Gibson Les Paul Studio Session Honey Burst
The Next Chapter In A Guitar Legend
There are great guitars. There are iconic guitars.
And then there is the Gibson Les Paul.
Few instruments have shaped popular music quite so profoundly. For more than seventy years, the Les Paul has been the weapon of choice for everyone from blues pioneers and classic rock legends to modern recording artists and arena-filling superstars. It is a guitar whose silhouette is instantly recognisable, whose sound is woven into the fabric of countless recordings, and whose influence continues to resonate across generations of musicians.
Now Gibson has unveiled the Les Paul Studio Session in Honey Burst, a guitar that honours everything players love about the Les Paul while embracing the versatility, comfort and performance demanded by modern musicians.
And we're delighted to announce that it's arriving soon at Musicmaker.
The Guitar That Changed Everything
The story begins in 1952.
Working alongside legendary guitarist, inventor and recording pioneer Les Paul, Gibson introduced a revolutionary new solid-body electric guitar. At a time when electric guitars were still finding their identity, the Les Paul offered sustain, warmth and power unlike anything musicians had experienced before.
Over the following decade, the guitar evolved rapidly. The famous Goldtops gave way to the now-legendary Sunburst models. In 1957, Gibson introduced the revolutionary PAF humbucker pickup, a design that would become one of the most influential developments in electric guitar history.
The late-1950s Les Paul Standards, particularly those produced between 1958 and 1960, have since become some of the most desirable and valuable guitars ever built. Reverently referred to as "Bursts," these instruments continue to command extraordinary prices and inspire guitar builders around the world.
Yet what truly cemented the Les Paul's place in history wasn't rarity.
It was music.
The Players Who Built The Myth
The Les Paul has never belonged to a single genre. Instead, it has repeatedly found its way into the hands of players who changed music itself.
Eric Clapton helped establish the sound of British blues through a Les Paul plugged into a cranked Marshall amplifier.
Jimmy Page used a Les Paul to create some of the most influential guitar riffs ever recorded with Led Zeppelin.
Gary Moore coaxed astonishing emotion from his famous Les Paul, producing lead tones that remain benchmarks for blues and rock guitarists.
Slash transformed the Les Paul into a symbol of modern rock stardom, making the silhouette synonymous with soaring solos and stadium-sized riffs.
Joe Bonamassa has spent decades celebrating the instrument's history while introducing new generations of players to its magic.
The common thread isn't style. It's expression.
The Les Paul has always excelled at helping players sound unmistakably like themselves.
Enter The Studio Session
The challenge facing Gibson today is an interesting one.
How do you build a Les Paul for modern musicians without losing the qualities that made generations of players fall in love with it in the first place?
The answer is the Les Paul Studio Session.
Rather than reinventing the formula, Gibson has refined it.
Thoughtfully. Intelligently.
And, perhaps most importantly, in ways that working musicians will genuinely appreciate.
Honey Burst Done Right
Let's address the obvious. This guitar is stunning.
Finished in a rich Honey Burst gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, the Studio Session immediately elevates the traditional Studio formula. The beautifully figured AA maple cap provides visual sophistication while preserving the timeless aesthetic that has defined Les Pauls for decades.
It feels premium, It looks expensive, And under stage lighting it absolutely comes alive.
The finish strikes a wonderful balance between vintage elegance and modern refinement, ensuring this is a guitar that will look every bit as impressive twenty years from now as it does today.
Built For Players, Not Display Cases
Every guitarist loves the sound of a Les Paul. Not every guitarist loves carrying one through a three-hour rehearsal. Thankfully, Gibson has been paying attention.
The Studio Session features an Ultra Modern weight-relieved mahogany body, reducing overall weight while retaining the warmth, sustain and midrange punch that players expect from a Gibson Les Paul. The mahogany neck features Gibson's hugely popular SlimTaper profile, delivering fast, comfortable playability across the entire fingerboard. Meanwhile, the addition of a Modern Contoured Heel dramatically improves upper-fret access, making lead playing and technical passages feel effortless.
The bound ebony fingerboard further enhances the premium experience, offering smooth playability alongside classic Gibson styling through its elegant acrylic trapezoid inlays.
