This ONE Spec SAVED the Guitar! | 2021 Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Lazarus Les Paul 1959 Reissue Review
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
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📚 Description: Every October, Epiphone and Joe Bonamassa join forces and make an affordable version of a guitar in his collection. This time, it is a restored 50s Les Paul Standard that he just recently acquired and had fixed up, Lazarus. The actual Lazarus has a really cool color to it as well as a spectacularly wide-flamed top. Unfortunately, most of the Epiphone Lazarus Les Paul fall short to matching the overall vibe of the original - but you can't sneeze at the specs of the guitar! The One-piece neck is a game changer!
🐕 Episode Guide:
0:00 - Intro - Check Links in the Description
0:29 - About Joe Bonamassa and His Signatures
2:03 - Unboxing
3:16 - The Story of Lazarus
5:00 - Lazarus vs Epiphone '59, Slash Standard
8:13 - Case / Case Candy
9:12 - Inside Look / Specs
23:11 - Tone Demo (Clean)
25:19 - Tone Demo (Dirty)
27:43 - Final Thoughts
🎞️ Videos Mentioned:
These Were All Supposed to Be Sold Out! | 2020 Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Black Beauty Review
• These Were All Suppose...
Epiphone Disappointed Me With This New Release | New 2021 Gibson / Epiphone Releases
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Guitar Center's Confusing Halloween Model | 2021 Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Raven Review + Demo
• Guitar Center's Confus...
I'm SERIOUSLY Impressed! | 2021 Alex Lifeson Epiphone Les Paul Standard Axcess Viceroy Brown Review
• I'm SERIOUSLY Impresse...
The PRS Model Named After Gibson's Ex-President | 2021 PRS McCarty 594 Hollowbody II Burst Review
• The PRS Model Named Af...
The FIRST Les Paul Reissue Ever Made! "9 0001" 1983 Gibson Les Paul Dirty Lemon Burst | Review Demo
• The FIRST Les Paul Rei...
Nevermind... I Was WRONG About This Guitar! | 2021 Fender Kurt Cobain Jagstang Mexico Reissue Review
• Nevermind... I Was WRO...
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Good old Joe. Selling Epiphone copies of his old 59s so he can buy a new 59s. What a life.
Doesn’t he already have like all of them
Cannot stand him.
@@NotDingse
Not yet, but it does seem like that is his life goal.
Then make a copy of that and buy another until someone stops him
Haters lol
This new JB ‘59 Les Paul is frickin amazing!! I can’t stop playing it🤩🤩 .the feel of the neck is amazing. Definitely has beef to it, but even I( a thin neck lover) can appreciate the awesome feel on the neck. Mine does NOT have the prettiest flame top,(looks more like a plain top), but the fretboard is nice and dark, and i slapped .9’s on it, and it’s pure butter.
Seems like a nice guitar, But you definitely need to find and review a Bonabird. Banjo tuners, firebird headstock on a Les Paul, Trogly guitar heaven!!! Thx Trog🤘🎸
I got a feeling most Bonabirds will meet the same fate as the unsold firebird x models (getting destroyed under the tracks of an excavator)
The True bonabyrd was a fireburst finish with 1 pickup. Look up Slow Train
@@SagaMediaNet it was a cool guitar too. Quite the prototype 👍
I guess if you want to make LP tuning stability worse, put some banjo tuners on there 😆
@@TheRustedShackleford looks good but you're not lying
Got one in the shop and the neck pickup was also unscrewed and loose. But weirdly it had "aged nickel" hardware and pickups? they had some obvious pitting and the epiphone website says specs are subject to change.
Had my lazzrus for just over a year. I am so pleased with it. Pretty much as you said qualify everything by the price and the look, the feel, the sound and the spec are all better than or as good as you could expect. If someone such as yourself, who has handled some Pretty amazing guitars, can even be mildly won over, it says a lot for a very affordable guitar. I'm still going to get a gibson though, I just haven’t dared play one yet.
I recently got one of these.
It plays and sound absolutely great! Quite a bright sounding Les Paul,
in my opinion, which is a nice change compared to the other LPs I have
in my collection.
I understand the criticism concerning the fact that a high gloss finish would
make the top of the guitar look nicer. However, concerning the rest of the
guitar, I.e. the back of the body and the neck, I actually prefer the finish the
way is is right now. Especially on the back of the neck, the playing-feel of this
finish is just great. Overall the whole neck profile feels amazing, it’s a bit chunky
but not overly so.
So: in the end, this is still a China burst, don‘t get me wrong. But it is maybe one
of the most well built and spec‘ed out China Bursts I ever put my hands on.
Received mine last week shipped from guitar center . Love this guitar. Sounds and plays great. I think it’s a great value and have to say Epiphone has really been putting out some great guitars over the past few years
hey justin is it made in USA or somewhere else?
