Which guitar did you guys think sounded the best, Tribute or Standard? Enjoy! Guitar Links: Gibson Tribute - imp.i114863.net/Ke2mgy Gibson Standard - imp.i114863.net/15k7J6

The Tribute has 490R and T pickups which are more of your classic "warm" Gibson tone while the burstbuckers on the standard are a lot different. Swap the pickups between guitars and the tone would travel with them. That's all we're hearing here. The Tribute is 95% of the guitar at less than half the price. It's an incredible deal.

I feel like the standard has a lot of flare that is just there to make it look pretty. I love the stripped down look of the tribute.

Put the standard pickups on the tribute and I'm pretty sure the tribute will sound like the standard. Great vid!

I actually like the warmer tones of the Tribute. It has that really good older warmth sound to it.

So glad to see this and the previous two with the tribute. I have a tribute in the same finish. I always enjoy your reviews, and this series made me feel good about that purchase. I had yet to see a 'low end vs standard' for Gibson Les Pauls, and the back to back was great. I always enjoy your videos! Thank you for the good times, good info, and overall good content.

I guess affordable is relative. I liked sounds of the Tribute.

When I was shopping for a Les Paul back in 2013 I tried 8 of them in a store, a few Standards, a Traditional and a couple of Tributes. I went home with a 70's Tribute because it sounded and played the best of the bunch. I still want to get a Standard some day, just because of the iconic looks, but I would have to stumble upon one that sounds at least as good or better than my Tribute, which is still with me after almost 9 years.

I was surprised by how well that Tribute actually sounded. I've been playing 30 plus years and have turned into a collector. I have 8 Les Paul's including a 2019 Standard 60's unburst, and i do own a 2011 Tribute...but it has p-90's in it. Mine plays extremely smooth after a pro setup and bone nut put in. I paid something like $899 for it new and i love it! I have 2 custom shop lp's as well and they sound incredible...but not over 6k better! Keep up the great work DBG....it is appreciated 👅😁👍

I just bought the honey burst version like yours. For all the money you save over a standard It would be very easy to upgrade pickups, electronics and tuners and still come out way ahead. All the rest on the more expensive Les Paul's is just eye candy. Thanks 😊 Darrell

I think your comparison was spot on. Significant tone tone differences can be made by raising or lowing the pickups, and raising the pole piece heights will add more treble and clarity. It would be and interesting and instructive video to see if you can get the tone closer by adjusting the pickups as mentioned.

Thanks for the demonstration, insightful and beautiful pictures👍 In my eyes the originality of the look and feel can't be more beautiful anywhere, this is pure vintage, including the creamy warm tone, as you mentioned!

I really appreciate you man for doing these videos …your spot on with your comparisons

I love the stripped back looks of the tribute. In its own way I think it's just as appealing as the standard.

I bought the Tribute a few months back when one of the online stores had a discount for members putting them around $980. I like the look of both the Tribute and Standard, but at what the Standard costs, It would likely be treated like an heirloom with me being afraid to play it. If money were no object I would have picked the Standard. As for the sound I might lean slightly towards the Standard, but still very happy with the Tribute.

Thanks for doing this. Love the comparison!

Great comparison. I picked up a Tribute as my first Les Paul. Love it. Other than cosmetics, there's not a lot of compromise. The satin finish is amazing on the neck. I do agree that the pickups lack a bit of high-end. Typically that's only a problem when I'm playing through the Spark practice amp which has a lot of bass to it already. Bit of EQ evens things out nicely. Overall a really fun guitar to play.

Just picked up the tribute LP today. I love the satin finish made in USA not so candy looking like the other Paul’s on the rack. Mainly like because its a classic vintage version which makes all the sense of having a warmer tone

Thanks a lot for making videos like this which helps us as a musician a lot, big love form Taiwan!

Great review - I could hear the difference as well...I bought a tribute "Special" with P90 pickups for just under $1000 that sounds excellent - Highly recommend this model for the sound and value.

Great comparison. Love the channel 👍

Hello Darrell, I think the Tribute sounded warmer, but it still sounds great. I do not own a Tribute but I do have a standard, two studio editions, and a custom. I believe Gibson has come a long way in improving their quality and sound. Thank you for your great video.

Nice review! Best I’ve seen out there.

Nice comparison, Darrell. I personally could not tell much difference in the tone, certainly not triple the price! One thing that you did not mention, though, was re-sale. A Standard or Custom will be worth much more and might even be collectable in the future. The Tribute, or Studio, probably not so much. IMO.

