Finding the particular specs of 2 guitars online is quite some work.
In many cases, the manufacturers don’t inform the same features about the instruments that you want to compare and you have to start digging all over the web to find them.
But hey, relax!
If you are here, it seems like I have already done that job for you.
Here is a brief description of these 2 guitars:
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti is made in Indonesia, has a solid mahogany body, a set Wide Thin “C” 3-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and HH pickups. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is made in USA, has a solid mahogany body, a set Rounded “C” maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and HH / PP pickups.
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has PRS Designed tuners, PRS Tremonti “S” Humbucker pickups, and Standard electronics. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute has Vintage Deluxe with White buttons tuners, 490R Humbucker / P-90 pickups, and Standard electronics.
For those who want a deeper dive into all the specs that make these 2 guitars different, in this article I will put them side by side so you can see their main differences.
After that, I will show you some sound tests I found, and give you a brief history of each one of them.
I will then talk about their main specs one by one, and link you to some other interesting articles I have written about these specific features.
Finally, I will give you some comments about each of these instruments.
Are you ready to get started?
Let’s go!
PRS SE Mark Tremonti and Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute side by side
| Spec | PRS SE Mark Tremonti | Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute |
| Years of production | Since 2000 | Since 2020 |
| Made in | Indonesia | USA |
| Body type | Solid | Solid |
| Body shape | Single Cut | Les Paul Special |
| Body material | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Top material | Maple | |
| Finish | Gloss Polyester | Satin Polyurethane |
| Neck material | 3-piece maple | Maple |
| Neck shape | Wide Thin “C” | Rounded “C” |
| Headstock shape | PRS | Gibson |
| Neck joint | Set | Set |
| Fingerboard material | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard radius | 10″ | 12″ |
| Number of frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fret material | Nickel Silver | Nickel Silver |
| Fret size | Medium Jumbo | Medium Jumbo |
| Scale length | 25″ | 24.75″ |
| Bridge | PRS Molded Tremolo | Compensated Wraparound |
| Tailpiece | Bridge integrated | Bridge integrated |
| Nut | Plastic | GraphTech |
| Tuners | PRS Designed | Vintage Deluxe with White buttons |
| Pickup configuration | HH | HH / PP |
| Neck pickup | PRS Tremonti “S” Humbucker | 490R Humbucker / P-90 |
| Middle pickup | ||
| Bridge pickup | PRS Tremonti “S” Humbucker | 490T Humbucker / P-90 |
| Electronics | Standard | Standard |
| Controls | 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone | 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone |
| Switching | 3-Way Toggle | 3-Way Toggle |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs | 8 lbs |
| Players | Mark Tremonti | Slash, Gary Moore, Jimmy Page, Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons, Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley, Joe Perry, Peter Green |
| Case | Gig bag | Gig bag |
| Price | $829 | $999 |
What do they sound like?
PRS SE Mark Tremonti play demo
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute play demo
Brief descriptions
A brief description of the PRS SE Mark Tremonti
“Mark Tremonti — founding member of Creed, Alter Bridge, and Tremonti — demands a few things from his signature axe, including playability, powerful tone, and reliability. The SE Mark Tremonti, his signature PRS model, more than delivers on those demands. It has a Wide Thin maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and 22 frets for seamless soloing. Two Tremonti “S” pickups provide a pounding tone with exceptional clarity, so you can use them for high-gain leads. By virtue of its PRS pedigree, this guitar is exceptionally reliable. The mahogany body, maple top veneer, electronics, and neck all work together in harmony to provide players with a next-level playing experience. If that sounds like the guitar for you, pick up a PRS SE Mark Tremonti today!”
Source: Sweetwater.com
A brief description of the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute
“Do you want to harness the primal sound of rock? Then strap on the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute. That’s exactly what it delivers. Fitted with Gibson’s Modern Classic 490R and 490T humbucking pickups, this Les Paul Special possesses a contemporary tone profile different from the old-school vibe of P-90-equipped Specials. The guitar’s mahogany-slab body undergirds their sound with a hefty bottom end and warm midrange. And, of course, the Les Paul Special tribute’s iconic stripped-down silhouette and finish will inspire your most raw-sounding riffs every time you pull it from its case.”
Source: Sweetwater.com
Body type
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a solid body. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a solid body.