@@SouvikRoyChowdhury trogly said in the video theyre made in china. The case is as well.
It’s an interesting story and actually quite similar to a story of my own Epiphone Les Paul Custom. I bought it in high school about 20 years ago and eventually sold it to a friend of mine and he spray painted it silver and just didn’t take good care of it. I then got it back cheap, with a broken tuner and a dead pick up, I ended up being able to scrape all the paint off because he didn’t prep the original paint and just painted over it. And I upgraded all the rest of the parts and transformed it, I love it and won’t get rid of it again.
Man I love this story. I regret selling my original guitars (electric and acoustic) and I love that you were able to firstly get it back but also restore it! Labour of love ❤
@@carolinehaf21 yup, it was cool! Haven’t found my first acoustic yet though, wish I could.
I'm not even much a fan of LPs but still enjoy your channel and personality. Super relaxing to wind down to in the evening.
on October 16, I went to the Smart Financial Center to see Joe Bonamassa's concert. It was an AMAZING performance ( not even his best ;) ) and when he named off everyone in the band, I found out that his keys player is the legendary Reese Wynans, who played for Stevie Ray Vaughan and is hands down my favorite keys players, and in my opinion, the best blues organist.
I picked this up on Saturday after ordering it a week ago. When i took the sticker off the neck pickup when I got home, the picking moved under very light pressure. Brought it back to the shop and they replaced the springs, under warranty that same day.
I received mine via UPS from Guitar Center. First thing I noticed was the neck pickup wasn’t mounted! Then I noticed the strings weren’t evenly spaced across the fretboard. Then I noticed the nut want connect and the three bass side strings were slotted in the nut, way off to the side. The three treble side strings were just hanging off the side where the nut used to be. THEN I noticed a crack on the neck near the head. Then I noticed the neck was broken. Other than that it was pretty. I took it straight to GC and they offered to replace it, via UPS. I had zero faith in that so I just got an Epiphone ES-335 off the wall.
I wouldn’t have anything expensive shipped in these next couple of months. No one cares if your package arrives in one piece they’re just trying to get through the work day.
i purchased one in Jan 22 from someone flipping it on Reverb, still in packaging, he made $150 off of it, drove it down to Austin from Dallas for me. i never played it but briefly, i never had intentions to. I immediately drove it to the fellow that i take guitars for work. I landed on the specs too, just like Trogly, that neck. This was from the git go, planned to be a working girl. i have a couple of Pauls already (one owner original '77 Special DC TV yellow - me, and a 60th anniversary '59, a birthday present, yup at 60) i am blessed to have acquired a number of other very nice guitars too, so I will try not be snobby (i will never forget the trailer). But i don't like gigging with most of them, too important to me now, they DO walk off, esp. if you have several for one event. What i did then: The one playability thing was the frets, sharp and i didn't like the shape of them either. So i asked the tech to change the nut (I am a fan of real bone), replace the frets with REAL Gibson wire. then PLEK it. I then changed the harness (Throwbak with BB's), the Bridge and Tail (FaberUSA) and all the hardware around them, added Jimmy Wallce PAF's (he is in Garland, TX BTW), and all the plastic. Okay with regard to Trogly's commentary: yep frets suck, and the finish? not huge fan, it grows on you. i still think about seeing if I can have the top buffed out. the figuring on mine is better than the one in the video. My young nephew once asked for ketchup on a very nice prime rib, finish kind feels like that. but for banging it around maybe this finish is better? dunno, it sounds great, plays very great, others say they like it (I use either a 60's Fender Twin or Deluxe mostly), . So the moral dilemma, i am $2K into this thing, why? could have bought a 'real' Gibson ( i have real Gibson's)? i wanted something to work with, not be 'valuable', something exactly the way i wanted, and i got that. If it wasn't going to be my only guitar not sure i would have gone this way and i can't comment on the OEM config completely but it was great starting place, but anyway there ya go. It is not a custom shop, but it'll work 99% of the time. i do use the 60th in studio a bit...
"Another Thing nice about this JB model - his name is nowhere on this." Haha. Another guitar Joe would never think of touching except for the promo video.
So messed up lmao.
Awesome, for a time he had those guitars with his name inlayed on the fretboard. I'm not sure why anyone would want that.
@@thenameless3271 can you imagine if you had SRVs custom Strat that has his name on the fretboard? Think about that for a moment.
@@PaulSter that was Stevie’s guitar, there’s only a few maybe that exist. The joe b ones are a production. No one wants a mass produced epiphone with his name on the fretboard. Think about that for a moment.
Well c'mon now - Why would he need to? Seriously.
While I do happen to have enough cash to buy a '59 (and that's not meant to boast, just to make my point), that's not how I choose to spend or invest my money. For for the regular person, it's a very well spec'd guitar that will likely have a nice resale, or simply be their' forever 'Les Paul. And...if they stop making them, they'll likely appreciate - as they already have. I just hope people quit flipping them to make a buck, thereby defeating the purpose of the guitar altogether.
