“We love it when Gibson gets it right”: Gibson ES-330 and Les Paul Studio review

Music

Guitar World Verdict

We love it when Gibson gets it right. The ES-330 certainly deserves another shot at the spotlight; it’s just such a usable instrument. It plays like butter and is packed with a fabulous range of recognisable tones. The Studio’s classic big and thick voicing is archetypal Les Paul in anyone’s book, and along with a great weight there’s little to complain about.

Pros

  • +

    Super build quality and attention to detail.

  • +

    Excellent weight and playability.

  • +

    Superb, giggable sounds.

Cons

  • Visually, we miss the body binding on the Studio.

  • At high volume, the ES-330 prone to feedback.

You can trust Guitar World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

What are they?

Trying to keep up with Gibson’s avalanche of new releases is becoming a full-time job: blink and you might miss something.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

music Dave Burrluck

Gear Reviews Editor, Guitarist

Dave Burrluck is one of the world’s most experienced guitar journalists, who started writing back in the ’80s for International Musician and Recording World, co-founded The Guitar Magazine and has been the Gear Reviews Editor of Guitarist magazine for the past two decades. Along the way, Dave has been the sole author of The PRS Guitar Book and The Player’s Guide to Guitar Maintenance as well as contributing to numerous other books on the electric guitar. Dave is an active gigging and recording musician and still finds time to make, repair and mod guitars, not least for Guitarist’s The Mod Squad.

More about electric guitars

Read More

Latest

Michigan Men’s Basketball Announces 2026-27 Big Ten Opponents

Basketball Just over a month after Maize and Blue...

Injective (INJ) Price Explodes 13% After Bullish Breakout—Is a Rally to $6 Next?

The Injective price witnessed a massive breakout over the past 24 hours and surged nearly 13%, reclaiming the $5 range. The rally comes amid rising market participation, increasing open interest, and growing bullish momentum across the derivatives market. After weeks of gradual recovery, the crypto is approaching a decisive resistance zone that could determine the

Ripple News: XRP Whale Wallets Hit Record High as ETF Holdings Climb to $1.44 Billion

XRP may still look stuck on the charts, but bigger holders clearly haven’t stopped accumulating. According to on-chain data shared by Santiment, the XRP Ledger has now reached an all-time high of 332,230 wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP. The findings show that it has been steadily growing since June 2024, even through all the

Charles Schwab Launches Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading for Selected U.S. Clients

Brokerage giant Charles Schwab which manages nearly $11.8 trillion has officially launched spot crypto trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, giving selected U.S. clients direct access to the two largest cryptocurrencies through its Schwab Crypto platform. The move marks one of Schwab’s biggest crypto expansions so far, mid growing adoption of digital assets across traditional finance.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Michigan Men’s Basketball Announces 2026-27 Big Ten Opponents

Basketball Just over a month after Maize and Blue...

Injective (INJ) Price Explodes 13% After Bullish Breakout—Is a Rally to $6 Next?

The Injective price witnessed a massive breakout over the past 24 hours and surged nearly 13%, reclaiming the $5 range. The rally comes amid rising market participation, increasing open interest, and growing bullish momentum across the derivatives market. After weeks of gradual recovery, the crypto is approaching a decisive resistance zone that could determine the

Ripple News: XRP Whale Wallets Hit Record High as ETF Holdings Climb to $1.44 Billion

XRP may still look stuck on the charts, but bigger holders clearly haven’t stopped accumulating. According to on-chain data shared by Santiment, the XRP Ledger has now reached an all-time high of 332,230 wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP. The findings show that it has been steadily growing since June 2024, even through all the

Charles Schwab Launches Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading for Selected U.S. Clients

Brokerage giant Charles Schwab which manages nearly $11.8 trillion has officially launched spot crypto trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, giving selected U.S. clients direct access to the two largest cryptocurrencies through its Schwab Crypto platform. The move marks one of Schwab’s biggest crypto expansions so far, mid growing adoption of digital assets across traditional finance.

NEAR Protocol Becomes Top AI Altcoin Bet as Arthur Hayes Commentary Drives Rally

NEAR Protocol is rapidly becoming one of the crypto market’s hottest AI-driven narratives after posting a sharp 25% weekly rally fueled by growing speculation around autonomous AI infrastructure and Arthur Hayes-linked commentary. The token gained another 7% in the latest session as traders increasingly positioned NEAR as a potential leader in the emerging AI-agent economy.

WD sees sustainability as key business driver in an ‘AI economy’

Hard drive company WD promoted long-term operations and sustainability executive Jackie Jung to become its first chief sustainability officer in February, as it steps up sales to companies building AI data centers. Her vision: Turn sustainability into a “brand” for WD, a strategy that reduces risk for the $6 billion company (formerly known as Western

5 Business Ideas Worth Starting in 2026

If there is one thing Nigerians understand well, it is how to spot opportunity inside hardship. In 2026, that mindset will matter more than ever. The economy is tough, competition is rising, and many people are looking for smarter ways to earn, build, and survive. But even in a difficult environment, some businesses still stand

Getting a business loan now comes with a frequent flyer upside

Australian fintech Prospa has partnered with Qantas Business Rewards, letting eligible SMEs earn up to 500,000 points per loan. What’s happening: Australian fintech lender Prospa has partnered with Qantas Business Rewards to allow eligible small and medium business owners to earn up to 500,000 Qantas Points per loan when taking out a Prospa Small Business