That's the problem with headless guitars. They don't make any sound. Everyone stars at the empty void where the headstock should be and all they can hear is their next youtube comment.
Ok -- but the old Epi headstock looks repulsive. I would have bought this new model had it been out when I was first in the market for a Gibson back in 2017.
Not really, Gibson is just greedy and knows their brand Loyalists will eat up what they market. A guitar that would have cost $500 10 years ago is more like $800 now.
I have to agree. I have 1 guitar with an Indian Lauren Board, a J Mascis Jazzmaster, and I hate it. I don't know if it's just my specific example, but that fretboard is rough as hell. I tried sanding it to no avail. Plus, it looks awful. Pale and ashy, regardless of how much fretboard conditioner I use. Honestly, I'm even OK with Epiphone and Squier using Pao Ferro, bug God, Laurel SUUUCKS.
I tend to agree, but have seen some simply awful rosewood on Gibsons in the last 4-5 years. Cloudy almost. In general, I take issue with 1500 for Chinese made but that's where we're being steered by Gibson and Fender.
Every Gibson I've had has required a couple of hours sanding between the frets. From stock those RW boards are rough AF, so it's not exclusive to Laurel.
what always bothered me was that the binding on those epiphones wasn't really apparent when you looked from the front, while new models do. Its pretty minor but for me its a big deal
I got a new one in lemon burst (the 2020 one) for $629 shipped to my door. The deals are out there. In 4 years when the news ones are again replaced I’ll find another deal.
@@sillysausage4549Seems obvious these days. Go big on a dream guitar, USA Gibson or Fender or whatever, or get a Harley Benton for practically peanuts which does a more than passable job for more or less everyone. Not sure where the market for imported guitars at this price is but Gibson obviously think it exists. I would say it's different for in demand artist models like the DG335.
@@metalliholic actually the $600 Epiphone are the ones that actually are a good value. Has pro bucker pickups that are decent. Grover tuners. Plays well.
@@dogpd3 agree, get a 50s standard for 699, a tusq xl nut for 15, a gator wood case for 160 and a pair of PAF inspired Seymour Duncans for 250 and you are still under this guitars value! And then again changing the pickups isn't even required nor does it guarantees that you will like the new ones over the stock ones
If I were in the market for a £1200 guitar (I'm not, I'm really poor right now), I'd be eyeing up one of this years' PRS SE models with some change to spare. But I am REALLY KEEN to see how Gibiphone do with this venture.
I LOVE MY 50'S Epi Gold Top Standard. Next to my 2013 Gibson Gary Moore Standard, it's a great Les Paul and my go to axe. I replaced the pickups with Dimarzio master rhythm and Super Distortion lead pickups. It's a true MONSTER now!!!
I bought the £750 (discontinued) version with Burstbuckers last year and very happy I did - at that price back then I assumed it would either be discontinued soon or there would be a hefty price rise. Great value at that price. I don't mind the Epiphone headstock - it is an Epiphone after all. Spoke to a second-hand guitar dealer in North London a few weeks ago. He has dozens of second hand Gibson's due to a glut of people selling them (after acquiring them during Covid) - so many he can't keep up listing them. Will be interesting to see how these expensive models fair against that backdrop...
I have heard the same story from other guitar retailers - unless it is special or vintage the used guitar market is over-supplied and prices are going down. Too many people bought in the past few years and now think they can sell a used one without any depreciation (won't happen). Typical business cycle.
I’ve been looking around on Reverb at Gibson LP Standard 50s models and Custom Shop R9s and they’re all still wicked expensive. If the price drop happened, I didn’t notice it. Hopefully it’s still to come.
The title is misleading (despite the question mark). Gibson USA Custom Shop specs would be (among other things): - one-piece mahogany body - lightweight mahogany - massive maple flame top - rosewood fretboard - hide glue fit - nylon nut - nitro finish - hand wiring
Nylon nut? you sure you don't mean bone? because I don't see why an Epiphone couldn't have a nylon nut xD not exactly an expensive or hard to come by material.
@@trevor4533But it's inferior, and Epiphone was always more targeted towards musicians who would appreciate a more dependable guitar rather than collectors
@@trevor4533 it does, it's Epiphone knowing their market. Most buyers who'd buy this guitar would appreciate it as an upgrade rather than while about it as an inaccuracy
Or a Christmas blowout at around $799. I picked up a cherry burst last year for $599 at Guitar Center brand new. I would imagine the newer one would go for a bit more.
I bought this guitar in Tobacco Burst. I didn't expect the Custombuckers to be THIS good, and the neck shape is really good too. The Epiphones from a few years ago don't even come close to this Guitar.
I bought the same , call me crazy but im considering changing the neck pickup to a classic 57 . I love my roommate gibson’s neck pickup which boast that pick up. Its a creamy sound . I love it. Other than that i do love the custom buckers. But the 57 are so good
@@Zoso981 do you think ill need to change the pots if i change it ??? Im still new to the guitar realm. I heard sometimes changing pickups requires to change the pots. But since that guitar is supposed to boast « high end » electronics i was wondering. Cheers
I remember this short glorious period when Epi put out really stellar stuff: the Jared James Nichols Old Glory LP custom was somewhere around that price and was really good, the prophecies were really well spec'd modern midrange guitars, and other (mostly signature) models were really cool, unique and great guitars as well, all for well under a 1000 bucks. Even with then global price increase, Epi becoming more and more Gibson-y in all the worst ways just plain sucks.
I got caught up in the ‘this is not the right headstock’ business until I found a used 2017 Epi Les Paul Standard Pro on eBay for £180. The guitar STOCK absolutely rocks. After a fret dress it compares to my Gibson Standard. Ok, the neck shape is slightly different BUT the sound is no more than 5% different through a decent amp. Play more, GAS less ⛽️🔥
Absolutely love your demos Mr. Honore’ This is going to make me take a really close look at this new Epi . I just purchased the McCarty se 594 black gold burst because of your demo’s and it certainly does not disappoint. Thanks for being the laid back humble guitarist that absolutely shines when you play, I’ll be watching!
I bought the old one in Dec 23 FFS! I would've waited had I of known this was on the way 😅 I literally just gave my dark burst version a gentle polish take away the completely flat satin finish and it came out really nice, looks just like the one Pete's holding. I've got the epi standard 50's in cherry burst which is a great guitar as well, they are turning out some lovely stuff at the min.
@@jasonswitzer1748 I know, like I said it was a gentle polish though. It's not glossy looking but just ever so slightly shinier than that flat satin finish - it may not last and go more matt again but I thought it was worth a shot. There's a few videos on RUclips of people who have buffed theirs up a bit 👍🏻
@@markscars1069 used a little super resin polish by autoglym but I'm sure anything like that will do the job along with a microfibre towel as not to add any scratches. The only thing I would say is, if you care about resale or trade value, it's probably best to keep her original.... and I take no responsibility for how it comes out! 😅
A dream deluxe Epiphone Les Paul : nitro finish, steel frets, cut-away neck, bone nut, custombuckers, CTS 500k Pots, good gig bag (who needs a cumbersome case!?). NO push pulls or any fancy electronic crap, ebony compound fret board and pearl inlays, locking tuners, Handwired with Orange Drops capacitors, Aluminium Tune-O-Matic bridge. How much could that possibly be? I’d even cut the binding and just have some nice rolled edges… without a maple top, like the Les Paul Special. Let’s call it THE Un-Custom Shop Deluxe !❤
All people were asking for was the headstock change... Epiphone were finally getting recognition with their build quality bang for the buck then bam, huge price increase.
Exactly. Like their only niche was offering Gibson licensed shapes for cheap. Even when they were cheap, there were plenty of budget brands making much better guitars than Epiphone. Now they're expensive and they have absolutely nothing going for them. Meanwhile these Chinese brands like Harley Benton are pumping out absolute spec monsters with stainless frets, highly figured woods, locking tuners, etc. for peanuts. Gibson must really be desperate to turn a profit ATM...
They'll probably still have lower priced Epiphones though. These models will be used to raise people's esteem of the brand to further remove any stigma. There are still a lot of people who don't consider Epiphone to be the real deal. They were junk for a long time and that impression sticks. They have to kind of overdo it to break that perception.
On the one hand I say Bravo to Gibson for doing this. I think people wanted this and at this price they’ll probably sell boatloads. With that said, Fender has been doing this for years and at more price points. Even the cheapest Squiers have the Fender-shaped headstock. Fender also owns their own factory and it is not in China. The Mexican-made Fenders also use U.S. hardware and electronics, and in some cases custom shop pickups, and wait a minute…oh yeah, they also say Fender on the headstock. And they start at about $800 and go up to the price points of these Epiphones. So while Gibson is doing a good thing here, it is certainly not groundbreaking. I’d say Fender still has them beat because they offer a wider range of price points and also offer additional features on some models that Gibson does not, like nitro on their roadworn Vinteras, and of course the Fender logo and headstock. Not the Fender has done anything spectacular given the huge price increases, recent QC issues, and no hard cases. I still want to pickup an LP Standard but I’m really on the fence with these. I really don’t care about nitro and the electronics and pickups are actually better than what the U.S. made Standards have, but I do care that there are fewer color choices and only satin finish options. It’s a tough call because there is a lot to like here including the Custombuckers and hard case. But for that kind of money I could pickup one of the Harmony guitars that are U.S. made, have great sounding pickups, nitro finish, and a case. Or pickup a used Gibson or Fender.
