Gibson Les Paul Studio '50s Tribute Humbucker

Gibson Guitar made in the USA.

Chambered body and thinner than the Les Paul Standard.

Refined aesthetic:
Varnish: thin, satin
Subscribe brand GIBSON painted (not Perloid)
It is clear that it is not very "flashy"!

Mahogany body, maple
Mahogany neck 22 frets maple key a priori heated but it really looks like rosewood
Hardware typical Les Paul.

Duo pickups GIBSON 490R/manche & 498T/chevalet In other words, the safe bet!

UTILIZATION

The handle is typically gibson memory and a larger and rounder than my old Epiphone Les Paul Standard hair. It is very pleasant to use particular techniques expressive jazz or play blues / rock: it is clear that it is not designed for solo metal!
Access to acute typical Les Paul: ie the rapid solo treble is clearly not a priority for Gibson in this model.

Usability: Set rather light for a Les Paul, not heavier than my strato or my Fender telecaster! It does not follow the body as a stratovolcano (no indentation), but frankly it is very pleasant, especially when standing.

SOUNDS

Used on a tube amp Bugera V22: This is clearly a sound gibson, vintage and very warm.

Its level is a real Les Paul, but a variation of the Les Paul, due to the chambered structure. It is not less than a Les Paul "plain", it's different. Wholesale:
Clear-channel: this is less a round, creamy Les Paul Standard (plain) but it is more precise and biting, it is closer to my jazz guitar, in fact, with a thinner sound more acoustic.
-Saturated channel: it is fat, but moderately, obviously less fat than the Les Paul "Plain" but it is gaining sonic accuracy. Ie: The neck pickup is very typical of his Les Paul, it is clearly excellent, it is both bold and precise and should not be messy. The bridge pickup has some "fenderiennes" features with a pretty slamming side. It sounds very vintage: there is grain, this "imperfection" gives it its charm. The intermediate position is quite "SGisante" in the good sense.

I think that fans of jazz and blues much appreciate that sound more acoustic clear, precise saturated. The rocker will grow too, because the microphones are powerful enough. So we have some versatility, except metal (except appropriate settings), for which it was not designed.

OVERALL OPINION

To propose a model at an affordable price, aesthetics and visual finishes are not the priority for Gibson but for the violin and the sound is clear Gibson quality appointments. The quality / price is really good, you just accept a visual aesthetic back (without the guitar is ugly so far).

Quality microphones has much in my opinion ...

If I compare my old Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top is lighter, more maneuverable, and especially the sound is much less messy: it is both broader and more accurate.

This guitar is a great surprise! I bought secondhand for a price that I think is below its actual quality, even used!

Hello,

I got this guitar in the studio to make changes to the customer's request.
It is therefore an opinion maker than user.

I must say I was quite disappointed with this Gibson as far as I'm even less possession of a Gibson Les Paul Special, which was at the time of buying a Gibson "first price".

A word about the characteristics to clarify one point, the famous key in "baked maple".
Maple fingerboard "baked" ie roasted: heated under vacuum at high temperature. Treatment makes the color of the treated gasoline darker, in the case of maple keys used by Gibson, the color resembles that of rosewood. The oeuil warned recognize without difficulty the roasted maple and rosewood by the difference in grain maple being perfectly smooth, rosewood a bit rougher with more open pores and visible
http://www.andertons.co.uk/blog/guitars/gibson-baked-maple-fingerboard-guide

This is not warmed maple (spalted English) which means attacked by a fungus.
Example warmed maple top: https://fr.audiofanzine.com/guitare-sc/pmc-guitars/xav/avis/r.67162.html


The satin finish is very fine, but mostly absent on the edge of the button!
So there is a stair created by the thickness of the coating on the handle and the lack of polish on the edge of the button. Unacceptable ...
The portion of the key itself is pretty gross, without going as far as saying it is rough sawn, she deserved bcp more sanding. Once more unworthy of "Made in USA" advocated by Gibson.

Delivered in cover (like my Gibson LP Special 1993).
Vintage Kluson mechanical, I struggled with the mechanics who are not a bit like locking the car without power steering produced in the 21st century.
No strap lock, as in many ...

Switchcraft selector, but no name jack (on plastic plate ...), while Gibson used to put switchcraft jacks (one of the best brands if not the best). Really saving tip candle.
Gibson branded knobs, is that they are always CTS?
All electronics is a "solderless" (like the new EMG), the shot if you want to put a push-pull knob is not practical.

Brief disappointment, especially compared to the quality of entry-level models of the last century.
Given the price, "Made In USA" which we wonder if it is not false advertising, and the prestige of the brand, I am obviously very disappointed!

UTILIZATION

Handle type 50s, a little rounder than the famous "Slim Tapper 1960" I am quite a fan and my team Special LP 1993. But the satin finish makes this race very enjoyable to play, as the LP BFG, although the handle of the BFG is a bit thicker in my memory.

For the rest it is a Gibson Les Paul, it is light enough due to the chambered body.

The biggest problem is access to acute.
And like all Les Paul (and Telecaster): No bevels to the forearm or stomach.

SOUNDS

No note I have not connected with the original pickups. The client wanted a kit with Seymour Duncan Slash push pull splitter for microphones.

The sound is obviously one would expect from a Les Paul, but I have not tested enough to judge compared to other Gibson LP.