As you probably know, the body type of a guitar is a defining factor for its character and tone.
If you want to know more about how these kinds of bodies affect these guitars, you can check out this article:
Body shape
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a Single Cut body. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a Les Paul Special body.
The shape of a guitar’s body has serious implications on its playability, but not so much on its tone.
If you want to know everything about the effect of guitar body shapes, and their influence on the instrument, check out this article:
Body material
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a solid mahogany body. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a solid mahogany body.
The kind of material used to build a guitar’s body is something you should really pay attention to.
This is one of the main factors that define the tone of an instrument.
If you want to know how these specifics materials impact the tone of these guitars, you should take a look here:
Top material
Guitarists are often curious about how guitar tops affect tone.
There are many factors that contribute to the sound of a guitar, and whether it has a top is an important one. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to make a decision.
The following article will explain what guitar tops are and why they matter, as well as provide guidance for those who want to learn more about these options.
In short, a guitar’s top has a slight, but perceivable, influence on its tone, however, they are mostly used for aesthetic purposes.
Whether your preferred guitar has one or not, it shouldn’t worry you too much.
However, if you want to know all there is about guitar tops, go here:
Finish
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a gloss polyester finish. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is painted with a satin polyurethane finish.
Guitar players know that there are many variables in determining the sound of a guitar. Yet, one of the most popular debates is about nitro vs poly.
Let’s explore this question, so you can make an informed decision for your next purchase.
These 2 finishes are both types of varnish that can be used to protect and beautify a guitar’s wood. They also have slightly different properties that some players argue can influence the tone of your guitar.
Nitro is a type of varnish that is thinner and less durable, while poly is thicker, way more durable, and cheaper.
Poly provides more protection from moisture and scratches, but some people argue it reduces resonance and sustain. Nitro wears off with time but has a more organic feel to the touch and is said to improve sustain and resonance.
Neck material
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a 3-piece maple neck. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a maple neck.
The type of wood that a guitar neck is made of will have a significant impact on the tone of your guitar.
Tonewoods have different densities, hardness, and acoustic qualities.
The type of wood a guitar neck is built with will determine its final sound.
In the following article I present you a list of the most common tonewoods used in guitar necks, and the influence they could have on the tone of the instrument:
Neck shape
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a Wide Thin “C” neck. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a Rounded “C” neck.
The shape of a guitar neck has a significant impact on the tone and playability.
Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes, so it’s important to know what each of those shapes offers.
Luckily for you, I’ve compiled some general information about each different type of guitar neck shape so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next guitar:
Headstock shape
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a PRS headstock. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a Gibson headstock.
The shape of a guitar’s headstock is not really a big defining factor for its tone.
However, many players argue that differences in mass, especially at the end of the neck can have some implications in tone.
In this article I go deep into that topic and answer the most pressing questions:
Neck joint
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a set neck. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a set neck.
Guitar necks come in a variety of different joints, and each one has its own pros and cons.
Knowing the differences between each joint can help you decide which is best for you.
A guitar’s neck joint is what attaches the guitar’s neck to the body of the instrument.
There are 3 types of neck joints: bolt-on, set, and neck through.
Bolt-on necks are attached by screws at the heel of the neck and can be removed easily for repairs or customization.
Set necks attach to a pocket in the guitar’s body and stay put with glue.
In neck trough instruments, the neck elongates and becomes the central piece of the body, where most of its hardware is mounted. Then, there are wood “wings” glued to its side to complete the body shape.
If you want to know the specifics of each of these joints, check out this article:
Fingerboard material
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti fretboard is made of rosewood. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute fretboard is built of rosewood.
The material of a guitar’s fingerboards is as important as the one of the rest of the neck.
In conjunction, both these 2 parts have a deep impact on the final tone of the instrument.
Also, take into consideration that the fretboard is the point of contact for your playing fingers with the guitar, so feel is also a very important factor.
In the following article, I share my thoughts on different fingerboard materials and their impact on the final sound of the instrument:
Fingerboard radius
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a 10″ radius. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a 12″ radius.
The radius of the fingerboard is a measure of how curved the neck of the guitar actually is when looking at it from bridge to nut.
This curvature is really a defining factor for how the instrument plays, and some players are very strict about it.
