The neck on the 50's feels perfect to me. I played it side by side with the Gibson equivalent and it felt extremely close to me. With my skills (or lack thereof) I can't justify spending the extra $ for the Gibson.
I have a 50’s … however in your test, I liked the 60’s during the gain tests, but the 50’s was brighter, especially with the bridge pickup in the clean tests. I like the 50’s neck, but that is certainly a personal preference. IMHO, you couldn’t go wrong with either one. Thanks for the video!!
I just got my 50’s yesterday. Absolutely zero finish issues, zero fret issues. Came setup to my liking. Love the neck and it sounds amazing. I’m digging the new headstock also. It’s a beautiful guitar. Hard to believe what they can make at this price point. I bought mine from American Music Supply. I believe they do an inspection before shipping.
Absolutely love my 50s gold top! It’s me first Les Paul and my first C shape neck guitar. I’ve played it everyday for the 3 months that I’ve owned it, I just can’t put it down! I’m very impressed
I just ordered the 60’s specifically because of the neck. I still wouldn’t mind a 50’s at some point. I have small fingers and hands , so how bulky is that neck ? Is it something that’s not a big deal or would my small hands be a hindrance on that neck ?
@@benallmark9671 i know it's late to answer that question... but I have small hands too and today I tested a 50's and believe me it is not as they describe it. (I usually do bare chords with the thumb in the low E and it's not uncomfortable, at least to me)
Thanks Jimmy for your video, You helped me decide (was a tough decision). I picked up a 50s Gold Top based on the cleaner sound, but it was a tough choice. The neck is beefier than I’m used to, but comfortable. It is similar to my acoustic J-15 neck, but a tiny bit chunkier right at the nut/first fret. I’m getting used to it and am loving the fit & finish on it. I was shopping for a proper Gibson model, but am more pleased with the proper Epiphone, really. Mine is not much over 8 lbs and the pickups sound as good as Gibson pickups, IMO. I think the main difference for me will be the better wood, hardware, and wiring on the Gibson. As for feel and sound, they are neck and neck IMO. As far as 50s vs 60s it is a toss-up, based on neck and pickups. I tried them both for 3 different days through a deluxe reverb and they are both top notch guitars. The 60s is hotter and non-50s wiring gives a smoother tonal sweep, not as chimney as 50s, very good, but different tone. If you play higher gain music, you may prefer the hotter pickups, but honestly I think anyone with some know-how will be able to get whatever tone they need from either model. The neck feel will be one of the primary deciding factors, I believe. Thanks again for the video. As far as others’ comments on your lighting, just put a key light on your face only and you will be good to go.
Hi Dave, I have been playing f ender guitar my whole life but love Les Paul guitars. Whill the 50s be too odd on my small fingers? This is the only thinng that is holding me back.
Great job!! I personally went with a 60’s model. It just felt, and sounded better in store. Guess I got one of those “it just connects with you” versions. Fell in love instantly. My only complaint was a few sharp fret ends. But, easily fixable.
So, I am listening to this side by side comparison on an IPhone with ear buds. Sometimes I listen to music on my phone with a $300 pair of Sennheiser HDPro headphones. Certainly the sound is better, especially in the bass. My point is, I didn’t hear ANY difference between the two guitars. Others who have posted here have. Is it the ear buds that are preventing me from hearing differences? P.S. I did hear a 3 way blind comparison of 2 Epi Les Pauls and one Gibson LP. I was able to distinguish the Gibby from the 2 Epiphones. There WAS a difference, but not one big enough to justify an extra $2000. PPS. I bought the 50s Gold Top.
I believe the sixties had a better sound when you dug into it. But they're so close if you did not know they were being compared you think it was the same guitar playing. 60s definitely! Plus I'd rather have Grover's any day! But in all fairness I picked the 60s and I've been loving it! I have big hands but I still like the Slimmer neck also. Thank you for the test, it was fun!
The 50's Les Paul sounds so much better than the 60's version. It's clear and chimey. The 60's Les Paul sounds muffled by comparison. It's probably the 50's wiring in the 50's Les Paul that's making most of the difference.
The '60s seems to have slightly higher output, although that might be down to pickup height. It also seems to have slightly more prominent upper mids...
Very nice and helpful video! I'm primarily a Strat player, so it's the 60's Les Paul for me. Slimmer neck profile, and the tones are less harsh to my ears than the more treble-y 50's tones. I'm just glad that the 60's came with the Grover tuners. I don't understand how Epiphone ever decided to put those nasty-looking plastic tuning pegs on any guitar. They remind me of the glow in the dark toys that I used to get out of the cereal box as a kid.
I'm not a fan of the look of the vintage Tuners with the plastic tulip head. The plastic and pressed metal body appears someone feeble, but guess they are reliable. I have Grover's on a Epi LP and Tulip (Epiphone Deluxe Vintage Tuners) on an Epi SG.
the wiring of my Epiphone 59 appears identical to that of the 50's. The only difference I can tell is that the 50s model comes with quick connect pickups and doesn't have the upgraded toggle switch and out put jack of the 59. It even has the yellow Mallory capacitors. The build quality of both appear indistiguishable.
Great comparison! Just a little thing, you forgot to match pickups heights, the bridge pickup height on the 60s was way higher than the one on the 50s, hence the difference in sound. I preferred the 60s sound when clean but the 50s when crunching!
I am curious about what the differences are between the 60s and the classic, especially when it comes to the neck and the wiring. I would be grateful if you could shed some light on the topic.