Have it, love it. Totally agree with you this is the multi tool of guitars, its a greeny Lazarus with an appetite for destruction.
But I still hold out some hope Gibson will let Epiphones new "custom shop" release a relic/road worn version of Kirk Hammett greeny.
I think this is an excellent guitar for the price which includes burst buckers. I do not have a problem with the satin top. I was skeptical, but it does not look bad at all. You have to temper your expectations based upon the price. . Sounds great through my Mesa Boogie Mark V 35 and Marshall. I get why someone would want to own a Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop VOS, but I would rather invest my $ in other things such as retirement. Besides, I am not playing in arenas nor recording songs. Lastly, I do like lemon tops and this guy Trogley comparing it and the top to the real JB Lazarus is not a fair or accurate comparison.
I agree Dan, for all but the upper 1% of full time recording/touring musicians, these are more than enough guitar. I have heard of a lot of Gibson owners buying the equivalent Epi for club use! Keep the Gibsons for the studio!
That's just Trogly being Trogly. I'm not his personal friend or anything but I've been watching him since his early days on UA-cam. Trogly will often blurt out his own unfiltered wants, desires, disappointments before then coming afterwards with a more tempered and thought out response. If you listened carefully after expressing his disappointment in the top he then said he understands why and expresses reasons you don't get a top like Lazarus on a less expensive Epiphone. Think along the lines of a kid not getting EXACTLY what they wanted for their birthday but then the more they look at it they understand why and respect and appreciate it. Trogly actually really loved this Epiphone and had mostly positive things to say about it. He is a good guy and probably the most honest guitar dealer you'll ever find. Honest ALMOST to a fault.
Other than the QC issue with the springs in the neck pickup (which the store replaced under warranty the same day), I’m enjoying the Lazarus.
I agree on the gloss. I think if there was a full gloss finish the top would probably pop more and look a little bit more like the actual Lazarus. One other thing that always gets to me is that the Epiphone 59's and this Lazarus don't have the finish scraping on the top to expose the binding! The color goes all the way to the edge and you lose that beautiful "framing" effect that is essential to the LP. It just feels like a cheap shortcut.
I got this because I am a fan of JB and I love the Lazarus story. I did have the nut replaced with a bone nut and I was getting some fret buzz that wasn't truss related so I had the frets leveled, too. I put on Kluson locking tuners, as well. I woulnd't do that to my R9s but here it seemed appropriate. Overall a pretty solid guitar for an Epiphone.
Fragile near the headstock makes this the most accurate case ever made. :)
Fragile... Hmmm. Must be Italian
Received mine this week. Replaced strings, adjusted the truss rod and polished the frets. It plays better than the 5 Gibsons I've owned in the past...including the Custom Shop model.
Lazarus actually reminds me of what I was searching for leading into January 2013 an amber-finished Epiphone LP. Would have been the next best thing to having a guitar I've got today, a gold top. Instead, I wound up getting a different model that I had been searching for searching for, a tobacco sunburst LP.
I've got mine 3 months ago, here in Shanghai. It's a blast!! I actually have opportunity to play and check it in local music store. I tried Gibson and was ready to pay for it but Lazarus saved my money and in my opinion it plays better. About the finish... it's not satin like 1959 reissue, it's not fully gloss and for sure it's not lemon burst. It has that aged nice top. The absolute winner is the neck. Amazingly playable!
He has 3 locations, Nashville, NYC and LA. I can only imagine the totality of his entire collection.
I just want to sniff house tweed collection
I ended up buying 3 of these, 1 for me and 2 for customers, all from Epiphone's website. ALL 3 had the exact pickup screw/spring issue yours had, and two of them had bad switches! I got the impression they rushed these out the door with that kind of QC. They were easy fixes & everything else was fine. Mine actually has decent wide flame. Excellent Les Paul copy!
Great presentation! You got the details others didn't. Super job.
PRS has monopoly on the good figured maple, literally purchased active maple groves. He says figured maple is quite easy to grow, all you need to do is restrict its growth for a number of years, then give it freedom.
How do you buy a grove of figured maple trees? Aren't they 1 in 100 trees or is it 1 in 1000?
@@banditkeithkingofduelmonsters I think what Dylan was saying, which is interesting and I didn't know, is that by altering the trees environment, you can force it to have figuring. Very interesting, never heard that before.
@@TheChicagoTodd If you can it would be interesting, but only useful for making guitars 100+ years in the future. So even if PRS got into "farming" figured maple soon after starting making guitars, it will be over 50 years before any such maple becomes available.
@@pulaski1 if they bought the grove, presumably that includes previously planted trees
@@PaulieHo And presumes that the original/ previous owner was interested in forcing maples to develop figuring.
