Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s Electric Guitar - Heritage Cherry Sunburst Reviews

As usual, Josh Strid made the transaction a breeze. He always exceeds my expectations. The 50s Les Paul Standard Cherry has a much nicer top than the website pictures indicated. Beautiful horizontal flame. The SD Pearly Gates pickups intallation was well done and they sound great. And, as usual, the setup was perfect.

Feels and plays just like the original 50s axe. Brings out the Jimmy Page in me.

Bought this beautiful Les Paul for my grandson.bought a les Paul for my son in the 80s and I also wonted my grandson to have his own.he was blown away when I gave it to him and he loved the look and sound of it.he always wanted one.to is absolutely beautiful and has a great sound.

Solidbody. Repeat. Solidbody.
Sustain to the center of the earth. Repeat. Sustain to the center of the earth.

No weight relief equals chords that resonate down to the center of the earth and shatter its nickel core.
Just sayin.

Stop making excuses and just get this one. An amazing instrument that captures the beauty, feel, and sound of a Les Paul. Thanks again to Jerrod DeMott for a great experience from pre to post sale.

The title says it all. I won't rehash all of the issues that came up with this guitar, but my SW Rep Austin Zachrich was like John McEnroe at the net smashing all those issues back into my court with a ribbon on the ball. And I appreciate that! As far as the guitar goes, it's beautiful! It plays and sounds like a Gibson should: effortlessly, sustain that even Nigel Tufnul would be envious of, and growls/ purrs in all the right places! It's expensive, yeah, for sure it is. But sometimes in life, you have to remind yourself that no one knows if they'll be arou

I've been playing a Telecaster for 30+ years. I'd played a few Les Paul knockoffs and thought I knew, but this is the real deal! The tone, the sustain, it practically plays itself - and it's a beautiful work of art to look at. I replaced the deluxe tuners with Grover locks and replaced the plastic jack plate with a metal one, but other than that, it's the perfect guitar!!

First I want to thank Nate DeRusha at Sweetwater for his attention to my order. The Gibson Les Paul 50s heritage cherry sunburst has been my dream guitar for over 25 years. I finally pulled the trigger thanks to Nate, and it doesn't disappoint. The aesthetic beauty of this guitar is unparalleled. Sweetwaters pics are awesome, but don't do it justice until you see it first hand. What I mean is if you like what you see on the screen, you're going to love it even more once you see it. The sound and playability of this guitar is also awesome. I can't say enough great things about Gibson and this guitar. If you're considering this as a purchase, don't hesitate. Now I just need to save for a better amp. LOL!

I've purchased several Gibson's with mixed results on their quality control but this Les Paul exceeded my expectations. No noticeable cosmetic issues with the build quality, pick-ups or electronics. I like how it was set up out of the box. I found the action to be low but not too low. No issues with the frets or nut. The neck is a little thick, which I like. I really enjoy the warm tones I can get through my Fender Vibro Champ, Blues Junior and Vox AC10 with this guitar. I am able to get the classic rock sounds that I need. I would definitely recommend this Les Paul guitar. I'm happy that Gibson did this guitar right. I would like to thank my Sales Engineer Nick Church and Sweetwater on getting this guitar to me at a great price. Much appreciated!

I saved for almost two years and bought a 2021 Les Paul Standard 50s in Heritage Cherry at 13 and it's magnificent. I will probably use this guitar for the rest of my life. My top is incredible, looking down from the top it has an amazing flame while looking up at it from the bottom it is more of a plain top. The overall feel of the guitar and the tone is magnificent out of it as well. Quite possible my lifelong Number 1.

Guitar looks amazing sitting still. Get a comfy strap - these are heavier than a Fender.

Sounds far superior to anything. Especially through a tube amp. Go listen to Live Throwing Copper album's "Iris" and you have that exact tone.

The hardest question you face is not whether to buy this guitar - it's whether to get classic Gold, sunburst, or black or white.

And get it sooner rather than later with inflation!

Happy hunting and call Ryan Springer!

My salesman Matt Subers was great! Got my order here in a couple days. Now to the Les paul. I am beyond thrilled with this guitar. Exactly as described in the ad. Incredible tone and just a beautiful flame top.
Plays and sounds amazing right out of the box!

Classic look, incredible feel. Selected 50's due to the neck (not tapered - I like that). Playing through a Vox Blue Alnico - sounds alive. First concert I ever caught was Live (Throwing Copper fame) and this guitar is the closest I can get to hearing that gig in person back in the 1990s. It is how a rock guitar should sound. Rotary pedal and you have Frampton Comes Alive, spot on.

If you have not played a Les Paul - pick one up beforehand, as it is heavier than most guitars/recommend a good padded strap if not used to a heavier guitar.

Seek out Ryan Springer for ordering - top shelf service & support.

V/r
Greg

Small mark on binding near the nut, everything else is pretty flawless. So far so good, I'm happy.

