DISCOVER the Best Gibson LES PAUL Style Guitars in terms of Quality/Price. Buying Guide, Price, and Features of Each Model.
Gibson LES PAUL Characteristics
The Gibson Les Paul electric guitar model has been one of the most successful in history, especially today. It’s one of the models that most appeals to young beginners, at least when it comes to classic electric guitar models.
These models, in their standard version from the original Gibson brand, tend to be quite expensive guitars, and practically inaccessible to most fans.
However, we have Les Paul models on the market that strictly follow the characteristics of an original standard Gibson Les Paul, but at a much lower price. This price reduction is due to each brand’s manufacturing methods and above all, to the production of these guitars in Asian countries with cheap labor due to their highly devalued currencies.
Obviously their quality would be inferior to that of a standard Gibson, but they would not be as far off as their price suggests.
Gibson Les Paul Woods
The woods used in these more affordable models would be the same as those used in an American Gibson, such as mahogany for the body and neck construction.
Although the woods are of the same type, the quality of those woods would obviously be superior in a high-end guitar than in a low-cost model. Nevertheless the latter don’t necessarily have to be made with inferior woods; the best pieces would simply be reserved for the most expensive models. Perfection and luxury come at a high price.
Joint Set-in Neck Body
The set-in joint between the neck and body is essential and characteristic of a Les Paul model, which makes the instrument a little more expensive than, for example, a simpler joint such as a bolt-on one.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: CORT
One of these guitars, built in Asian countries, is the Cort Classic Rock CR250. A fairly affordable guitar that meets the standard requirements of an original Les Paul.
Like the mahogany neck and body, flamed maple top, and set-in joint, for a price of around $450. The soul of this guitar is its dual-coil pickups mounted with traditional Alnico II magnets.
The cutaway on this model is slightly sharper than the classic rounded original, and the pickguard is slightly different from a standard Gibson to avoid copyright issues. The mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays are very similar to the original trapezoids, but these are rectangular.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: STAGG
If this price is too high for us, Stagg offers the L Standard series at a price of around 330 dollars, equipped with ceramic humbucker pickups.
Although this guitar has a very reasonable price, it has a rosewood fingerboard and a push-pull coil-splitting system.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: VINTAGE
Another brand with very aesthetically attractive models, which strictly follows the construction materials used in a Standard Les Paul, would be the Vintage brand.
This brand offers a wide range of models with different finishes and various types of pickups, such as the typical humbucker, P90, and mini humbucker, all from the Wilkinson brand.
Vintages are very similar in every way to a standard Gibson, with only a few very slight variations, just enough to avoid copyright claims. These include a slightly sharper cut and a very slight indentation where the neck and body join. This indentation is designed to accommodate the neck-to-body joint, making it easier to reach the lower frets of the fingerboard.
The truth is, it’s hard not to find a Les Paul you like from this brand, and their models rarely exceed $500.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: ESP LTD
The ESP LTD brand is also an interesting manufacturer to consider if you are looking for a Les Paul at a good price. On this brand, the fingerboard inlays are shaped like a waving flag.
The LTD’s pickguard is gone, something very common on modern Les Paul models. And the controls are simplified with a single master tone control. Unlike a classic Les Paul, it also features a recess at the top rear of the guitar’s body for increased comfort.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: SIRE LARRY CARLTON
The Sire brand is among the most reasonably priced guitar makers. For example, the Sire Larry Carlton L7 is a very attractive Les Paul model, constructed of mahogany with a matching flame maple top and featuring alnico V magnet pickups.
In addition, it comes with the added bonus of an ebony fingerboard and locking tuners, for a price of around 640 dollars.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: HARLEY BENTON
The Larry Carlton L7 is an excellent guitar, but if we need a more economical model, we have the Harley Benton SC-550.
A guitar made in the traditional style, with alnico V magnet pickups, for a price slightly under $300.
TOKAI Guitars
Tokai is another manufacturer worth mentioning, and in its catalog we can find very interesting Les Paul models such as the Tokai ALS 68.
This guitar costs up to approximately $700, but it is a historically well-known brand.
Best GIBSON LES PAUL Style: KRAMER
If we needed a Les Paul model with a Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, we could opt for the Kramer Assault 220 FR.
This guitar is also built from mahogany, has alnico V humbucker pickups with a coil-splitting system and a Floyd Rose-licensed tremolo for around 500 dollars.
EPIPHONE Guitars
The most similar in shape to a Gibson would be the Epiphone. Since they’re a subsidiary of Gibson, they can make them exactly the same as the original model, except for the headstock.
Like the previous models, the Epiphone Les Paul Classic is a very attractive option for its price-performance ratio. This model features Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO Humbucker pickups and costs around $600.
These would be the most attractive models for their price-performance ratio, but in most of these brands, we can obviously find superior models, either fitted with pickups from legendary brands like Seymour Duncan, as in the ESP LTD EC-1000 Duncan ($1100), or with active EMG pickups as in the ESP LTD EC-1000 Deluxe ($1100). Although we will have to empty our bank account a little more.