So...if we leave the small hardware difference and the dimensions of the neck both guitars sound almost identical. The 60s sounds a bit more sharp to me, more rockish. The 50s is more warm(bluesy), but really small difference. If i have to make a blind purchase without trying the neck in my hand...i would probably go with the 60s. However...i will make my choice based on the neck dimensions. Thank you for the video, it was really helpful1
You said the pickups are the same, and Epiphone's marketing literature isn't consistent. Some things say Probucker 1 and 2 in the 50's, 2 and 3 in the 60's. Their customer service has been terrible and I haven't gotten an answer as to the difference in over a year. But I would imagine the 2,3 set is hotter than the 1,2 set, which is also supported by your samples. I like the clarity and what I expect a Les Paul "should" sound like from the 50's one, but wish I could get the 1,2 set in the 60's version because the cosmetics are more subtle and appealing to me, and the neck doesn't make the nerves in my wrists tweak. That said, I ended up with a 50's for the sound, and yes, I do love it. The unsubtle 2-tone burst is slowly making it's way past my objections.
I recently purchased the 60s because the neck was way more comfortable for me, but listening to this comparison I can definitely hear a tad more clarity with the 50s, which I would’ve preferred. Oh well, I’m still 100% happy with mine.
Tbh they sound very similar. I think 60s might sound slightly better dirty but less good clean. Idk it’s pretty much splitting hairs on the differences
Thank you SO much for this video! 🙏 This helped me a lot in trying to decide which one I want to purchase. I think I’m gonna go with the 60s although they both look and sound amazing!
Great comparison, both sound great. I enjoyed the 60s more especially when you dug in and played with gain. I can’t wait to try the new Epiphone lineup!
Thanks for the thoughtful comparison! I own a 1968 Gibson LP Custom so I sort of 'attuned' to that sound, esp. as I quite often play finger-style. I recently tried both these in the Gibson / Epiphone main store (in HK) and came to same conclusion as listening to your vid that overall the 60's has a bit more 'warmth / body / fullness' and is slightly 'darker' which is what I'm used to + the 60's neck suits me way more. That said, they are both lovely instruments - Epiphone seem to be hitting it out of the park these last few years.
50s sounded clearer in the cleans, 60s sounded a bit muddy there. 60s sounds a bit stronger and louder in volume in the gain, 50s sounds pretty good still there. Difference in lead gain sounds is slightly imperceptible to me. 50s hardware looks more attractive to me. Overall I'm leaning towards the 50s, but I like the 60s burst more than the 50s haha. If only you could pick the burst color
Funny you said that. I thought the same when I had them both. A 50's model in the Iced Tea finish would be great. I think Sweetwater was actually doing that with the Gibson versions...it's a cool idea.
Both guitars look and sound amazing! Sometime I preferred the 50's and in other instances I preferred the sound of the 60's, especially with gain! It's a tough choice, Il need to go to the guitar store and compare them that way. I'm seriously considering the classic worn gold! Thanks for the demo!
I went with the 60s because it had a little more aggressive sound to it with gain. I find that it has more distortion and sustain than the 50s model which fits more the type of music I play.
Thanks for this review, i was thinking about getting the 50s but now ive heard the 60s im definitely going to try that out because i loved and preferred the sound.
'50's seems chimier and I dig the vintage tuners. If this is right, though, i'd dig the slimmer neck profile of the '60. in reality, its all good. I have a '07 Plus Top, csb that I love. I bought it new then and grovers and a slim taper neck. Less beefy than my G400 from a few years later. actually put more 'miles' on the sg. You just get into it.
Hello I have a left handed les paul standard 50 s guitar I have the vintage deluxe tuners didn't even know that till was told from youtube les paul player
All the 2021 les Paul Standards are now high end the real deal Les Paul's les Paul himself would have been very proud of these for sure these are era correct
I know I’m a year late with my question, but how different do the necks feel, thickness (depth) wise? I own the 50’s Gold Top and want to buy a second LP. I like the 50’s neck, but slightly slimmer wouldn’t bother me. If the 60’s feels considerably thinner, I’ll stick with a 50’s model. I just really like the 60’s iced tea finish.
i prefer the sound of the 60's. But not by a big difference, so I should try them to decide and I will if I don't go for a second hand 1959 outfit... Not still sure if I prefere one of these brand new or a second hand 1959 with burstbuckers....
I could hear a distinct sound which is 50s/60s and 70s sound from those that played them from that time I like them both .This is helpful. I’m trying figure out what my Epiphone is. somehow it brought me to you.
It comes down to the neck profile for me, I am not a fan of the skinny 60s neck. But both guitars are great sounding. I have the 50's Standard and one of the 59's.
The pickups on both these models are not the same, which is why they don't sound the same either. The 50s LP comes with Epiphone Probucker 1 in the neck and Probucker 2 in the bridge while the 60s LP comes with Probucker 2 in the neck and Probucker 3 in the bridge. The Probucker pickups (which are basically Epiphone versions of the Gibson Burstbucker pickups) get progressively hotter as the model number increases - just like their Gibson counterparts.
Both nice I have Les standard left handed it resembles the Gibson Les Paul it has klausin old fashion tuners witch I'm surprised we got it about nine years ago it's great
Colors are so similar, 50s is cherry and 60s is iced tea, but they seem so similar in these test, maybe the cherry is darker and shows better the flame, am i right?
I want to buy les Paul but I can’t decide between 50s and 60s standard, With your video I realised that the 50s delivers les clean sound than 60s which I think is better. What is your opinion guys?
Hi there, thank you for this lovely comparison video. I have been playing f ender guitar my whole life but love Les Paul guitars. Whill the 50s be too odd on my small fingers? This is the only thinng that is holding me back.
