By 
The Gibson Les Paul Studio Thoughts: The New release is ALMOST perfect,
Introduction
As you all may or may not have seen, Gibson has released a new Les Paul Studio! I’ve always been a big fan of the Les Paul Studio—a stripped-down, simple guitar bearing the iconic Gibson logo. It offered an affordable price while still being a professional and gig-worthy axe. Well, Gibson has released a new version, and there are a few things I want to talk about and share my initial impressions!
Of course, I haven’t played one or even seen it in person yet, but I hope to do both soon (with one major roadblock, more on that shortly). Based on the press and videos I’ve seen, I have some thoughts. So, let’s dive right in, starting with the big one—Left Handed!
No Left Handed Option!
This was the first thing I noticed! There’s no mention of a left-handed version, which infuriates me! Gibson’s “entry-level” guitar doesn’t come in a left-handed option? That’s wild! If you’re a left-handed player like myself and want to get a Gibson Les Paul, your cheapest option would be the Les Paul Standard at £2.5k. This is absurd! I hope I’m wrong, and Gibson will prove me otherwise (I’ve emailed them and will update when I hear back).
I know all left-handed players will be frustrated if there’s no left-handed model. It feels like a massive kick in the teeth, especially since these guitars are made using CNC machines, so it’s not like it takes extra effort! It’ll be interesting to see what Gibson says. They seem to be neglecting left-handed players more and more with each new release.
The Les Paul Studio Price!
Next up—the price! This is what I see everyone talking about. They’re getting a lot of flak because of it, but honestly, it’s about what I expected. Considering previous Studio prices, adjusting for inflation, and factoring in the newer features (pickups, weight reduction, and coil tapping), plus Gibson’s consistent price increases, this feels about right. I wasn’t shocked when I saw the price.
That said, I don’t think it’s the right price! The Les Paul Studio has always been about offering a professional, no-frills guitar at an affordable price. I feel like if they stripped away the coil tapping, swapped the nitro finish for a satin one, maybe used basic dot inlays, and added slightly less weight relief, they could bring the price down closer to the £1k mark. It would sell like hotcakes, and everyone would want one! But instead, they’ve loaded it with features no one really asked for on a Les Paul Studio, and the price has gone up because of it.
"Guitar-wise, you’re getting the same basic layout, just with a different name on the headstock!"
Gibson VS Epiphone
When I saw the specs and price of this new Studio, the word “Epiphone” immediately came to mind. You can pick up an Epiphone Les Paul Standard for around £650. They’re high quality, road-ready, and sound incredible! I had an Epiphone Les Paul for years and loved it—still miss it every day after selling it.
Sure, with the Epiphone, you don’t get coil tapping or a soft case, which might be a deal-breaker for some. But guitar-wise, you’re getting the same basic layout, just with a different name on the headstock! And if the headstock logo really matters to you, you could look at the “Inspired by Gibson Custom” range of Epiphones.
There’s another important point here—Epiphone isn’t the only alternative! There are many high-quality, affordable Les Paul-style guitars out there. If you’re looking for an affordable option and aren’t too concerned about the brand, you can get a guitar with similar features and quality for much less! Companies like Harley Benton or Vintage Guitars offer fantastic options, both with a solid range of left-handed models too!
Conclusion
Overall, I’m happy to see Gibson bring back the Studio, but I think they’ve focused on the wrong things. If they’d stripped it back and created a more basic Les Paul around the £1k mark (and included a left-handed version, of course), it would’ve been a better move. We’ll have to wait and see if any left-handed options emerge!
It’s not all bad, though. I love the colors, especially the Berry Burst, and I’m glad to see it making its way into more of the lineup. I’m also glad that Gibson is at least thinking about value guitars and trying to create more budget-friendly options. It’ll be interesting to see how this overlaps with Epiphone in the future!
This was just a quick article to express my thoughts upon seeing these guitars being released! Be interesting when people start receiving their orders and trying them out! If you want to check them out for yourself, you can use our Affiliate links below.
If you want to support the site then please give us a follow on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube.
Gibson Les Paul Studio Links:
- Les Paul Studio (Berryburst)
- Les Paul Studio (Wine Red)
- Les Paul lStudio (Cherry Sunburst)
- Les Paul Studio (Ebony)
Check out our other Articles here
