The Les Paul is a legendary guitar with a long history. These days we are quite spoiled since we don’t just have one Les Paul, but we actually have multiple Les Pauls to choose from.
The Les Paul Classic and Les Paul Standard are two such options available to us. But what is the difference? Aren’t they just basically the same guitar with two different names?
Well, let us compare them to find out if the are one and the same, or two entirely different beasts.
Les Paul Classic vs Standard
Differences in Appearance

On the surface, the Les Paul Classic and Standard are very similar, almost identical. If you place these two side-by-side, you might not even be able to tell them apart.
Both have the same Les Paul shape body with the same pickguard style. They also have the same controls, laid out in the same way. Even their fret inlays are the same.
They do have a few differences, however. Firstly, the Classic has zebra-style humbucker pickups, while the Standard has the more classic-looking covered pickups.
They also come in different color options. The only color found among both guitars is Heritage Cherry Sunburst.
Differences in Feel
This is where you will start to notice the differences between the two guitars.
Starting with the weight of the guitars, the Classic is slightly lighter than the Standard. This is thanks to the Classic’s 9-hole weight relief. This means that small holes have been made in the guitar to cut down on the weight a bit.
I prefer to have my guitars be as light as possible, so I do like the Classic a bit more than the Standard here. They are a bit more comfortable to play, especially when you are standing for an extended period of time.
There are people who say that weight relieved guitars also lose some of their tone, specifically in the lower register. I don’t really notice any difference, and I think any difference in tone has more to do with the pickups in the guitar.
The other difference between the two is with the neck. The neck on a Les Paul Classic is slightly thinner than a Standard’s.
But the difference is so small. I don’t feel like I am playing any faster or more comfortably on a Classic than a Standard. But maybe someone with smaller hands might notice a bigger difference.
Differences in Tone
Tone is where you can really tell the two guitars apart. While both the Classic and the Standard have that distinct Les Paul sound, they aren’t quite the same.
The Classic has a brighter sound, while the Standard is warmer and a bit fuller. I also feel like the Standard is a bit more aggressive and growly than the Classic.
I do like the sound of the Standard a bit more. I think it is a bit closer to the Les Paul sound I have in my head, and I also just prefer a warmer tone.
The Classic does offer some more versatility than the Standard, however. This is because the Classic comes with a coil-tap function.
Meaning you can use the push/pull function on the tone pot to split the humbuckers. This effectively turns the pickups into single coils.
Gibson vs Epiphone

Just like the Classic versus the Standard, a Gibson Les Paul and an Epiphone Les Paul appear very similar on the surface. But unlike a Classic and a Standard, their differences run much deeper.
First off, while Epiphone is owned by Gibson, they aren’t made in the USA. They are all built in China. They are also mass produced, which means a few things.
Since they are mass produced, they aren’t made by hand, with the same level of care and quality control as Gibson guitars. They are also made with lower quality pickups and other hardware.
And even though they can be made using the same wood, it is often lower quality. But they are almost always made with cheaper wood.
This makes Epiphone guitars much cheaper than Gibsons. An Epiphone Les Paul Standard, for example, being thousands of dollars cheaper than a Gibson Les Paul Standard.
But in terms of differences between a Les Paul Classic and a Les Paul Standard, Gibson and Epiphone are very similar. You will find the same differences in tone and feel between an Epiphone Classic and Standard that you would a Gibson Classic and Standard.
This includes the difference in price. The Gibson Classic and Epiphone Classic are both a few hundred dollars cheaper than their Standard counterparts.
This difference is especially noticeable with the Gibson versions. When you consider that the Classic and Standard are almost identical, at least in terms of the wood used and hardware in both, the huge price gap is a bit confusing.
Of course, the Classic’s 9-hole weight relief can be part of what makes it cheaper, but not by this much. The only other thing I can think of is in the way the guitars are built.
