Widow

Epiphone is releasing the LP Custom Widow models but this is an exclusive arrangement with one of the American stores, meaning, it won't make it here. 

When the Gibson version debuted in 2009, there was definitely a cult following. However, Custom Shop model access has a limited outreach even today. The Epiphone version looks cool & might provide a some throwback moments for LP fans. 

Pics: GC

Les Jones

 

Gibson finally released the Les Paul Adam Jones signature with quite a fanfare. There's a special video featuring a resurrected astronaut & a mutant zombie wasp traversing the ethereal forest giving life to this guitar. Regardless, the guitar in question features an interesting pair of pickups, the Seymour Duncan Custom DDJ & Gibson's own Custombucker installed in reverse. Be informed that the neck gets a relic treatment & worn out to the maple at most places. 

PIC: Guitar.com

Epiphone 2020 (2)

It's a little early to say but I'm saying it anyway - Epiphone's 2020 lineup is easily the steal at Winter NAMM. Everyone's a little skeptical when it comes to the new headstock outline especially when some early hints of them debuted in the signature models late 2019. We are now assured that the Casino type dovetail version won't be the staple of the revision, this Kalamazoo-esque early design is it. 

Folks, the Inspired by Gibson collection basically apes the current Gibson Original versions & I've featured two of them here - the Les Paul Standard 50s. They simply look the works. I will entice you into considering one for future acquisitions by stating the fact that it's only USD 599 vs the Gibson version of USD2,499. That's merely a quarter of what you need to spend should you be going for the Gibson. My take os that, the Epiphone wins it in terms of value-for-money (had always been the case) & a possible put off might be coming from the pickups. They won't sound too shabby but they are the compromise when cost-cutting is involved.

The LP Custom version if you think they stopped at the Standards.

Looks like everything is falling nicely into place for the Epiphone camp & their re-think at the close of 2019 was well considered & helmed by good leadership. We can say that nothing much happened in terms of fresh ideas. Re-iterating existing ideas with a little twist is risky; it's a 50/50 take on the current success in terms of sales figures, Folks, if you don't already know, Epiphone instruments are the revenue-making units in stores everywhere. It's partly due to the Gibson affiliations & partly due to the fact that quality got better along the way. Loyalists would tell you that the clipped dove tail headstock version is not an entire put off especially so when you value other details in the package. 

Bats!

This one's been featured on some sites lately. The primary highlight would of course be those bats inlay. There are some extras at the headstock as well.

A closer look at those bats...

And we know who had been there with bats way before this happened. Have a good midweek, everyone.

Selling: Epiphone Les Paul Custom (silverburst)

Epiphone LP Custom for sale- helping a friend clear this instrument (asking: $500 neg).

Further queries- best to talk to owner: lewis9084@gmail.com

Gibson: Les Paul Custom Lite

Latest Gibson Les Paul incarnation- the Custom Lite. Featuring a chambered body (hence 'Lite') plus a missing tone control... there's a coil split switch there instead (red arrow). Desecration?

Bucket Paul

Les Paul fans should know that Buckethead has a signature Les Paul, a white guitar with 2 distinctive red buttons for some sci-fi muting action & other quirky sonic mayhem. The pic above is his original LP Custom before the signature model took effect. I'm no too keen with LPs but I'm attracted to that Storm Trooper knob.

Ah, the final day of February is here.

The Randy (Gibson) experience

When I was at Swee Lee yesterday, Aryadni, one of the salesperson there, saw me noodling with some Epiphone Les Pauls & said, since I had some LP vibe going, I should be trying this next guitar she's bringing over. So when the guitar came, it's the $9,500 Gibson Randy Rhoads 1974 LP Custom you see above. Only 100 were made &  only 1 available here. I'm no big LP fan but I'm not one to pass off any guitar trying moments.

If you have ever handled an LP Custom, you'd know the neck profile- very thick & rounded. It's immediate repulsion for individuals who thrive on speed. But that's not the case here. This LP Custom has one of the slimmest neck this side of planet Gibson, it puts the slim taper profile to shame, really. The on-board action was also very shred-friendly.

The other attraction (at least to me) is the pair of pickups on board; it's Gibson's Super '74 humbuckers featuring Alnico 3 magnets. The magic here is that you'd hear both vintage & high output influences in a single offering. These are absolute performers in crunch mode but they are equally appealing clean or with excessive distortion. Keep in mind this Les Paul isn't one sporting a chambered body so with a healthy bottom end & lots of crunchy spike, you know where Rhoads was heading when he had Mr. Crowley going with this guitar; loads of singing tone with definition, without wimping out. This is a Gibson winner but the price tag suggests it's beyond reach for many of us. It's also done in a relic finish; so much money for a beat-up guitar- it doesn't make sense for some/ many of us. But one thing's for sure, this LP has lots of tone.