It's a 3/4" maple cap with AAA flamed maple veneer on top the same flamed maple veneer Gibson uses on their ES 335..ES 339 and the headstocks and backs of the Gibson standard Les Pauls a lot of you really need to start using your computer for research first before you open your mouth and stick your foot in it
A few of my laurel fretboard guitars were very blonde when new and dried out, after applying lemon oil they are all a nice dark color now, and in a blind test no one could tell the difference between laurel and ebony, at least I can't, they both play nicely when the guitar has a proper setup. I have spent up to 5 hours setting up a new guitar, which includes rounding all the fret ends and polishing with a Dremel.
Whats the point of paying 1500US dollars for a guitar that you have to sand off, round up and polish. AND file the nut , the saddles and have it setup because it obviously dont keep tune. What is this ......
The matte finish looks so cheap. Compared this to the Epi LP Custom and in the end I chose the custom. Cheaper but win in so many way. The best guitar I've ever had.
Agreed about the finish... Looks like those sam ash "les Paul" bolt ones they had back in the day.... I know some people like that tomato soup burst or whatever but especially when it's so matte it will always remind me of all those super cheap epis they sold in literally sam ash and places like that. Wal Mart might've had em in some places. The beginner pack from the early 2000's
My perspective on this is that I feel fortunate to have bought one of (evidently the last batch) of the ‘series 1’ 59s in Aged Dark Burst. Visited the guys at Andertons last month, had a good chat with with Paul in The Guitar Gallery (plan on investing in something far more expensive next year) and spent a good hour choosing between the two 59 options at that point, out in the main shop. For me, the extra £450 for the new model would be too much to justify. I now feel even more than before that £750 for mine was good money. Yes I know why it was discounted but that’s how the game is played. Get the same case basically, the same look and feel, and the sound is too close for me to call it. Grab a series 1 while you can…
The concept is not necessarily new. I had Epiphone 50th Anniversary Models of the 1959 and 1960 Les Paul Standards. The 1960 came with a choice of necks; either the thick 1959 style neck that the 1960 Standard started the year off with, or the much slimmer neck that the 1960 Standard ended the year with and indeed, the production of the Les Paul Models at that time. All the appointments on this pair of Epiphones were of Gibson USA. The finish and playability were flawless. Exquisite to behold and a joy to play. The 1959 had Burstbucker 2’s in the neck and Burstbucker 3’s in the bridge. The 1960 had Burstbucker 1’s in the neck and Burstbucker 2’s in the bridge. The sonic spectrum and tonal palette of these Epiphones were gorgeous. Sadly, I parted with both to fund a special order of a Rickenbacker 370/12, but based on my experience and ownership of the pair, I would highly recommend high-end Epiphone Les Paul’s.
Yea so true - its amazing how people don't know about those earlier tribute guitars that came with Gibson electronics - they also tend to sell for less then £500 used
I just bought the 1959 Standard for £729 with the case and the burstbuckers fitted from you guys. Turned up today and is amazing. Not a single blemish on it and sounds awesome
@@jvboy401 How so? I own a 2015 Epi LP Standard Pro. It's a great guitar (for the $600 I paid, not the $1500 they want now...). I've played the new Epiphones, they are also great guitars, but they aren't noticably better in an way than mine in terms of build quality. The only big thing I noticed is the stock pickups seems a lot better in the new one, but thats not worth an $800 premium.
@@jvboy401 prices went up higher than the quality. Not too many years ago you could get a made in the USA Gibson with rosewood board and nitro finish for what you are now paying for a Epiphone with poly finish and a laurel board. That`s insane
@@modestoney1577 but considering that USA Gibson doesn't even have basic Les Paul features like binding and a full thickness body I'd say a high end Epiphone for the same price is leagues better
@@Mr.Goldbar I´m not talking about tributes without binding. 10 years ago I bought a Captain Kirk Douglas Signature SG, which is basically a SG Custom, made in the USA, 57 Classic pickups, nitro finish, Maestro Vibrola, brand new for €1400. That`s now the price for an asian Epiphone with poly finish and Laurel fretboard. It`s insane.
I kind of laughed out when the Montys popped up because as you were explaining nong the fretboard colour, the espresso wax came to mind immediately! It's absolutely the way around this aesthetic issue in the most cost efficient way.
I love my Epi 1959 but i dont feel the need to upgrade just for the pickups. Mine plays great and sounds great. Probably the second favorite guitar i own, second only to my USA Fender Strat.
Lee...have really noticed such major strides in your touch, feel and musicality since I first started tuning in during Pandemic...good on ya, mate. Love this partnership.Cheers, Edward in San Diego, CA.
Gibson says hey we tweaked the CNC program at our Epiphone factory in China and raised the price 58% but we're sure you would have paid double for that headstock. Right? Good because next year they will be double.
I'd expect laurel on a Squier. At a fraction of the cost, the Sire L7's use ebony, PRS SE's use rosewood and other great woods like Pau Ferro and Jatoba were right there but yet they use a wood I've never seen anyone get excited about.
Man, I just got an Epi '59 in lemon burst last week, had a bit of buyer's remorse but now I hear these new prices I'm all good! 😂 I can live without the "correct" headstock and Custombuckers.
Re: colour of the Laurel. My son and I were recently shopping for a Casino worn. We didn't get it from Andertons but Peach guitars where they photograph each item in stock. We chose one where the laurel was much darker. I don't mind the colour, but Tom prefers darker (like his heart😂)
I’ve had Laurel and PF and I have had no issues with either….plenty of older Epi’s out there with Rosewood boards that can be easily upgraded if that’s your bag.
I buy from Peach also, for the same reason: they show pictures of the ones they have in stock. Andertons are missing a trick here, especially as most people have to buy online - I'm in Cornwall and there isn't a decent music store, with a lot of stock, within hundreds of miles.
I struggle a bit with who the customer is for this guitar at this price. If you want a Gibson, buying an Epiphone is obviously not ticking that box. So if you can’t afford new prices, there’s plenty on second hand market. If you want a great single cut guitar, there’s a lot of competition offering arguably better specs/price. I got an Eastman SB59 for example that is absolutely killer and that I wouldn’t swap for an Epiphone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they are very good guitars. But at £850ish (maybe £1000 considering pickups). At £1200 plus you’re getting into some high quality alternatives.
I want a guitar that looks and feels exactly the same like a Gibson, without any deformation of the shapes, has high end specs where it matters but is not made in the USA and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. The only other guitars that fit this bill are Japanese copies but you have to import them yourself and pay a lot of money for shipping. This is perfect if you don't want any headaches
@@Mr.Goldbar OK, but some of the Epiphone specs (eg neck angle, bridge mounting) aren't vintage correct. So if you don't care about that stuff and do care about the fine details of body shape, that makes sense.
@@mattc1176 I think the audience of these guitars (myself included) will not let these be a dealbreaker, in fact the modern player will probably prefer it. The flathead screw bridge is easier to adjust and the shallower angle is more durable and stable :)
Question? While you were playing the guitar, did you notice it was a Laurel board? A lot of comments throughout the demo suggested it sounded good, it played good, it felt good and so on. I have Gibson brand guitars with Rosewood and Laurel. To be honest i haven't stopped playing the guitar with the Lauel board and said to myself, "too bad thats not a rosewood board". It literally never crosses my mind. The feel is good, the guitar performs as I want it to, and sounds great (hence why i spent money to have it). Additionally, im happy they used wood....and not some composite material. In general, i dont like the inspired by Gibson line, it's mainly a marketing ploy to sell more Epiphones....more revenue at the end of the day.
The people who say these are over price are legit dumb. Lol qty of wood and parts are completely different compared to what Epiphone has on the cheaper side. If you want those great you can still have them. These are for players who like Epiphone but want that extra umph to make Epiphone worth it. I have tons of m2m and Gibson custom shop guitars but wasn’t a fan of Epiphone and felt me paying 800 was to much for what they release now these… I like what they are doing and it’s good to have this in their line for people who love a Gibson Les Paul custom but don’t have 5k they can get the exact same now for 1200
The body binding on the new version is much better and can actually be seen from a head on view unlike the old version which looks like a studio version from head on view. Its worth checking if you order the new version because I have seen some with the narrower binding like on the old ones.