The 50s sounded a tiny bit warmer to me but it was so slight you would never notice in a mix. I think it boils down to one question----do you prefer a fat neck or a slim neck?
I bought a black epi Les Paul custom pro back in 2015 and after I had the plastic nut swapped out and got rid of fret buzz at a couple frets it has been a great player.But that old headstock though!😝The min I saw the new headstock and it already comes with the nubone nut I was sold and for only about 70 more dollars than I paid for the 2015!($550.00)And I got the goldtop finish!Hope I get one where the qc was les drunk or in a hurry the day they made it !
Both lovely sounding guitars but I don’t think there is a lot between them but I would go for 1950s because I like the feeling of the thicker neck profile I’ve just collected my new Epiphone 1950s Heritage Cherry Sunburst it looks and feels amazing. l just need to bring down the action a bit the nut slots a bit too high for my liking I think they are great value for the money I cannot wait to try it up against my Gibson 1960 Classic.🎼🎶🎸👍🏼
grover regular tuning heads vs vintage style? Psh. Vintage style all the way baby. OR just get locking tuners if possible since those are the best even if they might not look the way you want them to and are a tad bit more pricy... Here's my story lol. Once I got wasted and passed out in my bed with my guitar in the bed with me lol. Apparently I rolled over a few times in my sleep and ended up slicing my arm up a good bit. My arm apparently moved over the head stock when I was sleeping and I hurt myself on the sharp ends of the guitar strings sticking out. NOT KOOL. Also one time I gave a acoustic guitar to a friend and his silly kid hurt herself on the sharp head stock strings sticking out. Kids can't resist messing with the tuning pegs lol. If it's a switch or a knob or a crank or something... Lil kids want to play with it lol. Another great reason why we should keep stuff like guns and other dangerous things in the hands of the sane/educated instead of allowing them to be in the hands of the crazy and stupid but that's a whole other issue lol. See... This is why I freekin HATE regular tuning heads. It's a comfort thing. Might not bother some folks but it totally bugs me. Vintage style or lockers for me. Another tip is to put tooth paste or some type of glu on the tips of the strings so they are not so sharp. But that can some times fall off and look stupid so... Like I said. Best stick with vintage or locking in my honest opinion. There is a way to make regular tuning pegs NOT have string slack sticking out that can stab you but it's VERY hard to precisely thread the string so perfectly. Using small clamps to help hold things in place while you tighten the peg can help but even then it's a bit tricky. I did it once on my acoustic martin made in mexico. Took like a fuckin hour and I think it sadly resulted in a guitar that goes out of tune a lil faster than normal so that sucks... Good video boss. I honestly think that if you want a les paul, Gibson is just about the last company you should buy from honestly... 1... They are usually over priced... 2... They don't have the best track record when it comes to quality. Fender, ric, gretsch etc etc have a MUCH better track record of satisfying customers. If your gibson has a problem which is kind of a thing... Good luck getting the assholes at gibson to help you out. Apparently their customer service when it comes to repairs and getting your money back is a giant pain in the a. 3... TONS of les pauls out there that over all beat gibsons les pauls. Don't get me wrong... If you got a gibson les paul that works great then good for you but still... That doesn't change the fact that many of them are faulty. It's the dumb ass head stock angle and wood thickness around their truss rod. Makes for a guitar that can break easily around the head stock causing massive tuning stability issues. Many les paul makers have made their guitars to NOT have these problems. Something that gibson seems to be ignorant about. Me thinks they refuse to change so they can keep that model detail as their "brand" and whoever copies it is just some one they can sue because they are dicks. Gibson is suing a company I love right now. Heritage. Nice guys right? Heritage is made up of many old school workers who even used to work for gibson back in the day and this is how gibson treats them... Wonderful... And with the guitar world becoming less popular... I worry that great guitar makers like ric and heritage might go under : ( I got a heritage les paul 1996 h-140 gold top. From the good wood years lol. Cost me 1500 but it's pretty sick. No guitar is really worth more than 2000 in my honest opinion so I think it was fairly worth it. Gotta love the 90s... They did a lot of great guitar work in the 90s. Good news too because the 70s and 80s were not the best guitar years lol. Today guitars are nowhere near as popular as they once were, but at least you got a lot of guitar knowledge out there and today they are creating some great modern guitars. Got my music man cutlass and it just SCREAMS of modern day guitar work at its best. But yeah... To sum up... If you want a les paul... Go with companies like heritage, epiphone, a gretsch jet/penguin is basically the same thing as a les paul, even prs puts out a very les paul looking model. PRS guitars are very good despite being over priced a lot of the time and are also known as the guitar for lame ass butt rock and emo but still... They are good lol. Even some chinese companies make a fabulous les paul. I forget their names but they exist : ) If you got a ton of money and want to risk getting a good gibson les paul, particularly a les paul custom, custom shop model, or historic which range from 2500-5000 bucks... Or a vintage real deal one that can cost 50k to 300k...... Then go for it I guess lol. Buyer beware though... You know how the old saying goes... If your les paul stays in tune then that's because it's chinese lololol.
I bought the 50s first, and it was absolutely stunning, for live sessions. However, I couldn't tame it in the studio so bought the 60s as well, given the lower output without the capacitors. Both guitars are amazing in their own respect.
I am buying one soon and I am testing now at the shop. They look very "sexy" I have to say that Epiphone did a great job - They also sound good though slightly different - My only concern is about tuning issue that many Gibson and "Gibson like " model have _ could you give me a advise in this respect? Thanks for the video - Mauro
The tuning issue on Les Paul's is due to the angle of the strings at the nut. A problem you don't have on Fender as the strings stay 'straight' through the nut. With the Graphtech nut this is not an issue. I have one of these and it works great. As for the tuners, both the Epiphone Kluson style and the grovers are very smooth and stable. After that tuning is down to streching the strings and ensuring a good minimum locking wrap around on the tuners.
