The J series seem to have been discontinued. Both SGJ and LPJ. Wonder why because they seemed fairly successful. Glad I got mine when I did and for anyone who's ever entertained the idea of getting one, now's the time. As for the newly announced:
 
http://www2.gibson.com/Gibson-USA-2015.aspx
 
Gibson did come up with a new "inexpensive" Les Paul - similar to the LPJ but with a standard finish: the LPM. Love the finish and I'd be very curious to try one...
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

They brought back the LP Deluxe too.
 
Those always intrigued me (it's a Townshend thing).

Yum!

I Like the Les Paul Supreme.
Where did I acquire such an expensive taste at $6.599?
 
Only I would like 3 dual mode EMG 89 pickups in it.
And a Shadow Nanomag pickup.
And a GK-3 Pickup
And a phase switch

I like the finish on that translucent ebony SG Special. Not so sure about a wider fingerboard though.

I already have a 2008 Special and a Junior that says "Les Paul" on the head, though it's well past its' playing best.

Now, if the Firebirds have actual, vintage output Firebird pickups not some too-high-output PAF (or louder) wannabe or just yet another rework of the old Epi mini'bucker they might be tempting. Always fancied a pair of Firebirds, one for straight tuning, one for slide.

In all honesty, I can't see myself spending more than +/- $1000 on a guitar, unless I am hired to play guitar for Madonna or something like that - which isn't in the cards. 
 
So it's a bit of a deception to see the J series discontinued, because if there ever was a Les Paul that was closer to my price range, that was it. That being said, the finish on the M series is much better, and having ruined the finish on my SGJ in no time, I'm not sure it's something I'd feel comfortable inflicting to a LP.
 
Here's the SGJ after 10 months...

 
The good news is that, with the Green Card, I'll be able to start looking for gigs, and the minute money starts rolling in on that side, the LPM pretty much becomes a possibility.

I wouldn't worry to much about the finish Rain, guitars are meant to be played.

My early seventies Les Paul Deluxe Gold top is really (other than the 63/64 strat I had that my best bud now owns) the only guitar I really regret selling. Would love to find a comparable model at a reasonable price today.

MakeShift
I wouldn't worry to much about the finish Rain, guitars are meant to be played.

Agreed. And it somehow works out fine on this particular SG. I can also dig a worn out strat. But Les Pauls not so much - they're one of the few guitars that look absolutely perfect off the rack. To me, they're that one guitar that you keep clean and polished and treat a bit like an old Rolls Royce or something. It's entirely irrational but that's what they are to me.

Gibson is charging more, putting on a different nut and wider fretboard curved on the ends something like that and charging 28-33% more according to the Gibson Lounge Forum oh, and a better mini-tune version and better quality (if that is really going to happen).
 
I guess to some people the old guitars will be worth more, not having a metal nut and the rest of it for used guitars selling.
 
I guess it is Epiphone from now on for some people.