Gibson Les Paul Studio

Infobox Guitar model|title=Gibson Les Paul Studio


bgcolor=#FFFFFF
manufacturer=Gibson USA
period=1983 — present
bodytype=Solid, Single or Double Cut
necktype=Set
scale=24.75"
woodbody=Mahogany, Maple Top
woodneck=Mahogany
woodfingerboard=Ebony, Rosewood
bridge=Tune-o-matic
pickups=Dual humbuckers
colors=Wine Red , Ebony , Platinum , Classic White , Fire Burst , Alpine WhiteThe 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.

Features and specifications

The Studio model is based on the Gibson Les Paul, but is designed for a studio musician. This means that the guitar is targeted toward guitar players more concerned with tone and playability than cosmetics thus eliminating unnecessary expenses that go into a model designed for performances. For this reason, the elements of the Gibson Les Paul that contribute to tone and playability (a carved maple top and standard mechanical and electronic hardware) are retained, while elements that do not (binding on the body and neck as well as ornate inlays) are omitted.

Early models featured dot fret markers on top of ebony or rosewood fretboards. In the mid 80's the dot markers were replaced by trapezoidal inlay. In the early 90's the option of an ebony fretboard was discontinued, but they are now available on the classic and alpine white finishes.

Electronics

The Les Paul Studio features the same electronics as the Standard model. These 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.

Models and variations

1983-1984 Models

All models made from 1983 until 1984 featured alder carved topped bodies with set maple necks. The mahogany body and neck combination did not appear until 1985 per Gibson Customer Service. [citenews|url=http://www.zuitar.com/guitar/100356-Les_Paul_Studio.html|title=Les Paul Studio|publisher=Zuitar.com|accessdate=2008-08-16]

Vintage Mahogany

The Vintage Mahogany model has a carved mahogany body, top and neck, a rosewood fretboard and Alnico V BurstBucker Pro humbuckers, the same humbuckers used in the Les Paul Standard model.

Gothic

In 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, Flying V, X-plorer and Nikki Sixx Blackbird Bass. [ [http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/gothic/index.html] ]

Voodoo

The "Voodoo" series followed which included a SG as well as Les Paul Studio. The series was discontinued in 2005. [ [http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/voodoo/index.html] ]

martwood 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. [ [http://www.gibson.com/Products/GibsonElectric/Gibson%20Electric%20Guitars/LesPaul/Studios/Smartwood%20Studio/] ]

wamp Ash Studio

Infobox Guitar model|title=Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio


bgcolor=#FFFFFF
manufacturer=Gibson USA
period=2003 — present
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Set
woodbody=Swamp Ash
woodneck=Mahogany
woodfingerboard=Ebony or Rosewood
bridge=Tune-o-matic
pickups=Dual Humbucking
colors=Natural Satin

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 different pickups.

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.

Variations

Early Swamp Ash Studio guitars (approx. 2003 - 2004 model years) were produced with ebony fingerboards. These models are significant in that they lack any fingerboard markers.

Current models feature a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlaid fingerboard markers.

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. [Nikoli, 2003]

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. [ [http://www.Gibson.com] 2006.]

Gem Series

The Gem Series of 1996 had P-90 pickups and special finishes in "gemstone" colors: Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, Emerald, and Ruby. The series was discontinued in 1998.

It should be noted that Gibson produced a small number of Les Paul Studio guitars using the leftover paint from the Gem Series. However, these are not to be considered original Gems, as they did not include the special P-90 pickups. [ [http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/LesPaul/GemSeries.html] ]

tudio Custom

During the early 80's Gibson decided to release a custom shop line. The guitar followed the original specs of the studio but with upgraded wood and materials. Today these guitars are rare and sought after by collectors.

tudio 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 four or five hours of playing. The Studio Lite M-III was produced with a new pickup configuration: 2 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.gibson.com/Products%5FEuro/GibsonElectric/Gibson%20Electric%20Guitars/LesPaul/Studios/Swamp%20Ash%20Studio/ Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash fact sheet]
* [http://topguitars.info/guitars/view/172/1/default.html TopGuitars.info Review]
* [http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/forestry/smartwood/ The Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program]
* [http://player.gibson.com/apr03/SmartWood.html "SmartWood commitment extending across Gibson USA" by Michelle Nikolai]