If I told you, ten years ago, that the almighty Gibson Custom Shop was going to collaborate with Epiphone China in creating a guitar, what would have been your reaction? Skepticism? Laughter? Mistrust?
Well, that thing that once seemed impossible, weird, and far, has become a reality.
But that’s not all, there’s a headstock to talk about, an appearance over a stage, a price tag, and much more.
Has Epiphone China finally nailed the Gibson tone?
Table of Contents
What’s the Greeny Les Paul and Why is It So Important?
The Greeny isn’t just a fine sample of what the Gibson Holy Grail (a ’59 Les Paul Standard) sounds and feels like, but it has also collected some mojo from three huge names in the history of rock music.
To begin with, the nickname “Greeny” comes from Peter Green, who used this guitar in a couple of bands like John Mayall & The Blues Breakers and Fleetwood Mac.
The next owner was another guitar legend, Mr. Gary Moore, in my opinion, one of the finest guitarists to ever hold a Les Paul. He used it (and abused it) during his time with Thin Lizzy and as a solo performer.
In 2014, the lead guitar player of metal gods Metallica, Kirk Hammett bought it from a private collector. He has since used it not only in the studio but also on stage. Although you wouldn’t think a guitar like that could fit a band like Metallica, the Holy Grail can be wielded on any battlefield with amazing results. A guitar to rule them all.
The Best Epiphone Les Paul Ever Made
In 2020, Hammett and Gibson announced a partnership and the first offspring from that relationship was the hefty-priced Gibson Collector’s Edition Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard. That was a 50-guitar run with a $50,000 tag hanging from the low-E tuner.
Three years after those guitars were sold and long gone into the hands of people like Adam Jones (Tool) and the actor Jason Momoa, Gibson decided to release three more models including an Epiphone version.
I’m leaving the pricey Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard and the much more affordable Gibson Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard out of the matter because we’re focusing on the Epiphone version.
The fact that the Gibson Custom Shop collaborated with Epiphone China isn’t just a random fact: I’m talking about a guitar sporting a Gibson headstock. But that’s not all, because this guitar also features Gibson USA pickups, mismatched tone and volume knobs, and a pink interior, brown Gibson-like case.
Furthermore, this Epiphone reproduction also features a one-piece mahogany neck (era-correct, of course) with the long-awaited and much-loved long tenon. Also, the back has no veneer and it can clearly be seen that it’s made of two pieces.
In case you didn’t know, most Epiphone Les Pauls are made of several pieces and use a veneer to cover it up. On the other hand, what still is a veneer is the guitar’s mesmerizing flame maple top.
And yes, it also has the inverted neck pickup that makes the out-of-phase this guitar became famous for.
Believe me, this is the furthest into Gibson territory I have ever seen Epiphone go. Are the lines between Gibson USA and Epiphone finally blurring?
The Fender Mexico Model
Talking about the line blurring between Gibson and Epiphone, I think of a business model that adds a third option between the flagship USA-made line and the Asian-made second brand.
Yes, I’m talking about Fender Mexico, a factory that’s dedicated to making classic and innovative instruments for amateur players and hobbyists who like to play their favorite models with the Fender logo on the headstock without spending the big money USA models cost.
Believe me, I’ve played Fender Mexico guitars for many years and, although they’re very far in many ways from the flagship and Custom Shop models, they’re great representations of the Fender tone, comfort, and durability.
Furthermore, I have seen Mexican Fenders being played in arenas and stadiums more than once.
Is this the kind of instrument the “Custom Shop” version of Epiphone is going to become?
So far, what we know is that Epiphone has confirmed that future Custom-Shop-level instruments by the brand will come with the iconic “open book” headstock. This might mean that this upper-tier segment of Epiphone is bound to keep growing.
The Bottom End
Gibson is one of the biggest guitar brands in the world and everything indicates it will keep on growing. This new line of guitars isn’t just a bunch of new instruments, but the dawn of a new, much-awaited line that sits comfortably between the Asian-made Epiphone guitars and the Gibson USA flagship line.
In my opinion, Gibson’s previous approach to closing that gap, which was simplified, uglier versions of their classics at half the value of the real thing, wasn’t as attractive to me as a player. So, I’m very happy that this line of affordable iconic guitar recreations keeps on growing.
Happy (Epiphone Custom Shop) playing!
