Les Paul Custom
Forming part of Gibson’s Custom Shop line, the Les Paul Custom is the top-of-the-line model featuring a host of tuxedo appointments. The Custom boasts a weight-relieved double-bound body, a bound headstock with the iconic spilt-diamond inlay, and an Ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays. In terms of pickups, the Les Paul Custom is loaded with 490R and 498T humbuckers for maximum tone and sustain, or Custombuckers. The Les Paul Custom is the guitar for you when you want to dress to impress!
Les Paul Junior
The iconic Les Paul Junior is loved the world over for its raw tones and simple design. Featuring a single P-90 pickup and a wrap-around bridge, the Junior is built for straight up rock ‘n’ roll! Like the Les Paul Studio, the Junior has no body or fingerboard binding and features simple dot inlays as opposed to the classic trapezoids found on other models. For players wanting a simple, stripped-down Les Paul — the Junior is the way to go!
Gibson Les Paul Key Features
- Iconic single cut design
- Mahogany body and neck
- Host of versatile pickup options
- Enhanced resonance and sustain
Click here to read our Les Paul buyers guide.
Gibson SG
By the end of the 1950s, sales of the Les Paul had begun to wane and Gibson felt that a radical new design change would give it the shot in the arm it so badly needed. Ironically, Les Pauls from the late ‘50s are now some of the most sought after and valuable guitars on the planet — selling for hundreds of thousands of pounds!
In 1961, the world was introduced to the newly-designed Les Paul, which featured a much thinner, double cut Mahogany body with no Maple cap. Two years later, the Les Paul name was removed from the guitar and it was renamed the SG (solid guitar); remaining so to this day. The original Les Paul design would not be seen again until 1968. Let’s take a closer look at the Gibson SG and some of its unique features.
Construction
Like the Les Paul, the Gibson SG has a Mahogany body but one that is much thinner with two distinct cutaways, often referred to as “Devil Horns”! The SG features a Mahogany neck and Rosewood fingerboard but unlike the Les Paul, the fingerboard joins the body at the 22nd fret for unrivalled access to the upper frets. Gibson SGs typically feature a thinner neck profile than Les Pauls, which many players feel is more comfortable and ergonomic.
A common complaint about the SG is that the neck “dives” when you let go of the guitar. This is as a result of the lighter body and it can be frustrating, but a good quality strap can go a long way to stopping it. The thinner, lighter body and improved access to the high frets arguably makes the SG a more “playable” guitar than the Les Paul but obviously it comes down to personal preference.
Pickups
When Gibson redesigned the Les Paul, they had not intended to drastically alter the sound of the guitar. Subsequently, the SG range featured similar pickups to those found in the previous Les Paul models. Gibson quickly learned though, that part of what made a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul was its thicker body. This is why the Gibson SG sounds so different, despite sharing many of the same features as the Les Paul.
Whilst the majority of SGs utilise humbuckers, the SG Special and Junior models feature P-90 pickups for a more snarling tone, perfect for rock music. Tonally, the SG has a real brightness with enhanced highs and mids which will appeal to players who prefer a more pronounced sound than that of a Les Paul.
Popular Models
Like the Les Paul, there have been a number of SG models over the years, many of which are still in production today. Let’s look at a few of the most popular models.
SG Standard
The SG Standard is the quintessential SG, featuring all of the classic appointments including a bound Rosewood fingerboard, twin humbucker pickups and multi-ply black pickguard. Gibson also offer several SG Standard ’61 models inspired by the original 1961 models with different tailpiece options available. You can now choose from the classic stopbar, or for those of you looking for something a little different, a Maestro Vibrola or Sideways Vibrola tailpiece!