THE MOST POPULAR GIBSON LES PAUL GUITARS

In this lens we will be ranking different Gibson les paul guitars by popularity and price ( ascendant) we will be talking about the specs, weight, sound quality, versatility etc

We will also add our recommendation as experts in this field, we sold thousands of Gibson guitars and we know everything there is to know about this fine instrument, we always make sure that we factor in our customer's budget and the guitar style he or she likes ( classic rock, heavy metal, blues, punk etc)

Please note that in this lens we are only comparing les paul guitars we wil not be talking about the ES series, SG series, Explorer series, Firebird series etc etc

We hope that this lens helps you guys make a decision if one day in the near future you decide to purchase a Gibson les paul from us or someone else ( we offer a possibility of financing as well)

www.worldsguitar.com

Average price ($600-$900) Used!

The Gibson les paul studio was considered for many years an entry level Gibson guitar but what people don't know is that this guitar does it all, even though it only costs between $600-$900 used it still sounds amazing, as a matter of fact many professional guitarists use this model on live shows and also in recording sessions.

The studios( Gloss models) have a pair of 490R and 498T Alnico magnet Humbuckers, these pickups had a very good reputation and Gibson even used them on the very popular pre 2002 Gibson les paul standard and they are now using these pickups on the Gibson les paul supreme ($3499 guitar), they have creamier sound than the burstbuckers pro humbuckers, the faded models however do have a pair of burstbucker pro humbuckers. I think that is a very good decision made by Gibson because now they cater to both type of customers, the die hard heavy metal guitar players and the lead and blues guitar players.

The studios always had the rosewood fingerboard, vintage style tuners, speed knobs, a Nashville bridge and stopbar , Corian nut, a 50's round neck and a Mahogany body that's chambered for the post October 2006 models, and a non chambered pre-2006 models.

Both models sound good but I do believe that chambered models should not be below 7lbs in weight because the reduced weight does affect the quality of the sound!

So yes the studio does not have an ebony fingerboard or Grover tuners or Tonepros bridge and stop tailpiece but it still sounds really good!

APPROVED BY WWW.WORLDSGUITAR.COM

Average price ($900-$1400)Used

Before I start please don't confuse the Gibson les paul standard single cut for the Gibson les paul standard DC, there is tons of differences between the two models and one huge difference is: one is a single cut guitar and the other is a double cut guitar.

Let's see what made this model is the preferred model for Guitar shredders who do not have a couple of thousand dollars to spend:

Guitar shredders like to have more access to the lower frets and since this guitar has 24 frets versus 22 frets on the single cut models it only made sense for these guys to choose a double cut style guitar, another thing a lead guitar player looks for is the very accurate Grover tuners and that's because if you play lead you have tendency to bend the strings more than a Rhythm guitar player and this guitar has these tuners( with the exception of few sub models which are equipped with schaller mini tuners or deluxe tuners!

This guitar is also equipped with the 490R and 498T Alnico magnet Humbuckers (same pickups on the Gibson les paul supreme)

except for the Gibson les paul DC pro which comes equipped with a pair of classic 57 Humbuckers ( they have a super creamy sound) and the Gibson les paul DC pro with the wraparound bridge and a pair of P90 Humbuckers ( single coils)

The Gibson les paul DC has a rosewood fingerboard, top hat knobs, Tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece

There is different models of the DC edition: The DC plaintop ( no flame), The DC plus (AA flametop), The DC premium plus ( AAA flametop), the DC limited edition, the DC classic ( also a plaintop), The DC pro and the DC wraparound bridge with P90'S

Price vary based on the flame, whether it is a discontinued model or not, whether it's a limited edition and of course condition!

APPROVED BY WWW.WORLDSGUITAR.COM

Average price ($1300-$1750)Used

This is one of my favorite Gibson guitars because it does a specific task and it delivers all the time and on the top of this it is increasing in value since Gibson discontinued it in 2008.

I personally like the 60's slim neck and all classics come with the nice thin 60's neck ( super fast comfortable neck) the pickups on this guitar are the super hot super aggressive 496R and 500T Ceramic humbuckers ( uncovered) so if you like heavy metal you will enjoy this guitar, if you want to reduce the aggressiveness of these Pickups all you have to do is adjust the two screws on either side of the pickup rings and make sure you move the pickups down ( meaning move them further away from the strings) that tend to tame these beasts of pickups!

This guitar also has a rosewood fingerboard, top hat knobs, Tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, kluson style tuners.

You can find them in plaintops and flametops but the flametop ones are very hard to find and are more valuable!

Average price:($1500-$2499)Used

This is the most popular Gibson les paul ever produced since its introduction, it did go through so many changes but is still the best selling Gibson les paul.

Here is some of the changes that this guitar went through:

1-Up till the end of 2001 Gibson used the 490R and 498T Alnico humbuckers.

2-In 2002 Gibson started using the Burstbucker pro humbuckers.

3-From 1982 to October 2006 Gibson manufactured their standard series following the method of Swiss cheese, yes it's a weight relieving process that involves drilling holes in the body to reduce the weight of the guitar ( not to be confused with chambered).

4-After October 2006 Gibson decided to reduce the weight even more by building their guitars using the chambered method which consists of leaving a hollow chamber in the body and that led to a huge reduction in weight, I do however believe that as long as your guitar weighs no less than 7 lbs it will sound good.

5-From 1998 to 2001 Gibson used Grover tuners on the standard series.

6-In 2008 Gibson decided to introduce a new variation of the standard series called: Standard pro, this one has a neutrik jack, see through back plate, the very nice Grover locking tuners.

The price varies based on discontinuity, whether it's a limited edition or not, condition and of course whether it's a plaintop or a flametop.

The most expensive standard is the premium plus AAA flametop, then comes the standard plus AA flametop and then comes the plaintop ones.

APPROVED BY WWW.WORLDSGUITAR.COM

Average price ($2000-$2850) Used

I gotta admit this one is probably for people with money, it sells brand new for $4000 so if you find one for $2500 in excellent condition go for it, this guitar has some of the best specs you can get on a Gibson, Of course I have to start with the Ebony fingerboard which is way better than the rosewood fingerboard, next comes the very accurate tuning pegs: Tulip tuners, then the very nice vintage sounding 490R and 498T alnico humbuckers.

This Guitar features a 1 piece mahogany neck, very beautiful block inlays, Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, the binding is a very beautiful 3 ply binding that wraps around the body, neck and headstock

This guitar has the 50's round neck so for those of you who have very small hands you might want to be looking at something with a slimmer neck such as the 60's thin neck.

Average price ( $2500-$3000)Used

This guitar combines, beauty, class and amazing tone!

Look at the flame on these guitars, it's an AAAA grade figured top and anytime you have a highly figured top you know that your guitar will retain its value better than other models and might even increase in price with time.

This guitar features my favorite fingerboard: the ebony one, the very nice and accurate grover tuners and even though this guitar is chambered it is not as light as the standard serie, as a matter of fact you can find a 9 1/2 lbs supremes which means the quality of the sound did not get affected not even a bit from the chambering process!

This guitar has a tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece.

The pickups are the vintage sounding 490R and 498T alnico humbuckers

The neck is the round 50's neck.

This guitar gets my recommendations if you have a budget between $2500 and $3000

APPROVED BY WWW.WORLDSGUITAR.COM