Gibson Les Paul Model

Early 1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

Gibson Les Paul is collaboration between Gibson and musician Les Paul. The Les Paul model introduced in 1952 as reaction for Fender Telecaster that released earlier. The Gibson president Ted McCarty brought Les Paul as consultant for the company. However, Les Paul contribution on guitar design is still controversy.
There are numerous variation of Les Paul model since it was released in 1952 until now, but this is what Les Paul typically feature:

• Single cutaway
• Solid body - made of a mahogany back and a carved maple top
• Set-in mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Lacquer finish
• 2 humbucker pickups
• Fixed bridge
• 2 tone, 2 volume controls
• 3-way pickup switch
• 22 frets
• 24-3/4" scale length

You may already be aware of some exceptions: a Les Paul bass, the 1970 Jumbo flattop acoustic, the one-pickup LP Junior, and the double-cutaway SG-style Les Paul, to name a few.

Jimmy Page w/ his 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom "Black Beauty"

There are numerous model of Les Paul, and basically we can start with this time line:

1952 - 1959	The Les Paul Model (called "Goldtop" because of gold finish color)
1954 - 1960	Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Junior (provide a single pickup) 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior
1955 - 1960	Les Paul Special (provided with mini-humbucker) and Les Paul TV (basically it was "Junior" in what Gibson called a "natural" finish)
1958 - 1960	Les Paul Standard (often called "Sunburst"), replaced The Goldtop
1961 - 1962	Les Paul SG Model (double cutaway), later named just SG Model
1969	Les Paul Deluxe
1976	Les Paul Standard Reissue
1983	Les Paul Studio
1990	Les Paul Classic
2007	Les Paul Robot, computerized guitar

In the 1980's Gibson changed ownership began manufacturing a range of varied Les Paul models to suit different user needs. The 1980's also saw the end to several design characteristics that were classic to the Les Paul, including the volute and maple neck. But everything is still available.
Gibson Custom Shop introduced The VOS (Vintage Original Spec) in 2005 which reissue from historic models exact specification.
(left image: 1959 VOS Gibson Les Paul)

Today we can simplify Gibson Les Paul in three families, Les Paul Studio, Les Paul Standard, and Les Paul Custom. In a rough way would be: good quality, medium price (Studio); better quality, expensive price (Standard); and best quality, very expensive price (Custom).

Epiphone (owned by Gibson), also make Les Paul model. And Epiphone make "more affordable" Les Paul. Even they are produced in China, quality of Epiphone Les Paul is quite amazing for such range price. Epiphone also produced "high-quality" Les Paul, which is called Elitist model. They are produced in Japan and they are more expensive than regular Epiphone, but not expensive as regular Gibson. Elitist have quite wonderful quality, and in some case, they are better than Gibson.

Epiphone Elitist Les Paul Custom

Preface

This blog will try to cover all available info about guitar. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, semi-solid guitar, their history, specification, sound characteristic, everything. I will try to provide all available info. Thanks for your attention and appreciation. Keep ROCK!!!