Colin, another great video. I had a mid 80 's Gibson Studio model for years and loved it. Unfortunately, my ex-wife held it hostage and promptly sold it. She's gone and now I have a room full of guitars. Rock on.
Back in the 80's and 90's they had the Studios in ebony with all gold hardware and the wine red with all gold hardware for about $899 to $999 US dollars new.
I've seen a bunch of your videos over the last year or so, and I must say, I really like how you do the "coming up" bits at the beginning of your videos. It's especially rare in You Tube video formats, and certainly unique to guitar-related videos.
Another great video. It's nice to have the flame tops and binding on the les paul standards but the studio is all the les paul you will ever need. This one really sounded good and all the studios i've ever played have played great.
I have a 2003 Studio that I bought new in 2003. Funny thing is the price is was practically the same as they are now I paid $1200. My ebony studio was my number one for several years and still my inspiration when I’m in a rut. Really appreciate what you do man fantastic content!
My custom has exactly the same set of pickups, I have always been happy with them. The Studio looks and sound's good to me, I prefer it to the Tribute. 😀
I own a '94, also ebony but with gold hardware, I still think that looks really smart with the glossy black finish, not available anymore today. I bought it brand new at the tender age of 19 and for a very long time it was the only guitar I needed. I remember when I took it home it was immaculate, no blemishes, set-up issues or anything, perfect, worlds apart from what I was used to until then. Apart from the gold hardware my studio differs from this one in that mine doesn't have pull-push switches, no weight relief and the tuners on mine are the standard Gibson Deluxe ones.
Nice review of a very popular Gibson guitar. The Les Paul Studio has been around since around 1983 and there have been a few specification changes over the years. I have a 2016 model in a not very inspiring “worn brown” finish, it cost me about £450 brand new with a Gibson gig bag, it’s a great little player with that classic Les Paul feel and tone at a bargain price, it feels so nice to play that I play it a lot more than my far more expensive Les Paul models. My 2016 guitar doesn’t have the push-pull coil tap switches which I probably wouldn’t use if it did but I can see that they’d be ideal for somebody who was playing a variety of material and only wanted to take one guitar to a gig. Although the price tag seems a bit expensive I’m sure that in a few years it’ll look ridiculously cheap. Got to be the one to buy if you’re looking for a Les Paul but are a bit short of the readies , it sounds great and will last you for ever.
I have owned my Studio for just over a year and it is a great guitar. i played every Les Paul on the wall and it was my favorite and came home with me.
And now I have to buy it...! It needs a proper 500k CTS/orange drops/50s wiring upgrade, which I'm happy to do, but other than that, fantastic guitar! Great job as usual, sir! Always a good time watching your videos!
I picked up a new-for-me 2021 Epi LP Studio in Wine Red this Feb ('22) from GC in America, it had been minimally used and returned to store with a prominent scratch/scuff in poly on the front. GC sold it to me for half price "as-is." I polished out the flaw by hand in an hour using a car product. Electronics are great. Setup was good, I'll adjust that better when I change strings. I now have a better than new LP guitar. Seems as good as the Gibson in this video. My luck huh? Whatever, it's great. Coil split does not give a real p90 tone but still nice. Friends, Epiphones are for real. Cheers from Texas!
I own a 2018 Smokehouse Burst Gibson Les Paul Studio and am very happy with it. It has neck binding on it though which is a surprise considering other studios do not. Im very happy with the sound of it and it can compete very nicely with my sons 2022 60s Les Paul Standard. Great guitar!
I have the same model, smokehouse burst; not too convinced with the tock coil switching; may gut and pop in std push pulls to do coil splitting. pups are 57 classics so are sweet.
Brilliant review and show!! Love the smell of Gibson's and people complain about the weight and chunky neck, but I think that's the point. Just read an article about Jeff Beck and he mentioned this during his Les Paul days, “You Pick Up a Les Paul and It's Heavy and It Really Means Something - It Means Business”
I enjoyed this one, especially since I am a big Gibson fan. I did not realize how nice the Studio LP is in comparison to a Standard or beyond. Looking forward to your next Studio vs. the Tribute.
