Gibson Les Paul Modern Studio – With Modern playability upgrades
With modern features and a stripped back look
These Gibson Les Paul Modern Studio are the latest incarnation of the more affordable single-cut design. Available in three finishes for 2024.
Les Paul Modern Studio
The Les Paul Modern Studio is Gibson’s offering with an Ultra Modern weight-relieved mahogany body and maple cap. It was once the trimmed-back, more affordable model in their US-made lineup. However, in 2024 it is still nearly £2k in the UK, so maybe not quite as affordable as they once were.
Modern Upgrades?
They now feature some enhanced features, and these are many taken directly from the Les Paul Modern range. Including a bound ebony fretboard with a compound radius for improved action and playability, along with a Modern Contoured Heel for better upper-fret access.
Controls-wise, these new 2024 models also offer coil tapping, plus additional switching for control over phase, and pure bypass. The pickups themselves, are the Gibson 490R neck and 490T bridge humbuckers.
Finishes
The three new finishes include Wine Red Satin, Smokehouse Satin, and Worn White. Each model also has black nickel hardware throughout. This includes the aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic and stop bar, plus a set of Grover Rotomatic tuners.
It is certainly, a cut-down model for a Les Paul, in many ways, yet they offer the classic choice of woods, of a Standard Les Paul, but with an ebony fretboard, and these Modern upgrades.
Stripped Back
They all come in a Gibson soft shell case. I get the feeling that they could be popular with guitar players, that must have an American-made guitar but are on a budget. However, I still think they are a bit expensive for such a basic two-humbucker model, with a cut-down, basic appearance.
However, if you don’t need fancy maple tops, then they could be the ideal Gibson Les Paul for you.
More Information
- Worn White: Gibson
- Smokehouse Satin: Gibson
- Wine Red Satin: Gibson