Gibson Les Paul Guitars

The Gibson Les Paul | A true electric guitar icon

Gibson Les Pauls have continually made their mark upon the landscape of music for over 70 years. Guitarists around the world make a Les Paul their instrument of choice - you’ll see it gracing stages everywhere and you can hear its voice on countless recordings. There are a wide assortment of Gibson Les Pauls available in different finishes, configurations, layouts, and price points – all of which are made in Gibson’s Nashville workshops.

Gibson Les Paul Standard

When you hear the name Gibson Les Paul Standard, you’re getting right to the heart of the matter. This model is the one that most guitarists will reference when talking about the core of what a Gibson Les Paul truly stands for. First released in 1958, this instrument was the one that introduced the PAF pickups and iconic sunburst finishes over a figured maple top that has long been considered Gibson trademarks. AMS carries the newest Les Paul Standards – owning one means you’re treated to fantastic construction incorporating hand-picked mahogany and maple, extra fine finishing details, no extra weight relief, Tune-O-Matic bridge, and of course that beautiful sound that you can only get from Gibson humbuckers.

There are also incredible Les Paul Standards direct from the Gibson Custom Shop, carefully built to the exact specifications of their vintage counterparts from specific years in the late 1950s. Design for those original models varied from year-to-year and even batch-to-batch, so the Gibson experts put in tons of work to address all of the finest details. This lineup of Custom Shop models includes the incredible 60th anniversary re-issue of the 1959 Les Paul Standard, considered by many to be among the most legendary guitars in music history.

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Historically, the Gibson Les Paul Custom was the original fully-loaded Les Paul fitted with all of the extras. The most recognizable name that was used in conjunction with Les Paul Custom is ‘Black Beauty,’ and they were originally released in 1954. Fast forward to today and it’s right here that you’re getting the full aesthetic treatment – deluxe binding, mother-of-pearl inlay and engraving, special gold hardware finishes, and extra attention to all elements of craftsmanship. Since the modern Les Paul Customs are made in the Gibson Custom Shop, be prepared for a bit of a tongue twister when it comes to the full name. Say ‘Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom’ five times fast!

Gibson Les Paul Classic

If you are aiming to describe the aesthetic that the Gibson Les Paul Classic shows off, think ‘nouveau early-60s’ with a dash of the modern. Slim-taper neck, the open-coil humbucker pickups (often called ‘Zebras’ due to their stylistic white/black pairings), and push-pull pots for plenty of sonic variety. You’re also getting a bit of weight relief (9-hole), making the Les Paul Classic a bit nimbler without sacrificing the stability and heft that comes from an instrument with a completely solid body. If you’re a guitar player seeking a Les Paul and you crave helpings of both vintage and modern, then the Gibson Les Paul Classic is the instrument ready to speak to you.

Gibson Les Paul Studio

The Gibson Les Paul Studio is all about remaining true to the core of the Les Paul experience at a more affordable price point. You’re getting the solid mahogany body, trademark Gibson neck and bridge humbuckers, and the Tune-O-Matic bridge. To save a bit on the price, these guitars are a bit more stripped down and upfront, going with a plain maple top and eliminating some of the visual aesthetics such as body binding, mother-of-pearl inlay, and the engraved headstock logo. As the name implies, the Gibson Les Paul Studio is often used by studio musicians who crave a Les Paul sound in an instrument that is consistent and comfortable to play due to its slim-taper neck and ultra-modern body weight relief. Les Paul Studios are also breaking the rules in all the right ways – these guitars are becoming more and more popular as first guitar of choice in bands and touring acts.

Gibson Les Paul Junior

Looking for all of Gibson’s style and swagger in a smaller, flexible, and more relaxed package? You should definitely take a look at the Gibson Les Paul Junior. They have a slab mahogany body, most commonly feature a double-cut body design, and are armed with one P-90 ‘dog ear’ single-coil pickup. However, there are several reissue and vintage-style Les Paul Juniors that follow the traditional single-cut Les Paul body path as well. Simple, straightforward, and originally geared toward aspiring rockers in the bedroom, basement, and garage, this guitar has skyrocketed in popularity due to the blues-rock style grit and crunch in a low-maintenance fashion.

Gibson Les Paul Special

Today’s Gibson Les Paul Special is a value-powered, no-nonsense guitar with a slab mahogany body, fat 50s-style mahogany neck, wraparound bridge, and of course, those infamous dual P-90 pickups with additional controls to cover both bridge and neck pickups. With a design and look similar to the Les Paul Junior, the original Les Paul Special took that concept and kicked it up a level, adding the extra P-90 pickup and releasing the instrument in 1955. Its first yellow finish, dubbed ‘TV Yellow,’ was specifically created to stand out clearly on black and white televisions, and it remains the model’s calling card even as time has passed. Just like the Junior, the later Gibson Les Paul Specials switched to a double-cut body type, giving you the option to choose between modern symmetry and vintage single-cut tradition.