Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s - Vintage Sunburst

Epiphone hit a grand slam home run with this guitar. It is stunningly beautiful and flawless (at least mine is). The top is lovely figured maple with a subtle blue fade. The bound neck is spot on and the fretwork is among the best I have seen. There are no sharp edges or buzzes right out of the box. Excellent intonation.The locking tuning heads hold tune and are easy to use. There is no skimping on quality. The fretboard is ebony. Mine is black as a coal yard at midnight. It is very expensive wood and this is premium ebony. Graph Tech nut adds to the quality. The mahogany body is 3 piece and perfectly matched to appear as if it were a single piece of wood.I'm not going to jump into the Probucker vs Burstbucker debate. The pickups sound great to me and the coil ... MoreEpiphone hit a grand slam home run with this guitar. It is stunningly beautiful and flawless (at least mine is). The top is lovely figured maple with a subtle blue fade. The bound neck is spot on and the fretwork is among the best I have seen. There are no sharp edges or buzzes right out of the box. Excellent intonation.The locking tuning heads hold tune and are easy to use. There is no skimping on quality. The fretboard is ebony. Mine is black as a coal yard at midnight. It is very expensive wood and this is premium ebony. Graph Tech nut adds to the quality. The mahogany body is 3 piece and perfectly matched to appear as if it were a single piece of wood.I'm not going to jump into the Probucker vs Burstbucker debate. The pickups sound great to me and the coil splitting, phase control and treble bleed circuitry make this not only a tone generating engine but superior to standard alternatives.The guitar is substantial but not excessively heavy. Mine is just under 8 pounds. The advanced weight relief does not appear to affect the tone at all. Another really nice feature is the scooped out section where the neck joins the body. It make it very easy to play high register notes.There are a lot of little things like a lip on the top hat knobs that allow you to use the push-pull coil split and phase controls without trying to dig your finger nail under the knob. The cheap plastic guard around the input jack is replaced with nice chrome metal. The plastic guard around the 3-way switch is gone and good riddance to it. And the pickguard is NOT attached. So you can leave it off (as I did) and not have screw holes in your guitar visible to the eye.This is not a cheap Epiphone either in price or in quality. But it is easily equivalent to a $5,000 or more Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul. Get one. You will not be disappointed and you can buy several other guitars with the savings or a nice tube amp.

Guitar played fine out of box. Intonation was right action was relatively low, pickup height was right. I like my action really low so when I tried lowering action I started to get some buzzing. Straightened the neck got the fret rocker out and realized I had around 6 high frets. Leveled crowned and polished them. Now she plays just the way I like. Guitar is beautiful. I got lucky with a gorgeous top. Pictures don't do these guitars justice. If you wanna know how the heritage cherry finish looks in person look up a pic of that finish on a Gibson. These are dead on. Love the 59 profiled neck. One of the many reasons these feel like a proper les paul. Super resonate and sustain for days. I also lucked out and got a beautiful figured slab of Indian laurel which if I ... MoreGuitar played fine out of box. Intonation was right action was relatively low, pickup height was right. I like my action really low so when I tried lowering action I started to get some buzzing. Straightened the neck got the fret rocker out and realized I had around 6 high frets. Leveled crowned and polished them. Now she plays just the way I like. Guitar is beautiful. I got lucky with a gorgeous top. Pictures don't do these guitars justice. If you wanna know how the heritage cherry finish looks in person look up a pic of that finish on a Gibson. These are dead on. Love the 59 profiled neck. One of the many reasons these feel like a proper les paul. Super resonate and sustain for days. I also lucked out and got a beautiful figured slab of Indian laurel which if I didn't know any better I'd swear it was rosewood. Probucker 2 and 3 sound amazing. That classic PAF tone is there. You can even get some tele like tones out of the bridge. Really happy with this guitar. These new epiphones are leaps and bounds ahead of the old ones.

