The Worst Deal, but Nicest Looking | 2024 Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony Review

📚Description: I was very excited to review the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom and it is a really nice guitar... but it just doesn't pack the same amount of value as the other new entries into the series when it lacks the $500 custombuckers, but still sports the same price tag as the others with its 490r/498t set. I do enjoy the gloss finish, but sadly - it just makes it feel like any other epiphone. I hope they come out with a happy medium between the new VOS finish and full gloss.

The Worst Deal, but Nicest Looking | 2024 Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony Review

0:00 - Intro
0:23 - Gloss Finish!
0:46 - Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Series
2:30 - Why this one isn't as good of a value
4:45 - Epiphone VS Gibson Les Paul Custom
5:20 - Case / Paperwork
6:18 - Workbench / Specs
10:57 - Clean Tones
12:16 - Dirty Tones
13:00 - Gibson Les Paul Custom Tribal Comparison Tones
14:44 - Final Thoughts
16:38 - Watch Next

Affiliate Links are found in this description + comments section - clicking and purchasing items from partners will help financially support the show.

⚙️ Gear Used to Make the Show: (AFFILIATE LINKS)
Guitar + Recording:
Camera:

[Trog]

Would love to see some Epi "Widow" Customs at this price! That'd be fun

[patrickgiles]

I honestly don’t understand the debate over the new pricing. Really? Have y’all looked at the 1000 series LTDs, or Pro Series Jackson’s? They’re all around $1, 500 now! The new Epi gives you actual Gibson pickups just like the Gibson model, ebony, mother of pearl and a hard case for $1, 299? I think it’s a reasonable price.

[keithbolves]

I actually just received mine today, and honestly I’m really impressed. I like it much more than I expected to. It looks awesome, it’s lightweight, it plays really well and the Gibson pickups are better than I expected. The sustain on mine is really good. Part of me was hoping I would not like it so I could return it and save the money. But I was so pleasantly surprised that it is now going to stay with me.

[Stykmon]

Bought the black one when they first came out in the spring. Just brought it for a setup. This is what my luthier (he's been at it for over 30 years) had to say about it - I worked on an Epiphone/Gibson most of the day. These Epiphone guitars have all Gibson pots, Gibson pickups, heavy wiring, Grover tuners, very well matched stop tail piece and great machined bridge and studs that actually fit tightly. Intonation was out and the neck was out but all in all a really nice guitar with good weight, not to heavy with that great D shaped neck. The 1/4 jack was heavy duty with good pots, all name brand parts well wired with heavy wire, much larger diameter than what I normally see. - He said he had to do more work recently on a brand new Gibson gold top than he had to do on this Epiphone. Love this guitar.

[dorianmorningstar]

You can criticize all you want these are fine guitars.. as the owner of both Gibson Les Pauls and The 1979 Adam Jones Epiphone Les Paul Custom theres nothing significant enough that I can find to definitively say that my Gibsons are 2K better than the Epiphone inspired by Gibson custom shop… criticism from this guy sounds a bit whiny and nit picky to say the least … Gibsons themselves make PLENTY of dud guitars so don’t be fooled into thinking that just because it’s a Gibson its better.. for example..this guitar is better that a Gibson Les Paul Studio in EVERY way.. it just is … and ANYONE can be a self proclaimed expert on guitars.. do your research people and stop taking peoples personal biases and opinions as gospel truths

[michaelsakells]

I got mine in alpine white last month from Sweetwater, and I've been playing it almost every day. I love it so much.

[CountScotula]

I've wanted a Gibson LP Custom since the 90s. I'm just a hobbyist so I could never justify the price. I had tried some of the previous Epiphone LP Custom versions but they just didn't do it for me despite them being great guitars. When these came out I jumped on an Alpine White one (which does much better at hiding scratches and swirls). It's really fantastic guitar and absolutely scratches that itch for me. I don't see it as I got a worse deal than the other inspired by Gibson guitars. I see it as saving almost $5000 for the guitar I really wanted.

[IJIIKY]

I got one in white.
I've used it twice live and it sounded and played great. No regrets and I love the 498t as well. Would definitely buy again

[Loycole]

It's crazy to think that at one point, Gibson couldn't even get ebony fretboards on their custom shop LPs for a time...now they are putting them on their cheapest Epiphone LP customs.

