Interesting developments in Gibson's Studio line

Ravelleman

The whole 'tropical wood importation-gate' affair that has been affecting Gibson over the last year or so seems to have had one positive effect at least - Gibson seem to be a little more creative these days than they have been in previous years. Granted the Firebird X is an absolute disaster in form, although one might argue that it was a deliberate and masterful attempt to attract attention to the brand. But they've been a lot more liberal in their use of classic colours to compensate for the lack of traditional tone woods. Now Pelham Blue and the like are readily available for non-Historic buyers.

I've been most interested in the developments in the Studio line.

The Firebird Studio in Pelham Blue looks like the absolute bees' knees: Firebird Studio

and the new line of Les Paul Studios looks a lot more attractive than the dull colours of before! My favourite is Inverness Green, although the Radiant Red one also looks nice. The price seems to have gone up a bit too but I'm sure they can be found for less than on Thomann.

What do you think? I'd never considered a Les Paul Studio before but if I go down that road, I might just get one!

Elysian

The new Tobacco Sunburst Studio is giving me some serious GAS:

Ravelleman

That does look quite dreamy!

Oh, I also forgot to say that there's a new 70s Tribute Les Paul with redesigned (rail style) mini-humbuckers. Here it is inSunburst.

Never been a fan of the Tributes myself but a lot of people like them, so it's all good.

martinedwards

is there anything as stuck in the ruts of traditionalisms as a rock guitarist?????

I guess that there are cretain wood combinations from history that worked well, but c'mon, can anyone REALLY hear the difference between Brazillian rosewood and East Indian on a FRETBOARD?

I strongly suspect not!!

and as for the legend that a 3 piece strat sound any different to a 2 piece?

aw come on!!!!

I'm delighted to see that many maunfacturers are expanding thier wood ranges..... The Godin group are using cherry on thier acoustics now. it looks pretty bland, but as a wood worker, it SMELLS gorgeous!!! I've mad a couple of mandolins and bouzoukis from it and it's easily worked, bends like butter and sounds nice in an instrument.

Lowden use walnut, Turner use Ovankol, and if you wander over to the dark side of custom luthiers there are a LOAD of pretty unique woods out there.

it IS gradually changing, but the aspiration will always be there for a 59 spec strat with the koa skunk stripe and a Gibby gold top will have to have exactly the right wood under all that glitter.........

Rented Mule

If Gibson would fix the issue with their necks/headstocks breaking, they would have a much better chance of me buying one.

Ravelleman

Never seen a broken headstock that a fool hadn't dropped...

kevin65

Rented Mule wrote: »

If Gibson would fix the issue with their necks/headstocks breaking, they would have a much better chance of me buying one.

The Norlin era Les Paul's had volutes to help prevent headstock breakages.

Ravelleman

Volutes, which purists generally prefer to avoid... Funny that!

Ravelleman

They also had multi-piece maple necks, which most people seem keen on forgetting too.

Anyway, I reckon that if you´re careful, which you should be with all guitars, you won´t have any problems with broken necks or headstocks.

martinedwards

again, the purists will tell you that it's the scarf joint that gives the distinctive Gibson sound.

lot of poo of course, it's a wood saving exercise allowing you to make a headstock that slopes back 60mm from a blank of wood only 30mm thick.

fender style headstocks never snap off because fender owners never drop them, right?:p

darrenw5094

Why are these €500 more expensive than the Gibson Les Paul Studio Tribute?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_lp_studio_50_tribute_gt_db_tm.htm

Elysian

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Why are these €500 more expensive than the Gibson Les Paul Studio Tribute?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_lp_studio_50_tribute_gt_db_tm.htm

Gloss finish and a hardcase.

rcaz

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Why are these €500 more expensive than the Gibson Les Paul Studio Tribute?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_lp_studio_50_tribute_gt_db_tm.htm

Exactly what I was thinking. We're still paying for the Gibson name I guess.

Ravelleman

Because a lot of the Tribute Studios are made from multi-piece bodies (I've seen a couple with 4+ pieces), have thin non-gloss finishes, lower quality hardware and electronics, no case etc.

People do pay for brand names, there's no denying that. Scorn as you may all teh Gibsun fanboys, you all buy branded products that implicitly involve paying more for the name. So to me the point seems rather silly. Or if not silly then just obvious.

There's a lot of options for Les Paul-style guitars around that price for sure. I just think the Studio line looks a lot more attractive than before.

darrenw5094

Think i am sticking with my Tokai LS75 Les Paul Standard and Bacchus Gold Top i picked up for €500 each.

Ravelleman

I´ve never played a Tokai that I´ve liked but Bacchus do make some very nice guitars, especially if and when they can be had for €500. I haven´t looked at their prices in a couple of years but something gives me the impression that that price is something of an exception, though I could be wrong.

darrenw5094

Ravelleman wrote: »

I´ve never played a Tokai that I´ve liked but Bacchus do make some very nice guitars, especially if and when they can be had for €500. I haven´t looked at their prices in a couple of years but something gives me the impression that that price is something of an exception, though I could be wrong.

Both are used purchases made in Japan. €500 seems good value for what i got. This thread came up at a strange time, as i just declared recently that i wouldn'd buy another Gibson again.

nialldabass

I'm pretty sure the 335's and their kin always had multiple peice maple necks, I may be wrong. I'm a Gibson fan, I know they've lost their way at times but the "no finish" type models they do at the mo are great value, trust me it really does cost that much to put a gloss finish on a guitar, no machine in the world can do it, very labour intensive.

Ravelleman

Nah, the ES series have mahogany necks. The bodies are laminate maple though.

nialldabass

Ravelleman wrote: »

Nah, the ES series have mahogany necks. The bodies are laminate maple though.

Alot are maple, Maybe not all, but alot are.

Ravelleman

Like what?

If I'm correct maple necks were just used between 1974 and 1980 so perhaps they fit into that period of production.

nialldabass

http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2008/02/27/gibsons-alex-lifeson-inspired-by-es-335-due-in-stores-monday/

Ravelleman

Yeah, like I said, mid-seventies.

Classic ES models have mahogany necks.

nialldabass

I hope your not trying to bad mouth the Norlin era Gibsons

Ravelleman

Never even tried one!

Les Paul Deluxes are really cool and they're pure Norlin!