I have been an AMS customer for about 3 years now. I have been in and around the buying of musical instruments for over 50 years. I have to say that American Musical Supply is the best and only place for me to shop for now or in the future. Ok. Now we got that part out of the way, I come to the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured beauty in Magma Orange Fade. I have been a purchaser of Epiphone guitars now for over 30 years with my first one bought back in 1997 an SG 400 which I still have and love so you could say I am an Epiphone loyalist. This is my 5th Epiphone and my 3rd LP. I have to say that for the price I was paying for this one I knew I was getting more specs like Coil Tap and Treble Bleed but I have to tell you I am totally amazed at the workmanship of this ... MoreI have been an AMS customer for about 3 years now. I have been in and around the buying of musical instruments for over 50 years. I have to say that American Musical Supply is the best and only place for me to shop for now or in the future. Ok. Now we got that part out of the way, I come to the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured beauty in Magma Orange Fade. I have been a purchaser of Epiphone guitars now for over 30 years with my first one bought back in 1997 an SG 400 which I still have and love so you could say I am an Epiphone loyalist. This is my 5th Epiphone and my 3rd LP. I have to say that for the price I was paying for this one I knew I was getting more specs like Coil Tap and Treble Bleed but I have to tell you I am totally amazed at the workmanship of this guitar. It is strikingly beautiful. It has all the goodies including the Probuckers but I am talking more the workmanship of the guitar itself. The little things that one always notices like the smooth edges on the frets, the smoothness and cut of the ebony fingerboard. The clean set in neck, the Orange Magma Fade finish on that flame maple veneer, and the installation of the binding all covered with a spectacular gloss finish. One of the things I noticed first when I picked up the guitar was the contoured heel of the mahogany neck and how much easier it is to hit the higher octaves without doing a hand balancing act. It made my playing so much smoother but it was funny because at first I wasn't use to it and my had was stuck on old muscle control and lets just say it felt weird and laughable at the same time. I thoroughly enjoy this instrument and the voice of this guitar is from elegance of the blues to rip roaring bite of some Megadeath, a pure pleasure. Thank you AMS for another wonderful offer made easy by your Rock Star Purchase Plan for everyday guys like me to enjoy the higher quality instruments available without enduring a purchasing hassle. It is so easy if you are in the market it is a no brainer. I tell all I know or meet and who ask, who plays or is buying for someone else to try AMS. I tell you the same buy AMS, you won't be disappointed.

Absolutely the best buy and best addition to my growing collection of guitars. $4000 quality, tone and playability for under a thousand. I haven’t put it down very much since I got it. This Epiphone Les Paul has become my main guitar because the tone is absolutely outstanding. Plus the range of sounds you can get with the coil splitting and phase shifting electronics. The finish is flawless, that maple top looks way better in person than in pictures. The pickups are every bit as good as those in my Gibson Flying V, in fact the definition when playing chords may actually be better than some of the Gibsons I’ve owned. Truly impressive instrument. Epiphone has come a long way and earned a new fan.

Awesome Les Paul that is absolutely gorgeous

Sound:Pickups sound great with several different voicing available with the coil taps and phase switch.Features:Just feels like a top shelf instrument.Ease of Use:Playability was great out of the box , it is outstanding with a truss rod and bridge tweak.Quality:Fells extremely well made.Value:I think it is comparable to other guitars in this price rangeManufacturer Support:NoThe Wow Factor:It is absolutely beautiful - the prettiest guitar I’ve owned and I’ve owned over 70 guitars!Overall:First of all, I have extremely high expectations when an import guitar cost $700, so this review is written from a critical viewpoint. I ordered Thursday night and it was in my hands Saturday morning at 11! Great job. Epiphone box packaged inside of a bigger ... MoreSound:Pickups sound great with several different voicing available with the coil taps and phase switch.Features:Just feels like a top shelf instrument.Ease of Use:Playability was great out of the box , it is outstanding with a truss rod and bridge tweak.Quality:Fells extremely well made.Value:I think it is comparable to other guitars in this price rangeManufacturer Support:NoThe Wow Factor:It is absolutely beautiful - the prettiest guitar I’ve owned and I’ve owned over 70 guitars!Overall:First of all, I have extremely high expectations when an import guitar cost $700, so this review is written from a critical viewpoint. I ordered Thursday night and it was in my hands Saturday morning at 11! Great job. Epiphone box packaged inside of a bigger box albeit with no packing material between the two. Guitar arrived unscathed. Epiphone decals and warranty info but no truss rod tool. I was so happy that the pickguard wasn’t installed nor are there holes drilled in this beautiful finish, but it was included in the box. The fret ends are as smooth as silk! I was worried about this as my 2020 Epiphone Explorer felt like a cheese grater. Action was a little high with zero neck relief from the factory. Frets are actually pretty level. I gave it the slightest amount of relief and dropped it to 2/64 on both the low E and high Es. Predictably, it had some buzz up past the 12th fret. I raised it to my standard 4/64 and 3 /64 and there is zero fret buzz. Way to go a Epiphone factory! The Grover locking tuners are great but whoever put the strings on at then factory doesn’t know how to use them properly as they still wrapped them around the post. The electronics all function as they should and have a quality feel to them. They have a full range of motion and not just on/off like some cheaper guitars tend to have. The fit and finish is near perfect. I found just a very slight over spray on the binding on the treble side and a finish imperfect on the side of the nut. Other then those two things, nothing- it’s perfect! The Caribbean Fade is the prettiest did sg I’ve ever seen in person - the wow factor is huge on this guitar.

