i got mine today, no delays, im a 62 year old beginner so help me learn how to play this beautiful work of art....i was born in 1959, had to get it. time to practice my ass off...
Ha! I just picked one up today, it's my first Les Paul. I was also born in 1959 and the truth is that swayed me into wanting this model. I'm loving it so far. The neck is chunkier than the Strat I've been playing since 1974 but I'm adjusting. It's a very nice guitar.
I’ve had mine for a week now, heritage cherry. Does not look bad in person. Plays great, sounds great, frets are great action great. Quality is very good. Very solid guitar NO complaints here! Update this guitar is very good absolutely no QC issues.
@@gxs8p578 I haven’t felt the need to set it up. it wasn’t perfect right out of box but after playing for maybe 4 hours in the past month it’s come good. Even if you had to get it professionally set up this is a staggeringly good guitar that few people (including the guys working in guitar stores) actually know about.
@@gxs8p578 I’ve had mine for 3 months and I’ve not had it set up. But to be honest even if you have to it’s still an amazing guitar at a very reasonable price.
Wha wha what? A Chibson is an affordable fake? Isn't this what Gibson sued people forever for? I have a wonderful Studio since 2008 ...and I'd never trade it for a Chibson in a cold Canadian day in Hell. Friends, save your coin for an Gibson Reissue. Poor original Epi Co. is spinning in the grave.
@@rayrobinson2074 hope your agile is better than the one i tried boasting about. I put so much aftermarket parts into it. About as useful as putting glitter on crap.
Love mine. The frets are pretty gritty. I didn't realize the case came with it. I was pleasantly surprised that the case came with it and was blown away with how beautiful the package was when I opened it.
The Gibson pickups and hard case pay for the price difference between this and an Epi standard, and then some. I wish I had played this before buying my Classic!
I got one just last week and WOW! For an amateur musician, who plays mostly in his bedroom and an occasional rehearsal (by occasional I mean post-COVID), it's more than enough and great value as well!
VIDEO SECTIONS: 1. What's so great about a '59? 2. Authentic Specs?? - 2:13 3. Tones! - 5:18 4. One Minute Solo! - 7:40 5. What is the overall quality? - 9:04 6. Should you actually buy one? - 11:27 Guitar Link: imp.i114863.net/AqGqK Enjoy!
Wow, 6:30 is that classic Les Paul chunky crunch sound! Also, nice job with the clean runs and great feel in the one minute solo and at the end. So authentic. Looking forward to your import guitar shootout!
@@jamesthe-doctor8981 It's a flame maple veneer over an actual hard maple cap. This guitar blows a firefly away bro. It has Gibson burstbucker pickups, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors, Switchcraft pickup selector switch & output jack & 50's style hand wiring. The fretboard issue (which mine doesn't have) is an easy fix. It's made in china but it's made in conjunction with the Gibson custom shop. Seriously, it's a quality guitar with components that a firefly just can't match.
Got this one in my sites. When you consider the finish, pickups, premium pots and wiring, and the included hard case it really is a solid deal. I've owned many Gibson LPs and Epiphone never ceases to amaze me.
Summary of The Bursts: 58 has big neck with small frets, 59 has big neck with big frets, 60 has thin neck with big frets. Pickups were alnico 2 and became hotter as well.
Epiphone's 1959 Limited Edition Les Paul Standard is without a doubt the best guitar on the market for the money today. It's absolutely amazing. They built on the stellar success of their 1950's Les Paul and added the Gibson PAF pickups and wiring. There truly is no reason to spend $1800 or more now on a new Gibson. This guitar is fantastic. If you want to get that classic Clapton Beano tone, this is it. I love this guitar.
The wood source of Gibson is not the wood source of Epiphone. I think there will be a strong difference in how their woods age, and therefore, a substantial difference in how hard or difficult they will be to keep in tune. It is a great guitar, yes, but saying that there is no reason to buy the Gibson Standard... is a bit far-fetched I (and most guitar players who have played both) would say.
How extremely bizarre...My son and I were just talking earlier today about the Epiphone acoustic i gave him and we chatted about him wanting an electric one and here you are dropping a video on a little history of your epiphone guitar! Super cool! Love the guitar too!
The 1959 was remade with the same specs including a long neck tenon in 2009 they onlyreleased 1,959 epiphones to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 59 les paul. In doing so the "standard" for the guitar was upgraded with switchcraft toggle, gibson burstbucker 2 and 3 pickups 50s wiring thumbbleeders and of course it was the first time you could pickup a les paul style guitar that would have a long neck tenon for less then a couple hundred grand. Which means people (including myself) have experienced this level of quality from epiphone since 2009! I would have never though they would actually get yet another 59 to the masses at such a cheap price with this much quality AGAIN! The only upgrades my 2009 1959 epiphone les paul standard did not receive is a graph tech nut ( which i later corrected) and a matte finish, my 2009 is style finished in the normal glossy polyurethane
@@yankleber what does that even mean?! I subscribed to his channel so i get notifications when he post but how did he know to post a video on the epiphone guitar 😅??
@@scr0711 well its easy mate, how did facebook know you where looking that sweet gear up. Even google chromecast can be listening. So many electronic devices with built in James bond sheet you'd go crazy just figuring out which ones are listening and which ones are just plain electronics
On this guitar in particular, I found all three positions were tonally unique, and all equally useable. I really love the "butter" in the neck position!
I just got one of the "Southern Fade " finished ones and it plays and most important to me records great. In his review he left out the fact that the caps are Mallorys which also was standard in the original 59's and it has the treble bleed feature. All in all its a really nice guitar. I'm very pleased with it and it was worth the wait.
Hi, Just bought one a little over a week ago and mine is Aged Southern Burst. It is Beautiful. but I wish it was a gloss finish. but I certainly can live with it the way it is. Sounds incredible and plays wonderful! I Love it. best regards to you and yours!
I have 2 mid 90's Epi LP's too...back when they were made in Korea and had long neck tenons. I also have had this 1959 for a few months and love it as well...fatter neck but still comfortable.
I think that's the era we're in now with influencers having all these expensive pedals and guitars and still trying to act like "a normal person" With as much money as these folks get paid for being "influencers" and all the extras they are given "to demo", it's kind of silly watching them try to act like people that have to save up for long amounts of time to afford some of the cheapest stuff they have. I can only afford to play Epiphones and I have 3. but I also have four kids so this is actually not an Epiphone I could afford "until I find it used online" unless I waited through several months of saving. Now of course I have to deal with the comments of people without debt blaming me for the situation I'm in even though that does no one here any good, but,, go ahead and belittle me since that's what the comment section is for anyway.
@@DJMerck I had to save up for about two years for a Made in mexico strat and i couldn't be happier, so having youtubers speak of mim guitars like they're dirt cheap and "just okay" is insane to me.
I have this guitar and I have to say it's one of the best guitars I have ever played! It sounds and feels just like a gibson and I promise its a great purchase!
You plug this thing into a nice tube combo, add some gain, and off you *go*. Wonderful guitar, one of the nicest I have played for less than $3,000. For $225 more than the 50's Standard, you get the Gibson Burstbuckers, the chunkier neck, the cool case, and the upgraded wiring. Best deal in the Epiphone line IMHO.
I vote for you doing the Les Paul shootout! You're always well paced and articulate in your videos, so I think you'd make a really good video for people who are curious or shopping for a Les Paul.
So glad to see a one minute solo in a mix again! And for some reason I always love the Les Paul solos you do more than pretty much anything else. Love those tones!
My favorite thing about this channel is, Darrell shows us we don’t have to buy a $12,000 PRS or the same Strat Jeff Beck plays to have a nice playing guitar.
PRS wouldn't make those 12 thou buck 🎸 unless fools were gonna buy them. Shouldn't Epiphone aim to make every guitar as good and close to an original Gibson as possible for the 💸? So they just admitted that's not always the case, oops. This 59 copy is not as nice as those Tokai LP's for the same 💰 imo from what I hear in this vid, not that it's bad.
