The latest in a long line of cut-price Les Pauls, the Modern Lite, which for 2024 replaces the Les Paul Tribute and Les Paul Special Tribute models in the Gibson USA line-up, certainly lives up to at least 50 per cent of its name: at just 6.67lb it’s the lightest solidbody LP we’ve ever encountered! But Modern? Offered in five far-from-vintage solid colours it’s hardly vintage-style, but unlike the other guitars in the Modern range it keeps things old-school when it comes to wiring and sounds, and indeed its build.
Also unlike the full-fat Les Paul, the new Lite is all mahogany but its body depth drops