• Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Topic: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Hi guys.

So tomorrow is going to be new guitar day for me...more specifically new Les Paul day...!!

I had my eyes set on a Gold Top LP Traditional, however that got complicated today when I spotted an online store with a 2nd hand 2011 JB Studio in stock for substantially les than the Trad will cost (enough less that I could buy an amp as well).

As I the JB is a couple of hours drive away, I was hoping that some of you guys would be able to compare/contrast the feel and sound (I'm obviously aware of the visual differences) between the 2 guitars...

...any help greatly received.

AJ

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

As Studios go, the JB is pretty special.  But if this is your only LP, I think you have to go Traditional for the thickness, binding, and overall appeal of the original LP construction formula.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • Crave1
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  • From: Cheshire, England
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Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Personally, I'd try every LP in my price range that I could lay my hands on and find the one with the best tone for me.

Having said that, I do tend to agree with dknight16.

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  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

dknight16 wrote:

As Studios go, the JB is pretty special.  But if this is your only LP, I think you have to go Traditional for the thickness, binding, and overall appeal of the original LP construction formula.

I thought the Studios were the same thickness as the Standard/Traditional??

Visually the binding is the only thing I'd miss if I got the Studio...but, would I miss it enough to warrant paying £6-700 more for the Traditional??? I don't know whether I would...

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet

5 Reply by Adrian J (edited by Adrian J 2012-09-26 06:36:50)

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Crave1 wrote:

Personally, I'd try every LP in my price range that I could lay my hands on and find the one with the best tone for me.

Oh I have and I've come to the conclusion that the Traditional is the closest I'll get in my price range, as I'm not a fan of the 60's slim neck that Gibson put on many of the other models in my price range (I have big necks on my Strat and Tele so am used to them). To be honest I'd probably look at changing out the 57's in the Trad for either a set of BKP Mules or possibly a set of Burstbuckers anyway...

If I could get to play the JB before buying then it would be so much simpler, but it's just too far away and by the time I would have a day free to go over there someone else might have beaten me to it...

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Play them all then decide.......they will all play/sound different even if they are the same model  &  made on the same day....

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

I haven't played the Traditional so I don't know about them. But I've had friends who have had Customs and other types of LP's, I've tried many types of LP's in stores including the 59 reissues, and let me tell you, my JB Studio is the finest LP I've ever played. The neck feels amazing, the tone is awesome, and it's pretty heavy, which I really like in a Les Paul. The JB Studio is an amazing guitar.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

+1

airportdon wrote:

Play them all then decide.......they will all play/sound different even if they are the same model  &  made on the same day....

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
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  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

airportdon wrote:

Play them all then decide.......they will all play/sound different even if they are the same model  &  made on the same day....

Again, normally my policy, but just not possible in this case...the JB is the only one I've found for sale and is just too far away to travel to try...hence asking on here.

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: Georgia
  • Registered: 2010-12-01
  • Posts: 278

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Adrian J wrote:
airportdon wrote:

Play them all then decide.......they will all play/sound different even if they are the same model  &  made on the same day....

Again, normally my policy, but just not possible in this case...the JB is the only one I've found for sale and is just too far away to travel to try...hence asking on here.

Look for a used one, lots of good deals out there.

11 Reply by Adrian J (edited by Adrian J 2012-09-26 08:31:41)

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Artisan wrote:
Adrian J wrote:
airportdon wrote:

Play them all then decide.......they will all play/sound different even if they are the same model  &  made on the same day....

Again, normally my policy, but just not possible in this case...the JB is the only one I've found for sale and is just too far away to travel to try...hence asking on here.

Look for a used one, lots of good deals out there.

Yeah. There's 1 that I've found the entire UK and it's the one I'm talking about...but too far away for me to travel to.

Please will people stop just giving a stock reply of "go play it" (or equivalent) when I've clearly stated that normally I would but that it's not possible in this instance which is precisely why I'm asking for opinions on here....

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Go for the traditional - maybe some day your name will be on the truss rod cover!

Adrian J wrote:
Artisan wrote:
Adrian J wrote:

Again, normally my policy, but just not possible in this case...the JB is the only one I've found for sale and is just too far away to travel to try...hence asking on here.

Look for a used one, lots of good deals out there.

Yeah. There's 1 that I've found the entire UK and it's the one I'm talking about...but too far away for me to travel to.

Please will people stop just giving a stock reply of "go play it" (or equivalent) when I've clearly stated that normally I would but that it's not possible in this instance which is precisely why I'm asking for opinions on here....

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • Crave1
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Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

kevman13 wrote:

Go for the traditional - maybe some day your name will be on the truss rod cover!

Adrian J wrote:
Artisan wrote:

Look for a used one, lots of good deals out there.

Yeah. There's 1 that I've found the entire UK and it's the one I'm talking about...but too far away for me to travel to.

