Epiphone has seriously stepped up their game in recent years. I haven't picked one of the newer models up to check them out but personally I think 1300 is a reasonable asking price for the features. Great review and demo, thanks.
I always enjoy your demo playing but just as important is how you think through and articulate your perspective and analysis on different ways to view a potential guitar purchase. Sometimes there are better alternatives than the big names on the headstock when viewed in totality. Great video!
Bought this guitar a few months ago and absolutely love it! Outstanding tone and clarity. Stays in tune really well. Sound resonates impressively well. Highly recommend this guitar.
Hi Leonard, I just bought this guitar. In the UK it's £999, which is a pretty good price for what you are getting. I agree with you that the fret ends do need a bit of work. Having said that, the setup was perfect, or as perfect as you can expect from Epiphone. Playability is great and the tone is something else. The pickups sound amazing. I would definitely urge people to try this one out. I was one of those who dismissed these guitars at first but having played one for the last few hours I can honestly say that it's a very good Les Paul indeed. Love your reviews and your playing. Keep doing what you do.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Most factory guitars will benefit from some additional truly excellent fretwork, but it’s nice to hear most of these are coming out of the box playing pretty well. Thanks and take care.
Great independent,unbiased video as always Leonard! Agree the Epiphone offers a lot of bang for you buck! I realise the Gibson/Epiphone comparison is inevitable, but I think a lot of Gibson owners are getting fed up with constant criticisms on other reviews!
Thank you my friend. Yes, you can count on me to assess what’s in my hands, period. No one is paying me and I’m just giving my honest impressions. Thanks so much for watching.
This year I picked up a Epiphone “inspired by Gibson ES335 for $375 and still floored by the quality of that guitar compared to my higher end gibson and PRS guitars. Stock it’s just a great guitar!
I agree. They’re solid guitars and a great value. I’ve actually done two videos on the Epiphone ES-335, one stock, one with a pickup upgrade. Thanks so much for watching.
Hello Leonard , I’ve acquired this one in tobacco burst . I cant get enough of it. Its sounds and feels great . Even acoustically without plugging it in. It resonates so well . The woodtones are there for sure !
@ the thing is ive tried my roommates gibson traditional les paul 2016 many times I dont see or feel that much of a difference. Except his boasts 57 pups and mine custombucker. Nontheless I do admit that those creamy tones and warmth from his pickups are pleasant to hear !
I got the older version right before they upgraded to custom buckers, the build quality is fantastic, I turned the G string saddle around since I use 9s instead of 10s. I think Epiphone is knocking it put of the park. I really like the burst buckers too. Love your channel and my wife says you’re easy to listen to. I also like the satin finish over the gloss. Keep up the great videos.
I also purchased the 59 like you without the Custom buckers, mine was on sale for $799 and came with the Pink furred Lifton hard shell case. As you stated above the look , fit n feel and tone and playability is top notch from headstock to bottom strap button. . Mine was called aged Honeyburst with the VOS satin finish. But i think I'm going to rename the color a Sunrise burst. The retro look and feel is spot on. I LOVE IT. Will I spend the extra $500 to add Custom buckers??? Not on your life .
Thx for sharing your vast knowledge of these different guitars you review!! Your playing and the spot on comments, are a great help to those wanting to make informed decisions about guitars they might be interested in! What’s next💥🤔👍
👍 up for the great video! I own Gibson les Paul's. I'm stoked Epiphone came out with these. I'm getting one. I will treat it with care equally as my others. BTW... sounds great through that deluxe reverb amp! Now to decide on what color... Hmm... washed cherry 🍒 😊
Yes, I reviewed them both and enjoyed them both. I do think the Custombuckers are something special, but the less expensive version sounds very nice in its own right.
At last, a guitarist of experience , common sense & affibility, doing helpful reviews with superb playing. I do not think he is doing it for a career/money, just a love of playing. Cheers.
These Epiphones are awesome, but for me, I always wanted a Gibson so got a my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s for £1,500 from the Gibson UK demo shop (back in 2023). Has a few tooling marks on the binding but I don’t feel them or EVER look at the neck binding - way to busying playing. Sold the burstbuckers for £200 and got a setup and fret dress with the sale. Dropped in some Epiphone probuckers 1&2 and swapped the magnets to Alnico 5 magnets. Sounds and plays like butter!!! Highly recommend the probuckers 1&2 with the magnet swap no matter what guitar you use
That jibes pretty well with my comments. The Gibson was a good one, but had I kept it a fret level and other setup details would have been necessary, as well as a pickup upgrade. Still, after those improvements you have a truly pro quality instrument for far less than a Custom Shop model. Thanks so much for watching.
Leonard Griffin Sir. Thank you So much for your most interesting and professional advise on guitars. Gosh what you say about build quality and Certainly of lower priced guitars copies can be better than the Higher priced guitars! A Great man guitarist and friend Kevin from Halifax loved the Squire Strat! Me to as I have one! Keep up your valued work and keep Picking in your guitars All of The very Best to you. JB. Surrey. UK.
Excellent review, I have 3 of these and a Greeny, I do all the fret end stuff and polish the frets, light age the hardware and plastics, and add the Gibson name as it should have. It's a labor of love
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 yes indeed, I also rub out the satin using Novus 2 (a lot of work), and I switch out pickups on some of them for the uncovered look, my new Royal Tea currently has a double cream Dimarzio '59 PAF in bridge, and a Duncan '59 double black in the neck, sounds great also. My Factory Burst is stock with the Custombuckers, but I also aged , gave it the Gibson name, and Novus 2 to unsatinize as I do all of them now
I bought the previous Epiphone version with the Burstbuckers, but swapped them for Custombuckers....Then Epiphone released it with Custombuckers....Oh well, I should have waited, but who knew..I also had the LP plek'd...Well worth the extra money. The frets are polished, action very low with no buzz, the instrument plays like a dream. If you decide to buy one, I definitely suggest spending the extra money to have it plek'd. You will not be disappointed.
Yes, I’ve preached it for years. Whether by Plek or by the hands of an expert luthier, the fretwork and setup make all the difference. Thanks for watching.
