In 1983, Gibson presented what was to soon become one of its most popular guitars, the Les Paul Studio. As its name indicates, the guitar was initially aimed at studio guitar players who wanted the Les Paul trademark sound without all the aesthetic bells and whistles.

Shunning such adornments as body and neck binding, the Gibson Les Paul Studio contains most elements that lend to the Les Paul tone.

For starters, the Les Paul Studio bears a neck that is reminiscent of a classic 50's Les Paul, which helps add to the guitar's chunky, thick tone. The 490T and 490R pickups also exude the Les Paul sound in both lead and rhythm work.

Even though it was originally designed for use as a Studio guitar, several guitar players soon found that the lighter weight made it perfect as a gigging instrument. Why? It's simple. The chambered body results in a lighter weight, which makes it desirable for 2-3 hour sets.

The model we reviewed came with a stylish black finish and gold hardware. Fit and finish were superb throughout. The frets were well-polished with hardly any buzzing present.

The rosewood fretboard was pure Les Paul, down to the instantly distinctive trapezoid inlays. From lead guitar to thick power chords, the guitar felt, played, and sounded like a much more pricey Les Paul.

The two greatest differences between the Studio and a "regular" Les Paul is that the former lacks the body and neck binding and has a lighter, chambered body. The binding is purely an aesthetic choice and the lighter weight is really a welcome feature for several people.

It's easy to consider why the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson's best-selling models, and we give it our heartfelt recommendation.

If you want to find the best price on a Gibson Les Paul Studio, then there's only one website you need to visit. Ray's Guitar Shop has the best prices on all used and new guitars. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a B. C. Rich Bich, a Carvin Bolt, a Fender Telecaster, or a Gibson Flying V, Ray's is the place.

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