Corey does a really good demo job here that leaves you in no doubt what the guitar sounds like. It's refreshing that he acknowledges the fact that when you overdrive the guitar it just ends up sounding like a a million other guitars. Finally, his critique of the woods and construction is clear and very informative. All in all a superb review Corey! 👍Btw, I wouldn't buy at that price.
Gibson is doing a "test drive" on their pricing, now they are asking $1,500 for a damn Epiphone. I am pretty sure I have bought my last anything that has to do with Gibson. The one thing I know for sure is if people will pay $1,500......Then the price will be $1,800 next year.
seric I own two of the first LP ever made under the "Inspired by Gibson" moniker. Both came with bad fret ends from Sweetwater. The 6 million point check system they do failed me. This is a major problem with Epi and has been forever. Nothing a bot of TLC didn't fix in short order, but come on guys, fret ends. BTW, they're both great guitars, but there's no mistaking them for a real Gibson
You nailed it 100%!!!! I wish Gibson would just merge the brands and then they would have everything from entry to pro level and they all say Gibson on the headstock.
@@brianmckenzie1318 Epiphone is an older brand than Gibson and at a time was considered in the same breath. Gibson bought Epiphone. Epiphone’s reputation is Gibsons fault because they put out some questionable stuff under that brand for a long time. Now they want to build it up charging more premium prices, but you can still get a Tokai MIJ with better materials and hardware than the Epiphones for around the 1500 dollar mark. I’d personally rather have the tokai at that price. If Gibson would let Epiphone sell the standard Epiphone LP custom with the ebony board, the open book headstock and a hard shell case for 800-900 dollars I’d be in but at the 1500 mark there’s better options.
@@TheRange7 I had 2 brand new Alex Lifeson Epi LP, and both had atrocious issues with the electronics for acoustic sound, and drained the battery even when not used ort plugged in. First was under warranty repair, and they could not resolve anything. A second guitar surfaced and had a dead piezo. Returned for full refund.
Totally agree. Lots of very cheap guitars manage to use rosewood. It can't be a cost thing. Maybe Epiphone have got huge stocks of laurel which they need to use up(!)
I had a chance to play Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson" Firebird at Gibson Garage London. It was excellent. Price was steep for an Epi, but I really enjoyed playing that instrument, and also if you want to buy a full fat Gibson USA Firebird you have to pay a lot more. I think today's Epiphones are much better than what they used to be. That said - I remember times when you could get a Gibson USA Les Paul Standard for the price of thath Epi Firebird.... That LP that Corey is demoing also sounds pretty great to my ears!
Great demo of the guitar Corey! It was really fun hearing the Gary Moore too 🙂 As many have already said, this price point is definitely a bit steep but I would certainly be extremely happy to win it ;-) Rock on!
Well Corey you have answered some of the questions I had about an Epiphone Les Paul in this price range, great demonstration! I don't have a couple of Marshalls in my stable to plug into but with the little bit of pedal magic I may be able to get close to the drive you've got there. Thank you so much for your objective critique, one of these cold be on my list now, again thanks for a great video!
Corey great review and great playing; plus your instructional videos are the best. Re buying guitars: Was at my local GC store helping a friend who was a beginner guitarist pick out a guitar. For the heck of it, we tried a used squire off the rack for $119.00 and it actually played pretty well. ( GC has good deals on used gear) My friend then asked about Gibsons so I said let’s try one. Picked up a $2300 Les Paul custom; Started playing it and it started to fret out on the 16th fret! For that amount of money, whether an Epi or Gibson they should come out perfect off the line.
@@TheRange7 a solid body is mostly - wood ! Unlike yesteryear, bodies , even necks are cut and shaped by machine-not handmade. So yes it's a lot of money. However. This is not the first time ee've seen high value Epiphones. In 1936 one of their Jazz semi acoustics retailed for $236 ! I've seen it. What's that in today's money? and this was 3 years after the Wall street crash ...
Guitar prices AREN’T out of control. You can get great guitars at a quarter of the price. Harley Benton is just one of hundreds of low priced, good quality brands.
@@tonepilot I wouldn't call anything I own from HB Great. After much TLC, they're playable and decent. Fret work, pickups, pots, a new nut, etc. Usually upgraded hardware as well. So the cheap guitar is no longer a cheap guitar. Hardware and electronics of good quality are spendy now too
Good review. I have the Explorer with the Gibson pickups, the neck is my fave and gives me some nice quacky tones and excels with distortion. For me the poly finish is a bonus, the last thing I need is the finish cracking and falling off. The entire relic trend is ridiculous, idiots paying twice the money for dinged-up new guitars, pure insanity!
Hi Corey, Thanks for the review. You have a good view on things. It’s always interesting to. I have a Epiphone Les Paul 1959 reissue 2021 myself. Great guitar!! After upgrades it sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul Standard. It cuts way better through the mix now. The built quality is higher than the lower priced Gibson models. I had a Gibson Les Paul Studio and sold it.
for those that care... The Out of Phase sound is used in a few hits you have heard. Stayin' Alive - Message in a Bottle - and believe it or not, Lyin' Eyes. Check it out. Great review Corey. I always enjoy hearing you play bro. Come by the ranch sometime.
I have the new inspired by gibson 58 V and. I think it’s worth the price. Full korina body ( no veneer)Gibson pick ups. Really good build quality defintely higher level opposed to the cheaper Epiphone guitars.
@@philippehendrickx1109 yeah, I suppose the saving grace of their pricing levels at the moment is that the 'traditional' Epiphone models like LP, SG, 335 can still be bought for £500 /£600. It sounds like some people think they've got rid of all that in favour of £1000 + guitars. It's nice to have options.
Great review and demo. Thanks for the honest assessment. I love the mystique of Greeny, but I’m pretty sure if you were playing my 1999 gibson LP standard, you’d still sound amazing. 😀👏
Last September I picked up the Epi 59 with Gibson Burstbuckers from GC for a sale price of $450 without the case. The guitar has been super awesome to play. I almost bought the same model a few months earlier for $999. I play the epi way more that the Gibson Tribute I own.
