Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Custom Guitar Review

The Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Custom is designed to be one of the premiere instruments in Epiphone's entire line. This guitar, in the highest price tier that Epiphone offers, seriously challenges the craftsmanship, quality, and sound of its more expensive Gibson counterparts. And the big question that many musicians have is whether it does so well. Let's take a closer look at it and see.

Features: The Limited Edition Les Paul Custom, honestly, doesn't have much to set itself apart from others. It has a mahogany body and an alder carved top with a five ply binding. The finish is available in one brilliant style called Silverburst. When looking at it, it's hard not to think of the Kiss style Les Paul that Ace Frehely made famous. The neck is set into the body and made of mahogany as well. The fretboard is made of rosewood, and has parloid rectangular inlays. Also, as an additional feature, the headstock of the Limited Edition Les Paul Custom has a split diamond pearl inlay in the Gibson style. All of the hardware, including the tuning heads, pickup covers, and Tune-O-Matic bridge, are chrome. Electronically, the Limited Edition Les Paul Custom has all the classic Les Paul features. There are two volume and two tone control knobs with a three way selector switch and two humbucking pickups.

Playability: The Gibson Les Paul is definitely for some musicians and not others. They are notoriously heavy and thick. But, unexpectedly, many players find the body of the Limited Edition Les Paul Custom to be noticeably lighter than most. This could probably be explained by lighter woods such as mahogany and alder. Also, the Limited Edition Custom has a bound fretboard, which makes the neck nice and smooth to play with. But, at this price, that should probably be expected.

Sound: This guitar has all the sonic capabilities that you would expect from a well made Les Paul. The humbucker at the neck provides for nice fat tones, while the one at the bridge is a bit sharper and brighter. Also, as is common among Les Pauls, it is very versatile. The Limited Edition Les Paul Custom can scream with good clear distortion tones, and sing with true ringing clean ones.

Overall: The Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Custom is certainly a well made guitar. It has everything that a musician would expect from a Les Paul: the sound, playability, and features. But, what doesn't sit well with me is that there is nothing, besides the finish, that really makes this instrument stand out among other Epiphones priced similarly. Regardless, you can find a Les Paul Limited Edition Custom in music stores for about $750.