Bro you could achieve the same clarity with a $150 pickup swap. Still struggling to figure out how these are worth $1500 over the old $799-899 sweet spot that the top of Epiphone's range used to sit in. Look at what companies like Sire and Harley Benton are offering in terms of specs for $. Epiphone exists so people can cosplay as their favorite guitar players from the 60s-80s. Their instruments simply are not priced competitively for what you get anymore
@@gdawgs101 The newer ones have slightly better details and specs like the binding around the body and the one piece neck. I'm not caping for Epiphone, I think they look like toy guitars. I believe their new Honeyburst Les Paul standard looks somewhat authentic.
Not a fan of the satin. Other than that, definitely like the new look. But I also have no issue with the old classic Epi headstock, so whatever. My 2004 Epi will continue to serve my LP needs good enough.
Yeah, and even worse, this used to be the price of a new Gibson Les Paul Studio not even five years ago. I mean, it seems like it's worth it, but sticker shock is a real thing.
@@Fabh83 Not $1200 but there's a listing for a Gibson Les Paul Standard for $1600 on reverb right now. Also saw Les Paul Tributes and Studios for as little as ~$900. If you buy a $1500 Epiphone, you're a sucker, I'm sorry.
@@gdawgs101 for as much as I hate Epiphone's ridiculous pricing, a 10 year old used guitar is not a new guitar, that sounds obvious but a used Gibson in poor conditions is not comparable to a new Epiphone (or any guitar for that matter, that's why used means cheaper)
Hoping you guys to demo the Les paul Custom one, I don't care about these but the LPC is another story ! Please compare it to the normal Epiphone les Paul custom
Happy i got the original 59 for 699 in 2021. But would say an extra 50 quid for the sales ones is pretty good all round. After covid and all. And these will be on sale eventually. And better value.
Starting to feel that there are too many options for each brand. I get that they are trying to cover all bases and price points, but how would one decide on a higher end epiphone, or a lowest price point gibson?
Guys, we know you own a % of Victory Amps but do you really HAVE to use them in ALL of your videos? You literally have some of the most bad ass amps on earth right behind you and you keep playing those Victory amps. WE GET IT. You want to showcase them but that Tone King Royalist smack dab in the middle of you guys might be the best sounding amp ever made and I’ve only seen it played like twice on the channel. And that Soldano? Or that Pink Taco? There are probably 6 amps just in this room alone that sound better than those Victory amps. Despite that I still love the channel haha so don’t get me wrong. Keep making content and I’ll keep watching and bitching about you guys not using any of those amp LoL
Other brands continue to find new and creative ways to keep their price increases reasonable. Gibson just said F it $1500 epiphone. The margins on these have to be insane.
I don't understand people complaining, if it had Gibson on the headstock with the same exact specs you'd have no problem with the price. It's a really really good guitar, of course it's going to be expensive.
You're 100% correct. Who cares if it says Gibson or Epiphone on the headstock? It's all the same company. Anyone who says "if I spend that much money, I want it to say Gibson" is just a brand snob.
Something not noticed… the BODY SHAPE is different. The top carve as well, but the cutaway horn is NOW like ac actual Les Paul shape… not longer the kind of droopy shape
The Burstbuckers just sounded better to me in every position than the Custombuckers did. Old style headstock wouldn't bother me. I think it's the alnico 2 in the BB's that give more clarity than the alnico 3 found in the CB's. I think the Burstbuckers and '57 Classics are still the best PAF's that Gibson is currently making.
The prices aren’t going up simply because of inflation. These are a new line of guitars separate from the standard $600 models. All of these guitars have Gibson parts and are set up for Gibson Custom Shop specs.
I understand who the new guitars are aimed at but- Just make Epis with the Gibson headstock and normal Epi electronics and keep the price low. Yes- I said it! Because tone is in your hands. A good player with halfway decent amp, can make these guitars sound great with Epi Probuckers and Alpha pots.
With all the other latest releases from Epiphone firmely above the 1000 figure, the 1959 seemed a holdout from a earlier era and it was only a matter of time untill there would be a "revised" edition with 30% uptake for marginally "improved" specs. This is now twice the price of a normal Epi LP and the same price the (now discontinued) Tributes were, so overall: a very steep step up the pricing ladder for Epis. Bummer.
@@logandudley2552a pair of 59 "custombuckers" (this term used to refer to the model-specific custom shop PUs that were not mass-produced - so there were different "custombuckers" in s LP custom than were in a R8 or R9, there were alnico III as well as II and IV, there were non-wax-potted as well as wax-potted, sometimes specifically made to spec to specific PUs for high end custom shop signatures and somesuch. these now and all "custombuckers" since they are available as aftermarket parts are mass produced in some factory like the burstbuckers and are just another version of the underwound paf we already got legion of) costs 300 bucks aftermarket. thats 150 bucks more than a set of burstbuckers. that was not nor is it now anywhere near 30% of the price of an Epiphone 1959 LP.
I got a used perfect Gibson Les Paul for $1400. Why go epi when you can get Gibson?! Crazy. Epiphones are good guitars for gigging and not worrying about getting stuff stolen but the prices are making them bad for that too!
Crazy money. Just before Christmas, I got a 2022 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s from the Gibson Demo shop for £1,550 - only had a few minor marks on it. Epiphone have gone mad!
You can’t beat the Japanese Epiphones with the proper headstock from the late 90s! I have one and it’s my number 1 player. I own a 2018 Brazilian board R9 which is the best one out of 5 that I’ve owed. Believe it or not the my Epi gives the R9 a run for it’s money. I’m not saying the epiphone sounds better than the Gibson, they both have their own tone and feel but for 1/8 of the price for the R9 it’s definitely a beast!. I did upgrade the pickups to burstbuckers 1 & 2 along with the electronics but the acoustic tone is amazing on the Japan Epi!! I love it, play shows with it all the time , I would be more sad if I lost my Epi than if I lost the R9. I would be pissed at the fact that the R9 cost me quite a bit and the money went down the drain if it was lost, but I can always replace an R9. I could never replace my Japan Epiphone and I would be heartbroken.
Originally I was somewhat ticked off at the idea of a $1500 Epiphone Les Paul. But I have had a change of heart. As long as they keep the less expensive Epi's available I've got no problem with this and other Artist models/Inspired by Gibson, etc. It seems to me that Epiphone might be trying to capture a larger part of the market by offering guitars at a variety of price points, similar to Ibanez. That being said my 2002 Epiphone Les Paul that I paid $400 for suits me just fine, and I aint a gonna be paying $1500 for an Epi any time soon.
People really going after the cost, u want a cheap guitar theres plenty out there. Epiphone is making pro level guitars all day. They got a great factory and luthiers. Plus your getting american pickup, i got no problem with cost If u want one your one ur gonna pay it. Times are changing. I got the 59, i havent even adjusted the neck in 2 years
This is $1300, the Gibson Les Paul Modern Studio is $2000, and the Gibson Les Paul Standard is $3000. And a traditional Epiphone head Les Paul type with Burstbucker costs $1000. There are more options now, what do people think of this? Of course, I am familiar with the differences between each takeover. These are Gibson's 150th anniversary takeover strategies.
@@krastolff Yes, I've got a very cheap Epiphone Les Paul. Half decent guitar in it's own right but without the bolt on neck for starters, not really getting near an authentic Les Paul experience.
Id be way more into these if you actually got proper decent rosewood fingerboards - at this price point it's a no excuses spec requirement for me. I do like them, the custom buckers is a sweet touch... I kind of wish the frets were more modern medium size but could let that go, overall its a no go for me
Epiphone acknowledged the praise from the previous years of improvement but then got cocky with the price tag of these new ones. That Kirk Hammett sig started this price trend.
I have the old epi LP custom pro and agree they are great BUT £1200 for this phew... even the new highly rated PRS DGT SE (which pete loves) is only £750. Time for a shootout..?
Agreed. I have a 2015 Epiphone LP Standard Plus top and it's the same shit minus the headstock (except mine actually has an ebony board instead of the cheap laurel on the new one). I bought it for less than $600 new........... Idk who in their right mind would go Epiphone over PRS SE or ESP LTD right now. The guitars themselves are good, but value for money in terms of specs and QC compared to the competitors is totally out of wack
I would've done these with an aged (yellowed) semi gloss on the top and open pore satin finished back and sides. I would've also gone for that aged-type hardware those Squiers had a couple of years back, as well as a nylon nut (and of course the rosewood fretboard). I'd also bring back the Orville-branding for the IGC-models and have them made by Fujigen in Japan. All of these enhancements and the same £1500 price tag would seem like a much better deal, and I'd imagine that most people would love that even more
@@samright4661 How? Explain how this guitar is comparable in value to a McCarty 594 for $800. You could almost buy 2 PRS SEs for the cost of the Epiphone, and both will also be better guitars than the Epi.
Why would you buy a Gibson LP standard for twice the price now? What’s the added value beyond the name on the headstock and the nitro finish, especially if the pick ups are this good on the new 59 Epi?