Another great video. I didn’t realize there was that much difference between the tribute and the studio. Another shoot out is definitely in order. Looking forward to it.
I have both, and although they sound a little different and have different appointments, both are outstanding guitars. The main thing I like about BOTH is how the last couple of years, Gibson runs every one through a Pleckd machine. This insures that the frets are all the correct height and polished from the factory. Both of mine came set up incredibly low, perfectly intonated, with zero buzzing.
Had the exact same experience with a guitar from Peach. They gave me the same excuse, “it’s normal and within acceptable parameters”. I still returned it and ordered one from elsewhere, which was perfect. Found Peach to be very defensive when a simple apology would have sufficed.
I have the same model in "smokehouse Burst" and it has become one of my favorite players up there with some much more expensive models i own. My only complaint is in coil tap mode, mine sounds very dark. yours sounds as it should . i never use it with it pulled anyway. For that sound, I have other guitars. Great entertaining review! I have several les paul's from epiphone, eastman, esp, agile, etc. I still like my gibson best (you just have to find a good one) not all are equal.
I would love to see a comparison between the black Gibson studio and the Gibson les Paul cherry les Paul standard. That would be cool to see what differences they are between the two. Anyway love your videos. 🎸🎸
The Tangerine burst actually looks cruel to my eyes, the rest are good. I wish they would reissue the studio in the original colours and specification when they came out in 1984/5? A Black Custom with Gold Hardware, A sunburst, T obacco if I remember and a white one. They had dot inlays instead of crowns. There was an option for a weird type of tremolo bar also.
Oh yes, what a guitar!!! One of the things I love about LPs is the separate tone & volume nobs, the ability to dial in a glassy clean with the neck pickup & then switch to back pickup full-tilt & searing (something I can’t do on my Fenders) But the studio has to be one of the best mid priced guitars out there... pick up a second hand one from early 90s & you’ll get a bargain imo 👌🏼 Great vid man, hope you’re well!
I have 1 Studio. The Studio Elite. It has binding on the neck and a vibra-mate mounted Bigsby B50. I took off the Bigsby and installed a lightweight tail piece. It has Classic '57 pups. I've been loving it lately. You need to get one of those ESP Spanner wrenches for removing/reinstalling the nut on the switch. They can be used on any of the nuts found on a guitar, as well as for removing the knobs. I have a Blackstar HT20R head. I play it through a cabinet that my brother made me. I really like it!
Your so cool Man, i recently bought a Gibson 2014 Studio, 120th Anniversary model and i love it, the neck profile fits my medium sized hands,,and it sounds great thru my Blackstar ht 20 studio, my Orange Super Crush 100, my Orange Crush pro 60 112 combo, and especially thru my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 40 watt tube amp..keep rockin Brother..
Another great video man. My first Gibson was a Faded Ebony Studio that came with a black case with white interior. The case smelled like marshmallows and I never had another Gibson that had had a stronger smell than that one. That was a very nice guitar I bought used and loved it for years until I sold it to get my 2016 Traditional. The only thing I wish Gibson would do, is put binding on the neck. All Les Pauls should have binding on the neck.
1600.- Sfr I checked it out & I chose it because of the size & the Humbukers, if not, then it'll be the SG. Am flying to ZH Switzerland on the Sixth of Mai, cant wait ! Cheers & thanks !
Good video Colin. The pickup combination is the same as my 2010 SG Standard. It will scream. Had a few studios, probably won’t buy more. Like you I have several other Les Pauls. Enjoyed the video, cheers!
I've got 3 Les Pauls. Epiphone 56 reissue goldtop, 2015 Manhattan Midnight with upgraded tuners( the reason I got it for $650 USD is everyone hates that robot tuner...easy fix), and a 2007 wine red with gold hardware. The 2007 is the best, and I've never changed anything on it. I'm normally a Fender guy, but I love my Gibson Les Paul studios!