Buy these guitars!

Fabulous instrument! Ok so it doesn't have the Gibson name on the headstock. Ok so it wasn't made in the USA. But it is a real Les Paul. It is made by Epiphone ( one of the oldest Luthiers in the business in their very experienced China based factories), and who are now owned by Gibson. So it's a real Les Paul!This Epiphone looks plays and sounds as close to a Gibson as I've ever played & Ive played a lot! Ok so you could pay £2.5k for the real thing if you can. Yes it will have a slightly more finessed finish, but not unless you really look hard in detail, yes your Gibson will have marginally better pick-ups, and be made of two pieces of Mahogany not a few, & yes it will have a very very slightly better fingerboard ....but I bet on a blind test most players ... MoreFabulous instrument! Ok so it doesn't have the Gibson name on the headstock. Ok so it wasn't made in the USA. But it is a real Les Paul. It is made by Epiphone ( one of the oldest Luthiers in the business in their very experienced China based factories), and who are now owned by Gibson. So it's a real Les Paul!This Epiphone looks plays and sounds as close to a Gibson as I've ever played & Ive played a lot! Ok so you could pay £2.5k for the real thing if you can. Yes it will have a slightly more finessed finish, but not unless you really look hard in detail, yes your Gibson will have marginally better pick-ups, and be made of two pieces of Mahogany not a few, & yes it will have a very very slightly better fingerboard ....but I bet on a blind test most players couldn't tell the difference and if this was played in a recording it would be very very hard to tell the difference. But it's all about how you feel with one in your hands, and for me this feels absolutely brillliant! I literally can't fault it, now it's been professionally set up with the nut filed out a bit, the action is as smooth as anything, it has a huge wide range of sounds, and it looks the bomb!!! For the cost of a cheap weeks holiday on the Med you could instead own an instrument that will be with you for life!!!!

Great Guitar

I brought the Caribbean Fade, and it's amazing looking. Great sound, really has that Gibson sound. Finish is really really nice, very well put together, perfect weight, great guitar all around for the money. I am a huge fan of both Gibson's, and Fender's, I may lean alittle more towards the Fender side though. I will say for the money I bought after playing them both back to back that the new Fender Player series Mexican Stratocasters sound almost as good as the Fender American's nowadays, and for the money if you are split between a Epiphone (trying to get the Gibson sound on a budget), and the Fender Player Mexican (looking for the Fender American sound) these guitars are both about the same price, I would get the Fender, maybe not as pretty as the Gibson, but the ... MoreI brought the Caribbean Fade, and it's amazing looking. Great sound, really has that Gibson sound. Finish is really really nice, very well put together, perfect weight, great guitar all around for the money. I am a huge fan of both Gibson's, and Fender's, I may lean alittle more towards the Fender side though. I will say for the money I bought after playing them both back to back that the new Fender Player series Mexican Stratocasters sound almost as good as the Fender American's nowadays, and for the money if you are split between a Epiphone (trying to get the Gibson sound on a budget), and the Fender Player Mexican (looking for the Fender American sound) these guitars are both about the same price, I would get the Fender, maybe not as pretty as the Gibson, but the Fender is the most versatile guitar there has ever been and the Player series is alot of guitar for only $700+ dollars, and is very close sounding to the American. But if you want a Gibson and can't afford their outrageous and I know they are amazing, but I just don't see or hear $2,800 worth of guitar there. But I do hear an amazing Epiphone Les Paul for under $800, I guess my point is, you could buy an Epiphone Les Paul Modern, and a Fender Player Mexican Stratocaster, and still have a $1,000 to spend on an Amp for the price of the Gibson alone, and I feel the same way about the Fender American model, although I think the Fender American at only $1,700 is a superior guitar to the $2,800 Gibson, you just get alot more guitar for $1,100 less then the Gibson. Save your money, this Epiphone Modern is a great guitar that sounds amazing and looks amazing. One thing I didn't realize, and this is another reason to go with the Fender Player series, is your going to have to pay a professional to put your pick guard on your Epiphone, as it does not come attached. I'm sure that will be another $100, as I'm not scewing anything into my guitar without the insurance a store would have to replace it if something went wrong haha. Personally I don't beat on my guitars enough, and with how pretty the Caribbean Fade looks, and with the Epiphone having more clearance from strings to tje body, then the Fender, I'm leaving it off. Hope this helps, if you are dead set on wanting the Gibson sound at a budget the Epiphone Les Paul Modern is a great guitar. One other thing you will most likely also have to buy a specific case as it doesn't fit in the basic hardcase I bought when I bought my Fender. Gibsons body Shape is more unique then alot of guitars, and I wouldn't risk using anything other then specifically designed Gibson/Epiphone cases, wear as a PRS, Ibanez, and a great majority of guitars fit in the standard hard case. I spent the extra $130 for a Epiphone case. As it was resting on the tip of the guitar in my standard hard case and that's a big no no. Enjoy!!!