The 59 before this one, which I have, is/was 899, you've got the gibo head stock, and custom bucker pick ups, pick ups alone are 500 quid, in the UK these are 1199, come on, I think that's a good buy and I'll be getting one, in ice tea, they sound epic and the quality on these custom shop collaboration is way way above previous epi Les Paul's, 2 piece body, 1 piece neck, old epis are multiple pieces.
That’s just ridiculous pricing for a Chinese guitar. For not a fat lot more you can pick up a good used Gibson. Or get a Tokai as they make some incredible instruments. I had a 1998 Korean Les Paul from new and with better pickups it was a solid gigging guitar and that was something like £350 new . But I don’t know about these , them pickups on paper sound a good idea, but there are plenty of great options for pickups that aren’t £500. Then think about resale. You ain’t getting nowhere near what you paid for it. From experience if you really want the look go with a used Gibson. If you want a single cut dual bucker guitar. PRS SE 245 or 594 or better still an S2 USA model . I love Les Pauls , but sorry I don’t get this.
I can't wait to see the Strat vs Tele video that Pete talks about (13m29s) where he'll show how he can get a Strat tone from a Tele. I hope he also mentions a fourth possible pickup combination with both pickups in series, thus producing a humbucker sound. Many guitarists in the know say that a Tele is the most versatile guitar there is.
The specs of the 2021 Epiphone custom koa Les Paul with real koa top and premium electronics hardware and build its been recently discontinued and will rise in value as time goes on and it has the proper epiphone Kalamazoo headstock not that gibson bs....mThe new Epiphone Koa-topped mahogany body Les Paul Custom is part of Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson Collection and honors the 1950s classic designed by Mr. Les Paul himself in 1954 as the “tuxedo” version of his groundbreaking solid body masterpiece! Featuring the traditional Custom bound all-mahogany body, 60s SlimTaper™ neck profile, ebony fingerboard with block inlays, gold Epiphone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece, a pair of critically acclaimed Epiphone ProBucker™ humbuckers, and Custom split-diamond inlay on the headstock. This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson model also has the 60s style Kalamazoo headstock, rolled neck for a comfortable feel, Graph Tech® NuBone® nut, era-appropriate wiring, and CTS® pots.Les Paul Custom Bound All-Mahogany Body w/ Koa Top 24.75" Scale Rolled Mahogany Neck w/ Ebony Fretboard & Pearloid Inlays Dual ProBucker Humbucker Pickups Era-Appropriate Wiring & CTS Potentiometers Fixed Bridge, Graph Tech NuBone Nut '60s Style Kalamazoo Headstock & Grover Rotomatic 18:1 TunersBody Type: Solidbody Body Shape: Les Paul Custom Body Material: Mahogany Top Material: Koa Body Finish: Gloss Color: Natural NECK Neck Material: Mahogany Neck Shape: Slim Taper Neck Joint: Set Neck Radius: 12" Fingerboard Material: Ebony Fingerboard Inlay: Pearloid Blocks Number of Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo Scale Length: 24.75" Nut Width: 1.693" Nut Material: Graph Tech NuBone HARDWARE Bridge/Tailpiece: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece Tuners: Kidney-style Tuners ELECTRONICS Neck Pickup: Pro Bucker 2 Humbucker Bridge Pickup: Pro Bucker 3 Humbucker Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone Switching: 3-way toggle pickup switch
I have the 2020 59 spec one, I like it a lot. Can’t lie, I’m curious about the new ones. I’ve had and have other Paul’s I like it. I wasn’t expecting to but I do.
They gotta make a 57black beauty ebony board, 3 custombuckers and bigsby jimmy page style same price point as the sg custom that would be the bolox as a custom shop 1 is north of 6 grand 👌
Man.. the tone of that headstock is incredible
Humbug! Everybody knows that the tone is in the color of the guitar!
The radius of the fingerboard sounds fabulous too! Simply great tone!
That's the problem with headless guitars. They don't make any sound. Everyone stars at the empty void where the headstock should be and all they can hear is their next youtube comment.
Ok -- but the old Epi headstock looks repulsive. I would have bought this new model had it been out when I was first in the market for a Gibson back in 2017.
Not impressed!
£1,200 is the new £500 post-COVID...
Just sucks that my salary hasn't changed....
Demoncrat/socialism is the cause for inflation.
£500 for the guitar and £700 for the Gibson open book headstock...
same pov over here
@@johnsmith-ug5tp Nice try comrade.
Not really, Gibson is just greedy and knows their brand Loyalists will eat up what they market. A guitar that would have cost $500 10 years ago is more like $800 now.
I can kinda get behind the pricing of the Custom Style models, but man, 1500 bucks for a laurel board? no way.
I have to agree. I have 1 guitar with an Indian Lauren Board, a J Mascis Jazzmaster, and I hate it. I don't know if it's just my specific example, but that fretboard is rough as hell. I tried sanding it to no avail. Plus, it looks awful. Pale and ashy, regardless of how much fretboard conditioner I use. Honestly, I'm even OK with Epiphone and Squier using Pao Ferro, bug God, Laurel SUUUCKS.
I tend to agree, but have seen some simply awful rosewood on Gibsons in the last 4-5 years. Cloudy almost. In general, I take issue with 1500 for Chinese made but that's where we're being steered by Gibson and Fender.
yeah, such an easy and cheap fix
Every Gibson I've had has required a couple of hours sanding between the frets. From stock those RW boards are rough AF, so it's not exclusive to Laurel.
These are for suckers. For the people that shop on brand alone
I’m perfectly happy with the version before this, came with a case around $600-$800 used is perfectly cool with me!
what always bothered me was that the binding on those epiphones wasn't really apparent when you looked from the front, while new models do. Its pretty minor but for me its a big deal
I got a new one in lemon burst (the 2020 one) for $629 shipped to my door. The deals are out there. In 4 years when the news ones are again replaced I’ll find another deal.
What is the difference between the old epi 1959 and this new 2024 epi 1959?
@@rmcf3972 watch the video , Christ 🤦🏻♂️ amazes me how people ask questions in the comment section of a video which literally answers those questions
Absolutely ! I picked one up for $700 CDN Polished with a Creamtone Bridge It's all I need
$1499 is the new $499
theres great epiphone models around the 300-500 price range @@sillysausage4549
@@sillysausage4549Seems obvious these days. Go big on a dream guitar, USA Gibson or Fender or whatever, or get a Harley Benton for practically peanuts which does a more than passable job for more or less everyone. Not sure where the market for imported guitars at this price is but Gibson obviously think it exists. I would say it's different for in demand artist models like the DG335.
Epiphone still has a bunch of Les
Paul’s for $600. If anything, they are the ones who hardly went up in price since Covid
@@metalliholic actually the $600 Epiphone are the ones that actually are a good value. Has
pro bucker pickups that are decent. Grover tuners. Plays well.
@@dogpd3 agree, get a 50s standard for 699, a tusq xl nut for 15, a gator wood case for 160 and a pair of PAF inspired Seymour Duncans for 250 and you are still under this guitars value! And then again changing the pickups isn't even required nor does it guarantees that you will like the new ones over the stock ones
If I were in the market for a £1200 guitar (I'm not, I'm really poor right now), I'd be eyeing up one of this years' PRS SE models with some change to spare.
But I am REALLY KEEN to see how Gibiphone do with this venture.
I LOVE MY 50'S Epi Gold Top Standard. Next to my 2013 Gibson Gary Moore Standard, it's a great Les Paul and my go to axe. I replaced the pickups with Dimarzio master rhythm and Super Distortion lead pickups. It's a true MONSTER now!!!
I have two of the Epi 1959; its such a fantastic guitar!!! I play it more often than my Gibson Les Paul!
I bought the £750 (discontinued) version with Burstbuckers last year and very happy I did - at that price back then I assumed it would either be discontinued soon or there would be a hefty price rise. Great value at that price. I don't mind the Epiphone headstock - it is an Epiphone after all.
Spoke to a second-hand guitar dealer in North London a few weeks ago. He has dozens of second hand Gibson's due to a glut of people selling them (after acquiring them during Covid) - so many he can't keep up listing them. Will be interesting to see how these expensive models fair against that backdrop...
I have heard the same story from other guitar retailers - unless it is special or vintage the used guitar market is over-supplied and prices are going down. Too many people bought in the past few years and now think they can sell a used one without any depreciation (won't happen). Typical business cycle.
Spot on @chrisbailiss7309, bought Andertons Epi 59 special for £600 back in '22' Thought it seemed good then!
I’ve been looking around on Reverb at Gibson LP Standard 50s models and Custom Shop R9s and they’re all still wicked expensive. If the price drop happened, I didn’t notice it. Hopefully it’s still to come.
The title is misleading (despite the question mark).