I like the Tribute, but that's because my guitar is cheaper to, love the videos and your the man who got me into guitar. Keep up the work.

Love all of your reviews! You have been extremely helpful the past couple of years for me. I got my tribute in '20 (during pandemic. ) totally agree on differences in brightness and muddiness. Luckily, I have a spark amp, and eq Is my best friend!! Turn up the high end, and use orange amps. Tribute feels like a dream. I fell in love with the neck and name. If you cannot afford a standard, tribute will work just fine with a modular amp.

I really enjoy your videos Darrell! I recently got a Classic (blemished, paid $1949) and I like it. It was a last ditch effort to like a Les Paul and I think I've got a winner. My last one was a 2015 Classic Rock II. Nice guitar but I never bonded with it and traded it for an American Elite Telecaster. I may try a couple tributes. They can be had for what a studio cost a few years ago.

Great comparison video! Thank you

Both sound great but the Tribute is the type of guitar that i'd plan on playing for a few years than trading it out for something else. The Standard would be an heirloom.

Great video. I had the Tribute for a year+. Sold it and bought a Epi-Slash--don't miss the Tribute at all. Thanks for the comparison.

Right out the gate the Tribute hanged with the Standard. Very good Demo. Thanks.

For me the most important is how it feels. I tried an epiphone and a classic gibson recently and was blown away by the difference in feel. The sound was obviously different, but the gibson was certainly way more pleasant to play:

those tributes look really good. I think the guitar companies have maxed out the "price no object guitar buyer" and decided to offer nice stuff in a more affordable package. Nice offerings under Fender, Squier, Gibson, Epiphone in the lower pricepoints :O

Good comparison Darrell. I own a 1992 Les Paul Studio (Wine Red, Ebony Fingerboard, Gold hardware) that is among the best Les Paul I have ever played. Most who play it agree something special about it. Curious if Gibson has found similar magic in the Tribute model. I may seek one out for comparison.

Great video!!!

you are simply the best ! the historían of guitars and it is always a pleasure to listen to you !!!

I really like the tones from the Tribute's bridge position in the last clip with hi-gain.

I got a Les Paul Studio with Burstbuckers from the pawn shop yesterday, I'm very happy with the tone compared to my other humbucking guitars. Compared to a more expensive LP with burstbuckers, I can't really tell the difference in a blind test, so I feel really well off. I can't honestly hear the binding or the neck tenon or the glue. Actually I can hear bridge/tailpiece hardware differences, but I could easily change that. Before there were people doing videos like this, I wouldn't have been able to make an informed decision, so much appreciation for Darrel, thank you!

Good job as always. Thanks

A $1400 guitar referred to as "cheap". Welcome to the world of Gibson.

I really like the plain carved maple top on the Tribute. The natural wood grain is not flashy/gaudy, and original "Bursts" had just that. Not a huge fan of the binding either, so for me it would be the Tribute all day long. Pups and electronics can be easily changed, and that always seems to be an issue with some players regardless of the guitar.

Thank you Darrell, for the spot on, comparison, now we need o compare the studio and the modern against them, lol. Take care.

When considering price, that Plek job is $299 from Sweetwater. That puts the guitar in competition with the $1000 guitars. I think its very competitive. Both of those are really nice guitars. I have a Standard and a Special with P90s. They are my 2 favorite guitars.

I highly recommend finding a Gibson Les Paul Traditional on the used market from the years 2013-2015…they were spec’d how the 50s standards are now (non weight relieved body, hand soldered pots, nitro finish, binding, upgraded pickups, chunky neck). I got a 2014 model in mint condition for $1500

I appreciate the inclusion of finger style in this comparison.

I bought a 2017 Tribute right at the end of 2016, and I got it as a bit of a mod platform. Keep in mind that it was a "B stock" from MF, and it only cost about $700 at the time. I have since modded the heck out of it with a softer forearm contour, Axcess style heel joint, and working on a full electronics overhaul. The one thing I thought I would change is one of the things that has stayed the same, and that is the tuners. I know that the Kluson style tuners (branded "Gibson Deluxe") get a bad rep, but these have been working flawlessly for the 5 and a half years I have had the guitar. I still plan on trying an FRX trem on it, but that will have to wait until I can afford one and they are in stock, as they are always sold out when I have the spare cash. This guitar has been passed around to several of my "Gibson hating" friends, and they all love it. I have even had some of my friends that own and/or like Gibsons play it, and they love how it plays. I think that if you want a Gibson on a "budget" or for a heavy mod platform, the Tributes are GREAT! I can't justify almost $3k for a Standard for me, as I like to mod and tinker too much. I think both are great guitars, but if you have to keep a budget, or you don't want to just keep it stock, go for a Tribute. If you want the eye candy, different (not better or worse, just different) pickups, and all of the other appointments of a Standard, and you have the money, get the Standard. Budget, preference, and end goal.