If you want to know more about how it’s measured and the effect it has on the playability of a guitar, you should look at the following article:
Frets
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with 22 medium jumbo nickel silver frets.
The frets on a guitar have a deep impact on its playability.
Many players don’t consider this as important as other features, but more experienced ones will be very picky about this.
Bigger frets make a guitar easier to play, however, they hinder the overall intonation of the instrument.
Also, there are different fret materials to consider.
In these articles, I dive deep into how important are frets for a guitar.
Scale length
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a 25″ scale length. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a 24.75″ scale length.
The scale length of a guitar refers to the longitude of the vibrating part of the string.
This is measured from the nut to the bridge, and for intonation purposes, the middle point is always the 12th fret.
Different scale lengths have varying influences over things such as string tension, and of course, fret gap size.
If you want to know more about this, I invite you to read the post below:
Bridge
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a PRS Molded Tremolo bridge. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a Compensated Wraparound bridge.
A guitar’s bridge is one of the 2 points of contact the strings have with the body and neck.
It is a central part for the transmission of vibrations through the instrument, and also defines many important factors for playability such as string spacing and action.
Some bridges also have extra functionalities.
To know everything there is about this part of the guitar, please go here:
Tailpiece
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a bridge integrated tailpiece. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a bridge integrated tailpiece.
Tailpieces are often forgotten when thinking about guitar parts, however, they have been there for centuries, and there are many different designs with alternate features.
Whether your guitar has a standalone one or a bridge that works like one too, you might be interested in broadening your knowledge about tailpieces here:
Nut
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has a plastic nut. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with a graphtech nut.
The nut of a guitar is a small but very important part of the instrument.
It helps define string spacing, action, and is the source of many of the tuning issues cheaper instruments suffer from.
There are many kinds and materials of nuts out there, and if you want to know how they can impact your instrument of choice, you should go to this article:
Tuners
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has PRS Designed tuners. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with Vintage Deluxe with White buttons tuners.
Guitar tuners don’t have a direct effect on how a guitar sounds.
However, their quality will be a defining factor in your playing experience.
It’s fundamental that your instrument has good quality machine heads to keep it in tune.
In the following article, I dive deep into the most common questions players ask about tuners, and their functionality:
Pickups
Guitar pickups are one of the main components of any electric guitar.
But do guitar pickups make a difference in sound? This can be a difficult question with many different answers.
The most important thing to note is that it is not just the type of pickup that determines a guitar’s sound, but also how and where you place the pickup on the guitar.
In this guide, we will discuss the different types of pickups and how they affect your sound.
We will outline how pickups work and what are the central factors that determine how they influence the tone of your instrument.
Finally, we will help you compare different models and make an informed decision about which pickup is right for you.
Electronics
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti has standard electronics, 2 x volume, 2 x tone controls, and a 3-way toggle switch. The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is built with standard electronics, 2 x volume, 2 x tone controls, and a 3-way toggle switch.
The electronics of an electric guitar are what gives the instrument its name. However, because they are hidden inside the cavities into its body, they are often forgotten.
Controls, switches, capacitors and resistances, all make for the circuitry of a guitar, and all have effects on the final tone and sounds it can offer to the player.
If you want to know the main things about this topic, I recommend you follow this link:
Weight
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti weighs 9.5 lbs, and the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute weighs 8 lbs.
Guitar weight is an important factor when it comes to finding the right guitar for you.
A heavier guitar will give you more sustain, but a lighter guitar will be more resonant, and easier to play and carry around.
However, there’s no single answer to whether a lighter or heavier guitar will sound better than the other.
There are also many factors that could determine what weight of guitar would be best for you.
Here, I explore some of these considerations and what I think are the main points to take into account:
Final comments
The PRS SE Mark Tremonti is a PRS classic, and one of its top sellers. The Tremonti signature is a metal beast, but also allows the player for a lot of versatility when dialing down tones, as all PRS guitars do.
The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is a reissue of the legendary Les Paul Special that comes in 2 different pickup configurations, P-90s, and humbuckers, to cater to all audiences.
Which one do you think you like better?
Hello there, my name is Ramiro and I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years. I’m obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. From guitars, pedals, amps, and synths to studio gear and production tips, I hope you find what I post here useful, and I’ll try my best to keep it entertaining also.
