Which epiphone les paul is best

LEs Pauls. Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s. Epiphone Les Paul Modern. Of total reviews, 12 were negative and were positive. Epiphone's version of the Custom does a good job of capturing the aesthetics and menacing look of the Gibson version, right down to the gold hardware and split diamond inlay on the headstock. The primary differences between the Gibson and Epiphone version of the Custom are going to be in the parts used. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean you're getting cheaper, mass-produced hardware that allows Epiphone to bring down the price of their guitar.

Those are not stock. Another part of the Custom that isn't stock, but falls more in the electronics category, would be the potentiometers. These are actually built by a third-party called CTS , a fairly large-scale manufacturing company:. Image via CTS. These aren't the strongest potentiometers we've ever seen most of the time we recommend Stewmac for that kind of stuff , but it's worth noting that the Gibson version of the Les Paul Custom also uses a CTS potentiometer.

Electronics info for the Gibson Les Paul Custom. CTS volume and tone pots are listed here as well. Image via Gibson. The Epiphone "ProBucker" pickups are designed to mimic the Gibson Burstbuckers, but don't sound quite as good.

These pickups sound okay, though aren't in the same league as the Gibson's humbucker sets , which are far more expensive. Gibson humbuckers are far more expensive than the Epiphone ProBucker. As you can tell, it would be much pricier to put these pickups in any guitar. They're a high-end product that Gibson reserves for their nicer instruments.

You get the same brassy, kind of high-end chime on the upper register of the fretboard, along with the percussive, chunky rhythms on the lower notes. In that respect, even with the cheaper pickups , the Epiphone Les Paul Custom can handle a wide range of sounds and styles without much limitation. It's certainly a guitar that plays faster, with the SlimTaper neck design and 22 jumbo frets. If you're used to other electric guitar designs, it might take you awhile to get used to the weight distribution of a Les Paul.

Even in the new lighter models, the body feels much heavier than the neck, like it wants to hang from the strap with the body lower than you might want. Most modern styles, heavy metal , classic rock, and even blues guitarists are great candidates for the Epiphone Custom. Read the full review: Epiphone Les Paul Custom.

Stock Alnico. Epiphone Vintage Deluxe ratio machine heads. While the '50s Standard has a lot of the same parts and features as the Custom, it seems to be voiced a little more vintage, without as much aggression as the Custom. You still have the same chimey high-end, but the low-end chords and notes seem to have a little more grunge and edge to them, as opposed to the smoother heaviness of the Custom.

You can hear in this demo by Arianna Powell that the guitar is really bluesy, and responds almost like a Stratocaster on those higher notes:. Overall it just "bites" more than the Custom, which can be a good or bad thing depending on what kind of sound you're looking for.

The profiles of both guitars are very similar, where aesthetics play a bigger role in distinguishing the two. For example, the '50s Standard uses Epiphone's Vintage Deluxe tuning heads, which give the headstock a more "old school" look. You also have the gold or sunburst finishes that we typically see on older Les Paul models.

Pickups are the same Epiphone ProBuckers that we see in that Custom, though we would contend that these sound a little more like a classic PAF set. This leads us to assume there are some subtle differences in the construction of these humbuckers, though it's not listed anywhere that we can tell.

You still have an Alnico 2 magnet and four-conductor wiring with the vacuum wax potting. While the Standard is made from multiple pieces of Mahogany, the joint lines are only visible on the sides of the guitar. On the top you have a full sheet of Mahogany veneer covering the body, which also makes the guitar a little thicker. We like the long tenon join in the neck, which is a rather unique and desirable feature for such a cheap guitar.

Given the similarity in the pickup design and tonewood profile Mahogany again , it's fair to say that the Custom and the '50s Standard sound appreciably similar. This all means that the Standard is going to appeal more to those on the vintage side of the musical style spectrum. It's also a little stronger for lead guitar players.

Though we should caution - as is true with any guitar - the style you fit into is going to depend a lot on the gear you put around your electric guitar. Graduating beginners or intermediate players who are looking to get into the classic rock or blues styles will be most satisfied.

Read the full review: Epiphone Les Paul Standard ' 50s. Of 31 total reviews, 2 were negative and 29 were positive. There are only a handful of technical differences between the Les Paul Modern and the two other Epiphone LPs we've tested. First, the Modern has some additional weight relief in the body, which makes it less cumbersome to play standing up. It feels more like a "typical" guitar in regards to how weight is distributed.

But instead of dialing back the features, Epiphone has only added them! This is a ton of bang for your buck! For some guitarists, the simplicity is key. There is a reason these are favorites for so many guitarists. I think they hit a home run with this new series! All of the new Epiphone guitars for are exciting to me, but this one takes the cake!

Some of the colors are limited edition, or they are limited to a specific vendor. Epiphone took the classic Les Paul design, and tweaked it…a lot!

This is the most radical departure from the traditional Les Paul that Epiphone has ever made. I really want to pick one of these up for myself! For the affordable price, I may actually grab two. At the top of our list is the new beautiful Les Paul Modern.

