I've always loved Epiphone guitars. "Good enough for The Beatles, good enough for me"—that's what I always say. My first couple of electric guitars were Epiphones, and I always recommend their DR-100 to beginners looking for a first acoustic. Why? Because if you're a beginner, you won't be able to tell the difference between an Epiphone and a "real" Gibson.
And the lines just got a lot blurrier with the release of Epiphone's new Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection. With Gibson USA pickups and electronics, solid wood construction with Gibson's Vintage Gloss finish, real rosewood fretboards, and of course Gibson's iconic "open book" headstock, you'd think these eight new models were straight out of the Gibson Custom Shop. And, well, in a way, they are.
Epiphone Project Manager Aljon Go had this to say: “As Epiphone celebrates over 150 years of guitar craftsmanship, each iconic guitar is a tribute to Epiphone's rich history and dedication to quality. Our ‘Inspired by Gibson’ collection is all about bringing high-quality guitars based on classic Gibson designs, but at a price that won't break the bank."
"For those looking for something truly special, our newest ‘Inspired by Gibson Custom’ range offers premium models crafted in collaboration with the Gibson Custom Shop. These guitars are part of our ongoing mission to make the exceptional craftsmanship and elevated appointments of the Custom Shop more accessible to players and fans everywhere.”
Pretty sweet mission, if you ask me. Affordable, yet quality guitars, with USA-made parts and using historically significant designs, Epiphone is making it possible for practically anyone to own a guitar that is truly worth falling in love with. Let's take a look at a few of the new models, shall we?
1962 ES-335 Reissue
The ES-335 is one of Gibson's most classic designs, perhaps second only to the Les Paul—and Epiphone is doing it justice with this 1962 model.
The semi-hollow 5-ply layered maple/poplar body has a solid maple centerblock for the 335's signature sustain, and the thin 1960s SlimTaper™ C profile neck is capped with a rosewood fretboard featuring mother-of-pearl block inlays. And that's all expected, really.
But what isn't expected are the USA-made Gibson Custombucker humbucker™ pickups, which are hand-wired to CTS® potentiometers and Black Beauty paper-in-oil capacitors—Gibson Custom Shop style.
1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue
Like the 1962 335 Reissue, the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue is Epiphone's spin on a classic Gibson design. But the Les Paul Special is on the opposite end of the ubiquity spectrum from the 335—more of a collector's, IYKYK situation.
The Les Paul Special relies on its combo of a solid slab mahogany body and two P-90s—as iconic a due as has ever been conceived—to create its legendary sounds. Responsive, dynamic, and rich with sustain, the Les Paul Special gives you everything you could want out of a Les Paul, in a no-frills package.
And also like the 335, you get USA-made Gibson Custom Shop appointments: USA-made P-90 Soapbar pickups, hand-wired to individual volume and tone controls with high-quality CTS® potentiometers and Bumblebee paper-in-oil capacitors.
1964 SG Standard Reissue With Maestro Vibrola
Finally, let's take a look at the 1964 SG Standard Reissue With Maestro Vibrola. 1964 is peak SG—it was the year the Sideways Vibrato was replaced with the much more dependable Maestro Vibrola. And perhaps even more significantly, it was the year they dumped the "Les Paul" moniker for the model and the SG as we know it was truly born.
The heart of this guitar is a center-seamed two-piece mahogany body, beveled for comfort in the classic SG style. A one-piece SlimTaper mahogany neck with a long neck tenon for increased stability and sustain and a bound rosewood fretboard with trapezoidal mother-of-pearl inlays complete the picture.
And, yes—two USA Gibson Custombucker humbucking pickups with Alnico 3 magnets are hand-wired to CTS® potentiometers, Black Beauty paper-in-oil capacitors, and a Switchcraft® pickup selector toggle switch and output jack.
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection
There's a lot more where that came from! View the rest of the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection at Epiphone.com.
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