You are ahead of the game. I bought 2 59s myself with neck cracks (easy repair) for $199 and $299. Both in lemon burst. I would personally never pay 1,500 for an epiphone.
Great, clear overview, thanks for that! I am a long time PG fan and have been following the recent burst of PG activity from Gibson & Epiphone. The 50K & 20K versions strike me as a little steep - for diehard collectors, I guess, or serious players who can easily afford that. The 3K version and this Epi 1.5K have had a few comparison vids and reviews and in with some reviewers the Epi comes out ahead on spec points . . . on actual sound they seem to be on par. I figured I'd do my own thing for the PG sound . . . I have played a Gibson '68 Custom for 50 years now so I like the neck profile and ebony board and the Epi Cantrell Wino gives me that and with Monty's Bethnal Greens and/or Bare Knuckles PG Blues, some Gotoh Hardware, Bone Nut and '50s Wiring I can have exactly what I want for a bit less than this Epi PG so that'll do me! That said, I think they've done a great job with this one, half the price of the Gibson and sounds great!
Eastman sb59 here in Canada are anywhere from $600 to $1400 more than this Epiphone. Actually an Eastman sb59v is exactly the same price here as an actual Gibson LP standard… explain how that makes sense?
@@truckmonkey68 interesting. You can currently find sb59s on reverb for around $1100-$1200. That’s what I’m considering as the tough competition. The Epiphone Greeny is going for just under $1,000 used. The sb59/v looks like they’re going for similar prices used to used lp standards. Price makes sense to me, as in my experience the sb59/v I owned in the past felt better/looked better/played better than lp standards I’ve owned and I think the general consensus is that they are better made guitars but being where they are from knocks the price down to lp standard range. But my personal experience is a small sample size, ymmv, etc. probably hard to go wrong with any of these.
I just bought the new Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom '59 Les Paul. It's worth every penny at $1299, it will easily rival anything that Gibson USA is putting out these days. Personally, I think it's a much better deal than the Greeny. (Just my opinion)
My first Epiphone was a John Lennon inspired casino that cost over half of this, which I still have and love. Bought this one recently and really dig it. Maybe not for everyone, and tough to consider for the price, but I think if someone in the market for a Les Paul with a different flavor played, they would probably like it too.
I have a Epiphone Slash goldtop that I saw at the local music store. It is the best Les Paul I have ever played. Killer pickups but thinking of the Slash Seymour Duncans in it. Better than my Gibson. $799.00 And Im not a big Slash fan, just a killer guitar.
Hey Corey you get Five Stars for your version of "Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac. That's one of my favorite Peter Green tunes from his time with that great band. When I was a teenager in the '60s I was a totally devoted Fleetwood Mac fanatic and I think that their early albums are still as fantastic today as they ever were. A lot of people today aren't really aware of how good they were, because the later versions of the band with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie is the one most people know. But for guitar players, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer created some of the coolest and most original guitar blues rock guitar of all time.
I think its weird how people will always complain about PRS pricing but you can get a quality endorsed PRS SE for under $1000 except the Holcomb seven string for $1300 but it comes with a better fingerboard and Seymour PU. Back to the first part of my comment, Mayer SE, DGT SE and Mark Tremonti SE for under $900 I think. Then you have other quality guitars elsewhere for under $1000. I would rather have a Yamaha Revstar, Schecter, etc. I think Gibson is a little high....of themselves. This guitar has a maple veneer and laurel fingerboard for that price.
Yes, great neck profile. Having had injuries to my fretting hand, a non-chunky neck and proper scale means I can play it. Thanks for the piece by piece (sound by sound?) review.
Great, straight up demo. I share many of your comments with the knowledge of owning a '59 IBG LP for the past couple of years. My go to for versatile tonality is the PRS Paul's Guitar. However, I have to say each time I pick up the LP, it feels fresh in my hands and have miles of smiles. I have often thought what it might be like to swap for "greeny" pups and with that a similarly spec'd lower price point than the KH issue.
Great Demo. I love my Epi IBG SG-3 & ES-335. Got a set of custom wound Seymour greenies on the SG and the sounds I can get - still came in under $1k on the ES with a set of Duncan JB-4’s and love it. Thanks.
In early '20 when Epiphone dropped the original '59 LesPaul Standard outfit from the Customshop Collaboration series. They were $799 with Gibson Burstbucker 2&3 pickups and hardcase. Where's the other $700 dollars worth of specs in this Greenie? Certainly not in the pickups. I'm happy with my Aged Southern Fade Burst.
Yes, I have that guitar and it is absolutely outstanding, for that money. It was also 'limited addition' and they made lots of noise about there only being 1,959 made. Those 'limited edition' guitars are now priced at £970, and they've just released basically the same guitar at £1,200. 🤷🏻♂️
@@RagggedTrouseredPhilanthropist Yep, the one with the Gibson headstock and Custombuckers. I just don't understand the purpose of all these different versions of the same basic guitar? Started out reasonable, and just got out of control. That 1959 unit limit was only a rumor. Once they realized how badly they'd underestimated the demand for these, they got greedy. Went from being constantly backordered, to having so many versions of the same guitar available it's ridiculous. Typical.
@@andrewbecker3700 I didn't realise they kept making them! Well, as you say, I'm happy with mine. It genuinely plays better then a couple of Gibson's I've owned.
The best open-book headstock Epiphone Les Paul models, in my opinion, are still the old Orville/Epiphone Japan from the 80's and 90's, which were made in the Fujigen factory, in Nagano.
What I noticed with my Epiphone SG Pro, it was a great guitar when it was new. The wood working is superior, some cases better than Gibson. But the electronics is where they saved their money. I replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbuckers, RT Guitar works did my Pots and resistors. Then it was a great guitar again. I call it my Red Growler.
We in the UK have to pay £1499 which works out as even more than $1499 when you do the dollar/pound conversion. I understand US prices don't include tax so that would account for some of the difference. There was one store here that briefly sold them at £1099 but they quickly sold out and now they are back to the usual price. So is it the manufacturer or the retailer who is responsible for the ridiculous rise in prices? Probably both.