I finally got a Tribute after admiring them for a few years. It’s a super fun guitar to play. It doesn’t sound like my other Gibson Les Pauls. The sound reminds me of a Tele. QC is rough, but the Tribute has a vibe and definitely has a solid place in my collection.

Hi Darrell. Good vid! Please do a studio vs tribute. Thanks

This is awesome thank you. I wonder about Classic vs standard? Thank you,seems noone I know has a classic...

I love the sound of the Tribute. I have a Fifties Tribute and several other Gibsons. I realize the neck is maple while the standard and studio are mahogany, but to me the Tribute has a sound I associate with an SG or a mahogany acoustic. It is hard to describe. Maybe that is because of the lower pickup output. To me it is an old school guitar with an old school sound. I love the sound. It is light weight and has a fantastic neck. I'll guarantee you Angus would pick the Tribute if he had to switch and only had these two from which to pick. You are exactly right about adding bite. I run through a Friedman BE pedal and a slight chorus into a Mesa and a DSL boosting the treble back up and it is the best sound I have ever had. It is extremely articulate when overdriven in this configuration. I'd rather have three Tributes than one Standard any day of the week. My Studio says Black Beauty on the inside of the electronics cavity plate..... hence, they are all from a bunch of parts and they obviously have a bunch of price tags to stick on them as well. Just think how different the conversation would be if they had sold the Tribute for $5,000 each and bragged on the historic accuracy with modern perfections....LOL. Actually the chambering of the Tribute should put it in the category of the Moderns. The only issue I ha.d with mine was the G string sticking a bit, but I widened the back of the nut at the G string, oiled the neck and use string ease and have had no further tuning issue. Great guitar and I appreciate it coming in at ... well, not a low price but a reasonable price. -Something I can't say about the Standard.

I reckon most of the extra high end sizzle and brightness on the Standard would be attributed to the pickups being uncovered. I uncovered the pups on my LP and I found a similar effect to the overall tone of the guitar

I've had 2 of both, and the standard is definitely made to a higher standard(and I don't just mean added features and binding etc). The Tribute Is a bit rougher and muddy sounding, but still very good.

Short & sweet! That blue burst, though... Just wow.

I have a Standard and Tribute. Both great guitars. I hated the 490's in the Trib, so I swapped em for some 57s. Outstanding choice. The guitars sound very different, but both sound/play awesome.

Thanks for the comparison to both Gibsons

Both great guitars! Nice video. I have a Indio DLX quilted maple top brown l.p. style. It is really nice. Unfortunately a week after I bought mine, Monoprice no longer sells them😐

I think the biggest deciding factors between lower priced and high end in a Gibson or any other brand will be how much we are satisfied with the lower end models. Playability and tone will always be subjective especially if you set up your guitars to preference or change the pickups. But the biggest factor I believe will always be the bling factor and pride of ownership. There will always be something in a dream guitar that will inspire you to play things that you probably wouldn’t on a guitar that’s less of a “looker” and built cheaper. I’m fortunate enough to own high end guitars and it’s only after acquiring them that I can appreciate and enjoy lower cost guitars that still play,sound, and in many cases look great for a fraction of the price. In fact I just purchased Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster that I just used on a video and just love it although out of the box it didn’t play well without a setup. I guess the point I’m trying to make for those who just can’t afford a high end guitar is to know that great guitars in looks and tone can be bought for a great price these days. Just do your homework. Great episode as usual Darrell! Always enjoy these!

I’d add that the two feel completely different to play. I went to a store with budget to get a standard, but also tried some tributes and epiphones. All great guitars, but for me the tribute was the right one. It feels amazing to play and the sound is perfect for the kind of music I write. Also worth saying that I tried 3 tributes, and noticed clear differences between them too, so I recommend going to a shop and playing as many as you can until you find the one.

Nice review. I always loved the simple look of the Honey tribute but have never owned one. I've owned three studios and I currently have a Gibson Les Paul classic... which I love. I think they're are subtle tone differences but but enough to justify the cost unless you have money to burn. I bought my classic for only $180 more than my studio so I think it was worth the difference just for the hard case... but it doesn't sound better or has better construction construction than my studios... all were great... except for my first studio which was terrible.

