We Compared A REAL 59 Burst To An Epiphone Les Paul 

When Rhett says, "we live in a golden age of guitar", I wholeheartedly agree. I'm 71. What we had to choose from as an affordable guitar when I was a youngster was a world away from what is available today.

I've been a devoted Gibson player for almost 40 years and in the past year started playing Epiphones just to compare out of curiosity. I have to say, they are just as good and in several ways prefer them. Also receive the most compliments on "tone" from both fans and sound techs when I use the Epiphones.

Keep in mind Eddie Van Halen was put on a pedestal for both talent and tone playing a second-hand, off-brand Fender body, multiple random Fender necks and garage-wound pick-ups. You can make almost anything feel and sound awesome with some love and attention to detail. There was no magic sauce that made the old guitars superior.

Jimmy Page wrote, recorded and performed two of Zeppelins finest songs - In My Time Of Dying and Kashmir on his cheap made in NJ Danelectro - a guitar made of masonite he bought when he was like 17 and still has today. He used that same guitar on many numbers and was his back up guitar during Zeps early years. Yeah his number 1 is a 1959 burst but his Danelectro is almost just as important as a "tool" to get his sound where it needs to be. Great episode guys!

Nostalgia is absurdly expensive! This should be the new Epiphone slogan... Go Epiphone!

Hearing you two taking jabs at the Epi's colour while thinking that it's the only one I'd ever be seen playing because the rest of them look like furniture was priceless XD

Rhett- "This guitar is made overseas, modern, and a little homely looking" Me- "Wow that's a nice blue!" I guess to each their own. I do have a weird thing for blue guitars, though.

The thing that I love about old LesPaul's; I've been listening, reading about and wanting another pre-60 LP for a long time now. I say "wanting another" because I'll be 71 years old March 28. When I was 18, in 1970, I had a 1958 LP. I paid a whopping $400 for it, and that was a lot of $$ then!! My 1972 Guild D40 acoustic, brand new, w/case was $320! Anyway, I played that '58 for 2 years! Money was tight, gigs were not paying much. I sold it for $600 AND a new, less than 1 year old Fender thin line Tele!! I still had something to play and I had 2 months, almost 3 months rent!! A big deal then!! Anyway, the mahogany used to make the tri-5 LP's was cut in the 1890's from huge trees! They were all 1 piece and 70 years old to start with! IMHO the 100+ year old wood is the magic sauce! It is why the tri-5 LP's sound the way they do. There are other little bits also but that is #1! I could go on and on about other things but that's my story. If you got this far, thank you for reading! 8) Peace --gary

Epi's always punch above their weight...I've have several..amazing. Squier is killing it as well..

I am a Gibson fan and have 2 LP's, a 2005 Standard with Doyle coil pickups, and a 2014 Custom Shop Custom. That Epiphone has a really crisp tone and sounds great. I gave up dreaming of owning a 59 years ago and don't even need one. Great job guys showing that no one really needs Vintage for a great sound but as an investment and bragging rights! Music is the winner! The Vintage vs Modern debate will never end!

I have an Epiphone inspired by Gibson 1959 Les Paul. Epiphone made it in conjunction with the Gibson Custom Shop so it's basically an Epiphone with Gibson pick ups. It's a simply amazing sounding guitar. Well worth the extra couple of hundred pounds compared to the standard Epiphones.

That blue Epiphone looks great to me! :D

The more I watch these videos (like the one where Rhett chose a LP with Tim Pierce) - the more I am convinced that "tone" is what something feels like in your hands.

I love this blue, def changes for everybody

Loved this. I bought my first Epiphone les paul gold top about a year ago and after a pickup and wiring swap, i was blown away at how incredible it feels and sounds. About $250 in upgrades and less than 2 hours of bench time. For us garage rockers, its more than enough.

Suddenly I want an Epi LP! This was a fun episode.

I really wish they would’ve used different amps. Not a sound I like from what they’re using, and I like to hear what a guitar sounds like clean, also. But, that being said, it’s amazing how close the Epi sounds to the originals. I’ll have to check some out. So thanks for the comparison.

The look on your face after a few riffs on the Epiphone....priceless. Great video. Love Carter's. It's my home store.

Great demo, thanks guys! I have a Gibson Std 60s and I have the Inspired by Gibson Epi 59 and I gotta be honest, the Epi just “feels” better and sounds as good!

There's magically resonant guitars and lifeless duds regardless where they're made. Usually it's consistency that's important but with CNC building all levels of guitars, they're all getting consistently great.