This is a Les Paul built for long sessions.
Which is fitting, given the name.
The Sound Of The Golden Era
A Les Paul can (and should) have the most beautiful finish in the world.
If the pickups aren't right, none of it matters. Thankfully, Gibson got this bit absolutely perfect.
The Studio Session features a '57 Classic humbucker in the neck position and a '57 Classic Plus humbucker in the bridge.
These pickups draw direct inspiration from Gibson's legendary late-1950s PAF humbuckers, delivering the warmth, richness and harmonic complexity that have made vintage Les Pauls so revered. Clean tones are full and articulate. Blues tones bloom beautifully and classic rock riffs punch with authority. Lead sounds sing with that unmistakable Gibson sustain.
Whether you're playing blues, rock, country, indie, alternative music or modern gain-driven styles, the Studio Session feels instantly comfortable.
It's everything players hope a Les Paul will be.
More Versatile Than Ever
Traditionally, versatility wasn't the first word that came to mind when discussing a Les Paul. The Studio Session changes that.
Individual push/pull volume controls provide coil-splitting, unlocking brighter single-coil-inspired tones that dramatically expand the guitar's sonic range.
Meanwhile, the tone controls offer phase switching alongside Gibson's clever Pure Bypass feature. Pure Bypass routes the bridge pickup directly to the output jack, creating the shortest possible signal path and delivering maximum output when you need it most.
The result is a guitar capable of covering an enormous amount of musical territory.
From vintage blues to modern rock. From recording sessions to live performances. From subtle textures to full-throttle power.
The Studio Session handles it all.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Early reactions from reviewers have been overwhelmingly positive.
Guitar.com praised the Studio Session's thoughtful upgrades and expanded tonal flexibility, describing it as a Studio model that finally bridges the gap between traditional Les Paul heritage and modern player expectations.
Guitar Interactive highlighted the guitar's combination of comfort, premium appointments and impressive versatility, praising both the SlimTaper neck profile and the upgraded electronics package.
Meanwhile, GearNews singled out the Studio Session's extensive feature set, suggesting that Gibson has created one of the most adaptable Les Paul variants currently available.
Even publications traditionally focused on premium Gibson models have recognised the Studio Session as something special—a guitar that manages to modernise the Les Paul formula without compromising its identity.
And honestly?
That's probably the highest compliment any Les Paul can receive.
Why This Les Paul Matters
The Studio Session isn't trying to replace the vintage Les Pauls of the past. It isn't trying to become something radically different.
Instead, it asks a simple question:
What would happen if Gibson built a Les Paul specifically for the way musicians play today?
The answer is a guitar that feels familiar and exciting in equal measure. A guitar that respects its history while embracing the future.
A guitar that works as hard as the people who play it.
Coming Soon To Musicmaker
The Gibson Les Paul Studio Session Honey Burst is one of the most exciting Gibson electric guitars to arrive in recent years.
Combining classic Les Paul tone, modern playability, premium appointments and exceptional versatility, it represents everything many players have been asking Gibson to build.
Whether you're searching for a Gibson Les Paul in Ireland, a professional electric guitar for recording, a versatile Les Paul Studio model, a Honey Burst Les Paul, or simply one of the finest Gibson USA guitars currently available, this instrument deserves a very close look.
At Musicmaker Dublin, we have a feeling this one won't be hanging on the wall for long.
Free Shipping Across Ireland
Musicmaker offers free shipping throughout Ireland on qualifying orders, making it easier than ever to get your hands on your next Gibson electric guitar.
Whether you're in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal or anywhere in between, we'll make sure your new Les Paul arrives safely and ready to inspire.
The Les Paul Grows Up
The genius of the Gibson Les Paul Studio Session lies in its balance.
Everything that made the Les Paul legendary remains intact: the sustain, the authority, the warmth, the unmistakable voice and the inspiring feel that have captivated guitarists for generations.
The difference is that Gibson has refined the formula for modern players.
Better comfort. Greater versatility. Expanded tonal options. Improved playability.
All while remaining unmistakably, gloriously, unapologetically Les Paul.
The legend continues.