Thanks (as always) for the great review! I have several older Epi Les Pauls and a 2010 Gibson LP Studio which is awesome! I also snagged a Gibson LP Tribute before they discontinued them and it is wonderful! I'm in pretty good shape on the LP front, I think! But, if I were in the market for another LP, I would definitely check out the Epi '59!! 😎
Great to see an Epi here! I have one of these - just wanted to dip my toe into the '50s neck with 'da flame' finish etc., something different from the Custom I've had for decades (and at such an affordable price). I'm good with it overall, love the satin finish and aiming to put some of the Monty's Underwound PAFs into it - the internals are all pretty much Gibson so no need to re-wire, maybe just a bone nut . . . not a Gibson but a good back-up, nice feel!
Yeah I’ve been pleased with what Epiphone has done with these top tier models, addressing many of the shortcomings of their regular line. I don’t mind the Graphtech nut. I used to always specify bone but after playing many guitars with the Graphtech I haven’t really noticed a downside. Thanks so much for watching.
Trying to decide if I want this one or the Black Custom version... if only I could get those pickups in the Custom ;) Yea I know the Gibson version has the 490/498T but those just aren't my favorites. Fantastic review, you might have swayed me a little towards this one!
Excellent review as always Leonard, I have an epi L.P. Slash (which I won, happy days) - the neck really suits me and build wise it's a L.P. I have tried Gibson's and to me the feel is pretty much the same and I always seem to find a flaw in them, which I don't expect in a premium instrument. I like the the pickups too so I won't be 'upgrading'.
They would be very comparable if the SE McCarty had better pickups. I personally like the feel of the PRS a little more and it costs less so you could do a nice pickup upgrade and still be under the price. I like the P90s in the Revstar Standard, but I haven’t tried the humbucker version.
@@LordofmrakNot a bad idea at all. I put Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros in my S2 Standard 24 and it was a big improvement. The import pickups aren’t terrible by any means, but some really good humbuckers can take the SEs (and S2s made before 2024) to a new level.
COMPLETELY agree with your views regarding PLEK. Also, I appreciate your take on the comparison between the two makes. In this moment in time, when the Epiphone is freshly made, I believe it almost merits purchase; a better finish (they currently feel too much like plastic) and getting rid of the paper-thin veneer would clinch it for me. However, I doubt the factory in China is properly drying the woods before building their guitars, which spells trouble for the guitar a few years down the line. Also, the quality of the fret wire from China leaves much to be desired-- again, more money out of pocket down the road. Fiscally, it makes more sense to save one's money and wait to buy something properly made, rather than getting something okay right now. Perhaps I just come from a generation not raised on instant gratification, and waiting for something of quality is not as great a burden LOL!
It’s difficult to confidently speak to all the points you raise because I’ve never owned any Chinese made guitars long enough to judge the longevity of the fretwire or the stability of the wood. I do now own one I plan to keep, the 150th Anniversary Sheraton, but I doubt I’ll live long enough to know if any issues arise. Of course there are Chinese built guitars using fine quality fretwire, such as Eastman. It’s interesting that even though I’m a blues player who doesn’t have an especially light touch, I tend to take a very long time to wear out frets so who knows. (I did a lot of touring with a guitar I built in the early 90s and didn’t have to have the frets leveled again until about 10 years ago!) So far the only guitar I’ve owned that had used neck wood that was too green was, ironically, a Gibson. In any event, I honestly don’t know how properly the wood is dried in China but the only empirical evidence we can look at would be how well older Chinese made models have held up. It appears Epiphone production moved to China in the late 90s. If those guitars have been warping, twisting, or falling apart in any way, I certainly haven’t heard about it. I’m with you on the finishes, but I will say they seem to be improving on that front. I thought the satin VOS finish on the IBGC ES355 I reviewed awhile back felt very nice. And the gloss finish on the 150th Sheraton is a huge improvement over the thick, plasticy finishes we’ve seen in the past. Granted, those are both $1300 Epiphones but it’s encouraging nonetheless. Thanks so much for watching and engaging.
I prefer Burstbucker 2&3 pickups in my LP Standard. When you get a good balanced set, that has a nice spread on the resistance. It makes the guitar so much more versatile. Custombuckers are excellent neck pickups. But to have the exact same pickup in the bridge too, doesn't make any sense to me? I've got a custom wound set of Custombuckers in one of my LesPaul Custom silverbursts. Now those pickups are outstanding! But they only come in the Adam Jones Custom art series or Customshop collaboration model. I put the neck pickups from both those guitars in the Customshop model as a set. With the neck pickup from the custom art model in the bridge position. You've never heard Gibson pickups like this before.
Great demo and presentation, I couldnt agree with you more on a guitar with more value than this( mine is in ice tea burst) as the pickups alone would cost you nearly 500. There was a time where you could look in my collection and not find anything built outside of america but I have started appreciating great craftsmanship and setup over a brand name that will get a busted headstock if you look at it wrong. Gibson was a goal for me but when I got there it wasnt as sweet as I had expected....no shame in an epiphone they really do go to great length to give you a quality instrument at a reasonable price.
Exactly. When I was coming up there were very few quality brands to choose from, now there are almost too many to keep track of, and at every price point. Thanks so much for watching.
It’s all what you’re used to seeing. Gibson designs are going to look “right” with Gibson headstocks, whereas original Epiphone designs (Casino, Riviera, Sheraton, etc.) are going to look correct with Epiphone headstocks. Years of conditioning make it impossible to be objective. Thanks so much for watching.