This was a great episode...and that blue Epi is gorgeous ✌🏼🤣

Just bought a Gretsch G2655 and honestly for $400, it’s unbelievable. Sounds great, plays great. Love it.

Absolutely on point that it is about what inspires you to make music, and there is no formula for it. Two of my favorite keepers were never even guitars that were on my radar, they came to me in trades, and I just found inspiration. Great video, 10/10 Shoyles for this one.

Rhett, you do the guitar community proud. And yeah, the Epiphone sounds glorious. And the blue isn't so bad, not traditional sure, loud, granted, but just wear brand new unwashed denim and you're golden . . . oh, and the factory black with the Bigsby was great! The '60 Burst, in Zach's hands, had Paul Kossoff of Free written all over it!

I recently brought an Epiphone Special Satin SG for $199. I am awestruck with how great it sounds through my Blues driver. Epiphone has my profound respect

The SG of the Future The SG Modern Figured from Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson™ Collection has the classic SG™ body profile made from mahogany and a maple cap with an AAA-figured maple veneer. Powered by a pair of Epiphone's ProBucker™ humbucker™ pickups with coil-splitting, phase switching, and a treble bleed circuit for a multitude of tones. It also features an ebony fingerboard, asymmetrical SlimTaper™ neck profile with contoured heel, world-class Grover® Locking Rotomatic® 18:1 ratio tuners, and a Graph Tech NuBone™ nut.

Excellent video. Pretty brave to pull that comparison off on film and admit the Epi is hanging in there!!!!!! Way cool

When Rhett was playing the real 58 vs the new LP the sonic difference was striking. The new LP was very bright in comparison. However, when Zack played both it was hard to tell the difference. Seems like the person whose hands are on the guitar can make the case on whether one guitar sounds 'vintage' or not.

I have owned many Les Pauls through the years. I recently found a black Epiphone Les Paul in a pawn shop that I bought for $250. As much as I have always wanted a real '59, my $250 LP is the best sounding LP I have ever had. I know many of you will tell me that I am crazy, but it has that '59 sound.

I don't think it's that much about the sound but about owning an instrument that makes you feel like it takes you back to the golden days and the fact that your fav guitarist owned one.

The epiphone sounded so good. It was very articulate and loud

Epiphone are smashing it these days - I have a 59 epiphone limited edition thingy bob. That thing rocks - done some pro level gigs with it, totally works!

For us, regular working people are good enough at that price point, epiphone nailed it. Great video as always.

That Epiphone sounds really good! I think it shows how good an Epi can be. I get a collector isn’t going for it but a player is a player!

I loved this video. I actually thought the Epi sounded the best of all of them.! It's a good thing because this is the only one I could afford!

I was a guitar snob for 20 years. Had to be a big name brand high end guitar...recently bought a Classic Vibe Squier used for $350 CAD and it's all I've been gigging since. Something to be said about having a low cost guitar that you don't have to worry about leaving it backstage, that sounds great and is reliable.

That 58' burst is absolutely murderous.

I found an old Japanese Guitar in a basement with a set of P90 replicas. The guitar was unplayable but the pickups worked. I routed an Epiphone Trad Pro and it turned out to be my favorite guitar! I was just taling a gamble and I hit the jackpot!

Would love to see Rhetts comparison and opinion on the Epiphone "1959" Les Paul's that are currently out! This was a great video. Thanks for quality content!

I have that same red vintage looking epiphone LP and just started guitar with it, and it really is incredible. It has crazy sounds even for starting as a beginner, yet it looks fascinating. 👌

Here Rhett look at this .. don't make anymore ridiculous comments like you did..it's to easy in 2023 to find the truth...Epiphone will always be Gibson’s older brother, and its history is perhaps the most interesting of any guitar brand”: Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone

I just purchased a 50s Standard Epi LP and I absolutely love the thing. I haven't put it down since I purchased it.

They’re making fun of the blue finish, but I honestly would take that over the traditional sunburst / cherry burst / tobacco burst any day. The burst finishes are overdone and overrated in my opinion. I don’t mind that finish if it’s on original bursts, but I’m sick of seeing modern guitars with those finishes to be perfectly honest. The blue looks amazing!

Rhett, I have to say, man, I love your playing, the sound is so cool and it’s totally laid back. You make it look effortless. To me, anyway, that is a sign of a great guitarist, the laid back effortless look. Some people do that scrunched up “ man this is so hard to do, my balls are hurting soooo bad” look to them, but watching you play just really the sound you have and the look of “ I am having the greatest day ever, you can’t possibly believe how happy I am “ when you are playing is fantastic to watch. And hear. Thank you for sharing your joy with me.

