When it comes to iconic electric guitars, the Gibson Les Paul undoubtedly holds a top spot. However, its more affordable sibling, the Epiphone Les Paul, provides the same elegance and fiery sounds at a price that’s not quite so daunting.
That said – what is the difference between the two brands? Why should you pick one over the other? As with most guitars, it really comes down to your own personal needs, budget, and preferences. Rest assured – they’re both superb quality offerings and we’ll go into detail explaining why!
Nowadays there’s a huge offering of Les Paul models from both Gibson and Epiphone. So, to make things simple, we’ll focus on a few of the most popular choices from both brands – as well as an overall comparative guide to the two guitar giants.
So, if you’re ready to rock on, let’s see how the Epiphone Les Paul vs. Gibson Les Paul debate stacks up!
History
Early days
It’s important to get a sense of where both brands came from; many newer guitarists might be unfamiliar – or assume that Epiphone has always been a sub-brand of Gibson! The surprising truth, however, is that Epiphone predate Gibson by a few years…
Founded during the time of the Ottoman Empire in 1873 (yep, they’re that old!) Epiphone’s humble beginnings involved mandolins, similar stringed instruments.
Eventually, the founder, Anastasios Stathopoulos, moved to the USA and brought his son Epaminondas into the business, who later gave the company its portmanteau name: “Epi”, short for his first name, and “phone”, Greek for “sound or voice”.
Gibson, meanwhile, began in the very late 1890s in a small workshop in Kalamazoo, MI. Headed by the supremely talented luthier Orville Gibson, the company also began with mandolins but soon moved to acoustic guitars.
By the 1930s, both brands had gained a reputation for innovative and quality semi-hollow electric guitars, leading to an intense rivalry – or all-out warfare – between the competitors. Gibson would release a large guitar with impressive volume and dynamics, and Epiphone would respond with an even larger guitar to outdo their Michigan-based nemesis!
Introducing Les Paul…
And that’s where the namesake of this article enters the frame – the venerable Les Paul. If you can believe it, he was actually associated with Epiphone far more than Gibson throughout the ’30s and ’40s. He developed his now famous “Log” prototype at Epiphone’s New York factory and even used an Epiphone neck in its design.
Les Paul approached then Gibson’s president Ted McCarty with his design as early as 1941. However, it wasn’t until the ’50s, when Gibson felt pressure from Fender’s hugely successful Broadcaster, that Gibson took action. Using the chart-topping musician’s name and his design ideas, they produced their first ever solid body electric: the Les Paul.
Epiphone come into this a different way – by the ’50s their fortunes had taken a drastic turn for the worse. WWII wasn’t kind to the company, and they’d seen a significant downturn in sales in addition to boardroom friction. As it happens, Les Paul was the man to bridge the gap between the two rival companies…
Gibson acquire Epiphone – what is it like today?
Les Paul suggested to Ted McCarty to take a look at the struggling business, originally with a view to acquiring their upright basses.
Epiphone had reached such dire straits that Ted was offered the entire company and all their stock for $20,000.
Following their acquisition, Epiphone were kept as high-end electrics in the USA until the ’70s, when cheaper Asian imports forced them to relocate operations to Japan, then Korea, and finally to China.
Since then, both Gibson and Epiphone have seen a tumultuous turn of fortunes, lawsuits, relocations, and product recreations – but both remain a tour de force in the guitar world.
Since the ’90s, Epiphone guitars have been primed as the official and affordable versions of Gibson instruments, but they retain a few of their own unique models too – with some still handmade in the USA.
Key differences
Epiphone Les Paul | Gibson Les Paul |
---|---|
Manufactured in China | Manufactured in the USA |
Relies on modern manufacturing techniques for a consistent product | Uses a mixture of CNC machines and traditional hand-building methods |
Uses a thin sheet of maple and veneers | Uses solid maple tops |
Uses polyurethane lacquer for finishes | Uses nitrocellulose lacquer for finishes |
Feature more mass-produced pickups (e.g., ProBucker pickups) | Loaded with hand-wound pickups |
Epiphone Les Paul vs. Gibson Les Paul
Country of manufacture
Ever since the dawn of their small Kalamazoo workshop, Gibson guitars have exclusively been manufactured in the USA. Originally based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, they eventually relocated electric and hollow-body production to Nashville, Tennessee and their acoustics to Montana.
Epiphone, on the other hand, have had quite the roving history. Their roots stretch back to what’s now Izmir in Turkiye, before moving to New York, then to Philadelphia, and then to Kalamazoo after their acquisition by Gibson.
