Question for the Les Paul Players

jimzucco

jimzucco

New member
Hey everyone. I'm heading out to buy a new guitar on Friday and I've run into a bit of a dilemma. I'm needing some real unbiased opinions from all you Gibson players out there.

Okay so Ive been really eyeing up this 2010 Les Paul Studio in a local music shop. It's a little beat up and could use a set up but sounds great. So I went down there today to play it again and now they have a 2013 LPJ that just came in. So I've played both and they both feel pretty good, both sound great. Thing is, they're both 550 dollars which is a great price and I'm torn. That price for an LP studio seems like more bang for my buck and I've heard bad things about those LPJs. Both are white finish and are stock except that the studio has what sounds like a Pearly Gates in the bridge.

Somebody help me out. I like both of them. Any opinions will be considered and very much appreciated! Thanks guys

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Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

If they both sound great, I'd go with the studio. I don't believe the bad things about the LPJ's (every one I've played has been very good) but the studio is a really good used price. You won't have any problem getting that back, whereas the LPJ at the same price still has a little depreciation to go, IMHO. In fact, around here you could probably get $700 for that studio in no time.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

I usually prefer one over the other based on feel, playing them both again to see which one you like more would be my suggestion. The studio already lost whatever value is was going to lose since it is used. I don't know how much the LPJ is going to lose, but I can't imagine it will be much. It's something to keep in mind if you aren't sure that you will be hanging on to it. Either way, I wouldn't expect them to stick around much longer at those prices.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Thanks for the feedback. I'm heading down there tomorrow to do some more comparing but I'm leaving toward the studio. I'm pretty sure I won't see another at that price.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Studio for sure, gold hardware alone is worth more then the 550 these days with the gold prices being this high

But seriously ditch the pickguard, isnt very randy rhoads!
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Wolferine92 said:
Studio for sure, gold hardware alone is worth more then the 550 these days with the gold prices being this high

But seriously ditch the pickguard, isnt very randy rhoads!
Click to expand...

Haha! Yes, the Randy Roads look is exactly what's getting me excited. I think I'm going with the studio. The main thing that's making me think twice is that the Lpj is in near mint condition and the studio has seen better days cosmetically. Though that's not always a bad thing imo
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

The Studio has an ebony board no?

I'd for the Studio most likely. Curious what bad things are said about the LPJ?
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

I'd go with the studio, because generally speaking, the one's I've played tend to be better than the LPJ. It's only the same price because it's used, so all you did is let someone else pay the premium.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Depends partly on whether or not you want a Pearly Gates sound. Also, I tend to (mostly) overlook resale value unless you're pretty sure that you're not going to keep it long-term and that little bit of difference in value is going to be important to you. You're almost going to be eventually splitting hairs, so don't stress out about it.

Go with your gut. Pay with your eyes closed. Which guitar speaks to you?
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Another vote for the studio.
Ask if they mind if you look under the control plate, I have a '10 studio, & it came with the pcb harness (yours should too), if someone swapped the bridge pup out, you'll know pretty quick.
Might be able to use this as a bargaining chip, "I'd really like to buy this, but it's a little beat up, & it's not all Gibson, would you take $525?"
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

I don't know about the 2013s, but per Gibson, the 2014 LPJs have a '50s profile neck, whereas the Studio is a '60s slip taper. That would make up my mind for me right there. I would think they would feel completely different to you, too. Depends on which one you're partial to.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

jimzucco said:
Hey everyone. I'm heading out to buy a new guitar on Friday and I've run into a bit of a dilemma. I'm needing some real unbiased opinions from all you Gibson players out there.
Click to expand...

This thread went wrong right there. There are few objective Les Paul Players period.

Now, moving along. I have said this forever and a day. A Les Paul Studio is all you NEED in a Les Paul. End of story. Mahogany, maple, rosewood. Humbuckers and a toggle/knobs. It IS a Les Paul period.

As for "I have heard bad things about LPJ's" I have heard bad things about peoples mothers. But we are not talking about ALL the moms out there. We are talking about YOUR mom. See what I'm saying there? You have found an LPJ, and this specific LPJ speaks to you. Who cares about all the rest of the LPJ's. People have said GOOD things about Customs. Would you buy a turd just because of that? No…..

The bottom line to me in this instance is it seems that whatever pup is in the bridge of the Studio is the deal closer. In general, I'd advocate Studio over whatever, Standard over Studio, and Custom over Standard….EXCEPT if one of them sounds/feels better to you. And any one Studio/Standard/Custom could be great, or crap. Mostly, they are likely pretty solid and very similar except for the ebony board on the Custom.

Kudo's for being able to overlook the setup. That's like not buying a Ferrari cheap because the wheels need aligned.

I vote Studio. $550 is a helluva deal on a solid feeling/sounding studio with either a Pearly or BB2 in the bridge.
 
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Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

NotCardio said:
I don't know about the 2013s, but per Gibson, the 2014 LPJs have a '50s profile neck, whereas the Studio is a '60s slip taper. That would make up my mind for me right there. I would think they would feel completely different to you, too. Depends on which one you're partial to.
Click to expand...

FWIW - my 2012 Studio has a baseball bat 50's neck. It's also one of the lower end 'satin' Studios. I've noticed Gibson tends to put 50's necks on the lower end guitars to make up for loss of wood elsewhere (like thin Melody Makers or chambered Studios)
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

Yeah you can't really go wrong with a good studio.

I've really been digging those LPJs for the price, but again once you add some good electronics/pups there's a little bit less of a price advantage. If you're posting this on a pickup forum something tells me you might not stick with the stock pickups in the LPJ very long.

What intrigued me further about the studio is that you said it came with an aftermarket pickup - which you can sell for a decent price (vs. the stock 498t or w/e the studio normally comes with).

Plus, a PGb is IMO one of the better bridge pickups I've come across. Covered it's fat and snarly and surprisingly smooth in the higher registers. Very musical IMO. So you could do worse, is what I'm saying.
 
Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

I've played a lot of both models, and believe that you've got to choose the one that really makes you want to pull your wallet out.

But honestly, I really like the LPJ/SGJ series, because they used good wood, and it breathes and resonates. And some of the beefy 50's style necks on these really bring the tone and feel. They also got the tuning pegs right, using Klusons.

The problem is that they installed those EMG looking monstrosities. No matter what you get, install some of the best Duncans, and if the wood sounds great the whole guitar will ring like a bell.
 
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Re: Question for the Les Paul Players

jimijames said:
What intrigued me further about the studio is that you said it came with an aftermarket pickup - which you can sell for a decent price (vs. the stock 498t or w/e the studio normally comes with).
Click to expand...

The Studio comes with 490T/490R
The Studio Pro comes with Burstbucker Pro / '57 Classic
The Studio Satin comes with 2 Burstbucker Pros.

The all-mahogany faded Studio I believe had a Burstbucker Pro / 490R, or a 498T/490R ?
 
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