For guitar enthusiasts seeking that iconic single-cutaway, P90-powered tone, the Les Paul Special has always held a special place. Two prominent contenders in this arena are the Epiphone Les Paul Special and the Gibson Les Paul Special. Both aim to capture the essence of this classic design, but how do they truly stack up? As a content creator for guitarplayers.net, I’ve delved deep into a hands-on comparison, scrutinizing every facet to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dissect these guitars across critical categories and determine which one emerges as the superior instrument, especially when considering the crucial factor of value for money in a Les Paul Epiphone Guitar versus its Gibson counterpart.
Body, Construction, and Finish: Examining the Core
When assessing the fundamental building blocks of tone, the body and construction are paramount. In this head-to-head, neither the Epiphone nor the Gibson exhibited exceptional resonance when body-tap tested. The mahogany used in both bodies and necks presented a rather neutral, “wooden” character, lacking significant vibrational qualities. Therefore, in terms of inherent resonance, we find ourselves at a standstill: No Winner.
Alt text: Close-up of the Epiphone Les Paul Special TV Yellow body, highlighting the gloss polyurethane finish.
Moving to the finish, both guitars sport a “TV Yellow” hue. However, the application and type of finish diverge significantly. The Epiphone showcases an opaque yellow paint, thickly coated with a gloss polyurethane finish. In contrast, the Gibson boasts a more translucent yellow, allowing the mahogany grain beneath to subtly peek through, all sealed with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer. The nitro finish on the Gibson, often favored for its breathability and aging qualities, gives it the edge in this round: Winner: Gibson.
Alt text: Detailed view of the Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow finish, showing the translucent nitrocellulose lacquer and visible wood grain.
Construction quality proved commendable on both instruments. Neither guitar presented glaring issues like sharp fret ends, although both undeniably needed fret polishing and fretboard cleaning straight out of the box. Remarkably, the Gibson, in a welcome surprise, arrived without the dreaded fret sprout often encountered in recent Gibson models. The fretwork quality on the Gibson was genuinely impressive, leading to a draw in this aspect: No Winner.
In terms of weight, the Gibson tipped the scales slightly lighter than the Epiphone, by a few ounces at most. This difference was negligible in practical terms; strapped on, the weight disparity becomes imperceptible. However, a preference for lighter guitars generally leans the win towards Gibson: Winner: Gibson, albeit marginally.
Tuners: Tuning Stability and Quality
Tuning stability is crucial for any guitar, and tuners play a pivotal role. Both the Epiphone and Gibson are equipped with Kluson-style tuners. The Gibson tuners operated more smoothly, yet still fell short of being truly exceptional. The Epiphone tuners, however, were noticeably stiffer and “grabby,” failing to meet desirable standards. Neither set offered lubrication points, a feature often found on higher-quality tuners. It’s suspected these tuners originate from the same factory, with Gibson branding stamped onto the Gibson versions’ metal covers, suggesting they are not genuine Kluson tuners. In today’s guitar hardware landscape, replicating mid-20th century tuners, which were merely adequate at the time, seems anachronistic. Superior tuners significantly enhance the playing experience, and these offerings from both brands are simply not up to par: No Winner.
Alt text: Epiphone Les Paul Special headstock showcasing the Kluson-style tuners, noting their stiffness and lack of lubrication points.
Necks: Playability and Feel
Neck profile and playability are intensely personal preferences, but objective assessments can still be made. Both guitars presented straight necks with comparable action. While the Gibson’s action was marginally better out of the box, the Epiphone could easily achieve the same with a minor truss rod adjustment. Both feature nickel frets. Again, echoing the tuner sentiment, stainless steel frets would be a modern upgrade. Fretboard wood quality was decent on both – Indian Rosewood on the Gibson and Indian Laurel on the Epiphone. Both fretboards would benefit from finish sanding and conditioning. Neither exhibited exceptional figure in the fretboard wood.
Both are advertised as having a ’50s neck profile, a vague descriptor at best. Having played numerous vintage Les Pauls from the 50s, the author notes the significant variation in neck profiles from that era. The Epiphone’s neck felt slightly chunkier, leaning towards a D-shape, while the Gibson’s was closer to a C-shape. Neither profile was uncomfortable, even for players with smaller hands. Both adhere to Gibson’s standard 24 ¾ inch scale length and feature 22 medium jumbo frets on a comfortable 12-inch fretboard radius, preventing note choking during bends.