Colin, can’t thank you enough for the SERVICE you provide to the guitar community. Whenever I’m getting a G.A.S. attack I just tune into your channel to determine if it would/could meet my expectations. Thanks !😊
I love the LP Studio, I have a Special with the P90's. Epiphone is what I can afford. Even the Epiphone is a beast for pickups 8.2K/9.4K (N/B). And mine is light with no weight relief at 6.2 lbs. Just a slab body for a work horse. I like my Telecasters, but the LP can do everything the single coil Tele can do & more with the P90's. Before the PAF, humbucker, the voice of Rock was a P90.
I have one of these and it plays very well. I didn’t like the pickups and changed them to Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbuckers which sound fantastic. The only thing I don’t like is that the neck fret markers are on a glossy section of the neck. When playing under lights, I get glare on the neck and I can’t see the fret markers. This doesn’t happen on guitars with neck binding. Otherwise, I live this guitar.
I was hoping you’d choose “She’s A Beauty” by The Tubes for her premier. Because she certainly is in that little black dress and those speed knobs are fabulous on her, and with the silver trimmings. ❤ “But don’t fall in love, she’s a beauty, a one in a million girl..”
I have an '07 Studio in Worn Mahogany Brown which I love. I have a 98 Standard in Cherry Burst which I love as well. But I play the Studio more. Nice to see this.
StewMack makes a special tool for removing and installing the switch washer. About $15 here in the states. Worth the money though, it's adjustable for all sizes and will last a lifetime.
The coil splits could be better if they also let you choose which coil of each humbucker you want to play through. The bridge coil further from the bridge will sound different. Same with neck. So you would love to have all 4 pots pop up and down.
As I think I said when you reviewed the tribute, this exact Studio ebony is my son’s dream guitar. Well, his DREAM guitar is a custom Thunderbird but he dreams of the ebony studio as his next guitar.
@@theguitaristas he won’t be a youngster by the time he’s saved up for one. 😀 He will have to make do with his Squier Bullet Mustang and the Squier FSR Jaguar he just acquired.
Really enjoyed this Fantastic Review of The Gibson Studio, I am convinced this is the guitar for Me. The Price is just right and the electronics are superior sounding. Thank you Mr. Guitaristas for another Fine Video.
Very good review, as always! My main guitar for the last year or so has been a 2020 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Studio in Smokehouse Burst. It's an awesome guitar and for around $500 I don't think there is a better Les Paul out there. I've always seen the Studio as nothing less than a Standard without the binding. Why pay extra just for that, especially when Studios now come in a wide variety of bursts and other cool colors? Studios were meant to be workhorses; less flashy alternatives to standards. But in recent years, Gibson has continually raised the price on these into the territory of where Standards used to be priced. In years past a Studio would have been a great intro in owning a Gibson, but current prices are making that a less viable option for a lot of people, I think. The biggest thing that this guitar has going for it, in my opinion, is the Nitro finish-I do like the fact that they've done that instead of the worn finish. But at $1,600 this guitar is out of my price range-I'll happily stick with my Epiphone Studio, thank you very much! Keep the great reviews coming! You ROCK!
Cheers man, I didn't realise they did the Epiphone in smokehouse burst as well... definitely on my list now and another comparison video on the cards! 😎👍
@@theguitaristas It is a beautiful guitar. So much so, I took the pickguard off mine to show off the finish! I personally prefer the Epiphone burst over the Gibson. It just seems more pronounced-the Gibson Smokehouse burst seems kinda muddy to me.
Another fun video, Colin. Beautiful guitar! Thats the thing with Gibson though, for the money you have to fork out for one it should be absolutely flawless. No scratches, no wiring issues. Anyway, great playing and great video!
Great video - the most detailed review I’ve seen in a long while. I’ve got a 2018 Studio which is my no1 guitar. It’s got real deal Les Paul tones at a sensible weight and price. Looks like you’ve got a metal jack plate on yours rather than the plastic one on mine. Btw I never use the coil tap and would prefer regular pots. Keep the fantastic content coming!