@@johncollins5552 I feel an Epiphone has a sufficient link to Les Paul and Gibson for me to consider to authentic- enough. Same with Squier. A Tokai for me is just a copy and I’m not a fan of copies no matter how good.
@@johncollins5552 I can assure you, the PRS guitars are worth every penny. There's a reason they're so pricey. I myself have only gone up to the core models. Mine was around $4300, but man, it is one of the most amazing guitars I've ever played. That being said, there isn't a need to have a guitar that expensive, but if you can afford it, then it is totally worth it. I will cherish my Custom 24-08 forever. I love my Strats and LP's, but they just don't do it for me the same way. I will have a private stock someday!😃
How much effect does the wood on a solid body guitar have on tone? Lol, I love how it goes from "well it doesn't have Gibson electronics so it's crap" to "this is made of wood that wasn't harvested by Brazilians in 1958 so it's going to sound like crap"..."Indian laurel?!? That fretboard just doesn't have the tone of my GIBSON rosewood one..." A "real" Gibson's advantage in this case comes down to the name on the headstock and resale. I couldn't care less about either.
At $799, some might wonder "Why the extra money?" This guitar comes with kickass Gibson pickups... that's why. Epiphone Les Pauls normally ship with ProBucker pickups, or MudBucker as I like to call them. These are BurstBucker pickups, same as in a Gibson Les Paul, and as you can hear in the video, they kick serious ass. This is a pro-level guitar that does not require any upgrades, which is a good deal at this price.
@@carrielittlecplaster1620 that's right, he's just a Gibson snob. I had an old Epiphone Les Paul Studio with alnico's and they were terrible. My LP Standard Pro with the Probuckers is awesome...night and day difference.
The Gibson pickups in this guitar are nothing special compared to brands like Tonerider or BYOguitar which literally use the same components and are wound the same way. The difference is you can buy PAF's from either brand for way under $100.
Quick story about mine - I got the dark burst about 1 month ago. So I’m sitting in my bedroom and the guitar is laying on the bed next to me flat on the mattress. I place my fingertips on the body - lightly - and strum the strings. I can feel the entire body and neck resonate / vibrate under my fingers. So I get the bright idea to time how long it resonates. Strange thing happens - after the strings stop vibrating the guitar is still vibrating/ resonating. I have a small fan with a small motor in my practice room. Very quiet. The tiny fan motor made this guitar resonate from 15’ away. On a mattress. Unbelievable!!! Very nice guitar - everything a 10. Thanks for the videos Daryl - have enjoyed every one 👍🎸
Just goes to show what an amp and decent playing skills can do to make a lot of, what people thought were no good, guitars sound good. Love the new headstock too. I hated the clipped ears on the older ones.
Got one a few weeks ago. Great guitar but the frets needed crowning and polishing. They were gritty and ends needed finishing. Once done, it plays, feels, and sounds great. The neck is more comfortable for me that the two other Gibson LPs (faded and studio) i have. Out of the three LPs, this is the one i play most at the lowest price.
I have one in Cherry burst, played on it for awhile and then converted the bridge to an ABR1 using Faber inserts and a Gibson bridge, added some vintage 50's Sprague bumblebee caps, still thinking about replacing the burstbuckers. The neck is great, the finish feels right and the weight is right for a good Les Paul. There are a few upgrades left, polish out the top to a gloss.
I kind of feel that I have to take your word over your playing; mainly because I always love to see/hear you play, no matter what the guitar you're demoing!
I just got this exact guitar 2 weeks ago. It is awesome!!! $799 U.S. with case. Gibson pickups, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors, Switchcraft USA pickup selector switch & output jack & 50's style hand wiring, you can't beat that deal!!!
Update: another week of playing and no issues at all with QC, tuning stability is excellent, all in all great guitar for the $$! I think it is a great companion to my 2005 American Telecaster. Update 5/18/2021 it is a very good guitar, tone, feel, and tuning stability! It’s definitely a keeper.
I have been wanting one of these since their inception but couldn’t afford it at the time . Then , the price went up and then they introduced a new version that’s even more expensive . I found them on clearance sale for $799 and ordered one right away in the aged dark cherry burst , it not as orangey as the picture of it is , which is great . I got mine on 12/15/24 and I absolutely love it ! It sounds great and it plays nicely too . Personally , I think it’s a fantastic deal for what it is and it’s a great guitar all the way around . They listed the aged dark burst for $699 but before I could pull the trigger on that one , they went back to $799 . I’m watching and if it happens again , I’ll buy the other one too ! Great guitars for the price , hell , they’re great guitars period ! Take care everyone , peace ☮️ !
I've got the same '59 and I love it. The finish feels great and it never gets sticky. I really think the finish should be more of a talking point from Epiphone. They really hit it out of the park with this one. Easily the best Epiphone I've ever played. It's on par with the few Gibson LP Traditional's I've played. The neck on yours looks much darker than mine, maybe it's just the lighting. Great review, cheers!
I got mine apx one month ago from Sweetwater. Before I picked it up, I had it plekked and upgraded the nut. I'm not a player so do you think that was a necessary thing to do?
@@calvinevans6347 Not really, however I've been doing all the maintenance of my guitars since I was a kid. Having it cnc'd must have stuck a couple of hundred bucks on the total? Unless they throw it in at the point of sale then ok but we've had superb guitars way before fret dressing machines came along. I personally would have lessons on how to redress the neck of your guitar rather than use this lazy way that has the potential to damage your guitar aswell. Yeah unless it's an extra at the point of purchase included in the order then I wouldn't bother. Pay a human to do it. I have a Yammy APX and it didn't need plecking, you may have acted in haste. I wonder, was it recommended? The CNC treatment?
@@calvinevans6347 I think it just depends. I did mine myself. But I've been working on guitars for quite some time. If you haven't been working on guitars and you want it to be perfect, you went the right route. This first thing I did when I got mine was pull the strings off, clean and buff the board, dress the frets, restring, and set it up. Before I played I note. But again, I have all the tools and the experience to do so. Without all those things in place, you did it right. I bet she plays great! Cheers!
10:00 I think most new Epiphone's have CTS pots, Graphtech nuts and Grover tuners (including the new standards). The Gibson pups are unique to this model though
Very well done vid, Darrell! Good analysis, good playing and very understandable as well for a non English native speaker. Got this one in Cherry burst. First guitar I ever pre-ordered. One of my best buys. Amazing sound. No need to upgrade or change anything. Congrats to Epiphone!
Love to see the comparison... just bought this model. One of the last in Australia. Beautiful instrument and the closest Ill ever come my wife allowing me buying a Gibson.
And on top of it, the difference in quality between the two is down to almost nothing. Some people would even argue that over the last 10 years, Epiphone's QC has surpassed Gibson's in most cases. Gibson's are so lackluster over the last decade that it's almost surprising to me that they're even able to sell them anymore. I'm not a huge fan of Fender either, but their QC is excellent across the board and they've done some really interesting and experimental things with their guitars over the last few years. SO glad to see that out of one of the big names.
Allow me to say, I really enjoy your videos, Darrell...very informative, with just the right touch of happy presenter...and your playing resonates very well, too...thank you for making winter in Ocala, Florida, USA a little more bearable.
@@mrnobody6609 Right. And besides that, does anybody really think this guitar in the video looks good? to me the painting looks like a cheap supermarket guitar /:
Epi’s are amazing, even as a Gibson fanboy. To technically get more accurate historic specs on the epiphone than a Gibson USA LP standard. The Gibson USA standards aren’t even historically accurate. They don’t have long neck tenons while the epi does, and they have the Nashville bridge setup and not the 59 ABR-1 bridge. They’re 2 pieces minimum while a real 59 was a one piece body. So In the end the Gibson USA Les Paul is not even close to the real LP sound. A custom shop historic reissue is the “real” LP but those start at 5K +. So this epiphone is more historically accurate than a Gibson USA standard
@@markwright9352 You’re kidding right? Les designed the famous ‘Log’ solid body guitar while working at Epiphone (that Gibson turned down). Then when Gibson finally decided to get into solid body guitars they contacted Les who was now very famous, they met and hammered out features & design of the guitar that he would perform with.