Back in the golden age of guitars in the late 50s they would say the best guitar had to have a great looking top and high quality tone. Then the Les Paul Standard came around and set the benchmark for both top and tone. In my opinion no guitar looks or sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul Standard. And more recently Gibson has returned to authentic basic principles when building Standards. Solid, high quality wood and no shortcuts with mechanics or finish. I'm grateful beyond belief that Gibson turned the corner it did in 2018. They have a clear direction and pride in their production again. Long live Gibson.

I have waited so long for Gibson to get their stuff together to start producing an LP worth the money and the expectations we all have. Amazing quality of construction, beauty and playability! Everything you would expect a Les Paul to have as well as exceeding my expectations. Sweetwater made buying a guitar over the internet not just a purchase but an experience. Frightening I can buy a guitar with this quality with a few clicks on the internet without playing it first. Sweetwater takes care of any issues. Buy with confidence.

Look at this beauty I bought in Black Friday ….Gibson Les Paul Std '50s, Heritage Cherry Sunburst (DEMO).
Won't you want to get your hand on one of this too? The demo price compares with the new one is so good, I cannot resist.
After received it, I hardly find any scratches or any imperfect showing as mentioned on the website, "this is the Demo". One thing I do know is, this guitar is finished the "breaking-in period" by many many potential guitar buyer/players, and now it is ready to Rock. Like in the old day, when you buy a new car, you need to breaking-in the engine! No need for me to say how this Gibson '50 plays and sound, if you're a Gibson guitar player, you know what I mean.
Thank you, Frank, for all the help and all assurances and their 50 points inspections. I also bought another Gibson Les Paul Tribute - Satin Tobacco Burst from Frank last Tuesday, 12/06/2021.
You're the man, thank you.

I've never owned a non-budget guitar before this guitar, i have only know Epiphones and Squires. I wasn't sure what to expect making the leap, but it is a whole new world. This guitar is incredible, both in the way it looks and sounds, and it is an absolute dream to play. So glad I finally got one.

All I can say is I had no idea what I was missing out on before playing this . Its so MFing fun to play . Its a piece of art and is perfect for my productions . Im so happy I went with this guitar ( been playing it since august ) and it just blows me away every session . Thanks TJ Jackson as usual !

My first GLP and I'm loving playing her!

I received my Standard 50s by FedEx the next day after my purchase. This guitar plays like a dream, sounds fantastic, and looks even better in person than in the detailed photos. I've played a lot of different guitars since the mid-70s, including half a dozen LPs, and this one is in a class all its own. If I ever play in public again. This will be my go-to guitar.

I've never written an online review before, but I wrote this one to thank Sweetwater and especially Kevin Samuel for outstanding customer service. Any future instrument or equipment purchases I make will be from Sweetwater.

First off, a huge thank you to my consultant, Austin Zachrich. He is the best. He's been my guy for nearly two years. I fell in love with big Bertha the moment I saw her. Liked her so much, I now have a stable of 8. Absolutely perfect for me through a Marshall. Buy one, now.

Since 2018 Gibson is back. Full sound and amazing quality. Not to mention the best looking guitar around.

This is my 2nd Gibson Les Paul. My 1st was a tribute. This is my 1st High End Gibson Les Paul Standard and the Burst Buckers 1 & 2 Sound Amazing. You can feel the vibrations thought the solid Mahogany body as you Strum this Rock and Roll Guitar and it Roars thought my Marshall. My Les Paul Tribute can not compete with MY Les Paul Standard. Not even if you put the same pickups in it. the Les Paul Standard is such higher caliber. the Fret work is the best I have played in a long time. I 'am very happy with this Guitar. I get full of adrenalin every time I play it. the Heritage Cherry Sunburst is stunning.

I've always wanted a Gibson Les Paul and it was on my bucket list. The '50s ones are the most attractive in my opinion. I've always been a fan of Les Pauls, the way they feel, sound and look. I would constantly go on Sweetwater to see the ones available. After a while I found the one I wanted which was actually the demo guitar. This was six months ago.. I'm finally doing a review. It sounds amazing, very comfortable and looks beautiful! I can't stop playing it.

I waited a long time to find my favorite top. Thanks to Kenny Stratton he found me the one I was looking for The guitar looked fantastic on the website, and when it got delivered it looks even more beautiful. Hurry up and get yours too!!

Thank you Chuck Surack ,for staying true to your promise to customers.
Your growing company is an industry model of excellent business and customer relations standards.
It truly shows in sales and customer experience teams, that training and dedication to customers before the bottom line.
My recent purchase experiences have been ,Very Good experiences.
J. D. at Sweetwater helps me with my purchases and has been wonderful to work with.
J.D. is a great person and he is always happy to make my purchases great experiences!
Words can't express how Sweetwater has changed my musical journey for the best.


The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Cherry Sunburst, is what I expected . With all the hype from Gibson's publicity quality should be expected.
Very Happy!!
I won't say to get one, but they do seem to be going quickly.

Note: Frankie, in warehouse operations is responsible for helping me secure a dream come true,guitar.
In essence putting it on hold until J.D. was available.
Frankie in warehouse operations is a talented ,vital part of the Harmony at Sweetwater. She is up to the challenge when, " THE PRESSURE IS ON" .

