The New Collection Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 2025 Honours the 1950s and 1960s

Every Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom model is built with a clear goal: to deliver the sound and specifications required by more demanding players but at an affordable price. For example, the 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue features the same Gibson Custombucker humbuckers you'll find on Gibson Custom Shop instruments, along with CTS potentiometers and Bumblebee oil capacitors – components usually reserved for the very best guitars in Gibson's catalogue.

The instruments also received the traditional Gibson "Open Book" style headstock shape, high-quality rosewood fingerboards, thin Vintage Gloss finishes that are much closer to the look and feel of classic nitro lacquers and neck profiles that match the exact period specifications, as confirmed by Epiphone's Product Development Manager: "We used a 3D scanner to make the neck profiles as accurate as those found on Gibson models, using their historical instruments for measurements."

Other authentic features include slightly rounded fingerboard edges to enhance playing comfort and offer the feel of long-played instruments. Even the side dot markers are vintage-correct in size and placement. "This is what happens when specs matter: you hear and feel the difference. You see it in the details. And you can take it on stage with confidence," Epiphone explains the features of the edition.

In addition to the Les Paul Standard 1959 with a more massive neck and its predecessor, the LP Goldtop 1957 variant in Double Gold lacquer, there is also a Les Paul Standard 1960 version with a more subtle Slim Taper profile, the same year's Les Paul Special Double Cut model with P-90 USA pickups and a simple wraparound bridge. The SG series is represented by the 1964 Standard Reissue Cherry Red version with Maestro Vibrola, Custombucker Alnico 3 humbuckers and Black Beauty condensers.

There is also a pair of Firebirds to choose from: The more straightforward 1963 Firebird I in Cardinal Red paint received a single Gibson USA Firebird Alnico 5 mini humbucker, CTS potentiometers, Mallory condenser, Wraparound Lightning bridge, Kluson "Banjo-style" Planetary tuners and, of course, a through-neck glued from 9 layers of mahogany and walnut. The more generously designed 1963 Firebird V Polaris White added a neck pickup, Gibson ABR-1 tune-o-matic bridge and Maestro Vibrola.

For fans of semi-hollow guitars, the ES-335 1962 is available in Sixties Cherry or Vintage Burst finishes, with five layers of maple and poplar glued to the body, a solid maple centre block, spruce bracing, a one-piece mahogany neck with Slim Taper profile, a Gibson Historic Reissue aluminium tailpiece, BR-1 bridge, Epiphone Deluxe tuners and Gibson Custombucker pickups.

All instruments come with a deluxe hard case adorned with the Inspired by Gibson Custom logo and official US prices start at around 1000 dollars for the Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue and end at around 1700 dollars for the 1963 Firebird V Reissue.