Hi! I love Jimmy Page and I was wondering which one of the 2020's Epiphone Les Pauls is the Epiphone version of Page's Gibson. Could you tell me that? Thanks
@@Johnny-mb9vy No they havent. Just at the most recent NAM, they mentioned it and said something like "later half of 2020". Check out NAM videos to see it
50s sounded a lot better clean, the 60s a tiny bit better with some overdrive. I guess if you play rock you won't be using clean tones that often and 60s has a slimmer neck which is preferable for some.
Thanks for the information! I went with the 60s model. I like the 50s tuning pegs, but the bourbon burst only came in the 60s model. I'm extremely happy with my choice though, and love the clean warm sounds I'm getting. I've had no issues at all. Any ideas on a good amp to go with the Epiphone LP Standard?
Yeah I feel like I'm learning lessons every time I make a video haha. Lesson: Check that your screen brightness is not all the way up before editing video :) Thanks for sharing, I'm a work in progress :)
@@JimmyParagalloGuitar Intersting. In another recent TH-cam review, someone said his 60s Standard was lighter than the 50s that he tried in the store. 🤷♂️
Wow! There’s quite a difference, I wasn’t expecting that as they both got the same cheap pickups. Up to personal taste which one anyone prefers. I personally don’t care much for either. I had a Epi Les Paul Standard Pro and I thought the pickups lacked something? The pickups on my Gibson SG completely blew them out of the water. The new Epiphone Inspiration by Gibson are really good guitars but I would replace the pickups, bridge and stop bar tailpiece. You’d have a guitar to equal a Gibson in tone at a decent price.
Both sound great but the 50's was the hands down winner to my ears. The 50's wiring gave the same pickups more clarity.
Thanks for sharing! I liked the 50s for sure.
They are both probuckers however, the 60's has probuckers 3 and 4 pickups while the 50s has probuckers 1 and 2 for a more vintage sound I believe.
@John D Epiphone website says the 50’s has 1 & 2. Makes sense it would have lower output for a more vintage sound
@@therollband1290 +1
@@johnd959 Sorry but you are wrong. I own both. 50s has PB 1 and 2. 60s has PB 2 and 3.
I recently bought the 60’s. What a killer guitar! 😎👍
I bought the 50s and I’m loving it so far! Great tone and quality!
The neck on the 50's feels perfect to me. I played it side by side with the Gibson equivalent and it felt extremely close to me. With my skills (or lack thereof) I can't justify spending the extra $ for the Gibson.
They dont have techcnically the same pickups. The 50s had Probucker 1 & 2 and the 60's has Probucker 2 & 3. This was not mentioned here.
I have a 50’s … however in your test, I liked the 60’s during the gain tests, but the 50’s was brighter, especially with the bridge pickup in the clean tests. I like the 50’s neck, but that is certainly a personal preference. IMHO, you couldn’t go wrong with either one. Thanks for the video!!
I just got my 50’s yesterday. Absolutely zero finish issues, zero fret issues. Came setup to my liking. Love the neck and it sounds amazing. I’m digging the new headstock also.
It’s a beautiful guitar. Hard to believe what they can make at this price point.
I bought mine from American Music Supply. I believe they do an inspection before shipping.
absolutely right,seller setup the guitar first before send it to customer.
Hey that's awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing
Absolutely love my 50s gold top! It’s me first Les Paul and my first C shape neck guitar. I’ve played it everyday for the 3 months that I’ve owned it, I just can’t put it down! I’m very impressed
I just ordered the 60’s specifically because of the neck. I still wouldn’t mind a 50’s at some point. I have small fingers and hands , so how bulky is that neck ? Is it something that’s not a big deal or would my small hands be a hindrance on that neck ?
@@benallmark9671 i know it's late to answer that question... but I have small hands too and today I tested a 50's and believe me it is not as they describe it. (I usually do bare chords with the thumb in the low E and it's not uncomfortable, at least to me)
@@gxzmvn thanks bro. I’ve since played it and agree.
Lead on 60s, clean on 50s. Comes down to neck size you prefer
Very true on that neck size. Thanks for sharing
Agreed
I like beautiful clean sound of 50s, but I also love 60s sharp sound
and its amazing how similiar the sound is compared to Gibson
Thanks Jimmy for your video,
You helped me decide (was a tough decision).
I picked up a 50s Gold Top based on the cleaner sound, but it was a tough choice. The neck is beefier than I’m used to, but comfortable. It is similar to my acoustic J-15 neck, but a tiny bit chunkier right at the nut/first fret. I’m getting used to it and am loving the fit & finish on it.
I was shopping for a proper Gibson model, but am more pleased with the proper Epiphone, really. Mine is not much over 8 lbs and the pickups sound as good as Gibson pickups, IMO. I think the main difference for me will be the better wood, hardware, and wiring on the Gibson. As for feel and sound, they are neck and neck IMO.
As far as 50s vs 60s it is a toss-up, based on neck and pickups. I tried them both for 3 different days through a deluxe reverb and they are both top notch guitars. The 60s is hotter and non-50s wiring gives a smoother tonal sweep, not as chimney as 50s, very good, but different tone. If you play higher gain music, you may prefer the hotter pickups, but honestly I think anyone with some know-how will be able to get whatever tone they need from either model.
The neck feel will be one of the primary deciding factors, I believe.
