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

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

AD3THREE wrote:

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!

To be honest, the pickups are the big unknown (neck shape: I know I like bigger necks, colour: what's not to like, no binding: ok I prefer the look of binding but I'm a Fender guy so not that fussed about the feel) to me...but I can stick a set ot BKP Mules in there and it will still cost me less than a Traditional...hell I can stick a set of Seymour Duncan Bonamassa pups in there and it will still cost less than the Traditional...

Of course I reserve the right to wake up tomorrow and go buy the Honey Burst Traditional they have in a store in Bristol big_smile

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

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

The biggest let down on either guitar is the Nashville Bridge.  I hate those bridges and I don't know why.  There is a ton of stack up tolerences in the it and to me its over thought on how to fix an ABR-1.  Which is why I'm going to save up and convert all my Gibson guitars to a Calliham ABR-1.  Why because its Steel.  The stock parts are zinc pot metals.  Some say brass is the way to go or Aluminum but the problem is both of those metals have pores in them so they are not solid.  NOTHING transfers vibration better then steel.  If you have a Nashville bridge you can pull the ancors out of the body and they have some new one that are machined out of steel with a threaded screw on the end so you basically have a ABR-1 as your only choice you can put on your guitars.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Powys, Wales
  • Registered: 2012-08-05
  • Posts: 46

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

My 2012 Studio JBLP has a much thicker neck and general weight than my 2011 50s Tribute Studio, which has "thick 50s" neck.

After an online purchase, I was quite suprised when my Studio JBLP arrived at the weight and increase in neck width, compared to the 50s Tribute studio which I had been playing daily.The BB2 and BB3 again suprised me at the higher output compared to the 498/490 combo in 50s Tribute but leaning off the vol pot and tweaking the tone ala Joe reveals depths of possibilities.

All in all, I liked my 2012 JBLP studio so much more, I sold the 50s Tribute without hesitation or regret in two weeks.

Have fun trying out the ones you can and let us all know what you choose ;0)

2012 Gibson Studio JBLP, 1988 Marshall 2550 Black Jubilee
2013 Marshall Vintage Modern 4x12
JB WAH, JB Fuzz, JB FET Driver, JB Seymour Duncan's, Roland GP 8
  • From: UK
  • Registered: 2012-09-26
  • Posts: 13

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

I own both and can say that the "neck of a Tradtional & the JB are exactly the same however a JB does weight an extra 1lb as its less weight relieved and to date is still me heaviest LP at 9lb 6oz a Traditional is 8lb 6oz
They share the same Caps & pots on a metal plate but the tuners & pickups are different
the B2/3 combo is bright & sharp, the 57 Classics are alot mellower

Gibson Les Paul Standard Joe Bonamassa VOS 2012 Custom (Manchester 2013 Signed)
Fender Mustang 1969 Matching Headstock - Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass 50th Anniversary - 3 Tone Burst
Chapman Guitars ML1 Antique Sunburst #21 Crunchy (Signed by Rob, Dorje & Phil X)
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

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

Regardless of which one plays "better" it seems to me you're in the market for a JB looking Les Paul more than anything. Id go with the traditional. I have one in gold and I love the guitar. You can put a set of grovers on it and swap the hardware and I even had a friend paint the back of mine black so it really looks the part. Especially if and when you upgrade to an abr bridge.

Due to the abundance of the JB studio models I doubt it's really going to retain any collector value so if anything like that is part if reason you want the actual JB edition I wouldn't worry about it. Overall yes it's your decision, it's your money and it wi be Your guitar. Just hopefully you won't buy one and wish you had bought the other 3 months down the road once the "new'ness" goes away!

And I'm typing this from my iPhone so I haven't read in detail any of the other response postings so I apologize if I've said in essence the same thing someone else has already mentioned. Enjoy your new guitar which ever one you decide to go with!

24 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2012-09-26 20:09:21)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

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

There are no firm rules with Gibson, but in general Studios are about a quarter inch thinner than the Standard, Custom and Traditional.  I assume th JB Studio is no exception.

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

25 Reply by Adrian J (edited by Adrian J 2012-09-27 03:24:15)

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

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

Right well. Spanner thrown in works. Was relying on redundancy payment to pay for the Les Paul and when I've checked my bank balance this morning it's significantly less than I was expecting...so common sense has to prevail and the new guitar is on hold until I know what's going on sad

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: UK
  • Registered: 2012-09-26
  • Posts: 13

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

Well you have 2 options:

Buy with 12mth 0% Finance as alot of guitar stores do this
or
Buy 2nd Hand Off Ebay, the later has more risk if you don't know your Gibson's BUT the pro is that you can get them Cheaper
The current prices are £700-800 for a JB Studio & £1,000-1,200 for a Standard/Traditional
(I've purchased 4 to date in new or near new condition)

Just take it as food for thought...

Gibson Les Paul Standard Joe Bonamassa VOS 2012 Custom (Manchester 2013 Signed)
Fender Mustang 1969 Matching Headstock - Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass 50th Anniversary - 3 Tone Burst
Chapman Guitars ML1 Antique Sunburst #21 Crunchy (Signed by Rob, Dorje & Phil X)
  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

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

Or option 3...as I now can't be sure I can afford it...don't buy anything...until I can be sure I can afford 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
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

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

Adrian J wrote:

Or option 3...as I now can't be sure I can afford it...don't buy anything...until I can be sure I can afford it....

Option 3 is the very best choice and most responsible. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched! Financing one can be tempting and sometimes the thought of "well, if I do that I can still keep what money I do have just in case and I'll have a year to come up with the total amount." I don't see anything wrong with financing, just if you were planning on buying one outright, you might be better off sticking to that goal. But if the itch needs to be scratched very badly, then hey, we're all human and do what works for you.

  • From: UK
  • Registered: 2012-09-26
  • Posts: 13

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

Well the ultimate choice is up to yourself to decide, I can only surgest options if you really want it soon.

But I can understand the financial reason behind your choice and I will respect that

Gibson Les Paul Standard Joe Bonamassa VOS 2012 Custom (Manchester 2013 Signed)
Fender Mustang 1969 Matching Headstock - Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass 50th Anniversary - 3 Tone Burst
Chapman Guitars ML1 Antique Sunburst #21 Crunchy (Signed by Rob, Dorje & Phil X)
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

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

If left to me I would look for a Gold Top Traditional on Ebay cheap.  If you have $2500 to spare look for a 57' Reissue on ebay and be done with it.  Sometimes you can find a steal on there.

AD3THREE's Website

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

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

AD3THREE wrote:

If left to me I would look for a Gold Top Traditional on Ebay cheap.  If you have $2500 to spare look for a 57' Reissue on ebay and be done with it.  Sometimes you can find a steal on there.

Yeah...problem is that I now don't even really have the £900 I was going to pay for the JB Studio....let alone £2500 (I'd be buying a 58VOS if I had that much)

Have decided that I will do this the sensible way, open a savings account into which I will put as much as I can afford and then save until I can afford the Les Paul I really want....a Plaintop VOS 58 Les Paul...!! Might take a year or so, but boy will it feal rewarding!!

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: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

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

That sounds like a good idea. The wait is hard but in the end worth it. Its no fun spending all you have on a guitar with nothing left over. I've done that before..3 weeks into the new guitar and then I'd usually come to my senses.

  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

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

From my experiences they are both brilliant guitars, the JB will pack a little more punch and hit the amp a little harder and it's debatable that due to the Grovers it may stay in tune better. But when it comes down to it they are both great Les Pauls!!

All the best from Australia,

- Stefan

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website