Hi Len, out of the high end Epi's you've reviewed this is what I think. This LP looks the part really well. I bought a couple of Epi IbG 50's LP's a few years ago. (The Epi boxes they came in said Epiphone...Inspired by Gibon and they were sold as such. They came with the CTS Pots, Mallory Caps, and Switchcraft stuff Oops, they also have the classic 50's wiring. They are loaded with Epi "designed in the USA" custom buckers. They have the old Kalamazoo Epi head stocks as opposed to the classic Gibson version. I picked them up from Sweetwater during gearfest for 520 per. TBH, my conclusion after A/B ing them with the real deal, they lack that Gibson "woody or thick tone" as I call it. They sound a bit thin compared to a Gibson. My hearing might be bad today, but the 59 you reviewed sounded a bit thin to me. Frankly I was pretty surprised by that, as the others you've reviewed sound 100% like Gibson's to me. It could just be me??? I love my Epi's, all of them, but in a blind test I'm confident I could ID my Epi's over a Gibson LP. Great review. Bummed about the sharp fret ends, but that's typical of every new Epi I've purchased. Cheers from Chitown
You know, one regret I had after making this video was not following my usual practice of backing off on the bridge pickup tone control a bit. I opted to leave it wide open and that’s important, but I should have also shown how it sounds with the tone control backed off because small blackface amps tend to make bridge pickups sound a bit spiky. I don’t know if that’s what you were hearing, but it occurred to me after it was too late. That’s said, those pickups definitely sounded fatter in the 355. I still liked what I was hearing from the LP in the room though. I need to be a little more careful to be sure you’re getting what I’m getting.
I have the Epiphone '59 with the Kalamazoo headstock. It's a great guitar--especially for the $722 that I paid for it brand new. I like the Kalamazoo Epiphone headstock. I don't need a Gibson headstock on an Epiphone. This new version is nice, though, but not for nearly twice what I paid for the previous version, IMO. I wonder if Gibson discontinued the popular and affordable LP Tribute model to make room in the market for these higher priced Epiphones? Fine playing as usual!
What most people don’t seem to realize is the Kalamazoo headstock is actually the original pre-Gibson, New York headstock. It’s very close to my ‘51. When Gibson first began making Epiphones in Kalamazoo they used left over New York necks so it’s kind of ironic those are known as Kalamazoo headstocks. When those were used up they began to switch to the unique headstock shape we associate with Rivieras, 60s Sheratons, Casinos, etc. Thanks so much for watching.
They're also stepped up in pricing. When they first came out it was 695 dollars. Having the Gibson USA electronics. You can buy a used one in mint condition.
The Inpired by Gibson Custom line does have some unique features we haven’t seen on modern, Asian built Epiphones, one piece necks for instance and Gibson Custom Shop pickups. Only you can decide if those things matter enough to pay the extra price. Also, there aren’t a lot of used ones available right now, but they will be. Thanks so much for watching.
Totally agree. The Epiphone 59 custom is very good. I bought the 60's standard usa because it is my second and definitive guitar. If i would bought a third guitar, there is lots of models who have made progress on the sound. Thanks for this great video. If i can, where do you find theses really cool backing tracks ? Take care Leonard. 🙂
Thanks. Normally my amp settings stay about the same, volume 6 or 7, treble about 7, bass 5, reverb around 3 but I sometimes add a touch of hall reverb in post. Thanks so much for watching.
Count me in as a pragmatist. I have a Gibson Les Paul, but secretly enjoyed playing an Epi Les Paul Custom more. Unfortunately I kept the Gibson and sold the Epi. Dumbbell!
Hi Leonard, It's always a joy to watch your excellent unbiased reviews. But frankly I'm shocked at Epiphone prices. First this Les Paul sounds thin. Second the extra work & cost to get it play like 'butter' is unacceptable. Chinees made... hmmm; Quality Control doesn't exist there so it's win or lose. I bought a Harley Benton top of the range Les Paul made in Indonesia at 1/3 of the overrated Epiphone price and it plays like butter out of the box. Beautiful build quality, stainless steal frets, Gotoh tuners..etc. Maybe I'll just change the Tesla pick-ups. What's in a name: well I don't care for I want value for the buck. And also, how would you rate the Yamaha Revstar compared ? Sounded wonderful to my ears. Thanks for sharing & Greetings from France. Phil
I’m glad you got a nice guitar you’re happy with. There are definitely pros and cons with most of these guitars. As I mentioned in the video, this one does play really nicely out of the box. The one I said would have needed extra fretwork to play silky smooth was the Gibson I reviewed about 5 months ago. I think the Revstar is an excellent guitar, though I haven’t tried the Standard with the humbuckers. The one I reviewed was the P90 model and I liked those pickups and the factory fretwork was quite good. Thanks so much for watching.
How does this one compare overall to the previous 59 outfit. I act agree about the Kalamazoo headstock on the Epiphone but the Gibson headstock looks good too but how does it compare overall to the 59 outfit? Is the neck shape any different?
You know, it’s been awhile since I’ve had the regular 59 in my hands but from what I recall the necks aren’t much different in profile. Of course the IBGC has a single piece neck which adds to the cost, but it probably doesn’t make much, if any real world difference other than being closer to the originals. I do prefer the pickups in the more expensive model. Thanks so much for watching.
How does this guitar compared with the earlier Epiphone iteration of the IBC 59 LP you reviewed with the burst buckers and Kalamazoo headstock which has now been discontinued? That guitar was 40% cheaper, is this guitar worth the extra because I'm not convinced?
It's in the ears and eyes of the beholder. He already stated that he much prefers Custombuckers over Burstbuckers. A set of Custombuckers sell for $500 Secondly, this neck is potentially a big deal. I can tell you first-hand,...the neck on the new one, is much different (the new one is much better, IMO). Neck profiles can be a big deal. Third, and I hate to say it, but the Gibson style headstock, to many people, is going to be extra value to them. I like it, but I also like the old ones and the current Epiphone headstock. I own 2 Gibson Les Pauls and that really makes me prefer the Epiphone headstock to remain on the Epiphones. But it's fine either way. But I'm a minority in this regard.
Nothing wrong with the earlier, less expensive version, but that doesn’t mean this version is the same thing with a Gibson style headstock. Besides the obvious differences, there are aspects that tend to go unnoticed. For instance, this series are the first offshore manufactured Epiphones since the Japan made Elitist models to feature single piece necks. All others typically have multi piece necks with a glued on heel and headstock. Whether this matters to you or not, it’s unquestionably more expensive to build since it requires larger blanks for each neck. Also the Gibson Custom Shop pickups are a significant upgrade. Again, whether or not it’s of benefit to you, it does add significantly to the cost. Of course the Gibson headstock shape is something buyers have been asking for for decades, but only the new tooling would add to the cost so we can set that aside. So there are real extra costs involved. Now of course the fact Gibson charges $500 for those pickups doesn’t mean it costs them anywhere near that, but it would still cost consumers that much to add them. So at the end of the day, if you’re happy with the regular IBG 59 LP, then sure, why pay more. In terms of sheer value I still maintain the 59 ES-355 is easily the best value proposition in the series. But the IBGC Les Pauls remains the only Epiphone LPs with his feature set. It’s either worth it to you or it’s not.
