Gibson Les Paul Studio Session 2025 - Bourbon Burst

SHIPPING NOTICE: I'm away from 9/5 – 9/13. Orders placed after 9/4 will ship on 9/13 as soon as I'm back. Your guitar will be packed with the same care as always — I'll still be answering messages while I'm out. Thanks for understanding!

This is one of those Les Pauls where the name “Studio” undersells what the guitar actually is. The Studio Session takes the basic idea of a lighter, stripped-back Les Paul and adds a figured maple top, bound ebony fretboard, SlimTaper neck, modern heel carve and a much more flexible electronics package. This particular Bourbon Burst also has a really nice top—the flame is subtle in some areas and much stronger in others, which gives it a more natural, old-school look than a perfectly uniform piece of maple.

The biggest thing for me, though, is how easy this guitar is to play. It is genuinely one of the easiest-playing Les Pauls I currently own. The action is low, the neck feels quick without being paper-thin, and the modern contoured heel makes the upper register noticeably less restrictive than a traditional Les Paul joint. At only 7.72 pounds on my scale, the Ultra-Modern weight relief also makes it extremely comfortable without making the guitar feel insubstantial.

The bound ebony fretboard is another feature I really like on the Session. It gives the neck a slightly slicker, more immediate feel than the rosewood board you would normally associate with a Studio, and the frets are in excellent shape. The current setup is recent, intonation is spot on, and there is nothing I would change before sitting down and playing it.

The original ’57 Classic and ’57 Classic Plus pickups sound excellent in this one. They have that familiar warm Gibson character, but there is plenty of clarity and attack when you dig in. This model also gives you a surprising amount of control with push/pull functions for coil tapping, phase switching and Pure Bypass. It can still do the straightforward thick Les Paul thing, but there are a lot more usable sounds hiding in the controls than you would expect by looking at it. Everything electronically tested perfectly.

It has also been upgraded with Ratio locking tuners. I like that modification here because it is practical, reversible and makes string changes easier without changing the character of the guitar.

Condition is very good overall and would otherwise be closer to excellent. The body, back and fretboard are all extremely clean. The main thing worth mentioning is a small ding in the back of the neck, which I photographed closely. You can feel it if you deliberately run your thumb across that exact spot, but it did not bother me while actually playing. Outside of that, there is very little to call out.

What stood out to me:

• Bourbon Burst over a nicely figured AA maple top
• Extremely light at 7.72 pounds on my scale
• One of the easiest-playing Les Pauls I currently own
• Ultra-Modern weight-relieved mahogany body
• SlimTaper neck
• Modern contoured heel makes upper-fret access noticeably easier
• Bound ebony fretboard
• Effortless low action
• Recent setup
• Spot-on intonation
• Excellent fret condition
• Original ’57 Classic neck pickup
• Original ’57 Classic Plus bridge pickup
• Push/pull coil taps
• Push/pull phase switching
• Pure Bypass switching
• Electronics tested perfectly
• Upgraded Ratio locking tuners
• Small photographed ding in the back of the neck
• Otherwise exceptionally clean throughout
• Factory Gibson soft case
• Complete original case candy

What surprised me about this guitar is just how far removed it feels from the older idea of a Les Paul Studio being the cheaper, bare-bones version of a Standard. Between the ebony board, figured top, heel carve, lighter body and electronics, there are actually several things here that I prefer from a pure playability standpoint.

If your priority is having the Les Paul sound and feel without carrying a nine- or ten-pound guitar around, this one makes a lot of sense. At 7.72 pounds with this setup, I can sit with it for a long time without thinking about the guitar itself—which is usually a pretty good sign.

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure it’s in the exact condition I’d want to receive myself. These guitars come from me, not a shop—each one gets the kind of attention and care only a real guitar lover gives. Ships fast and insured.

⏳ Quick note
These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 1–5 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window!