Corey, if you put it in the middle position and roll in and out the volume of either pickup, does it vary how out of phase it sounds? I always heard Peter Green did that and was curious.
It does if it's anything like one of my twin humbucker guitars wired like that. I prefer the volumes NOT to be equal and adjusting the balance of the pickups allows you to back off the honkyness to just what you want and at the same time emphasising either bridge or neck tone. Hope that helps.
It would be worth it if they did not ship with the usual Epiphone issues, mainly unpolished frets, finish checking in lots of places and possible uneven frets. And yes I have one, the 1959 ES-355, love it but it shipped with the issues listed. Some other reviewers experienced issues with Les Paul Custom from the same series.
Excellent video again! This Epi doesn't make me want to ditch my Vintage V100 Lemon Drop (got a great one second hand) at all for that kind of money. So yes, $1499 is too much.
@@yvandewever6518 You're right. That's probably the one I have, come to think of it. Relic and all, including extra screw holes at the tuners. I paid about 300 euro for it, which is crazy.
@@NicoMeijer74 I've got a Vintage Lemon Drop too and the pickups in that are great and it's got the Greeny look. And for £1k less than the Epiphone, I'm more than happy with it!
I think the "inspired by" line is great. I have an SG Special and a '58 Flying V. Both were under $1000, play and sound fantastic. The Epiphone SG SP beat the 2 Gibson SG SP's they had in the shop imo. I own 2 GLP's and an SG Standard. They're hit and miss. When they hit, though, they really hit! I don't understand the reason why this guitar is being released in THIS way? You could rewire your existing LP and achieve the same results. Jimmy Page did!
Great looking and sounding guitar but I just think Gibson/Epiphone has some really stiff competition at that price range, especially in the used market. I recently got a 2004 PRS CE 22 and wow has it really surprised me! It’s somehow on par with the Core models, but with a bolt on neck for around $1250-$1500. Still on the hunt for a good Lester though! Great video as always man, cheers!
the best Epi i ever got was their Koa Custom. that thing is a monster, and was like 650. i dig Epiphone, but 1500 is asking a bit much, especially with brands like Schecter out there just killing it for that price point.
The problem with Epiphone's made in Indonesia is you'll eat it on the resale. Nobody will pay the price. I own an Epiphone Coronet in cherry red. I've been playing more than 50 years, the Coronet was my first guitar back in the 60's. I sold it. big mistake. I bought this reissue just to bring back memories. I love the guitar, it's made right and sounds great. The truth is I'll never get my money back on it but that's OK. Los Angeles Blues Musician
That’s my concern as well, no question it’s a great sounding quality guitar, but for $1500 a Gibson SG will at least hold it’s value, if not appreciate over time
Possibly. I bought a Lennon Epiphone casino for around 500 about 12 years ago and see them being sold for 3 times what I paid. Who knows, I guess? I bought this guitar as well, and I too dig it.
@@jaygillis9379 That's great but I'd rather own a Heritage H 535 or H 550 made in the USA at the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo for $1500. I know yours is a nice guitar, time will tell. My Epiphone Coronet is just like my original 1966 well made and very cool. Made in Indonesia. I love it
@@bluesdawg8014I got it from a customer for 1200 brand new in the case. He thought he could flip it for more but didn’t realize they’re making tons of them. I wasn’t looking for this guitar in particular, kinda fell in my lap. My casino and this are both made in China I believe, and I’m not a great player that could honestly tell the difference. Only Gibson I had was an sg and in my opinion it felt inferior to either of my China epiphones.
@@coreycongilio I should have known... The original tune - and the new one from Slash. Nice record from Slash with great old tunes, btw. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
@coreycongilio is this competition US only? The comp page seems to contradict itself if so. I am in the U.K and the conditions section does not exclude the U.K. Thanks
Another Greeny Les Paul, where have we seen that before? Or a Kirk in this case. All kidding aside Gibson/Epiphone has to hit all brackets to be competitive with other brands. If the Epi Greeny is too much you can get a 59’ Epi and put either a set of Greenys from Gibson or another boutique pick up company. I think with the normal 50s run In Epiphone might feel a little like plastic for my taste but we are all different. Playing the guitar is what makes the decision of buying it or not. Cool Greeny Tones with Gary Moore tones no matter what the cost is was pleasant to my ears.
I've acquired the Lazarus Joe B epiphone under $1000 with the custom case along with all the case candy. Granted it's a veneer top but the gibson electronics alone are pretty nice.... Time will tell how the frets hold up... That being said i do have a 2009 gibson lp traditional with a heritage top that had the plek work done on it from the gibson factory.... Only a few years later it needed a fret dressing.... $2400 new... I guess all being said I'm more intrigued these days by the prs se models and epiphones and roll the dice on the cheaper guitars.
I like how the neck pickup isn’t as dark and muddy as some Epiphone LPs can be. It almost sounds like a typical middle position. The bridge is a little thin or nasally, but not too bad. Personally, I don’t mind a bridge pickup sounding that way. But since the guitar already has plenty of “nasal” from the out of phase setting, this bridge pickup could stand to be a little “fuller” for versatility’s sake. Also, if Epiphone is going to pretend that this is a Greeny (which is what they’re doing), then make it LOOK like it! Mismatched knobs and a blank poker chip doesn’t cut it. Quite lazy, actually. At the very least, put some matte hardware on it. But shiny chrome?? C’mon Epiphone! Otherwise, a pretty cool guitar.
I have the Epiphone Bonamassa Lazarus and it’s got a similar finish, I believe. Could be generously described as satin but it just looks and feels dull and cheap, unfortunately…even with a pretty nice flame veneer
Had the same impression of my 2033 epi 59 LP. I polished the top by hand using meguiar’s scratch X, then waxed it up. Looks and feels a lot better where the flames jump out more. It now has satiny shine thst makes it look more vintage. Shoulda been like this from the factory.
as you said, for that price, i was expecting some "extra effort" on the "look" of the guitar !! Come on my Beloved Epiphone give me a nitro / lacquer finish at that price !!!