At this point, Epiphone is just showing off. The new Modern models are out of this world, and probably the closest you will get to an actual Gibson model, under the Epiphone name. These are outstanding quality for the money. Epiphone has experimented with the maple cap of the Les Paul before, but the new finish process is truly something to behold.

These guitars look like a much more expensive instrument. The features like locking tuners, Flame maple cap, and a tapered neck joint cannot even be found on Gibson guitars!

For us, this might just be the most versatile Epiphone guitar in the catalog - never mind the most versatile Les Paul. So, whether you're a Rush fan or not, we urge you to give this one a go.

It's fair to say the Les Paul is a fairly chunky guitar. With its thick slab of mahogany and carved maple top, it can be uncomfortable - not to mention heavy - for many players. Well, the Muse takes care of this issue with its slimmed-down chambered body.

This routing is a lot more extreme than the modern weight relief found in the Les Paul Modern, and the new belly contour offers an extra comfort level. These features not only give the Muse a totally different feel but also changes the sound, giving this elegant guitar a completely unique identity. Those looking to invoke the magical tone of the late, great, Peter Green can do so with a pull of the tone control.

When both pickups are activated, this engages the out-of-phase setting, giving you that honky quack we all love. Epiphone has also supplied an impressive range of finish options, with seven metallic colors to choose from. Each option brings its own character, and frankly, it's difficult to choose a favorite among them - although if you made us, then Wanderlust Green may just edge out the rest. Like their bigger sibling, the Epiphone lineup has gone through a massive shake-up over the last few years.

Following in Gibson's footsteps, Epiphone has gone back to basics, producing guitars that have their roots firmly in tried and true formulas - with the odd experimental guitar here and there to keep things interesting. Believe us when we say Epiphone is currently producing the best guitars they have made in over a decade. We must say, this new - or old, depending on your perspective - approach is a welcome change, and one we have been hoping would happen for some time.

Epiphone seems to finally be listening to the fans and giving them precisely what they want. Nothing signifies this change in mindset more than the shift to the old Kalamazoo headstock design - something fans have been screaming out for.

It's not only the lineup that has changed, but the overall quality has also seen a vast improvement. We're seeing fewer reports of fret issues, broken plastics, and dead pickups that unfortunately had become commonplace on Epiphones of the past. Believe us when we say Epiphone is currently producing the best guitars they have made in over a decade, and it's exciting to see what they will bring out next.

The Epiphone catalog is now split into categories. These are Original and Inspired By Gibson. As you'd expect, the Original collection is where you'll find the Epiphone guitars that don't have a Gibson counterpart, such as the Casino, Riviera, and Sheraton. The Inspired By Gibson collection is exactly that, guitars based on current Gibson models.

The Inspired By Gibson Original collection is purely focused on vintage reissue guitars, aimed squarely at the traditional player, looking for a classic take on an iconic instrument. This is where you'll find the likes of the 50s and 60's Standard, Les Paul Junior, and '59 reissue.

Choosing the right instrument really boils down to taste and personal style. Epiphone has a guitar to cater to every player right now. It's clear that Epiphone has more creative freedom over this assembly of guitars. Offering more unique finish options and present-day features modern guitarists crave. So, whether you're a vintage purist looking for a grassroots blues guitar, a modern virtuoso on the hunt for an awe-inspiring speed demon, or a metalhead looking to bring the doom, one of these Epiphone Les Pauls will most definitely do the job.

First and foremost, I'm a guitar enthusiast — a fanatic, some might say. I'm a firm believer that most of the world's problems can be solved with a Gibson SG and a catastrophically loud amp. Before writing about guitars for a living as a Junior Deals Writer on Guitar Player, I worked in music retail for 7 years, giving advice on guitars, basses, drums, pianos, and PA systems.

For many guitarists, the Gibson Les Paul is the alpha and omega of electric guitar design. It has the tone. It has the aesthetic. One look at the latest Epiphone catalog will tell you a few things. Firstly, that the manufacturer has an abundance of its own designs — right now, there are few more exciting brands on the market.

Secondly, you might notice that it offers a cornucopia of Epiphone Les Pauls. Others offer an approachable second guitar, for intermediate players who are getting serious about the instrument and want to take their playing and their sound to the next level. We have some of those top-shelf instruments here, and they all ask the question: Why pay an extra few hundred bucks for an entry-level US Gibson when a top-line Epiphone is stacked with top-quality components and pro-quality pickups?

Why, indeed. Check out our Black Friday guitar deals page for the latest news, and the best offers around. But how refreshing it is to witness Epiphone applying a worn finish to a beginner electric in the shape of the Epiphone Les Paul Special Vintage Edition , giving it some of the kudos and magic of a s guitar.

It feels like a Les Paul — a heavy one at that — and it looks the part, too. Furthermore, this sounds like a Les Paul. The ProBuckers are outstanding pickups. You could dial in some jazz tones. Add some fuzz or distortion and this guitar will do metal, too. The first thing you might notice is the AAA flame maple on the top of the guitar.

Some of the best Epiphone Les Pauls make great options for modding, but the manufacturer has done the modding here. How do you improve upon this? There are a pair of Gibson USA BurstBuckers at the neck and bridge positions, with top-quality components used throughout.