I have the Gibson inspired 50's Les Paul Gold Top that plays better than ANY Gibson Les Paul that I have ever played. Mr. Les Paul himself had more Epiphone Les Paul models in his personal collection than Gibson models, that says a lot right there.
The truth is, playability is all about the quality of the fretwork and final setup. The majority of guitars I’ve owned have gone straight to my guy for all this work. PRS being the exception. Thanks for tuning in.
If you're an Epiphone fan, look into the old Fujigen Epiphones. These were never released outside of Japan. They're insane. I have one of these and it goes toe to toe with my Gibsons. They are getting pricey, though. reverb.com/item/82038995?
Thanks so much. I know exactly what you mean. My background and approach is different than many others, which hopefully will resonate with a lot of viewers.
More specifically, I think THIS Epiphone sounds better than THAT Gibson. The Epiphone is a bit more cleanly executed. The Gibson probably uses a little better quality wood. Both have Gibson pickups but I do prefer the Custombuckers in the Epiphone. Thanks so much for watching.
I agree. Though I will say, I’m far less annoyed with the Laurel since I discovered Monty’s Montypresso. That stuff is wonderful. It can make an Indian Laurel board look like vintage rosewood! But yeah, it’s why I said the ES355 with the ebony board, fancy binding and inlays, and also with the Custombuckers is the best value in the line.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845Your positive review of the IGC 1959 ES-355 was one of the reasons why I got it. Now, between this Les Paul Standard and the Les Paul Custom, from the same IGC line, I’ll go with the Custom. Especially with $150 discount.
Yeah man, that guitar is no slouch (you either Leonard)!! Keep the extra money you saved from not buying a Gibson and eat steak...lots of steak. hahahaha
So many channels have this going on. Fact, there poorly made, using substandard woods. The running gear is really cheap. The set up's are awful., the electrics suck. I keep hearing how great Epiphones are, but the truth is, they suck hard. They are really dead sounding. Its a Guitar like object. Yep, i run a test on the Casino, USA v China model. I only bought the Chinese Casino for that reason. In every respect it was worse.
Well everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But please don’t lump me in with other channels. In fact doing so makes me wonder if you actually watched the video or are just responding to the thumbnail. The fact is, I’m doing UA-cam because I finally got to old and developed problems that forced me to quit touring. As for the guitars, I simply report exactly what I find. No one is paying me.
@@markwilliamsmusic2987 Yeah, because it's something i just made up after randomly watching a guitar video on UA-cam! Ok, well, go buy a shitty Chinese made Epiphone, then go and buy the Gibson American-made version. You then get to hold it up against a real guitar, guess what? They are inferior. Yep, some of the Korean ones were ok, but this current generation are shocking
I know everyone is saying that Epiphone has stepped up their game but I wasn’t impressed with the 1959 standard I have been refusing to spend $2,999 for a Gibson Les Paul so I thought this would be a perfect guitar for me 😐 unfortunately I was more than disappointed and fortunately Sweetwater allowed me to return it 🫤
It’s difficult to respond to your comment without knowing more. Epiphone has come out with two 1959 Les Pauls. I’ve reviewed both. First was the Inspired by Gibson model that I reviewed a year ago. It’s been awhile but I think it retailed for something like $799. It was decent when the fretwork and setup were taken care of. This video reviews the $1299 Inspired By Gibson Custom version, which, unsurprisingly, I found nicer with touches like a one piece neck, Gibson’s great Custombuckers, and of course the Gibson style headstock. The fretwork and setup were superior out of the box (though not as perfect as the IBGC ES-355 I reviewed - that was a gem). Even the case is nicer. Then again, it’s almost 40% more money than the older 59 “outfit”. The other factor is I don’t know what you found disappointing. For many, when the guitar doesn’t feel great out of the box it’s a bad guitar, when in reality it’s almost always a matter of the fretwork and setup, which sadly is luck of the draw even among far more expensive guitars. Consider this, almost every Gibson I’ve bought for my own use was taken directly to my luthier for expert fretwork and setup. I’ve reviewed a number of new Gibsons since they started using a Plek for basic leveling (and that’s all they do, it’s not a full Plek setup), and if I were keeping them, they’d still go to my guy to get them ready for the stage.
Epiphone has seriously stepped up their game in recent years. I haven't picked one of the newer models up to check them out but personally I think 1300 is a reasonable asking price for the features. Great review and demo, thanks.
Thanks so much my friend.
I always enjoy your demo playing but just as important is how you think through and articulate your perspective and analysis on different ways to view a potential guitar purchase. Sometimes there are better alternatives than the big names on the headstock when viewed in totality. Great video!
Thank you. If it’s a good musical instrument, I’ll always let you know.
Bought this guitar a few months ago and absolutely love it! Outstanding tone and clarity. Stays in tune really well. Sound resonates impressively well. Highly recommend this guitar.
So glad you’re happy with it. Thanks for watching.
Hi Leonard, I just bought this guitar. In the UK it's £999, which is a pretty good price for what you are getting. I agree with you that the fret ends do need a bit of work. Having said that, the setup was perfect, or as perfect as you can expect from Epiphone.
Playability is great and the tone is something else. The pickups sound amazing. I would definitely urge people to try this one out. I was one of those who dismissed these guitars at first but having played one for the last few hours I can honestly say that it's a very good Les Paul indeed.
Love your reviews and your playing. Keep doing what you do.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Most factory guitars will benefit from some additional truly excellent fretwork, but it’s nice to hear most of these are coming out of the box playing pretty well. Thanks and take care.
Great independent,unbiased video as always Leonard! Agree the Epiphone offers a lot of bang for you buck! I realise the Gibson/Epiphone comparison is inevitable, but I think a lot of Gibson owners are getting fed up with constant criticisms on other reviews!