I enjoy speaking to the team at Sweetwater. I call them for sound advice and experience with gear.
They always return phone calls or emails! That's a huge part of my confidence in Sweetwater CS.

It's the story behind the purchase that will always follow the guitar. In this case it was great!

Very blessed to have a resource like Sweetwater!

Hope this review helps.

If you've been holding off on purchasing a new Les Paul Standard, let your wait be over. I've had my new Les Paul Standard 50's for a couple of weeks now and could not be more pleased. The fit, finish and playability of this guitar is excellent. The snarl of these pickups brings back so many good memories! The sustain will leave you smiling. And don't be afraid of the 50's neck. Yes, it's thicker than the 60's, but in no way is it a baseball bat. Every classic LP sound is inside of this guitar. As always, thanks Sweetwater for an unmatched experience!

So much to say. Firstly, there is not a single company out there that remotely approaches the level of excellence that Sweetwater provides. Top Tier, stellar service in every way!

Now, the Les Paul. The second I opened the case, I could not believe how gorgeous it was. The heritage cherry sunburst blew me away. I know now why this color is so popular... it is simply breathtaking. It was love at first sight! This particular one is beautiful beyond description.

As far as fit and finish goes, it is perfect! Not a single scratch, ding, swirl mark, etc. Paint, clear coat, frets, electronics, hardware, set-up, action, etc.. perfect in every way. QC is definitely top-notch. Gibson is definitely at the top of their game. Additionally, Sweetwater does their huge, comprehensive quality control/inspection to insure even more peace of mind.

So, now I would like to discuss the 50s model. The internet is full of opinions about the thickness of the neck vs the 60s. Well, I am here to say the 50s neck is not huge and is not uncomfortable... it is quite the opposite. It is so incredibly comfortable. I have normal-sizes hands. I absolutely love the size and feel of the neck. It is perfect. I think all the hype about the 60s neck being faster and more comfortable is just that... internet hype and hot air. This 50s neck is so fast, smooth, and amazingly comfortable.

Sonically, the 50s is simply awe-inspiring. It sounds like every amazing Les Paul sound from Paige, Lifeson, Clapton, Allman, Gibbons, Slash.... on and on. It is the quentiscential Les Paul classic sound. This is it! The pickups, wood, everything the iconic Les Paul should be.

Overall, the sound, feel, vibe, looks, quality is worth every single penny. I could not be more happy! So very happy I got this amazing guitar. The Gibson Les Paul 50s Standard in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, simply put, is the perfect guitar.

To finish, I want to say thank you to Sweetwater. Your sales team and every staff member rocks. You are a model for all the competitors out there. Please don't ever change! I will always buy my instruments from you and won't even consider any of those want-to-be competitors.

Well I got one of these a couple weeks ago and it has so much character . Tones are great and you can get a lot of tones out of this . Looks beautiful and smells beautiful . Cant go wrong with this true classic .

I've owned many Les Pauls in the past but this is the first time I have ever bought one new.

When I came into the store to check them out, I had something specific in mine and my sales rep (Daniel Cango) made sure to bring out everything that he could for me.

I personally think I got the best guitar in the store at a very good price,

This guitar has the perfect finish, the perfect pickups, the perfect neck, and everything else. The tones it gets are right on par with all of the vintage Gibsons I have had and the feel is there too. This has already become my main guitar and will be with me for the long run.

first I want to tell my age 71yrs. to help keep things in perspective. I own and have had many guitars thru the years including a 1996 Les Paul Studio which I have had over 20 some yrs, but never a Les Paul Standard. although I have looked at some in previous yrs, not being overly impressed with issues like sharp fret ends, and also the price range seemed to be out of reach. But doesn't mean that it hasn't been on the list. I got on the Sweetwater site and saw the Bourbon burst studio and thought it was very eye catching, so I called my Sweetwater Rep. Brian Dillon because they were on back order. Some time passed and I would revisit the site to awe over the bourbon burst, but also visit the Les Paul Standards. Looking at the 60's and 50's, and started leaning towards the 60's standard for the colors available and the Grover tuners, but after much thought started to give the 50's another look. One of the reasons was I wanted the alnico 2 humbuckers because I have other guitars with alnico 5 pickups, also I prefer a the 50's neck profile thinking they are more stable' because there's more meat. Nothing against thinner, faster necks ,just personnel preference, so although I would have liked the Grover tuners, It's not a deal buster because of the other options that I wanted. In conclusion I'm happy with my purchase after all it is a Gibson. Is it the best? I don't know because I haven't owned them all, Just some. I hope this will help someone in their decision making and God Bless.

This is my first Gibson Les Paul(3 months now) and its everything I thought it should be and more. Beautiful finish and stunning flame top. The tone is just in another atmosphere. Sounds great on its own plugged into my amp with no effects on. Really just inspires and forces me to be a better player cause it just brings that out of whoever is playing it. Worth every penny! Much more to rave about, don't hesitate, just get one. Its the best! Worth every penny, nickle, dime, quarter, and sacagawea dollar!