Review of Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s In Vintage Sunburst

This guitar, at this price bracket, is quite simply outstanding value for money. I have owned and played a fair few Gibsons, some excellent, others a bit iffy, and I wasn't really in a position to spend thousands for a gigging war horse .Enter the Epiphone Les Paul standard. Looks great, deep trad colours, vintage finish,,nice pickups,not too heavy and a players neck. What's not to like? If you know your way around a guitar you will soon find the warmth and the bite, very very good sound! One tiny blemish on underside, not noticeable unless you're really looking, but, as I've previously noted, I've had guitars four times the price which should never have left the factory.Overall, a fantastic guitar!

The Cariibean Blue Fade!

This Epi is the best out of my 4 Epiphones and right next to my Gibson Les Paul. I weighed this at about 7.8lbs. I had to leave the pickguard off. Fret ends are smooth and the neck is between a slim-tapered and chunky. I love the Probucker pups, which, to me, are similar to the Gibson 490R and 498T pups that I have on my SG. This axe presents a lot of 'firsts' for me-my first modern relief axe, my first access Les Paul so it's nice to have the extra room at the higher frets, my first set of locking tuners which makes changing strings so much easier and these Grovers hold well. The pot tapering is superb and the out-of-phase switch has a nice sound, too...Overall, this is the perfect axe for beginners and the perfect axe for professionals. You deserve to play one for ... MoreThis Epi is the best out of my 4 Epiphones and right next to my Gibson Les Paul. I weighed this at about 7.8lbs. I had to leave the pickguard off. Fret ends are smooth and the neck is between a slim-tapered and chunky. I love the Probucker pups, which, to me, are similar to the Gibson 490R and 498T pups that I have on my SG. This axe presents a lot of 'firsts' for me-my first modern relief axe, my first access Les Paul so it's nice to have the extra room at the higher frets, my first set of locking tuners which makes changing strings so much easier and these Grovers hold well. The pot tapering is superb and the out-of-phase switch has a nice sound, too...Overall, this is the perfect axe for beginners and the perfect axe for professionals. You deserve to play one for yourself. Play it plugged AND unplugged...Feel the resonance.

this neck is so small it feels like a toy in the best way

got mine in the mail and it didn't have any issues. whew. no fret buzz, tried most of the frets. the action was nice even when I tuned it to standard it is at a very comfortable height, so that's great. the pickups sound very good. may change them in the future but no rush. the pull knobs to switch to single coil is why I got it. I love extra options for sound. clean sound is great and sounds good with distortion. I use ableton and plugins so I have tried it with a few different amps and sounds and it sounds really nice. that neck is so small I can rest my thumb over the top of it, and my hands aren't that big. that may be a turnoff to some but I think it's awesome. feels like a daisy rock guitar I had years ago but better. I had the black les paul body with the ... Moregot mine in the mail and it didn't have any issues. whew. no fret buzz, tried most of the frets. the action was nice even when I tuned it to standard it is at a very comfortable height, so that's great. the pickups sound very good. may change them in the future but no rush. the pull knobs to switch to single coil is why I got it. I love extra options for sound. clean sound is great and sounds good with distortion. I use ableton and plugins so I have tried it with a few different amps and sounds and it sounds really nice. that neck is so small I can rest my thumb over the top of it, and my hands aren't that big. that may be a turnoff to some but I think it's awesome. feels like a daisy rock guitar I had years ago but better. I had the black les paul body with the pink star. great value guitar. this epiphone is well worth the money.