Please will people stop just giving a stock reply of "go play it" (or equivalent) when I've clearly stated that normally I would but that it's not possible in this instance which is precisely why I'm asking for opinions on here....

Ok, the guitar structure is exactly the same apart from binding, machine heads and p'ups.
A thick neck will give a thicker tone, the Traditionals pickups will give a modern paf sound than the Burst buckers on the studio and its Klusons might not be as accurate at tuning as the Bonamassa's Grovers.
Bottom line for me.... I don't need an artist guitar unless its really special and I like Burstbuckers BUT, I over everything I prefer the feel of a bound neck - I know I can always put in new p'ups if I need to and that's why I'd go for the Trad.
It really is 'Horses for courses'. Good luck with your decision.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

I have a Traditional Pro at my disposal and a Studio plus top as well.  Judging these guitars I would say excluding the coil splits on the traditional pro, That I like the neck on the studio better.  The body is the same thickness.  I'm sure the body on both are weight reliefed but the Studio weights more by an order of magnitude.  Not sure the exact weight but it is a huge difference between my 2 guitars.  The Traditional's have 57 classics in them which I like, my traditional pro has a burstbucker 3 in the bridge like the JB Studio has but to me if your using pickups to drive your front end of your amp the BB3 is great, but if your running pedals for boost then I would prefer the 57' Classic Plus.  Its hot but not as hot as a BB3 and I'm not crazy about the pickups in my studio which are the modern 490r and 498t pickups.  My Studio also has a 300k linear pot in the volume... What the hell is Gibson thinking with that one?

To close my post I'll say this both guitar are fantastic, I know your wanting a Traditional and not a traditional pro but other then a couple of things they are about the same guitar.  I think both guitars would serve you well as long as you pick one that sounds good acoustically.  If its loud before you plug in its going to be loud and proud when it plugged in.  Good luck and pick the right one for you... or both!

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  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Buy the studio.  If you don't like it...sell and buy the traditional.

16 Reply by ZeyerGTR (edited by ZeyerGTR 2012-09-26 11:12:26)

  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Crave1 wrote:

Personally, I'd try every LP in my price range that I could lay my hands on and find the one with the best tone for me.

Having said that, I do tend to agree with dknight16.

I have to agree here - try a whole bunch and see what speaks to you.  I ended up getting a 2008 LP Traditional because it was the one I liked best, but I tried dozens of LPs (and other brands) over a few months before deciding.  When I was in the shop the last time ready to buy I tried about a dozen LPs before finding my specific Traditional.  They're all different, even among individual guitars of the same model, and what you think you want might be what you actually want once you get your hands on it.

[edit]Sorry, I responded before seeing your post:

Again, normally my policy, but just not possible in this case...the JB is the only one I've found for sale and is just too far away to travel to try...hence asking on here.

That said, is there a rush?  Few things are as fun to me as shopping for guitars, so I'd say take your time and enjoy the process!!!

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  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Adrian J wrote:


Yeah. There's 1 that I've found the entire UK and it's the one I'm talking about...but too far away for me to travel to.

Please will people stop just giving a stock reply of "go play it" (or equivalent) when I've clearly stated that normally I would but that it's not possible in this instance which is precisely why I'm asking for opinions on here....

Guys, keep this quote in mind. He just wants to know which of the two to get, not to just go try a bunch of different guitars.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • Registered: 2012-05-30
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Re: Gibson Les Paul Traditional vs Gibosn Les Paul Bonamassa Studio

Deezer wrote:
Adrian J wrote:


Yeah. There's 1 that I've found the entire UK and it's the one I'm talking about...but too far away for me to travel to.

Please will people stop just giving a stock reply of "go play it" (or equivalent) when I've clearly stated that normally I would but that it's not possible in this instance which is precisely why I'm asking for opinions on here....

Guys, keep this quote in mind. He just wants to know which of the two to get, not to just go try a bunch of different guitars.

Yes and "trying every LP you can get your hands on nearly ended with me making a purchase I can't afford today" jokingly said to the guy in the shop, just wish that one was £500 cheaper (pointing to a 58 VOS) at which point he intimated that for cash it could be...that is such a nice guitar, I'm sure WAY better than a Traditional or the JB...but I would be shooting myself in the foot if I bought it...

Added another guitar into the mix...based on a post above, a local store (well Bristol) is getting a Traditional Pro in for me to try...I know I said I don't like the 60's slim neck, but I figured that there's no harm in trying it...and it's halfway between the price of the JB and a normal Trad and has a darkback on the Goldtop as well...!!

That said, I'm very, very tempted to just pull the trigger on the JB on the basis that they're pretty rare so shouldn't be too hard to sell on if it's not my cup of tea...the Traditional is such a good seller that I can't see them dropping that any time soon....

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet