Epiphone Kirk Hammett Greeny 1959 Les Paul - Deep Dive Demo 

When I think of the Green God's tone, the first facet that comes to mind isn't the reversed magnet aspect, but the heavy amount of reverb used. Listen to him perform "Need Your Love So Bad" on a Stratocaster and it's still so obviously him, the reversed magnet being irrelevant. I have always thought that way too much credit and influence has been applied to that guitar and not enough to the man's soul, hands, and reverb knob

How on earth could you not mention Gary Moore in this review

Feel Kirk Hammett just getting credit for being rich enough to own this guitar. Green and Moore made it legendary

Got my new Gibson LP classic for 1600

Beautiful playing.

Great playing! Thanks for that!

Love the playing though ♥️

❤ How melodious and a cracking intro solo!

Sounds sooo good

Here's my current thinking. If Gibson had revived the Orville by Gibson name for these higher end Epiphone models I think many would be less snobby about the price, the one piece neck is a higher end thing almost ignored in the arguments. If another manufacturer had made this people would be saying "Gibson can learn how to do it from these".

Love your tone and and style , i just put Gibson greenybuckers in my Epi Lazarus, and wow what a big difference , im blown away how much bite, gain and sustain it has now it takes my Lazarus to a whole new level . im a big burstbucker 2/3 fan, but the Greenybuckers are fantastic it makes me appreciate Peter green and Gary Moore even more . i just bought Trogly's epi greeny for a cool price so i dont feel bad about what i paid less than 1500 cheers from Don Playa Del Rey Ca.

Some tasty licks! Cool video!

Looks and sounds like a great guitar to me, and I don't understand the complaints about it being Chinese and an Epiphone. People seem to forget that Gibson used to be the cheaper option and Epiphone the more expensive option. So why shouldn't Epiphone strive to get back to making higher end guitars? Doesn't matter to me, if it's a great guitar it's a great guitar. and if not, then obviously it's not. Too many brand name snobs. And a lot of players have been slagging off Gibson's own guitars, and quality control, for a good few years now, so why slag off the same guitar (essentially a Les Paul Standard) that's a lot cheaper but potentially better made? I've been playing guitar since the 70s, been teaching guitar for 40 years, played in many bands, played on a few albums, owned over 100 guitars of all price points, and to me it's the quality of the guitar that matters, not the name. And by the way, the Chinese have been making musical instruments for literally thousand of years - so to complain about them not being able to make a musical instrument is laughable. How long have Yanks made them? 🙂

I just got mine, I also have 3 Epi '59's and a 50's STD, mine is 8lbs 5oz. and these Epi Greeny's have more going for it than the USA Gibson model. I love mine, after doing my thing to it. I love it

You sound amazing with this guitar! How did you get the middle position to be so similar in volume to the neck and bridge pickups individually? My main problem with guitars out of phase settings is a huge drop in volume. Peter always seemed to switch back and forth, but never lost significant volume. I must be missing something...

Dammit man you can play that freeging guitar. Massive soul

Sounds great, thanks! I didn't realise the pick-ups in the Epi are potted and the in Gibson they're unpotted. That's a bit weird, isn't it? Big fan of Peter Green but I'm aiming to put Monty's Bethnal Greens into my Cantrell Wino which is closer to my taste with slimmer neck and ebony fretboard 😀

Hello, sir, one question. What is your opinion of the frets dressed in on the Epi compared to the Gibson Greeny.Thanks.

Or just buy something like a Vintage v100 lemondrop and save over a grand? I’ve been a long time Epi supporter but the recent price hike (and for this model in particular) has lost me entirely, Gibson need to rethink their strategy for the Epi brand.

Thanks for the review. How chuncky is the neck? Just curious always found it hard to play the big chunky necks.

I Love it !!! 1500 ain’t too bad

Man that sounds tasty. I hope I get that good.