OVERALL OPINION

Disappointed ...
The finish is very disappointing given that this is supposed to produce a prestigious brand such instruments in the United States. The problem is that many Asian guitars are cheaper better finished!
The shot from the edge of button just killed me ... The no-name jack is crappy.

Here is a real Gibson made in the USA. And yes! for a price lower than a lot of PRS SE Asia, we can get a real U.S. with pickups!
Although this is a Tribute '50s, the handle is not as round as expected: it is thinner than a LP Traditional, which itself has a real handle on typical profile of 50 years. We find the usual fittings of Les Paul and the pickups are a 490R in the neck associated with a 498T in the bridge position. A set that is part of the Gibson range for decades and found on the LP Custom and Ice.
Both say right away, Gold Top finish is perfect and the alliance with the back "black" (it takes about eggplant) a success. It expects no less from such a mark but always bear in mind the really low price of this LP.

UTILIZATION

The body, like the Studio and the Standard, is "chmbered", It's to say it has widened cavities large enough, the guitar turns and very light (for LP), in weight a Stratocaster alder to place you ... And, of course, as is the case for LP Studio, the thickness of the body is less than on other LP. Place a LP Traditional Tribute to the '50s is an experience somewhat destabilizing: one does not feel the guitar at the beginning. Very well for long periods of play standing, much less when you are playing sat down, because one must juggle feet on the pedals and like to feel the full weight of his guitar.
Disregarding my Traditional, I would probably put the maximum score.

SOUNDS

By (bad) surprises: the guitar sound and the pickups are really a fantastic job. Obviously, this is the case and to say, this Lp has not the weight of my Traditional: the sound does not possess neither the body nor the authority singing. But if one does not compare to a model whose price is still three times, one can only be taped: a real LP power less than 700 €, it's just incredible! As might be expected, the '50s Tribute has all the sonic palette of a Les Paul of his most brilliant and incisive than creamy and velvety. The pair 490/498 has nothing to prove and it works beautifully. And as always with Gibson quality electronics lowers the volume of each mic without losing the treble.

OVERALL OPINION

Considering the price, this guitar deserves a 10 out of 10. She is beautiful, of excellent workmanship, with flawless finishes and an electronic level. The sustain is really there and you can become infinite with the right pedal and the right setup (neck pickup tone with zero, or Big Muff GT OD, 78 Badass combination disto / OD Badass modified, compressor and valve amp).
I added some chrome covers on the pickups which, origin, are naked.
I think this guitar is simply the perfect choice for those who have to invest € 700.

Well do simple (copy and paste features with little comments on my part).
Bought new,
Guitar Made in USA (fortunately for Gibson!)

1.THE WOOD:
-Mahogany body (chambered)
Table-Maple
-Mahogany
-Warmed maple fingerboard:
roughly one notes that Gibson has not cracked too polished for its budget this guitar which eventually bring a side relic faster than another model. Note that the heated wood provides a distinctive odor to the instrument (bin makes it feel the same "new" than others!) But it is not annoying!

2.THE HANDLE:
-Profile of the handle: 50's (as the name suggests!)

3.FRETS, MECHANICAL AND THE REST:
22 frets
Scale length: 628mm
2 humbucking pickups: 1x Gibson 490R (neck) and 1 x Gibson 498T (Bridge)
2 volume controls
2 tone controls
3-position selector
(The gibson actually!)

UTILIZATION

The handle is contoured 50's, so round and wide enough (without being too much!). Probably not recommended for shreders crazy!

Well, one of the most surprising things about this guitar is its weight! A more severe penalties than SG! it is the effect "Chambered". With it no problem to spend hours playing upright without back pain!
compared to a traditional studio that weight loss is slightly felt in the substain.

Access to the treble is like all Gibson Les Paul shape

It fits comfortably tuning.

SOUNDS

Having heard anything and everything on this guitar, I was curious at the time of receiving.
The big question we might ask, once plugged into an amp (Marshall JCM 2000 in my case) is: Sounds like you it a studio?
well the answer is ... slightly different!

As explained above, from a studio "traditional" I noticed a very slight loss of substain, sends the neck pickup slightly less "round" and "fat" (but ultimately wins may be more accurate!). Level bridge pickup, you are really familiar territory, no surprises! therefore necessarily good news is it Sounds!

I think it fits a lot of styles (blues, rock, hard), but his favorite is clearly the rock!

OVERALL OPINION

How long you use it?
Bought new in April 2012

For purists it's true we do not find exactly the sound of a studio.Mais once we know is that so bad?
I think we should really take this guitar as a new model proposed by the brand! She really his personality while remaining nails Gibson!
For the price (685 €) we are not disappointed! it is clear that this award is clearly due to finish less finished (painted, hidden microphones) but the essentials are there: the handle is super nice, the pickups sound very good mechanical!

How would you rate the quality / price?
very good (frankly a new Gibson less than 700 € not forget!)

With experience, you do again this choice?
without hesitation!

TO SUMMARIZE:
The +:
-The weight (it's weird to say this for a Les Paul!)
The price-
Micro-precision
-Mechanical

the -:
-Finish (especially patent)
No micro-caches (there is really personal, I always preferred to)
Gigbag-delivered (maybe it's also why it is cheaper?)