Epiphone and Gibson Custom collaborate on a flagship Les Paul Custom

As part of the ongoing collaboration with Gibson Custom, Epiphone is proud to introduce a new flagship Les Paul™ Custom to the Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection. The Les Paul Custom was initially developed and released at the request of Mr. Les Paul himself, who, in 1954, wanted a fancier version of his signature guitar model with cosmetics that “look like a tuxedo.” The initial finish offered was Black, later White, and eventually other colour options were offered. Even the body woods used have changed from model to model, with the first run models from the 1950s using all-mahogany bodies that gave them a more mid-focused sound, while many later versions used a mahogany body paired with a maple cap—the same as on a Les Paul Standard—giving them a more balanced tone with more brightness, snap, and attack. Other appointments have remained unchanged, such as the block fretboard inlays, Custom split diamond headstock inlay, and extensive binding used throughout the guitar. 

The Inspired by Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom continues the Les Paul Custom’s tradition of elegance. It has a solid mahogany body with a maple cap for excellent tonal balance. The body features multi-ply binding on the top and back, which contributes to the model’s elegant appearance. A one-piece mahogany neck with a Modern Medium "C" profile is attached to the body with a long neck tenon for improved coupling, stability, and enhanced sustain. The bound ebony fretboard—a hallmark of the Les Paul Custom since its introduction—is equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl block inlays. The five-ply bound Gibson-style open book headstock is outfitted with Grover® Rotomatic® tuners, a Graph Tech® nut, and adorned with the Epiphone logo and the famous Custom split diamond inlay, both in mother-of-pearl. At the other end, the strings pass over a LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and anchor to a LockTone Stop Bar for excellent intonation and sustain.  

The hand-wired electronics utilize premium components, including USA-made Gibson 490R and 498T humbucker™ pickups, CTS® volume and tone controls for each pickup, Mallory™ tone capacitors, and a Switchcraft® 3-way pickup selector toggle switch and 1/4" output jack. The Inspired by Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom comes packed in a black hardshell case with an Inspired by Gibson Custom exterior logo and a plush goldenrod interior to help keep it safe when traveling. Pick one up for yourself now and discover why countless guitarists have embraced the Les Paul Custom over the years.

Features:

• Mahogany body with a maple cap
• One-piece mahogany neck with bound ebony fretboard and SlimTaper profile
• Bound ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl big block inlays
• USA-made Gibson 490R and 498T pickups
• Black/goldenrod hardshell case with Inspired by Gibson Custom graphic