While Les Paul remains deeply influential as a guitar player, perhaps his greatest legacy will be his contribution to the evolution of electric guitars. By 1951, Les Paul was a respected guitar player, and he was known as a bit of an innovator, too. He had experimented with the solid-body electric guitar concept for years, so Gibson president Ted McCarty approached him that year to discuss a collaboration. The result was the Gibson Les Paul Model, which remains one of the most influential and forward-thinking electric designs ever conceived. Since the 1950s, it has been the flagship of Gibson's electric lineup.
Gibson introduced the Les Paul Studio in 1983 as a more cost-effective, stripped-down iteration of the LP. The Studio has the same graceful carved top, but with no binding whatsoever, and that's the easiest way to spot it. This Les Paul Studio T dates to 2016, and it was part of a special release of the Studio model with a gorgeous full-body Pelham Blue nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Pelham Blue is a rare finish, and there's nothing quite like it.
Part of what makes the Studio reasonably priced is that Gibson usually skimps on the electronics. But fortunately, this 2016 Les Paul Studio T has been tricked out with all the right after-market components. It features a matched set of Lollar Imperial humbuckers, which draw from the long-revered qualities of the original P.A.F.s while improving on their frequency balance and giving a slight boost to the bridge pickup’s output. From there, it has CTS potentiometers, modern-reproduction Bumblee capacitors, and an upgraded Switchcraft switch.
This 2016 Gibson Les Paul Studio T shows minimal signs of play wear and use (see photos - the worst is a small ding on the back by the neck heel). This guitar plays nicely with an excellent setup. Because of the substantial upgrades, this is a hard-working Les Paul with a lot to offer. Plus, the Pelham Blue looks absolutely stunning on the Les Paul body, but what's especially eye-catching is the full-body finish with no binding—too cool! It includes a deluxe Gibson USA hardshell case and its original paperwork and hang tag.