Gibson USA Custom Shop specs would be (among other things):
- one-piece mahogany body
- lightweight mahogany
- massive maple flame top
- rosewood fretboard
- hide glue fit
- nylon nut
- nitro finish
- hand wiring
Nylon nut? you sure you don't mean bone? because I don't see why an Epiphone couldn't have a nylon nut xD not exactly an expensive or hard to come by material.
@@guyfawkes8873 Yes, Nylon is period correct for late 50s bursts. So Gibson uses it on their custom shop reissues.
@@trevor4533But it's inferior, and Epiphone was always more targeted towards musicians who would appreciate a more dependable guitar rather than collectors
@@Mr.Goldbar Doesn't matter. Its one of the many custom shop specs missing from this guitar, hence OP's initial comment.
@@trevor4533 it does, it's Epiphone knowing their market. Most buyers who'd buy this guitar would appreciate it as an upgrade rather than while about it as an inaccuracy
1299 isn’t bad. All the good parts and a case.
I’ll wait for the new ones to come out on the used market and snag one for $750 on CL in a couple years.
Or a Christmas blowout at around $799. I picked up a cherry burst last year for $599 at Guitar Center brand new. I would imagine the newer one would go for a bit more.
I've been a big Epi guy, but I don't understand what they're doing with these prices. Just get a used Gibson at this point.
Legit! In Canada their triple H SG signature is 2 grand! The heck?
Your not going to get a gibson with 59 specs with custombuckers , for the price of these, your just paying for a name.
With out a doubt
Used Gibsons are suddently cheap!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I agree. Crazy prices
Will be interesting to see how this ends up in 12/18 months with brands upping prices and the guitar market seeming to be slowing down vs covid years.
Its already happening. Most guitar brands have a very different situation today compared to the covid-years.
@@sillysausage4549😆😆😆yep.
I bought this guitar in Tobacco Burst. I didn't expect the Custombuckers to be THIS good, and the neck shape is really good too. The Epiphones from a few years ago don't even come close to this Guitar.
I bought the same , call me crazy but im considering changing the neck pickup to a classic 57 . I love my roommate gibson’s neck pickup which boast that pick up. Its a creamy sound . I love it. Other than that i do love the custom buckers. But the 57 are so good
@salimel4835 That's not a bad idea, the 57's are my favorite Gibson pickups. Plus, they'll probably handle high-gain a little better
@@Zoso981 do you think ill need to change the pots if i change it ??? Im still new to the guitar realm. I heard sometimes changing pickups requires to change the pots. But since that guitar is supposed to boast « high end » electronics i was wondering. Cheers
That's a blindfold challenge for Rob right there
Yep... same headstock this time.
Why, he just feels for the fret nibs. Those videos are just PR to sell Epiphones
Do you all remember when the prophecy range came out and everyone was like " whaaaat 899 for an epiphone ???"
I remember this short glorious period when Epi put out really stellar stuff: the Jared James Nichols Old Glory LP custom was somewhere around that price and was really good, the prophecies were really well spec'd modern midrange guitars, and other (mostly signature) models were really cool, unique and great guitars as well, all for well under a 1000 bucks. Even with then global price increase, Epi becoming more and more Gibson-y in all the worst ways just plain sucks.
I got caught up in the ‘this is not the right headstock’ business until I found a used 2017 Epi Les Paul Standard Pro on eBay for £180. The guitar STOCK absolutely rocks. After a fret dress it compares to my Gibson Standard. Ok, the neck shape is slightly different BUT the sound is no more than 5% different through a decent amp.
Play more, GAS less ⛽️🔥
Absolutely love your demos Mr. Honore’ This is going to make me take a really close look at this new Epi . I just purchased the McCarty se 594 black gold burst because of your demo’s and it certainly does not disappoint. Thanks for being the laid back humble guitarist that absolutely shines when you play, I’ll be watching!
I bought the old one in Dec 23 FFS! I would've waited had I of known this was on the way 😅 I literally just gave my dark burst version a gentle polish take away the completely flat satin finish and it came out really nice, looks just like the one Pete's holding.
I've got the epi standard 50's in cherry burst which is a great guitar as well, they are turning out some lovely stuff at the min.
I wish there was a way to post images in comments. Would love to see it!
@@jasonswitzer1748 I know, like I said it was a gentle polish though. It's not glossy looking but just ever so slightly shinier than that flat satin finish - it may not last and go more matt again but I thought it was worth a shot. There's a few videos on RUclips of people who have buffed theirs up a bit 👍🏻
Hmm which polish did you use? Been contemplating doing that with mine.
@@markscars1069 used a little super resin polish by autoglym but I'm sure anything like that will do the job along with a microfibre towel as not to add any scratches. The only thing I would say is, if you care about resale or trade value, it's probably best to keep her original.... and I take no responsibility for how it comes out! 😅
@@ronlines2314 Cheers dude
The pairing of Lee and Pete always brightens my day, no matter what they are talking about!
Thank you!!
They always rock!
A dream deluxe Epiphone Les Paul : nitro finish, steel frets, cut-away neck, bone nut, custombuckers, CTS 500k Pots, good gig bag (who needs a cumbersome case!?). NO push pulls or any fancy electronic crap, ebony compound fret board and pearl inlays, locking tuners, Handwired with Orange Drops capacitors,
Aluminium Tune-O-Matic bridge. How much could that possibly be? I’d even cut the binding and just have some nice rolled edges… without a maple top, like the Les Paul Special. Let’s call it THE Un-Custom Shop Deluxe !❤
All people were asking for was the headstock change... Epiphone were finally getting recognition with their build quality bang for the buck then bam, huge price increase.
Exactly. Like their only niche was offering Gibson licensed shapes for cheap. Even when they were cheap, there were plenty of budget brands making much better guitars than Epiphone.
Now they're expensive and they have absolutely nothing going for them. Meanwhile these Chinese brands like Harley Benton are pumping out absolute spec monsters with stainless frets, highly figured woods, locking tuners, etc. for peanuts.
Gibson must really be desperate to turn a profit ATM...
And even then, nobody was asking for the open book, just to get rid of the old Epiphone LP headstock. They achieved it with the Kalamazoo headstock.
They'll probably still have lower priced Epiphones though. These models will be used to raise people's esteem of the brand to further remove any stigma. There are still a lot of people who don't consider Epiphone to be the real deal. They were junk for a long time and that impression sticks. They have to kind of overdo it to break that perception.
On the one hand I say Bravo to Gibson for doing this. I think people wanted this and at this price they’ll probably sell boatloads. With that said, Fender has been doing this for years and at more price points. Even the cheapest Squiers have the Fender-shaped headstock. Fender also owns their own factory and it is not in China. The Mexican-made Fenders also use U.S. hardware and electronics, and in some cases custom shop pickups, and wait a minute…oh yeah, they also say Fender on the headstock. And they start at about $800 and go up to the price points of these Epiphones. So while Gibson is doing a good thing here, it is certainly not groundbreaking. I’d say Fender still has them beat because they offer a wider range of price points and also offer additional features on some models that Gibson does not, like nitro on their roadworn Vinteras, and of course the Fender logo and headstock. Not the Fender has done anything spectacular given the huge price increases, recent QC issues, and no hard cases. I still want to pickup an LP Standard but I’m really on the fence with these. I really don’t care about nitro and the electronics and pickups are actually better than what the U.S. made Standards have, but I do care that there are fewer color choices and only satin finish options. It’s a tough call because there is a lot to like here including the Custombuckers and hard case. But for that kind of money I could pickup one of the Harmony guitars that are U.S. made, have great sounding pickups, nitro finish, and a case. Or pickup a used Gibson or Fender.
$1500 for a maple veneer and Indian laurel fretboard is crazy 😂
It’s not a veneer anymore. Hence the low grade flame
@@STMNewEnglandit’s still veneer
It’s still veneer according to epiphone.
It's a 3/4" maple cap with AAA flamed maple veneer on top the same flamed maple veneer Gibson uses on their ES 335..ES 339 and the headstocks and backs of the Gibson standard Les Pauls a lot of you really need to start using your computer for research first before you open your mouth and stick your foot in it
The epiphone pro buckers are made the same exact same way as the Gibson burst buckers same metals same wiring same but bobbins everything is the same
A few of my laurel fretboard guitars were very blonde when new and dried out, after applying lemon oil they are all a nice dark color now, and in a blind test no one could tell the difference between laurel and ebony, at least I can't, they both play nicely when the guitar has a proper setup. I have spent up to 5 hours setting up a new guitar, which includes rounding all the fret ends and polishing with a Dremel.
Agree ! Same experience here on the laurel fretboard of a low-end guitar. A little of Dunlop 65 (Lemon Oil) gave me a nice dark color.
exactly! People are scared over nothing
Whats the point of paying 1500US dollars for a guitar that you have to sand off, round up and polish. AND file the nut , the saddles and have it setup because it obviously dont keep tune. What is this ......