You should review the new Epiphone Lucille guitar.
Yes!
I want one. I am angry I missed JB's Black Beauty, so maybe the Lucille would be cool. Anyone own one that can vouch for the $$.
I gots both and amos to
Not sure of all the specs on my Epiphone Traditional Pro III but the frets are smooth on the edges. Of course it has Episode Pro Alnico Classic vintage humbuckers that are both split coils. And looks to be 3 piece neck with scarf joint. And the back is a waxed mahogany finish. Didn't come with COA or a case and was on display for awhile since GC was clearing out all displays I got this one at an already discounted price and another 40% off since they sold the original one I ordered out from under me and it was well past shipping date. I think I got a great deal on it. The JB your reviewing looks good with that red back and honey top. The back kind of reminds me of an SG color but looks great against the top.
Had no issues with mine at all, Great specs and an awesome guitar!!!
JB's EPI and Alex Lifeson EPI are both outstanding and both play em on stage at times ..Alex says his is perfect out the box and was shocked how good it actually was..EPI have really stepped it up, so much so I'm considering one and I'm a PRS guy..that says ALOT to anyone that knows me...great review man..
These polish up easily enough if you prefer a full gloss finish. Personally I would buff just the top and get a nice shine more like the actual Lazarus. It should also help the veneer pop a bit better.
I like the bit about veneer vs full flame top, the simple truth (which hurts too much for many to admit) is that a good, properly applied veneer won't change the tone and like Trogly said, it will allow for many more guitars to be made with a beautiful top. The reason people tend to frown on veneer tops is because quite a few guitars advertised as "veneer" were actually "photo flame" a while back, which is not remotely the same thing. The other issue is that cheaper guitars tend to use a very thin veneer, typically 1mm - 1.5mm. A 2.5 - 4mm veneer looks every bit as good as a full flame/quilt/curly etc top. It does look a bit off though, no matter how thick it is. You may be able to get the depth and play of a full cap but the veneer is a flat sheet that conforms to existing topography vs a full cap which changes in it's direction, elevation and effect because it is carved not overlaid more or less flat. This is why veneer tops that are not carved (flat) look so much better. Curving/conforming veneer tends to weaken it's active nature (the way the color shifts at different angles). Anyone who has worked with figured wood and veneer can tell you that something is often lost when you warp/conform veneer away from it's resting shape and this gets worse the thinner the veneer.
Personally, I prefer the look of a full carved top but I wouldn't pay more for it, the veneer will hold up well enough at a distance and really doesn't change the tone in any meaningful way. Epiphone typically uses 1 - 2mm thick veneers, not thick enough to get the full active look you find on a full figured top, it tends to be a little flat/2 dimensional. I wish Gibson would make some veneer top guitars with 3 - 4mm AAAA figured veneer. It would be fantastic on Studio/Tribute models and save them some money (and hopefully the end user too). Sadly the Gibson snobs will probably deride such notions.
Are they good online resources that would show how to add gloss finish to one of these? I have one shipping to me now and want to gloss that sucker up!
I actually got this when I saw it was released. I love the story of Lazarus Joe tells and I have not owned an Epiphone since my Blue quilt top back in the early 2000s so I got this, not only because I like Joe and the story of the real guitar, but also as a commemoration of where I have been in the past after playing for 20 years now! I was absolutely blown away by this guitar! Maybe because I was expecting something far worse than it is, but I love playing it as much as my Gibson Les Pauls. I do agree I wish the top was more like the real guitar, but for what it is I am very happy with it. It weighs a ton though so anyone looking to order one make sure you get a good quality wide strap!
true that this is a heavy one! but nice
I have this and it’s better ( playing) than a 2020 standard and a 2021 classic. I was really baffled as I usually HATE Epiphone but this and the Tommy Thayer model really made me 🤔. The Gibson’s are not $1500 better sounding or playing guitar. It’s a matter of choice and 💰 and if your a Snob brand person ( I was but no more)
F San, I am with you. I sold my Gibson LPJR SP and bought the 59 and a Fender Blues JR with enough money left over for a case of whiskey. :-) Solid upgrade all around.
Ordered mine on ZZounds within 10 minutes of release after watching the first Andertons playing demo. Listed as backordered and just got mine last week. Was worried as a lot of them looked like plain tops and gold tops from a distance. Luckily mine had the wide grain and a reverse chevron so it looks a lot closer to the real Lazarus. Still not 100% pumped on it though all my 2020 Epiphone's were awesome with zero issues. I ordered all of the Slash models and they all got sent back from damage or cosmetic issues but they all let me down either way. Even my Gibson 2021 50's AAA flame limited edition I ordered for my first Gibson LP showed up with the best top I've seen but had a bunch of nibs hacked off and cut binding around the horn though the finish and chipped and had a twisted neck. So my theory is with the world issues with so many people quitting there jobs and no one wanting to work anymore all the experienced luthiers are gone and there's a fresh batch of new workers making guitars now with a loose QC department. Starting to lose faith at this point. P.S. almost all of my 21 Epiphones came with the neck pickup just sitting in the cavity no screwed in at all.
