Gibson Les Paul Studio
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The Gibson Les Paul Studio is a solid body
electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation since 1983. It is a model of Les Paul with some features omitted to appeal to musicians looking for the tonal qualities of the guitar but with less of an emphasis on cosmetics and to reduce the price of the instrument.


History

Responding to a gap in their model lineup for a lower-priced Les Paul in 1983, Gibson introduced the Studio model. The Studio was designed to attract guitar players who desired traditional Les Paul sound without having to pay for cosmetic features of upscale models. In order to produce a lower-cost Les Paul, features such as body binding, neck binding, and headstock inlays were not available. Additionally, the body was ⅛ to ¼ inch thinner than a standard Les Paul. Initially made of alder from 1983–1985, Gibson moved back to maple top/mahogany body combination after the alder body proved prone to lacquer problems. The name "Studio" comes from the idea that this model would be sonically indistinguishable from a Les Paul Standard or Custom in the recording studio, and that the flashier guitars would be reserved for stage use.


Models and variations


Studio Standard

The Studio Standard was produced from 1983–1987 and was very similar to the Studio Custom, including the "dot" inlays, but had a single-ply binding around the body and neck, chrome hardware, and white pickup rings and pick guard. It was also available in different colors, such as Cherry Sunburst, Tobacco Burst and Ferrari Red. One piece mahogany back, three piece maple or alder top, maple neck, ebony or rosewood fretboard rounded out the complements. This was the Tim Shaw era of pickups.


Studio Custom

The Studio Custom was produced in 1983–1985. It was introduced before the design of the Studio was finalized, and mostly had the features of a Standard with a variety of features mixed in from other models. It had a mahogany neck and mahogany body with a maple top, single-ply binding around the neck and three-ply binding around the top of the body only, and gold hardware with black pickup rings and pick guard. The 1984 models had two-piece tops, while 1985 models had three-piece tops. The fingerboard was made from rosewood on some models, ebony on others, and had mother of pearl dots for inlays, instead of the usual trapezoids. The neck profile was slim-tapered, like a Standard, and the frets were low, like a "Fretless Wonder" Custom. Some of these had Tim Shaw pickups.


Vintage Mahogany/Faded

The Vintage Mahogany model has a carved mahogany body, top and neck, a rosewood fretboard and Alnico V BurstBucker Pro humbucker pickups, the same humbuckers used in the Les Paul Standard model. The model is available in ''worn brown'' and ''worn cherry'' finishes, featuring a "satin" nitrocellulose finish. In 2009, the Vintage Mahogany was renamed the Les Paul Studio Faded. These models (adding worn blue and worn ebony as color choices, as well as "satin" fireburst and yellow) featured the carved maple top of other Les Paul models. In 2013 model year, the Studio Faded was replaced with the "LPJ" model.


Studio Lite

In the mid 1990s Gibson produced the Studio Lite and Studio Lite M-III. The Lite models were produced with balsa wood (referred to as "chromyte" in advertisements) portions of the body to reduce the guitar's weight, responding to some players' complaints about the heaviness of a standard Les Paul after several hours of playing. The Studio Lite M-III was produced with a new pickup configuration: two humbuckers with a single coil in the middle. The pickup selector switch gave five single-coil options in the "up" position, and four humbucker combinations in the "down" position, plus an "off" position. The name M-III refers to the Gibson M-III model, which was a Superstrat-style guitar, for which these electronics were originally developed.


Gem Series

The Gem Series (1996–1998) had
P-90 The P-90 (sometimes written P90) is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Gibson is still producing P-90s, and there are outside companies that manufacture replacement versions. Compared to other single coil desi ...
pickups and special finishes in "gemstone" colors: Amethyst,
Sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sa ...
, Topaz, Emerald, and
Ruby A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called ...
. Gibson produced a small number of Les Paul Studio guitars using the leftover paint from the Gem Series. These were produced with dot inlays, gold or nickel hardware, and gold or nickel Grover tuners. They are rare and highly sought after. However, these are not to be considered original Gems, as they did not include the special P-90 pickups.


SmartWood series

The SmartWood series consists chronologically of three models; the Exotic, the Studio and the Swamp Ash models. The SmartWood series is certified environmentally "responsible" by the Rainforest Alliance via their SmartWood program. Gibson is independently audited on an annual basis by the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that only FSC-certified wood is used in the construction of Gibson's SmartWood line of instruments.