Following the rise of cheap import guitars, Epiphone were moved to Japan, then to Korea, and finally to large plant in China. Today, almost all Epiphones are made in China, with a few historic models still made in the USA.
Construction
As you might expect from the price difference, there are a few major differences between the construction techniques of Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls.
Gibson have adopted modern CNC machines for bulk tasks like cutting the body shapes and routing the pickup cavities, but the more artisanal appointments like the body and fretboard binding are hand-finished with complex, time-consuming techniques.
For example, the binding process involves mummification-style rope binding. Canvas rope is hand-applied in a particular pattern (handed down from binder to binder since Gibson’s founding) to ensure an even spread of pressure across the body while the glue sets.
Speaking of the glue – it isn’t just any off-the-shelf adhesive, but a special blend of the same binding material and various products to get the most even seam possible!
After the body is painted, the binding process still isn’t quite finished. Gibson paint over the binding when applying those gorgeous colour coats to the Les Paul and then go through a laborious hand-scraping process to carefully remove excess paint and glue, ensuring an immaculate end-product.
This process drives up the cost for Gibson Les Pauls but results in a guitar that’s simply outstanding in quality.
Epiphone, on the other hand, use a variety of advanced manufacturing processes to cut down the amount of manual labour required, resulting in consistent quality across their products – Les Pauls included! Less manual labour obviously results in lower costs, which are savings happily passed on to you.
That said, USA-made Epiphones involve many of the same hand finishes as Gibson, but there aren’t currently any USA-made Epiphone Les Pauls.
Materials
Together with construction techniques, the materials used in the construction of each Les Paul type can differ greatly.
Typically, Gibson Les Pauls use high-quality, hand-selected wood pieces with thicker, AA-graded flame maple caps. The higher-end wood selection affects the overall resonance of the instrument, which is up for debate as to how that impacts your sound, but one thing’s for sure – it feels lovely.
One of the biggest differences between the two brands is in their fretboard wood. Gibson Les Pauls almost universally use premium rosewood cuts, with a select few Modern series guitars using ebony.
Epiphone frequently use the more cost-effective laurel on the majority of their guitars. However, their Prophecy series and Matt Heafy signature Les Pauls have an upgraded ebony fretboard for super-slick metal riffage.
the fretboard inlays, Gibson generally use acrylic, with mother-of-pearl found on some higher-end Les Pauls. All Gibson headstocks feature mother-of-pearl logo inlays, whereas Epiphone mainly feature pearloid to give a similar effect.
Similarly, Epiphone’s maple caps are usually thin veneers rather than solid materials. It does vary from model to model, as some of their higher-end “Inspired by Gibson” products feature AA-graded flame maple.
Finishes
It’s a major difference between the two flavours of Les Paul. All Gibson Les Pauls receive a satin or gloss nitrocellulose lacquer – a much more expensive finish then polyurethane.
Nitro finishes are typically found on vintage and higher-end vintage-style guitars – it’s much more difficult to apply than polyurethane or polyester but results in a finish that ages gracefully and lets the wood beneath “breathe” – or resonate more freely.
Some classic guitars have slightly changed hue, or faded on the neck where they’ve been played – these are the hallmarks of a nitro finish. In Gibson’s case, at least two days are required to apply a gloss nitro finish, which involves a hi-tech electrical charge spray process before being hand-rubbed by workers (the time-intensive, expensive part!).
Following that, the finish is meticulously buffed to ensure consistency and smoothness across the entire instrument.
Epiphone also use the hi-tech application machine, but it’s for polyurethane gloss or satin finishes which can be applied faster and more efficiently. These do not require as much buffing or human inspection, making it faster and easier to apply en masse.
Despite being thicker, the resilience of a polyurethane finish is pretty astounding! They won’t discolour and can shrug off light scratches and dings to stay looking pristine. In fact, yours truly has a 2003 Epiphone Les Paul that’s still looking its best, despite its advanced age…
The final buffing process is pretty much the same between both brands, with major attention to detail paid to the final touches, in addition to a thorough quality control stage.
Price
The unavoidable difference. The price gap between the two Les Paul ranges is.. significant – but not as great as you might think!
Epiphone Les Pauls can start at as little as £300-£350, and rise up to the high end of £800-£900 – save a few special limited edition or signature models. Gibson, on the other hand, start at prices just north of £1000 for the Tribute series.
After that, things get.. expensive – and justifiably so. Gibson Les Pauls can soar up to the £5,000 range for typical Custom Shop models and potentially more for specialist Murphy Lab creations.
