Epiphone Les Paul Standard Review (50s model)

In this section we've put in some compare buttons with some similar electric guitars so you can look at basic pricing and specs. If you have additional questions that we don't answer in the review, feel free to drop those in the comments section below.

Since Epiphone went through the trouble of trademarking the ProBucker (thus giving it the distinctive name), it's safe to assume the three variations - ProBucker 1, 2, and 3 - have gotten more creative attention than the average "stock" humbucker from Epiphone. They're designed to mimic the far more expensive Gibson BurstBucker and 57 Classic, pictured below for direct sale on Gibson's website:

Regarding tone, the Epiphone ProBuckers are most likely designed to mimic the '57 Classic. They're both a P.A.F. style pickup with four-conductor wiring, and seem to have a similar response in other tests we've done.

The ProBuckers certainly aren't overly aggressive or loud. They're medium output, with a bell-like tone that produces a decent amount of sustain. Even without a ton of gain, the pickups have a sweetness and ring to them that's characteristic of the Les Paul body design. Even while taking some obvious manufacturing shortcuts, Epiphone managed to get a lot of Gibson's vibe into these pickups.

While there are still plenty of good options for swapping the ProBuckers with something from a third-party brand, the Epiphone ProBuckers are clearly a step above the typical "stock" pickup with a hard cover. For the price, they'll get you a decent tone out of the box.

You'll like them if you like:

• Chime-like tones with rich harmonics
• Bluesy cleans with a little bit of amp breakup
• Clean tones with a touch of bite on the upper register
• Searing lead tones with vintage overdrive levels

You won't like them if you like:

• Thick, percussive rhythm riffs
• Heavy distortion and modern (high) gain levels
• Chunky, power chord progressions

Build and Feel

Most of the Epiphone guitars (almost all of the Les Pauls) are made with a Mahogany body, which is a fairly common and reliable tonewood. The Standard has a Maple veneer covering the top of the body, which also covers up the three Mahogany joints. The cream-colored binder on the body's perimeter does a nice job of bringing the look of the body together.

Weight Distribution

It's not quite as heavy as a Gibson Les Paul, but the Standard's body definitely weighs down to the right side, which makes the headstock and fretboard want to sit up higher. For people who aren't used to the Les Body body design, the weight distribution can take some getting used to. 

Top Carving

The Maple top - sometimes called a "cap" - I mentioned earlier is carved to mimic the real Les Paul body contour, and looks incredibly close to the vintage Gibson Les Paul models. The body, from an aesthetics perspective, isn't noticeably different than a legitmate Gibson rendition. 

Finishes

There are typically five different finishes the Les Paul Standard comes in. The one we tested is the one pictured, called the "Bourbon burst" which has gloss material over it and looses a little bit of its photogenic luster in person. Here's a shot of the other finishes available on Sweetwater:

Though the finishes in-person show a little "cheaper" than the Gibsons, it's still an extremely attractive design where the gloss does a good job adding a distinct shine to the guitar. It's especially attractive in a well-lit room where light can reflect off the guitar's body.

Value

Assuming you buy one brand new, most iterations of the Epiphone Les Paul Standard have been released for around $600. This is pretty typical for a mid to high-end Epiphone model and certainly beats the $2000 (or more) you would spend to get the Gibson Les Paul Standard. 

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Review Conclusion and Questions

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