You seemed to really enjoy playing this one or just having a good day cause your playing was really good! I’m a big fan of your channel and have been for a long time, keep up the great work and playing.
It’s a really nice guitar for the money, but I still prefer the Alex Lifeson signature one for the same price.
Agreed
@@rila8502 I already bought the Alex Lifeson one, and it’s fantastic. I like it even more than my Gibson.
Rochester NY, Joe was 10 years old and blew our minds at a downtown concert. Never realized he would get to this level. Intense.
I like the specs on this guitar. The lemon burst is cool looking hue which under lights on a stage really comes alive. In my opinion it’s a lot of guitar for the price point. Thanks for posting.
I had the same issue with the same screw on the high-E side of the neck pickup. But, that was easily reattached, and oh my! That huge '59 neck is perfect for my big paws. Odd, because Fender '50s V-necks are my favorites. But it's a great guitar, with nice pickups. Mine has a more figured top than this one, and I have no issue with the fret edges. The neck is similar in size to the only real Gibson '59 Les Paul I've ever played, and that's why I love it. My buddy shaved the back of his "real" one, in effect, turning it into a '60. ;-)
Well I was going to watch this video but one spec killed it for me!
Never heard a Joe bonamassa before and it would appear they've never heard of left-handed players before.
I would like to see Trogly (Austin) have a sit-down with Joe Bonamassa.
It would be a total nerd-fest of all things guitars.
Trogoly is a dope lol joe wouldn't even have a coffee with the guy . Joe is getting paid to promote these shitty cheap guitars he could care less. If kids will work a lil harder they can afford a Real Gibson
We luv Mr Trogly!!! There are good used and tribute Gibson guitars out there to be had for sure I play a blue Gibson Les Paul Junior Tribute by choice and it has nothing to do with money, I prefer it.
BTW, I'm 50 (51 next month) and one of the very few guys my age or younger who even know who in the hell Peter Green is. Sure, many people know about "Greenie" due to Kirk Hammett, and to a lesser extent, Gary Moore, but Peter Green? Nope. Sad, because I knew who Clapton, Page, Beck, Blackmore, Richards, Brian Jones and many others were when I was 12 or 13. I even knew about a few of the old bluesmen as well. I'd find a band like, say, AC/DC (who I love) and read interviews with them talking about Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, and it would make me "well, who are THOSE guys?" which lead to digging back into 50's era rock, blues, and country, then either going forward to Buddy Holly and the Crickets, or even further backwards to Son House, Robert Johnson, BB King, etc. I found out about Clapton when Eddie Van Halen would talk about Eric being a huge influence, so then it's oh, Clapton was in a band called Cream, let's check them out. Wow, this is great! Clapton was in a band called The Yardbirds too? What's that all about, and who are these Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page characters who took his place? Don't people do that anymore?
I do that, but I’m 65. Still, when I was listening to Cream and Zeppelin when they came out I had no idea who Willie Dixon was or who Robert Johnson was. I eventually found out there is a lot of great music out there. Shortly after that disco took over, which made me dive even deeper into the roots and the classics.
Hey Austin. Just got my Lazarus today direct from JB website. Initial impression -strong. Looks really well put together. Feels great. Wanted to. Ask your take on bringing up the shine on the finish with Virtuoso polish. I know it contains micro abrasives, so I’ll forget it if not recommended. I used the virtuoso polish to buff out some haze when I bought my 70th anniversary Broadcaster that looks like it was re boxed even though purchased direct from Fender. Thanks for your help .
I love love the pink! I wonder how it stacks up against a tribute. like does the extra $400 just pay for a Gibson logo.
Nice! I got mine last Saturday. I was hoping to hear your stance.1:05 '13 or '12 he also had a goldtop I believe. Your top is, not boring but pin strippy, mine the flame dips like a wave at the center line. Bookmatched of course so like a mustache I guess 😄 none of them look like the real flamed one but some look wider than others.
I expect mine Thursday and the custom inlay fret board of only 300. I hope it gains in value. I had a beautiful Gibson and when I had to let it go, I lost on it.
2014 was Pelham Blue. The black back Gold Top was the release before that.
@@Ycjedi yeah I wasn't that sure about the year but something made me think they were at the same time. I made a correction. I could look it up but I'll take your word on it being a different year, makes more sense that way. Cheers 😃
@@davegreeley nice, do it come with the extra case candy, strap, picks,ect ? I never intened to sell any of my guitars. The inlay ones are kinda cool. 😃Cheers .
