Les Paul Guitars

The Les Paul is adored for its beautiful aesthetics and versatility, used by a huge number of players from a variety of different genres. Providing powerful full-bodied tones with its dual humbuckers and Mahogany tone woods, the Les Paul has established itself as a staple in the guitar world since its inception in the 50s.

The appeal of the Les Paul is far-reaching, with many legendary players using it as their weapon of choice. With Slash (Guns ‘N’ Roses) and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) using the Les Paul to form their signature hard rock sounds, many modern players such as Matt Heafy (Trivium) and Lee Malia (Bring Me The Horizon) use Les Pauls to pioneer their cutting-edge metal style.

History of the Les Paul

Unveiled in 1952, Gibson enlisted the help of renowned musician Les Paul to collaboratively design a solid-body electric guitar that could contend with Fender’s Stratocaster. The Les Paul is arguably Gibson’s most successful and fabled model amongst their established catalogue.

Originally sporting P90 pickups, from 1957 Gibson decided to offer the Les Paul Standard with dual humbuckers for improved sonics. Subsequent models however have featured different configurations, including a triple-stack of humbuckers in early Gibson Les Paul Custom guitars.

The Les Paul Range

The Gibson Les Paul Standard is the flagship model, available in two different iterations. The Standard stays close to the iconic design, whilst the HP (High Performance) line is tailored towards modern players, with wild finishes, high-output Burstbucker Pro+ pickups and “slim taper” neck profiles.

The Gibson Les Paul Traditional gives a flavour of a vintage Les Paul, with classic styling and features inspired by the original formula. A Gibson Les Paul Classic will get you even closer, with dual P90s exactly like the early 50s models.

If you’re looking for something less expensive, the Gibson Les Paul Studio is a great option. Boasting the iconic tones and features you'd come to expect, the Studio and Gibson Les Paul Tribute guitars are full-fat, American-made tone machines. But if you’re craving a super-simple, no-frills workhorse, the Gibson Les Paul Junior will deliver with its single punchy P90 pickup.

Gibson produce affordable versions of their instruments through their Epiphone brand. Manufacturing officially-licensed Gibson designs, Epiphone Les Paul guitars are modestly-priced but amazing for the money. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard offers similar tones to its high-end counterpart, whilst the stylish Epiphone Les Paul SL is available for under £100!