Which Gibson Les Paul is right for you in 2025? What are the different types of Gibson Les Paul guitars? Read our complete Gibson Les Paul comparison and buyer’s guide
The Gibson Les Paul™ Standard’s single-cutaway body shape, carved maple top, and set-neck construction are absolutely iconic, and since 1952, the Les Paul has been one of the most influential and most heard electric guitars of all time. It has helped define the sound of modern music, and generations of artists across every genre have used this guitar to shape their sound, often becoming synonymous with the Les Paul along the way. For example, can you think of Slash without a Les Paul? Or Jimmy Page? Or Adam Jones without his Silverburst Les Paul Custom?
Now, you’re here because you know you want a Gibson Les Paul, but you’re not quite sure which is the best Gibson Les Paul for you, or whether to choose from a Standard, Custom, Deluxe, Modern, Studio, or even a Junior. In this article, I’ll compare all the different types of Gibson Les Paul models and the various collections so you can choose the best Les Paul for you.
We’ve already compared every Epiphone Les Paul, and we’ve even compared the Gibson Les Paul to the Gibson SG™, but if you’re here, the chances are you’ve already decided that this is the body shape for you. Whether it’s the P-90 punch of the Junior, the bite and thump of the Custom, or the timeless feel of the Standard, there’s a Les Paul for every kind of player that will match the sound, feel, and playing style you’re looking for.
What was the first Gibson Les Paul?
First introduced in collaboration with legendary artist Les Paul in 1952, the Gibson Les Paul™ electric guitar has a long and rich history of shaping sound. The Les Paul initially launched in a Gold finish with two P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece. Over time, the Les Paul underwent numerous iterations and versions—not least the fabled sunburst Les Paul Standard models produced between 1958 and 1960—and has remained a coveted staple of just about every genre of music.
Side note: If you’re new to Les Pauls and don’t understand what all the fuss is about, here’s why you should care: read A love-letter to the Gibson Les Paul, by Gibson Editor-In-Chief Chris Vinnicombe, which will give you more backstory on this iconic guitar.
What are the different types of Gibson Les Paul models?
The different types of Gibson Les Paul models include the Standard, Custom, Deluxe, Special, Junior, and Studio. Each model varies in tone and features. The Standard is iconic for its carved maple top, mahogany back, and impressive sustain, the Custom features the “tuxedo” treatment with more complex binding and ornate inlay work, the Deluxe has mini humbuckers, the Special and Junior are stripped-down versions designed originally for students, with P-90 pickups, and the Studio was originally conceived as a stripped-back version of the Les Paul Standard, which omitted binding and used simpler dot inlays. Let’s look more closely at the different types of Gibson Les Paul guitars.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in Tobacco Burst
Les Paul Standard
The Gibson Les Paul Standard is the quintessential Les Paul, with its iconic mahogany body, a carved maple top, dual humbucker™ pickups, and set neck. For the player looking for the truest and most authentic Les Paul experience, the Standard is the model to get. Everything about today’s Les Paul Standard aims to create the same playing experience and sound of the Les Pauls from the Gibson golden era.
The first Gibson Les Paul Standard to feature the iconic Cherry Sunburst finish was introduced in 1958. While the Les Paul model was initially released in 1952 with P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece, the 1957 Goldtop, with its humbucking pickups and Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, was a precursor to the Standard as we know it today. The Sunburst finish was a major design change for the Les Paul, and the Les Paul Standards produced between 1958 and 1960—nicknamed Bursts—are widely regarded as the greatest solidbody electric guitars ever made.
Les Paul Custom
Gibson introduced the Les Paul Custom in 1954 as the top-of-the-line Les Paul model, complete with multi-ply binding, gold hardware, and a sleek black finish that led to its nickname, “Black Beauty.” Early models combined a P-90 bridge pickup with an Alnico V “staple” neck pickup, which set it apart from the twin P-90 Les Paul Goldtop of the time. By 1957, the model evolved to include a distinctive three-pickup configuration later used by both Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.
Pictured: Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue in Ebony
Les Paul Deluxe
Originally introduced in 1969, the Les Paul Deluxe is distinctive thanks to its mini humbucker pickups. These pickups retain the hum-free performance of full-size humbuckers but offer a tighter low end, brighter highs, and more defined attack – it’s a much more strident voice than a full-size humbucker and one that became popular with 1970s rock guitarists looking to cut through a twin-guitar mix.
