Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar - Ebony Reviews
Since it's grand entrance in the early 1950s, the Les Paul Custom's iconic visual design and sonic versatility have touched the hearts of countless high-profile musicians. Broken down to it's finest components, the Epiphone Les Paul Custom's thoughtful mahogany body construction and maple top bear the sonic and visual resemblance of it's contemporaries, while favoring several period-correct appointments to match the standard of it's mid-century roots. A pair of Gibson's USA-series humbuckers positioned in the neck and bridge cater to several sonic possibilities, from clean rhythm keeping to devious hot-rodded squeals and everywhere in between. Topped off with it's proprietary Tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and an assemblage of "Tuxedo" inspired upholstery, the Epiphone Les Paul Custom harbors the leverage of Gibson's most iconic 6-string design at an approachable value.
Earn $65 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $55/month with 24 month financing*
$65 Earn $65.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $55/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
We expect more from Epiphone in just a few days. Order today to reserve yours now, risk-free.
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the LPCIGCE?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
Beaut’
Wow! Always wanted a Custom and couldn't justify the cost or weight. This is as good as my Gibson Les Paul Standards, the Gibson pickups on the Epi sing!
I was able to get one about 8lbs and it's perfectly balanced.
Great fit and finish!
Improvements where they count
There's been a lot of angst on social media about Epiphone prices, but let's analyze this logically. Prior to the new "Inpsired by Gibson" line, Epiphone sold a Les Paul Custom in your choice of black or white for $. These new guitars cost 63% more, a pretty dramatic difference. But for those few hundred dollars you get Gibson USA pickups, Switchcraft/CTS/Mallory electronics, mother of pearl inlays in both the headstock and fretboard, and an included hard shell case. Best of all (in my opinion, although I seem to be in the minority) you get a durable, long-lasting poly finish instead of nitro that will wear, crack and yellow with age.
A couple of years ago I bought a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom, the guitar that these Epiphones copy. Comparing it to the Epiphone it had nicer inlays, better pickups, and better electronics but was otherwise virtually identical. With these new models, Epiphone has addressed the only three concerns that matter to me. Your priorities obviously may vary, but for me this is a bargain at less than one fourth the price.
The fretwork is very good on this guitar: no sharp ends, and no grittiness when doing bends or vibrato. The pickups sound great, exactly like a Les Paul should. The finish is exquisite, but the binding may not be quite as good as a Gibson (one would hope they spend more time on it given the price difference). There is a very subtle height difference if you rub your thumb from the back of the neck over the top of the binding; you can't really see it, but you can feel it (barely). People who don't go over their guitars with a microscope, as I do, may not even notice.
The only sour note (again, subjectively) is the mustard yellow interior of the new hard shell case. I would have preferred pretty much any other color. But the case fits well, looks nice on the outside, and has new gold latches compared to the previous Epiphone case.
Much better!
Arrived today! The set up was very good! No high or low frets, no dead spots. Truss rod was set perfectly. I did take the low E nut slot down a millimeter or so but the rest of the nut was cut very well. The frets did have that scratchiness but I put on a podcast and commenced to give the frets a 0000 steel wool polish, followed by a nice shine using Stew Mac polish. The fingerboard needed lemon oil conditioning. I lowered the bridge just a bit ( 1.5 on the low E and 1.25 on the high E) measured from the 12th fret. I must say, the guitar's look and finish are very well done. No issues.. I really like the sound of these pickups! I have a Classic Les Paul with 57 classics. I prefer the sound of this new Epiphone Les Paul Custom in comparison. Normally I play 9-42.. with this guitar however, I restrung with fresh 10's. They feel 'sure footed', stay in tune perfectly and the benefit of easier string bends with 9's is not that much noticeable than the 10's. I have the Kalamazoo headstock Epi Custom also.. It is very nice but the brand new one is a marked improvement. I prefer the neck profile on this new one compared to the older one. My Kalamazoo will soon be on Reverb. The recent increase in the Gibson Custom ($) makes the Epiphone a very close facsimile at a fraction of the cost. The poly finish looks very good and will be much more durable than a nitro finish. The genuine mother of pearl is a beautiful upgrade! I can recommend this purchase based on the one I received today. Thanks Sweetwater for the inspection and fast shipping.