Both necks are finished on the back, which the author typically addresses with 0000 steel wool and wax for a smoother feel. While neither neck was sticky, neither was particularly fast-feeling in its stock finish. Both guitars feature white plastic fretboard binding and surprisingly, both are equipped with Graph Tech TUSQ nuts – a notable upgrade at this price point. The author expresses no discernible difference in tone or feel between rosewood and laurel fretboards, although laurel exhibits a lighter coloration. Ultimately, in terms of necks, it’s another draw: No Winner.
Alt text: Side view of the Gibson Les Paul Special neck profile, highlighting the ’50s style shape and Indian Rosewood fretboard.
Pots, Hardware, and Pickups: Electronics and Components
Moving into electronics and hardware, the distinctions become clearer. The Epiphone’s volume and tone pots operated significantly smoother than the Gibson’s. Epiphone specifies CTS pots in their components, leading to speculation that Gibson may be using less expensive alternatives in this model. Both tone pots, when rolled off, exhibited a drastic volume and treble cut, deemed less than ideal by the reviewer. However, this is a common issue easily remedied with a treble bleed circuit and ’50s wiring, modifications the author frequently performs. The Gibson’s pickup selector switch felt flimsy and lacked crispness in its positions, while the Epiphone’s output jack provided a tighter, more secure cable connection compared to the Gibson’s somewhat cheap-feeling output jack. In terms of electronics and hardware, Epiphone takes the lead: Winner: Epiphone.
Alt text: Close-up of the Epiphone Les Paul Special hardware, including the wraparound tailpiece and P90 pickups.
Hardware-wise, the guitars are nearly identical, with the trivial difference of an amber switch cap on the Gibson versus a black one on the Epiphone. The crucial distinction lies in the bridge design. Both utilize a wraparound tailpiece that also functions as the bridge. However, the Epiphone employs a compensated wraparound tailpiece, offering improved intonation. While perhaps not “vintage accurate,” the compensated design is functionally superior in every practical aspect: Winner: Epiphone.
Both guitars are equipped with P90-style pickups. Gibson literature refers to them simply as P90s, while Epiphone designates theirs as P90 PROs. Neither manufacturer provides detailed specifications regarding DC resistance, impedance, or output current. Sonically, the Gibson pickups were described as slightly brighter, while the Epiphone pickups delivered a warmer tone with a richer bass response. This assessment was made with all controls at maximum on a clean amp setting, just at the edge of breakup. The Gibson pickups seemed to push the amp into overdrive slightly quicker, suggesting a marginally hotter output. Pickup preference is highly subjective. The reviewer could “live with either” set but would ultimately replace both with aftermarket hand-wound pickups for enhanced performance. Therefore, in terms of pickups, it’s a matter of taste, resulting in: Either, or no winner.
Both guitars arrived strung with heavy gauge .010-.046 strings – described humorously as “cattle fencing.” As with most new guitars, immediate string replacement is advisable, also providing an opportunity to address fretboard conditioning and fret polishing. The stock strings are universally considered subpar: Winner: Whatever Good Guitar Strings you use.
Final Verdict: Epiphone Takes the Crown
In conclusion, for anyone seeking a Les Paul Special, particularly in a double-cutaway, dual P90 configuration and classic TV Yellow finish (a configuration more readily found in vintage instruments), the Epiphone Les Paul guitar emerges as the clear winner. It is unequivocally the better guitar, and at a significantly lower price point. The fact that one can save a substantial amount of money (approximately fourteen hundred dollars in this comparison) while obtaining a superior instrument is a compelling argument in favor of the Epiphone.
The reviewer expressed surprise at the Gibson’s quality, noting it was better than recent Gibson experiences, though acknowledging it could have been an older stock model. However, it still fails to justify its premium price tag. Building a Les Paul Special from a kit could potentially be more cost-effective (excluding labor), but the Epiphone offers the most sensible and practical solution. The author’s planned upgrades for the Epiphone would include replacing the pickups and tuners. While the stock pickups are not terrible, and the tuners are usable in the short term, aftermarket upgrades would elevate the guitar’s performance. Consulting with pickup experts like Tim Mills at Bare Knuckle Pickups is recommended for tailored pickup selection.
Alt text: Full view of the Epiphone Les Paul Special guitar in TV Yellow, highlighting its overall aesthetics and P90 pickups.
Ultimately, the Epiphone Les Paul Special guitar stands out as an exceptional value proposition, delivering a superior playing experience and tone comparable to, and in some aspects exceeding, its significantly more expensive Gibson counterpart. For players seeking that Les Paul Special vibe without breaking the bank, the Epiphone is undoubtedly the smarter choice.
