The ULTIMATE Epiphone Les Paul Custom Comparison!

There are many variations of the Epiphone Les Paul Custom, but which one is the right one for you? Well today i've captured 3 of the most recent versions: a 2014 Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro, a 2021 Epiphone Les Paul Custom, and a 2024 Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom. And we're gonna compare their specs and sounds to help you make this monumental decision.

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[DenDenBMX]

THANKS FOR WATCHING!
As for my thoughts on the comparison:

For the $500 Custom Pro, I think these are great guitars for the prices you can find used, but personally i'm not a big fan rosewood boards on customs, and the small headstock diamond holds this guitar back visually, but if you don't care about that stuff and wanna save some money this is a great choice.

For the $1299 Open-Book Headstock Custom, This one was my least favorite sounding out of the 3, the pickups were noticeably quieter on the cleaner settings and were getting a little muddy in the lower tuned settings, don't get me wrong it still sounded great, but I don't think it sounded better than either other version, definitely not $500 to $800 better. A lot of people say all the aftermarket parts justify the prices of these, but does all that aftermarket stuff really matter if there's not an audible improvement to the sound compared to the cheaper versions? It really is starting to feel like you're just paying extra for the headstock. Also, I prefer slim-taper neck over this bigger one.

For the $799 Kalamazoo Headstock Custom, This was my favorite out of the 3. Normally Epiphone Pro-Bucker pickups are infamous for being muddy, but the pair in this guitar are particularly snappy, which really helps with clarity when it comes to lower tunings and heavy distortion. I think this version is the best bang for your buck, you get the ebony board, you still get some nice aftermarket electronics like the cts pots and switchcraft switch/jack, you get the slimmer neck shape which I prefer, and you get the full sized diamond inlay on the headstock, which is more important to me over having the gibson headstock, personally. I still think the open book headstock looks better, but if you have to pay $500 more to get that headstock, and it's not that important to you, then choosing this version is the MUCH smarter choice

[Brkprsn]

I have a Kalamazoo headstock custom with p90s and it is my main gig guitar over my Gibsons and gretschs. The guitar is superbly built

[thehunter]

Subbed cause ive been wanting to see the differences up close, as most website pics are not good at all and don't do em justice lol.
Love the humour along with it 😅 thank you 🤘

[georgepantazis]

I just got the 2014 black $350🇭🇲 Epiphone hard case, and love it.

[GT_]

Love the Coheed solo! Great demo big fella!

[krauadri]

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

[DougVarty]

Great video! Clear information, well assembled, and entertaining. I learned. As a grandparent, I found it extremely helpful ; )

[saleseng]

I have the all mahogany Kalamazoo headstock version and it plays and sounds good enough for me to not want the open book custom shop one

[jea]

Of the three, the yellow is the one that sounds the best to me . I think you are more comfortable and have more fun playing with this model. Or maybe it is because of the «lacquer tone » 😆 I bought a second hand Epiphone Les Paul 50 2021. It was new in its case, almost never played. I paid 300 USD with the Epiphone hard case included. I installed a Dimarzio Super Distortion at the bridge. A real beast from blues to metal. Thanx for your great content.

[markdavis]

I have a 22 LP Custom Koa with the Kalamazoo headstock and I love it. I just ordered the new on in ebony.

[ReelDealOutdoorsTV]

Kalamazoo sounds hotter and more articulate to me... the new one with the open book head had the least output it sounded like. I actually preferred both of the less expensive ones to the inspired by Gibson. But that's all just pickups... the real question is how did they feel? Probably not too different, huh? For my money I'd probably just buy a used one. With the way the used market is you can probably find a Kalamazoo one for around 500-600. That's what I'd go for. Good stuff 🤘

[MartinBryan]

Great video once again. Your becoming my YouTube hero.

[MyName-nxjj]

I'm gonna buck the trend and say that I much prefer the smaller headstock. I have an old, black Epi Custom from 2000 as well as a '99 wine red Gibby custom. I find that the proportions of the clipped ear headstock is more pleasing. I don't miss the points on the headstock which, on my Gibson, always seem to find a wall, cymbal or mic stand. Also, the string path is straighter.

[donkeninitz]

I'm pretty much a long-time Fender guy: my first "good" guitar was a brand-new '73 Telecaster, $185. A few months later I got my first (and one of only a few) Les Paul guitars, $325. It was the Deluxe model with mini-humbuckers, but I didn't know enough about guitars back then to realize it was "different": I just knew it looked enough like Duane Allman's. I have some really nice high-end guitars (i.e., boutique), like a Callaham S model I waited two years for, but I'm not enough of an LP guy to spring for a Gibson version (though I've owned several over the years). Was thinking about the new one with the Gibson-style headstock, but based on this review the Custom version is out (going to to look at one with the full 50's neck and the Custom-buckers). The $1, 299 Custom version reviewed here seemed to have the least output and articulation of the three, surprising to me since I had a Les Paul Studio with the 490/498T combo that sounded pretty awesome. One thing I didn't hear the reviewer mention is that this Custom version has an ebony fretboard, unlike the 'Burst models, which are Indian Laurel.

[Oldmanhenderson]

Bro is like “I’m selling this Inspired by Gibson Epiphone ASAP, it’s trash” and just keeps holding onto it. Give in to your love bro.

[rickmarch]

I have owned both the $500 & $800 CP's, both of which I liked for slightly different reasons. I also have a $5000 Gibson LP Axcess, but the difference in playability between the $5000 & $800 is negligible. The pups & electronics in the Gibson are of course superior, but I'd wager there's very little difference between the Epi IBG & the Gibson LP Custom (other than the $3000 price difference)....

[PatrickButcherine]

The chain smoker color is bad freakin ass man.

[tagadabrothersband]

In stores there are some Les Pauls with the Kalamazoo headstock with still the small split diamond. I don't exactly when it happened, but the headstock got bigger before the diamond did. At Thomann in Europe, both models are still available.

[Heffe]

Dude love your videos! I too bought the $1300 version in white, I also felt the pickups were a bit muddy, replaced the pickup magnets with an A8 in the bridge, and an A4 in the neck, now it sounds amazing! Next video??? Try it out man! Keep up the good work! Love your shit!

[Alibby]

I just got an Alpine White’23 model with the Kalamazoo headstock and I’m thoroughly impressed! Plays like butter and the fretboard is amazing! Keep the extra 500 in your pocket unless you just want bragging rights