Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

This workhorse of a Les Paul comes ready to rock with coil-tappable 490R and 490T humbuckers, Orange Drop tone capacitors, and a carved figured maple top.

Overall User Ratings (based on 20 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(20) (see rating details)
Submitted April 14, 2014 by John K in Upper Darby, PA

"2014 gibson les paul studio "

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Let me first say that I am very happy with my purchase . The guitar feels and plays amazingly and sounds like a snarling beast (in a good way). At first glance the fit and finish is beautiful , however upon closer inspection I noticed that the nut that holds the scratchplate to its bracket actually digs into the maple top a little bit and that bugs me a little. And when I went to change the strap buttons for Dunlop straploks , hidden under the bottom button was a gaping hole that appears to be intentional but I have you to figure out why or what for. Other than those issues and vague generalization of the owner manual that tells you the guitar comes equipped with 10 gauge strings when clearly it comes with 9s , it's a great guitar and would totally recommend it to friends. Ps the online pictures don't begin to do these instruments justice, they look so much more beautiful in person

Musical Background:

20 year hobbiest

Musical Style:

Rock , metal
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Submitted January 3, 2014 by henoch a in naples, FL

"Great guitar!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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REVIEW: I got the guitar out of the box expecting it to need a set up especially afeter reading some of the Gibson QC horror stories, but to my surprise the guitar was in tune with not fret buzz or any issues and the action was nice and low. Great fret work with no issues. The QC on this LP really renewed my faith in buying new Gibsons. SOUND: Loving the 490t/r pickups. Normally i play metal and I was a little worried since i've never used an alnico ii pup but the bridge pickup is nice and clear with and without distortion perfect for leads and the neck pickup has a sweet creamy tone to it that i love that when using the coil tap give this nice vintage Cream like tone but still has enough dirt to really rock out when in full humbucker mode. Compared to my V its brighter due to the maple cap/neck, however the V is more agressive but that's due to the pickups in it. Finally Sustain wise it's almost Spinal tap-esque beating out my ec-1000 and my V. AMP used was an Egnater Rebel 20 head/cab with a TS808 and Bad Horsey wah. FEEL: Biggest difference is the maple neck. I've always been a user of mahogany necks but always wanted a maple neck les paul like on the ZW LP. Compared to my V's neck the LP feels more solid and the neck is slightly thicker, but IMO the maple neck goes great on a LP it's more durable and brightens up the tone. Haven't weighed it properly but it weighs more than my ec-1000 and is heavier than my V. OVERALL: The pictures from my crappy iphone dont do it justice it looks a lot nicer in person than online. Some people have complained about the 12th fret inlay but i actually kind of like it. This guitar is greatfor the $ and for those looking for a solid LP i recommend them especially when they hit the used market.

Musical Background:

10+ year guitar player. non professional

Musical Style:

Metal, Rock, Jazz, Blues
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Submitted February 10, 2014 by Jim A

"Good all around Axe."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Great Value for the money! Anything else USA made like Studio Plus model, or PRS S2, is going for $400 more. Only had to make some slight truss rod adjustments, which is always the case due to our weather and humidity. Fretboard and neck are perfectly PLEK'd, and hope the cryogenic frets do last longer. Coil tap/split makes it a very versatile guitar. Only negative was; I thought was going to have a little more of a gloss finish on the top, only slightly disappointed.

Musical Background:

Played guitar for 15 years, Bass and ukulele for over 10.

Musical Style:

Mix of Blues, Reggae, Contemporary Hawaiian, Rock and Contemporary Christian rock/pop.
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Submitted February 8, 2014 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Great sounding guitar with a few weaknesses"