Thanks again for the video.
As far as others’ comments on your lighting, just put a key light on your face only and you will be good to go.
Hi Dave, I have been playing f ender guitar my whole life but love Les Paul guitars. Whill the 50s be too odd on my small fingers? This is the only thinng that is holding me back.
Great job!! I personally went with a 60’s model. It just felt, and sounded better in store. Guess I got one of those “it just connects with you” versions. Fell in love instantly. My only complaint was a few sharp fret ends. But, easily fixable.
For me it was the Modern Figured. The whole inspired by Gibson line is on point honestly.
@@etherealessence I actually went there to look at the moderns. But tried a variety out. They are all very good actually. The ‘60S just felt right.
@@timothyweesner6286 can't argue with what feels right :)
So, I am listening to this side by side comparison on an IPhone with ear buds. Sometimes I listen to music on my phone with a $300 pair of Sennheiser HDPro headphones. Certainly the sound is better, especially in the bass. My point is, I didn’t hear ANY difference between the two guitars. Others who have posted here have. Is it the ear buds that are preventing me from hearing differences?
P.S. I did hear a 3 way blind comparison of 2 Epi Les Pauls and one Gibson LP. I was able to distinguish the Gibby from the 2 Epiphones. There WAS a difference, but not one big enough to justify an extra $2000.
PPS. I bought the 50s Gold Top.
I believe the sixties had a better sound when you dug into it. But they're so close if you did not know they were being compared you think it was the same guitar playing. 60s definitely! Plus I'd rather have Grover's any day! But in all fairness I picked the 60s and I've been loving it! I have big hands but I still like the Slimmer neck also. Thank you for the test, it was fun!
The 50's Les Paul sounds so much better than the 60's version. It's clear and chimey. The 60's Les Paul sounds muffled by comparison. It's probably the 50's wiring in the 50's Les Paul that's making most of the difference.
Thanks for sharing! I did enjoy the 50s for sure.
Pickups?
The '60s seems to have slightly higher output, although that might be down to pickup height. It also seems to have slightly more prominent upper mids...
Very nice and helpful video! I'm primarily a Strat player, so it's the 60's Les Paul for me. Slimmer neck profile, and the tones are less harsh to my ears than the more treble-y 50's tones. I'm just glad that the 60's came with the Grover tuners. I don't understand how Epiphone ever decided to put those nasty-looking plastic tuning pegs on any guitar. They remind me of the glow in the dark toys that I used to get out of the cereal box as a kid.
I'm not a fan of the look of the vintage Tuners with the plastic tulip head. The plastic and pressed metal body appears someone feeble, but guess they are reliable. I have Grover's on a Epi LP and Tulip (Epiphone Deluxe Vintage Tuners) on an Epi SG.
i like the sixties epi. it sounds a bit hotter than the other one and has a bit of rumble when you play it hard.
Agree
Both good. personally in the store we GO FOR THE 60S
Watched this with my eyes closed and didnt know which was which. The 50's sounds better clean - especially for Jazz - The 60s sounds better with gain
Thanks for sharing
Great sound, especially the LP 50´s
the wiring of my Epiphone 59 appears identical to that of the 50's. The only difference I can tell is that the 50s model comes with quick connect pickups and doesn't have the upgraded toggle switch and out put jack of the 59. It even has the yellow Mallory capacitors. The build quality of both appear indistiguishable.
Great comparison! Just a little thing, you forgot to match pickups heights, the bridge pickup height on the 60s was way higher than the one on the 50s, hence the difference in sound.
I preferred the 60s sound when clean but the 50s when crunching!
True true, I’ll get that on the next one. Refining the process on these things each time. Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback!
I am curious about what the differences are between the 60s and the classic, especially when it comes to the neck and the wiring. I would be grateful if you could shed some light on the topic.
So...if we leave the small hardware difference and the dimensions of the neck both guitars sound almost identical. The 60s sounds a bit more sharp to me, more rockish. The 50s is more warm(bluesy), but really small difference. If i have to make a blind purchase without trying the neck in my hand...i would probably go with the 60s. However...i will make my choice based on the neck dimensions. Thank you for the video, it was really helpful1
I was thinking about purchasing the bourbon burst 60's Epi Standard to go with my Gibson version.
You said the pickups are the same, and Epiphone's marketing literature isn't consistent. Some things say Probucker 1 and 2 in the 50's, 2 and 3 in the 60's. Their customer service has been terrible and I haven't gotten an answer as to the difference in over a year. But I would imagine the 2,3 set is hotter than the 1,2 set, which is also supported by your samples. I like the clarity and what I expect a Les Paul "should" sound like from the 50's one, but wish I could get the 1,2 set in the 60's version because the cosmetics are more subtle and appealing to me, and the neck doesn't make the nerves in my wrists tweak. That said, I ended up with a 50's for the sound, and yes, I do love it. The unsubtle 2-tone burst is slowly making it's way past my objections.
I recently purchased the 60s because the neck was way more comfortable for me, but listening to this comparison I can definitely hear a tad more clarity with the 50s, which I would’ve preferred. Oh well, I’m still 100% happy with mine.
Tbh they sound very similar. I think 60s might sound slightly better dirty but less good clean. Idk it’s pretty much splitting hairs on the differences
Thank you SO much for this video! 🙏 This helped me a lot in trying to decide which one I want to purchase. I think I’m gonna go with the 60s although they both look and sound amazing!
The 50's was much more "alive" and in my opinion the one I would have chosen. But the 60's was really good, cleaner, clearer and "dampened".
Great comparison, both sound great. I enjoyed the 60s more especially when you dug in and played with gain. I can’t wait to try the new Epiphone lineup!