A used one maybe if you’re lucky. But the Heritage h150 is on a whole other level. The H150. in Amber is what this Epiphone should look ilike. Even the Gibson Greeny Standard is no match.
I had an Epihone 60s Les Paul in Bourbon Burst and it also was a great Les Paul. Had it set up by a Tech which made the big difference. But… it was 630 $CND and came with the setup for free. And that’s also the price I sold it for again 3 years later. This price range though? Nope.
A year ago I bought a mint 2000 Korean made Epiphone Les Paul Standard in cherry burst for with a hard case for $380 USD. I love the cherry sunburst finish. The pickups aren't that great but even if I swap them out for a better set I'll still be in it for less that $500. I like the pickups in the "Greeny" but the guitar itself looks ugly with that Indian Laurel fretboard and that finish on the top. It doesn't look like a $1500 guitar to me.
I've owned a few Epiphones in my time, and they have all been really good guitars at a very affordable price. I'm glad to see the new and nice looking headstock shape but I can't see paying $1500 for an Epiphone. No excuses for not having a nice rosewood fingerboard at that inflated price. Feels like a money grab.
There's NO WAY I'm paying Gibson SG prices for an Epiphone given what I can get from Firefly, Squier, Gretsch, Fender Japan, Heritage, and even Gibson via Sweetwater demo units. I love my Epiphone guitars and these higher-end Epiphones are likely decent if not excellent, but used-market value is an important consideration to me. Given what we're going into, economically, I'll wait for the bottom to fall out before buying high-end Epiphones.
Maybe I'm just speaking from my ignorance here Corey, but you demo through some pretty expensive gear that probably most can't afford. I'd be curious to know how a guitar like that would sound through a more modest set up?
Thx for that but, that’s not really the case. You won’t hear much of a difference over the internet whether it’s a 500 amp or 5000 amp or a $200 modeler etc. I know the difference as I’m the player in this circumstance but, that’s for me and my enjoyment. I think it’s also unfair to assume who can and can’t afford particular gear. Who are we to speculate on what “most people” can afford. The setup I use for any video is meant to reveal the product’s best attributes regardless of the price. At the end of the day I personally could make this guitar sound the same through any definition of a “modest” set up. However it might not be as fun and that’s why I make these videos.
I always thought oversea guitars such Squier, Fender Mex, Epiphone, PRS SE, etc… should be limited to $1,000… But now with inflation, I agree to go to $1,200… So, $1,499 is way overpriced, regardless how good it is… in the end, it’s still just an Epiphone… and I love Epiphone, I have some and I prefer them over Gibson; I’m just not ok to spend $1,500 for a made in Asia guitar.
That did not simply "sound like a Les Paul and a Marshall" I beg to differ. It sounded like a really great Les Paul, a really great Marshall and a really great guitarist.
USD1500 deserves a double take for an Epiphone but it's actually a quality build. If you're trying to find it in Europe, it's more like USD1850.. but we're accustomed to being ripped off.. I'm still not sure why
Enter to Win the Epiphone 1959 Greeny Les Paul!
kingsumo.com/g/m2ry7l1/win-an-epiphone-kirk-hammett-greeny-1959-les-paul-standard-electric-guitar
Great guitar
Corey is one of the best guitar players I know!
When is the drawing going to be completed?
Corey does a really good demo job here that leaves you in no doubt what the guitar sounds like. It's refreshing that he acknowledges the fact that when you overdrive the guitar it just ends up sounding like a a million other guitars. Finally, his critique of the woods and construction is clear and very informative. All in all a superb review Corey! 👍Btw, I wouldn't buy at that price.
Gibson is doing a "test drive" on their pricing, now they are asking $1,500 for a damn Epiphone. I am pretty sure I have bought my last anything that has to do with Gibson. The one thing I know for sure is if people will pay $1,500......Then the price will be $1,800 next year.
💯
@@robertcarey3383 in 2020 dollars, the price is$800.
I was under the impression that every Epiphone Les Paul ever made was "Inspired by Gibson".
seric I own two of the first LP ever made under the "Inspired by Gibson" moniker. Both came with bad fret ends from Sweetwater. The 6 million point check system they do failed me. This is a major problem with Epi and has been forever. Nothing a bot of TLC didn't fix in short order, but come on guys, fret ends. BTW, they're both great guitars, but there's no mistaking them for a real Gibson
Rigggghhhttt...???
You nailed it 100%!!!! I wish Gibson would just merge the brands and then they would have everything from entry to pro level and they all say Gibson on the headstock.
@@brianmckenzie1318 Epiphone is an older brand than Gibson and at a time was considered in the same breath. Gibson bought Epiphone. Epiphone’s reputation is Gibsons fault because they put out some questionable stuff under that brand for a long time. Now they want to build it up charging more premium prices, but you can still get a Tokai MIJ with better materials and hardware than the Epiphones for around the 1500 dollar mark. I’d personally rather have the tokai at that price. If Gibson would let Epiphone sell the standard Epiphone LP custom with the ebony board, the open book headstock and a hard shell case for 800-900 dollars I’d be in but at the 1500 mark there’s better options.
@@TheRange7 I had 2 brand new Alex Lifeson Epi LP, and both had atrocious issues with the electronics for acoustic sound, and drained the battery even when not used ort plugged in. First was under warranty repair, and they could not resolve anything. A second guitar surfaced and had a dead piezo. Returned for full refund.
Laurel fingerboard at that price?? After Fender's put rosewood back on the player series? This is true madness.
The new Fender Player ll models which have available rosewood fretboards start at $700 LESS than this guitar.
@@gahangore111 99% of players couldn't tell the difference IMO
Totally agree. Lots of very cheap guitars manage to use rosewood. It can't be a cost thing. Maybe Epiphone have got huge stocks of laurel which they need to use up(!)
Especially since other IBG models have EBONY!?
