- Les Paul guitars are named after the late pop and jazz guitarist and electronics inventor who teamed up with Gibson guitars in the 1950s to craft one of the first electric guitars. During the next 5 decades, Les Paul guitars would be very popular, played by thousands of famous artists worldwide, including Jimmy Page, Beck and Slash (to name a few). Epiphone is a company owned by Gibson since the 1950s. Epiphone Les Pauls are the economy version of Gibson Les Pauls, and there are several differences between the two types.
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Epiphone Les PaulWhen Gibson acquired Epiphone in a business merger in the 1950s, they almost immediately began manufacturing a lower-quality guitar with the Epiphone name on it. The reason they did this was to cater to the people who wanted a guitar that looked like a Gibson, but didn't want to pay Gibson prices. Epiphone produces several Les Paul models, including the Les Paul II ($180), which is the beginner model. From there, the quality improves in each model, but still doesn't reach the manufacturing quality of Gibson Les Pauls. The top-of-the-line Epiphone Les Pauls are the Les Paul Standard Plus ($650) and Les Paul Black Beauty ($750), both of which are models of Gibson's Standard Plus and Black Beauty guitars. All prices are as of 2009.
Epiphone Les Pauls have simpler electronics (pick-ups and wiring), cheaper wood and a more mass produced approach than Gibson Les Pauls. This is much of what makes Gibson's Epiphone line of guitars cheaper than Gibson Les Pauls. -
Gibson Les Paul USAGibson USA Les Pauls, a name not printed on China-made Epiphone Les Pauls, are manufactured in the U.S. in smaller numbers. At the Memphis and Nashville factories, you can take a guided tour to see how Les Pauls are crafted.
These Les Pauls are crafted with the highest care and precision, boasting a solid mahogany body, carved maple wood top, two high-quality humbucker pick-ups (the metallic strips on the body that "pick up" the sound an project it through an amplifier) and a carefully measured and adjusted neck for the best possible sound. Les Paul guitars have adjusted with the technology shifts throughout the years, but are ultimately the same guitar they were in the 1950s, which proves the product's timelessness. - Epiphone Les Pauls range in price from $170 to $900, and many guitar players say it's often better to own a top-of-the-line Epiphone Les Paul than a bottom-of-the-line Gibson Les Paul. This is a statement that you can decide for yourself when making your decision. Gibson Les Pauls range in price from $900 to $12,000, and, really, as high as $25,000 for limited and special edition Les Pauls. All prices are as of 2009.
- Regardless of which guitar you choose to buy, it's important to remember to take good care of it. Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls are very good guitars, worthy of a hardshell case and your utmost care. Regular maintenance, polishing and tightening will help keep your guitar sounding and looking pretty for years to come.