SmartWood Exotic

The SmartWood Exotic line (1996–2002), which was composed of six models. The SmartWood line featured tops made from different woods:
Curupay ''Anadenanthera colubrina'' (also known as vilca, huilco, huilca, wilco, willka, curupay, curupau, cebil, or angico) is a South American tree closely related to yopo, or ''Anadenanthera peregrina''. It grows to tall and the trunk is very thorn ...
has a deep chocolate-walnut richness;
Peroba Peroba, paroba, parova, perobeira, perova and peroveira are common names for various tree species in the families: *Apocynaceae *Bignoniaceae Species known by this name have important use in the timber industry, especially the species referred to ...
recalls the orangey hue of the old pine ceiling beam; Banara has a golden, banana-like glow; Ambay Guasu boasts the even lightness of maple; Taperyva Guasu is reminiscent of a sun-bleached rosewood, and Chancharana is a deep, warm-brown russet. The fretboards are all made from "Curupay" harvested from forests certified in accordance with the rules of the
Forest Stewardship Council The Forest Stewardship Council A. C. (FSC) is an international non-profit, multistakeholder organization established in 1993 that promotes responsible management of the world's forests via timber certification. It is an example of a market-ba ...
(FSC). The mahogany used in the construction of this model is from similarly certified forests. The SmartWood Exotic had a thinner, belly contoured, body than the Studio (somewhat similar to that of the Les Paul Custom Lite), and had "smart wood" written on the truss rod cover.


Studio SmartWood

The Studio SmartWood (LPEXMUGH1) was constructed from wood certified by the Rainforest Alliance. While the back and the neck are made from the usual mahogany, the carved top is made from Muiricatiara, along with a ''Preciosa'' rosewood fingerboard. It was in production from December 2002 until 2008 and had a standard body, no pick-guard, gold hardware, dot-type fret markers,
mother of pearl Nacre ( , ), also known as mother of pearl, is an organicinorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. Nacre is f ...
Gibson headstock logo, and a unique metallic green-leaf within the truss rod cover.


Studio Swamp Ash

The Studio Swamp Ash (LPSANSCH1) was manufactured between 2003 and 2011. Built in
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...
, its body is made of a carved
swamp ash Swamp ash is a common name for several North American trees in the genus ''Fraxinus'' which may grow in swamps and other wetlands. The wood of swamp ashes is relatively low in density and is used in the construction of musical instruments, particu ...
top over a multi-piece swamp ash back. The neck is made from mahogany and is "set" into the body. The fretboard may be either ebony, granadillol or rosewood, depending on production year. It has a standard body, no pick-guard, chrome plated hardware, and dot-type fret markers, a silkscreen Gibson headstock logo and the usual ''studio'' truss rod cover.Les Paul Studio Swamp Ash Specifications page


Gothic

During 2000–2002, Gibson released a series of six guitars dubbed "Gothic" models. Guitars other than the Les Paul Studio in this series were the
Gibson SG The Gibson SG is a solid-body electric guitar model introduced by Gibson in 1961 as the Gibson Les Paul SG. It remains in production today in many variations of the initial design. The SG (where "SG" refers to Solid-Body Guitar) Standard is Gi ...
, Flying V, X-plorer and Nikki Sixx Blackbird Bass.


Voodoo

The "Voodoo" series followed which included an SG as well as Les Paul Studio. The series was discontinued in 2005 due to low sales.


Pro Plus

The Studio Pro Plus was an upgraded studio with a AA figured maple top and gold hardware. Traditional mahogany body and set SlimTaper™ neck profile, rosewood fingerboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays, 490R neck pickup and BurstBucker Pro bridge pickup, TonePros® Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, Grover™ tuners with vintage style green keys. Available in Desert Burst (DB), Trans Black (BL, 2004–05), or Trans Red (TR, disc. 2003) finish. Made from 2001–2005.


Premium Plus

The Studio Premium Plus was an upgraded studio with a high-gloss AAA flamed maple top and gold hardware. Traditional mahogany body and set '59 Les Paul rounded mahogany neck, pearloid trapezoid inlays and 490R and 498T alnico magnet humbuckers. Made from 2006–2008. The 2006 was heavier at 8.5 lbs and had a beige pickguard and truss rod cover with gold "Studio" lettering. The chambered 2007–2008 models weighed in at 7.5 lbs and came with a black pickguard and cover with white lettering. Available in Natural (2006–08), Root Beer (2006–07), Trans Amber (2006–07), Trans Black (2006–07), or Trans Red (2006–07) finish.


Robot Limited

The Robot Les Paul Studio Limited was an upgraded studio with Powertune auto-tuning system. A Limited Edition finish Blue Silverburst was initially released in late 2007 with chrome truss rod cover with "Robot Guitar" engraved (late 2007 only). The production version (v2, 2008–2011) featured a chambered mahogany body, maple top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood-bound (standard finishes) or white-bound (metallic finishes) ebony fingerboard with figured acrylic trapezoid inlays, white-bound headstock with MOP Gibson logo and flowerpot inlay (metallic finishes) or unbound headstock with screened logo (standard finishes), three-per-side robotic Powerhead Locking tuners, tune-o-matic Powertune bridge, Powertune stop tailpiece, two chrome covered humbucker pickups (490R, 498T), four knobs (three normal, and one Master Control Knob that controls the robotic actions of the guitar), three-way pickup switch, Neutrik jack on side of guitar, chrome hardware. It was available in standard finishes: Ebony, Desertburst, Fireburst, Manhattan Midnight, Wine Red, and metallic finishes: Green Metallic, Purple Metallic, Red Metallic. Version 2 made from 2008–2011.


References


Bibliography

* * {{Gibson Les Paul Les Paul Studio Studio