I am considering a brand new Gibson LP Studio in Wine Red with gold trim or ivory black with gold.

I am assuming these are great guitars and am planning to order one from MF. I had a faded brown SG stolen a couple months ago that was great. Going to go for the LP now possibly but in the painted version with covered pickups.

I have an Epiphone Standard LP plus top with Seymour Duncan pups I put in it: fifty nine in neck and JB in bridge. It sounds great. Should I expect this new Gibson wine red to sound and play better than the modded Epi standard plus top? I would think so.

I want to own a Gibson again and not exceed the 1399 price. The Epi Tribute is less money and the Agile LP 3100's are even less. The Gibson feels really nice and it doesn't feel good to have someone take one away from you.

To confuse matters even more and make this purchase more difficult is the fact that I just bought a 209 dollar Xavier xv500 LP copy with three quarter maple cap and mahogany body and neck from Guitarfetish.com. GFS Crunch Pat pups that sound fabulous, I'm sold on them GFS Crunchy pats.

Has Gibson quality been improving lately? I haven't read too many complaints.

Also several of the SG Gibsons are within my price range liike the Special, Classic,and standard.

Any recent experience with the new LP studios with the painted finishes?