It’s clear to see why Gibson command a higher price tag – we’ve discussed their labour-intensive manufacturing processes. But crucially, that doesn’t mean they’re the right guitar for everyone by default, as budget is an important concern for any musician acquiring a new guitar.
In the case of the Les Paul Classic and Standard ’60s, Epiphones offerings currently sit around the £500-£550 mark, whereas Gibson are currently at £1,999 and £2,399 respectively.
Sound
The million-dollar question, and one that’s hard to answer in text! Ultimately, sound is subjective to each musician. Most guitarists would agree that the pickups are the crucial component that creates an instrument’s “sound”.
And to be honest, that’s probably true. So how do the Epiphone and Gibson pickups compare? Quite closely when stacked up together!
There are subtle differences that those with sensitive ears may pick up, but overall, the Epiphone does a superb job at emulating vintage Gibson humbuckers.
If you really want to get into it, this video has plenty of detail and sound examples for you to compare.
Epiphone feature mass-produced pickups that closely mimic classic Gibson sounds, and some higher-end Epiphones even feature USA-made Gibson humbuckers for completely authentic tones. Many players love the Alnico Classic PRO and ProBucker pickups found on the Epiphone Classic and Standard ’60s respectively, as they offer the rich and warm response closely associated with classic Les Pauls.
In particular, the ProBuckers are superb value for their uneven winding process, mimicking Gibson’s deliberately skewed windings that reflect manufacturing conditions of the ’50s.
On the Gibson guitars, you’ll find BurstBucker pickups in both their Standard ’60s and Les Paul Classic. The Classic sports uncovered “Zebra” painted humbuckers are largely the same, just with a slightly hotter output as they’re not shielded.
As we mentioned earlier, the original Gibson humbuckers weren’t made with ultra-consistent computer-driven machines that we have today, resulting in imprecise bobbin winds for subtle variations in tone. Gibson brilliantly recreate this through deliberately unbalanced machines that perfectly recreate the airy musicality of those early ‘pups.
Playability and feel
The playability and feel of a guitar are incredibly subjective and vary widely from one musician to another depending on individual preferences and playing styles. However, there are certain characteristics that are commonly evaluated when comparing the playability and feel of different guitars.
Les Paul Standard ’60s
Epiphone’s Les Paul Standard ’60s model is a delight to play, offering a comfortable ’60s slim taper C-profile on the mahogany neck that allows for easy movement up and down the fretboard. The guitar’s fretwork is commendably neat, making string bends and fast legato runs a breeze.
The weight is also suitably balanced thanks to modern-style body chambering, which reduces product cost and the overall weight. That said, you’ll enjoy a solid impression that certainly belies its budget-friendly price tag.
Similarly, the Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s sports the SlimTaper profile for speedy and comfortable playing. Its nitro-finished neck will age and fade with repeated use, forming an even smoother surface over time.
Gibson’s hand-rolled fingerboard edges and precise fretwork render a superior playing comfort that is difficult to match. A crucial difference is the guitar’s overall feel – a completely solid body is true to the original Les Pauls and is a lot heavier. It’s indicative of Gibson’s premium build quality and materials and is a factor many players look for in a genuine Gibson.
Les Paul Classic
When it comes to the Les Paul Classic, Epiphone’s model is once again a pleasure to play, with a slim taper neck profile that is incredibly comfortable for a range of playing styles. The guitar’s lightweight body makes it an excellent choice for long gigs or recording sessions, and the fretwork is neat and tidy.
Gibson’s Les Paul Classic, on the other hand, offers a more vintage-inspired playing experience. The neck has a rounder profile than the Epiphone, which might take a bit of adjustment for players used to slimmer neck shapes but lends a substantial, authentic feel.
The higher quality of the fretwork and overall build can be felt, and the guitar’s weight, while heavier than the Epiphone, contributes to a more resonant and full-bodied tone.
In essence, both brands offer excellent playability and feel, with Gibson’s models providing a richer, more nuanced playing experience that justifies their higher price tag. Meanwhile, Epiphone’s Les Pauls deliver an impressive bang for your buck with their comfortable playability, making them an excellent choice for emerging musicians or those on a tighter budget.
Famous players
It comes as no surprise that the Les Paul boasts an impressive cadre of famous players. Now, one might (fairly) assume that most of those players sit in the Gibson camp, as it’s the poster-guitar for rock ‘n’ roll.