This guitar has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and it was well worth the wait. I have researched various retailers and couldn't be more pleased having purchased through Sweetwater. I had been searching for a specific look (I wanted a prominent looking flame top but the inventory on the website wasn't exactly what I wanted. I reached out to Sweetwater's customer service department via email thinking someone would get back to me in a day or so but I ended up getting a phone call within 5 minutes of hitting "send". My customer service rep (shout out to Adam) couldn't have been friendlier and extremely helpful. I explained what I was looking for and he immediately went back and pulled several guitars not listed on the site based on my description and sent me photos. What is also a great perk is that Sweetwater gives you the weight of each guitar - talk about full transparency! End result, I got exactly what I was looking for. My guitar arrived a few days later and was packaged securely. The Gibson box was boxed inside a sweetwater box. After unpacking, I was surprised the guitar was practically in tune still. I was just as pleased with the sound as the look. I play through a Mesa Boogie studio .22+ and boy oh boy what a sound. To anyone looking for a standard '50's, this is the one. Well done Gibson! This delivers everything you have seen or read and then some. And to anyone looking for the right retailer, I strongly recommend Sweetwater. You not only get an experienced patient staff willing to help you get what you need, but you are guaranteed that your guitar is fully inspected before it arrives in your hands.

I never write reviews of anything. But I've had this guitar for 5 months now and am still in love. Great neck, great finish and sounds exactly like I want a Les Paul to sound. My wife and I were having an unrelated discussion related to (a lack of) customer service with furniture we had recently purchased. Sweetwater popped into my head because they've never let me down in dozens of purchases, and resolved a relatively minor issue with this order in a very generous way. Shout out to Todd Cotten for the help. Sweetwater has my business!

The 50's Les Pauls are the Holy Grail of electric guitars, and this model does a respectable job of capturing the mojo of the legendary 1959 model. If you know anything about guitars, then no review is needed. If you're new to guitars, then trust me, this is the gold standard by which all other electrics are judged. It's the tone that launched a thousand hits. Countless artists from across every genre have come to love it's warm tone, massive sustain, and raw power. Not to mention, it is one one the most comfortable and playable instruments I have ever slung over my shoulder (although it is admittedly heavy...but that contributes to its tone.) You can get one anywhere, so why buy from Sweetwater? Because, hands down, they have the best customer service if any company I've ever dealt with, music industry or otherwise. The Cadillac of guitars from the Cadillac of retailers...easy choice. Get one, you'll never regret it. (Nor will your grandkids when they inherit it!)

I love this beautiful les paul so much, I call her baby and I've worked a long time to the point of getting my dream guitar. It plays very beautifully and the alnico ii pickups really capture that 50s humbucker tone! I love the neck profile on it and, although I've heard it's not as thick as the one on true historics and real 50s les pauls, it's still got some beef to it, and I love it. The figuring is really impressive and it has a great weight to it! I'm just so happy that I finally got a real Gibson Les Paul, and I highly encourage anyone who has the money and really wants this guitar to get it -- you can't go wrong with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s!!!

More than a guitar. I feel like I am playing something legendary. From the feel of the wood, the color, the overall beauty, the smell of the lacquer. The sound is a time trip for me. I'm in love, what more can I say.

100% pleased just a great American product well worth every penny, Sweetwater was great, delivery was on time and in great condition.
Thank you Logan!
Ron

I had been saving up for a Les Paul for a long time. I wanted it to be my main, special guitar, so I wanted it to be brand new. I've had nothing but great experiences with Sweetwater, and they had a fantastic selection of guitars to choose from. I appreciated them thoroughly photographing each one so I could pick the perfect Les Paul. But even the pictures paled in comparison to the real thing... it was love at first sight! It's set up perfectly, it plays like a dream, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I was nervous about shipping a guitar, but this company clearly knows what they're doing.

Just got my 50's spec Les Paul in the mail a couple days ago. I'm in love... this thing looks and plays like a dream! I got way more guitar than I paid for and she was a demo to boot. Needless to say I'm very very happy with my new guitar.

I have owned a number Les Pauls in the past, including a custom. All of them were sweet guitars...but this one is the sweetest! The neck, the tone, the action, the finish....all of it is top notch. I play this guitar through a Marshall 50 watt tube head with a 4x12 cab. I set the amp to a light to moderate gain and used the guitar's volume knob to control the growl. Tone heaven! Get one...you won't regret it!

Absolutely beautiful and plays like a dream. Sounds incredible. The weight and feel are just perfect. Home rum with this one.

After longing for a LesPaul of quality for some time... I finally pulled the trigger. Thanks to my sales guy Jason S. for always styling me out. I've purchased several high end guitars through Sweetwater, this being the lower end. They always deliver time after time, even if there's a problem. This guitar is flawless and I've had it a couple months now, the flamed top could be nicer but.... it's not a custom shop. I bet it sounds just as nice or very close to a custom shop though. Glad I picked this up, I play it through a Helix Floor and it's quite nice sounding, just what I needed for the collection.

