Gibson’s new Les Paul Studio Session offers unmatched access and tonal flexibility
Gibson announced the release of the Les Paul™ Studio Session just months after releasing the revamped Les Paul Studio. The debut of the LP Session offers a reimagined and enhanced version of its classic Les Paul Studio model, delivering iconic Les Paul tone. Designed in response to customer feedback and player requests, the new guitar offers upgraded features aimed at providing musicians with an ideal musical companion that feels just right in their hands. Weight relief? Check. Pretty top? Check. Comprehensive wiring options? Check. Great price point? Check. It’s all here in this model, including a Modern Contoured Heel.
Master Luthier Jim DeCola says, “The Les Paul Studio Session embodies the original intention of the Les Paul Studio and has been refined with features for today’s players. It’s the pinnacle of the Les Paul Studio family, featuring an AA figured maple top and gloss finish.”
Gibson Gear Guide host Dinesh Lekhraj added, “After playing a few of these on set, instantly I realized how versatile these new models are—covering a lot of ground musically very quickly, without any hesitation. A must for any player out there needing one instrument to handle multiple styles, genres, and tones.”
Image: Cobalt Burst with black plastics makes a bluesy statement
Enhanced comfort and playability
At the core of the Les Paul Studio Session is an Ultra Modern weight-relieved mahogany body, making the guitar lighter and more comfortable for extended play. Topped with a carved AA figured maple cap, the instrument boasts aesthetic appeal and delivers a balanced tone by adding brightness and definition to the warmth of the mahogany body.
The mahogany neck features a SlimTaper™ profile for fast playing and a Modern Contoured Heel, providing easy access to the upper frets. The bound ebony fretboard is equipped with acrylic trapezoid inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets, offering a comfortable 12-inch radius suitable for rhythm and lead playing.
Image: A light and convenient soft shell case protects your investment
Versatile electronics for diverse tones
Equipped with a ’57 Classic™ pickup in the neck position and a ’57 Classic + in the bridge, the Les Paul Studio Session provides a wide range of tonal options. Each pickup has volume and tone controls with push/pull potentiometers for coil tapping, phase switching, and Pure Bypass switching. This setup allows players to blend sounds and achieve the shortest, purest signal path when desired—think of Pure Bypass as a flamethrower mode when you need to slap a preamp silly and jump out in a live mix.
Classic design with modern touches
The guitar comes with high-quality Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with Keystone buttons, enhancing its classic look while ensuring solid tuning stability. The fully adjustable aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, and Graph Tech® nut contribute to the instrument’s reliability and sustain.
Available in a variety of gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes—including Honey Burst with cream plastics, Bourbon Burst with cream plastics, Cobalt Burst with black plastics, and Translucent Ebony Burst with black plastics and black nickel hardware—the Les Paul Studio Session offers options to suit different aesthetic preferences.
Image: Studio, stage, or sofa—the Les Paul Studio Session is ready
“The One” guitar for every situation
Gibson’s Les Paul Studio Session is positioned as the ultimate Les Paul Studio model for today’s players seeking more than just another guitar. With its combination of upgraded features, versatile electronics, and enhanced playability, it aims to be the one guitar musicians can rely on for any genre or scenario. Pair it with a versatile amp, and let the creativity flow through your fingers. And, if you’re feeling it, maybe try top-wrapping.