Gibson LP Studio, wine red, made in USA 2001. The LP Studio is a classic of the 'working player' genre; you get most of the good stuff from a high end LP but stripped of the fancy extras that take the price to eye watering heights. Gibson changed the formula significantly on the model in 2002 (not for the better), but these earlier examples like this are very good guitars made with a lot of love and care. The top is a nice thick piece of maple with some really pretty grain features; there's some concentric circles, classic flaming and long waved lines. It's a very visually appealing guitar; the zebra pickups really make the top pop. Speaking of pickups: if you were gonna level one criticism of this era of Studios, not loving the 490R/T stock pickups would probably be fair. These Duncan pickups, however, are superb. There's a lovely openness through the midrange and a tasty top end chime to balance out the thick, juicy bass... it's a vast improvement on the stock pickups and really gets the best out of the wood. The pink lined brown tolex case is a gaudy bonus too! Heaps of LP: all killer, no filler.

Model: Gibson Les Paul Studio
Made: 2001, USA (serial 00261322)
Finish: wine red, gloss nitro
Body: maple top, chambered mahogany body
Neck: mahogany with rosewood board, 59 profile
Weight: 3.870kg 
Mods: pickups replaced
Pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-1b '59 Model (bridge), SH-5 Duncan Custom (neck)
Case: Gibson deluxe brown hard case, pink lining

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has some scuffs on the end and back and some edge wear and scuffs on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has widespread scratches and scuffs, no major marks but lots of smaller ones. The sides have a good dose of dimples and scuffs all the way around the body. The front has a couple of chips near the rear strap pin, near the knobs, on the bottom horn and in the elbow area, as well as a decent scratch around the back edge and widespread dimples and scuffs. Overall: good condition (7/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets have some normal wear, nothing too nasty and heaps of height left; 7/10 for fret life left. No headstock breaks! Setup with fresh 10/  52 Moonshiners strings.