Good video! Next step: same comparisons with swapped pickups

Interesting to hear you say there was a big difference in sound since that didn’t come across to my ears even with headphones. Maybe the KZfaq compression? I know everyone has a different setup and preferences but I often find my tribute to be a bit too bright on the neck pickup. I usually dial back the volume to cut some of that top end. Thanks for doing the comparison!

The standards are beautiful, the tribute is more my kinda guitar. I personally like plain tops, I like the warmer tones from the tribute as well & yeah I wouldn't feel like ide have too baby it.

.. the blue one is just like mine. It's not that I like the blue better it's just that when I had the money it's the only one available .. and I just can't wait 😎. After a while I took out the stock pick ups and installed in DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary.

What I really want to see.. Keep the recording of the Standard - but see if you can match the sound on the tribute using amplifier settings. My opinion, brightness was the biggest difference.

Both sound great, binding on the neck would be great.

Great vid, thank you!👍🙂🎸 I must be getting old: I couldn't hear any difference. Tbh, I was half-awake and listening on my smartphone. Eyes closed. So, in a mix, live or studio, I would guess the audio difference would be nonexistent. Playability, feel, all the rest - worth 200% price increase? Not to me. But I'm not looking to buy a Gibson in any case, so I'm probably not taking it seriously enough. 🙂

Darrell, another good video. How do you feel the tribute vs the epiphone inspired Ltd edition?

If you're looking for that classic Les Paul tone without breaking the bank and you don't care about binding, high gloss nitro, etc., the Tribute is one heck of a bargain. Nice comparison Darrell. That Standard is a beauty!

Great Vid! Couldn't you upgrade the pickups on the tribute to get that sizzle? Would it be a good in-between solution?

I used to have a studio deluxe and now have a slash standard. There's not much of a difference in sound but the difference in the feel of the instrument is massive. Enough to justify the price difference.

I've got a Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2011. I'd be more than happy getting an Epiphone Inspired by Gibson from now on.

You know what Darrell, I miss the intro with you throwing the guitar to the roof. Other than that awesome review as always 🤟

I own 2 Gibson Les Paul classics and recently bought a Gibson Firebird, I love these beautiful instruments.

I love both! A fun video😁

Hey Darrell, I saw a video that you changed the pickups of the standard one. In this comparison, did you put the originals back?

I enjoyed the Standard far above the Tribute! It sounds so much more punchier!!

Nice comparison. Just one question though, apart from the tone and material, what do you think about the build quality? I know build quality is not Gibson’s advantage, but still curious.

There seems a difference in tone where the Tribute seemed warmer as you say, but I personally love that satin finish on the body of the Tribute, and flame tops to me are becoming cliché like flamed maple necks and fretboards. I think good EQ will cut the difference down as you say and the headroom on the price difference can allow mods aplenty.

I gotta SAY...I like both sounds...I just bought a new Honey Burst Tribute and I love the sound (on your video). I think I will SAVE myself some money and Keep my tirbute. Maybe later on once I really get as half as GOOD as YOU; I may change the pickups! GOD BLESS!

Standard sounded better, but I like the satin finish on the tribute better. Just feels the best in my hands.

Thx for the cool comparison, nice guitar licks as well. Any comment about the weight differences? Also did your Tribute come with 10s or 9s? My friend's Tribute came with 9s. If yours had 9s, was the nut cut specially for 9s or 10s? Thank you.

I'm glad I got a killer deal on my 2020 Tribute at 900 US dollars. It only had a tiny body ding on the upper edge and the back of the neck has a small spot of bare wood where the finish had worn through somehow. Other wise it looked mint. Once setup with my favorite strings and to my liking its been a fantastic instrument.

i was missin your videos dude

Fabulous review. I love the way you made a direct comparison, same kind of riffs, same volume and tone levels. I agree with you completely on the Tribute. It is one heck of a lot of guitar for the money, or even for hundreds of dollars more. I actually prefer the lack of white binding, but cosmetics are strictly personal and subjective. Sound-wise, I like them both, but the edge goes to the Tribute clean. The edge goes to the Standard for gain, but I play mostly clean. It's lower output, and perhaps more traditional PAF sounding? Both fingerboards are great. I'll stick my neck out here and say that the Tribute is the best AMERICAN-MADE guitar for the money we can get. As you said, they even plek the frets, and that isn't a cheap process by any means. Many thanks.