Thank you my friend. Yes, you can count on me to assess what’s in my hands, period. No one is paying me and I’m just giving my honest impressions. Thanks so much for watching.
This year I picked up a Epiphone “inspired by Gibson ES335 for $375 and still floored by the quality of that guitar compared to my higher end gibson and PRS guitars. Stock it’s just a great guitar!
I agree. They’re solid guitars and a great value. I’ve actually done two videos on the Epiphone ES-335, one stock, one with a pickup upgrade.
Thanks so much for watching.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Leonard ❤😊
Thank you my friend.
Hello Leonard , I’ve acquired this one in tobacco burst . I cant get enough of it. Its sounds and feels great . Even acoustically without plugging it in. It resonates so well . The woodtones are there for sure !
Very nice! They’re solid, capable instruments.
@ the thing is ive tried my roommates gibson traditional les paul 2016 many times I dont see or feel that much of a difference. Except his boasts 57 pups and mine custombucker. Nontheless I do admit that those creamy tones and warmth from his pickups are pleasant to hear !
I got the older version right before they upgraded to custom buckers, the build quality is fantastic, I turned the G string saddle around since I use 9s instead of 10s. I think Epiphone is knocking it put of the park. I really like the burst buckers too. Love your channel and my wife says you’re easy to listen to. I also like the satin finish over the gloss. Keep up the great videos.
Thank you so much. Really appreciated.
I also purchased the 59 like you without the Custom buckers, mine was on sale for $799 and came with the Pink furred Lifton hard shell case. As you stated above the look , fit n feel and tone and playability is top notch from headstock to bottom strap button. . Mine was called aged Honeyburst with the VOS satin finish. But i think I'm going to rename the color a Sunrise burst. The retro look and feel is spot on. I LOVE IT. Will I spend the extra $500 to add Custom buckers??? Not on your life .
Thx for sharing your vast knowledge of these different guitars you review!! Your playing and the spot on comments, are a great help to those wanting to make informed decisions about guitars they might be interested in!
What’s next💥🤔👍
Thank you my friend.
👍 up for the great video! I own Gibson les Paul's. I'm stoked Epiphone came out with these. I'm getting one. I will treat it with care equally as my others. BTW... sounds great through that deluxe reverb amp! Now to decide on what color... Hmm... washed cherry 🍒 😊
Thank you my friend. Yes, very capable instruments.
I've got the older version and newer version with custombuckers and thinner neck, which I prefer, but the old version is great too!
Yes, I reviewed them both and enjoyed them both. I do think the Custombuckers are something special, but the less expensive version sounds very nice in its own right.
Hi Leonard, nothing wrong with that guitar you got some great sounds out of it, great video, take care
✌️🎸🧷
Thanks so much my friend.
At last, a guitarist of experience , common sense & affibility, doing helpful reviews with superb playing. I do not think he is doing it for a career/money, just a love of playing. Cheers.
Definitely not the money. Thanks for the kind words.
These Epiphones are awesome, but for me, I always wanted a Gibson so got a my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s for £1,500 from the Gibson UK demo shop (back in 2023). Has a few tooling marks on the binding but I don’t feel them or EVER look at the neck binding - way to busying playing. Sold the burstbuckers for £200 and got a setup and fret dress with the sale. Dropped in some Epiphone probuckers 1&2 and swapped the magnets to Alnico 5 magnets. Sounds and plays like butter!!!
Highly recommend the probuckers 1&2 with the magnet swap no matter what guitar you use
That jibes pretty well with my comments. The Gibson was a good one, but had I kept it a fret level and other setup details would have been necessary, as well as a pickup upgrade. Still, after those improvements you have a truly pro quality instrument for far less than a Custom Shop model.
Thanks so much for watching.
Leonard Griffin Sir.
Thank you So much for your most interesting and professional advise on guitars.
Gosh what you say about build quality and Certainly of lower priced guitars copies can be better than the Higher priced guitars!
A Great man guitarist and friend
Kevin from Halifax loved the Squire Strat! Me to as I have one!
Keep up your valued work and keep Picking in your guitars
All of The very Best to you.
JB. Surrey. UK.
Thank you my friend. I’m happy you find my videos useful.
Excellent review, I have 3 of these and a Greeny, I do all the fret end stuff and polish the frets, light age the hardware and plastics, and add the Gibson name as it should have. It's a labor of love
Sounds like you’re getting a lot of enjoyment out of them, which is great. Thanks for watching.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 yes indeed, I also rub out the satin using Novus 2 (a lot of work), and I switch out pickups on some of them for the uncovered look, my new Royal Tea currently has a double cream Dimarzio '59 PAF in bridge, and a Duncan '59 double black in the neck, sounds great also. My Factory Burst is stock with the Custombuckers, but I also aged , gave it the Gibson name, and Novus 2 to unsatinize as I do all of them now
Excellent review.
Thank you so much.
I bought the previous Epiphone version with the Burstbuckers, but swapped them for Custombuckers....Then Epiphone released it with Custombuckers....Oh well, I should have waited, but who knew..I also had the LP plek'd...Well worth the extra money. The frets are polished, action very low with no buzz, the instrument plays like a dream. If you decide to buy one, I definitely suggest spending the extra money to have it plek'd. You will not be disappointed.
Yes, I’ve preached it for years. Whether by Plek or by the hands of an expert luthier, the fretwork and setup make all the difference. Thanks for watching.
Thanks (as always) for the great review! I have several older Epi Les Pauls and a 2010 Gibson LP Studio which is awesome! I also snagged a Gibson LP Tribute before they discontinued them and it is wonderful! I'm in pretty good shape on the LP front, I think! But, if I were in the market for another LP, I would definitely check out the Epi '59!! 😎
Honestly, more buying probably won’t add much you couldn’t add with things like expert fretwork or pickup upgrades. Thanks for watching.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Good to know! Thanks so much, man!! 😎
Great to see an Epi here! I have one of these - just wanted to dip my toe into the '50s neck with 'da flame' finish etc., something different from the Custom I've had for decades (and at such an affordable price). I'm good with it overall, love the satin finish and aiming to put some of the Monty's Underwound PAFs into it - the internals are all pretty much Gibson so no need to re-wire, maybe just a bone nut . . . not a Gibson but a good back-up, nice feel!