@@mrkoodo5953 Contrary to popular belief, Les Paul didn’t really design the Les Paul guitar at all. He was consulted, and had some input on its look ie the colour witch was Gold but the guitar itself was designed by Ted McCarty John Huis and Larry?? Can’t remember his last name now
I’ve purchased many Epiphones over time and i’ve just grab this 59 yesterday. it has the best setup and works perfectly. It was compared with my Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2016 and oh boy it stays next to that goldie 👌🏻
@@overdriveguitarchannel3403 P,entry 58’s had flame tops as well. Gibson didn’t select for flames in any of the three years of the burst. We see more flames on 59 and 60 because those years had full production runs of bursts. Also, 58 was only a partial ‘burst’ year....plenty of tops were covered in gold paint.
@@racerzoli no. In the 1950s, the tops were selected randomly. Its the GIbson Custom Shop that uses only plain tops on R8s (some are flame tops tho) and definitely flame tops on R9s and R0s
Thanks for the great video Paul. I been a subber for along time and watch almost all your videos. I ordered mine in July and I just received it last Friday. I'm impressed with what I got for the price, it is a nice guitar. Now I can pass this video on to my friends that can't see it or play it during lock down. Thanks again👊
I'm praying our dollar gets better. Not for something silly like financial stability or anything.. I just want to buy a damn guitar without spending 30% more.
@@martinlahaie6012 This is actually a better guitar than a Gibson studio. Studio's don't have burstbucker pickups, they have the 490R & 498T. Burstbucker 2 & 3 are superior pickups.
Years ago I bought the Epiphone 1961 Les Paul Tribute Plus. Midnight Sapphire flame, long neck tenon, CTS, push/pull pots, Gibson '57 Classic and Classic plus, Switchcraft switch, maple cap then veneer, etc. Love it. Back then it was $599. w/case! Grover locking tuners. They're still made, approx $849. If you can find one, get it!
I've had mine for a month and a half, Cherry finish. I got lucky and put a hold on one as I had store credit. Plays amazing, the fat neck feels great. The burstbucker pickups are far superior to the epiphone stock pickups. Considering the Epiphone Standard is $869, and this is $1150 and is a superior guitar and comes with a hard case, I think it's a pretty good deal.
It's the best value in the Epiphone catalog. Under $300 more, and you get a set of $250 pickups, and a $150 case. Full stop. Then you get the thicker neck, the Mallory caps and Switchcraft switch. Superb guitar.
This usually doesn't work properly. Factory satin finishes use built-in talc-ing agents to give the finish their satin-like texture. Attempting to sand and bufff the finish smooth results in a semi-gloss finish with bumps and lumps all over it from sanding the top layer of talc off and hitting another layer of talc agent underneath. If you want a truly glossy finish you need to strip it completely and use a finish that's specifically designed to be glossy.
What the Epis illustrate is the need to have more time with a guitar during its build. When the fretwork, electrics, and finish work are all on point, you really can’t go wrong with an Epiphone right now. When it all comes down to it the Epiphones that are being currently made in the Gibson owned factory are great value. With the 59’ and some of the new signature models you’re getting the guitar already upgraded as many buyers would do anyway. The Epis just don’t get the attention and time that the Gibsons do. That’s obviously not the only difference but it is the major one that impacts the final product IMO. As you say here Daryl, with a little TLC (fret polishing, check cavities, change strings, condition dry board, tighten screws), you can feel pretty damn good about an Epiphone purchase. Keep in mind that some of what I just mentioned may even need to be done on a new Gibson too. You can even buy 2-3 for what you’d pay for a Gibson counterpart. I have a current “inspired by” Epi Matt Heafy that I use for metal and heavier rock stuff. It’s a shockingly good guitar w/one of the best ebony boards I’ve seen on any guitar. The fret work is very good, the nut is a correctly cut GraphTech, and the tuners are Grover locking. When I compare it to my Gibson LP, it’s not the same but it does get about 90% there. And some of these come w/OHSC or hard bag. Not even all Gibsons can say that. Granted, it’s likely a 6 piece body but no one is ever going to see or even hear that and that’s another discussion altogether. Epiphone is doing good here and Gibson is narrowing the gap between brands which is good news for both names IMO. These are great guitars as “keepers” or place holders. This all depends on perspective, your goals, and where you are in your playing journey. As a result, I’m on board with both brands. - A lifelong (40 year) Gibson player, former Epi hater, and headstock snob.
Just got mine today after a long back order from American Musical. Unboxing the guitar and opening the case really gave me a nice surprise, a Pink lining like the original, then the guitar itself is really pretty with the subdued finish in Dark burst, it shines while not being shiny if that makes any sense lol. The collaboration between the Gibson custom shop and Epiphone really makes this guitar a stand out Epi. All the goodies from the regular Gibson 59's with Gibson Burst bucker's 2 and 3 pup's , Switch craft switch and Mallory capacitor's and 50's style wiring for authenticity, In my book you can't go wrong with this guitar, if you are looking for a really nice tribute instrument without paying the out of this world price for a Gibson, which is NOT all THAT far from this guitar, yea it's a Gibson but it also cost's a mint and these day's it's not a whole LOT of us who can afford that sort of fund's, and this guitar will NOT disappoint you at the 800.00 range with a hard shell case to boot and a really cool Stamped metal Epi co. Limited Edition label on the switch control cover. The finish is spot on , no over lay on the binding and no messy work on the finish. The neck is comfortable and slightly slimmer than my Epi. custom pro 2016. They haven't been too easy to find lately and most of the shop's are on back order, so if you want a really nice looking, sounding and playing Les Paul for under the cost of a small house then grab one of these before they are gone.
Only if they put right what they did wrong. The bridge was designed to have the strings run over the top, as usual. They cut the neck tenon at the wrong angle, so, Gibson bein Gibson, they didn’t fix that. They just ran the strings under the trapeze - which makes for a terrible Bridge, and one you can’t mute on..
Thanks for the review! I bought the Cherry Burst in 2022 and I am really pleased with it. I mainly use my 1968 LP Custom in the studio but when I saw this and tried it I just had to grab it - feels 'familiar but different' in a good way. I much prefer the satin finish to the usual poly gloss and the pick-ups / wiring etc. are excellent. I noticed that the stockist here has actually increased the price by about USD 250 since I bought mine for the remaining 2 they have, so there ya go!
My cherry burst one arrived in August. She's so pretty . Mine doesn't sound like this one though. More like a cat in a blender with a siren in the background.
@@sbegley0193 No, more to me just learning how to play and memorising the fretboard by pretending I'm EVH. The guitar itself I'm sure sounds fantastic with someone who can play it. :)
@@tommy605 lol word fair enough. I bought mine used, and it had some serious fret buzz until I took it into the shop and got them replaced with stainless steel. Sounds amazing now. Might have just been uneven though, and I think you can even them out at home yourself if they get uneven, I think Herman li has a video on it
@@sbegley0193 The odd thing is, I do fret levelling, replacing fret, repair and replace pickups, etc for a friend for years on his gig guitars in the area, so that stuff I'm good with. Just recently decided to really learn to play. The repair is easy. Playing is much harder Not sure who Herman Li is but I will check him out. thx
Great review. All the facts relating to the guitar were well explained in full detail. I had so many questions before I would make a purchase of the 1959, but this answered everything. I'm sold. Thank you!
I played one. The “grittiness” Darryl mentioned was all over the guitar I played. Also, I thought the finish looked cheap and the neck was too thick compared to the 59 Gibson reissue that was right behind me at Guitar Center. I went home and cancelled my order with Sweetwater. Oh yea the reason it was on the wall at GC is because whoever ordered it didn’t want it either.