@@ripperthecrooks6428 ask those who still buy Gibson... And every guitar will have to get that procedure eventually :)
The matte finish looks so cheap. Compared this to the Epi LP Custom and in the end I chose the custom. Cheaper but win in so many way. The best guitar I've ever had.
Agreed about the finish... Looks like those sam ash "les Paul" bolt ones they had back in the day.... I know some people like that tomato soup burst or whatever but especially when it's so matte it will always remind me of all those super cheap epis they sold in literally sam ash and places like that. Wal Mart might've had em in some places. The beginner pack from the early 2000's
Agreed. Looks like crap.
Gloss plasticky poly (these guitars have poly finishes) feels and looks even cheaper!
Completely agree with the finish. Looks dreadful.
And vintage guitars are shiny, not matte.
@@conorfurlongvintage les Paul’s are not shiny you absolute banterwank.
My perspective on this is that I feel fortunate to have bought one of (evidently the last batch) of the ‘series 1’ 59s in Aged Dark Burst. Visited the guys at Andertons last month, had a good chat with with Paul in The Guitar Gallery (plan on investing in something far more expensive next year) and spent a good hour choosing between the two 59 options at that point, out in the main shop. For me, the extra £450 for the new model would be too much to justify. I now feel even more than before that £750 for mine was good money. Yes I know why it was discounted but that’s how the game is played. Get the same case basically, the same look and feel, and the sound is too close for me to call it. Grab a series 1 while you can…
The concept is not necessarily new. I had Epiphone 50th Anniversary Models of the 1959 and 1960 Les Paul Standards. The 1960 came with a choice of necks; either the thick 1959 style neck that the 1960 Standard started the year off with, or the much slimmer neck that the 1960 Standard ended the year with and indeed, the production of the Les Paul Models at that time. All the appointments on this pair of Epiphones were of Gibson USA. The finish and playability were flawless. Exquisite to behold and a joy to play. The 1959 had Burstbucker 2’s in the neck and Burstbucker 3’s in the bridge. The 1960 had Burstbucker 1’s in the neck and Burstbucker 2’s in the bridge. The sonic spectrum and tonal palette of these Epiphones were gorgeous. Sadly, I parted with both to fund a special order of a Rickenbacker 370/12, but based on my experience and ownership of the pair, I would highly recommend high-end Epiphone Les Paul’s.
Yea so true - its amazing how people don't know about those earlier tribute guitars that came with Gibson electronics - they also tend to sell for less then £500 used
I own one of those. It's so good that I feel no desire for a Gibson-branded Les Paul.
The price is 100% worth it for the specs and the fact the shapes are not deformed. Epiphone and Laurel are just names, get over it.
I just bought the 1959 Standard for £729 with the case and the burstbuckers fitted from you guys. Turned up today and is amazing. Not a single blemish on it and sounds awesome
did exactly the same
Do yourself a favor and buy an Eastman SB59.
This is a correct statement
Or a Maybach Lester
The shape is deformed, messes with my OCD
@@mauricioborgarello6669 quite a bit more expensive
@@Mr.Goldbar And you don't notice how diametrically wrong Epiphone's Les Paul are?!
Love your comparison videos because Pete is so skilled and plays all the guitars with the same touch.
Guess what people. The prices keep going up, because you buy them! Stop lowering standards, and start saving! We deserve better.
quality has also gone up, this is not the same epi les paul you bought years ago
@@jvboy401 How so? I own a 2015 Epi LP Standard Pro. It's a great guitar (for the $600 I paid, not the $1500 they want now...). I've played the new Epiphones, they are also great guitars, but they aren't noticably better in an way than mine in terms of build quality.
The only big thing I noticed is the stock pickups seems a lot better in the new one, but thats not worth an $800 premium.
@@jvboy401 prices went up higher than the quality. Not too many years ago you could get a made in the USA Gibson with rosewood board and nitro finish for what you are now paying for a Epiphone with poly finish and a laurel board. That`s insane
@@modestoney1577 but considering that USA Gibson doesn't even have basic Les Paul features like binding and a full thickness body I'd say a high end Epiphone for the same price is leagues better
@@Mr.Goldbar I´m not talking about tributes without binding.
10 years ago I bought a Captain Kirk Douglas Signature SG, which is basically a SG Custom, made in the USA, 57 Classic pickups, nitro finish, Maestro Vibrola, brand new for €1400. That`s now the price for an asian Epiphone with poly finish and Laurel fretboard. It`s insane.
I kind of laughed out when the Montys popped up because as you were explaining nong the fretboard colour, the espresso wax came to mind immediately! It's absolutely the way around this aesthetic issue in the most cost efficient way.
I love my Epi 1959 but i dont feel the need to upgrade just for the pickups. Mine plays great and sounds great. Probably the second favorite guitar i own, second only to my USA Fender Strat.
I bought one about a year and a half ago, i love it. People are just mad cause they can't have 500 dollar pickups and a gibson headstock for $399.
I put the Faber bell brass ABR1 conversion bridge on mine and I’m good. No need to upgrade to this new model. They ditched the medallion.
I'd rock the new Epi LP - looks great. Also...when Pete grabbed the Gibson in the jam at the end 😍😍😍
So stoked, the horn carve the small pin abr and the holy trail headstock! I'm I'm take my cash!!
Lee...have really noticed such major strides in your touch, feel and musicality since I first started tuning in during Pandemic...good on ya, mate. Love this partnership.Cheers, Edward in San Diego, CA.
Gibson says hey we tweaked the CNC program at our Epiphone factory in China and raised the price 58% but we're sure you would have paid double for that headstock. Right? Good because next year they will be double.
To pay that much money for a guitar with a laurel board is straight up f’n nuts.
$500 PRS SE models have Indian rosewood
I'd expect laurel on a Squier. At a fraction of the cost, the Sire L7's use ebony, PRS SE's use rosewood and other great woods like Pau Ferro and Jatoba were right there but yet they use a wood I've never seen anyone get excited about.
@@brunoantony9257 Same with Sire. They seem to source really nice extra dark pieces of rosewood too at that
Indian Laurel and Indian Rosewood are basically the same thing
@@colinmason9974 They most certainly are not.
Man, I just got an Epi '59 in lemon burst last week, had a bit of buyer's remorse but now I hear these new prices I'm all good! 😂 I can live without the "correct" headstock and Custombuckers.
We need a video on the new 335. That one has an ebony board and no veneer so it looks nicer.
Next year for that one
Re: colour of the Laurel. My son and I were recently shopping for a Casino worn. We didn't get it from Andertons but Peach guitars where they photograph each item in stock. We chose one where the laurel was much darker. I don't mind the colour, but Tom prefers darker (like his heart😂)
I’ve had Laurel and PF and I have had no issues with either….plenty of older Epi’s out there with Rosewood boards that can be easily upgraded if that’s your bag.
I buy from Peach also, for the same reason: they show pictures of the ones they have in stock. Andertons are missing a trick here, especially as most people have to buy online - I'm in Cornwall and there isn't a decent music store, with a lot of stock, within hundreds of miles.
@@marmadukewinterbotham2599if you ask them they will get you a pic
The first one is more smooth and rounded off 👍👍
I struggle a bit with who the customer is for this guitar at this price.
If you want a Gibson, buying an Epiphone is obviously not ticking that box. So if you can’t afford new prices, there’s plenty on second hand market.
If you want a great single cut guitar, there’s a lot of competition offering arguably better specs/price. I got an Eastman SB59 for example that is absolutely killer and that I wouldn’t swap for an Epiphone.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they are very good guitars. But at £850ish (maybe £1000 considering pickups). At £1200 plus you’re getting into some high quality alternatives.
I want a guitar that looks and feels exactly the same like a Gibson, without any deformation of the shapes, has high end specs where it matters but is not made in the USA and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
The only other guitars that fit this bill are Japanese copies but you have to import them yourself and pay a lot of money for shipping. This is perfect if you don't want any headaches
@@Mr.Goldbar OK, but some of the Epiphone specs (eg neck angle, bridge mounting) aren't vintage correct. So if you don't care about that stuff and do care about the fine details of body shape, that makes sense.
@@mattc1176 I think the audience of these guitars (myself included) will not let these be a dealbreaker, in fact the modern player will probably prefer it.
The flathead screw bridge is easier to adjust and the shallower angle is more durable and stable :)
Question? While you were playing the guitar, did you notice it was a Laurel board?
A lot of comments throughout the demo suggested it sounded good, it played good, it felt good and so on.
I have Gibson brand guitars with Rosewood and Laurel. To be honest i haven't stopped playing the guitar with the Lauel board and said to myself, "too bad thats not a rosewood board". It literally never crosses my mind. The feel is good, the guitar performs as I want it to, and sounds great (hence why i spent money to have it).
Additionally, im happy they used wood....and not some composite material. In general, i dont like the inspired by Gibson line, it's mainly a marketing ploy to sell more Epiphones....more revenue at the end of the day.
