Gibson Les Paul Studio vs Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s Double Trouble

The Les Paul Studio is the smarter first Gibson: it has the same mahogany body, maple cap, set neck and 24.75-inch scale, but adds Ultra-Modern weight relief and coil-tappable Burstbucker Pros, so it is lighter and more tonally flexible. The Standard '60s Double Trouble is the step-up for players who want a solid, non-weight-relieved body, a figured AA maple top and the brighter, slightly hotter Burstbucker 61 pickups. Owners of both praise the build and tuning stability; the Studio is the better value per feature, the Standard is the more traditional, collectible instrument.

• Choose the Les Paul Studio if you want a lighter, gig-friendly Les Paul with coil taps and the core Gibson construction without paying for cosmetic upgrades.
• Choose the Les Paul Standard '60s Double Trouble if you want a solid-body, figured-top Les Paul with vintage-voiced pickups and traditional hardware.