@@scottbogfoot I actually hope a little more as I ordered it right from Joe's store and usually get a sticker and pic's. We will see by end of week as it is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.
Already on reverb for 1300. I’m very happy with mine so far
1900 on reverb Canada
The epi pickup rings make proper adjustments a pain. For the price the epi 59 and Lazarus should have the proper pickup rings and while they are at it put the bridge pickup in the proper location .
Graphtech offer Nubone and Tusq. Tusq is the better of the two, if a guitar manufacturer is saying 'graphtech' they're probably using Nubone. If they're using Tusq they'd say so as it's Graphtech's better product. I have tusq on pretty much all my guitars now. Adding tusq saddles with a nut takes it up a notch. The saddles are lovely, so comfy under your hand and gives an extra glassy tone when used with a nut too
I pretty much go Woolly Mammoth or Triceratops for my bone nut, other than that, I like the Nylabone, which I like to carve out of my dog's spent toys.
@@craiggallagher7292 If you don't go with Megalodon tooth it's pretty much ghetto and you will get crap tone.
@@Win7ermu7e Are you serious, Clark?
I have the pelham blue 2014 JB epi les paul.. No silly veneer on the front or back. Burstbucker 2&3. Baseball bat neck, long tenon ect. Would love to know if this is any better or different?
A great Epiphone ' high gloss would make the figuring pop better, after sorting those springs the frets should be easy to carefully smooth off ...the case although inside too light pink, looks nice and strong but better than a bag ' ...and of course, a much more pound friendly 'Greeny' if preferred, especially with those tones '
Thanks for the videos I learn so much every time I watch a video I learn something new.
You forgot about the first 2 runs which were goldtops the first rum was in 2011 and it sold out so quick they did another run the next year . The gold tops were the best of the bunch
When it comes to these "higher end" Epiphones, I really just want the Gibson pickups. Burstbucker 2 & 3 is one of my favorite HB combos. I plan on putting some in my Epi Explorer at some point. If I can stop buying other guitars and gear first..
I just got mine today and I really am impressed with this guitar overall !!! It really blew the Slash model away ! I really like the yellow, it looks good to me ! The neck feels great, I like the fatter feel ! the only thing I want to change is the pickup springs in the neck pickup as you pointed out ! I'm a stay at home player and I run it through a Fender Mustang amp and I couldn't be happier with the sound !! For the money it's a great guitar (well I just traded for mine lol} !!!
Hey trogly Ik you kinda have done a review on this but it would be amazing if you did a full documentation of the epiphone Ace frehley les Paul pls amazing video as always though
For me it looks nice but there are so many guitars like this one that epiphone did already... I got a Joe perry, a friend of mine got the 59, we love our épi for sure...
I don't own the Lazarus version but the 59 version of the exact same guitar from Epi. Same case too save for the graphics on it of which I like the plain Epiphone signature better. I am thinking of having a friend of mine who makes guitars buff out the top to see what happens and how it would look. Other than that the guitar needs 0 mods nor set up as it came perfect out of the box. Sounds and play's beautifully especially through my Laney all tube amp. stay safe
"somewhere between gloss and satin..." - SEMI-GLOSS
SEMI-SATIN
Glatin
Sloss?
I bought the Epi Lazarus with the JB signature inlay in the fretboard and also had his signature on the pickgaurd, which they only made 300 of em..from a concert here in Memphis where I live about 2 years ago. Paid $1100 for it and just wondering what all you Nerdville lovers think about it and the worth. It plays about as good as some cheaper Gibsons I've played. Definitely will keep just because I'm a true JB fan but like to hear what people think about it!
This was played a year ago so I’m late to this party. The clean bridge sound was dull to me, but the cranked sound was great in all three positions. I liked the neck and middle positions clean, too.
I've heard that almost everyone has the same issue with the neck pickup falling in. Not sure how that would happen for just this one model.
Austin, love your demo's, could you add what you are playing through to get your clean and dirty tones , just a suggestion. Love your content.
Man, Trogly does not miss a beat. Everything I was thinking as I watched the video, Trogly addressed.
The on,y way they could have duplicated the original flame would be a fender ish “photo flame”. Better to go with a lesser real wood veneer,in my opinion
This is true....in one sense....in trying to replicate "Lazarus".....there was an inherent fault in the fact that no guitar will look exactly like "Lazarus"; unless like you said, the "faked" the flame. So in that sense, maybe a planning or design flaw. I think they realized that, but thought they could still do a cool job, and I think they succeeded.
Agree... I hate the photo flame look, even though this has a dull look, at least it's a real veneer. The photo flame is just too perfect that your brain knows it's fake
@@dundun8640 really? How could you duplicate wood grain patterns across an entire production run? If that's possible, I'd be interested in hearing you explain the process
Regarding the prices for the Slash and Joe Bonamassa Les Paul, does the Slash model cost more than the Joe Bonamassa model in the US? (Or Canada?)
