Which Epiphone Les Paul Should You Buy
Epiphone makes more Les Pauls than anyone, and the names blur together fast. We carry three that cover the whole range, from a first guitar to a stage instrument. Here is what you actually get as the price goes up.
Les Paul Tribute
The entry point. It has the Les Paul shape, a mahogany body, humbuckers and the shorter scale that makes bends easy. It is the right first Les Paul and the one we recommend for anyone under a 300 dollar budget who wants that thick sound. The hardware and pickups are simpler than the step up models, which is fair at the price.
Les Paul Standard 50s
This is the one most players should buy. It is part of the Inspired by Gibson line, which means Epiphone copied the details that matter from the Gibson version. A maple top on a mahogany body, the 59 Rounded Medium C neck, ProBucker humbuckers, CTS pots with 50s wiring so the volume knob cleans up the sound the way the originals do, and the Kalamazoo headstock shape. A gig bag comes with it.
Les Paul Custom
The tuxedo model. All black with gold hardware, an ebony fingerboard with block inlays, a split diamond on the headstock and ProBucker Custom pickups based on the Gibson Custom Shop design. It plays a little slicker than the Standard because of the ebony board and the Modern Medium C neck. People buy it for the look as much as the sound, and that is a fine reason.
Side by side
| Tribute | Standard 50s | Custom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Mahogany | Maple on mahogany | Maple on mahogany |
| Neck | Mahogany | 59 Rounded Medium C | Modern Medium C |
| Fingerboard | Laurel | Laurel with trapezoids | Ebony with blocks |
| Pickups | Epiphone humbuckers | ProBucker | ProBucker Custom |
| Hardware | Nickel | Nickel | Gold |
| Gig bag | No | Yes | Yes |
What about weight
All three are real Les Pauls and weigh like it, around nine to ten pounds. The Custom is often the heaviest because of the all mahogany body. A wide padded strap makes a long set much easier. See our strap guide.
Our pick
First electric or tight budget, Tribute. Most players, Standard 50s. Want the black and gold look and the ebony board, Custom. Still torn between a Les Paul and something else? Read Les Paul vs Stratocaster.
Every instrument we ship is set up by hand on our bench in Athens, Tennessee first. Read what a guitar setup is to see what that covers. Browse all electric guitars. Questions? Call the shop at (423) 462-1894 and a real person will help you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s worth it over the Tribute?
Yes if you can stretch to it. The maple top, ProBucker pickups and 50s wiring are the parts that make a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul.
What does Inspired by Gibson mean?
It is the Epiphone line that copies the specs of the matching Gibson model more closely than older Epiphones did, including the headstock shape and wiring.
Does the Epiphone Les Paul Custom have a maple top?
Yes. It has a mahogany body with a maple top under the solid Ebony finish.
How heavy is an Epiphone Les Paul?
Most are between nine and ten pounds. The Custom tends to be the heaviest of the three.