I LOVE Epiphone guitars and basses. Gems. Squiers, too! I'm a tinkerer so feel less guilty swapping out bits and pieces. But let me tell ya: I managed to land the Epiphone Alex Lifeson Signature Les Paul Axcess, and it's AWESOME.

The Epiphone looks beautiful and sounds just great to me

Most USEFUL comparison ever. Great video. Thanks guys.

Your channel is a treasure, Rick. Thank you and your friends and guests for sharing.

Very eye opening video guys! Thanks!

I loved this video! What an interesting shootout. I honestly didn't like the amp settings they were played through at all.

How cool to see that black 1959 Les Paul get played after having seen it in person. I’ve showed many people the pic I have of it that clearly shows the price. It does sound absolutely mean!!

Some months ago, I had the chance to check out 3 Bursts in the same room. And I did the comparison to a CS. Two of these bursts were good but not thaaaat special. But there was this '58 and it absolutely blew my mind. I played a lot of vintage guitars in my life but this one was OUTSTANDIG. They are all really different, keep that in mind.

I have an Epiphone LP Standard Plus Top Pro Blueburst that is every bit as a good as my Gibson LP Standard...in fact, it's better, what with coil taps, etc. at a fraction of the price. Nice video guys.

Three weeks ago I bought a Epiphone Les Paul. It's the same color as yours. I love that color.

Basically the only Les Paul I have played but I absolutely love my 2021 Classic in Honeyburst.

Bravo to Carter Vintage Guitar for helping Vet's!!!

I own both Gibsons and Epiphones. Sure, they’re all different but they’re all great in their own way. But Rhett’s frustrated look at how good the Epi was 😂

I got really surprised when Rick played the 59" and then he switched to the Epiphone, the sound difference was marginal!! It sounded better than the reissues. Incredible, Rick's FACE tells everything.

My gosh Rhett I sincerely hope you appreciate all of the amazing things your guitar skills have led you to be able to do. I would KILL to be able to play half as well as you do and be able to parlay that in to playing some of these instruments.

Interesting. One thing that isn’t really discussed much, is how the made overseas Epi’s will hold up structurally and electronically over time. Rhett- you mention using a Scotch pad to sand down the neck. I have a fairly new Epi Les Paul Special that i bought after several hours of hands on play comparisons with the Gibson variant and hearing/feeling little to no difference. I do hate the heavy poly finish on the neck however. Would love to see a video on the process for sanding down the neck. Thanks.

Probuckers are fantastic pickups. Bought a 2022 Les Paul 50s Standard from the Gibson Demo shop for £1600 (in late 2023). Sold the very bright Burstbuckers 1&2 set for £200 and dropped in a set of Probucker 1&2 set I had lying around. Sounds great and nails everything from BB King to Les Zeppelin ❤ Absolutely fantastic Les Paul for £1400 😊

One of my favorite guitars is my Epiphone LP Custom Blackback...I spent a afternoon sitting in front of the TV...watching college football...rounding the fret ends and polishing the frets...de-glossing the back of the neck...cleaning and conditioning the fret board...installing locking tuners...putting on new strings...setting the neck... pickup height and the action. I enjoyed every minute of it...and I now have a great looking and playing guitar that comes very close to the real deal...and didn't have to spend $4 grand.

I’ve had a bunch of Gibson LPs and even played many more from vintage to moderns, accidentally I’ve acquired a chibson les Paul standard, from the first chord this guitar vibed incredebly with me and my playing style! Now after a couple mods (Nice pups, electronics and a bone nut) this guitar is my No1 LP I’ve put her through lives, recordings and everything else! Even my tech who was a tad bit purist tipped his hat over this guitar! My tip to all new and old players is that play as many guitars as you can and don’t even consider priced woods if it sticks in your hand and you couldn’t leave them it’s the one!

Rhett. Love your channel. I do find it hilarious that you find the blue guitar ugly while you play a pink sparkle with a gold pick guard. Proof it’s in the eye of the beholder…. But your point about people looking for different things not just sound and feel is spot on. People collect and drive classic cars, not because they are more comfortable or have a better sound system. I see old Gibsons that way. They sound great, but you can get equal or better for a fraction of the cost. Not what a person is looking for if they’re shopping an old Gibson. It’s a 65 ford Mustang…… or whatever your favorite old car is in my analogy…

The guys at Carter are super nice ( out of the big 3 of Nashville) this peasant was visiting and was drooling over. 58?59 on the wall behind the little fenced in area. The older gent put it in my hands without hesitation. I was starstruck!