Hey Darrell, Thanks for your awesome videos! Just wanted to let you know that I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom with the Ebony fingerboard because of your recent review about the Elitist and I'm absolutely loving it. You bring us joy for guitars every time you upload and I appreciate your videos so so much. Thanks a lot and greetings from Switzerland ^-^
I think your “sit in the mix” section is interesting, because your mixes are so well done and your playing is so good. You can make a piece of crap sound good. I honestly never hear a bad tone coming out of your reviews. That’s a testament to your abilities rather than the quality of the products you are reviewing.
That would be interesting. HB 450 is a hell of a guitar. Agile 3100 from Rondo is a crazy good axe too. Just picked up a used gold top for $250. P-90s like an LP Tribute I had. Agile is every bit as good.
@@countvond233 Those Agiles are hard to find now, I'm not sure what's going in with Rondo music but you can't even find them listed anymore on his website.
I recently bought a 2020 50's Standard LS Epiphone and I love it! Tuners are great, stays in tune even when I'm bending like crazy. Maybe I was lucky but the fretwork is amazing, smooth everywhere and no grittiness at all. The only differences between the 59's version that I can see is the construction of the neck, the humbucker type and the finish. Very similar in sound. Great guitars for the prices!! Highly recommend them.
I have an LP studio. If this guitar was around when I bought my Studio, I would have bought this instead for sure. And YES I'd love to see that shootout with the two Epiphones and the Gibson.
Hi, I purchased this guitar in honey burst from Sweetwater. Just wanted to say that my frets are very smooth. No grit at all. Not sure if Sweetwater polished before shipping but it plays very smooth. Plus the flame maple on mine is very good. Really impressed with the guitar. I really like the finish on mine. Very slick compared to my other Gibson guitars. Definitely has that old school rock tone. Great video!
I played one that was on the wall at Guitar Center this afternoon. Wow! The feel is very close to my Standard 50s (neck, playability, etc.), which is itself a great guitar. It wins on the pickups (and it beat a Tribute Gibson that was just a slab body hands down to me). So I need to upgrade my pickups.
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro in that same color and I love it. It's been my #1 for almost 2 years now. I took the pickguard off and it looks even better now haha. Epiphone's are closer to Gibson quality than they've ever been!
The best EPI ever! Flat 59 neck and Gibson Burstbuckers! Sounds more like a real Gibson. The rest comes out of your'e fingers! Polish the frets!🤘👍🏼🌹 Starts up at 459€! Great stuff Darrell! John Lennon loved EPI's!
i got mine today, no delays, im a 62 year old beginner so help me learn how to play this beautiful work of art....i was born in 1959, had to get it. time to practice my ass off...
A great begin tool was Rocksmith for video games that you can play your real guitar with and they teach you scales chords and songs ! It's great !
Ha! I just picked one up today, it's my first Les Paul. I was also born in 1959 and the truth is that swayed me into wanting this model. I'm loving it so far. The neck is chunkier than the Strat I've been playing since 1974 but I'm adjusting. It's a very nice guitar.
Wow... that's your first guitar? I know envy is bad, but I really envy you hahahahaha
you got this! as you pry know, just keep at it each day and you will get to where you want to be :)
What kind of price is this Epi
Just bought this guitar because of this review... thanks! The wife is going to kill me... again!!!
Yep, I have been there.
She will get over it.
@@danielcoleman4807 Already has... now... will the new JB Lazarus be a step too far??... Only 1 way to find out I guess!!
@@CaptnSMAK ayo, you still alive?
@@Gabriel-oq4id I am!!… divorced, lost my house, kid, job, living out of my folks basement, 3 stone heavier… totally worth worth it!
Ok I am with you too... you can try to say it is not yours... its a friend who gave it to you just to try... sometimes it works
I’ve had mine for a week now, heritage cherry. Does not look bad in person. Plays great, sounds great, frets are great action great. Quality is very good. Very solid guitar NO complaints here! Update this guitar is very good absolutely no QC issues.
Same here.
Need no set up? Playable already out of the box?
@@gxs8p578 I haven’t felt the need to set it up. it wasn’t perfect right out of box but after playing for maybe 4 hours in the past month it’s come good. Even if you had to get it professionally set up this is a staggeringly good guitar that few people (including the guys working in guitar stores) actually know about.
@@Moyetniishiswa2000 great! Thanks for replying!
@@gxs8p578 I’ve had mine for 3 months and I’ve not had it set up. But to be honest even if you have to it’s still an amazing guitar at a very reasonable price.
"They did what Gibson does best and made a more expensive guitar."
They're gonna need some ice for that burn.
Only liquid nitrogen would suffice.
Wha wha what? A Chibson is an affordable fake? Isn't this what Gibson sued people forever for? I have a wonderful Studio since 2008 ...and I'd never trade it for a Chibson in a cold Canadian day in Hell. Friends, save your coin for an Gibson Reissue. Poor original Epi Co. is spinning in the grave.
$800 US.
@@sgtmac62 For $800 I'd just get two Agile guitars. They were getting sued by Gibson way before Chibson became a thing.
@@rayrobinson2074 hope your agile is better than the one i tried boasting about. I put so much aftermarket parts into it. About as useful as putting glitter on crap.
Love mine. The frets are pretty gritty. I didn't realize the case came with it. I was pleasantly surprised that the case came with it and was blown away with how beautiful the package was when I opened it.
How are the frets now ?
The Gibson pickups and hard case pay for the price difference between this and an Epi standard, and then some. I wish I had played this before buying my Classic!
Did you get the frets rectified? Gritty frets aren’t too hard to deal with…
I got one just last week and WOW! For an amateur musician, who plays mostly in his bedroom and an occasional rehearsal (by occasional I mean post-COVID), it's more than enough and great value as well!
I got the dark cherry burst a couple of weeks ago and it jams. I polished it and now it looks great.
@@kadams2822 Did you polish the body or frets?
Just order one on line can't wait
@@hirabrown4595 I ordered from Sweetwater in March, just today got the shipping notice!
@@s9plus20 hey Frankie mine should be in today according to shipping details haven't played in yrs been waiting 1month due to covid
VIDEO SECTIONS:
1. What's so great about a '59?
2. Authentic Specs?? - 2:13
3. Tones! - 5:18
4. One Minute Solo! - 7:40
5. What is the overall quality? - 9:04
6. Should you actually buy one? - 11:27
Guitar Link: imp.i114863.net/AqGqK
Enjoy!
Ur timestampe for e first one is off lad
Wow, 6:30 is that classic Les Paul chunky crunch sound! Also, nice job with the clean runs and great feel in the one minute solo and at the end. So authentic. Looking forward to your import guitar shootout!
Does it have a scarf joint?
@Bogey What sounds false??
@@jamesthe-doctor8981 It's a flame maple veneer over an actual hard maple cap. This guitar blows a firefly away bro. It has Gibson burstbucker pickups, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors, Switchcraft pickup selector switch & output jack & 50's style hand wiring. The fretboard issue (which mine doesn't have) is an easy fix. It's made in china but it's made in conjunction with the Gibson custom shop. Seriously, it's a quality guitar with components that a firefly just can't match.
I played one of these and I was really, really surprised. It sounded, felt, and played fantastic. Truly a great guitar.
7:55 wow that pick trick is so cool!
Cool name 😎
I was wondering if anybody was gonna mention that. Awesome. I can't wait to try it out
Geez, you're easily impressed.
That trick is from Joe Satriani! Very cool!
@@nicolasruiz5612 joe satriani had it from Darrell..
I am pretty sure this guy can make a rubber band sound epic.
The HGTV of guitar reviews
No that dagan from pmt that can do that, he coukd sell water to a fish and ic to a polar bear
@@jimmygubbins yeah true dagan has more spontaneous vibe to him thats why i like hin
Got this one in my sites. When you consider the finish, pickups, premium pots and wiring, and the included hard case it really is a solid deal. I've owned many Gibson LPs and Epiphone never ceases to amaze me.
I think this is the best Les Paul under $2,000. The Sire L7 is a close contender tho.
