explorers /SGs all the time they were more reasonably priced because everyone else wanted Jackson/Charvel/Ibanez super strats) But I always preferred the Standards over the Custom for sound. The 2 customs I had (one a late 80's the other a early 90's model, black & white respectively), sounded brighter as someone else mentioned. More treble-y and bassy than the standard with less mids, and at the time, the pickups were exactly the same from Standards to Customs.
I believe it's the ebony board and the better tuners on the custom, as I had an mid to late 80's Les Paul Standard from the custom shop that I bought used (was one of 500 made, IIRC) that had a gorgeous red finish, gold hardware (had diamond shaped strap buttons, real cool), same tuners as the custom, creme binding and an ebony board (standard Trapezoid neck inlays though) and it sounded bright just like a custom...and the darn thing was REALLY heavy..heavier than any other Les Paul I've played/owned.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
Man my Custom had Huge frets. They were also boxy as well. I hated that guitars playability but I loved its look.
That said if you don't HAVE to have the gibson name on the headstock check into some heritages made in the old gibson plant by the ex-gibson employees. Honestly I think they are on par with the high dollar gibson's. They have binding like the old 50's gibsons and use higher grade woods as well. There are some build differences like the switch cavity is larger/more accessible. The inlays on the standard heritage is mother of pearl just like a LP custom. Since it doesn't say gibson they also cost A LOT less on the used market. My tech is sold on them after buffing mine and intonating it. He was amazed at the workmanship that is done on them and the terrible resale so now he is looking to score one.
Sorry about the hijack but for what you are about to pay for a standard I could get two used heritages and the tonepros hardware and pups for one.
Luke
Man my Custom had Huge frets. They were also boxy as well. I hated that guitars playability but I loved its look.
That said if you don't HAVE to have the gibson name on the headstock check into some heritages made in the old gibson plant by the ex-gibson employees. Honestly I think they are on par with the high dollar gibson's. They have binding like the old 50's gibsons and use higher grade woods as well. There are some build differences like the switch cavity is larger/more accessible. The inlays on the standard heritage is mother of pearl just like a LP custom. Since it doesn't say gibson they also cost A LOT less on the used market. My tech is sold on them after buffing mine and intonating it. He was amazed at the workmanship that is done on them and the terrible resale so now he is looking to score one.
Sorry about the hijack but for what you are about to pay for a standard I could get two used heritages and the tonepros hardware and pups for one.
Luke
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
The original Les Paul Custom and SG Customs were called Fretless Wonders and used frets ground down almost flat to the fingerboard. Made bending strings almost impossible. When they were first reissued in the late 60's Gibson made those fretless wonders too. I hate playing those guitars. Lew
The original Les Paul Custom and SG Customs were called Fretless Wonders and used frets ground down almost flat to the fingerboard. Made bending strings almost impossible. When they were first reissued in the late 60's Gibson made those fretless wonders too. I hate playing those guitars. Lew
NecroPolo
New member
Re: lp standards vs. custom?
For me, Studios come with the least preferabre neck. Those fat necks are not for my undersized fingers, I always felt like as I played on a baseball bat any time I grabbed a Studio. Standards are quite comfortable to play but they still have that 'heavy player' feel, I can't explain. Customs play like a dream and they have some extra bite mentioned earlier.
For me, Studios come with the least preferabre neck. Those fat necks are not for my undersized fingers, I always felt like as I played on a baseball bat any time I grabbed a Studio. Standards are quite comfortable to play but they still have that 'heavy player' feel, I can't explain. Customs play like a dream and they have some extra bite mentioned earlier.