I suspect that the Standard is a bit more ‘hand-made’ than the Classic. Particularly with regards to the hardware. The Standard’s pickups are mentioned as being ‘hand-wired’, while the Classic’s aren’t.
So, you are basically paying extra for a bit more care being put into the Standard.
Which One to Choose?
The easy answer is to go for a Gibson Classic or Standard. But I wouldn’t dismiss Epiphone guitars outright.
They are still very well-made guitars that can get you pretty close to the true Les Paul sound without the same price tag. They are perfect for that reason, and make particularly great beginner guitars as well.
As for choosing between a Classic and a Standard Les Paul, well that is going to be up to you. Like I mentioned, while I prefer the lighter weight of the Classic, I also prefer the warmer tone of the Standard.
I would personally rather compromise on my tone slightly for a more comfortable playing experience, but I know many guitarists won’t sacrifice tone for anything.
Conclusion
What do you think? Is the Les Paul Classic and Standard just the same guitar? Should we even bother comparing the two? Or are they two unique experiences and are both equally important?
I can see the value in having two similar, yet different Les Pauls, each appealing to a different type of guitarist.
THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION I LOVE BOTH GUITARS THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD I ALWAYS GO FOR GIBSON LES PAULS GUITARS HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY MY NAME IS NICK FREGOSO.
I bought an Epiphone 59 standard in dark cherry burst and although it might not be Pearly Gates and I’m certainly not Billy Gibbons it plays and sounds fantastic for me. It growls through my EVH 5150 6L6 head and 212 cab. Also it was three grand cheaper than the Gibson.
I have a Gibson Epiphone 100 and I also have the evh head and the 212 cabinet and it sounds pretty damn good through there but my American fender Stratocaster sounds really good
That’s why I have an Gibson Epiphone and I’m thinking about getting the new slash version they look really cool and I’ve heard very good things.
I have an SG and a 2019 Les Paul Classic. Both are awesome to play. I prefer the Classic’s, Zebra Pickups. The Tone Between it, and the Standard is Different, but both have Gibson Roar. You also have more sound Control options on the Classic.
You all can fool yourselves that a “made in China” Epiphone plays as well as a “ Made in USA” Gibson but those who have owned and played both know better! Sorry
To be fair I’ve owned neither but I’ve been around guitars, guitarists and forums long enough to that not all Gibson’s (or any other brand) play as well as each other even at the same spec.
The Epiphone equivalent will get a high percentage of the way to the equivalent for those that can’t afford or prefer not to spend so much.
Happy days really in my books.
I have a 1960 Les Paul custom. And an epi Les Paul. One is worth 10s of thousands, on is worth 700.oo. My epi sounds better on clean stuff, the Gibson sounds better on the hard stuff. I love them both.. the Gibson is cherry wine, the epi is lake Tahoe blue..
Ps.. the Gibson tommy shaw play on the crystal ball album.
I have never owned an original Les Paul but I have a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst and a Ep. Les Paul Standard 1959 Aged Dark Burst and they both feel and sound amazing!!
The new Epiphones are built exactly like their Gibson counterparts. How are they “less hand made”? The main difference is the Polyurethane finish vs. the Gibson Nitrocellulose finish. Which you declined to mention. And also, on a flame-top Standard, the Epiphone uses a thin veneer over a true maple cap, as opposed to the Gibson’s true flame maple top. Which you also declined to mention. The new “Inspired by Gibson” line of guitars are fantastic, professional grade instruments.
It’s a bit unclear to me if the Epi Classic has the same sonic possibilities ad the Gibson Classic: Singlecoil switch (coil tap), fase shift, and direct output from the lead pickup – and of course 9-hole-weight-relief… PS I recently bought a Gibson LP Classic – brand new – and I have to say it’s one excellent guitar. Regards Troels Schmidt, DK
Coil tapping does NOT split the coils of a humbucker. Coil SPLITTING does!!!
Also, if you think Epiphones are for beginners, you must not have played one lately…