New finishes, updated electronics and Standard-inspired finishes head up the latest edition of Gibson's $1.6k no-frills workhorse Les Paul

A lighter body, plain maple cap, updated electronics, and new finishes give the affordable LP a new lease on life

For years, the Les Paul Studio has been the choice of countless guitarists who appreciate the combination of the essential Les Paul features–humbucking pickups, a glued-in, set neck, and a mahogany body with a maple cap–at an accessible price and without some of the flashier and more costly cosmetic features of higher-end Les Paul models.