Top notch in every way. Really a perfect solid body guitar. Only gripe was a sharp nut edge, but that was easy enough to fix w a nail file. Love the guitar, thanks Randy.

What a beautifully crafted instrument. It was everything I expected and more. Special thanks to Aric and Joe for making it happen.It was perfect out of the box. One of the reasons I will only buy my guitars from Sweetwater.Thanks Guys!!

Sound, feel,weight,look,.........Incredible............

I'm an old dude who's played guitar off and on since the 1960s and, on the whole, have enjoyed my time with the various guitars I've owned. A few years back I swore I'd never buy another Gibson again because of their really, really terrible quality control. They further apparently didn't care enough to return or even acknowledge my Emails to them for issues on my last Gibson. In 2019 I was hearing that Gibson had turned a corner and were once again producing a quality instrument minus the printed circuit boards and push pull crap. I took a chance once again but I was was also totally prepared to stuff it right back in it's shipping container if it showed up not right. Well low and behold a better then expected Les Paul 50s Standard was delivered today in GORGEOUS CONDITION!!! I plugged it in to my Victory Sheriff 22 amp and spent two happy hours playing. I adjusted the pickups lower to almost even with the mounting rings and restrung it with pure nickel 10s in the classic wrap around method. I'm so happy with this thing I can't express it....! Also I thought it was going to be like a plain top since in their pictures there was hardly any flame showing. When I took it out of it's case there was SO MUCH FLAME I actually thought they shipped me a different guitar. But the serial number matched, thanks to Aric Brenner also for all his help over the years.

This guitar is everything I want in a guitar. The neck is perfect . The maple top is awesome. Absolutely zero flaws! The tone of the pick ups are killer. I recommend the 50’s Les Paul from the original collection . Killer cherry sunburst top , great feeling neck , and an absolutely killer tone!! A special thanks to my sales engineer , Ryan Wiltermood.

I received my Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s in Heritage Cherry Sunburst just yesterday, but wanted to jump right in with my review. As a long-time Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page fan, I have been yearning for years for a Gibson Les Paul Standard like Jimmy's that is modeled from the specs of those produced in the 1950s. Gibson definitely hit a major home run with this model. The overall craftsmanship of mine is second to none. The book matched flamed maple top on the guitar is absolutely stunning, and pictures don't do it justice. The neck is a bit chunkier than other Les Pauls I have played, but is still very comfortable in my hands, which are relatively small. The neck is fast and silky smooth. Th fretwork on the guitar is perfect, with no sharp edges anywhere along the neck. Tone wise, the guitar is probably the best I've ever heard. Played clean, notes and chords ring with beautiful clarity. Played with distortion, notes and chords retain clarity but with that classic, unique growl that you can only get from a Gibson Les Paul. The volume and tone knobs work perfectly and roll back and forth with very smooth transition. Definitely the best electronics I have ever had in a guitar. My biggest fear in making this purchase was the infamous tuning instability issues that Gibson Les Pauls are known for. Not really the case for me. I did have to stretch out the strings quite a bit at first, but after the initial "breaking in" period the first day, the guitar now stays in excellent tune. Since it is wintertime, I expected the guitar to need some time to adjust to the temperature and humidity level in my apartment. It took very little time before the guitar adjusted, and it stays in tune perfectly. If you are looking for a classic looking, extremely well-made instrument that will basically do anything you need musically, I highly recommend this model. I want to thank my sales engineer, Mark Magdich, and the rest of the Sweetwater team for yet another wonderful experience as customer.

Gibson Brands, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians

I actually bought this guitar a few months ago but am just now getting around to the review. I'll keep it short and sweet. This guitar is fantastic. Sounds amazing, is the best playing electric guitar I've ever playd, and it stays in tune like a champ. I've always had tuning stability issues with electrics and I simply don't with this one, and it's the best thing to not have to be retuning your guitar every 10 minutes. I have noticed that when I take it out of the case and do some bends, it will go out of tune at first (almost every time), but once I tune it up, it'll stay in tune for hours. So for example, I might take it out of the case, do one bend on the g-string, and it'll go out of tune. But once I tune it up, I might only have to retune it one more time on any given night (despite hours of playing sometimes, and hundreds of bends).... Something else I was worried about was the 50s neck being somewhat thicker than the 60s slim taper. Also, my Martin acoustic has a neck on the thinner side of things, so that's what I was used to.. But let me tell you, the 50s neck is freaking amazing! It's super comfortable and makes playing a breeze. And my hands never cramp up. I don't have big, thick fingers. Actually, I have skinny, bony fingers, and from my wrist to the tip of my middle finger is about 7" (if this helps anyone). I'm also prone to cramping up because of my **** skinny, bony fingers, but with this neck, it never happens (I mean, unless I'm playing for a solid 5-6 hours with no breaks or something).... I also love these pickups. They're not super hot, but they're hot enough so that if you want to turn up the gain, you can make this thing sing. Seems like hotter pickups might be better for metal sounds, but if you're not into metal, then this Standard 50s will do anything you want it to. Hell, it could even do metal if you really wanted it to, I guess. Also sounds fantastic when running clean... It looks great, it sounds great, it plays great, it even smells great. I highly recommend this guitar if you're looking for a true-to-style Les Paul... If you're wanting something less expensive then I'm sure the Studio and Classic would also sound great, but honestly, I'd gladly pay the exra $500 over the Classic simply to have the standard 50s neck profile. That's how much I love the neck on this guitar... My only complaints with this guitar is that I had to get into the toggle switch compartment to tighten some stuff up because after a few weeks of playing, one day the toggle switch just kind of fell through into its compartment, so I had to unscrew the back and put it back into place. No big deal, but I wasn't expecting it to be so easy to loosen. Also, you've gotta make sure that your output jack stays tightened up. This may be a normal thing with Les Pauls, but one day I was going to plug in my cord and realized that the output jack screw thingy had fallen off. Again, it was no big deal because all I had to do was unscrew the back and put it back into place, and tighten it up.... These are literally the only qualms I have with this guitar, and they're not big deals at all. Not even enough for me to want to knock off even 1/10th of one star on this review. It's a 5/5, for sure.