Edit: I bought the Lazarus from Thomann for around 1100$ incl Swedish VAT, and it is about 50$ more expensive than the Slash model regardless of the prices on Epiphone’s website, is that also true in US?
I came across this guitar at my local guitar store the week it came out. I like JB and was looking forward to this but after I picked it up and felt the finish I passed on it. It felt artificial. My store did have a Gibson Kirk Douglas signature SG which I purchased immediately after playing it and watching your review. I hope you review the Kirk Fletcher 335 when it comes out!
Can’t believe you found a Captain Kirk. What color?
@@jgenoese I got lucky, it is the Inverness Green
I agree about the finish.
I've a couple older Gibsons and Fenders, after having those to play I realized I really prefer the lacquer finish. One reason is the feel, the other reason is the wear.
I've a 1986 Les Paul that looks great with all the honest wear. I've also a 2000 American Deluxe Stratocaster I purchased new. It still looks brand new after all these years.
Within my small collection of guitars I use and play the Fender looks out of place with its new looking thick urethane finish while everything else is obviously heavily played in.
@@willsei it’s an amazing guitar. Would have loved an ebony board but I’m picky.
Fair enough but that guitar is 3x as expensive lol. For an Epiphone IMO this thing is a home run. I prefer it to my actual Gibsons lol. But I’d take that KD SG over it too! 😉
That one sounds really good. I think I could look past any flaws and just play the crap outta that one.
Graph Tech nut is a really good spec. If I wanted a Les Paul to gig with, I'd get one of the models mentioned here.
beautiful guitar
I was very skeptical of the 59 Epi they made with the custom shop. This convinces me more. I guess it helps that I hated those bursts while I like this lemon top.
Do you get a discount with any of these brands as a dealer that allows you to sell these for a profit, but still keep your prices low enough to compete with guitar center?
I'm curious how this stuff works. If you have a special relationship/contract with certain brands or if it works a different way.
About people struggling to get a low end gibson or a high end epiphone, I own an epiphone 1959 reissue and have played gibson les paul standards. Different models have had different feels, but my epiphone has a feel that feels nothing like a midrange Epiphone. It has a magic that is just as on par as the gibson standards I‘ve played. And as a surprise to no one, some of them have a lot more cosmetic defects than my epiphone. I‘m not the biggest fan of the special type of finish they put on it, just cause I like full gloss, but I have to admit I think that‘s where the magic comes from. The finish is very thin and feels really nice, it makes me feel warm when I pick it up. And the guitar, in my experience, looks a lot better in person than the images on epi‘s website, or Sweetwater, etc. I have played 2500 dollar gibsons that felt better to play, but I‘ve also played ones that felt much worse. It has gibson burstbuckers, cts pots, switchcraft, so there is no doubt in my mind that it is leaps and bounds a better choice than a low end gibson, unless you care about the headstock that much. (By the way I‘m just talking about this specific model. In my experience, normal epi customs, and especially the stabdards don‘t feel anywhere near as nice as this 1959 or a gibson)
8:29 the case that came with my 1959 epiphone has gotten MUCH darker, and it‘s only been used since july.
Austin, what amp are you using for this demo?
Thanks amazing review
The neck pickup issue is on a lot of them, mine included! Not a big issue to me though.
I had the spring issue as well, but not disappointed, I got very nice top, and it sounds great
I am going to put a deposit down on one of these with Sweetwater if they are still taking deposits. Typically with most of their guitars you can choose the guitar based on the top. Don’t know if this will be possible but it would be nice to have that option. I have seen the 1959 Epiphone LP and was really not impressed at all with the satin finish. Just made it look cheap plasticky. I would definitely polish the finish on this guitar down for a gloss appearance on the front and the headstock.
I was with my CC ready to buy this guitar and then I listened to you playing and I’m not so sure anymore. I wished you would of compared it the 59’s Epiphones so we could of compared the Gibson BB vs The Epiphone Pro buckers. Now I’m afraid I’m gonna misse a great opportunity to buy a Gibson spec made buy Epiphone. Of wait for the future coming 59’s reissued that you talk about in the video. BTW I like the way you talk without being biased on the good and not so great in each of your reviews. Thanks
It's been a year,what did you end up getting??
Have you thought about reviewing the modern 2021 Epiphone Prophecy models with Fishman pickups? Same price territory and also respectable specs. Would love to see a comparison from you.
You don't necessarily need stronger springs for the neck pickup mount. A stash of small stainless steel washers can solve your problem easy as. Alternatively, even a stash of nylon washers will do the trick.
For the price, it's a good guitar. I, too, wish they had gone with a gloss finish instead of the odd semi-satin top.
The top can easily be cut and buffed out. It would look a lot better with a shine.
