THE EPIPHONE LES PAUL STANDARD GUITAR IS A MAINSTAY ON THE MUSIC SCENE. HERE'S WHY THESE BUDGET-FRIENDLY GUITARS ARE SO POPULAR.
The Epiphone Les Paul Standard and the Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Pro guitars are easily contenders for some of the best guitars on the market today. They are often relied upon by professionals thanks to the incredible sound on offer. The exceptional hardware has been designed to withstand decades of touring and the fact they’re cheaper than their bigger brother, the Gibson Les Paul, makes them a great guitar for fans of that LP look and sound. Here are 5 reasons why you should seriously consider adding one to your collection.
1. THE PICKUPS ARE INCREDIBLE
One of the main reasons we choose Gibson Les Paul guitars is because of the pickups. Well, what if I told you the Epiphone LP pickups are on par with their Gibson counterparts? You think I’m crazy right? Nope. They’re incredible. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Pro in particular has a set of Epiphone ProBucker Humbuckers with push/pull coil-tapping function.
These pickups take inspiration from the legendary PAF humbucker of the 1950s, so you get all the lush, crystal clear dynamics as well as the growl and intensity you need when you throw some distortion on your amp. The push/pull coil tapping feature allows you to split the pickups into single coils so you have even more sonic options at your fingertips! These pickups are perfect for all styles of music and all genres, making them formidable live and recording options. You won’t be disappointed.
2. PROFESSIONAL LEVEL TONEWOODS
The Epiphone utilises the same tonewoods as a Gibson Les Paul. That’s right, you get a Mahogany body and Maple top on a vast majority of Epiphone Les Paul Standards. This means you get all the warmth and rich low-end sonic qualities of the Mahogany body. The Maple top handles all the snap and articulation so all your bases are covered. These are made with the same attention to detail as a vintage Les Paul, so each piece of wood is selected for its sonic qualities. When you plug it in, this guitar will sing loud and clear! Just like a Les Paul should!
3. THEY’RE A LOT CHEAPER THAN A GIBSON LES PAUL
If you’ve always wanted a Gibson Les Paul but can’t quite stretch your budget that far, then the Epiphone version is a great option. These guitars are made with meticulous attention to detail and are an absolute workhorse of a guitar. These are not cheap knock offs of a Les Paul, but basically the budget-friendly option. And to be honest, no one really cares whether you play a Gibson or an Epiphone as they’re both made to high specifications and sound incredible. So, don’t be thinking that Epiphone guitars are a lesser version, they’re just different!
What's the difference between a Gibson and an Epiphone Les Paul?
First of all, you’re probably wondering to yourself: “what’s the difference between a Gibson Les Paul and an Epiphone Les Paul?” and “why are Epiphone guitars cheaper?”.
Aside from the headstock and some small design features the major differences between a Gibson Les Paul and an Epiphone Les Paul come down to the tonewoods and pickups used as well as build location. Gibson Les Paul guitars are made in USA, whereas Epiphone LP guitars are made overseas, often in China.
Watch our comparison video below:
To help cut down costs, Epiphone will often use a Veneer top, which means your wood grain is kind of printed on or uses a very thin piece of wood. You still have the lush Maple top on the Les Paul, it’s just got a sheet over it to make it look a bit nicer. This doesn’t affect the sound negatively at all, and looks super cool. The pickups used differ too.
Gibson frequently use Burstbuckers whereas Epiphone use Probuckers. These pickups sound a little different, so it comes down to taste. ProBuckers have more warmth, whereas Burstbuckers have a little more bite. Some pro level guitarists prefer Epiphone pickups, so it comes down to sound preference. They both sound incredible plugged in either way! These differences in construction locations and differences in materials used allow Epiphones to be priced a lot lower than a Gibson. This makes them incredible value for money and a great option for players who need a hardworking, great sounding guitar that won’t break the bank.
4. CUSTOM MODELS, SIGNATURE MODELS & Epiphone Inspired By Gibson
As Gibson own Epiphone, they have allowed Epiphone to recreate some of their most iconic guitars under the Epiphone name. This means you can get a Les Paul custom model at a fraction of the cost. You have a range to choose from including the likes of Les Paul Special models, the revered Black Beauty guitars and even the extremely popular Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II Guitar Outfit.
5. MORE COLOUR OPTIONS
The range of Epiphone Les Paul Guitars includes a massive selection of different finish options. Of course, you have your classic Cherry Sunburst options akin to the Gibson guitars, but you also have access to a selection of cool colours like Blood Orange and Greenburst on the Plus-Top Pro series. This means you have even more ways to express yourself.
So what are you waiting for? Pop in to your local PMT store to try out a massive selection of Epiphone Les Paul guitars for yourself, or see a full range at PMT Online today! Chances are we have the exact guitar you’ve always wanted. We can even special order your dream guitar too!
We stock a massive range of Gibson and Epiphone guitars and we are an authorised dealer, so call in today to try out your next guitar!
Updated 2021-09-21