This is the second Les Paul Standard I have bought from Sweetwater, the first being a 2016 Standard Honeyburst. Although its a great guitar, I have always wanted a Les Paul that was made more like what was produced in the 50's. I find the thicker neck actually easier to play. I couldn't be more satisfied.

Shockingly good guitar. Seriously. Played a ton over the years, and this is probably the nicest I've ever played. Setup out of the box was remarkably good (nut is a little sharp on edges, but no biggie). Stays in tune remarkably well. One of the most satisfying gear purchases I've made in many moons.

This is my third Les Paul. I have a 2008 with the asymmetric neck, a "slim taper" 60s, now this chunky 50s. I won't be playing the others much after getting this guitar. I have bigger hands and the neck feels so much better to me. The added sustain that you get with the bigger neck can't be understated. This guitar feels and sounds great. I can't put the thing down. As always, Sweetwater is the best place to buy a guitar. I watched the Guitar Gallery for a few weeks until the exact one I wanted popped up.

I was a total sceptic when ordering this guitar. Spoke with Ryan, and he was awesome to work with. Everyone has heard the YouTube loudmouths and read the keyboard warriors on the forums badmouthing Gibson's quality control. I even was told by a local shop salesman that he'd never buy a new Gibson due to the quality being poor. I don't know about all of that noise, but I do know the guitar I recieved was spot on what I expected. The finish was perfect. All of the details were taken care of. I checked the controls for cold solders, I looked under the pick guard for the "common" screw hitting the top destroying the finish. If I could nit pick anything it would be that the pickup selector switch was a little loose. The guitar was absolutely perfect in every other way. Sounds like a good Les Paul should, looks like it should, and I'm pretty sure that it won't fall apart like so many people claim it will based on their forum posts. If Gibson is delivering sub par instruments, Sweetwater is doing a bang up job of weeding out any imperfections. Very happy with my purchase, and yes, I checked everything with a magnifying glass.

Finally Gibson gets it right a Les Paul that plays and sounds like a 50's les paul . when i played with Eclipse outta indy back in the 80's my friend Mike Donaldson played an original 59 les paul and this classic 50's i just got brings that sound back to me (along with some great memories ) . Now im not gonna lie to you ive got a set of planet tone southern heritage pickups i was all set to put in this Les Paul . However that will not be nesseccary as these pickups have the tone a vintage Les Paul should have . This is the first Les Paul ive bought since the early 70's and im not dissapointed at all . Rock on my brothers

First I,d like to send out some love to Chuck whose online business model is absolute genius. The 55 point check alone should alleviate all concerns about ordering expensive equipment online... but everything else including warranty service is superb as well. Next some love for my personal sales/sound engineer Alan Finkbeiner who bade me to hold fire for this very guitar. The SE" are valuable resources that Sweetwater provides free...be sure to take advantage of that.

Alan and I often talked about the real les Paul of old. No dip switches, no titanium adjustable nuts, no weight relieved body, no push pull pots and no custom shop trying to make you believe that somehow their mahogany, maple, rosewood and humbuckers were worth thousands and thousands more. Fortunately, Gibson was listening. They did it. They produced just the plain old sweet les Paul Goldtop goodness of my youth and it plays and sounds great! You can"t really say that a $... guitar is cheap or even inexpensive, but I would stack this guitar up against any custom shop product.