The Deluxe retained the carved maple top and mahogany body but introduced the so-called “pancake” construction (two mahogany layers with a maple layer inserted between them) and later adopted maple necks. Today, the Les Paul Deluxe is built more conventionally with a solid, non-weight-relieved mahogany back, but its aesthetics and tone still pay tribute to the original Les Paul Deluxe of the 70s.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe in Wine Red
Les Paul Junior
Introduced in 1954, the Les Paul Junior was a simpler, stripped-down model with a slab body, wraparound bridge, and single P-90 pickup, originally marketed to students. Only later did big-name players get hip to the versatile array of tones and appealing raunch the single pickup delivers. It has its own unique fanbase, especially with the blues and punk community, thanks to its no-nonsense simplicity.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Junior in Vintage Tobacco Burst
Les Paul Special
Launched in 1955, the Les Paul Special added a second P-90 pickup with additional volume and tone and controls to the stripped-back Junior formula, giving players the same controls as a Standard. Again, you get a slab mahogany body and set neck, but this time the fingerboard is bound, and you get a set of raw, dynamic tones with more versatility than a Junior thanks to the extra pickup. The Les Paul Special bridges the gap between the Junior and the Standard but is an extremely cool instrument in its own right, with a personality all of its own.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Special in TV Yellow
Les Paul Studio
The Studio was introduced in 1983 to offer the classic Les Paul Standard tone and experience at a more accessible price, without frills. It typically features a carved maple top and mahogany body, but omits the body binding. The model became a favorite with pro players and has continuously evolved to include features like weight relief, phase switching, and push/pull coil splits. In recent years, the Gibson Les Paul Studio lineup has expanded to include the Studio and Studio Session.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Studio in Cherry Sunburst
Les Paul Modern
The Les Paul Modern is a guitar designed for advanced playability, featuring Ultra Modern weight relief, a contoured heel, and Burstbucker™ Pro pickups with Alnico 5 magnets. It offers lighter weight, better upper-fret access, locking tuners, and push/pull pots, combining modern upgrades with classic Les Paul tone.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Modern Koa in Natural
Les Paul Supreme
The Gibson USA Les Paul Supreme guitars features a AAA-figured maple top, mahogany body with Ultra Modern weight relief, and a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It includes Burstbucker Pro pickups with push/pull coil tap, phase, and Pure Bypass switching. The 1940s-inspired headstock inlay and compound radius neck with Modern Contoured Heel offer both style and playability. They are some of the best Les Paul Guitars for modern players who need multiple tonal options at their disposal.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Supreme in Fireburst
Les Paul Modern Lite
The Les Paul Modern Lite embodies the classic style of the Les Paul™ but with a new, thinner all-mahogany body that is both lighter and well-balanced. The body also features a belly cut on the rear for additional playing comfort. The mahogany neck features a rosewood fretboard and fast-playing SlimTaper™ profile. The Les Paul Modern Lite is powered by open-coil 490R and 498T humbucker™ pickups, which provide a wide range of sonic capabilities that are perfect for any style of music.
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Modern Lite in TV Pelham Blue
What about artist signature Les Pauls?
Over the years, Gibson and Gibson Custom have produced many signature Les Paul models in the Artist Collection, including guitars created in collaboration with such legends as Slash, Kirk Hammett, and Adam Jones. Recent highlights include the beautiful Jeff Beck “YardBurst” 1959 Les Paul Standard, and Jason Isbell’s 1959 Les Paul, “Red Eye.” Epiphone also offers a range of artist models, including Les Pauls for Alex Lifeson and Adam Jones.
Pictured: Gibson Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard in Greeny Burst
What’s the deal with Gibson Les Paul collections?
Gibson Les Paul guitars appear in various Gibson electric guitar collections: the Original Collection, Modern Collection, Artist Collection, Gibson Custom Collections, Gibson Custom Select, and the Mod™ Collection. Each offers distinct features, from vintage or modern specs to artist signatures, experimental builds and premium custom finishes.
Les Pauls in the Original Collection
Think of the Gibson Original Collection as faithful tributes to the guitars of the Golden Era and beyond, and a “greatest hits playlist” of Gibson classics, because that’s what they are. Les Paul guitars in the Original Collection recreate the specifications and feel of iconic Les Paul models, including the likes of the 1950s and 60s Les Paul guitars. Whether you prefer the rounded 50s neck profile or the 60s SlimTaper™ profile, the Les Paul Original Collection delivers vintage-inspired craftsmanship and tone, with appointments such as non-weight-relieved bodies, Burstbucker pickups, Orange Drop® capacitors, and finishes that pay tribute to the instruments they were inspired by.