Oh man I resonate so much with this video. For me, the chase for the 'right' Les Paul i very much defined by an ideal sound that I have in my head. One of the core references is Don Felders live solo-tone on On of These Nights. It has that 'click' high mids, treble agressiveness that I so desire in a Les Paul. And ofc its all in the hands of the player, but that just further proves my point. You have to find the guitar that does that 'thing' in your hands. No matter if its a vintage Gibson or a cheap Epiphone. The guitars that I liked the most from this video and had the most 'click' were definately the '60 burst, the '58 and the Epiphone funnily enough. Awesome video guys! :)

I had an 80’s Yamaha “Les Paul” (probably lawsuit) and regret selling it! Looking back, that thing was amazing.

Use Me. Great Tune. You guys did great with it. If that wasn't supposed to be Use Me at the beginning I apologize.

I bought an Epiphone 2020 60s standard. I had it plekked at Sweetwater, switched out the pots for the Gibson pots, and put in the orange drop caps. It plays and sound awesome for a 1/2 the price of a Gibson.

I own 33 electric guitars and five amps. None of my guitars are sub 1k, and certainly the amps aren’t either. Today I am going over to the local shop to purchase a gold Squire Modern Jaguar that I played last weekend and fell in love with. It will sit on the rack beside a couple of Eastman LPs, ten PRS S2s and Cores, and many others. If the guitar plays and sounds awesome to your ear and fingers then that is THE guitar for you.

I recently traded a MIM Strat for a Epiphone 60s Standard LP with Pearly Gates in it. Planned on selling it. It's actually an incredible guitar. Can't sell it. Did not expect that.

I loved this (especially as an Epiphone player!). I'd love to see something similar but with the player blindfolded, I think that'd be fun. See how much of the feeling is still there when you can't see it, and use an aged Epiphone in the comparison, so it wasn't obvious immediately.

I own several Gibson Les Paul’s and several Epiphone Les Paul’s and I love each one !!!!! Believe it or not my favorite one is my 1993 Gibson LP studio I bought new in 1993 . Maybe because I’ve played it for so long . 😁

Thanks for this great video, and also thanks for giving us the straight dope that a $600-700 guitar can sound great too!

I’ve owned some nice Les Paul’s over the years 68 years young..played bars/ different venues …best guitar Les Paul was an r9 2007 lemonburst..I had ..had epiphone good pickups through a good tube amp ..it’s almost hard to tell in a band situation…the epiphone with bb2 bb3 are real nice ..weighty but most Les Paul’s are 8 plus lbs..the epiphone today isn’t the microphonic pickups like univox ..I had as a youngster ..you can get a decent guitar today..like the fender squire classic vibe series or epiphone standard Les Paul’s …again a lot is fingers and a “good” tube amp…the collectors today are not players alot just prestigious “I” got….guitars should be played…😊

Talking about Gibson's may not be a Les Paul but Pancho sold me a beautiful 75 ebony fretless Gibson Ripper and I am loving the you-know-what out of it 🖤❤️

Love my inexpensive guitars. Ibanez, squier, Alvarez. Playability and sound just as good as the expensive ones.

Gibson usa is way overrated

There are so many videos like this from the YT guitar community that just validate how good the budget makers are and how much bang for your buck you can really get, especially if you buy used but even new stuff too! For years in high school and college, I thought once I had a "real" job and could afford something like an American strat or almost any Gibson I would finally buy one but when I went to my local guitar shop with the intention of spending big money, I ended buying an "inspired by Gibson" Epiphone and replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncans instead of a Gibson. The guitar felt just as playable as the equivalent Gibson, sounded only marginally different, and after doing some research I read that quite a few people end up swapping the Burstbuckers out of various Gibsons for Lollars or Seymour Duncans anyway. I get it for working musicians, you want the best built tool you can have but for people like me (not a pro guitarist) there are few scenarios I can see someone where a $2,000+ American-made guitar is the only right tool for the job.

We're at that age where Epiphone is becoming better than Gibson

The thing about guitar demo videos is they always use a superb tube amp. So whether its a Epi or Gibby, it's all gonna sound good.

I have and Exclusive Epi 59 reissue with Gibson Burst Buckers and CTS pots.. This has taken care of my want for a vintage guitar. It is so close to the real thing.

I have an ES 355 re-issue and a Les Paul Custom, and well- I LOVE THEM. But when I was a kid-AllI cared about was that I could crank it up and look cool-Washburn A10, my first electric!

