NGD - 2020 Epiphone '59 Les Paul Standard - Aged Southern Fade!!!!!!!

cliffenstein

cliffenstein

New member
This American Musical Supply/Zzounds exclusive showed up at my door a full month earlier than expected...surprised, shocked, SUPER pleased!!!! I don't believe Epiphone has made a finer guitar in the modern era than these '59's.

Out of the box, the action was high and the neck was set to full relief, but I quickly rectified both of those issues. I also treated the fretboard (which looked pretty darn good to begin with) with F-One oil which made it look amazing. The top looks completely killer to me. Being a huge fan of plain tops I'm totally pleased with the fact that the flame top on the guitar i got is not overly pronounced at all, but has a much more subdued look which appeals to me greatly. I do have plans to get both the top and the headstock buffed to bring out a touch of shine and to also put on my normal strap lock buttons, but my word...stock, what a guitar!!!!!!

Oh...the pickups are killer, but that's to be expected as these are Gibson Burstbuckers.

I see no flaws anywhere...none.

The only thing I would've had them change would be to make the back and neck have the exact same paint as the darker parts on the top, but I certainly understand the need to keep costs contained by only changing the top. And, truthfully, the overall color variation between the top and the back and neck is pretty dang minor anyway.

Weight: 8.8 lbs
Neck: .94" at first fret, 1.03" at 12th fret

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Wow! I hadn't heard about these, and it looks like a great guitar. I see what you mean about the paint. The back almost looks pink.
 
Looks great. Epiphone is putting out some great stuff this year. I have the same LP special as in your picture. I just put in a set of Wolfetone Mean/Meaner P90s. Also got one of the satin G400s, gutted and replaced with 59s.

Love the finish on that les paul so much I wish I hadn't seen it
 
AniML said:
Looks great. Epiphone is putting out some great stuff this year. I have the same LP special as in your picture. I just put in a set of Wolfetone Mean/Meaner P90s. Also got one of the satin G400s, gutted and replaced with 59s.

Love the finish on that les paul so much I wish I hadn't seen it
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I love the stock pickups in my 2020 Epi Special, but my friend just gifted me with Gibson P90’s...so they will be going in. Had he not given them to me, I would have been very happy with the P90 Pro’s that are in there now.
 
Wow, that is nice. The 2020 Epi's I've picked up are pretty amazing. They've really stepped up their game over the years since manufacturing moved to their own dedicated facility there in China.
 
How is the laurel fingerboard on those? I've never heard of that being used for a fingerboard wood.
 
Mincer said:
How is the laurel fingerboard on those? I've never heard of that being used for a fingerboard wood.
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Well, I now have two guitars with the Indian Laurel boards and they are both pictured above and both 2020 Epiphones. I used F-One oil on them both and, as you can see in the photos, the fretboards look just like rosewood and lovely dark rosewood at that. I feel like I’m playing Les Pauls. They look great in person and in photos. I’m all in!!!!
 
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Sweet singlecut dude! I love satin finishes! I am happy you are diggin' the singlecuts! Your strat is legendary, but I will always be an LP guy myself.
 
cliffenstein said:
Well, I now have two guitars with the Indian Laurel boards and they are both pictured above and both 2020 Epiphones. I used F-One oil on them both and, as you can see in the photos, the fretboards look just like rosewood and lovely dark rosewood at that. I feel like I’m playing Les Pauls. They look great in person and on photos. I’m all in!!!!
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Actually, I am all for non-traditional fretboards. They don't need to be dark either. I am happy they are getting away from the traditional formula, especially when there are so many other choices.
 
With just a little bit of fret refining and nut refining, the newer Epis are some of the best mid-priced guitars I've ever played. I love my Uptown Kat and my Les Paul Muse, both made within the past year. Both have had the fret ends softened and the nut slots optimized. Both need new pickups, mostly due to the bridge pickups being too overwound/murky. But in terms of general build quality, they both get two thumbs up. Flawless finishes, flawless binding, near flawless fit and finish. And this is coming from a harsh judge of such things.
 
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I've played several of my students' new Epiphones, and they are great instruments, especially the newer ones.
 
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