I love both 2020 50s & 60s Epiphone Les Pauls
The '50s has Probuckers 1 and 2,the ''60s has Probuckers 2 and 3 and the '50s has a long neck tenon while the '60s doesn't
I bought both I was so impressed with the 50’s I purchased a 60’s 😎
Thanks for the thoughtful comparison! I own a 1968 Gibson LP Custom so I sort of 'attuned' to that sound, esp. as I quite often play finger-style. I recently tried both these in the Gibson / Epiphone main store (in HK) and came to same conclusion as listening to your vid that overall the 60's has a bit more 'warmth / body / fullness' and is slightly 'darker' which is what I'm used to + the 60's neck suits me way more. That said, they are both lovely instruments - Epiphone seem to be hitting it out of the park these last few years.
Thanks. The 60s sounds to me to be brighter, but more brittle. The 50s has a more low end but not as bright.
60's all the way for me! more attitude, less polite. great demo! very well done.
50s sounded clearer in the cleans, 60s sounded a bit muddy there. 60s sounds a bit stronger and louder in volume in the gain, 50s sounds pretty good still there. Difference in lead gain sounds is slightly imperceptible to me. 50s hardware looks more attractive to me. Overall I'm leaning towards the 50s, but I like the 60s burst more than the 50s haha. If only you could pick the burst color
Funny you said that. I thought the same when I had them both. A 50's model in the Iced Tea finish would be great. I think Sweetwater was actually doing that with the Gibson versions...it's a cool idea.
Both guitars look and sound amazing! Sometime I preferred the 50's and in other instances I preferred the sound of the 60's, especially with gain! It's a tough choice, Il need to go to the guitar store and compare them that way. I'm seriously considering the classic worn gold! Thanks for the demo!
I went with the 60s because it had a little more aggressive sound to it with gain. I find that it has more distortion and sustain than the 50s model which fits more the type of music I play.
Thanks, Jimmy. I always enjoy your videos. Very well done. Keep up the good work. And stay safe.
Thanks for this review, i was thinking about getting the 50s but now ive heard the 60s im definitely going to try that out because i loved and preferred the sound.
Are the grover tuners better than the deluxe tuners?
Ohhh...yes I walked out of the store with it!! Love it!!
'50's seems chimier and I dig the vintage tuners.
If this is right, though, i'd dig the slimmer neck profile of the '60.
in reality, its all good. I have a '07 Plus Top, csb that I love. I bought it new then and grovers and a slim taper neck.
Less beefy than my G400 from a few years later. actually put more 'miles' on the sg. You just get into it.
For me it sounds like the 60s is a tinch darker sounding than the 50s🤔
Thanks for sharing!
So hard to distinguish which one would be better... I vote 60s cause of slimmer neck & hotter sound.
Hello I have a left handed les paul standard 50 s guitar I have the vintage deluxe tuners didn't even know that till was told from youtube les paul player
All the 2021 les Paul Standards are now high end the real deal Les Paul's les Paul himself would have been very proud of these for sure these are era correct
Niiice job Brosky ;) I always love a good shootout comparison.
I know I’m a year late with my question, but how different do the necks feel, thickness (depth) wise? I own the 50’s Gold Top and want to buy a second LP. I like the 50’s neck, but slightly slimmer wouldn’t bother me. If the 60’s feels considerably thinner, I’ll stick with a 50’s model. I just really like the 60’s iced tea finish.
i prefer the sound of the 60's. But not by a big difference, so I should try them to decide and I will if I don't go for a second hand 1959 outfit... Not still sure if I prefere one of these brand new or a second hand 1959 with burstbuckers....
Thinking about getting one of the new epiphones. Has anybody bought 1? Which model and what's your opinion?
I have and love my '50s Epi Goldtop, so I may have a slight bias...the '50s sounded better to me in this video!
I could hear a distinct sound which is 50s/60s and 70s sound from those that played them from that time I like them both .This is helpful. I’m trying figure out what my Epiphone is. somehow it brought me to you.
Really nice comparison! I vote for the 60s :-). I would like to know how it feels 60s neck vs fender strat modern c? Is 60s thinner?
I'd like to know too,I actually think they're similar
I wouldn't mind having one of each just for fun, but the 50's is head and shoulders better sounding
It comes down to the neck profile for me, I am not a fan of the skinny 60s neck. But both guitars are great sounding. I have the 50's Standard and one of the 59's.
I want the 50’s and then I want to swap the vintage tuners for Kluson locking revolution tuners.
The pickups on both these models are not the same, which is why they don't sound the same either.
The 50s LP comes with Epiphone Probucker 1 in the neck and Probucker 2 in the bridge while the 60s LP comes with Probucker 2 in the neck and Probucker 3 in the bridge. The Probucker pickups (which are basically Epiphone versions of the Gibson Burstbucker pickups) get progressively hotter as the model number increases - just like their Gibson counterparts.
I believe part of what we are hearing is the 50's long neck tenon vs the 60's short neck tenon. Along with the difference in electronics.
What's a tenon?
....and the pickups 1 & 2 vs 2 and 3
@@TheJofrica A wood standard way to join two pieces of wood.
@@taketwo_duo Thanks!
Both nice I have Les standard left handed it resembles the Gibson Les Paul it has klausin old fashion tuners witch I'm surprised we got it about nine years ago it's great
Epiphone Les Paul plustop pro vs either the 50s or 60s LP? Thanks!
Colors are so similar, 50s is cherry and 60s is iced tea, but they seem so similar in these test, maybe the cherry is darker and shows better the flame, am i right?