Thanks Alan. You can"t imagine how close I was to spending money that I didn"t have to for the equipment I want and need. Had you not been on top of new and upcoming Gibson product I"d be eating beans a lot more often

First impressions. Great quality build and very satisfied with the 55 point Sweetwater inspection! Plus the customary double-boxing is just an added value for that protection to the West Coast. I plugged it in to my new Marshall Studio Vintage Head & Cab and what versatility of sound it punches out!. Crunch...great long sustain that vey Gibson Les Paul Humbucking/Marshall Plexi sound. Played as well through the Fender Neo Wine Twin Amp that I also purchased trough Sweetwater and it delivers that classic clean, up-front in your "Face" blasting clean sound with out any pedals! Overall a very super enjoyable sound no matter how you plug into the amp of your choice. Gibson's have their sound and this Les Paul has that perfect ring when you are dialed in! That classic Gibson Les Paul 50's sound! Thank you Matt Alexander.The ease and experience you provide is always professional, pleasant and rewarding. Thank you once again!

This is an absolutely beautiful looking and sounding guitar! Gibson is back on track for sure. Another perfect setup by the techs at Sweetwater. I honestly can't see a reason to purchase a guitar anywhere else.

I have purchased many Gibsons over the last 10 years. This is the one I was always trying to find. Truly an incredible guitar at $2500. The neck is awesome. The rosewood is great. The pickups sound terrific. no weight relief. Old school tuners. If you've been on the fence with Gibson, they're back!

This is a great LP that is worth the money. I was expecting, though, the bridge between production and custom shop RI '59, but essentially this is a heavier Traditional. Same tone and sustain that did not seem to change due to non-chambered body, similar feel and looks. I highly recommend if this is where your budget stands.

Come on, who hasn't seen a Les Paul, right? It's an absolute icon. I have to think, if you're considering a buy, you're already in the know. The Les Paul is downright imperious, aesthetically, when compared to it's early solid body rival, the telecaster. It caught my eye, and ear, early and I've never looked back. I played an Epiphone Les Paul Custom for 15 years so I like to think I know my way around a Les Paul. As whole heartily indoctrinated into the cult as I am, I will try to be honest in my assessment of this model, and not see this merely as a victory lap review.

Construction: Here's why I took off a half star. The first model I got had some roughness on the fingerboard and it's binding, it looked like someone took a filer to it, there was some chalky residue on the board as well so i returned it. The second time was the charm. The model I kept was impeccable (minus some of the pots didn't quite align on zero to the metal markers) nitpicks? maybe. But Quality Control is important in providing a positive first experience for customers. Most importantly however, the action and fretting, were great. And the Burst paint job was absolute perfection.

Tone: It's definitely brighter then my Epiphone was, that could be the Maple top (Customs are all Mahogany). Great clarity, no muddiness at all, from either pickup. The neck pickup is noticeably louder and fuller to my ears than the bridge PU. The bridge PU is still plenty rich and doesn't get quacky or pokey. The tone is heavy and powerful sounding, which makes it perfect for loud, high-gain applications as these moderate output PU's help dampen the harsher high frequencies and minimize hiss. I think the tone is why Les Paul's built their reputation, they have so much body and punch, it's usually described as a "Fat" tone. But thankfully the bass and mids aren't too overwhelming. Again, it never gets muddy or flubby. And yes that iconic sustain is there. The main reason I wanted to upgrade is that my Epi LP custom had fast note decay when you tried to hold on a single note.

Playability: It's not as nimble as some of the more contemporary models, especially if your into highly technical speed runs, but that's part of it's charm. You really have to build your finger strength to tame it. Also a big factor is the weight, I got lucky, mine came in at 8 pounds 6 ounces (unusually light), and it's just about tolerable for an hour sesh while strapped over your shoulder. If you have a light frame and play several hours at a time, it might be something to consider. As for me, again, part of the Les Paul charm.

Conclusion: I'm very happy with this purchase. This is as close to a late 50's LP Standard, (outside of an auction house or Custom Shop) as there's been in the Gibson line in some time. It's a great time to pull the trigger if you can. I'm glad I have mine, I can check off that bucket list item, and I look forward to growing old with it.

My example came in the mail and instantly saw that it was way flamier than what was pictures and i was ecstatic! On top of it looking amazing the playability and sound to this guitar is phenomenal, the only downside at all is there were very small tooling marks at the very end of the fretboard

I really love this guitar !! It has great tone and plays great. My music man hd130 can hardly handle this guitar . It overdrives the tubes really well. Those5881 tubes overdrive so easily great combination.

First off, this is hands down one of the best feeling and playing guitars I've ever had. It just fits right in my hand and the workmanship, on this particular one that I got, was fantastic. I have rather small hands, yet the supposed "fatter" neck of the 50's model felt very comfortable. The only issue I had was that there was a bad grounding issue on it that caused a ton of buzzing. BUT, Sweetwater fixed it and returned it to me and now it's sounding great. If it had come to me perfect, I would have given it higher marks.

2019 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s heritage cherry sunburst – I"d always wanted a standard, but could never afford one. When I"d seen the reviews on how this is not weight-relieved and no frills, back to the 50"s original recipe, I"d figured I"d give it a go. And you don"t know what you"re getting until you get one. I"d taken a chance on a demo copy from Sweetwater and had to return it due to the nut being cracked on the sides of it and into the binding. So they had to send me a brand new one. The first one had a killer neck though. Loved that thing! It was more of what I would believe to be a "59 neck. Not quite beefy as a "58, but not slim-tapered either. I think it"s got a good feel to the neck. I didn"t get to plug in the first one because I knew I was returning it. So when I"d gotten the second one, I had to inspect it thoroughly. It seems to be fine. I"m not a fan of the plastic tuners, but this is supposed to mimic the original 59"s. The pickups sound fine. This is definitely a beautiful guitar. This guitar needs to be intonated.