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars
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This guitar plays really well, and sounds great, but there are a few things I did not like about the guitar overall. Some of this is preference, some I think may be due to other gear, so keep that in mind. I'm writing this review for the people on the fence, like I was, before buying the guitar. The short version is "great sound, fragile/dull paint job, should come with a case". If you want more detail, read on.
Sound
Sounds like a Les Paul, and has a great sound. One thing I always look for in an electric guitar, is how it sounds when it is not plugged in. The quality of tone will translate over the pickups, and this guitar had a great warm resonance, that truly shined through the 490R/T pickups. However, the single coil tapping just didn't sound like single coils, and not in a good way. Overall it just sounded like a watered down version of the humbucker, not the bright sound of a single coil. Maybe I just had high expectations, owning strats and teles. I also think it could be due to amp choice. I have a marshall dsl 40c and a small solid state Orange practice amp. Distorted, I could hardly hear a difference when coil tapping on either amp, clean there is a little change. I think this would likely be enhanced more on a Fender tube amp. But really, who buys an LP for a single coil sound anyways?
Features
vintage tuners - OK - but like the grover tuners on the studio pro more Volume/tone knobs - Good - get a little more grip on them than some other Gibson knobs. Graphtech Nut - Good Coil Tapping - Meh Gig bag - very padded, but not the security of a case
Ease of Use
Very easy to get a great sound
Quality
The main problem I had with this guitar was the finish. The look of the paint job is nice, but a little dull. I would have been ok with that, but the trade off of not having the poly coating is that the finish is extremely fragile as painted wood is very soft without a coating. You will see every pick scrape, don't bump it up against anything. Which is why I think it is crazy that this model comes with a gig bag and not a case for the $1000 price tag. If you want a guitar with a relic look to it, this may be for you, because within a matter of weeks the guitar will probably look rough from use.
Value
If the paint job was protected I would say yes, as the craftsmanship of gibson was present. Go with the Studio pro to get the better finish, plastics(pickguard etc), and a case. In the long run, it will be worth it.
Manufacturer Support
Did not deal with the manufacturer, but I've heard good things about Gibson's support.
The Wow Factor
Dull finish, and the much worse in person tan plastics removed much of the wow factor of this guitar, sadly. Changing the plastics is easy though.
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Submitted October 7, 2014 by Preston G in Anderson, IN

"Fantastic Value"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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This guitar is gorgeous, both in its tones and appearance. I have the wine red version. I run through a Vox AC30 with a Crowther Hotcake distortion, and this bad boy really sings. Everything from real good crunch to light mellow music, this guitar does it all. Definitely worth the price.

Musical Background:

8 years playing the guitar, almost constantly been in one band or another.

Musical Style:

Rock, Jangle-Pop, Indie Rock
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Submitted December 20, 2014 by Jason R in Houston, TX

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I dont know where to begin, what a beautiful player for blues, and classic rock, plus a whole lot more I cant play. I am soo glad I bought this, clear tones, major tones, so clear its just amazing. I thought I had a Standard in my hands. Worth every penny and then some - the worn Cherry is what I was looking for. I do not like the pick guard, but its removable so no worries. Well worth it guys, get one if you're on the fence.

Musical Background:

Sax, guitar

Musical Style:

Rock, blues
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Submitted October 20, 2014 by Vincent Harris in Trenton, MO

"My First Gibson or Les Paul...and I LOVE IT!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I've played Fender guitars for 25 years. Strats and Tele's. My wife bought this guitar as a gift, and while I had always wanted a Les Paul...I had just never made the move. What's not to love about this guitar? The neck took me a few days to get used to....but in some ways, I'm liking it even BETTER than the Fender necks, now. A solid guitar, with a smooth sweet tone. Glad I have it!!

Musical Background:

Been playing about 25 years

Musical Style:

Classic Rock-Blues
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Submitted March 23, 2014 by veronica segovia in El Paso, TX

"Gibson Let Paul Studio"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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It is an awesome guitar. As they said you play as you pay. Thank you zones for that trust. Great way to own your equipment.

Musical Background:

Guitar Jam

Musical Style:

All kind of music
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Submitted September 24, 2014 by Shawn R

"Les Paul Studio 2014 is da bomb"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I checked out some earlier models, including some step ups. This just plain Studio is superior. The action (with tweaking), quality and sound of the rhythm pup, and both in single mode are excellent. I'll probably replace the bridge pup. OVERALL VERY SATISFIED, EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.

Musical Background:

former pro, recording and hobby now

Musical Style:

rock, metal, blues, country, progressive, jazz, classical
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Submitted August 21, 2014 by a customer from gmail.com

"2014 Gibson Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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With minimal tweaking, it's a great guitar. If you're handy with set ups and such, it's a breeze, but if not take it to a pro! The action was lower than it should be and the intonation was a bit off. The thing that bugged me most was the fret edges in four or five spots, were sharp and jagged. Easy fix, and i suppose a grand doesn't buy perfection these days but come on Gibson! I've had Chinese mad guitars that had better fret work. Well, all in all after some light "repair" the guitar is wonderful...everything one would want in a Les Paul. The finish is a very nice burst however I did change out the baby poop colored pickup rings and pickguard for some nice black ones. Coil tapping is ignorent on a Les Paul...if I want that sound a Tele provides it much better. Highly recommended, just be aware some of them slip through the QC cracks. Elbow grease will make it play like buttah and sing like a pissed off T-Rex!
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Submitted March 17, 2014 by Chris L in Edgewater, FL