The inlays on the 50's sounded better to me.
What? 😂
better bass response from the pickguard too
@@airbag97 shows what you know, it’s all in the pick guard “bevel” the non beveled guards muffle your tone.
I want to buy les Paul but I can’t decide between 50s and 60s standard,
With your video I realised that the 50s delivers les clean sound than 60s which I think is better.
What is your opinion guys?
Hi there, thank you for this lovely comparison video. I have been playing f ender guitar my whole life but love Les Paul guitars. Whill the 50s be too odd on my small fingers? This is the only thinng that is holding me back.
Is the 60's neck different than the 2020 Epi LP Customs? I prefer the new 60's neck but I want the LP Custom.
60s is louder & brighter. 50s mellower which I prefer better.
The 50s sounded a tiny bit warmer to me but it was so slight you would never notice in a mix. I think it boils down to one question----do you prefer a fat neck or a slim neck?
Excellent point! Thanks for sharing
I bought a black epi Les Paul custom pro back in 2015 and after I had the plastic nut swapped out and got rid of fret buzz at a couple frets it has been a great player.But that old headstock though!😝The min I saw the new headstock and it already comes with the nubone nut I was sold and for only about 70 more dollars than I paid for the 2015!($550.00)And I got the goldtop finish!Hope I get one where the qc was les drunk or in a hurry the day they made it !
Both lovely sounding guitars but I don’t think there is a lot between them but I would go for 1950s because I like the feeling of the thicker neck profile I’ve just collected my new Epiphone 1950s Heritage Cherry Sunburst it looks and feels amazing. l just need to bring down the action a bit the nut slots a bit too high for my liking I think they are great value for the money I cannot wait to try it up against my Gibson 1960 Classic.🎼🎶🎸👍🏼
I enjoyed the 50s neck too. Thanks for sharing!
How did it compare?
Ambas suenan genial.. pero me gusta mas la 50´s..
Gracias por subir el Video..
un saludo 🙌🙌🙌🙌
Which one's heavier?
grover regular tuning heads vs vintage style? Psh. Vintage style all the way baby. OR just get locking tuners if possible since those are the best even if they might not look the way you want them to and are a tad bit more pricy...
Here's my story lol. Once I got wasted and passed out in my bed with my guitar in the bed with me lol. Apparently I rolled over a few times in my sleep and ended up slicing my arm up a good bit. My arm apparently moved over the head stock when I was sleeping and I hurt myself on the sharp ends of the guitar strings sticking out. NOT KOOL.
Also one time I gave a acoustic guitar to a friend and his silly kid hurt herself on the sharp head stock strings sticking out. Kids can't resist messing with the tuning pegs lol. If it's a switch or a knob or a crank or something... Lil kids want to play with it lol. Another great reason why we should keep stuff like guns and other dangerous things in the hands of the sane/educated instead of allowing them to be in the hands of the crazy and stupid but that's a whole other issue lol.
See... This is why I freekin HATE regular tuning heads. It's a comfort thing. Might not bother some folks but it totally bugs me. Vintage style or lockers for me.
Another tip is to put tooth paste or some type of glu on the tips of the strings so they are not so sharp. But that can some times fall off and look stupid so... Like I said. Best stick with vintage or locking in my honest opinion.
There is a way to make regular tuning pegs NOT have string slack sticking out that can stab you but it's VERY hard to precisely thread the string so perfectly. Using small clamps to help hold things in place while you tighten the peg can help but even then it's a bit tricky. I did it once on my acoustic martin made in mexico. Took like a fuckin hour and I think it sadly resulted in a guitar that goes out of tune a lil faster than normal so that sucks...
Good video boss. I honestly think that if you want a les paul, Gibson is just about the last company you should buy from honestly...
1... They are usually over priced...
2... They don't have the best track record when it comes to quality. Fender, ric, gretsch etc etc have a MUCH better track record of satisfying customers. If your gibson has a problem which is kind of a thing... Good luck getting the assholes at gibson to help you out. Apparently their customer service when it comes to repairs and getting your money back is a giant pain in the a.
3... TONS of les pauls out there that over all beat gibsons les pauls. Don't get me wrong... If you got a gibson les paul that works great then good for you but still... That doesn't change the fact that many of them are faulty. It's the dumb ass head stock angle and wood thickness around their truss rod. Makes for a guitar that can break easily around the head stock causing massive tuning stability issues. Many les paul makers have made their guitars to NOT have these problems. Something that gibson seems to be ignorant about. Me thinks they refuse to change so they can keep that model detail as their "brand" and whoever copies it is just some one they can sue because they are dicks. Gibson is suing a company I love right now. Heritage. Nice guys right? Heritage is made up of many old school workers who even used to work for gibson back in the day and this is how gibson treats them... Wonderful... And with the guitar world becoming less popular... I worry that great guitar makers like ric and heritage might go under : (
I got a heritage les paul 1996 h-140 gold top. From the good wood years lol. Cost me 1500 but it's pretty sick. No guitar is really worth more than 2000 in my honest opinion so I think it was fairly worth it. Gotta love the 90s... They did a lot of great guitar work in the 90s. Good news too because the 70s and 80s were not the best guitar years lol. Today guitars are nowhere near as popular as they once were, but at least you got a lot of guitar knowledge out there and today they are creating some great modern guitars. Got my music man cutlass and it just SCREAMS of modern day guitar work at its best.