@@calvinberkenbile8414 exactly!! It's actually madness
I had a chance to play Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson" Firebird at Gibson Garage London. It was excellent. Price was steep for an Epi, but I really enjoyed playing that instrument, and also if you want to buy a full fat Gibson USA Firebird you have to pay a lot more. I think today's Epiphones are much better than what they used to be. That said - I remember times when you could get a Gibson USA Les Paul Standard for the price of thath Epi Firebird.... That LP that Corey is demoing also sounds pretty great to my ears!
for that price, an ebony fingerboard is a must have.
Rosewood yes, but ebony is the wrong fretboard wood for a standard. Not even the real Greeny has an ebony board
@@TheRezus35 most ebony boards these days are heavily died. They're also a real pita to refret without splintering.
Great demo of the guitar Corey! It was really fun hearing the Gary Moore too 🙂 As many have already said, this price point is definitely a bit steep but I would certainly be extremely happy to win it ;-) Rock on!
When someone introduced me to him and the early Fleetwood Mac, that is all I listened to for about a year.
Thanx for indulging us Corey. Would love to win one. Kirk is my favourite guitarist!
Well Corey you have answered some of the questions I had about an Epiphone Les Paul in this price range, great demonstration! I don't have a couple of Marshalls in my stable to plug into but with the little bit of pedal magic I may be able to get close to the drive you've got there. Thank you so much for your objective critique, one of these cold be on my list now, again thanks for a great video!
Corey great review and great playing; plus your instructional videos are the best. Re buying guitars: Was at my local GC store helping a friend who was a beginner guitarist pick out a guitar. For the heck of it, we tried a used squire off the rack for $119.00 and it actually played pretty well. ( GC has good deals on used gear) My friend then asked about Gibsons so I said let’s try one. Picked up a $2300 Les Paul custom;
Started playing it and it started to fret out on the 16th fret! For that amount of money, whether an Epi or Gibson they should come out perfect off the line.
Guitar pricing is completely out of control. This is a silly price for an Epiphone (and I think Epiphones are great).
You nailed it James. I agree, word for word with your comment bro
@@TheRange7 a solid body is mostly - wood ! Unlike yesteryear, bodies , even necks are cut and shaped by machine-not handmade. So yes it's a lot of money. However. This is not the first time ee've seen high value Epiphones. In 1936 one of their Jazz semi acoustics retailed for $236 ! I've seen it. What's that in today's money? and this was 3 years after the Wall street crash ...
@@vincentl.9469 the 699 Epi's are great too. Put a set of Seth Lover's and some high end pots in it, good to go.
Guitar prices AREN’T out of control. You can get great guitars at a quarter of the price. Harley Benton is just one of hundreds of low priced, good quality brands.
@@tonepilot I wouldn't call anything I own from HB Great. After much TLC, they're playable and decent. Fret work, pickups, pots, a new nut, etc. Usually upgraded hardware as well. So the cheap guitar is no longer a cheap guitar. Hardware and electronics of good quality are spendy now too
Good review. I have the Explorer with the Gibson pickups, the neck is my fave and gives me some nice quacky tones and excels with distortion. For me the poly finish is a bonus, the last thing I need is the finish cracking and falling off. The entire relic trend is ridiculous, idiots paying twice the money for dinged-up new guitars, pure insanity!
Hi Corey, Thanks for the review. You have a good view on things. It’s always interesting to. I have a Epiphone Les Paul 1959 reissue 2021 myself. Great guitar!! After upgrades it sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul Standard. It cuts way better through the mix now. The built quality is higher than the lower priced Gibson models. I had a Gibson Les Paul Studio and sold it.
Man, you made that Epiphone sing, great playing in this video!!!!
for those that care... The Out of Phase sound is used in a few hits you have heard. Stayin' Alive - Message in a Bottle - and believe it or not, Lyin' Eyes. Check it out. Great review Corey. I always enjoy hearing you play bro. Come by the ranch sometime.
Great review Corey, thanks for that. Your “Gary Moore” was stunning!
Corey Congilio, Welcome to New Zealand Mate, Thank you for the great Demo on the Epi". Yes mate, it would cost a fortune to send it to NZ
I have the new inspired by gibson 58 V and. I think it’s worth the price. Full korina body ( no veneer)Gibson pick ups. Really good build quality defintely higher level opposed to the cheaper Epiphone guitars.
@@philippehendrickx1109 yeah, I suppose the saving grace of their pricing levels at the moment is that the 'traditional' Epiphone models like LP, SG, 335 can still be bought for £500 /£600. It sounds like some people think they've got rid of all that in favour of £1000 + guitars. It's nice to have options.
That tone though! I like dude! Would LOVE to own it! Great demo Corey!
the middle position sounds horrible!
I’m a little biased. I think EVERYTHING you play sounds killer. Thank you Corey!
First of all, i watch your playing in every video several times. Your are one of my favorite players always 🎉
Great review and demo. Thanks for the honest assessment. I love the mystique of Greeny, but I’m pretty sure if you were playing my 1999 gibson LP standard, you’d still sound amazing. 😀👏
Last September I picked up the Epi 59 with Gibson Burstbuckers from GC for a sale price of $450 without the case. The guitar has been super awesome to play. I almost bought the same model a few months earlier for $999. I play the epi way more that the Gibson Tribute I own.
You are ahead of the game. I bought 2 59s myself with neck cracks (easy repair) for $199 and $299. Both in lemon burst. I would personally never pay 1,500 for an epiphone.
Great, clear overview, thanks for that! I am a long time PG fan and have been following the recent burst of PG activity from Gibson & Epiphone. The 50K & 20K versions strike me as a little steep - for diehard collectors, I guess, or serious players who can easily afford that. The 3K version and this Epi 1.5K have had a few comparison vids and reviews and in with some reviewers the Epi comes out ahead on spec points . . . on actual sound they seem to be on par. I figured I'd do my own thing for the PG sound . . . I have played a Gibson '68 Custom for 50 years now so I like the neck profile and ebony board and the Epi Cantrell Wino gives me that and with Monty's Bethnal Greens and/or Bare Knuckles PG Blues, some Gotoh Hardware, Bone Nut and '50s Wiring I can have exactly what I want for a bit less than this Epi PG so that'll do me! That said, I think they've done a great job with this one, half the price of the Gibson and sounds great!