However, there are a few artists that prefer Epiphone for their lighter feel, wider availability, and perhaps, a sense of “cool” for not using the same brand as everyone else. If we weren’t just looking at Les Pauls, you’d see a much wider selection
Epiphone
- Matt Heafy (Trivium)
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
- Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
- Lee Malia (Bring Me The Horizon)
Matty Heafy of Trivium and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day are both well-known for their preference for Epiphone Les Pauls. Both musicians have signature Epiphones that they’re frequently seen using on stage.
In Heafy’s case, it’s a high-end metal-geared monster that almost matches the price of a Gibson Les Paul. And that’s because it reflects his high-octane music, with a slim shredder neck, ebony fretboard and monstrously powerful pickups.
Billie Joe, on the other hand, favours the Les Paul Junior. It’s stripped back, stylish, and utterly focused with its single dog ear P90 pickup. Great for his punk pop style and power-chord heavy music.
Ray Toro and Lee Malia are both frequent Epiphone performers, with Lee boasting a signature series of Epiphone instruments. Like Matt Heafy, it’s geared towards a crunchy and raucous music style, and sports enough premium appointments to put it in the same bracket as Custom Shop guitars!
Gibson
- Jimmy Page
- Slash
- Peter Green
- Rhandy Rhoads
- Zakk Wylde
- Eric Clapton
And that’s just a few names out of a mile-long list of prominent guitarists! The success of the Gibson Les Paul is the entire reason Epiphone’s affordable version exists, after all.
Jimmy Page struck an iconic figure with his ’60s cherry sunburst Les Paul in one hand and violin bow in the other, using the instrument to write killer riffs like “Black Dog” and “Whole Lotta Love”.
Peter Green is a frequently referenced name amongst Les Paul enthusiasts and retro rock lovers, he pioneered an “out-of-phase” pickup sound that’s still heavily sought after today.
Blues legend Eric Clapton and silky shredders Rhandy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde just go on to prove the Gibson guitar’s versatility, showing it can voice everything from soulful and slow to manic and high tempo.
This bevy of established names are joined by more recent artists like Justin Hawkins of The Darkness and Jared James Nichols.

Creative Commons License by Ed Vill
Epiphone or Gibson – which one is for me?
Ultimately, the best way to decide between an Epiphone or a Gibson Les Paul is by trying them out. Take some time to handle and play each guitar at our showroom or your local music store before deciding. After all, this is an investment that you’ll want to be happy with for years to come!
If budget is a concern, you simply can’t go wrong with an Epiphone Les Paul. You’ll still be acquiring a solid instrument that is more than capable of delivering that sought-after Gibson sound. And don’t forget, you can always upgrade the pickups later down the line!
For those with a bigger budget and looking for a premium playing experience, the Gibson Les Paul certainly delivers on all fronts. With its superior build quality and materials, you’re guaranteed an instrument that will age beautifully and last a lifetime.
No matter which Les Paul you end up choosing, one thing is for certain – you’ll be getting an iconic guitar that has been loved by musicians for generations. Whichever route you take, it’s clear that both Epiphone and Gibson have crafted exceptional instruments that showcase their own unique strengths and offer something special to musicians of all levels.
Our recommendations
Epiphone Les Paul Classic
Body: Mahogany, chambered, gloss finish
- Top: Plain Maple Cap
- Neck: Mahogany, SlimTaper profile
- Fretboard: Indian Laurel
- Pickups: Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, uncovered zebra pattern
- Controls: 2 Volume, Both with Coil-splitting and Treble Bleed, 2 Tone; One with Phase Switch
- Hardware: Nickel finish with LockTone TOM bridge and Grover Rotomatic tuners
A vintage, hot-rodded Les Paul at an affordable price? Yes, please! People love the Epiphone Les Paul Classic for its accurate PAF-style tones, lightweight build, and versatile switching options.
The idea behind the Classic is to emulate a vintage guitar that’s been tinkered with, so you’ve got classic-voiced Alnico PRO humbuckers, accurate SlimTaper neck shape and interesting control mods. Those include coil splits on both pickups and the legendary “phase switch” sound that produces a funkily thin tone.
If you need a workhorse that can rock the boat, and morph its sonics to suit a variety of performance situations, the Epiphone Les Paul Classic is one the best value options out there.
Epiphone Standard ’60s
Body: Mahogany, chambered, gloss finish
- Top: Plain Maple Cap
- Neck: Mahogany, SlimTaper profile
- Fretboard: Indian Laurel
- Pickups: ProBucker 2 humbuckers (neck) and ProBucker 3 humbuckers (bridge), nickel covers and pole pieces
- Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS electronics
- Hardware: Nickel finish with LockTone ABR bridge and Stopbar tailpiece plus Grover Rotomatic tuners
This guitar is pretty much as close as you’ll get to a Gibson Les Paul without actually buying an American-made one. The Epiphone Standard ’60s features ProBucker 2 and 3 humbuckers, which are designed to replicate the sound and feel of classic Gibson PAF pickups.
