Gibson promises "best year ever" with 2016 electric guitar models

Gibson 2016

NAMM 2016: Gibson's 2015 changes proved controversial among guitarists, but for 2016, the company is offering two choices for all models across the range: Traditional and High Performance.

Traditional spec means manual tuners, regular neck widths, conventional electronics and TekToid nuts are all back on the agenda – not to mention lower prices.

For a small additional outlay, High Performance models offer a wider neck – though not as wide as 2015 models – plus G-Force robot tuning and Full Access neck joints for improved upper-fret access.

Scroll down for the list of differences between the two options, and click through to have a gander at this year's top models…

Traditional

Historic heel
TekToid nut
Original neck width
Vintage tuners
Standard toggle switch
Standard single-contact-point jack
Traditional hard-wired control harness
Traditional grade wood selection
Acrylic inlays
Traditional hard shell case (selected models only)

High Performance

Fast Access heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
New soloist's neck width
Improved G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Dip switch for over 150 rewiring options
Higher grade wood selection
Genuine Mother of Pearl inlays
Fortified aluminium case (selected models only)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 2016 T

AAA carved plain maple top on mahogany body with modern weight relief
Mahogany neck
Burstbucker Pro humbuckers with coil-splits
Neck and body binding
Compound-radius rosewood fingerboard
Grover locking tuners
TekToid nut
Original Les Paul case style with enhanced protection
Finishes: Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Fire Burst, Honey Burst, Trans Amber, Desert Burst, Trans Black, Tea Burst, Blue Mist, Light Burst, Gold Top, Ebony

Gibson Les Paul Standard 2016 HP

$3,149 (US list) / £2,399 (UK list)

As above, except…

AAAA figured maple top
Rhythm Pro (neck), Lead Pro (bridge) humbuckers with coil-splits
Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
Fortified aluminum case

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 T

Traditional carved maple top over mahogany body with modern weight relief
Historic original neck width
Burstbucker Pro humbuckers
Traditional playing feel
TekToid nut
Traditional gigbag
Finishes: Worn Brown Satin, Worn Cherry, Satin Fireburst, Satin Ebony

Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded 2016 HP

$1,149 (US list) / £899(UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Les Paul Studio 2016 T

Carved maple top over mahogany body with modern weight relief
490R (neck) and 498T (bridge) humbuckers with coil-splits
Original Les Paul neck dimensions
TekToid nut
Traditional brown hard shell case
Finishes: Alpine White, Alpine Gold, Ebony, Ebony Gold, Fireburst, Inverness Green, Pelham Blue, Radiant Red, Silver Pearl, Vintage Sunburst, Wine Red, Wine Red Gold

Gibson Les Paul Studio 2016 HP

$1,849 (US list) / £1,399(UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
Fortified aluminum case

Gibson Les Paul '60s Tribute 2016 T

Maple and mahogany body with modern weight relief
Slim '60s-style neck profile
Thicker one-piece rosewood fingerboard
Two vintage-style P-90 pickups
TekToid nut
Original 1 11/16” nut width
Padded gigbag
Finishes: Satin Honeyburst w/ Dark Back, Satin Ebony w/ Dark Back, Satin Vintage Sunburst w/ Dark Back

Gibson Les Paul '60s Tribute 2016 HP

$1,249 (US list) / £949(UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Les Paul '50s Tribute 2016 T

Maple top on mahogany body with modern weight relief
Mahogany neck with rounded '50s profile
490R (neck) and 498T (bridge) humbuckers
Vintage-style 'green key' tuners
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Finishes: Satin Gold Top w/ Dark Back, Satin Honeyburst w/ Dark Back, Satin Ebony, Satin Vintage Sunburst

Gibson Les Paul '50s Tribute 2016 T

$1,249 (US list) / £949(UK list)

As above, except…
Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Les Paul CM 2016 T

Carved maple top on mahogany body
Thicker and-oiled rosewood fingerboard
Classic '61 humbucker
Traditional 'green key' tuners
Padded gigbag
Satin nickel wrapover bridge
Finish: Satin Ebony

Gibson Les Paul CM 2016 T

$1,049 (US list) / £749(UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Supreme grip speed knobs
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2016 T

AA maple top, solid mahogany back with traditional weight relief
Gibson '57 Classic humbuckers: '57 Classic (neck), '57 Classic + (bridge)
Original Les Paul neck width
TekToid nut
Traditional brown Les Paul hard shell case
Traditional inlays
Finishes: Desert Burst, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Honey Burst, Iced Tea, Light Burst, Wine Red

Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2016 HP

$2,649 (US list) / £1,999(UK list)

As above, except…

AAA maple top
Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
Fortified aluminum case

Gibson SG Standard 2016 T

Mahogany body
Original SG mahogany neck design with 1 11/16” neck width
490R (neck) and 498T (bridge) humbuckers
Period-accurate Black Top Hat knobs
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Finishes: Ebony, Heritage Cherry

Gibson SG Standard 2016 HP

$1,549 (US list) / £1,099 (UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson SG Special 2016 T

Mahogany body
Original SG mahogany neck design with 1 11/16” neck width
495R (neck) and 495T (bridge) mini-humbuckers
TekToid nut
Traditional tuners
Padded gigbag
Finishes: Satin Cherry, Satin Ebony, Satin Vintage Sunburst

Gibson SG Special 2016 HP

$1,089 (US list) / £799 (UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson SG Standard P-90 2016 T

Mahogany body
Original SG mahogany neck design with 1 11/16” neck width
Vintage-style P-90 pickups
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Finish: Heritage Cherry

Gibson SG Standard P-90 2016 HP

$1,549 (US list) / £1,099(UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson SG Faded 2016 T

Mahogany body
Original SG mahogany neck design with 1 11/16” neck width
490R (neck) and 490T (bridge) humbuckers
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Worn satin nitrocellulose finish
Finishes: Worn Brown, Worn Cherry

Gibson SG Faded 2016 HP

$1,089 (US list) / £799 (UK list)

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Firebird V 2016 T

Classic Firebird V design
Steinberger Gearless tuning keys
Neck-through-body construction
Nine-ply mahogany-walnut neck construction
Traditional Firebird mini-humbuckers
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Finish: Vintage Sunburst

Gibson Firebird V 2016 HP

$1,449 (US list) / £1,049 (UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
SlimTaper nine-ply neck-through-body construction
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance gigbag

Gibson Explorer 2016 T

Mahogany body
496R Hot Ceramic (neck) and 500T Super Ceramic (bridge) humbuckers
Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Mini Grover tuners
SlimTaper neck profile
TekToid nut
Padded gigbag
Finishes: Ebony, Cherry

Gibson Explorer 2016 HP

$1,649 (US list) / £1,199 (UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
Soloist neck width
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
Fortified aluminum case

Gibson Flying V 2016 T

Mahogany body
Original 1 11/16" neck width, SlimTaper profile neck
Hot 496R (neck) and 500T (bridge) humbuckers
Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
TekToid nut
Gigbag
Finishes: Ebony, Wine Red

Gibson Flying V 2016 HP

$1,649 (US list) / £1,199 (UK list)

As above, except…

Fast Access neck heel
Adjustable titanium zero fret nut
SlimTaper neck profile
Next-Generation Gibson G-Force tuners
Smooth silent-action toggle switch
New gold plated multi-contact jack
Mother of pearl inlays
High Performance Gibson Hardshell case

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Latest

“Bono took me aside and asked if I was sure I wanted him to sing this line”: Bob Geldof remembers what the U2 singer said to him before he recorded his vocals on Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?

See more latest ►