Man, this is approaching Eastman SB59 money. Thats some tough competition
Eastman sb59 here in Canada are anywhere from $600 to $1400 more than this Epiphone. Actually an Eastman sb59v is exactly the same price here as an actual Gibson LP standard… explain how that makes sense?
@@truckmonkey68 interesting. You can currently find sb59s on reverb for around $1100-$1200. That’s what I’m considering as the tough competition. The Epiphone Greeny is going for just under $1,000 used.
The sb59/v looks like they’re going for similar prices used to used lp standards. Price makes sense to me, as in my experience the sb59/v I owned in the past felt better/looked better/played better than lp standards I’ve owned and I think the general consensus is that they are better made guitars but being where they are from knocks the price down to lp standard range. But my personal experience is a small sample size, ymmv, etc. probably hard to go wrong with any of these.
I just bought the new Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom '59 Les Paul. It's worth every penny at $1299, it will easily rival anything that Gibson USA is putting out these days. Personally, I think it's a much better deal than the Greeny. (Just my opinion)
My first Epiphone was a John Lennon inspired casino that cost over half of this, which I still have and love. Bought this one recently and really dig it. Maybe not for everyone, and tough to consider for the price, but I think if someone in the market for a Les Paul with a different flavor played, they would probably like it too.
I have a Epiphone Slash goldtop that I saw at the local music store. It is the best Les Paul I have ever played. Killer pickups but thinking of the Slash Seymour Duncans in it. Better than my Gibson. $799.00 And Im not a big Slash fan, just a killer guitar.
Not only for the demonstration but also a guitar lesson by watching... nice one, Corey 👍
Hey Corey you get Five Stars for your version of "Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac. That's one of my favorite Peter Green tunes from his time with that great band. When I was a teenager in the '60s I was a totally devoted Fleetwood Mac fanatic and I think that their early albums are still as fantastic today as they ever were. A lot of people today aren't really aware of how good they were, because the later versions of the band with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie is the one most people know. But for guitar players, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer created some of the coolest and most original guitar blues rock guitar of all time.
I think its weird how people will always complain about PRS pricing but you can get a quality endorsed PRS SE for under $1000 except the Holcomb seven string for $1300 but it comes with a better fingerboard and Seymour PU. Back to the first part of my comment, Mayer SE, DGT SE and Mark Tremonti SE for under $900 I think. Then you have other quality guitars elsewhere for under $1000. I would rather have a Yamaha Revstar, Schecter, etc. I think Gibson is a little high....of themselves. This guitar has a maple veneer and laurel fingerboard for that price.
Yes, great neck profile. Having had injuries to my fretting hand, a non-chunky neck and proper scale means I can play it. Thanks for the piece by piece (sound by sound?) review.
Great, straight up demo. I share many of your comments with the knowledge of owning a '59 IBG LP for the past couple of years. My go to for versatile tonality is the PRS Paul's Guitar. However, I have to say each time I pick up the LP, it feels fresh in my hands and have miles of smiles. I have often thought what it might be like to swap for "greeny" pups and with that a similarly spec'd lower price point than the KH issue.
Great Demo. I love my Epi IBG SG-3 & ES-335. Got a set of custom wound Seymour greenies on the SG and the sounds I can get - still came in under $1k on the ES with a set of Duncan JB-4’s and love it. Thanks.
Awesome, magic touch and sound
For that price you could get a handmade Eastman sb59.
I have the 50’s gold top and love it except the neck is a little too thick
Please do a full video on the Silver Jubilee, with the settings. I'm really thinking of buying one and you make that thing scream!
In early '20 when Epiphone dropped the original '59 LesPaul Standard outfit from the Customshop Collaboration series. They were $799 with Gibson Burstbucker 2&3 pickups and hardcase. Where's the other $700 dollars worth of specs in this Greenie? Certainly not in the pickups. I'm happy with my Aged Southern Fade Burst.
Yes, I have that guitar and it is absolutely outstanding, for that money. It was also 'limited addition' and they made lots of noise about there only being 1,959 made. Those 'limited edition' guitars are now priced at £970, and they've just released basically the same guitar at £1,200. 🤷🏻♂️
@@RagggedTrouseredPhilanthropist Yep, the one with the Gibson headstock and Custombuckers. I just don't understand the purpose of all these different versions of the same basic guitar? Started out reasonable, and just got out of control. That 1959 unit limit was only a rumor. Once they realized how badly they'd underestimated the demand for these, they got greedy. Went from being constantly backordered, to having so many versions of the same guitar available it's ridiculous. Typical.
@@andrewbecker3700 I didn't realise they kept making them! Well, as you say, I'm happy with mine. It genuinely plays better then a couple of Gibson's I've owned.
@@RagggedTrouseredPhilanthropist 5 years now.
Les Paul sound is there despite the cosmetic shortfalls. I’ll take it .
The best open-book headstock Epiphone Les Paul models, in my opinion, are still the old Orville/Epiphone Japan from the 80's and 90's, which were made in the Fujigen factory, in Nagano.
We need a Congilio inspired guitar ... please include Canada for those contests ...thanks Corey ...dig your playing!
Workin on it!
The guitar sounds and look great!! I've got an epiphone les Paul special ($499) no complaints for the price.
Corey is killin’ it as usual. He can make a Teisco del Rey guitar with those horrible Japanese pickups sound stellar💥💥💥
Nice nod to Gary who put the Greenie to good use for many years.
What I noticed with my Epiphone SG Pro, it was a great guitar when it was new. The wood working is superior, some cases better than Gibson. But the electronics is where they saved their money. I replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbuckers, RT Guitar works did my Pots and resistors. Then it was a great guitar again. I call it my Red Growler.