The guitar’s chambered mahogany body provides excellent resonance, while its period slim taper C neck provides comfortable playability. The gorgeous Iced Tea finish and AA flame maple veneer are no less impressive than their Gibson counterpart.
Part of the “Inspired by Gibson” range, you’re getting the genuine Les Paul experience at a fraction of the price.
Gibson Les Paul Classic
Body: Mahogany, solid, 9-hole weight relief, gloss nitrocellulose finish
- Top: Plain Maple Cap
- Neck: Mahogany, SlimTaper profile with rolled edges
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: 60s Burstbucker (Zebra), uncovered
- Controls: 2 Push/Pull Volume (Coil-Tap), 2 Push/Pull Tone (Pure Bypass/Phase)
- Hardware: Nickel finish with Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and Grover Rotomatic tuners with kidney buttons
Just like the Epiphone version, Gibson’s Classic is designed to emulate those vintage guitars that have been tweaked and modded with extra capabilities: namely, tinkered pickups that have additional voicings for extra versatility!
With USA-made Burstbucker pickups, you can expect the PAF-style airiness and vocality, with an extra kick and heft thanks to the uncovered construction. It’s not just the pickup’s premium build that separates the Gibson from the Epiphone though, as you’ve also got coil taps to unlock a P90 sound, and a pure bypass mode that disengages the tone circuit, giving a sharper and unrestricted top-end.
Gibson use a 9-hole weight relief on the Classic, which makes it lighter and nimbler than the Standard, but still retains that traditional heft you’d expect from a Gibson Les Paul.
Gibson Standard ’60s
Body: Mahogany, solid, gloss nitrocellulose finish
- Top: AA Figured maple top
- Neck: Mahogany, SlimTaper profile with rolled edges
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: Burstbucker 61R and 61T humbuckers (neck and bridge), nickel covers
- Controls: 2 Push/Pull Volume, 2 Tone (with Orange Drop Capacitors and CTS pots)
- Hardware: Nickel finish with ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and Grover Rotomatic tuners
The gold standard of guitars, the Gibson Standard ’60s is the instrument that so many musicians aspire to. Entirely USA-made, with laborious quality checks and finishes that justify its sizeable price, it’s the perfect match for anyone needing a high-powered yet versatile sound.
Its period-accurate Burstbucker pickups provide girthy tones that can easily be rolled back for pristine cleans or overdriven for uproarious distortion. The perfected SlimTaper neck offers effortless riffing, and an entirely solid body provides the reassuring density of an authentic Les Paul – the ultimate shred machine.
FAQs
Is the Epiphone Les Paul as good as the Gibson Les Paul?
Epiphone’s “Inspired by Gibson” Les Pauls are widely considered to be as good as Gibson Les Pauls. While Gibson Les Pauls offer superior craftsmanship and iconic tones, Epiphone Les Pauls provide excellent value for money. They deliver a similar playing experience and tone at a fraction of the cost.
Is Epiphone Les Paul made by Gibson?
Epiphone Les Paul guitars are officially made by Gibson. Epiphone is a subsidiary of Gibson, and their Les Paul models are designed to offer the classic Gibson feel and sound at a more affordable price. However, they are manufactured in China with mostly different components and materials.
Do professionals use Epiphone?
Music professionals certainly use Epiphone Les Pauls. From stars like Matt Heafy and Billie Joe Armstrong to touring session players who need a reliable workhorse that they’re not scared of damaging in rowdy venues. Epiphone are favoured for their accurate Gibson-style tone and playability.
Final thoughts
The Epiphone Les Paul vs. Gibson Les Paul debate is settled by the significant differences in their construction, materials used, and price. That said, there are plenty of similar characteristics that blur the lines between them, such as their iconic shape, classic design, and vintage-voiced pickups.
it comes down to personal preference and budget when deciding between these two legendary guitars. If you’re after the true Les Paul experience but can’t quite justify the expense of a USA-made one, we’ve shown that Epiphone’s “Inspired by Gibson” offerings more than meet the criteria.
So, if you’re a beginner looking for your first authentic Les Paul, or if you’re a stage veteran seeking a reliable workhorse, Epiphone is the value choice for any guitarist. But if you’re after the real thing, and a construction that’ll only appreciate in value as it ages, you can’t go wrong with a real USA Gibson.
Rock on!
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