I just finally pulled the trigger on a 59 Standard Outfit. What a ton of guitar. Love the thick 50's neck, which aren't that common!
Just bought lemon burst from guitar center brand new for 599.99+ tax
Surprised, they could have actually created an exact copy "photo flame" of the Lazarus top and mounted it on a maple cap... it would have been pretty cool!
I have this one. I got it last week. I also have the 59 "Outfit", the Slash AFD, and the JJN Gold Glory. For under $1000 they're all really good guitars. And I have many Gibsons.
As for the Lazarus, the dealers that stock them don't show you what you're getting, so when it comes to the "quality" of the top, it's luck of the draw. I have a few friends that got a better top than I did. That was a disappointment for me because the whole story behind this guitar is the amazing top that was discovered under that candy apple red refinish. Veneer is cheap. They could have done a better job at selecting the best veneers.
I don't know that I agree about the one piece neck being superior. There's nothing wrong with a scarf joint. In fact it's probably superior because it has been "pre-broken". I'm willing to bet that if I took my 59 and my Laz and dropped them on the floor from the same spot, the Laz would break and the 59 would not. I've already seen a few Laz guitars with snapped headstocks.
The finish on the Slash is way better than both the 59 and the Laz. The finish on the Laz is a little bit nicer than the 59.
The odds of one piece of wood having the same resonant peak frequency for sustain are higher than for multiple pieces of wood (often from different lumber/trees) with glue binding the pieces. ...So, tonally; one piece is often "better" for sustain. However, I'd choose the 15% strength increase over 2% more sustain in an Epi.
with compound polish, and little rubbing can make the finish glossy with little work involved.
@@greenmanalishi6963 I polished the JJN Gold Glory by hand using Turtle Wax Clean Cut rubbing compound followed by some Virtuoso cleaner and polish. It came out pretty shiny but still had orange peel. It needs to be done with a random orbital machine polisher if you want to get rid of the orange peel. I'm not a big fan of the "faded" Epi polyurethane finishes. The high gloss finish on the Epi Slash guitars is really nice.
@@TheJeffcurran hmm good to know thanks, n yeah I’ve seen on videos concerning the “orange peel” part, haven’t done it to my “Lazarus” soon to be “greeny” quite yet. So gather all the knowledge will help. Thanks
Do you think the one with Bonamassa inlayed on the fret board will be worth anything with only 300 of them? If so, how much?
I do believe so that's why I purchased it. I'll get Joe to sign it and put it away for awhile. Blessings
Not a fan of the finish but overall it seems like a decent spec. How do 490R/498T pickups compare to the Burstbuckers btw?
JB does a great service to keeping guitar alive in this age of synth & copy/paste tracks. Joe plays and its not canned.... I dig Joe for this!! Put out honest music, back honest products... I hope that never wains.....
I polished the top of mine and filed the fret ends and it is a nice guitar to play now. It sounds the same as my Gibson 2022 60s LP standard, (same BB pickups) but the finish is not in the same class. I am much less worried about putting a ding into the Epiphone though and that has value all its own.
Exactly, I love my standard but sometimes I'm scared to take it with me to gigs.
Do u mind going in depth on how u polished the top finish. I plan on doing it to mine very soon.
I got one of these, box was opened and same thing! Neck pup screw wasnt in?? Did I get this one somehow?
Ah, c'mon the pink lining is fine. It complements the guitar's lemon burst finish.
The pink is actually a little lighter color and maybe a different material than in my Gibson cases.....it just feels a little "off". Not a big deal at all.
Thanks for the awesome video man. Keep the good work
I have a first run JB Epi Gold Top that will never leave my collection. Love the pink lined case. 😉
I’m glad you decided to review this guitar. I’ve seen several mediocre reviews but needed one from the MASTER!
My Gibson LP Faded T has the same fret issue. I think it's from cutting them at the angle and not finishing the filing.
I have seen several used Lazarus guitars for sale online with broken necks. Is it really better?
I will never ever dismiss , dislike or make fun of any Epiphone Bonamassa... it is the only way I have (for the moment) to get my hands on a "vintage Gibson"! Think about it.
Yes indeed
A piece of highly figured Birdseye Maple veneer, enough to cover the top of a guitar costs about £10, that's to buy 1 sheet, I'm guessing that if you were Gibson buying large amounts, you'd be able to get it for considerably less. Yeah I know you're paying for the labour to apply it too, the point I'm making is the materials don't actually costs that much, so the amount of markup Gibson get selling guitars is mind blowing.
Good ol Joe Bonnermassive... honestly, part of me wants to at least check this one out, maybe not OWN it, but play it. I'm holding out for a Gibson LP Special Tribute P90, im only 3 months paycheck out from one!
Greetings and well wishes from Utah man!
Looking forward to the slash epiphone vs gibson comparison video.