I recently spent 3 k on a beautiful 21 Standard... but if Id known I could have bought an Epiphone for 1000 to 1200 new with a case and it played that well I'd have seriously reconsidered my decision

My sons first guitar, that he picked out as his 8th grade graduation gift, is an Epiphone Futura, in purple, and it sounds amazing. It’s making me want to get an Epiphone LP as well. Great video guys!

I haven't shot a finish yet but the guitar in my profile picture is a single cut I just finished building. I took it to a friend's house who owns a couple vintage guitars including a 58' Paul. I am proud to say that mine was just as good sound wise.. I wound vintage style humbuckers for it with A2 Mags.. I am very proud.. Now saying that, I truly love his 58..

I recently got a epiphone standard 60s Les Paul in a beautiful dark honeyburst quilt top through AMS and I love this thing. It gives me that great vintage tone that I love, and it feels great to play. I think a lot of people sleep on these guitars because of epiphone’s reputation as a “cheap” guitar maker that doesn’t pay a lot of attention to detail. Their newer guitars are really great though.

my 50s standard goldtop epiphone les paul has great sustain. it is a great guitar.

I finally found MY Les Paul, an Epiphone 2021 Modern in Blueberry Fade, its absolutely epic. First guitar I ever bought that needed NOTHING, just rocks out of the box.

I have a 98 unsung factory built epiphone gold top . It plays and sounds authentic . I sold my custom shop gibson les paul on the strength of how the epiphone sounds and plays !

I was waiting for you to comment about the Epiphone finish. I picked up a similar Epiphone Les Paul (blue sunburst though, which looks way better) and after a month of trying out different setups, I didn't really enjoy it. That's when I took a fine-grit sandpaper to the back of the neck and completely changed my opinion. The poly finish was "sticky", but with a super light sanding, it's a vastly different experience. And, like you guys say, it actually sounds pretty great for the low price point.

I have an R9, a reissue Tele and Strat, and they are all amazing and special to play. BUT, the one guitar that I go to nearly every day is a transparent cherry red 2005 Epiphone LP. I put new pickups into it, rewired it to CTS pots/Switchcraft switch and jack and some old out of spec bumblebee caps that faded out of spec into proper guitar spec. $600 total. And it will be one of the last guitars I ever sell if it comes to that. Might just keep it anyway. It's a classic rock machine and if I tune my amp to it, all my other guitars sound good on it as well. That doesn't work with the others.

They proved my point I have had for years. You don't need a 58, 59 or 60 to get a amazing Les Paul. I have heard great models from all decades including the terrible 70's. I agree with what he said, if you have a guitar that is put together properly, with attention to detail and the ingredients are there and in order just right you get that "Sound". But its also the player, the amp and the location. I remember when I started out playing I used to sound terrible with my fingers but now I have developed my technique more and I sound 1000% different and so does the guitar.

Thank you for the honesty…I’ve always thought basically the same way about cheap guitars, well some of them. Some are absolutely mind blowing nice. I just purchased a new $150.00 Fender Squire Tele that I really flipping love playing & it sounds amazing to me, it’s almost embarrassing. I’m 70 been playing most of my life and yes todays new guitars are night & day different from really the ones from just 10 years ago. Great video guys…enjoyed it!

I have. Tommy Thayer signature Epiphone Les Paul. The switch went bad and the jack kept coning loose. Once those were replaced, it kicks a$$!

So the 1960 Les Paul that is getting auctioned off on the 4th of July is “Blessing”. It’s owner, Rich Head, was originally from Northeast Ohio and I used to see him play in a local Cleveland Band named Reign. The money from the auction is going to benefit our Veterans. Check out the story in the latest issue of Premier Guitar.

... ok... I m at the beginning.... I like the 60 ties burst... great sound.... 1959.... I like the same.... it sound s different and great.!! Later before the Epiphon.... I noticed that the 60 ties has a great separation between the strings... wonderful

The blue is awesome... it's different, why not!? It says... "yeah, I can play almost like a 6 figure guitar without trying to look like one!"

My 2012 Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Tribute Plus w/ Gibson USA 57 pickups sounds darn good.

To each their own, but I’ve got an Epi “inspired by Gibson” 50s Standard Les Paul Goldtop. I swapped out pups for Seth Lovers and replaced the bridge and tailpiece with a Tonepros and I absolutely love it. Sounds as good as any of these they played. Neck feels great, resonates. I’ll never play a burst or a vintage Goldie, so ignorance is bliss!!