Bought a new Studio and a Marshall Silver Jubilee w/ single slant face cab in 1988. Couldn't quite make the reach for the bottom cab. Hands down, the best sounding kit I ever played. I knew a guitarist at the time who I believed to be one of the very best on planet earth. RIP Terry. After playing that wine red Studio, he said it was phenomenal, both in handling and sound. This was a guy who had a room full of Les Pauls and top notch gear. I ebded up sellingit to him so he could leave his expensive guitars at home and gig with it, getting everything from it that he could get from his 59, 72, and others. It never needed anything. No tweaking, no nothing. The only thing we both agreed on was it could use thicker frets. other than that: perfection. IDK, maybe it was a freak.
I've been looking forward to this review and will soon have the Tribute vs Studio comparison to enjoy too. Execellent! Loving your Channel's content. Keep up the great work! I'm fortunate to own two Gibson Les Pauls. A 2018 Standard HP II in Heritage Cherry Fade and a 2016 Studio HP in Vintage Sunburst. No QC issues upon delivery and no issues of ownership with PCBs to date. I have both set-up up identically and they play fabulously. Tonally, the Standard is brighter than the Studio. The Studio is much more what I expected a Les Paul to sound like. Perfect for Classic Rock (e.g Thin Lizzy) with the Bridge & Neck Tone rolled off a bit. My Studio has a very attractive Natural finished back and 'reveal binding' on the body. It's quite a looker and I've definitely bonded more with it. OK, I admit it, I am (unexpectedly) a bit besotted with my Studio. It's a keeper. Hope you ultimately decide to keep yours too!
Just finished watching through the full video. Fantastic overview as always! Really appreciate the time you take to make these detailed and honest videos. Always gives me something to look forward to at the end of a long week. Was very eager to see the Les Paul studio one. Will be interesting to see it compared to the tribute next week. Will certainly be joining! 😁 I wonder if a little deoxit spray might take care of that noisy push pull pot. I REALLY like the fretboard on this studio, it’s a nice dark rosewood, almost looks ebony in the right light which matches well with the ebony finish. I think a big part of what makes the studio more pricey than the tribute is probably the full gloss nitro finish which I assume takes quite a bit of extra labor.
Nice style...To me, it's very much an American Southern Rock sound, I can't quite tell if it's Allman Brothers ala Dickie Betts, or The Marshall Tucker Band sound. Either way, I very much like it, and could listen to it for hours. I wish I could play like that, then I'm sure I'd play for hours. Nevertheless, Thank You very much for such a thorough and fine review. It will very much help me enjoy my Studio Deluxe much more.
My first proper Gibson was one of these in this finish, I picked it up in the late 90s for Epiphone money (£480) second hand. Was my workhorse for over a decade, loved that thing, until I slung it over my shoulder backstage just before going on, not realising the gig bag was not zipped up 😔, the thing slammed bridge first into the ground rendering it unplayable and collapsed the bridge. I opted for a non Gibson replacement bridge but it never sounded the same again so flogged it on. They didn't have coil taps back then and no PCB. Great guitars but I think I'd save the money and get an epi 59 if I was in the market for one now . Great video as always col and it was like a blast from the past seeing that axe.
Last year, I sold my Gibson Les Paul Studio "Swirl", and I'm still kicking myself. That was probably my favorite guitar from my 30 years of playing....
This is a common theme Gary… we keep selling guitars and regretting it why do we do that?? 🤷♂️ ok that does it I’m just going to keep them all from now on! 🤣👍👍
Who'd a thought thirty years ago I'd be sittin' here wi' Les Paul Studio fresh from th' pawn shop? This one seems to be Burstbuckers without coil taps. I had a Les Paul wi' bolt on neck in the '70s, the real thing was something on TV. So thanks for the inspiration Colin!
Hi Collin - nice Guitar - played a Studio GEM - with P90 from 1996 - till 2011 - it´s now by my son - nice nice Guitar - Studios are great Guitars!! Thanx!!