[eertje]

They really should have re-introduced the Orville brand name and put that on the expensive epiphone headstocks.

[matmetalhead]

I mean, 1.3k USD is still very cheap compared to an actual Gibson, considering that a Standard is pretty much 3k at this point.

[Whiskey]

Trogly needs to come down his high and realize not everyone can afford a 5k Gibson custom. For $1300 new, that Epiphone makes kids' and even grown mens dreams come true

[LG-otuv]

Nice guitar. I own a Black Beauty Japanese Epiphone LPC-80, made by the famous Fujigen factory. It has the open book headstock since back it was made in the 90’s. I bought it back in 2010 straight from Japan, from the renown retailer Ishibasji. It has a long neck tenon, the downsides compared to this guitar are the absence of ebony fretboard, real mother of Pearl inlays, and the pickups/ electronics, although the latter could be upgraded. Japanese craftsmanship is outstanding and people who are aware with the Japanese guitars, know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t need an additional advertisement: )
And I would buy one of these new Epiphones, if they released a Wine red Les Paul Custom.

[nvlddmkm]

My biggest complaint with these guitars….is they didn’t bother changing the naming convention. Do you want a $799 Epiphone Les Paul Custom or a $1, 299 Epiphone Les Paul Custom…. This makes searching the SKUs VERY annoying.

The guitars are great but I honestly do get the pricing complaints. I think people comparing them to LTDs or Jacksons forget that these are made in China which does make a difference. Indonesian or Korean factory quality is definitely a thing, and sure you can get a great one of these, but you can also get a real stinker - so that’s why I believe people are more upset over the pricing, hardware aside, it’s still an Epiphone made in China. Now if these were the made in Korea or Japan models that Epiphone did way back in the day….then these would be amazing.

[ashleymerritt]

I think people really need to chill on this price stuff, a Gibson LP custom is crazy money, the epis used to be way cheaper when they used cheap pickups, plastic inlays and multi piece necks. Nowadays they genuinely are built essentially like a Gibson but from overseas, the price is fair more or less. We gotta start to see em more like an esp ec1000 or something.

[Myfingersstinklikefish]

From Sweetwater...Epiphone’s acclaimed ProBucker pickups
The key ingredient to the Les Paul’s early success was the PAF humbucking pickup. The first of its kind to hit the mainstream, the Patent Applied For humbuckers defined the sound of a generation with their fat tone and clear response. With the price of vintage PAFs skyrocketing, Epiphone set out to create their own PAF-style pickup. Thus, the ProBucker humbucking pickup was born. Inspired by the original PAF sound, these pickups pump out full, overwound tones with incredible clarity. When you plug in, you’ll instantly recognize the signature Les Paul punch.

[TylerJohnstonGuitar]

I loved my Epiphone LP Custom when I had it. However, the pricetag on that one was 1, 000 USD lower. I’d rather have something MIJ at this price point.

[mikestrowbridge]

The pickups are a down grade from the other models but as you pointed out, they are the correct pickups and you need the 498t for a modern custom so it is difficult to fault them for that issue. The fretboard is ebony while the other models are Indian Laurel so as woods go, this one is the closest, and to me that makes up for the difference in pickup cost vs the other 1, 299 models. So the way I see it, I get a Custom for 1, 299 with a finish that is more durable than the Gibson model and no fret nubs to go bad. Mine will be here on Sunday.

[joermnyc]

Needs a middle pickup for some Jimmy Page Black Beauty mods. 😂

[PeteSlater]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Modern with 490R and 498T pups and a beautful custom finish which I just love.
But I don't like to take it outside to play due to it being so pretty and expensive.
So I picked up one of these Epis in white, due to it having the same pups as my Gibson and an ebony fretboard which I love, and I gotta say, it's a wonderful guitar.
It feels great in hand and plays really well.
Also sounds very close to my Gibson.
And I won't be afraid to take it out to play.
My Gibson cost me over £3000, the Epi cost £1200. I consider the Epi to be a bargain.