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 color 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.

SPECIFICATIONS

BODY

Binding : 7-ply Top, 5-ply Back and Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard
Body Finish : Gloss
Body Material : Solid Mahogany
Body Shape : Les Paul
Body Styles : Les Paul
Top : Maple Cap

NECK

Fingerboard Material : Ebony
Fingerboard Radius : 304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count : 22
Frets : Medium Jumbo
Inlays : Mother of Pearl Block
Joint : Glued In, Set Neck, Long Tenon
Neck Material : One Piece Mahogany
Nut Material : Graph Tech
Nut Width : 43.0mm / 1.69in
Profile : Modern Medium C
Scale Length : 628.65mm / 24.75in

ELECTRONICS

Bridge Pickup : Gibson USA 498T
Controls : 2 Volume, 2 Tone; Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers and Mallory Capacitors
Neck Pickup : Gibson USA 490R
Output Jack : Switchcraft 1/4"
Pickup Selector : Switchcraft 3-way Toggle

HARDWARE

Bridge : LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Control Covers : Black with Inspired by Gibson Custom Logo in Gold
Control Knobs : Black Speed
Finish : Gold
Jack Plate Cover : Gold Plated Metal
Mounting Rings : Black
Pickguard : 5-ply Black
Pickup Covers : Gold
Plastic Parts : Black
Strap Buttons : 2 - Bottom and Upper Bout
Switch Tip : Cream
Switchwasher : Black with Gold Hot Stamp Text
Tailpiece : LockTone Stop Bar
Truss Rod : Dual Action
Truss Rod Cover : 2-ply Bell with Les Paul Custom Text
Tuner Plating : Gold
Tuning Machines : Grover Rotomatic, 18:1 Ratio

MISCELLANEOUS

Case : Black Hardshell with Goldenrod Interior, Gold Hardware, and Inspired by Gibson Custom Logo
Model : ECLPCASNH
Headstock : Gibson Open Book
Headstock Inlay : Epiphone Logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl
Strings Gauge : .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046