With Traditional and High Performance sections featuring fourteen models each, Gibson USA aims at both the classic Gibson lovers and modern guitarists.
Back in 2015, Gibson gambled with USA catalog and the results were mixed. Some loved the changes and modern approach to the classic Gibson solid-bodies but some were sorely disappointed, going so far as to call it the end of Gibson as we know it. The truth, however, lied somewhere in the middle, as it turned out with the emergence of 2016 catalog. It now seems that 2015 was an experimental year, a testing ground. As experience and feedback from 2015 models settled Gibson USA decided to reduce the number of models, as well as to offer each model in variants – Traditional and High Performance. The thing is, all 14 of these models have the same set of basic specs in both variants, and are then equipped with different hardware and electronics features. Traditionals come with historic neck heels, TekToid nuts, original neck width, vintage tuners, standard toggle switches, double-contact-point jacks, traditional grade wood selection, acrylic inlays and traditional hard shell cases. High Performance treatment includes: fast access heel, adjustable titanium zero-fret nut, soloist neck width (necks are a bit wider), improved G Force tuners, noiseless pickups switch, gold-plated multi-contact jack, dip switch with over 150 rewiring options on selected models, higher grade wood selection, genuine mother of pearl inlays and fortified aluminum case on selected models. Also, High Performance models cost $350 more than their Traditional counterparts.
Les Paul CM 2016 T and Les Paul CM 2016 HP are opening LP models in their respective sections of 2016 catalog. In a nutshell, CM is a simple, one-pickup guitar with a wrap-around bridge, all-mahogany body, set maple neck and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. Traditional variant features a 1.695” TekToid nut, 12” radius, vintage tuners and worn finish. It costs $699. HP costs $350 more and brings a zero-fret nut made of titanium, gold-plated jack, fast-access heel joint, wider neck (1.745”) and MOP inlays. For full specs and more info on Les Paul CM 2016 T and Les Paul CM 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul Studio Faded is the next step in 2016 LP lineup. It comes in two variants – Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 T and Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 HP. Wight-relieved mahogany body with a plain maple top, set mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard on top (22-frets, 12” radius, trapezoid inlays) and Burstbucker Pro pickups form the base. Traditional version costs $799 and brings a 1.695” TekToid nut, vintage tuners and `59 neck profile. HP comes in at $1,149, featuring G Force tuners, noiseless pickup switch, HP gig bag, wider neck, gold-plated jack, fast-access heel and titanium zero-fret nut. For full specs and more info on Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 T and Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul `50s Tribute 2016 T and Les Paul `50s Tribute 2016 HP models cost $899 and $1,249, respectively. Both have mahogany bodies modern weight relief and plain maple tops, set mahogany necks with 22-fret rosewood fingerboards on top (12” radius, Trapezoid inlays) and open-coiled 490R/498T pickups combo. Traditional has a `50s neck profile, 1.695” TekToid nut, green key tuners and classic heel. HP, on the other side, offers: titanium zero-fret nut (1.745”), noiseless pickup selector, G Force tuners, gold-plated jack, fast-access heel and titanium bridge saddles. For full specs and more info on Les Paul `50s Tribute 2016 T and Les Paul `50s Tribute 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul `60s Tribute 2016 T and Les Paul `60s Tribute 2016 HP bring Gibson`s legendary P90 pickups and classic `60s styling. Modern weight-relieved mahogany body with plain maple top, set mahogany neck with `60s contour and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard (12” radius, trapezoid inlays) are common to both the $899 Traditional and $1,249 HP versions. T model also brings a 1.695” TekToid nut, classic neck heel and green key tuners. HP is outfitted with a titanium zero fret nut (1.745”), noiseless pickup switch, fast-access heel, titanium-saddled bridge, gold-plated jack and HP gig bag. For full specs and more info on Les Paul `60s Tribute 2016 T and Les Paul `60s Tribute 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul Studio 2016 T and Les Paul Studio 2016 HP are true beasts and the best value-for-money models in their sections. Weight-relieved mahogany bodies with maple tops, set mahogany necks with granadillo fingerboards and 490R/498T pickups form the base of both the $1,400 Studio T and $1,849 Studio HP. Traditional comes with standard coil-splitting options, classic hardware and neck heel. HP, on the other side, has a set of five dip-switches which grant an unprecedented level of tonal versatility. Also, features like G Force tuners, zero-fret nut and fast-access heel are all there. For full specs and more info on Les Paul Studio 2016 T and Les Paul Studio 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul Traditional 2016 T and Les Paul Traditional 2016 HP re there for the lovers of classic LPs. `57 Classic pickups drive both the $2,299 T and $2,649 HP models. Other than that, weight-relieved mahogany body with flamed