Interesting developments in Gibson's Studio line

Ravelleman · 17-05-2012 10:19AM #1

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 · 17-05-2012 10:26AM

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

Ravelleman · 17-05-2012 10:30AM

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 · 17-05-2012 11:20AM

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 · 17-05-2012 11:38AM

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

Ravelleman · 17-05-2012 11:54AM

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

kevin65 · 17-05-2012 02:26PM

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 · 17-05-2012 02:31PM

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

Ravelleman · 17-05-2012 02:33PM

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 · 17-05-2012 04:27PM

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 · 17-05-2012 05:54PM

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 · 17-05-2012 06:24PM

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 · 17-05-2012 06:49PM

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 · 17-05-2012 07:44PM

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 · 17-05-2012 11:03PM

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

Ravelleman · 18-05-2012 07:09AM

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 · 18-05-2012 11:53AM

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 · 23-05-2012 11:25PM

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 · 24-05-2012 09:49AM

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

nialldabass · 24-05-2012 12:46PM

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 · 24-05-2012 12:59PM

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 · 24-05-2012 01:05PM

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

Ravelleman · 24-05-2012 01:20PM

Yeah, like I said, mid-seventies.

Classic ES models have mahogany necks.

nialldabass · 24-05-2012 01:44PM

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

Ravelleman · 24-05-2012 02:00PM

Never even tried one!

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

Interesting developments in Gibson's Studio line

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