Summary of The Bursts: 58 has big neck with small frets, 59 has big neck with big frets, 60 has thin neck with big frets. Pickups were alnico 2 and became hotter as well.
That's really too easy and not true.
@Granville Friel Why should he and do you pay per letter here?
He just said the frets were small lmao
Epiphone's 1959 Limited Edition Les Paul Standard is without a doubt the best guitar on the market for the money today. It's absolutely amazing. They built on the stellar success of their 1950's Les Paul and added the Gibson PAF pickups and wiring. There truly is no reason to spend $1800 or more now on a new Gibson. This guitar is fantastic. If you want to get that classic Clapton Beano tone, this is it. I love this guitar.
Yes amazing and u get the hard case and the pafs for 800
The wood source of Gibson is not the wood source of Epiphone. I think there will be a strong difference in how their woods age, and therefore, a substantial difference in how hard or difficult they will be to keep in tune. It is a great guitar, yes, but saying that there is no reason to buy the Gibson Standard... is a bit far-fetched I (and most guitar players who have played both) would say.
I still went with the Gibson.
@Justin Hoard Les Paul standard 60s in bourbon burst.
@@robertemerson1087 If the money is burning a hole in your pocket, why not. But if you are on a budget, this is the guitar for you.
How extremely bizarre...My son and I were just talking earlier today about the Epiphone acoustic i gave him and we chatted about him wanting an electric one and here you are dropping a video on a little history of your epiphone guitar! Super cool! Love the guitar too!
The 1959 was remade with the same specs including a long neck tenon in 2009 they onlyreleased 1,959 epiphones to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 59 les paul. In doing so the "standard" for the guitar was upgraded with switchcraft toggle, gibson burstbucker 2 and 3 pickups 50s wiring thumbbleeders and of course it was the first time you could pickup a les paul style guitar that would have a long neck tenon for less then a couple hundred grand. Which means people (including myself) have experienced this level of quality from epiphone since 2009! I would have never though they would actually get yet another 59 to the masses at such a cheap price with this much quality AGAIN! The only upgrades my 2009 1959 epiphone les paul standard did not receive is a graph tech nut ( which i later corrected) and a matte finish, my 2009 is style finished in the normal glossy polyurethane
Its a sign !!
No bizarre at all. It's just your smartphones listening to your conversations.
@@yankleber what does that even mean?! I subscribed to his channel so i get notifications when he post but how did he know to post a video on the epiphone guitar 😅??
@@scr0711 well its easy mate, how did facebook know you where looking that sweet gear up. Even google chromecast can be listening. So many electronic devices with built in James bond sheet you'd go crazy just figuring out which ones are listening and which ones are just plain electronics
Darrell, thank you so much for showcasing all 3 pickup settings! So many reviewers pretend the middle setting doesn’t exist and it’s infuriating.
On this guitar in particular, I found all three positions were tonally unique, and all equally useable. I really love the "butter" in the neck position!
I bought one of these about a year ago. ABSOLUTELY love it! Build, playability, electronics....all fantastic for the price.
I just got one of the "Southern Fade " finished ones and it plays and most important to me records great. In his review he left out the fact that the caps are Mallorys which also was standard in the original 59's and it has the treble bleed feature. All in all its a really nice guitar. I'm very pleased with it and it was worth the wait.
My American Strat was the first guitar I've ever owned with the treble bleed, and I love it! My neighbors do as well!
Hi, Just bought one a little over a week ago and mine is Aged Southern Burst. It is Beautiful. but I wish it was a gloss finish. but I certainly can live with it the way it is. Sounds incredible and plays wonderful! I Love it. best regards to you and yours!
I just bought a 1994 Epiphone LP Standard. Deep clean tones and so bluesy with a touch of overdrive. T he neck is like butter.
I have 2 mid 90's Epi LP's too...back when they were made in Korea and had long neck tenons. I also have had this 1959 for a few months and love it as well...fatter neck but still comfortable.
"a Les Paul reissue i can actually afford"
*Has an entire wall full of high-end guitars*
That statement from Darrell blew me away too. As soon as he said it I just has to comment as well.
I think that's the era we're in now with influencers having all these expensive pedals and guitars and still trying to act like "a normal person" With as much money as these folks get paid for being "influencers" and all the extras they are given "to demo", it's kind of silly watching them try to act like people that have to save up for long amounts of time to afford some of the cheapest stuff they have.
I can only afford to play Epiphones and I have 3. but I also have four kids so this is actually not an Epiphone I could afford "until I find it used online" unless I waited through several months of saving. Now of course I have to deal with the comments of people without debt blaming me for the situation I'm in even though that does no one here any good, but,, go ahead and belittle me since that's what the comment section is for anyway.
@@DJMerck I had to save up for about two years for a Made in mexico strat and i couldn't be happier, so having youtubers speak of mim guitars like they're dirt cheap and "just okay" is insane to me.
@@edscorcho8228 play the hell out of it and enjoy yourself
He meant it from the perspective of average consumer, comparing the price to similar models.
Yeah, Darrell. I'd like to see a shoot out with those Les Paul's you mentioned!
I'm with You. But I say include all the "Les Paul" guitars you have in that shoot out.
There are quite a few Epi vs Gibby shoot outs right here on RUclips. This particular guitar stacks up against the Gibson very well.
I have this guitar and I have to say it's one of the best guitars I have ever played! It sounds and feels just like a gibson and I promise its a great purchase!
You plug this thing into a nice tube combo, add some gain, and off you *go*. Wonderful guitar, one of the nicest I have played for less than $3,000.
For $225 more than the 50's Standard, you get the Gibson Burstbuckers, the chunkier neck, the cool case, and the upgraded wiring. Best deal in the Epiphone line IMHO.
The 1 minute solo was such a mood
I vote for you doing the Les Paul shootout! You're always well paced and articulate in your videos, so I think you'd make a really good video for people who are curious or shopping for a Les Paul.
I've had mine now for 3 months and it is actually one of my go-to guitars now, wonderful tone and plays really great IMO.
Ditto! The sustain is really nice.
So glad to see a one minute solo in a mix again! And for some reason I always love the Les Paul solos you do more than pretty much anything else. Love those tones!
My favorite thing about this channel is, Darrell shows us we don’t have to buy a $12,000 PRS or the same Strat Jeff Beck plays to have a nice playing guitar.
PRS wouldn't make those 12 thou buck 🎸 unless fools were gonna buy them. Shouldn't Epiphone aim to make every guitar as good and close to an original Gibson as possible for the 💸? So they just admitted that's not always the case, oops.
This 59 copy is not as nice as those Tokai LP's for the same 💰 imo from what I hear in this vid, not that it's bad.
@@johncollins5552 I feel an Epiphone has a sufficient link to Les Paul and Gibson for me to consider to authentic- enough. Same with Squier. A Tokai for me is just a copy and I’m not a fan of copies no matter how good.
I agree, although those Jeff Beck Strats are REALLY nice.
I own a white Jeff Beck strat its an inspiring guitar and great sustain sound with the metal nut the trem also stable make you want to play more
@@johncollins5552 I can assure you, the PRS guitars are worth every penny. There's a reason they're so pricey. I myself have only gone up to the core models. Mine was around $4300, but man, it is one of the most amazing guitars I've ever played. That being said, there isn't a need to have a guitar that expensive, but if you can afford it, then it is totally worth it. I will cherish my Custom 24-08 forever. I love my Strats and LP's, but they just don't do it for me the same way. I will have a private stock someday!😃
I just got mine today, and I own two Gibson Les Pauls and I have to admit I’m pretty impressed what Epiphone did with this tribute LP ‘59 model.
The GIBSON 1959 Les Paul Historic Reissue was the best guitar I ever owned. Un-freaking-believable tone and sustain. Magical.
Something epiphone will never archive especially at the price they sell it for it is all in the quality of the wood and how much moisture it has
@@edwinmartinez9787 That's what she said.
