Elitist Les Paul Studio

[Steelpriest]

Yikes! I am planning to purchase maybe an Elitist after I bought lots of more affordable guitars now. I took a look at the Elitist Les Paul Studio. Something is "wrong" with this guitars... Suddenly I realized the Elitist LP Studio comes with dot inlays instead of trapezoid ones... Good gosh! Why is this?

[supedupviper]

I would rather get an Elitist Standard or Custom, I'm not a big fan of the Studio.

[Smooth]

Steelpriest said:

Yikes! I am planning to purchase maybe an Elitist after I bought lots of more affordable guitars now. I took a look at the Elitist Les Paul Studio. Something is "wrong" with this guitars... Suddenly I realized the Elitist LP Studio comes with dot inlays instead of trapezoid ones... Good gosh! Why is this?

the latest studios coming from Gibson's China factory are with dots inlayed. I think this is going to be the future trend with these. You might also be interested in the fact that the body width is now equal to the LP Standards width (basically they have made the Epi studio the same thickness of the Gibson Studio). If i think about it i'll snap you a pic of one (whichever color you'd like to see) so you can see the current changes. They should be hitting dealers pretty soon.

*EDIT* this info describes the non-elitist studio (just re-read the topic title)

[Steelpriest]

Well, up to my knowledge the original Gibson LP Studio is or was available in two different body widths. The normal thick sized one and a special model that was a bit more slim (it was kind of a limited edtion). A pal of mine owns one of those slim ones. I own two Epiphone LP Studios, those guitars are as thick as "normal" Standard Les Pauls and both have trapezoid inlays just alike a Standard. To be precise, both are Standards without the bindings. Okay, if I read your post right, the newer Epiphone LP Studios from China will be thinner and have dot inlays? What is the Elitist version of the LP Studio alike now... is it a slim version or is it as thick as a regular LP Standard?

[CAFeathers]

Has anyone done a side-by-side hardware/pickup comparison between the Epi Elistist LP Studio and a Gibson LP Studio?

[zep]

The dot inlays is kinda different but I guess they're just striving for a different look for the studios so they don't look much like the standard/classic/custom.

[Smooth]

Steelpriest can you get me a measurement of the body thickness of one of your Les Paul studios? These new studios are coming in with about 1-3/4" thickness measured right at the neck strap button which is about 1/4" thicker than the old korean studios if i remember correctly.

[Steelpriest]

Hmmm, I will try to measure them, what is odd, hehe... you know we Europeans measure in centimeters, not in inches, so I need to transform what I measure and calculate, ööööörks! But well, both are amazingly thick, and I know original Les Pauls, mine are maybe even thicker, ridicilously thick to be honest, somewhat thicker they would start looking funny... hehehe, but okay, later today I will measure them.

[OzDog]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the studio a step down from the Standard. If this is the case wouldn't it make sense that the Studio would have dot inlays since it would be a little less expensive to produce because there would be less materials and labor involved in the making of the guitar.

[Steelpriest]

Ozdog, old buddy... a Studio was always almost a Standard. It only lacked the binding on body and neck, and it had always trapezoid inlays. By the way: I LOVE LES PAUL STUDIOS! ;D

[zep]

Steelpriest said:

Ozdog, old buddy... a Studio was always almost a Standard. It only lacked the binding on body and neck, and it had always trapezoid inlays. By the way: I LOVE LES PAUL STUDIOS! ;D

Studios are good stuff, just a little less cosmetics than their standard counterparts.

[OzDog]

Steel my good friend. I don't think the studio's have always had the trapezoid inlays. Here's what Gibson is saying about the 2004 studio's.

"Back by popular demand, this guitar is based on the extremely popular mid-1990s Les Paul Studio model, which featured full-sized trapezoid inlays, body and headstock. "

Also here's a link to a great looking 1985 Gibson studio Les Paul on Ebay cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38086&item=3718199562&rd=1

It's complete with dot inlays!!

Don't get me wrong. Personally I think there probably every bit as good as a standard. However, I was sure studios were made both ways. Infact, I think the Studio Plus was brought out with the trapezoid inlays.

Oz Dog

[Steelpriest]

DOH! Obviously we all have to learn sometimes... Well, I see... there must have been Studios with dot inlays before. But personally I prefer trapezoid ones... A pal of mine owns a mid 80s Gibson Les Paul Studio Special Edition which is slightly thinner than a normal Les Paul and is amazing light weighted, I must have a closer look again at his guitar next time we meet, maybe it has actually dot inlays as well then... I guess the eyes only see what they want to see...

[OzDog]

I guess my age is showing. ;D Only because I worked at a guitar store when I was younger (much younger) I had the chance to see many guitars come and go. I could have sworn that I'd seen studios with dot inlays.

By the way, did you get a good look at the one on Ebay? That looks like it could be a really nice guitar. I do like color. Makes you wonder is a used Gibson would be better than a new Epi Elite.

Keep Rockin,

Oz Dog