Gibson Les Paul

While it may be a little cliche, every review page should have a review on the classic Gibson Les Paul. This body design has really struck a nerve with the guitar industry and a very large percentage of today's body designs were inspired or modeled after this traditional design.

The Les Paul was first introduced in 1952 though it did not have anywhere near the success it has now, and Gibson actually discontinued th model in 1960. In 1966 Eric Clapton recorded a few songs using one of the older Les Paul models and sparked an interest in the model again. Gibson re-released this design in 1968, which is the most sought after and designed after Les Paul model to date.

There are many different models of the Les Paul that feature slight changes in various parts. The Standard, Studio, Traditional, Classic, and Custom are the most popular models, and while they chage slightly from model to model I will review the features that are the same throughout the different models.

To begin this guitar had a wondefully intelligent design to it. It has a sold mahogony body with a 1/4" maple top. This body, tied in with the mahogony neck that on all Les Pauls, gives the guitar massive sustain, prominent lows, and yet it somehow has a punchy, but smooth and hollow sound in the mids and highs given by the maple top. Most models feature a rosewood fretboard and a traditional D-neck. The electronics really bring out the sounds that this guitar was designed to make. While the pick-ups change grom guitar to guitar, all models feature humbuckers. This gives the guitar a fat sound that really picks up the sounds of this guitar very well.

While I must say that I enjoy hearing other people play this guitar (I love the sound), I also must include that I do not enjoy playing them. I have small hands (laugh if you want) and the fat D neck on most of the Les Paul models doesn't fit my hand well. Without getting into the higher end models, or higher end effects pedals, LPs may give a choppy, flat sound. If you have the equipment for it, and you can afford some of the better models, this guitar is one of the best you can buy, which would explain why there are hundreds on well-known guitarists who play this model, and 22 that currently have a signature model.