How much effect does the wood on a solid body guitar have on tone? Lol, I love how it goes from "well it doesn't have Gibson electronics so it's crap" to "this is made of wood that wasn't harvested by Brazilians in 1958 so it's going to sound like crap"..."Indian laurel?!? That fretboard just doesn't have the tone of my GIBSON rosewood one..."
A "real" Gibson's advantage in this case comes down to the name on the headstock and resale. I couldn't care less about either.
I just ordered this guitar today, I can not wait been wanted one since they first came out, Thank You Darrell for this video.
At $799, some might wonder "Why the extra money?" This guitar comes with kickass Gibson pickups... that's why. Epiphone Les Pauls normally ship with ProBucker pickups, or MudBucker as I like to call them. These are BurstBucker pickups, same as in a Gibson Les Paul, and as you can hear in the video, they kick serious ass. This is a pro-level guitar that does not require any upgrades, which is a good deal at this price.
probuckers are not muddy. old alnico classics mabe not probuckers. With excepsion of 57classics, gibson pups are not that great.
is also a limited edition
@@carrielittlecplaster1620 that's right, he's just a Gibson snob. I had an old Epiphone Les Paul Studio with alnico's and they were terrible. My LP Standard Pro with the Probuckers is awesome...night and day difference.
The Gibson pickups in this guitar are nothing special compared to brands like Tonerider or BYOguitar which literally use the same components and are wound the same way. The difference is you can buy PAF's from either brand for way under $100.
@@Ryan_Haydon84 I own two Epiphone Les Pauls. Maybe judging people without actually knowing them is a bad idea.
Quick story about mine - I got the dark burst about 1 month ago. So I’m sitting in my bedroom and the guitar is laying on the bed next to me flat on the mattress. I place my fingertips on the body - lightly - and strum the strings. I can feel the entire body and neck resonate / vibrate under my fingers. So I get the bright idea to time how long it resonates. Strange thing happens - after the strings stop vibrating the guitar is still vibrating/ resonating. I have a small fan with a small motor in my practice room. Very quiet. The tiny fan motor made this guitar resonate from 15’ away. On a mattress. Unbelievable!!! Very nice guitar - everything a 10. Thanks for the videos Daryl - have enjoyed every one 👍🎸
Just goes to show what an amp and decent playing skills can do to make a lot of, what people thought were no good, guitars sound good. Love the new headstock too. I hated the clipped ears on the older ones.
Got one a few weeks ago. Great guitar but the frets needed crowning and polishing. They were gritty and ends needed finishing. Once done, it plays, feels, and sounds great. The neck is more comfortable for me that the two other Gibson LPs (faded and studio) i have. Out of the three LPs, this is the one i play most at the lowest price.
That Epi is a real beauty. Looks great, sounds fantastic.
I have one in Cherry burst, played on it for awhile and then converted the bridge to an ABR1 using Faber inserts and a Gibson bridge, added some vintage 50's Sprague bumblebee caps, still thinking about replacing the burstbuckers. The neck is great, the finish feels right and the weight is right for a good Les Paul. There are a few upgrades left, polish out the top to a gloss.
I kind of feel that I have to take your word over your playing; mainly because I always love to see/hear you play, no matter what the guitar you're demoing!
I just got this exact guitar 2 weeks ago. It is awesome!!! $799 U.S. with case. Gibson pickups, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors, Switchcraft USA pickup selector switch & output jack & 50's style hand wiring, you can't beat that deal!!!
Update: another week of playing and no issues at all with QC, tuning stability is excellent, all in all great guitar for the $$! I think it is a great companion to my 2005 American Telecaster. Update 5/18/2021 it is a very good guitar, tone, feel, and tuning stability! It’s definitely a keeper.
I have been wanting one of these since their inception but couldn’t afford it at the time . Then , the price went up and then they introduced a new version that’s even more expensive . I found them on clearance sale for $799 and ordered one right away in the aged dark cherry burst , it not as orangey as the picture of it is , which is great . I got mine on 12/15/24 and I absolutely love it ! It sounds great and it plays nicely too . Personally , I think it’s a fantastic deal for what it is and it’s a great guitar all the way around . They listed the aged dark burst for $699 but before I could pull the trigger on that one , they went back to $799 . I’m watching and if it happens again , I’ll buy the other one too ! Great guitars for the price , hell , they’re great guitars period ! Take care everyone , peace ☮️ !
I've got the same '59 and I love it. The finish feels great and it never gets sticky. I really think the finish should be more of a talking point from Epiphone. They really hit it out of the park with this one. Easily the best Epiphone I've ever played. It's on par with the few Gibson LP Traditional's I've played. The neck on yours looks much darker than mine, maybe it's just the lighting. Great review, cheers!
I got mine apx one month ago from Sweetwater. Before I picked it up, I had it plekked and upgraded the nut. I'm not a player so do you think that was a necessary thing to do?
@@calvinevans6347 Not really, however I've been doing all the maintenance of my guitars since I was a kid. Having it cnc'd must have stuck a couple of hundred bucks on the total? Unless they throw it in at the point of sale then ok but we've had superb guitars way before fret dressing machines came along. I personally would have lessons on how to redress the neck of your guitar rather than use this lazy way that has the potential to damage your guitar aswell. Yeah unless it's an extra at the point of purchase included in the order then I wouldn't bother. Pay a human to do it. I have a Yammy APX and it didn't need plecking, you may have acted in haste. I wonder, was it recommended? The CNC treatment?
@@calvinevans6347 I think it just depends. I did mine myself. But I've been working on guitars for quite some time. If you haven't been working on guitars and you want it to be perfect, you went the right route. This first thing I did when I got mine was pull the strings off, clean and buff the board, dress the frets, restring, and set it up. Before I played I note. But again, I have all the tools and the experience to do so. Without all those things in place, you did it right. I bet she plays great! Cheers!
See, now this video is complete. Love the guitar, the analysis, but most importantly, i love the solo. Great playing darrell
10:00 I think most new Epiphone's have CTS pots, Graphtech nuts and Grover tuners (including the new standards). The Gibson pups are unique to this model though
epi 1960 tribute had usa 57 classic pups
The Mallory Caps and Switchcraft switch are big upgrades,
Very well done vid, Darrell! Good analysis, good playing and very understandable as well for a non English native speaker. Got this one in Cherry burst. First guitar I ever pre-ordered. One of my best buys. Amazing sound. No need to upgrade or change anything. Congrats to Epiphone!
Love to see the comparison... just bought this model. One of the last in Australia. Beautiful instrument and the closest Ill ever come my wife allowing me buying a Gibson.
Your wife allowing you?
Love satin finish. Good effort by epiphone. They have really upped their game in the last few years
In these trying times these would have to do, I'm glad gibson is putting more resources in epiphone.
And on top of it, the difference in quality between the two is down to almost nothing. Some people would even argue that over the last 10 years, Epiphone's QC has surpassed Gibson's in most cases. Gibson's are so lackluster over the last decade that it's almost surprising to me that they're even able to sell them anymore.
I'm not a huge fan of Fender either, but their QC is excellent across the board and they've done some really interesting and experimental things with their guitars over the last few years. SO glad to see that out of one of the big names.
@@Hickeroar I'll take Fender over Gibson ALL day every day! :)
I still love Gibson, but they truly are making the Epi line more and more alluring to most every buyer, as opposed to just the budget/beginner camp.
@@mmccartney6579 Nah, bolt on necks are crap.
@@jameshughes6049 Have you ever had to replace a set neck? It's a nightmare compared to replacing a bolt on.
Allow me to say, I really enjoy your videos, Darrell...very informative, with just the right touch of happy presenter...and your playing resonates very well, too...thank you for making winter in Ocala, Florida, USA a little more bearable.
That looks so smooth to play and feel. Amazing as always!
I was lucky enough to get one this month, and I could not be happier! Superb instrument! Darryl is spot on in his description, as usual.
Id love to see a comparison between this and a Gibson LP standard.
Think you would be disappointed....
@@mrnobody6609 Right. And besides that, does anybody really think this guitar in the video looks good? to me the painting looks like a cheap supermarket guitar /:
I have this guitar in heritage cherry and it’s an awesome guitar. Would easily stand up to the Gibson equivalent no doubt at all.