maple top, set mahogany neck and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard are common 2016 Traditional features. Traditional T, however, comes with a TekToid nut, classic electronics setup and vintage neck. HP version is, on the other side, equipped for a 21st century guitarist with a knack for vintage looks – fast-access heel, zero fret nut, G force tuners and other HP features are all there. For full specs and more info on Les Paul Traditional 2016 T and Les Paul Traditional 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Les Paul Standard 2016 T and Les Paul Standard 2016 HP are top LP models in their sections. They bring all the goodness and poise an LP should have. Traditional costs $2,799 and brings in all the classic LP feature we know and love. On the other side, Standard 2016 HP costs $3,149 and is loaded with modern technology. Zero fret nut, fast-access heel, MOP inlays, AAAA flamed maple top, HP case, robotic tuners and many more are there. Five dip switches hidden in the electronics cavity give this beauty insane tone-morphing powers. For full specs and more info on Les Paul Standard 2016 T and Les Paul Standard 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
SG Faded 2016 T and SG Faded 2016 HP cost $739 and $1,089, respectively, and are the most affordable SG models of their own sections. Solid mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard and 490R/490T set of pickups form the SG Faded 2016 base. Traditional model features a TekToid nut, vintage tuners and classic SG neck heel. High Performance model has robotic G Force tuners, noiseless pickup switch, HP gig bag, titanium zero fret nut and many more high-end features. For full specs and more info on SG Faded 2016 T and SG Faded 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
SG Special 2016 T and SG Special 2016 HP have the same price tags as previous duo and, together with them, form the basic SG class in 2016 catalog. Beveled mahogany bodies, set mahogany necks, 22-fret rosewood fingerboards and 495R/T minibuckers are featured on both variants. Traditional one comes with a 1.695” TekToid nut, classic SG neck heel, traditional tuners and padded gig bag. HP option gets a zero-fret nut made of titanium (1.745” wide), fast access heel, G Force tuners, hard shell case and more. For full specs and more info on SG Special 2016 T and SG Special 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
SG Standard 2016 T and SG Standard 2016 HP rock 498T/490R pickups, mahogany bodies, mahogany necks and 22-fret rosewood fingerboards. T model costs $1,199, while the HP variant comes in at $1,549. Traditional has the classic neck heel, 1.695” TekToid nut, acrylic inlays and vintage tuners. On the other side, HP Standard has modern fast-access heel, titanium zero fret nut, G Force tuners and many more High Performance features. For full specs and more info on SG Standard 2016 T and SG Standard 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
SG Standard P-90 T and SG Standard P-90 2016 HP are the fourth and last SG pair in this article. They cost as much as models from the regular Standard T and Standard HP ranges, and have the same basic specs. Traditional model has classic SG neck heel, 1.695” wide TekToid nut, vintage tuners and nitrocellulose finish. High Performance option includes a 1.745” zero-fret nut, robotic G Force tuners, gold-plated output jack, noiseless pickup switch and other modern features. For full specs and more info on SG Standard P-90 T and SG Standard P-90 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Firebird V 2016 T and Firebird V 2016 HP are the only Firebird pair this year. Mahogany wings with 9-piece mahogany/walnut neck in between, 495R/T minibuckers and rosewood fingerboards are featured on both models. Traditional costs $1,099 and includes Tektoid nut, rounded neck profile and vintage tuners. HP costs $350 more and has a full range of HP specs: G Force tuners, zero-fret nut, gold-plated jack, fast-access heel and many more. For full specs and more info on Firebird V 2016 T and Firebird V 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Explorer 2016 T and Explorer 2016 HP come in as the only pair of Explorers for 2016. 496R/500T pickups, mahogany bodies, mahogany necks and rosewood fingerboards are featured on both models. $1,299 Explorer T also features Grover tuners, classic neck heel, 1.695” TekToid nut and acrylic dot inlays. HP pack on $1,649 Explorer HP includes G Force tuners, zero-fret nut (1.745”), fast-access heel, gold-plated output jack, titanium-saddled bridge and noiseless pickup switch. For full specs and more info on Explorer 2016 T and Explorer 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
Flying V 2016 T and Flying V 2016 HP conclude the 2016 lineup. Like the models before them, these two feature the same chassis – all mahogany body, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard and zebra-coiled Burstbucker 3/`57 Classic pickups combo. $1,199 T model has the classic Grover tuners, TekToid nut, standard pickup switch and nitrocellulose finish. $350 more expensive HP pack includes a zero-fret nut, fast-access heel, G Force tuners, gold-plated output jack, noiseless pickup switch, nitrocellulose finish and other features. For full specs and more info on Flying V 2016 T and Flying V 2016 HP, check their respective detail pages on chorder.com or visit the official Gibson Guitars site.