Thanks Corey, good information
So so many other guitars I would buy before even thinking about a 1500 Epiphone...
We in the UK have to pay £1499 which works out as even more than $1499 when you do the dollar/pound conversion. I understand US prices don't include tax so that would account for some of the difference. There was one store here that briefly sold them at £1099 but they quickly sold out and now they are back to the usual price. So is it the manufacturer or the retailer who is responsible for the ridiculous rise in prices? Probably both.
Corey, if you put it in the middle position and roll in and out the volume of either pickup, does it vary how out of phase it sounds? I always heard Peter Green did that and was curious.
It does if it's anything like one of my twin humbucker guitars wired like that. I prefer the volumes NOT to be equal and adjusting the balance of the pickups allows you to back off the honkyness to just what you want and at the same time emphasising either bridge or neck tone. Hope that helps.
That is a beautiful sounding guitar!!!
2799.00 here , for a epiphone. No thanks . Save extra and buy the Gibson
It would be worth it if they did not ship with the usual Epiphone issues, mainly unpolished frets, finish checking in lots of places and possible uneven frets.
And yes I have one, the 1959 ES-355, love it but it shipped with the issues listed.
Some other reviewers experienced issues with Les Paul Custom from the same series.
Excellent video again! This Epi doesn't make me want to ditch my Vintage V100 Lemon Drop (got a great one second hand) at all for that kind of money. So yes, $1499 is too much.
Plus they have the v100pgm
@@yvandewever6518 You're right. That's probably the one I have, come to think of it. Relic and all, including extra screw holes at the tuners. I paid about 300 euro for it, which is crazy.
@@NicoMeijer74 I've got a Vintage Lemon Drop too and the pickups in that are great and it's got the Greeny look. And for £1k less than the Epiphone, I'm more than happy with it!
I think the "inspired by" line is great. I have an SG Special and a '58 Flying V.
Both were under $1000, play and sound fantastic. The Epiphone SG SP beat the 2 Gibson SG SP's they had in the shop imo. I own 2 GLP's and an SG Standard. They're hit and miss. When they hit, though, they really hit! I don't understand the reason why this guitar is being released in THIS way? You could rewire your existing LP and achieve the same results. Jimmy Page did!
Great looking and sounding guitar but I just think Gibson/Epiphone has some really stiff competition at that price range, especially in the used market. I recently got a 2004 PRS CE 22 and wow has it really surprised me! It’s somehow on par with the Core models, but with a bolt on neck for around $1250-$1500. Still on the hunt for a good Lester though!
Great video as always man, cheers!
You nailed the Peter Green & Gary Moore playing style & tones Corey, great job. I'm afraid Epiphone won't be getting that much of my money though haha
Haha thx! Was fun to do!
the best Epi i ever got was their Koa Custom.
that thing is a monster, and was like 650.
i dig Epiphone, but 1500 is asking a bit much, especially with brands like Schecter out there just killing it for that price point.
The problem with Epiphone's made in Indonesia is you'll eat it on the resale.
Nobody will pay the price. I own an Epiphone Coronet in cherry red. I've been
playing more than 50 years, the Coronet was my first guitar back in the 60's. I sold it.
big mistake. I bought this reissue just to bring back memories. I love the guitar, it's made right and sounds great. The truth is I'll never get my money back on it but that's OK.
Los Angeles Blues Musician
That’s my concern as well, no question it’s a great sounding quality guitar, but for $1500 a Gibson SG will at least hold it’s value, if not appreciate over time
Possibly. I bought a Lennon Epiphone casino for around 500 about 12 years ago and see them being sold for 3 times what I paid. Who knows, I guess? I bought this guitar as well, and I too dig it.
@@jaygillis9379 That's great but I'd rather own a Heritage H 535 or H 550
made in the USA at the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo for $1500.
I know yours is a nice guitar, time will tell. My Epiphone Coronet is just like
my original 1966 well made and very cool. Made in Indonesia. I love it
@@bluesdawg8014I got it from a customer for 1200 brand new in the case. He thought he could flip it for more but didn’t realize they’re making tons of them. I wasn’t looking for this guitar in particular, kinda fell in my lap. My casino and this are both made in China I believe, and I’m not a great player that could honestly tell the difference. Only Gibson I had was an sg and in my opinion it felt inferior to either of my China epiphones.
Thanks for the detailed review. What is the name of the intro song? I know the song - but I forgot title and band... Great playing!
Thx! It’s Oh Well by Fleeteood Mac. Peter Green era
@@coreycongilio I should have known... The original tune - and the new one from Slash. Nice record from Slash with great old tunes, btw. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I reckon it could be worth just buying the Greenybucker pickups to upgrade a project guitar as that seems to be where the magic is.
@coreycongilio is this competition US only? The comp page seems to contradict itself if so. I am in the U.K and the conditions section does not exclude the U.K. Thanks
you can get an eastman with lollar pick ups for that price.
Another Greeny Les Paul, where have we seen that before? Or a Kirk in this case. All kidding aside Gibson/Epiphone has to hit all brackets to be competitive with other brands. If the Epi Greeny is too much you can get a 59’ Epi and put either a set of Greenys from Gibson or another boutique pick up company. I think with the normal 50s run In Epiphone might feel a little like plastic for my taste but we are all different. Playing the guitar is what makes the decision of buying it or not. Cool Greeny Tones with Gary Moore tones no matter what the cost is was pleasant to my ears.
nothing wrong with it i have a custom and esp would luv to have it.
Nice review
I've acquired the Lazarus Joe B epiphone under $1000 with the custom case along with all the case candy. Granted it's a veneer top but the gibson electronics alone are pretty nice.... Time will tell how the frets hold up... That being said i do have a 2009 gibson lp traditional with a heritage top that had the plek work done on it from the gibson factory.... Only a few years later it needed a fret dressing.... $2400 new... I guess all being said I'm more intrigued these days by the prs se models and epiphones and roll the dice on the cheaper guitars.
