Best Gibson Les Paul electric guitars

Top pick: Les Paul Standard '50s — the classic Les Paul done right: mahogany body with a maple top, no weight relief, fat '50s neck and vintage-voiced humbuckers. If you want one Les Paul that does everything and holds its value, start here.

Who the others suit:

• Standard '60s — same guitar with a slimmer neck and hotter pickups; pick it if you play lead and like a faster feel.
• Standard '60s Double Trouble — figured maple top and a livelier look for players who want a bit more flash.
• Studio / Studio Modern — the Les Paul sound with modern weight relief and coil-splitting, for gigging players who want less shoulder ache.
• Studio Session — a step up in top wood and finish without Standard money.
• Special / Junior — slab-body, P-90 simplicity for punk, blues and rock rhythm.
• Custom / Custom '70s — the premium, heavily bound, multi-ply look for players who want the top of the line.

Try them plugged in if you can: neck profile is the deciding difference.