Les Pauls in the Modern Collection
The Gibson Modern Collection takes the classic Les Paul guitar and makes a few updates for today’s player who prefers a more modern feel. You’ll find appointments like Ultra Modern weight relief, contoured neck heels for upper fret access, and innovations like Burstbucker™ Pro pickups with coil-splitting and phase switching on some models. These guitars are cutting-edge electrics with advanced contemporary features such as lightweight bodies, asymmetrical neck shapes, and much more.
Les Pauls in the Artist Collection
Created in collaboration with some of the world’s most famous guitarists and influencers—including Slash, Kirk Hammett, Adam Jones, and Rick Beato—the aforementioned Gibson Artist Collection brings artist-approved specs to life on your guitar so you can get closer than ever to the guitar tones of your heroes. These guitars feature unique finishes, custom pickups, and personal touches that reflect the artist’s sound and style.
Gibson Custom Les Pauls
The pinnacle of Gibson craftsmanship, Gibson Custom Collection models are split into Historic, Modern, Murphy Lab, Artist, and Master Artisan Collections, but for simplicity we’ll deal with them all here. The pinnacle of Gibson electric guitar-making, the Gibson Custom Shop team in Nashville uses only the finest components and materials to create the most desirable instruments on the planet—whether that’s a period-correct vintage Les Paul reissue from the Historic Collection or your dream bespoke Les Paul via the Made to Measure program.
Murphy Lab Les Pauls are part of the Gibson Custom lineup too. They undergo meticulous aging processes to emulate the look and feel of vintage instruments. From light wear and lacquer checking to models that look like they have been absolutely hammered on the road, several levels of aging are available.
Gibson Custom Select Les Pauls
The Gibson Custom Select collection is made up of small-batch instruments, designed and built by the expert artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop to deliver interesting pickup, hardware, and finish combinations that you might not expect from your “usual” Les Paul. With regular new drops, the Custom Select new arrivals page is worth bookmarking if you want to play something different, with guaranteed Gibson Custom craftsmanship and quality.
Gibson Mod Collection Les Pauls
Break the mold with our one-of-a-kind, customized guitars from the Gibson Mod Collection. All Gibson guitars go through rigorous QC, but every once in a while, a guitar with outstanding playability and tone doesn’t quite meet the strict cosmetic standards at our craftories. Now, as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, these instruments are sent to the Mod Collection team to use as a blank canvas—and let their imaginations run riot. With a fresh batch of Gibson Mod Collection guitars dropping every week, act fast to get your hands on these one-of-a-kind guitars with unique hardware and electronics customizations, and the wildest finishes in Music City.
Now, let’s look a little closer at some of my favorite Les Pauls from each collection. Click the pictures of the guitars to find out more and shop now.
Gibson Original Collection:
In my opinion, the four stand-out options are the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s, the Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s, and the Gibson Les Paul Junior, all of which are absolute classic models and iconic Gibson guitars.
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
- Non-weight-relieved mahogany body with carved maple cap
- Mahogany neck with 50s Vintage profile
- Burstbucker 1 (neck) and Burstbucker 2 (bridge) pickups with Alnico 2 magnets
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe
- Non-weight-relieved mahogany body with bound maple top
- Mini Humbucker pickups for clear, bright tone
- Hand-wired electronics with Orange Drop capacitors
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
- Non-weight-relieved mahogany body with carved maple cap
- Mahogany neck with a 60s SlimTaper profile
- 60s Burstbucker pickups
Gibson Les Paul Junior
- Mahogany neck with fat 50s Vintage profile
- Single Dogear P-90 pickup
- Wraparound bridge for solid intonation and sustain
Gibson Modern Collection:
Stand-out options in the Modern Collection are Gibson Les Paul Studio Session and the Gibson Les Paul Studio Figured Top, both of which feature weight relief and push/pull coil tap functionality.
Gibson Les Paul Studio Session
- Ultra Modern weight relieved mahogany body with AA figured maple cap
- ’57 Classic (neck) and ’57 Classic Plus (bridge) humbuckers
- Push/pull coil tap volume knobs, phase switching, and pure bypass tone controls
Gibson Les Paul Studio Figured Top
- Ultra Modern weight relief mahogany body with AA figured maple cap
- Burstbucker Pro (neck) and Pro+ (bridge) pickups
- Push/pull coil tap volume knobs
Gibson & Gibson Custom Artist Collection:
It’s hard to choose standout options from the Gibson Artist Collection as there are so many great artists who have signature models with us, but for now, I love the Gibson Custom Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom and the Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard.
