I bought this as my first electric almost 3 years ago and it's still my main guitar. I have played it in an alternative rock band, a blues band, and in my high school's jazz ensemble, and it plays just fine. I would however recommend that you save up and move up towards the Les Paul Standard. My friend owns a Standard and I think that it has a much fuller tone than the Studio. I guess it's time to move up to a higher model or maybe even a Gibson.

Well, when i first got this guitar, i loved it. It really did sound as good as some of the more expensive guitars you can find. But after a few months, it got really frustrating. I bought this guitar to have a cheaper one to take to people's houses to jam so my more expensive ones didn't get damaged, but now i can't even do that. For some reason, there is literally no tuning on the guitar. If i tune it so that the fret reference points match up exactly, then an open power chord sounds out of tune but the ones on the fretboard sound fine. I have to tune it so that the fret reference points don't match up. Chords sound like crap and pretty much the only thing you can play is simple power chords up high on the fretboard. It's virtually unplayable.

The Les Paul Studio is the best value guitar I have seen yet, it has amazing sound and nice colors

I bought this for my son who plays guitar for a local band. We were both impressed with the sound and quality of the guitar. Also it looks good too.

trust me buy this i ain't saying that it's a Gibson but it is a damn fine guitar, i play a standard quite regularly and to be honest this one has better balance a thinner body and sounds pretty much the same, it can go out of tune pretty quick, i needed to lower my action and raise my pickup on my bridge but apart from that it was perfect, lovely body nice roomy fretboard can't fault it