"As close to stunned as I've ever been."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I bought a 1975 cherry sunburst Les Paul Deluxe in 1977 w/OHSC for $350.00 from someone that needed some cash. Our guitarist (I'm really a keyboard player but I love guitar and play AMAP) liked my Paul better than his '68-'69 Gold Top for some reason and I let him use it. Mistake.... so in 1980 I traded it for some keyboard equipment (an Arp 2600) at a music store in Orlando, FL. Bigger MISTAKE! I've regretted letting it go for many years.So, I see new Gibson LP Studios for $999.00 here at Zzounds a couple months ago and figured it was worth a shot. I bought a Brilliant Red one and hoped it'd look like the pix. Surprisingly, It looks better than any of the pix I've seen and the maple top is done so well it's hard to see the seam as the 2 pieces are virtually bookends. The workmanship is 2nd to none. I'm really impressed and I don't impress easily.I'm playing it through a Marshall DSL40C and a Blackstar HT1R. Sounds great!!! I've no problem with the DSL40C for $699.00 and I don't think you could beat the combination of the new, 2014 LP Studio and the DSL40C if you're on a budget. This LP is one of the easiest guitars to play that I've ever played. I DID have to restring it immediately because I use 10-46 and it came with 9's. I can't even feel a 9. ;-)The bad: I don't really care for the satin type finish and I miss the binding but for the bucks. the great sound, workmanship and the wonderful playability I can happily live with it. The coil splitting sounds ok but split they don't sound like my 2005 American Deluxe Ash Strat's single coils but they're not bad and it gives you WAY more tonal options. The gigbag is not usable for a guitar IMHO and I wouldn't use it for a guitar. I bought a hardshell SKB for it.Bottom line, I couldn't be happier with it!

Musical Background:

I've been playing music for 50 years. Not professionally for about 5 years.

Musical Style:

Blues, rock, progressive rock etc.
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Submitted April 22, 2014 by Mike Daugherty in Lake Hamilton, AR

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio "

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Pros: Great action, fast neck, awesome tonality in all 3 PU positions. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Fairly light for a les paul, which IS a design feature, and a plus. Cons: Does not stay in tune - this could be due to too few string wraps on the pegs to keep it "locked in", possibly the factory strings are still stretching, but oftentimes when I play the guitar a day after I tuned it, I fined it de-tuned UP in pitch, and I am not yet sure why this happens. Also, I am very used to Floyd Rose type hardware on my other guitars, but a Les Paul wouldn't be a Les Paul with such hardware installed now would it? Overall, a no-nonsense, no frills, serious axe, ready for studio or stage out of the box. Not bad for a +1000.00 guitar.

Musical Background:

Guitarist 40+ yrs

Musical Style:

eclectic genres, primarily instrumental rock, and new age
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Submitted October 19, 2014 by shawn r in cleveland, OH

"revisit re pups, paint, pup news and tips!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Initially very saitisfied, except the 490t bridge pup. This guitar has a fat tap circuit for the splitting, which includes a caps acting as filters... bottom line is the neck pup sounded great, but the bridge was not that good. Gibson had a video on fat tzp alluding to some pups being reverse wound. Anyway, i put in a seymour duncan full shred. The full shred is not high output as the name suggests, its medium output, and sounded great. It matched the stock 490r perfectly. Initially i matched the proper coversion wiring, it didnt work. You have to reverse the North slug start/finish wiring on the pup, but do not reverse the South slug, keep South wired straight. It will then work, and sounds mmm about ten times better. Finish on edge flecked off with minor abrasion, kinda makes me wonder, no biggie. Love this one. Oh filed the nut slots a little to lower the action. If you get a v in the slot just leave it, the nut material is inconsistent and not worth cutting too deep. Cheers!
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Submitted June 29, 2014 by Donald Grissom in Ragley, LA

"Gibson Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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This is the second Gibson Les Paul that I have owned and both were excellent guitars.

Musical Background:

50 years experience on guitar, bass, and drums. Studio musician/engineer.

