Les Paul Standard vs Traditional
Understanding the differences between the Les Paul Standard and Traditional guitars is beneficial for anyone who dreams of owning their own guitar. Choosing the right musical instrument often comes down to two main factors: the manufacturer and the model. Les Paul, manufactured by Gibson, is one of the best guitars globally, offering a wide variety of models and signature models since 1952. This article will discuss the differences between the Les Paul Standard and Traditional models.
Key Takeaways
- Les Paul Standard is an original model introduced in 1958, while the Traditional model is an updated version of the Standard.
- Les Paul Standard has a double cutaway body, while the Traditional has a cream body.
- Les Paul Standard has BurstBucket pickups, whereas the Traditional has ’57 classic pickups.
What is Les Paul Standard?
According to Gibson.com, the Les Paul Standard has always been the cornerstone of the Gibson USA lineup. It holds a prestigious position at the center of the 2013 Year of Les Paul celebrations. Les Paul Standard was first introduced in 1958 and has consistently been updated since then. It was developed from the ‘Goldtop’ in 1957, with the first Les Paul Standard model lasting from 1958 to 1960. Production of the Les Paul Standard was halted in 1961 and resumed in 1968, continuing to the present. The 2013 Les Paul Standard model is the most versatile product, featuring a SlimTaper™ neck profile, rosewood fingerboard, and an elegant body made of Grade AA-maple top/Grade-AAA Premium or Premium Quilted top.
What is Les Paul Traditional?
Les Paul Traditional is another update of Les Paul guitars, first introduced in 2008 and revamped in 2013. It is also known as the Les Paul Standard Traditional. Features of the Les Paul Traditional include a maple and mahogany wood body, Kluson styles tuners, 57 classic pickups, and a Grade A rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets. The guitar also has traditional touches, such as cream body and fingerboard binding, pickguard, and pickup rings, along with gold Speed Knobs with dial pointers.
What is the difference between Les Paul Standard and Traditional?
While the Les Paul Standard and Traditional guitars have many similarities, there are a few notable differences:
- Les Paul Standard is an original model introduced in 1958, while Les Paul Traditional is an updated version of the Standard.
- Les Paul Standard has a double cutaway body, while Les Paul Traditional has a cream body.
- Les Paul Standard has BurstBucket pickups, whereas Les Paul Traditional has ’57 classic pickups.
Overall, both Les Paul Standard and Traditional guitars are highly sought-after models by guitar enthusiasts worldwide.
Photos By: Martin Hesketh (CC BY 2.0), irish10567 (CC BY 2.0)