Gibson doesn't use Indian Laurel.
@trevor4533 what? Why do people complain about it then? And why is Indian Laurel stated as the spec for fretboards on the ISG models?
@@stevebernard221 Yes, Epiphone uses Indian Laurel.
Gibson does not.
@trevor4533 your right! Gibson Brands Incorporated have been using Indian Laurel on their Epiphone guitars.
The people who say these are over price are legit dumb. Lol qty of wood and parts are completely different compared to what Epiphone has on the cheaper side. If you want those great you can still have them. These are for players who like Epiphone but want that extra umph to make Epiphone worth it. I have tons of m2m and Gibson custom shop guitars but wasn’t a fan of Epiphone and felt me paying 800 was to much for what they release now these… I like what they are doing and it’s good to have this in their line for people who love a Gibson Les Paul custom but don’t have 5k they can get the exact same now for 1200
Go ahead and pay $1200 for your cnc made Chinese guitars dude 😂😂😂
The body binding on the new version is much better and can actually be seen from a head on view unlike the old version which looks like a studio version from head on view. Its worth checking if you order the new version because I have seen some with the narrower binding like on the old ones.
I prefer the older, slimmer Epi headstock. Straighter string path to the tuners.
Yeah; never worried about the headstock. It still says Epiphone either way.
These aren't made for the practical, discerning working-class musician.
Not bad. The honyburst is your best bet. These sound a little better than the older models, more clarity similar to their Gibson big siblings.
Bro you could achieve the same clarity with a $150 pickup swap. Still struggling to figure out how these are worth $1500 over the old $799-899 sweet spot that the top of Epiphone's range used to sit in.
Look at what companies like Sire and Harley Benton are offering in terms of specs for $. Epiphone exists so people can cosplay as their favorite guitar players from the 60s-80s. Their instruments simply are not priced competitively for what you get anymore
@@gdawgs101 The newer ones have slightly better details and specs like the binding around the body and the one piece neck. I'm not caping for Epiphone, I think they look like toy guitars. I believe their new Honeyburst Les Paul standard looks somewhat authentic.
Not a fan of the satin. Other than that, definitely like the new look. But I also have no issue with the old classic Epi headstock, so whatever. My 2004 Epi will continue to serve my LP needs good enough.
21:08 "Good things are pink inside." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I can’t believe it went unnoticed 😂😂😂😂
Price wise it’s not as bad as some of their recent releases. You can almost justify it. But it’s still close to second hand Gibsons
Yeah, and even worse, this used to be the price of a new Gibson Les Paul Studio not even five years ago. I mean, it seems like it's worth it, but sticker shock is a real thing.
Why can you almost justify it? Do you not know what else is out there? A $700 Sire L7 has better specs than this $1500 marketing ploy
Where do you find a used 1200 Gibson LP Standard in 2024? Custombuckers alone are a third of the price of the guitar 😅
@@Fabh83 Not $1200 but there's a listing for a Gibson Les Paul Standard for $1600 on reverb right now. Also saw Les Paul Tributes and Studios for as little as ~$900. If you buy a $1500 Epiphone, you're a sucker, I'm sorry.
@@gdawgs101 for as much as I hate Epiphone's ridiculous pricing, a 10 year old used guitar is not a new guitar, that sounds obvious but a used Gibson in poor conditions is not comparable to a new Epiphone (or any guitar for that matter, that's why used means cheaper)
Hoping you guys to demo the Les paul Custom one, I don't care about these but the LPC is another story ! Please compare it to the normal Epiphone les Paul custom
Love these but I'm waiting for the "Inspired by Gibson" Epiphone Slash Les Paul. Preferably a jessica model.
Happy i got the original 59 for 699 in 2021. But would say an extra 50 quid for the sales ones is pretty good all round. After covid and all.
And these will be on sale eventually. And better value.
Those were great. Good score.
Starting to feel that there are too many options for each brand. I get that they are trying to cover all bases and price points, but how would one decide on a higher end epiphone, or a lowest price point gibson?
To be fair... high end Epiphone all the way...
Wow, thank's for the little outro there, this guy plays guitar so good.
When you try guitars you should connect them directly to the amplifiers, without so many pedals, it is not necessary.
Don't forget that they also sell pedals...
@oscarpolo6310 - Precisely!
When is this guitar available? I can not find it.. They still sell only the older previous model from 2022
Guys, we know you own a % of Victory Amps but do you really HAVE to use them in ALL of your videos? You literally have some of the most bad ass amps on earth right behind you and you keep playing those Victory amps. WE GET IT. You want to showcase them but that Tone King Royalist smack dab in the middle of you guys might be the best sounding amp ever made and I’ve only seen it played like twice on the channel. And that Soldano? Or that Pink Taco? There are probably 6 amps just in this room alone that sound better than those Victory amps.
Despite that I still love the channel haha so don’t get me wrong. Keep making content and I’ll keep watching and bitching about you guys not using any of those amp LoL
Agreed
Old 59 needed thicker/angled body binding, it looks like a studio because can't see the binding at all face on. Glad they fixed that in the new one.
Other brands continue to find new and creative ways to keep their price increases reasonable. Gibson just said F it $1500 epiphone. The margins on these have to be insane.
Lee's playing has become so much better really enjoyable to listen to
I don't understand people complaining, if it had Gibson on the headstock with the same exact specs you'd have no problem with the price. It's a really really good guitar, of course it's going to be expensive.
@@sillysausage4549try to build one yourself then, you'll see why they cost so much
You're 100% correct. Who cares if it says Gibson or Epiphone on the headstock? It's all the same company. Anyone who says "if I spend that much money, I want it to say Gibson" is just a brand snob.
How do they compare in terms of specs - particularly body thickness. I've heard that Gibson uses better and a slightly thicker slab of mahogany?
Something not noticed… the BODY SHAPE is different. The top carve as well, but the cutaway horn is NOW like ac actual Les Paul shape… not longer the kind of droopy shape
What do you mean? I don't notice any difference in the lower horn
Niiice
@@gdawgs101thers none. I compared my tobacco burst with my roommate les paul traditional. No difference. Not even in the weight.
The Burstbuckers just sounded better to me in every position than the Custombuckers did. Old style headstock wouldn't bother me. I think it's the alnico 2 in the BB's that give more clarity than the alnico 3 found in the CB's. I think the Burstbuckers and '57 Classics are still the best PAF's that Gibson is currently making.
Do the Custom please ! The Alpine White is Awesome
I scored a '59 reissue for 500 usd last summer. Sounds awesome. Wouldn't trade it.
The prices aren’t going up simply because of inflation. These are a new line of guitars separate from the standard $600 models. All of these guitars have Gibson parts and are set up for Gibson Custom Shop specs.
I understand who the new guitars are aimed at but-
Just make Epis with the Gibson headstock and normal Epi electronics and keep the price low. Yes- I said it!
Because tone is in your hands. A good player with halfway decent amp, can make these guitars sound great with Epi Probuckers and Alpha pots.
With all the other latest releases from Epiphone firmely above the 1000 figure, the 1959 seemed a holdout from a earlier era and it was only a matter of time untill there would be a "revised" edition with 30% uptake for marginally "improved" specs. This is now twice the price of a normal Epi LP and the same price the (now discontinued) Tributes were, so overall: a very steep step up the pricing ladder for Epis. Bummer.
And Gibsons, since their entry point is now the Modern lite, with horribly downgraded specs and costing >$1500
It’s almost like custombuckers are more than 30% more expensive than burstbuckers.
@@logandudley2552a pair of 59 "custombuckers" (this term used to refer to the model-specific custom shop PUs that were not mass-produced - so there were different "custombuckers" in s LP custom than were in a R8 or R9, there were alnico III as well as II and IV, there were non-wax-potted as well as wax-potted, sometimes specifically made to spec to specific PUs for high end custom shop signatures and somesuch. these now and all "custombuckers" since they are available as aftermarket parts are mass produced in some factory like the burstbuckers and are just another version of the underwound paf we already got legion of) costs 300 bucks aftermarket. thats 150 bucks more than a set of burstbuckers. that was not nor is it now anywhere near 30% of the price of an Epiphone 1959 LP.
I bought the new 355. Highly recommend it. Its up there with my Gibson standards. Sounds close to my customshop.
Just looked online and they want £1200 for a Epiphone Les Paul Custom 😂😂 Dream on
I got a used perfect Gibson Les Paul for $1400. Why go epi when you can get Gibson?! Crazy. Epiphones are good guitars for gigging and not worrying about getting stuff stolen but the prices are making them bad for that too!
that’s not what an Epiphone LP Custom goes for....they're usually like $749 I think
@@ahighervibe4086the alex jones is £1200 I think. The alex lifeson is pretty much the same too. Comes with a flloyd rose but still
Crazy money. Just before Christmas, I got a 2022 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s from the Gibson Demo shop for £1,550 - only had a few minor marks on it. Epiphone have gone mad!
