Gibson Les Paul Studio Session: The Ultimate Session Guitar?
Pure Bypass included!
4,6 / 5,0 | 
After Modern Studio came updates to the Studio series, now it’s the Studio Session model. The Les Paul Studio Session comes in four dashing colors and a tonal versatility that should bring it close to being the ultimate studio guitar.
Gibson Les Paul Studio Session: Four Burst Finishes
Before we get to the interior, let’s talk about the look. And let me say that at least two of the four colors are absolute hits if you like eye-catchers. However, for the traditionalist, there is the classic Bourbon Burst and the lighter Honey Burst. Perfect for any Alice Cooper or GNR cover band!
The light blue Cobalt Burst and especially the Translucent Ebony Burst are more striking. How sexy and mysterious can a flamed maple top look? In addition, what the Les Paul Studio started in terms of playability and weight has been taken to the next level with the four Les Paul Studio Session models.
The set-in mahogany neck (with the classic SlimTaper profile) comes with a Modern Contoured Heel, which, combined with the bound ebony fretboard (12″ radius / 304.8 mm), should make endless arpeggios in the highest frets easy. The body of the Studio Session is also made of mahogany in an ultra-modern weight-relieved format, making the Les Paul much lighter and more portable.
Classic and Classic+ Humbucker
Hardware-wise, the guitar features Grover Rotomatic tuners with Keystone buttons and a Tune-O-Matic bridge. And of course, the Les Paul Studio Session comes with two humbuckers: a ’57 Classic+ humbucker in the bridge position and a ’57 Classic humbucker in the neck position, both of which can be combined and switched with a three-way switch.
As you would expect, each pickup has separate volume and tone controls. But you don’t just get push/pull functionality for coil tapping to get single-coil sounds through the volume puts. Both tone controls can also be pushed and pulled. This way, if you play both humbuckers, you can switch the phase for each pickup. If you play only the Classic+ on the neck, its signal is routed directly to the output via Pure Bypass for an even more direct sound.
On paper, the Gibson Les Paul Studio Session offers a sonic versatility that will interest many Les Paul players. It will probably take a moment to grasp all the different the push/pull options, but the range of sounds here will suit almost any genre.
How much does the Gibson Les Paul Studio Session
By Les Paul standards, we are in the upper mid-range at 2,199 euros. You can get each of the four models now from Thomann*, with a gig bag included.
More on the new Les Paul model from Gibson
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3 responses to “Gibson Les Paul Studio Session: The Ultimate Session Guitar?”
2,2k for a Studio LP is shill.
Gibson is shill. Nothing new but finishes. Lipstick on an overpriced pig. Newer, better brands available. Get a Powers!
There are those who will hate it no matter what because it is a Gibson, but I just bought the translucent ebony burst and it is awesome! I love it. I have owned many Les Paul Studios and this is one of the best.