Well it’s sure a very musical guitar, coil tap sounds great … never thought the Studio looks worth the price tag, but it’s got the Gibson vibe and the hot bridge pickup is a big plus in my book … looking forward to the Gibson shoot out … more
Hi Collin , yet the algorithm leads to you. Thank you . It sounded REALLY NICE AND YES YOU ARE SELF CRITICAL . I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS . CREDIBILITY IS GENUINE.😊
I've been playing my Les Paul Studio live as well now for some five gigs, and the thing with these classic models like Les Pauls and Stratocasters (sorry 🙂) is that they just deliver in a cover band, because most pop/rock hits have been played on these guitars.
My favorite Les Paul. Same as yours here. And yes the 498t pretty much rocks although the 500t they used to put in the classics was quite a pickup too. Thanks for covering this one.
Just played a tribute and a studio at my local guitar store, and the studio had a lower action than the tribute and was noticeably lighter. The studio seemed more comfortable to me, so take that as you will.
I have a 2014 Gibson Les Paul Studio Pro 120th Anniversary edition with a 57 Classic neck pickup and a Burstbucker Pro in the bridge. It has an ultra high gloss lacquer finish which still has that great smell even to this day. It has coil splits but I never use them. Don't like them. I do like the black speed knobs. The color is Fireburst Candy. Maple cap with Mahogany body and neck. Modern weight relief. Switchcraft toggle and orange drop caps. It plays like a dream and it screams bloody murder. Enjoyed this weeks video as usual. I'll put my vote in early, keep the Tribute. Cheers!
@@theguitaristas Well, I think the pickups in my Studio Pro make the difference so if I had to choose between it and a Tribute I'd take the Studio Pro all day long. However, choosing between the Tribute and the Studio you have I'd take the Tribute. I guess the Tribute just sounds warmer to my ears. That being said I have a 2017 Tribute with a mahogany neck and if someone pointed a gun to my head and said I had to choose between the Studio Pro with the 57 Classic and Burstbucker Pro pickups or the Tribute I'd take the Studio Pro. I would not like it because I love both.
@@drabun1 Looking forward to putting these side by side... interesting you say warmer, yes indeed and in fact trying out an amp that arrived this week I instinctively picked up the tribute when both were within reach. Let's see! 😎👍
I also have Studio '95 which was in Japan until 2019. It's my best guitar so far. Ultra weight with crazy mids. I use a EQ pedal in the loop to temper the mid hump.
I have a 95 studio too. I like to use the treble setting only. I used to play through a 98 jcm602 open back combo so I used a boss bass EQ to thicken up the low strings while keeping a screaming lead tone. Since I've gotten an 04 DSL100 half stack so i dont need it anymore
Great video Col. As always. I have a black ‘89 Studio which I’ve had since new. Vintage now! Great guitar. Ebony fingerboard too. Btw there is a tool for the poker chip nut. Normally they have different size each side, for imperial/ metric. If you have sold Lazarus, you should keep the Epi 59.. 🙂
Cheers Dave, so,I have to buy a tool to finish making the guitar? 🤣 yes I am thinking I shall keep the 59 now… someone just offered a trade and that has kind of focused my mind. You see my point… I can’t let them go! 🤣🤣👍
I agree Colin, this guitar really sounds nice and I like the design and the black colour as well. Pricewise it isn't too far away, I would keep it, it's got something unique, a character. 👍
Great review, as usual! I've always loved the Studios, they strike me as an intentionally and unapologetically modest take on a classic guitar. I own a 2021 Epi LP Studio in Wine Red and it's one of my personal favorites, for sure.
More essential viewing - great review as always! Now, you might have gathered from my previous posts that I am an MIJ Tokai fanboy. However, I am NOT a Gibson-basher and wish them well and everyone who plays a G or an Epiphone who seem to be knocking out fantastic guitars at the moment. One of the most frequent comments I see on Tokai forums is that their Tokai is as good or better than a Gibson - not something I subscribe to but I do love my Tokais as solid working guitars - all get rotated at sweaty punk gigs and have the battle-scars and blood on the pick-ups to prove it :) However, given the nature of your fantastic reviews would love to see you put similarly priced Tokais up against an equivalently priced Gibsons. For example, if this Studio costs around £1300, you could get a brand new Vintage series Tokai Love Rock at a similar price....anyway, just an idea...roll on Friday x