Upon further inspection and also watching and reading reviews, I"d wanted to know more. So the first thing I"d checked as I"d seen in a video was the pickguard. The actual bracket is smaller than that of a Korean-made Agile Les Paul copy. So the nut of the bolt which is over the body of the guitar hits the body and leaves an imprint. So Ding #1. That"s a quality control issue. At this point, you"ve pretty much bought the guitar. So nothing"s quite to the actual 1950"s specs. NOTHING! It"s never been that way and never will be. I"d given Gibson another chance and I"ve always been a huge Gibson guitar fan. Just to learn things that I probably wouldn"t know about before, makes me wonder and question what goes on in that factory, quality control, meetings, board rooms of the Gibson company. There are other things you can find out online in videos where the guitars were taken apart and do not quite fit the exact same specs from the 1950"s. I do not claim to be an expert on Gibson guitars and Les Pauls, but they"ve been the guitars of choice for quite some time. I can honestly say that there"s no perfect guitar out there. Not unless you pay lots of money to have one custom made. I feel that if you"re going to still cut corners somewhere, don"t call it a "50s" standard. The only guitars that will feel like they play like a 50s guitar will be guitars made in the 1950s.

I"m very fortunate to have 6 months to pay this off because I don"t know if I"d ever outright spend the cash to pay for one of these guitars. I was sold on the videos and reviews online. If you have a local store that carries something you like, I"d suggest you check it out first. But if you have GAS like me, you want that guitar yesterday!

I'd also suggest thoroughly inspecting the guitar before you buy it!

Thanks to all the help from TJ and his staff for helping me attain this guitar!

Love the way it plays after the action was adjusted. No matter how many checks they do at the factory or the shop guitars never feel quite right so I won't ever fault the manufacturer and doesn't subtract points for workmanship. My biggest complaint about this guitar the level of detail that went into the finish. Upon closer inspection of the instrument there is evidence that whomever masked off the binding didn't do a very good job, especially in the cutaway and if you look closely there's about a 1/16 of an inch around the binding that is over sprayed. I would expect this from an Epiphone but no on a Gibson.

I purchased this model on 2019 and didn't notice until it was too late that there are some QC issues. The guitar plays well enough, but I expected a higher finish quality from a guitar at this price point. There is noticeable overspray on the binding, especially in the cut-away. There's a spot above the Gibson logo where it looks like the masking tape holding the Gibson logo in place took off a chunk of the primer and they sprayed over it. There are spots in the neck joint that weren't filled in very well either. I'm disappointed in Gibson's quality control. I'm more disappointed more than anything. I expected, at this price point, that there would be more attention given to detail. And don't bother contacting Gibson, they'll never respond. It plays nice, sounds great, just disappointed.

This would have been my 7th Gibson Les Paul but.... When I opened the case I was immediately blown away by the finish on the body. Beautifully matched high figure maple top with the perfect stain and lacquer. It was everything that I hoped for and more. Unfortunately that is where my joy ended. This instrument was in poor playing condition. I tuned it up to immediately find out that the nut was cut unsatisfactory on the D string. It grabbed at the string as I tried to tune. So I looked closer the nut was damaged on the low E side and there were flaws in the binding. I played to find out the G string fretted out and the three was significant buzz on others. Believe it or not the action was high. I was surprised as well. Not anfine instrument by any means, but it was pretty. Lol

This instrument was of extremely poor quality in tone, playability, and appearance.

My particular instrument was plagued by cosmetic issues. Stain bleeding into the binding, clear coat issues, etc. There were multiple spots around the seam where the maple top meets the mahogany body where glue has seeped out and wasn't cleaned up before they sprayed the clear coat. The most egregious flaws were related to Gibson's scraped binding. This is one of the few steps Gibson still does manually. The binding was scraped very unevenly, which is ugly. But the poor craftsmanship went beyond cosmetic, as there were several spots where it appeared the tech's scraper "skipped" and dug chunks out of both the binding and the fingerboard.

All of these issues were enough for me to warrant returning the guitar, but the other issue worth mentioning involved the pickups. They sounded good enough on their own, but they were imbalanced. The neck pickup measured 3db louder than the bridge pickup. Raising or lowering the individual pickups did nothing to correct this imbalance. My final complaint had to do with the guitar's overall feel. It was heavy, sure. But not very resonant or alive. Just dead wood in the hands.

I am so incredibly thankful for Alex Rodriguez at Sweetwater. From the moment I reported my dissatisfaction, he was right there with me to help with the return process and to suggest some options for replacements. I wound up with a PRS Core McCarty 594 and I am 100% satisfied with the instrument and Sweetwater's customer service.