Features of the Les Paul

• Despite the multitude of Les Paul models developed over the years, the typical features of the Les Paul are a single cutaway, a solid body with a mahogany back and a maple top, a rosewood fingerboard, a lacquer finish, 22 frets and two humbucker pickups, according to the Musician's Friend website.
  
  

History

• The current Les Paul Standard models hearken back to 1958 when Gibson introduced a sunburst paint finish to its Les Paul "gold top" model. Dubbed the "Les Paul," this model did not gain the title "Les Paul Standard" until 1960, according to the All About Guitars website. The company made only 1,700 of these guitars from 1958 to 1960. When Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck embraced the Les Paul Standard, it became popular. In 1976, Gibson re-issued the Les Paul Standard, and it is still in production today. In 1990, Gibson released the Les Paul Classic, a variation of the Standard, designed for a more modern rock sound but with an aged look favored by some players. The company discontinued the Classic in 2008.
  
  

Look

• Both the Standard and the Classic feature the Les Paul mahogany body and carved maple top. The Standard typically has a visibly higher grade flamed top beneath a lacquer finish. The Classic has a plain maple top. The Standard typically has a rosewood fingerboard with white inlays, binding and tuning keys. The Classic has greenish tinted inlays and tuning keys and an amber tinted binding intended to make the guitar look aged. Metal parts are shiny chrome on the Standard and matted nickel plating on the Classic. Both models are beautifully finished, high-quality guitars.
  
  

Playability

• For many years, the only neck available on the Standard was a rounder, fatter neck of the 1958 original. Rockers with modern fast solo styles may prefer the flatter and slimmer 1960's style Gibson neck found on the Classic. Gibson now offers the Standard with a choice of neck styles.
  
  

Tone

• The sound of the Standard is largely due to the specially wound humbucker pickups that were designed to reproduce the sound of the original alnico pickups, according to the Musicians Friend website. These pickups have the traditional Les Paul warm, low-end sound, perfect for classic rock. The Classic uses higher output--which translates to louder--ceramic pickups with more high end. It still sounds like a Les Paul, only more aggressive. It is a good idea to play these guitars before buying one, using your gear, to determine which model you prefer.
  
  

Cost

• Due to the short supply and high demand, a collector grade, original Les Paul Standard can cost several hundred thousand dollars. For most of the guitar buying public, a post-1976 Standard or Classic is the only choice. The retail price of a new Gibson Les Paul Standard ranges from approximately $2,000 to $4,000, as of 2010, depending upon various hardware and finish options. You can find a used discontinued Classic that costs approximately $1,000 to $2,500, as of 2010, depending on condition, finish and hardware options.