Gibson Les Paul Studio
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| Gibson Les Paul Studio | |
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| Manufacturer | Gibson USA |
| Period | 1983 — present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Set |
| Woods | |
| Body | Mahogany, Maple |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Ebony, Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Tune-o-matic |
| Pickup(s) | Dual humbuckers |
| Colors available | |
| Wine Red , Ebony , Platinum , Classic White , Fire Burst , Alpine White | |
The Gibson Les Paul Studio is an electric guitar made by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, based on the popular model bearing the name of the legendary guitarist. Though the guitar is made in the United States, it is considered an entry-level model despite its list price which can go over $2,000 USD.
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[edit] Features and specifications
The Studio model is based on the idea of a Gibson Les Paul for a studio musician. The tone and playability would be more important to a studio musician than the looks, therefore the fine finish and woodgrain selection of a Les Paul Standard would be an unnecessary expense to him. For this reason, the elements of the Gibson Les Paul that contribute to the tone and playability, including the carved maple top and standard mechanical and electronic hardware, are retained, while the elements that do not, including the binding on the body and the neck and the ornate inlays on the headstock and fingerboard, are deleted.
[edit] Electronics
The Les Paul Studio features the same electronics as the Standard. This includes two pickups, one at the bridge position and another at the neck, a volume control unit for each pickup, a tone control unit for each pickup, and a three-way selector switch. A standard 1/4-inch guitar cable jack is located at the bottom rim of the instrument.
The pickups currently installed in this model are the Gibson 490R Alnico magnet humbucker in the neck position and the Gibson 498T Alnico magnet humbucker in the bridge position.
[edit] Models and variations
[edit] Gothic
In 2002 Gibson released a series of six guitars dubbed "Gothic" models. Guitars other than the Les Paul Studio in this series was the Gibson SG, Flying V, X-plorer and Nikki Sixx Blackbird Bass.[1]
[edit] Voodoo
The "Voodoo" series followed with an SG as well as Les Paul Studio. The series was discontinued in 2005.[2]
[edit] Smartwood Studio
The Gibson Les Paul Smartwood Studio is a variant of the Studio model. It is made from wood certified by the Rainforest Alliance. While the back and the neck are made from mahogany, the carved top and the fretboard are made from Muira Piranga harvested from forests certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The mahogany used in the construction of this model is from similarly certified forests. [3]
[edit] Swamp Ash Studio
| Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio | |
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| Manufacturer | Gibson USA |
| Period | 2003 — present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Set |
| Woods | |
| Body | Swamp Ash |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Ebony or Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Tune-o-matic |
| Pickup(s) | Dual Humbucking |
| Colors available | |
| Natural Satin | |
[edit] Background
The Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio was introduced in 2003 alongside the Les Paul Voodoo. These two instruments were essentially identical except for the Voodoo's dark finish, "Goth" aesthetic and its different complement of pickups.
[edit] Construction
All Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio guitars are built in Nashville, Tennessee USA.
The body of the Swamp Ash Les Paul consists of a carved swamp ash top over a multi-piece swamp ash back. The neck is made from mahogany and is "set" into the body, as is the standard neck construction for all Les Paul guitars. The fretboard may be either ebony or rosewood, depending on production year.
[edit] Variations
[edit] Fretboard
Early Swamp Ash Studio guitars (aprox. 2003 - 2004 model years) were produced with ebony fingerboards. These models are significant in that they lack any fingerboard markers (a somewhat rare feature among Les Paul models). They are preferred by many players not only for the choice of fingerboard wood, but also for the more minimalist appearance created by the unadorned fingerboard and the striking contrast of ebony on "raw" ash. Many consider the "ebony" Swamp Ash Studios to be collector's items. However, the market as-of-yet does not seem to reflect that.
Current models feature a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlaid fingerboard markers.
[edit] Orientation
A relatively-small number of Swamp Ash Les Paul guitars have been produced in a left-handed configuration.
[edit] Certification
All of the swamp ash used in the Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio is certified environmentally "responsible" by the Rainforest Alliance via their SmartWood program. The Rainforest Alliance is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Gibson is independently audited on an annual basis by the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that only FSC-certified swamp ash is used in the construction of the Swamp Ash Studio and Gibson's SmartWood line of instruments[1].
[edit] Production Figures
As of 2006, Gibson only released production numbers for limited-run models with production set at the time of announcement. According to Gibson, the Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio is a "limited edition" model. Despite this, exact production numbers are currently unavailable.
Total production for Gibson's swamp ash guitars will depend on the availability of environmentally certified wood.[2]
[edit] Gem Series
The Gem Series of 1996 had P-90 pickups and special finishes in "gemstone" colours: Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, Emerald, and Ruby. The series was discontinued in 1998.[4]
[edit] Trivia
- Earlier models (up to mid-80's) featured dot fret markers, whereas later models feature the trapezoidal inlays.
- Les Paul Studio fretboards were made of ebony until the early 90's, when they were switched to rosewood.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash fact sheet
- TopGuitars.info Review
- The Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program
- "SmartWood commitment extending across Gibson USA" by Michelle Nikolai
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