What you said was, “my ‘73 hundred watt Marshall”… what I heard was “I’m plugged into my 7300 watt Marshall”… I was like 😮😮😮
Hahahaha!
I like how the neck pickup isn’t as dark and muddy as some Epiphone LPs can be. It almost sounds like a typical middle position. The bridge is a little thin or nasally, but not too bad. Personally, I don’t mind a bridge pickup sounding that way. But since the guitar already has plenty of “nasal” from the out of phase setting, this bridge pickup could stand to be a little “fuller” for versatility’s sake. Also, if Epiphone is going to pretend that this is a Greeny (which is what they’re doing), then make it LOOK like it! Mismatched knobs and a blank poker chip doesn’t cut it. Quite lazy, actually. At the very least, put some matte hardware on it. But shiny chrome?? C’mon Epiphone! Otherwise, a pretty cool guitar.
I have the Epiphone Bonamassa Lazarus and it’s got a similar finish, I believe. Could be generously described as satin but it just looks and feels dull and cheap, unfortunately…even with a pretty nice flame veneer
Had the same impression of my 2033 epi 59 LP. I polished the top by hand using meguiar’s scratch X, then waxed it up. Looks and feels a lot better where the flames jump out more. It now has satiny shine thst makes it look more vintage. Shoulda been like this from the factory.
U think epiphone would make an L5 type model? Or a super 400 kinda model? Or do they already? Or will Gibson do a new L5?
3:27 to 3:39 it sounds like a really good Strat.
Yep. Couldnt you buy a 2nd hand USA Gibson Les Paul Standard for about that or a touch more?
The question for me would be, does it sound as good as a Gibson in that price range? (i.e. a Tribute, etc...).
as you said, for that price, i was expecting some "extra effort" on the "look" of the guitar !! Come on my Beloved Epiphone give me a nitro / lacquer finish at that price !!!
$1400 is crazy. You can pick up a Heritage H150 for $1600 - $1800. made at 225 Parsons St., Kalamazoo, MI. where the original "greenie" was made
A used one maybe if you’re lucky. But the Heritage h150 is on a whole other level. The H150. in Amber is what this Epiphone should look ilike. Even the Gibson Greeny Standard is no match.
Plus the Greeny mod is very easy. Just switch the magnet from position
Used do you mean? New they are 2600 on Sweetwater
@@guitarswhiskeyandgolf yes that's a used one
@@guitareputz yeah but that headstock is really weird
I had an Epihone 60s Les Paul in Bourbon Burst and it also was a great Les Paul. Had it set up by a Tech which made the big difference. But… it was 630 $CND and came with the setup for free. And that’s also the price I sold it for again 3 years later.
This price range though? Nope.
Soulful chops😊
yes! for a few hundred more you could grab a Les Paul Special made in the USA.
A year ago I bought a mint 2000 Korean made Epiphone Les Paul Standard in cherry burst for with a hard case for $380 USD. I love the cherry sunburst finish. The pickups aren't that great but even if I swap them out for a better set I'll still be in it for less that $500. I like the pickups in the "Greeny" but the guitar itself looks ugly with that Indian Laurel fretboard and that finish on the top. It doesn't look like a $1500 guitar to me.
So r those pickups humbuckers? Minihumbuckers? Or single coils? Or like p90’s? And does this model have coil splitting or something similar?
Humbuckers, no coil-splitting.
Ohh you should do a leason on the gary Moore song ❤
I've owned a few Epiphones in my time, and they have all been really good guitars at a very affordable price. I'm glad to see the new and nice looking headstock shape but I can't see paying $1500 for an Epiphone. No excuses for not having a nice rosewood fingerboard at that inflated price. Feels like a money grab.
Thanks Corey
Gibson's also charging steeply for the headstock shape.
Your playing is fantastic as always. Not a huge fan of Gibson or Epiphone. But amazing though.
There's NO WAY I'm paying Gibson SG prices for an Epiphone given what I can get from Firefly, Squier, Gretsch, Fender Japan, Heritage, and even Gibson via Sweetwater demo units. I love my Epiphone guitars and these higher-end Epiphones are likely decent if not excellent, but used-market value is an important consideration to me. Given what we're going into, economically, I'll wait for the bottom to fall out before buying high-end Epiphones.
Maybe I'm just speaking from my ignorance here Corey, but you demo through some pretty expensive gear that probably most can't afford. I'd be curious to know how a guitar like that would sound through a more modest set up?
Thx for that but, that’s not really the case. You won’t hear much of a difference over the internet whether it’s a 500 amp or 5000 amp or a $200 modeler etc. I know the difference as I’m the player in this circumstance but, that’s for me and my enjoyment. I think it’s also unfair to assume who can and can’t afford particular gear. Who are we to speculate on what “most people” can afford. The setup I use for any video is meant to reveal the product’s best attributes regardless of the price. At the end of the day I personally could make this guitar sound the same through any definition of a “modest” set up. However it might not be as fun and that’s why I make these videos.
I always thought oversea guitars such Squier, Fender Mex, Epiphone, PRS SE, etc… should be limited to $1,000… But now with inflation, I agree to go to $1,200… So, $1,499 is way overpriced, regardless how good it is… in the end, it’s still just an Epiphone… and I love Epiphone, I have some and I prefer them over Gibson; I’m just not ok to spend $1,500 for a made in Asia guitar.
Great T-shirt!!
That did not simply "sound like a Les Paul and a Marshall"
I beg to differ. It sounded like a really great Les Paul, a really great Marshall and a really great guitarist.
@@stricknine8623 yep, agree.
I love my es 335 inspired by Gibson❤
USD1500 deserves a double take for an Epiphone but it's actually a quality build. If you're trying to find it in Europe, it's more like USD1850.. but we're accustomed to being ripped off.. I'm still not sure why
Why don’t people just pay Gibson Les Paul tribute and upgrade the pickups? Or get epiphone Les Paul custom and change the pickups?
It sounds like an entry level guitar period
Yes
If people want a historic spec Les Paul without the Gibson price, this seems like a good deal.
Where was it made?
China.