But yeah... To sum up... If you want a les paul... Go with companies like heritage, epiphone, a gretsch jet/penguin is basically the same thing as a les paul, even prs puts out a very les paul looking model. PRS guitars are very good despite being over priced a lot of the time and are also known as the guitar for lame ass butt rock and emo but still... They are good lol. Even some chinese companies make a fabulous les paul. I forget their names but they exist : )
If you got a ton of money and want to risk getting a good gibson les paul, particularly a les paul custom, custom shop model, or historic which range from 2500-5000 bucks... Or a vintage real deal one that can cost 50k to 300k...... Then go for it I guess lol.
Buyer beware though... You know how the old saying goes... If your les paul stays in tune then that's because it's chinese lololol.
Soyborne. Born, made, and undone by the soy. locking tuners are a pita unlocking and locking them every time you need to make an adjustment.
@@forkboy3309 Eh? You dont unlock them to make an adjustment.
I bought the 50s first, and it was absolutely stunning, for live sessions. However, I couldn't tame it in the studio so bought the 60s as well, given the lower output without the capacitors. Both guitars are amazing in their own respect.
Hey! Which 2020's Epi Les Paul is closer to the Gibson Les Paul that Jimmy Page used to play? Please tell me if you know. thanks
Out of these two, the 50. But the limited 59 is the closest.
What do You guys Raccomend like for 50's dislike for 60's
I think 50s sounds a little bit more delicate. I feel I prefer it, though afraid of the thick neck).
The 50s was noticeably uh creamier, for lack of a better term. Seemed to sustain longer.
50's so much better for my ear
I am buying one soon and I am testing now at the shop. They look very "sexy" I have to say that Epiphone did a great job - They also sound good though slightly different - My only concern is about tuning issue that many Gibson and "Gibson like " model have _ could you give me a advise in this respect? Thanks for the video - Mauro
The tuning issue on Les Paul's is due to the angle of the strings at the nut. A problem you don't have on Fender as the strings stay 'straight' through the nut. With the Graphtech nut this is not an issue. I have one of these and it works great. As for the tuners, both the Epiphone Kluson style and the grovers are very smooth and stable. After that tuning is down to streching the strings and ensuring a good minimum locking wrap around on the tuners.
Is it just me or do they sound almost identical?
Which is better for adult beginners - the 50's or the 60's?
60's for sure! that neck is easier to play for most people.
Which color is that Les Paul?
50’s LP - Heritage Cherry
60’s LP - Iced Tea
Jimmy Paragallo Guitar thanks for your respond
Hi! I love Jimmy Page and I was wondering which one of the 2020's Epiphone Les Pauls is the Epiphone version of Page's Gibson. Could you tell me that? Thanks
50s
They're also releasing a 1959 edition. That'll be exactly like Jimmy pages!! I'm waiting on that myself.
Mr. Steven yo really? Have they said when?
@@Johnny-mb9vy No they havent. Just at the most recent NAM, they mentioned it and said something like "later half of 2020". Check out NAM videos to see it
Mr. Steven thanks man
Great subject but you need to fix your video exposure. Way too dark. Just a suggestion.
60’s is the winner .
50s sounded a lot better clean, the 60s a tiny bit better with some overdrive. I guess if you play rock you won't be using clean tones that often and 60s has a slimmer neck which is preferable for some.
60s thinner sound
Thanks for the information! I went with the 60s model. I like the 50s tuning pegs, but the bourbon burst only came in the 60s model. I'm extremely happy with my choice though, and love the clean warm sounds I'm getting. I've had no issues at all. Any ideas on a good amp to go with the Epiphone LP Standard?
I’d recommend a Marshall MG30, but if you want a tube amp I’d recommend a black star combo tube or a Marshall dsl20
I just got the Orange 35R and it's amazing,try it out,I reckon it would go well with the Les Paul
For a novice player, which neck would be best?
It’s down to preference. If it’s possible go to a store and try it out
I don't notice any different with both les pauls
Great video, do the 60 lp have a long neck tenon?
Saar Brandvin : neither 50, or 60 has long neck tenon 👍
According to what I've seen/read, the 50s *does* have a long neck tenon
@@vikingfortiesfaeroes it doesn't though - Trogly checked it out by looking under the hood.
@@kentinglis the 50s standard DOES have the long neck tenon. The 60s version does not.
Jimmy, are you in a witness protection program? A little stronger lighting would be welcome. Thanks for the video.
Yeah I feel like I'm learning lessons every time I make a video haha. Lesson: Check that your screen brightness is not all the way up before editing video :)
Thanks for sharing, I'm a work in progress :)
Couldn't tell which model was which 🤔🤔🤔
look at the tuner pegs bro - old fashioned tulips for 50s. steel grovers for 60s
love the video but please use better lighting
Hi, is there any difference in weight between two?
Yes on the two models I had. There is about a 1 pound difference. 50s = 8lbs 15oz & 60s = 9lbs 15oz.
The 50s was my favorite between the two.
@@JimmyParagalloGuitar Intersting. In another recent TH-cam review, someone said his 60s Standard was lighter than the 50s that he tried in the store. 🤷♂️
@@oza8578 I just watched a video that showed the same outcome. Said the 60's model was lighter due to the neck having less wood.
Wow! There’s quite a difference, I wasn’t expecting that as they both got the same cheap pickups. Up to personal taste which one anyone prefers. I personally don’t care much for either. I had a Epi Les Paul Standard Pro and I thought the pickups lacked something? The pickups on my Gibson SG completely blew them out of the water. The new Epiphone Inspiration by Gibson are really good guitars but I would replace the pickups, bridge and stop bar tailpiece. You’d have a guitar to equal a Gibson in tone at a decent price.
you could play higher notes too!
Woah, so glad I saw this before buying, the 60s is so much better with gain than the 50s is. It's night and day.