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Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
70
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
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Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s vs Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s over Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Vintage 50s vs Wizard-7
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 17'' (431.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige over Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Wizard-7 vs Vintage 50s
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
66 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s vs Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker 2 vs DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker 1 vs DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs R7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s vs Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Maple vs Richlite
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige is the better choice.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Original Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 1 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Vintage 50s Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage Deluxe w/ Keystone Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 RGD series
  • Made in Japan
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Richlite top
  • Ash body
  • Maple/Wenge neck
  • Bound Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Wizard-7 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Weight between 8.95lbs (4.1kgs) and 9.75lbs (4.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 57
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s compares to the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s is built in United States while the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige is made in Japan.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
Quality of materials 60
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 70
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Nut Width
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 5mm (0.197'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Scale Length
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Scale Length
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige has the longest scale: 26.5". The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s is only 24.75" long. This is a 1.75'' (44.4mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's neck profile
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s favors large hands more than the Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige.

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Frets Size
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Frets Size
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige Frets Size
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige's Frets Size

The Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73
Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s vs Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
General Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Ibanez RGDR4427FX Prestige
Brand: Gibson Ibanez
Year: 2019 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: United States Japan
Series: Original Collection RGD
Colors: Gold, Yellow Burst, Cherry Sunburst Natural Blue
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Ash
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic Mono-rail
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage Deluxe w/ Keystone Buttons Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Rosewood Bound Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple/Wenge
Decoration: Acrylic Trapezoids Off-set Lum
Scale Size: 24.75" 26.5"
Shape: Vintage 50s Wizard-7
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 17"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 1 (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 0