Musical Style:

Rock, southern rock, and blues.
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Submitted May 14, 2014 by Richard F in Baytown, TX

"2014 Les Paul Studio Honeyburst"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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i was a bit iffy on this one at first, but i have learned to love this thing. it is a work horse if nothing else. i am used to my gibsons having binding which actually makes the guitar feel a bit "smoother" if i have to choose a word to describe it. the guitar came half way set up. of course we all like to set up our guitars the way they feel comfortable. the strings were a bit too high for me or any les paul for that matter. a little bit of tweaking and that solved that. the finish is amazing. especially for being a satin finish. the natural wood grain and the AA flame top are both visible and change when the light hits it. something that the pics and the videos don't show. now to the pickups.... i've been a classic 57 man for most of my guitar playing life (close to 26 years) the 490s seemed a bit shrill at first and had me determined to swap the pickups out. almost ear piercing even through the neck pickup. a little adjusting of the posts on each pickup and the height and all is well. the coil tap knobs are a bit wobbly. i guess that is due to having more moving parts. but they still function well. they don't really have the brightness of real a real single coil but they are nice and they basically make your guitar a tone master. it never hurts to throw a compressor in there with the single coil. i've always been used to mahogany necks on my gibsons.... the maple threw me off for a few days until i got used to the feel. but now that we are familiar with each other i love this thing. it is a beautiful beast. it has sustain for days.... i was surprised at how long one note can hold on this thing. my old standard doesn't get this type of sustain. and neither does my old 61 reissue sg from the mid 80s. all in all.... if you are looking for an affordable les paul for the $1000 range grab one.

Musical Background:

about 26 years

Musical Style:

Rock, Blues, Country, and everything in between.
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Submitted May 18, 2014 by Dan Licko in Las Vegas, NV

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Great Product With a good price.

Musical Background:

Drums
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Submitted March 23, 2014 by Tom Borromeo in Deerfield Beach, FL

"A box full of dreams"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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Click...Knock...Get...simple as that. The price, terms,the service...and this beautiful Gibson. zZounds made this happen for me.

Musical Background:

Played guitar on and off since a teenager...wow I may actualy be a musician by now

Musical Style:

love rock, and jazz and blues too...seriously folks music comes from years of practice on a musical instrument, not a lap top y
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Submitted September 26, 2014 by michael prette in Aurora, IL

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I was looking for a reasonably priced Les Paul and bought this one (Honeyburst) and couldn't be happier. The neck and set up are superb on mine and the action is super easy. I love the pick ups and the weight relief. These models have a maple neck which to me feels fine and I personally do not notice a difference in sustain or tone. Tuners hold tune great and I also like the aged plastic. I have dealt with zZounds for years now and always find the customer service top notch. I had ordered this guitar and then about 2 weeks later saw that the end of the year blowout was going on and the price had dropped. I sent an email to zZounds and within an hour they got back to me letting me know I was credited 109.00 off my next payment.

Musical Background:

30 years, gigging and recording, guitar collector

Musical Style:

Rock and Roll, Rock, blues,pop
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Submitted September 17, 2014 by michael prette in Aurora, IL

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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First off, I am as always very pleased with zzounds and the great prices and customer support. I bought this guitar last month and it was flawless out of the box. The playability was incredible and as I usually have to set up new guitars, this was a nice change. The guitar is weight relieved but doesn't affect the tone. I really like the 498 and 490 pick up combination and the maple neck is sleek and plays very easy. As a side note 2 weeks after I purchased the guitar for 1,080.00 I saw that they were doing the end of the year blowout and that they were 980.00 so I called zzounds and they credited me the difference/refund towards my next payment which was great. Thanks again zzounds.

Musical Background:

30 years, professional

Musical Style:

Rock, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock
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Submitted September 6, 2014 by michael prette in Aurora, IL

"Gibson 2014 Les Paul Studio"

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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As always I am very happy with zzounds. I have been using them for about 5 years now and find the customer service to be top notch. I recently ordered this guitar and saw a week later it had went down in price and contacted customer service who got back to me immediately and credited me 109.00 to match the newer price, Awesome!!! As for the guitar I find it wonderful and notice no defects. The sound is very good. I only notice that the nut slots could be cut a little deeper which is a Gibson QC thing but I can do that stuff myself.

Musical Background:

30 years studio and live

Musical Style:

classic rock Beatles, stones,zepp,aero,kiss,bowie,stp,floyd
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