It's here: Gibson Custom Shop and Epiphone's $800 take on the '59 Les Paul Standard

Epiphone and the Gibson Custom Shop have teamed up for the very first time, launching an affordable ’59-spec LP model: the Epiphone ‘59 Les Paul Standard. The collaboration was revealed last month, and has been officially launched today (12 November).

The limited-edition guitar takes after the coveted vintage classic, offering a number of period-accurate appointments such as 50s-era wiring and 1959 hand-rolled neck profile with long neck tenon. It’s also the first-ever Epiphone guitar to feature an artificially aged finish.

As you would expect, the Epiphone ’59 Les Paul Standard features a mahogany body, with a maple top, a AAA figured maple veneer, and cream binding. There’s also a mahogany neck, of course, but in an understandable nod to the increased scarcity of rosewood, the fretboard is Indian laurel with 22 medium jumbo frets.

A pair of authentic Gibson USA BurstBuckers are wired to period-correct specs to preserve top end when rolling off the volume control, thanks to the 50s-style wiring. In the control section are two pairs of volume and tone knobs with premium CTS pots and Mallory capacitors. Other high-quality electronics include a Switchcraft output jack and toggle switch.

The guitar sports hardware by Epiphone, including a LockTone tailpiece and stop bar set, as well as Epiphone Deluxe tuning machines with vintage tulip keys. There’s also a commemorative metal medallion toggle switch plate on the back of the guitar.

The Epiphone ’59 Les Paul Standard is priced at just $799 and comes in two finishes: Aged Dark Burst and Aged Dark Cherry Burst. It also ships with a vintage-style brown hard case.

The collaboration bridges a gap between the two extremes of Les Paul pricing. While a little more expensive than the other Les Pauls in the Inspired By Gibson range, it’s still by some distance the most affordable way to capture that authentic Burst vibe.

Mat Koehler, Head of Product Development at the Gibson Custom Shop, said of the first-of-its-kind team-up, which has been three years in the making: “Our product development teams from Epiphone and Gibson Custom Shop are proud to have collaborated on these fantastic Les Paul models inspired by our iconic 1959 Les Paul Historic reissues.”

He also revealed that this won’t be the last time Epiphone joins forces with the Custom Shop, saying: “As one of many collaborations to come, we were able to incorporate many of the ‘guitar geek’ upgrades and features we celebrate at the Custom Shop and offer that to the Epiphone audience.”

Take a look at the guitar up close below.