Yeah I’ve been pleased with what Epiphone has done with these top tier models, addressing many of the shortcomings of their regular line. I don’t mind the Graphtech nut. I used to always specify bone but after playing many guitars with the Graphtech I haven’t really noticed a downside. Thanks so much for watching.
Trying to decide if I want this one or the Black Custom version... if only I could get those pickups in the Custom ;) Yea I know the Gibson version has the 490/498T but those just aren't my favorites. Fantastic review, you might have swayed me a little towards this one!
Yeah, those Custombuckers are hard to beat. Thanks so much for watching.
Excellent review as always Leonard, I have an epi L.P. Slash (which I won, happy days) - the neck really suits me and build wise it's a L.P. I have tried Gibson's and to me the feel is pretty much the same and I always seem to find a flaw in them, which I don't expect in a premium instrument. I like the the pickups too so I won't be 'upgrading'.
Well that’s all you need. Enjoy it.
Thank you!!!!✌
My pleasure. 😎
Love your tone! Always watch your videos multiple times. How would you compare this Epiphone to PRS SE McCarty and Revstar Standard?
They would be very comparable if the SE McCarty had better pickups. I personally like the feel of the PRS a little more and it costs less so you could do a nice pickup upgrade and still be under the price. I like the P90s in the Revstar Standard, but I haven’t tried the humbucker version.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Maybe it is not a bad idea to put Fralin Pure PAF or Burstbuckers, or even Custombuckers into PRS SE, hm.
@@LordofmrakNot a bad idea at all. I put Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros in my S2 Standard 24 and it was a big improvement. The import pickups aren’t terrible by any means, but some really good humbuckers can take the SEs (and S2s made before 2024) to a new level.
COMPLETELY agree with your views regarding PLEK. Also, I appreciate your take on the comparison between the two makes. In this moment in time, when the Epiphone is freshly made, I believe it almost merits purchase; a better finish (they currently feel too much like plastic) and getting rid of the paper-thin veneer would clinch it for me. However, I doubt the factory in China is properly drying the woods before building their guitars, which spells trouble for the guitar a few years down the line. Also, the quality of the fret wire from China leaves much to be desired-- again, more money out of pocket down the road. Fiscally, it makes more sense to save one's money and wait to buy something properly made, rather than getting something okay right now. Perhaps I just come from a generation not raised on instant gratification, and waiting for something of quality is not as great a burden LOL!
It’s difficult to confidently speak to all the points you raise because I’ve never owned any Chinese made guitars long enough to judge the longevity of the fretwire or the stability of the wood. I do now own one I plan to keep, the 150th Anniversary Sheraton, but I doubt I’ll live long enough to know if any issues arise. Of course there are Chinese built guitars using fine quality fretwire, such as Eastman. It’s interesting that even though I’m a blues player who doesn’t have an especially light touch, I tend to take a very long time to wear out frets so who knows. (I did a lot of touring with a guitar I built in the early 90s and didn’t have to have the frets leveled again until about 10 years ago!) So far the only guitar I’ve owned that had used neck wood that was too green was, ironically, a Gibson. In any event, I honestly don’t know how properly the wood is dried in China but the only empirical evidence we can look at would be how well older Chinese made models have held up. It appears Epiphone production moved to China in the late 90s. If those guitars have been warping, twisting, or falling apart in any way, I certainly haven’t heard about it.
I’m with you on the finishes, but I will say they seem to be improving on that front. I thought the satin VOS finish on the IBGC ES355 I reviewed awhile back felt very nice. And the gloss finish on the 150th Sheraton is a huge improvement over the thick, plasticy finishes we’ve seen in the past. Granted, those are both $1300 Epiphones but it’s encouraging nonetheless.
Thanks so much for watching and engaging.
I prefer Burstbucker 2&3 pickups in my LP Standard. When you get a good balanced set, that has a nice spread on the resistance. It makes the guitar so much more versatile. Custombuckers are excellent neck pickups. But to have the exact same pickup in the bridge too, doesn't make any sense to me?
I've got a custom wound set of Custombuckers in one of my LesPaul Custom silverbursts. Now those pickups are outstanding! But they only come in the Adam Jones Custom art series or Customshop collaboration model. I put the neck pickups from both those guitars in the Customshop model as a set. With the neck pickup from the custom art model in the bridge position. You've never heard Gibson pickups like this before.
Nothing wrong with the Burstbuckers. It’s all just a matter of taste. The Custombuckers remind me of the old ones a little more. Thanks for watching.
Great demo and presentation, I couldnt agree with you more on a guitar with more value than this( mine is in ice tea burst) as the pickups alone would cost you nearly 500. There was a time where you could look in my collection and not find anything built outside of america but I have started appreciating great craftsmanship and setup over a brand name that will get a busted headstock if you look at it wrong. Gibson was a goal for me but when I got there it wasnt as sweet as I had expected....no shame in an epiphone they really do go to great length to give you a quality instrument at a reasonable price.
Exactly. When I was coming up there were very few quality brands to choose from, now there are almost too many to keep track of, and at every price point.
Thanks so much for watching.
My biggest objection to Epiphone has been the headstock.
These look so much better.
I do have a Casino though, and love it.
It’s all what you’re used to seeing. Gibson designs are going to look “right” with Gibson headstocks, whereas original Epiphone designs (Casino, Riviera, Sheraton, etc.) are going to look correct with Epiphone headstocks. Years of conditioning make it impossible to be objective.
Thanks so much for watching.