Epi’s are amazing, even as a Gibson fanboy. To technically get more accurate historic specs on the epiphone than a Gibson USA LP standard. The Gibson USA standards aren’t even historically accurate. They don’t have long neck tenons while the epi does, and they have the Nashville bridge setup and not the 59 ABR-1 bridge. They’re 2 pieces minimum while a real 59 was a one piece body. So In the end the Gibson USA Les Paul is not even close to the real LP sound. A custom shop historic reissue is the “real” LP but those start at 5K +. So this epiphone is more historically accurate than a Gibson USA standard
Go to Andertons channel they e done it
Great review Darrell, and great playing. Your vibrato is sounding excellent, and I love the pick trick!
Diggin’ the pick slides. Overall very nice solo!
I picked one up in August just before my 61st Birthday, Love it, Love it, Love it - 🎂 🎸 🥳
All because of good ole Lester Polfus 🙏
His names on the headstock but he had nothing to do with the design of the Les Paul!!
@@markwright9352 You’re kidding right? Les designed the famous ‘Log’ solid body guitar while working at Epiphone (that Gibson turned down). Then when Gibson finally decided to get into solid body guitars they contacted Les who was now very famous, they met and hammered out features & design of the guitar that he would perform with.
@@mrkoodo5953 Contrary to popular belief, Les Paul didn’t really design the Les Paul guitar at all. He was consulted, and had some input on its look ie the colour witch was Gold but the guitar itself was designed by Ted McCarty John Huis and Larry?? Can’t remember his last name now
@@markwright9352 yes, I read the same thing. I think Les received royalties for the use of his name on the headstock to help market the guitar.
I’ve purchased many Epiphones over time and i’ve just grab this 59 yesterday. it has the best setup and works perfectly. It was compared with my Gibson Les Paul Tribute 2016 and oh boy it stays next to that goldie 👌🏻
This was my dream guitar before I even Knew what guitars were, I just wish it had a more glossy finish but this is already good enough
If it were more glossy it wouldn't be a '59, brother! It's built to look that way. They do sell glossy Les Paul's but they're not '59s 👍🏼
Bet you can buff it to glossy
I like that they did little things like the Gibson type recessed nut on the toggle switch. Pretty cool guitar.
Wasn’t 1958 the first year the humbuckers, tune-o-matic, and burst came together?
The ABR-1 came out 56, humbuckers came out in 57 and half way through 58 bursts came out.
59 is the first year with those things and a Flame top
He said flame top, the 58s were plain top, with some having some flame, still far from the tops of the 59s.
@@overdriveguitarchannel3403
P,entry 58’s had flame tops as well. Gibson didn’t select for flames in any of the three years of the burst. We see more flames on 59 and 60 because those years had full production runs of bursts. Also, 58 was only a partial ‘burst’ year....plenty of tops were covered in gold paint.
@@racerzoli no. In the 1950s, the tops were selected randomly. Its the GIbson Custom Shop that uses only plain tops on R8s (some are flame tops tho) and definitely flame tops on R9s and R0s
Thanks for the great video Paul. I been a subber for along time and watch almost all your videos. I ordered mine in July and I just received it last Friday. I'm impressed with what I got for the price, it is a nice guitar. Now I can pass this video on to my friends that can't see it or play it during lock down. Thanks again👊
Comes in at $1199 CDN which includes a brown coloured case with pink lining.
I'm praying our dollar gets better. Not for something silly like financial stability or anything.. I just want to buy a damn guitar without spending 30% more.
@@WattchomanBrandySavage amen
At this price...would go for a Gibson Les Paul Studio used...
@@martinlahaie6012 This is actually a better guitar than a Gibson studio. Studio's don't have burstbucker pickups, they have the 490R & 498T. Burstbucker 2 & 3 are superior pickups.
@@martinlahaie6012 yeah great sounding guitar. Bought it for my 15 year Daughter. Hers just kills tone wise.
Years ago I bought the Epiphone 1961 Les Paul Tribute Plus. Midnight Sapphire flame, long neck tenon, CTS, push/pull pots, Gibson '57 Classic and Classic plus, Switchcraft switch, maple cap then veneer, etc. Love it. Back then it was $599. w/case! Grover locking tuners. They're still made, approx $849. If you can find one, get it!
Beautiful finish
I've had mine for a month and a half, Cherry finish. I got lucky and put a hold on one as I had store credit. Plays amazing, the fat neck feels great. The burstbucker pickups are far superior to the epiphone stock pickups. Considering the Epiphone Standard is $869, and this is $1150 and is a superior guitar and comes with a hard case, I think it's a pretty good deal.
It's the best value in the Epiphone catalog. Under $300 more, and you get a set of $250 pickups, and a $150 case. Full stop. Then you get the thicker neck, the Mallory caps and Switchcraft switch. Superb guitar.
I’d bet one could scuff this with 1500 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit abralon, and give it a good buff to bring it to a thin gloss if you wanted to
It’s what I would do, but I think you would only need to use some “paint renovating” polish!
This usually doesn't work properly. Factory satin finishes use built-in talc-ing agents to give the finish their satin-like texture. Attempting to sand and bufff the finish smooth results in a semi-gloss finish with bumps and lumps all over it from sanding the top layer of talc off and hitting another layer of talc agent underneath. If you want a truly glossy finish you need to strip it completely and use a finish that's specifically designed to be glossy.
I think Epiphone uses a poly finish, not sure a dedicated satin poly finish could be buffed to a gloss.
Saw this is shop for the first time and it deserves more hype. So good, feels great and looks amazing
Seems like a great value. Love to see the shootout between the Les Paul’s
Much Love! HareKrishna&GodBless❤️🙏
@@glick278 stop preaching on a RUclips guitar video
@@jack7597 Relax, no one was preaching. That was just a blessing. Calm down.
@@216trixie Right on. Satan bless you.
@@mechmat12345 Thank you.
What the Epis illustrate is the need to have more time with a guitar during its build. When the fretwork, electrics, and finish work are all on point, you really can’t go wrong with an Epiphone right now.
When it all comes down to it the Epiphones that are being currently made in the Gibson owned factory are great value. With the 59’ and some of the new signature models you’re getting the guitar already upgraded as many buyers would do anyway.
The Epis just don’t get the attention and time that the Gibsons do. That’s obviously not the only difference but it is the major one that impacts the final product IMO.
As you say here Daryl, with a little TLC (fret polishing, check cavities, change strings, condition dry board, tighten screws), you can feel pretty damn good about an Epiphone purchase.
Keep in mind that some of what I just mentioned may even need to be done on a new Gibson too.
You can even buy 2-3 for what you’d pay for a Gibson counterpart.
I have a current “inspired by” Epi Matt Heafy that I use for metal and heavier rock stuff. It’s a shockingly good guitar w/one of the best ebony boards I’ve seen on any guitar. The fret work is very good, the nut is a correctly cut GraphTech, and the tuners are Grover locking. When I compare it to my Gibson LP, it’s not the same but it does get about 90% there. And some of these come w/OHSC or hard bag. Not even all Gibsons can say that.
Granted, it’s likely a 6 piece body but no one is ever going to see or even hear that and that’s another discussion altogether.
Epiphone is doing good here and Gibson is narrowing the gap between brands which is good news for both names IMO.
These are great guitars as “keepers” or place holders. This all depends on perspective, your goals, and where you are in your playing journey. As a result, I’m on board with both brands.
- A lifelong (40 year) Gibson player, former Epi hater, and headstock snob.
Not a fan of the semi-gloss, wish it was full gloss, but otherwise gorgeous.
You polish the finish to gloss if it's the same finish as Gibson Satin
@@DirtyDog995 yeah. Get some buffing compound and polish and start rubbing. It’ll be glossy in no time at all
That’s the only thing it’s missing!
@@ArmanBaig Did with a Studio satin, looks much better now
Saweet! Thanks for the tips!
