Gibson Guitars: Les Paul, SG, ES-335, J-45 & Hummingbird
Gibson is the Nashville maker behind the Les Paul (1952), SG and ES-335 - the other half of the classic American guitar story alongside Fender. These are premium USA instruments: every price below is the regular price shown on gibson.com on 2026-10-17, and our cards say so. Editorial guide from manufacturer specs - not hands-on testing.
Les Paul Standard 50s vs 60s - the neck is the difference
Both are $2,799 figured/Goldtop Standards with carved maple caps and hardshell cases. The 50s has a fuller, rounded Vintage 50s neck and Burstbucker 1/2 pickups (slightly lower output, warmer). The 60s has a slimmer SlimTaper neck (faster feel, closer to modern Fender/Yamaha profiles) and 60s Burstbuckers. Try both if you can - neck shape is personal, and at this price it should fit perfectly.
Les Paul Studio - the attainable Gibson ($1,599)
Ultra Modern weight relief, plain maple cap, Burstbucker Pros with coil tapping, no figured top or body binding. You give up looks and some heft, not the core Les Paul circuit or USA build. This is Gibson's Step-up tier in our data.
SG Standard ($1,799)
Thin all-mahogany double-cut, 490R/490T pickups, the lightest core Gibson electric and the cheapest way into the USA Original range here. Superb upper-fret access; watch neck-dive with a slick strap.
ES-335 ($3,499)
Semi-hollow laminated maple body with a solid maple center block and f-holes: hollow warmth and air with solid-body feedback control. Calibrated T-Type humbuckers. The blues/jazz/rock all-rounder - and the biggest body here, so check comfort seated.
J-45 ($3,199) & Hummingbird ($3,999) acoustics
The J-45 is Gibson's slope-shoulder dreadnought - dry, warm, songwriter-friendly. The Hummingbird is the square-shoulder flagship with the famous pickguard - fuller and sweeter for strumming. Both are Serious-tier lifetime acoustics; budget for a humidifier (see tools & care) and a proper setup.
Illustration - AI-generated, not a photo of the exact product.
Step-upGibson Les Paul Studio
The attainable Gibson Les Paul - core tone and USA build without Standard binding/figured top
$1,599
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com Les Paul Studio page (regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Ultra Modern weight-relieved mahogany bodyplain maple capSlimTaper neckBurstbucker Pro pickups with coil tapping
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Illustration - AI-generated, not a photo of the exact product.
SeriousGibson SG Standard
The lightest, most affordable way into a core Gibson USA electric
$1,799
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com product page (regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Mahogany bodyrounded mahogany neckbound rosewood board490R/490T pickupssoft shell case
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SeriousGibson Les Paul Standard 50s
Players who prefer a fuller, rounder 50s neck and lower-output Burstbucker voice
$2,799
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com product page (Goldtop, regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Rounded 50s Vintage mahogany neckBurstbucker 1 and 2 pickupscarved maple topnon-weight-relieved mahogany bodyhardshell case
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Illustration - AI-generated, not a photo of the exact product.
SeriousGibson Les Paul Standard 60s
Players who want the faster, slimmer 60s neck profile on the flagship Les Paul
$2,799
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com product page (figured top, regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
SlimTaper mahogany neck60s Burstbucker pickupsAA figured maple topnon-weight-relieved mahogany bodyhardshell case
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Gibson affiliate link not yet active - approval pending, not a live offer (placeholder): https://example.com/TODO-gibson-lp60
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SeriousGibson ES-335
Blues, jazz and rock players wanting semi-hollow warmth with feedback control
$3,499
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com product page (regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Semi-hollow maple/poplar/maple body with maple center blockRounded C neckCalibrated T-Type humbuckershardshell case
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SeriousGibson J-45 Standard
The classic Gibson slope-shoulder workhorse for strumming and songwriting
$3,199
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com J-45 page (J-45 Standard with HiFi DNA, regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Slope-shoulder dreadnoughtSitka spruce topmahogany back and sidesGibson hardshell case (per Gibson J-45 listings)
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SeriousGibson Hummingbird Standard
Gibson's flagship square-shoulder acoustic for full, sweet strumming
$3,999
Manufacturer/retailer list price (not an Amazon price): Gibson.com Hummingbird page (Hummingbird Standard, regular price) - checked 2026-10-17. Confirm before buying.
Square-shoulder dreadnoughtSitka spruce topmahogany back and sidesHummingbird pickguard graphicselectronics on current Standard listingshardshell case
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Epiphone is Gibson's own import brand, and our Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s card (see electric guitars) covers the same silhouette for a fraction of a Gibson Standard's price. Neither is a fake of the other - they are different price tiers from the same company.
| Gibson (this page) | Epiphone (our existing cards) |
|---|
| Where made / positioning | USA (Nashville), Gibson's flagship line | Import line owned by Gibson, built to Gibson designs |
| Les Paul Standard-class price (verified 2026-10-17) | $2,799 (Gibson.com) | See the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s card on our electric page for its verified price |
| Finish | Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer (see the nitro stand warning) | Typically polyurethane - more stand-tolerant, less vintage-feeling |
| Who should buy | You want the USA original, nitro finish, and long-term resale, and the budget is genuinely there | You want the Les Paul/SG shape and 90% of the playing experience for far less - the sensible step for most students |
Prices checked on gibson.com 2026-10-17. As an Amazon Associate, FretCompare earns from qualifying purchases; Gibson cards here link to Gibson.com because we have no confident exact-model Amazon match recorded - no guessed ASINs.
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