Hi Len, out of the high end Epi's you've reviewed this is what I think. This LP looks the part really well. I bought a couple of Epi IbG 50's LP's a few years ago. (The Epi boxes they came in said Epiphone...Inspired by Gibon and they were sold as such. They came with the CTS Pots, Mallory Caps, and Switchcraft stuff Oops, they also have the classic 50's wiring. They are loaded with Epi "designed in the USA" custom buckers. They have the old Kalamazoo Epi head stocks as opposed to the classic Gibson version. I picked them up from Sweetwater during gearfest for 520 per. TBH, my conclusion after A/B ing them with the real deal, they lack that Gibson "woody or thick tone" as I call it. They sound a bit thin compared to a Gibson. My hearing might be bad today, but the 59 you reviewed sounded a bit thin to me. Frankly I was pretty surprised by that, as the others you've reviewed sound 100% like Gibson's to me. It could just be me??? I love my Epi's, all of them, but in a blind test I'm confident I could ID my Epi's over a Gibson LP. Great review. Bummed about the sharp fret ends, but that's typical of every new Epi I've purchased. Cheers from Chitown
You know, one regret I had after making this video was not following my usual practice of backing off on the bridge pickup tone control a bit. I opted to leave it wide open and that’s important, but I should have also shown how it sounds with the tone control backed off because small blackface amps tend to make bridge pickups sound a bit spiky. I don’t know if that’s what you were hearing, but it occurred to me after it was too late. That’s said, those pickups definitely sounded fatter in the 355. I still liked what I was hearing from the LP in the room though. I need to be a little more careful to be sure you’re getting what I’m getting.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Len, you do a great job my friend. You don't need to correct anything.
I have the Epiphone '59 with the Kalamazoo headstock. It's a great guitar--especially for the $722 that I paid for it brand new. I like the Kalamazoo Epiphone headstock. I don't need a Gibson headstock on an Epiphone. This new version is nice, though, but not for nearly twice what I paid for the previous version, IMO. I wonder if Gibson discontinued the popular and affordable LP Tribute model to make room in the market for these higher priced Epiphones? Fine playing as usual!
What most people don’t seem to realize is the Kalamazoo headstock is actually the original pre-Gibson, New York headstock. It’s very close to my ‘51. When Gibson first began making Epiphones in Kalamazoo they used left over New York necks so it’s kind of ironic those are known as Kalamazoo headstocks. When those were used up they began to switch to the unique headstock shape we associate with Rivieras, 60s Sheratons, Casinos, etc.
Thanks so much for watching.
They're also stepped up in pricing. When they first came out it was 695 dollars. Having the Gibson USA electronics. You can buy a used one in mint condition.
The Inpired by Gibson Custom line does have some unique features we haven’t seen on modern, Asian built Epiphones, one piece necks for instance and Gibson Custom Shop pickups. Only you can decide if those things matter enough to pay the extra price. Also, there aren’t a lot of used ones available right now, but they will be. Thanks so much for watching.
Totally agree. The Epiphone 59 custom is very good. I bought the 60's standard usa because it is my second and definitive guitar. If i would bought a third guitar, there is lots of models who have made progress on the sound. Thanks for this great video. If i can, where do you find theses really cool backing tracks ? Take care Leonard. 🙂
I create my own backing tracks. I’m in the process of making them available on my Patreon page. Thanks so much.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 that's really cool. 😊
Killer tone what do you have your settings at on the reverb?
Thanks. Normally my amp settings stay about the same, volume 6 or 7, treble about 7, bass 5, reverb around 3 but I sometimes add a touch of hall reverb in post.
Thanks so much for watching.
Count me in as a pragmatist. I have a Gibson Les Paul, but secretly enjoyed playing an Epi Les Paul Custom more. Unfortunately I kept the Gibson and sold the Epi. Dumbbell!
I feel ya. We’ve all done similar things, keeping the guitar that’s “supposed” to be better rather than trusting what we hear and feel.
Hi Leonard, It's always a joy to watch your excellent unbiased reviews. But frankly I'm shocked at Epiphone prices. First this Les Paul sounds thin. Second the extra work & cost to get it play like 'butter' is unacceptable. Chinees made... hmmm; Quality Control doesn't exist there so it's win or lose. I bought a Harley Benton top of the range Les Paul made in Indonesia at 1/3 of the overrated Epiphone price and it plays like butter out of the box. Beautiful build quality, stainless steal frets, Gotoh tuners..etc. Maybe I'll just change the Tesla pick-ups. What's in a name: well I don't care for I want value for the buck. And also, how would you rate the Yamaha Revstar compared ? Sounded wonderful to my ears. Thanks for sharing & Greetings from France. Phil
I’m glad you got a nice guitar you’re happy with. There are definitely pros and cons with most of these guitars. As I mentioned in the video, this one does play really nicely out of the box. The one I said would have needed extra fretwork to play silky smooth was the Gibson I reviewed about 5 months ago.
I think the Revstar is an excellent guitar, though I haven’t tried the Standard with the humbuckers. The one I reviewed was the P90 model and I liked those pickups and the factory fretwork was quite good.
Thanks so much for watching.
Solid tone
Thanks. 😊
Stepped up its game and price
Yeah, predictable. Thanks for watching.
How does this one compare overall to the previous 59 outfit. I act agree about the Kalamazoo headstock on the Epiphone but the Gibson headstock looks good too but how does it compare overall to the 59 outfit? Is the neck shape any different?
You know, it’s been awhile since I’ve had the regular 59 in my hands but from what I recall the necks aren’t much different in profile. Of course the IBGC has a single piece neck which adds to the cost, but it probably doesn’t make much, if any real world difference other than being closer to the originals. I do prefer the pickups in the more expensive model.
Thanks so much for watching.
I already had this one, but I couldn't blame it on you 😂😂
😆
How does this guitar compared with the earlier Epiphone iteration of the IBC 59 LP you reviewed with the burst buckers and Kalamazoo headstock which has now been discontinued? That guitar was 40% cheaper, is this guitar worth the extra because I'm not convinced?
It's in the ears and eyes of the beholder.
He already stated that he much prefers Custombuckers over Burstbuckers. A set of Custombuckers sell for $500
Secondly, this neck is potentially a big deal. I can tell you first-hand,...the neck on the new one, is much different (the new one is much better, IMO). Neck profiles can be a big deal.
Third, and I hate to say it, but the Gibson style headstock, to many people, is going to be extra value to them. I like it, but I also like the old ones and the current Epiphone headstock. I own 2 Gibson Les Pauls and that really makes me prefer the Epiphone headstock to remain on the Epiphones. But it's fine either way. But I'm a minority in this regard.