Just got mine today after a long back order from American Musical. Unboxing the guitar and opening the case really gave me a nice surprise, a Pink lining like the original, then the guitar itself is really pretty with the subdued finish in Dark burst, it shines while not being shiny if that makes any sense lol. The collaboration between the Gibson custom shop and Epiphone really makes this guitar a stand out Epi. All the goodies from the regular Gibson 59's with Gibson Burst bucker's 2 and 3 pup's , Switch craft switch and Mallory capacitor's and 50's style wiring for authenticity, In my book you can't go wrong with this guitar, if you are looking for a really nice tribute instrument without paying the out of this world price for a Gibson, which is NOT all THAT far from this guitar, yea it's a Gibson but it also cost's a mint and these day's it's not a whole LOT of us who can afford that sort of fund's, and this guitar will NOT disappoint you at the 800.00 range with a hard shell case to boot and a really cool Stamped metal Epi co. Limited Edition label on the switch control cover. The finish is spot on , no over lay on the binding and no messy work on the finish. The neck is comfortable and slightly slimmer than my Epi. custom pro 2016. They haven't been too easy to find lately and most of the shop's are on back order, so if you want a really nice looking, sounding and playing Les Paul for under the cost of a small house then grab one of these before they are gone.
I wish Gibson would do an early 50's Les Paul Goldtop with that trapeze bridge. It just looks so good.
Another winner Darrell!
Only if they put right what they did wrong.
The bridge was designed to have the strings run over the top, as usual.
They cut the neck tenon at the wrong angle, so, Gibson bein Gibson, they didn’t fix that.
They just ran the strings under the trapeze - which makes for a terrible Bridge, and one you can’t mute on..
Thanks for the review! I bought the Cherry Burst in 2022 and I am really pleased with it. I mainly use my 1968 LP Custom in the studio but when I saw this and tried it I just had to grab it - feels 'familiar but different' in a good way. I much prefer the satin finish to the usual poly gloss and the pick-ups / wiring etc. are excellent. I noticed that the stockist here has actually increased the price by about USD 250 since I bought mine for the remaining 2 they have, so there ya go!
Would love to see it against your other Les Paul guitars. I’m actually considering this new Epiphone guitar
That neck pup is money! Love the tone!
My cherry burst one arrived in August. She's so pretty . Mine doesn't sound like this one though. More like a cat in a blender with a siren in the background.
Really? Is it the same mode? Mine sounds great. Did need a fret job since though
@@sbegley0193 No, more to me just learning how to play and memorising the fretboard by pretending I'm EVH. The guitar itself I'm sure sounds fantastic with someone who can play it. :)
@@tommy605 lol word fair enough. I bought mine used, and it had some serious fret buzz until I took it into the shop and got them replaced with stainless steel. Sounds amazing now. Might have just been uneven though, and I think you can even them out at home yourself if they get uneven, I think Herman li has a video on it
@@sbegley0193 The odd thing is, I do fret levelling, replacing fret, repair and replace pickups, etc for a friend for years on his gig guitars in the area, so that stuff I'm good with. Just recently decided to really learn to play. The repair is easy. Playing is much harder
Not sure who Herman Li is but I will check him out.
thx
Great review. All the facts relating to the guitar were well explained in full detail. I had so many questions before I would make a purchase of the 1959, but this answered everything. I'm sold. Thank you!
I played one. The “grittiness” Darryl mentioned was all over the guitar I played. Also, I thought the finish looked cheap and the neck was too thick compared to the 59 Gibson reissue that was right behind me at Guitar Center. I went home and cancelled my order with Sweetwater.
Oh yea the reason it was on the wall at GC is because whoever ordered it didn’t want it either.
Hey Darrell,
Thanks for your awesome videos! Just wanted to let you know that I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom with the Ebony fingerboard because of your recent review about the Elitist and I'm absolutely loving it. You bring us joy for guitars every time you upload and I appreciate your videos so so much. Thanks a lot and greetings from Switzerland ^-^
Damn, I'll take a lemondrop and a faded burst please.
That'll make me sound and play like Gary Moore right?!
I think your “sit in the mix” section is interesting, because your mixes are so well done and your playing is so good. You can make a piece of crap sound good. I honestly never hear a bad tone coming out of your reviews. That’s a testament to your abilities rather than the quality of the products you are reviewing.
And it comes with a case for the price
Great video Darrell,
Yes the shoot out video for all three LP's would be awesome.
Gibson tones for a faction of the cost. Well done Epiphone/gibson
I bought one didn't like the satin finish so I removed the finish and polished her up. She looks so much better now
Next up: Epi '59 Reissue / Harley Benton SC-450Plus VB Shoot-out! :-)
That would be interesting. HB 450 is a hell of a guitar. Agile 3100 from Rondo is a crazy good axe too. Just picked up a used gold top for $250. P-90s like an LP Tribute I had. Agile is every bit as good.
@@countvond233 Those Agiles are hard to find now, I'm not sure what's going in with Rondo music but you can't even find them listed anymore on his website.
I recently bought a 2020 50's Standard LS Epiphone and I love it! Tuners are great, stays in tune even when I'm bending like crazy. Maybe I was lucky but the fretwork is amazing, smooth everywhere and no grittiness at all. The only differences between the 59's version that I can see is the construction of the neck, the humbucker type and the finish. Very similar in sound. Great guitars for the prices!! Highly recommend them.
So it has a proper maple cap, but a flamed "veneer" on top of that? Is that correct?
Found it, its a carved Hard Maple Cap with AAA Figured Maple Veneer.
The cap is maple but a bit thinner than the Gibson cap.
@@mkenific Hmm, I wonder just how much thinner? :)
@superjet113 it's not a big difference. 1/8 of aninch or so. I think it depends on the model. You'd have to look inside the pickup routes to see.
I have an LP studio. If this guitar was around when I bought my Studio, I would have bought this instead for sure. And YES I'd love to see that shootout with the two Epiphones and the Gibson.
Have you ever tryed out Tokai build les pauls? Made in Japan models are grazy good. Building quality is just over the top👌
Those Japanese Tokais were built in Fujugen. I've never played a bad guitar built in that plant.
@@ildar717 True Dat✌️
Epiphones makes great guitars, especially now adays.
I agree 100%. Players are starting to wakeup that you don't need to pay a fortune to get a great guitar
@anglovirtual I agree you will never change them.
@anglovirtual for some people it's more about status than it is about substance.
Hi, I purchased this guitar in honey burst from Sweetwater. Just wanted to say that my frets are very smooth. No grit at all. Not sure if Sweetwater polished before shipping but it plays very smooth. Plus the flame maple on mine is very good. Really impressed with the guitar. I really like the finish on mine. Very slick compared to my other Gibson guitars. Definitely has that old school rock tone. Great video!
The way epi's prices are going, soon were gonna be paying american guitar money!
I played one that was on the wall at Guitar Center this afternoon. Wow! The feel is very close to my Standard 50s (neck, playability, etc.), which is itself a great guitar. It wins on the pickups (and it beat a Tribute Gibson that was just a slab body hands down to me). So I need to upgrade my pickups.
A little Monster Truck, nobody’s gonna tell me how to live. Sadly made in China and not as nice as PRS.
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Pro in that same color and I love it. It's been my #1 for almost 2 years now. I took the pickguard off and it looks even better now haha. Epiphone's are closer to Gibson quality than they've ever been!
I have mixed feelings about Chinese made anything.
Can that be a jazz guitar? I’m asking because I’m trying to find an electric guitar that I can play for jazz and I was wondering if that’s a good one.
ALWAYS a GREAT VIDEO by you Darrelll. YOU are the MAN!
The best EPI ever! Flat 59 neck and Gibson Burstbuckers! Sounds more like a real Gibson. The rest comes out of your'e fingers! Polish the frets!🤘👍🏼🌹 Starts up at 459€! Great stuff Darrell! John Lennon loved EPI's!
Nice playing!! This is the first time I have ever seen a player snag a note with a pick and slide up! Nice!!!