1.5 K? Dunno about that. Second hand LP can be just over that. Vanity contains its own reward. Great playing though!

Rather interesting during the introduction, I could hear the influence of Jimmy Page in the reviewer's playing. Would Epiphone ever do a version of one of Jimmy's Les Pauls? - One can dream, I suppose. That said, however, for the price, I would buy a new Gibson USA Les Paul Studio or even a second-hand LP Classic for a little more and be perfectly happy with that instead.

Wow this is what I wait. Second hand 👍

Man nice feeling in your playing. Kind of like tasting color. But its certainly there.

I had a few too many the other night and purchased on of these online,by the time I woke and tried to cancel it was to late. Well I received the guitar today with the intention of returning it, just for the hell of it I plugged into my Marshall and played it. I was very pleasantly surprised,that middle pickup is out of this world amazing. I think I will keep this way too expensive epiphone.

I've briefly had the opportunity to play this and the Gibson version. The Epiphone is better built and for less but lacks the solid flame top and has a very banana yellow tint to it.

I can't get over the pick up rings Epiphone uses.

Didn't the original have a worn out section around the bridge pick up where moore had played and worn rhe varnish 🤔

You forgot to mention the one piece neck, long neck tenon, & the Switchcraft switch & jack. I got tips on release day & have no regrets. Best sounding Epiphone I’ve ever played & the QC is better than my Epi ‘59, which needed fret leveling

Its expensive because Kirk Hammett's name is affiliated with it. There are those still out there thinking if they purchase this guitar or one like it they are going to sound like Gary Moore or whoever. EXAMPLE I purchased an Epiphone Casino - got it for a good price and the workmanship is great. But did I mention I replaced everything from the pickups, knobs, wiring, bone nut, bridge, tuners, I mean everything --- Now I believe its a nice guitar. It was nice before but not to my liking. Do all those changes I made to the guitar make me a better sounding player NO. Its all in your preference. If you want a guitar like Greenie just get you a similar looking guitar and make the changes to the pickups that were made to Greenie by Gary Moore's guitar tech. GOOD LUCK !

is that a real flame top or a veneer?

Too expensive for an Epiphone. Looks great, sounds great, and probably feels great too, but still... it's just an Epiphone.

Tried to buy the Epiphone korina explorer and it was horrible. I expect this will be just as bad.

How does a headstock logo "wear" off? 😆 I believe the original Greeny had more than one headstock repair during its life, and was likely painted over. The inlay Gibson logo would remain (sanding would not impact it) while the silk screen Les Paul logo would have not survived the paint/sanding. Or maybe I'm wrong. 🙂

2.6 k here ! Too expensive for a epi

I think it so AWESOME that they not only sell it for $1,500, but that it is also comes with Laurel, not Rosewood. So creative at $1,500 USD. At least they haven't done what Fender's done with the Vintera II and the inclusion of Rosewood, even if it is the cheapest of Rosewood you could ever get your hands on. So let's hear for the awesome grey anemic looking Laurel! 👏 Edit: Forgive me, I've left off mention of the tone headstock.

It's nearly worth the money if only they could have put a 2 screw truss rod cover plus a big Gibson logo with made by Epiphone in small letters underneath then it may be worth somewhere near the money.

Way overpriced. And an Indian Laurel fretboard for $1,500? Epiphone lost me on this one.

Why could epiphone not have added a rosewood fretboard to a guitar of this price fender have been able to add a rosewood fretboard to their vintera II range and they cost considerably less than this

NICE guitar, BUT a China made Epiphone getting into GIBSON USA prices is a bit of a joke! I agree that the 'inspired by' range still represent BETTER value, & if THEY sport the parent head stock shape, well even BETTER

You forgot to mention Gary Moore ; )

Nothing to do with the name on headstock or country of manufacture. The specs simply don't add up. For 1500 you would expect a nice rosewood or Ebony type fingerboard. That body colour is way off and cheap looking too. Like a Sherbet Lemon way too bright. I suspect you are being too kind. Thanks for sharing the review though quite indepth. Appreciated.

Nice!

I would pass on the Epiphone for a nice used Gibson on Reverb.. nice review though

Prices going mad in the guitar world.