Nothing wrong with the earlier, less expensive version, but that doesn’t mean this version is the same thing with a Gibson style headstock. Besides the obvious differences, there are aspects that tend to go unnoticed. For instance, this series are the first offshore manufactured Epiphones since the Japan made Elitist models to feature single piece necks. All others typically have multi piece necks with a glued on heel and headstock. Whether this matters to you or not, it’s unquestionably more expensive to build since it requires larger blanks for each neck. Also the Gibson Custom Shop pickups are a significant upgrade. Again, whether or not it’s of benefit to you, it does add significantly to the cost. Of course the Gibson headstock shape is something buyers have been asking for for decades, but only the new tooling would add to the cost so we can set that aside. So there are real extra costs involved. Now of course the fact Gibson charges $500 for those pickups doesn’t mean it costs them anywhere near that, but it would still cost consumers that much to add them. So at the end of the day, if you’re happy with the regular IBG 59 LP, then sure, why pay more. In terms of sheer value I still maintain the 59 ES-355 is easily the best value proposition in the series. But the IBGC Les Pauls remains the only Epiphone LPs with his feature set. It’s either worth it to you or it’s not.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Understood and thanks for getting back to me with such a comprehensive response Len.
I have the Gibson inspired 50's Les Paul Gold Top that plays better than ANY Gibson Les Paul that I have ever played. Mr. Les Paul himself had more Epiphone Les Paul models in his personal collection than Gibson models, that says a lot right there.
The truth is, playability is all about the quality of the fretwork and final setup. The majority of guitars I’ve owned have gone straight to my guy for all this work. PRS being the exception. Thanks for tuning in.
If you're an Epiphone fan, look into the old Fujigen Epiphones. These were never released outside of Japan. They're insane. I have one of these and it goes toe to toe with my Gibsons. They are getting pricey, though.
reverb.com/item/82038995?
Another question is this Epiphone better than the PRS SE Single Cut McCarty 594
They’re quite different. Both are nice but on average l the PRS SEs play a little better out of the box. Thanks for watching
@@leonardgriffieblues5845 Thanks for replying.
Love the bluesy playing. So sick of all the reviews that just chuga, chuga with over the top distortion. You can't actually hear the guitar.
Thanks so much. I know exactly what you mean. My background and approach is different than many others, which hopefully will resonate with a lot of viewers.
Ps. He is right the Epiphone sounds and build better than the Gibson. Wow a lot to ponder Binky.
More specifically, I think THIS Epiphone sounds better than THAT Gibson. The Epiphone is a bit more cleanly executed. The Gibson probably uses a little better quality wood. Both have Gibson pickups but I do prefer the Custombuckers in the Epiphone.
Thanks so much for watching.
Definitely for $1200.00 a Rosewood fretboard.
I agree. Though I will say, I’m far less annoyed with the Laurel since I discovered Monty’s Montypresso. That stuff is wonderful. It can make an Indian Laurel board look like vintage rosewood!
But yeah, it’s why I said the ES355 with the ebony board, fancy binding and inlays, and also with the Custombuckers is the best value in the line.
@@leonardgriffieblues5845Your positive review of the IGC 1959 ES-355 was one of the reasons why I got it. Now, between this Les Paul Standard and the Les Paul Custom, from the same IGC line, I’ll go with the Custom. Especially with $150 discount.
Yeah man, that guitar is no slouch (you either Leonard)!! Keep the extra money you saved from not buying a Gibson and eat steak...lots of steak. hahahaha
Well, I’m a vegetarian but I take your point. 🤣🤣
So many channels have this going on. Fact, there poorly made, using substandard woods. The running gear is really cheap. The set up's are awful., the electrics suck. I keep hearing how great Epiphones are, but the truth is, they suck hard. They are really dead sounding. Its a Guitar like object. Yep, i run a test on the Casino, USA v China model. I only bought the Chinese Casino for that reason. In every respect it was worse.
Well everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But please don’t lump me in with other channels. In fact doing so makes me wonder if you actually watched the video or are just responding to the thumbnail. The fact is, I’m doing UA-cam because I finally got to old and developed problems that forced me to quit touring. As for the guitars, I simply report exactly what I find. No one is paying me.
Lol you sure don't know what you are talking about !
@@markwilliamsmusic2987 Yeah, because it's something i just made up after randomly watching a guitar video on UA-cam! Ok, well, go buy a shitty Chinese made Epiphone, then go and buy the Gibson American-made version. You then get to hold it up against a real guitar, guess what? They are inferior. Yep, some of the Korean ones were ok, but this current generation are shocking
I know everyone is saying that Epiphone has stepped up their game but I wasn’t impressed with the 1959 standard I have been refusing to spend $2,999 for a Gibson Les Paul so I thought this would be a perfect guitar for me 😐 unfortunately I was more than disappointed and fortunately Sweetwater allowed me to return it 🫤
It’s difficult to respond to your comment without knowing more. Epiphone has come out with two 1959 Les Pauls. I’ve reviewed both. First was the Inspired by Gibson model that I reviewed a year ago. It’s been awhile but I think it retailed for something like $799. It was decent when the fretwork and setup were taken care of. This video reviews the $1299 Inspired By Gibson Custom version, which, unsurprisingly, I found nicer with touches like a one piece neck, Gibson’s great Custombuckers, and of course the Gibson style headstock. The fretwork and setup were superior out of the box (though not as perfect as the IBGC ES-355 I reviewed - that was a gem). Even the case is nicer. Then again, it’s almost 40% more money than the older 59 “outfit”.
The other factor is I don’t know what you found disappointing. For many, when the guitar doesn’t feel great out of the box it’s a bad guitar, when in reality it’s almost always a matter of the fretwork and setup, which sadly is luck of the draw even among far more expensive guitars. Consider this, almost every Gibson I’ve bought for my own use was taken directly to my luthier for expert fretwork and setup. I’ve reviewed a number of new Gibsons since they started using a Plek for basic leveling (and that’s all they do, it’s not a full Plek setup), and if I were keeping them, they’d still go to my guy to get them ready for the stage.