Category Archives: Gibson Les Paul Guitar

The Gibson Les Paul™ Standard’s single-cutaway body shape, carved maple top, and set-neck construction are absolutely iconic for any rock guitarist.

Gibson Les Paul Studio

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Gibson Les Paul Studio
Gibson Les Paul Studio in Cherry Sunburst.

The Studio made its debut in 1983, aiming to provide the iconic Les Paul Standard sound and feel at a friendlier price, minus the extra embellishments. Usually, it comes with a carved maple top and a mahogany body, but it skips the body binding. This model quickly gained popularity among professional musicians and has kept evolving, adding features such as weight relief, phase switching, and push/pull coil splits. Lately, the Gibson Les Paul Studio range has grown to feature both the Studio and Studio Session.

You’re here because you know you want a Gibson Les Paul, but you’re unsure which one is the best fit for you. Should you go for a Standard, Custom, Deluxe, Modern, Studio, or even a Junior? In this article, I’ll break down all the different Gibson Les Paul models and their collections, helping you pick the perfect Les Paul for your needs.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.

The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe

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Gibson Les Paul Deluxe
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe in Wine Red.

First introduced in 1969, the Les Paul Deluxe stands out due to its mini humbucker pickups. These pickups maintain the hum-free quality of full-size humbuckers while providing a tighter low end, brighter highs, and a more pronounced attack – resulting in a much more assertive sound compared to a full-size humbucker, which became favored by 1970s rock guitarists aiming to stand out in a dual-guitar setup.

The Deluxe kept the carved maple top and mahogany body but incorporated what is known as “pancake” construction (two layers of mahogany with a layer of maple sandwiched in between) and later included maple necks. Nowadays, the Les Paul Deluxe is constructed in a more traditional manner with a solid, non-weight-relieved mahogany back, yet its design and sound still honor the original Les Paul Deluxe from the 70s.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.

The Gibson Les Paul Custom

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The Gibson Les Paul Custom
The Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue in Ebony.

In 1954, Gibson launched the Les Paul Custom, marking it as the premier Les Paul model. It featured multi-ply binding, gold hardware, and a stylish black finish, earning it the nickname “Black Beauty.” The initial versions had a P-90 bridge pickup paired with an Alnico V “staple” neck pickup, distinguishing it from the dual P-90 Les Paul Goldtop of that era. By 1957, the model had progressed to a unique three-pickup setup, which was later favored by both Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

Originally launched in partnership with the iconic artist Les Paul in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul™ electric guitar boasts a deep and storied legacy in sound creation. The initial release featured a Gold finish, equipped with two P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece. As the years went by, the Les Paul evolved through various iterations and models—most notably the legendary sunburst Les Paul Standard versions made from 1958 to 1960—solidifying its status as a beloved essential across nearly all music genres.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard

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Gibson Les Paul Standard
The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in Tobacco Burst.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard represents the ultimate Les Paul, featuring its signature mahogany body, a beautifully carved maple top, dual humbucker™ pickups, and a set neck. For musicians seeking the most genuine and authentic Les Paul experience, the Standard is the ideal choice. Every aspect of the current Les Paul Standard is designed to replicate the same playing feel and sound as the Les Pauls from Gibson’s golden era.

The first Gibson Les Paul Standard to showcase the famous Cherry Sunburst finish was launched in 1958. Although the Les Paul model made its debut in 1952 with P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece, the 1957 Goldtop, equipped with humbucking pickups and a Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, paved the way for the Standard we recognize today. The introduction of the Sunburst finish marked a significant design evolution for the Les Paul, and the Les Paul Standards manufactured between 1958 and 1960—affectionately known as Bursts—are considered some of the finest solidbody electric guitars ever created.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.