@@ahighervibe4086the adam jones does
You can’t beat the Japanese Epiphones with the proper headstock from the late 90s! I have one and it’s my number 1 player. I own a 2018 Brazilian board R9 which is the best one out of 5 that I’ve owed. Believe it or not the my Epi gives the R9 a run for it’s money. I’m not saying the epiphone sounds better than the Gibson, they both have their own tone and feel but for 1/8 of the price for the R9 it’s definitely a beast!. I did upgrade the pickups to burstbuckers 1 & 2 along with the electronics but the acoustic tone is amazing on the Japan Epi!! I love it, play shows with it all the time , I would be more sad if I lost my Epi than if I lost the R9. I would be pissed at the fact that the R9 cost me quite a bit and the money went down the drain if it was lost, but I can always replace an R9. I could never replace my Japan Epiphone and I would be heartbroken.
Sounds no better than the highly acclaimed epiphone Pro buckers that are made the same exact same way with the same exact materials..
Originally I was somewhat ticked off at the idea of a $1500 Epiphone Les Paul. But I have had a change of heart. As long as they keep the less expensive Epi's available I've got no problem with this and other Artist models/Inspired by Gibson, etc. It seems to me that Epiphone might be trying to capture a larger part of the market by offering guitars at a variety of price points, similar to Ibanez. That being said my 2002 Epiphone Les Paul that I paid $400 for suits me just fine, and I aint a gonna be paying $1500 for an Epi any time soon.
People really going after the cost, u want a cheap guitar theres plenty out there. Epiphone is making pro level guitars all day. They got a great factory and luthiers. Plus your getting american pickup, i got no problem with cost If u want one your one ur gonna pay it. Times are changing. I got the 59, i havent even adjusted the neck in 2 years
This is $1300, the Gibson Les Paul Modern Studio is $2000, and the Gibson Les Paul Standard is $3000. And a traditional Epiphone head Les Paul type with Burstbucker costs $1000. There are more options now, what do people think of this? Of course, I am familiar with the differences between each takeover. These are Gibson's 150th anniversary takeover strategies.
When’s the Gibson Theodore video dropping?
Good point about the pricing levels, we need a Gibson equivalent to the Fender Squier Sonic range.
That would be the E1 series, which has precious little to do with Les Pauls like these
@@krastolff Yes, I've got a very cheap Epiphone Les Paul. Half decent guitar in it's own right but without the bolt on neck for starters, not really getting near an authentic Les Paul experience.
Id be way more into these if you actually got proper decent rosewood fingerboards - at this price point it's a no excuses spec requirement for me. I do like them, the custom buckers is a sweet touch... I kind of wish the frets were more modern medium size but could let that go, overall its a no go for me
Just seen a Es355 is coming in the same new line up - that is definitely interesting!
Where? @@Paul-D
Epiphone acknowledged the praise from the previous years of improvement but then got cocky with the price tag of these new ones. That Kirk Hammett sig started this price trend.
I have the old epi LP custom pro and agree they are great BUT £1200 for this phew... even the new highly rated PRS DGT SE (which pete loves) is only £750. Time for a shootout..?
Agreed. I have a 2015 Epiphone LP Standard Plus top and it's the same shit minus the headstock (except mine actually has an ebony board instead of the cheap laurel on the new one). I bought it for less than $600 new...........
Idk who in their right mind would go Epiphone over PRS SE or ESP LTD right now. The guitars themselves are good, but value for money in terms of specs and QC compared to the competitors is totally out of wack
I would've done these with an aged (yellowed) semi gloss on the top and open pore satin finished back and sides. I would've also gone for that aged-type hardware those Squiers had a couple of years back, as well as a nylon nut (and of course the rosewood fretboard).
I'd also bring back the Orville-branding for the IGC-models and have them made by Fujigen in Japan.
All of these enhancements and the same £1500 price tag would seem like a much better deal, and I'd imagine that most people would love that even more
So you have the previous for £749 and the new one is £1,199. So £450 for the headstock? Someone is taking the piss.
AVR-1 bridge, Gibson Custombuckers pickups, new headstock, mother of pearl inlays… but I agree with you… too expensive for an Epi…
@@manelalentorn😢😢more
Epiphone has officially lost the plot. PRS SE just eats the entire brand alive at this point in the low-mid range price bracket
@@gdawgs101 BS !
@@samright4661 How? Explain how this guitar is comparable in value to a McCarty 594 for $800. You could almost buy 2 PRS SEs for the cost of the Epiphone, and both will also be better guitars than the Epi.
Why would you buy a Gibson LP standard for twice the price now? What’s the added value beyond the name on the headstock and the nitro finish, especially if the pick ups are this good on the new 59 Epi?
Cool, £500 for pickups that dont sound any different to any other humbucker.
The 59 before this one, which I have, is/was 899, you've got the gibo head stock, and custom bucker pick ups, pick ups alone are 500 quid, in the UK these are 1199, come on, I think that's a good buy and I'll be getting one, in ice tea, they sound epic and the quality on these custom shop collaboration is way way above previous epi Les Paul's, 2 piece body, 1 piece neck, old epis are multiple pieces.
That’s just ridiculous pricing for a Chinese guitar. For not a fat lot more you can pick up a good used Gibson. Or get a Tokai as they make some incredible instruments. I had a 1998 Korean Les Paul from new and with better pickups it was a solid gigging guitar and that was something like £350 new . But I don’t know about these , them pickups on paper sound a good idea, but there are plenty of great options for pickups that aren’t £500.
Then think about resale. You ain’t getting nowhere near what you paid for it.
From experience if you really want the look go with a used Gibson. If you want a single cut dual bucker guitar. PRS SE 245 or 594 or better still an S2 USA model .
I love Les Pauls , but sorry I don’t get this.
I can't wait to see the Strat vs Tele video that Pete talks about (13m29s) where he'll show how he can get a Strat tone from a Tele. I hope he also mentions a fourth possible pickup combination with both pickups in series, thus producing a humbucker sound. Many guitarists in the know say that a Tele is the most versatile guitar there is.
The specs of the 2021 Epiphone custom koa Les Paul with real koa top and premium electronics hardware and build its been recently discontinued and will rise in value as time goes on and it has the proper epiphone Kalamazoo headstock not that gibson bs....mThe new Epiphone Koa-topped mahogany body Les Paul Custom is part of Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson Collection and honors the 1950s classic designed by Mr. Les Paul himself in 1954 as the “tuxedo” version of his groundbreaking solid body masterpiece!
Featuring the traditional Custom bound all-mahogany body, 60s SlimTaper™ neck profile, ebony fingerboard with block inlays, gold Epiphone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece, a pair of critically acclaimed Epiphone ProBucker™ humbuckers, and Custom split-diamond inlay on the headstock.
This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson model also has the 60s style Kalamazoo headstock, rolled neck for a comfortable feel, Graph Tech® NuBone® nut, era-appropriate wiring, and CTS® pots.Les Paul Custom Bound All-Mahogany Body w/ Koa Top
24.75" Scale Rolled Mahogany Neck w/ Ebony Fretboard & Pearloid Inlays
Dual ProBucker Humbucker Pickups
Era-Appropriate Wiring & CTS Potentiometers
Fixed Bridge, Graph Tech NuBone Nut
'60s Style Kalamazoo Headstock & Grover Rotomatic 18:1 TunersBody Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: Les Paul Custom
Body Material: Mahogany
Top Material: Koa
Body Finish: Gloss
Color: Natural
NECK
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Shape: Slim Taper
Neck Joint: Set Neck
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: Pearloid Blocks
Number of Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.693"
Nut Material: Graph Tech NuBone
HARDWARE
Bridge/Tailpiece: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece
Tuners: Kidney-style Tuners
ELECTRONICS
Neck Pickup: Pro Bucker 2 Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Pro Bucker 3 Humbucker
Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone
Switching: 3-way toggle pickup switch
Epiphone was restored to high end long before 2024 JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone back in 2019/2020
It’s nice that they’re finally doing the open book headstock on Epiphone
Headstock and custombuckers are a great upgrade. Worth the 1200!
About time Epiphone and Gibson headstock matched. Now make it across all models!
Nice guitars but way to expensive
Way to go.
I have the 2020 59 spec one, I like it a lot. Can’t lie, I’m curious about the new ones. I’ve had and have other Paul’s I like it. I wasn’t expecting to but I do.
My main issue with the use of laurel is that it’s not hardy! 🤔😜🤣🤣🤣
I’ll get my coat… 😳
Does the laurel board come with skinny frets and the hardy one fat frets? that's my question.
Well, here's another fine fret you've gotten me into.
" Alright everybody, I'll be here all week! Don't forget to try the veal! "
They gotta make a 57black beauty ebony board, 3 custombuckers and bigsby jimmy page style same price point as the sg custom that would be the bolox as a custom shop 1 is north of 6 grand 👌