Remember when ESP made the LTD? I think Epiphone and Gibson are kind of doing the same thing. The new Epiphones are actually pretty good.

check

The older I get, the more people give me a complex, because to me.. The guitar is Yellow...

For $1200 they couldn't put a real flame top on it, kinda lame. Other companies for the price point can do it. Chinese Labor is cheap now so they could easily do it for zero cost.

It sounds nice, but I wouldn't pay near Gibson prices for a copy. Laurel fingerboard and Epiphone don't equate to £1500 in my world. I paid £2099 for my Gibby 50s, I honestly don't know why anybody would opt for this. Let's not talk about that horrible matt finish Epiphone keep doing, dreadfully cheap looking.

I dig the concept and I am cautiously optimistic on what they can do for future inspired by custom shop Epiphones, but the execution could have been done ALOT better for $1500... I can understand no nitro and a Veneer, that's fine. ESP uses Veneers for their E II $2k+ guitars. BUT at least use a better Veneer! I'm sorry, it just looks cheap. The one on the Lazarus looks much better. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they put a veneer on the back too... Indian Laurel? On a $1500 guitar? C'mon guys, bring back the rosewood at this price, that's just comical. They would be smart if they rolled out an "inspired by" '57 Les Paul custom, since they already use Ebony fretboards. They would sell like wildfire with the open book headstock!

$400 extra just for a headstock shape??

I love mine ! I did get a better deal however for $1100.00 .

I just tried this guitar at the store... In my view it is way way over priced if you compare it to the other higher quality epiphone prices.. The body top feels exactly like the Vintage V100 greeny model... I would go as far to say that the Vintage V100 version sounds better than this one... The Epiphone greeny that I tried was very heavy in weigh even by les paul values... Its a nice guitar but should be in the £600 to £700 range...I would definitely choose the Vintage V100 PGM over the Epiphone greeny... £1499.00 for an Indian fretboard and stick on maple veneer cap is not what you would expect..

So I guess the artist is raking in the loot on this one?

When I saw they were opposed to making a lefty model I wasn't interested, but seeing some of the reviews, it's just an overpriced epiphone. Without the name recognition of GM and others, its def an epiphone only. 1500 will get a lot of great guitars.

Just got mine. Pros: Headstock shape Real mother of pearl inlays Beautiful flame veneer Thick binding White cream plastics ABR style bridge Horn shape Gibson greeny buckers Very nice case Cons: $1499 Made in China 1.68mm nut width Indian Laurel fretboard Terrible nut My thoughts: Not for everyone. I've wanted all these features without the premium price. Stellar features for half the price. $1500 is still better than $3000. Sounds great. Plays smoothly after working the nut. The indian laurel is actually very nice with light and dark tones throughout. My "greeny" is absolutely beautiful and I'm glad i got it. No ragrets!

Guitar looks good. Price not so much...

1500 pounds of WHAT?🤠

Don't even know why Kirk Emmett even gets a name all on this apart from owning the original

This should be the Gary Moore greeny… Or Peter Green! But in my opinion, Gary Moore made the guitar popular! Kirk Hammett just had a couple million lying around.

Its a steal !!! Not in a good way though XD

You are an excellent player and could make most things sound great. I find that to be a very unattractive LP. It looks too yellow and the flame top just kind of looks looks fake / cheap. Maybe that's the effect of getting a satin finish. I would prefer to have this in a plain top with gloss, that would look classier and less fake. Just my opinion, to each their own.

They call it something and double the price are put a signature on it wake up guitar players !

Buy a now discontinued Gibson Les Paul Tribute,buy the Greeney pickups from Gibson and you’re all set.

Love all the complaining, you don't like it, go buy the Gibson one.

No one, and I mean NO ONE, can justify this price point. I played one today. Okoume Mahogany, with cheap overseas construction methods. A used Gibson Les Paul traditional goes for only a fee hundred more. There you get a real figured maple cap, rosewood, quality mahogany, better construction, and thats only scratching the surface. You can get any Epiphone Les Paul, swap the pickups, and have the same sounding and feeling guitar. Whoever buys this is a chump.

