Responding to a gap in their model lineup for a lower-priced Les Paul in 1983, Gibson introduced the Studio model. The Studio was designed to attract guitar players who desired traditional Les Paul sound without having to pay for cosmetic features of upscale models. In order to produce a lower-cost Les Paul, features such as body binding, neck binding, and headstock inlays were not available. Additionally, the body was ⅛ -1/4 inch thinner than a standard Les Paul. Initially made of alder from 1983-1985, Gibson moved back to maple top/mahogany body combination after the alder body proved prone to lacquer problems. The name "Studio" comes from the idea that this model would be sonically indistinguishable from a Les Paul Standard or Custom in the recording studio, and that the flashier guitars would be reserved for stage use.
Models and variations
Studio Standard
The Studio Standard was produced from 1983-1987 and was very similar to the Studio Custom, including the "dot" inlays, but had a single-ply binding around the body and neck, chrome hardware, and white pickup rings and pick guard. It was also available in different colors, such as Cherry Sunburst, Tobacco Burst and Ferrari Red. One piece mahogany back, three piece maple top, maple neck, ebony fretboard rounded out the complements.
Studio Custom
The Studio Custom was produced in 1983-1985. It was introduced before the design of the Studio was finalized, and mostly had the features of a Standard with a variety of features mixed in from other models. It had a mahogany neck and mahogany body with a maple top, single-ply binding around the neck and three-ply binding around the top of the body only, and gold hardware with black pickup rings and pick guard. The 1984 models had two-piece tops, while 1985 models had three-piece tops. The fingerboard was made from rosewood on some models, ebony on others, and had mother of pearl dots for inlays, instead of the usual trapezoids. The neck profile was slim-tapered, like a Standard, and the frets were low, like a "Fretless Wonder" Custom. According to limited information from guitar forums, some of these had the sought-after Tim Shaw pickups.
Vintage Mahogany/Faded
The Vintage Mahogany model has a carved mahogany body, top and neck, a rosewood fretboard and Alnico V BurstBucker Pro humbucker pickups, the same humbuckers used in the Les Paul Standard model. The model is available in worn brown and worn cherry finishes, featuring a "satin" nitrocellulose finish. It has garnered a 9.5 rating out of 10 at www.ultimate-guitar.com and a 9.4 rating out of 10 at Gibson's website product page. In 2009, the Vintage Mahogany was renamed the Les Paul Studio Faded. These models featured the carved maple top of other Les Paul models. In 2013 model year, the Studio Faded was replaced with the "LPJ" model.
Studio Lite
In the mid 1990s Gibson produced the Studio Lite and Studio Lite M-III. The Lite models were produced with balsa wood portions of the body to reduce the guitar's weight, responding to some players' complaints about the heaviness of a standard Les Paul after several hours of playing. The Studio Lite M-III was produced with a new pickup configuration: two humbuckers with a single coil in the middle. The pickup selector switch gave five single-coil options in the "up" position, and four humbucker combinations in the "down" position, plus an "off" position. The name M-III refers to the Gibson M-III model, which was a Superstrat-style guitar, for which these electronics were originally developed.
Gem Series
The Gem Series had P-90 pickups and special finishes in "gemstone" colors: Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, Emerald, and Ruby. Gibson produced a small number of Les Paul Studio guitars using the leftover paint from the Gem Series. These were produced with dot inlays, gold hardware and gold grovers. They are rare and highly sought after. However, these are not to be considered original Gems, as they did not include the special P-90 pickups.
SmartWood series
The SmartWood series consists chronologically of three models; the Exotic, the Studio and the Swamp Ash models. The SmartWood series is certified environmentally "responsible" by the Rainforest Alliance via their SmartWood program. Gibson is independently audited on an annual basis by the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that only FSC-certified wood is used in the construction of Gibson's SmartWood line of instruments.
SmartWood Exotic
The SmartWood Exotic line, which was composed of six models. The SmartWood line featured tops made from different woods: Curupay has a deep chocolate-walnut richness; Peroba recalls the orangey hue of the old pine ceiling beam; Banara has a golden, banana-like glow; Ambay Guasu boasts the even lightness of maple; Taperyva Guasu is reminiscent of a sun-bleached rosewood, and Chancharana is a deep, warm-brown russet. The fretboards are all made from "Curupay" harvested from forests certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. The mahogany used in the construction of this model is from similarly certified forests. The SmartWood Exotic had a thinner, belly contoured, body than the Studio, and had "smart wood" written on the truss rod cover.
Studio SmartWood
The Studio SmartWood was constructed from wood certified by the Rainforest Alliance. While the back and the neck are made from the usual mahogany, the carved top is made from Muiricatiara, along with a Preciosa rosewood fingerboard. It was in production from December 2002 until 2008 and had a standard body, no pick-guard, gold hardware, dot-type fret markers, mother of pearl Gibson headstock logo, and a unique metallic green-leaf within the truss rod cover.
Studio Swamp Ash
The Studio Swamp Ash was manufactured between 2003 and 2011. Built in Nashville, Tennessee, its body is made of a carved swamp ash top over a multi-piece swamp ash back. The neck is made from mahogany and is "set" into the body. The fretboard may be either ebony, granadillol or rosewood, depending on production year. It has a standard body, no pick-guard, chrome plated hardware, and dot-type fret markers, a silkscreen Gibson headstock logo and the usual studio truss rod cover.
Gothic
During 2000-2002, Gibson released a series of six guitars dubbed "Gothic" models. Guitars other than the Les Paul Studio in this series were the Gibson SG, Flying V, X-plorer and Nikki Sixx Blackbird Bass.
Voodoo
The "Voodoo" series followed which included an SG as well as Les Paul Studio. The series was discontinued in 2005 due to low sales.
The Studio Pro Plus was an upgraded studio with a AA figured maple top and gold hardware. Traditional mahogany body and set SlimTaper™ neck profile, rosewood fingerboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays, 490R neck pickup and BurstBucker Pro bridge pickup, TonePros® Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, Grover™ tuners with vintage style green keys. Available in Desert Burst, Trans Black, or Trans Red finish. Made from 2001 - 2005.
Premium Plus
The Studio Premium Plus was an upgraded studio with a high-gloss AAA flamed maple top and gold hardware. Traditional mahogany body and set '59 Les Paul rounded mahogany neck, pearloid trapezoid inlays and 490R and 498T alnico magnet humbuckers. Made from 2006 - 2008. The 2006 was heavier at 8.5 lbs and had a beige pickguard and truss rod cover with gold "Studio" lettering. The chambered 2007 - 2008 models weighed in at 7.5 lbs and came with a black pickguard and cover with white lettering. Available in Natural, Root Beer, Trans Amber, Trans Black, or Trans Red finish.
Robot Limited
The Robot Les Paul Studio Limited was an upgraded studio with Powertune auto-tuning system. A Limited Edition finish Blue Silverburst was initially released in late 2007 with chrome truss rod cover with "Robot Guitar" engraved. The production version featured a chambered mahogany body, maple top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood-bound or white-bound ebony fingerboard with figured acrylic trapezoid inlays, white-bound headstock with MOP Gibson logo and flowerpot inlay or unbound headstock with screened logo, three-per-side robotic Powerhead Locking tuners, tune-o-matic Powertune bridge, Powertune stop tailpiece, two chrome covered humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-way pickup switch, Neutrik jack on side of guitar, chrome hardware. It was available in standard finishes: Ebony, Desertburst, Fireburst, Manhattan Midnight, Wine Red, and metallic finishes: Green Metallic, Purple Metallic, Red Metallic. Version 2 made from 2008-2011.