Gibson Custom Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom
- Murphy Lab aged finish with aged gold hardware
- Three Gibson Custombucker pickups
- Includes Duck Brothers-inspired case, case candy, and a second pickguard signed by Eric Clapton and Albert Lee
Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard
- ES-295-style floral pickguard and matching armrest
- SlimTaper mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard
- Burstbucker pickups
Gibson Custom Collection
The Gibson Custom Collection features an array of incredible guitars, but my favorites are the Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue and the Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue. Both of which are like owning a guitar from the exact period from which they were inspired. It’s like going back in time and grabbing one from a store in 1968 or 1959.
Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue
- Mahogany back with maple top for added clarity and bite
- Two humbucking pickups for increased picking clearance compared to three-pickup Les Paul Custom models
- Meticulously recreated historical specs by Gibson Custom
Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue
- Laser-scanned, historically accurate body and neck dimensions
- Color-matched sunburst finish
- Chemically recreated plastics and period-correct materials
Gibson Custom Murphy Lab Collection
Standout options from this collection are the Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Ultra Heavy Aged and the Gibson 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul.
Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Ultra Heavy Aged
- Ultra Heavy Aged Kindred Burst finish with heavily aged hardware
- Mahogany neck with an authentic ’59 Medium C profile and Indian rosewood fretboard
- Dual Custombucker pickups with hand-wired electronics and Bumblebee capacitors
Gibson 1955 NAMM Show Commemorative Edition Les Paul
- Muphy Lab Light Aged Samoa Beige finish with lightly aged hardware
- Lightweight one-piece mahogany body and a hide-glue-fitted, two-piece plain maple cap
- Custom Shop Soapbar P-90 pickups
Gibson Custom Select Collection
Two standout guitars from the Gibson Custom Select Collection, both of which are featured in the video below, are the Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue and the Gibson Les Paul Custom with F-Holes.
Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue
- Hand-mixed Jade Green finish exclusive to this model
- Custombucker pickups
- 1968 Les Paul neck profile
Gibson Les Paul Custom with F-Holes
- Maple top with f-holes
- 490R and 498T pickups
- Champagne Sparkle finish with contrast sides
Gibson Mod Collection
It’s difficult to choose the standout models in the Gibson Mod Collection as they fly out the door so quickly. But the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s in Brainwreck and Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in Arrow Nouveau are incredible one-of-one Gibson guitars. Be quick, there’s no guarantee that these are still available at the time you’re reading this article!
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s in Brainwreck
- Custom “Brainwreck” Mod Collection-exclusive splatter finish
- Zebra-coil Custom Burstbucker Alnico 2 (neck) and calibrated T-Type (bridge) pickups
- Wired ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and black Witch Hat knobs with silver inserts
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in Arrow Nouveau
- Mod Collection-exclusive “Arrow Nouveau” custom finish
- Matching Highlighter Yellow metallic color over the headstock face and Gibson inlay
- Burstbucker 1 (neck) and 2 (bridge) pickups
Which Gibson Les Paul is best for you?
If you’re still asking yourself “Which Gibson Les Paul should I buy?” or you’re deep in your own Gibson Les Paul comparison research, there’s no right or wrong answer. All of them have their own key qualities, and all are world-class musical instruments. Every Gibson Les Paul in all of our collections brings something different to the table, from the vintage specs of the Original Collection to the artist-approved features of the Artist Collection, the high-performance updates of the Modern Collection, and the elite craftsmanship of the Gibson Custom and Custom Select models. Want something one-of-a-kind? The Gibson Mod Collection and Made to Measure program allow you to break the mold entirely and get a Les Paul that no one else has ever seen!
Whether you’re after the classic sound of a Standard, the sleek comfort of a Modern, the stripped-down grit of a Junior, or a Gibson Custom heirloom built to last a lifetime, there’s a Les Paul built to match your tone, playing style, and personality. This Gibson Les Paul comparison and buyer’s guide is here to help you make your buying decision with confidence. Whatever path you take, you’re not just choosing a guitar, you’re investing in a musical instrument built to last many lifetimes.
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Curious if another Gibson guitar model is for you? Click through if you want to know the differences between the Gibson Les Paul vs Gibson SG and read our complete comparison and guide.