Epiphone isn't even slightly close to being overpriced im very happy with there prices you're not going to get high end quality for a budget price so stop whining.

A good player can make a cheap guitar or an expensive guitar sound good as long as it's set up properly ! End of story

I have 3...in a few years people are gonna be sayin'..hey remember when you could get an Epiphone for only $1500.?

Too close to gibson les paul std prices. I will stick with my Epiphone LP Tribute plus 60s.

They have cheaper Epiphone’s also. You don’t have to buy the most expensive ones.

Extremely overpriced. Chinese import quality, mediocre wood, USA pricing? No thanks. They’ve priced themselves out of the equation.

I hate them for naming it Kirk .... that guitar will NEVER Sing again... RIP GARY MOORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GARY MOORE GREENY !!!!! FOR EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Epiphone GREEDY. Indian Laurel fretboard, veneer top, poly finish.... nope

The look alone doesn’t do it for me. Looks too much like a knockoff. Would have expected a closer look to the Gibson version for the price. Sure it plays and sounds good, but looks very cheap.

More mutton dressed as lamb

If it's made in the CCP's China - then that's the deciding factor against it for me. It's a shame though because if it were made in Indonesia or nearly anywhere else - i'd love to own one.

Just buy a damn standard and make your own history.

"the cheapskate ends up paying the most" is even more applicable to a guy plunking Gibson money for an Epiphone guitar. And it does as mentioned below have the corporate Epi 'roided out pup rings to boot. Indian Laurel? Sandy much? Even Pau Ferro is a little better. No offense to the Chinese makers but for example for a lousy $250 more than this Greeny I bought a mint used 2022 Gibson Tony Iommi Monkey SG (list $2400) that comes with a plush case loaded with candy like the birth photo, leather strap, multi tool, docs and monkey sticker and a guitar built in Nashville that gets it's real rosewood board a ride on a Plek machine which is worth a few hundred as a service at any repair/dealer shop, 2 piece mahogany and Tony Iommi labeled pups I'm sorry but I feel like I stole this SG the action is so low and fast but OTOH, $1500 for laurel and laminates and a factory albeit good one in China for the Epi??? No. I kind of like the price and features (ebony board) on the Epi Lucille 335 with varitone and TP-6 fancy bridge with fine adjustment though for $950 THAT is a good looking guitar. But man, bite the bullet and go Nashville new or used you won't be sorry. My 2¢..... uhhhhh elongated. 🎸

Epiphone Greedy more like. A Veneer Top, Laurel & Hardy fretboard and made in China for €1,700??? - they’re having a laugh 😆

You will never get your money back on this guitar if you ever sell it. You need to keep it and play it to death 💀 to be worth the price. Just my opinion.

Way overpriced, € 1.700,00…

too expensive for “Made in China”

First off the Epiphone Quingdao facility is completely American owned and operated by Gibson Epiphone USA with American and Asian luthiers did you see that American and Asian luthiers and only Epiphones are made there they are also 70% made by hand just like the little brother Gibson.the Chinese made BS is old and very tiresome..

Why have a Wanna be. Gibson plus Nothing

Gibson's aren't even as good as Gibson's in 2024 😂😂😂😂 Remember everyone, play authentic or else Mark Agnesi will find you and burn all of your non authentic guitars 😱

Over priced…and you need to learn how to light a video !,…way too dark !,

Sorry but have to be honest! Get a secondhand Gibson! This epi is way overpriced!!

OHHHHH come on Man....... u play a KIRK HAMMETT... that means you have to play some METALLICA Stuff and Sounds........... we need High Gain !!!

Well you get Gibson with Epi logo for twice less money. The only downside is poly finish. Not sure why everyone is bitching.

It's a rip-off copy £1500 from a rip-off company

Chinese cr@p! Get yourself any American made guitar for that price and you’ll be fine.