![]() Tonally, these guitars do sound similar, with both being able to produce a vast array of tones. As the Les Paul is a single-cutaway guitar, the fret access is more limited, with most players needing to change their playing technique to reach notes above the 17th fret. This is actually a misconception, as the SG keeps the standard 24.75" scale length found on the other models – it's the placement of the neck that causes this feeling. This can lead the SG to feel a little off-kilter, as though the neck is way longer than a normal Gibson. Due to where the neck joins the body, the SG grants you access to all 22 frets with almost no obstructions. This results in a much lighter and nimble guitar.Īpart from weight, the next biggest difference is upper fret access. Conversely, the SG shaves down the mahogany body with strategic contours, bevels and cutaways. The Les Paul opts for a chunkier and flatter single-cutaway design, which is then topped with a piece of gorgeous flamed maple, giving the instrument its iconic look and infamous weight. Now, with these both being Gibson guitars, they actually share a lot of similar traits.Įach guitar features a mahogany body as its base. Okay, so let's finally get into the main points of difference between these two classic guitars, starting with the construction. Gibson SG vs Gibson Les Paul: Notable players The Les Paul, on the other hand, was reintroduced to the Gibson line-up in 1968 and continues to be one the most recognizable six-strings to ever exist. The SG is the only Gibson guitar to never be out of production since its debut and has become Gibson's most popular model by quite some margin. From this point on, this guitar would be known as the "SG" – which stands for solid guitar. That said, not everyone was a fan of Gibson's new poster child.ĭespite still bearing the Les Paul moniker, Les wasn't that enamored with this pointy new axe and the redesigned Les Paul would eventually get a name change in 1963. The guitar was a hit and Gibson now had a formidable foe to the Stratocaster, which had become exceptionally popular in recent years. In '61, Gibson made the radical decision to completely redesign the LP from the ground up, transforming their singlecut staple into the devil-horned double-cutaway guitar we now call the SG. ![]() Gibson would continue to rework and refine the Les Paul over the next few years, but unfortunately, the model just wasn't selling as well as they had hoped – something that's incomprehensible from our modern viewpoint. It wouldn't be until 1957 that the Les Paul would get its trademark humbucking pickups and Tune-O-Matic bridge and tailpiece. Still, this version featured a trapeze tailpiece instead of the familiar bridge we're used to and a pair of P-90 pickups. This early example still featured the mahogany body, maple cap and mahogany neck we'd expect. The first official Les Paul Model was unveiled in 1952 and is widely credited as a collaboration between three very influential people in the wide world of electric guitars – Gibson President Ted McCarty, Vice President John Huis, and, of course, Les Paul.ĭespite being released over 70 years ago, the original version of the Les Paul didn't look too dissimilar to the one we all know and love today.
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