Great comparison - the Standard has a bit more clarity, especially in the neck. I’m gassing for the Tribute though. Really can’t gig with my R7 at 9.5 lbs and $5000 bucks - plus it slides off my lap when I play sitting down 😊

Nice comparison. With my PC speakers I couldn't really tell that much of a difference, except for some "spank" in the neck pickup - the Standard sounded a bit more "juicy". But is that worth more than 2 grand? Been wanting a Les Paul for years - yes, I admit, I wanted that headstock, not an Epi or a Harley Benton, but the Standard was always far beyond my budget. So I happily grabbed the 2016 50ies Tribute when it was issued, in Honeyburst, for 789 €, which currently would be about 840 $. This one still had the mahogany neck and delivers exactly the tones I've been expecting from a Les Paul in my tube amps. Of course the binding looks more sophisticated, but I got that guitar for playing, not for a visual thrill, and I love it. As Greg Koch said, working man's Les Paul.

I watched two videos yesterday - this one, and the one where Darrell compared covered vs. uncovered pickups, finding uncovered ones to be a little brighter. Could that be some of the difference in tone here?

I generally play classic & flamenco guitars but a visit to a guitar store I was attracted to the "sound, quality & price" of a Harley Benson CST-24 (Made in Vietnam)! I was told it is a Paul Reed Smith 'clone' (who that is I really don't care!). Just like Gibson it's a solid body flame top (black), bindings, tuners with zero 'backlash'! Even before I played it I was very impressed with the guitar's build quality, action & intonation...exceptional for the price! Although unaccustomed as I was to this style of guitar, playing my type & style of music on this guitar was immencely pleasing & with the price ($285)...I could not resist! My apologies I strayed off point but if you are looking for beauty, the Gibson Standard is a good choice for you...& Gibson will love you! Unfortunately the subtle differences in sound (nuance) of the Gibson Standard simply does not justify 3x the price of a Gibson Tribute & must give an emphatic "Thumbs down" !👎 Yes - equipment matters but it's your guitar skills that makes the biggest difference! Remember... your audience is focused on you & the quality of music you make! Nothing else matters..really!

I modded my tribute with 61 burstbuckers and the harness with Jimmy page wiring. It's just amazing

I mainly noticed a slight difference in the bridge when it was in a crunch setting. I gain I didn’t really notice much difference. I feel like if you swap the pick ups they probably sound pretty damn identical. Especially if you’re using a good amp. The main thing comes down to the build quality, the woods and craftsmanship that goes into the standard I suspect.

Great video and comparison. I got rid of my Standard after getting a particularly good Tribute. I solved the lack of sizzle by adjusting the pickup height and the pole pieces. I don't like binding (feels like plastic to me), so the choice was clear.

Hi Darrell, is that tribute line similar to LP Studio? Studio version is gloss, but with no binding and pickups are covered as well.

Great video Daryll. I have heard that the volume and tone controls on the Tribute are not particularly good/linear? Did you find this on the Tribute you have? Forgive me if you have already done this, but have you compared the Tribute against the Epiphone Les Paul 59?

Would it be viable or closer sounding to buy Tribute and upgrade the tuners and pickups to match Standard?

Both sound great. I'd probably lean toward the tribute. I like maple necks. I'm mainly a strat and Wolfgang man.

The lack of pickup covers on the Standard would give it a bit more high end or sizzle. The Tribute sounds fine to me.

Aside from esthetics and a little difference in tone, IMO the pick ups make that difference I would easily buy the Tribute over the Standard. You can always either remove the metal pick up covers or swap out the pick ups to make the tone closer to the Standard. I have always liked the tone of the 490 r & t pick ups, I have them in my Gibson Explorer and love the tone. The Tribute comes with a gig bag and the Standard with a HSC $200.00 alone. I am very familiar with the Burstbucker 61 R&T on the standard not my fav of the Gibson pick ups. If your not into the looks of your guitar the Tribute IMO is more bang for the buck.

have a tribute p90 goldtop chambered with a roasted maple fretboard. weighs like a strat and is really resonant. Stock pickups were so-so, added kent armstrongs -nice. Stock 3way switch was bad, replaced. Upgraded tuners. Plays great, sounds great. Worth considering.

nice review

There's no question the bang for buck goes to the Tribute. But you'll never get the same mojo as a standard. Had a tribute for almost 5 years and used it for band jams, gigs, and recording. I did the whole thing of swapping the pickups, changing the strings, adjusting the action. It was a fantastic guitar but in the back of my head I knew I was going to sell it eventually. Finally saved up enough for a Standard and it's been 2 years and I have not modified it at all. It's just a different feeling opening up the case of the Standard. 2 years later and I get the same smile every time when that case opens up. It also holds it's value really well and will only go up.