Before I get into the details, please be very careful...Epiphone produced the original "Inspired by Gibson" models as a high end premium guitar, punching close to a USA Gibson.
Since this they decided to start calling all of the standard entry level production models "inspired by Gibson"...great move guys!
this is the real McCoy and is a stunning guitar indeed.
Boy oh boy, have Epiphone blurred the lines between the two brands here, this is a remarkable guitar that beats several of the USA made variants hands down. The spec sheet reads like a top end USA model and the attention to detail here is way above the standard Epiphone production.
Now I agree, these appear to sell for a premium price for a Chinese built Epiphone, until you play, and hear them, at which point everything starts making sense.
This one is a near mint example and comes with its bespoke "inspired by Gibson"hard case.
If you are local to us, you have to come and try this thing to believe it!
Here is the spec from Epiphone...
Made in collaboration with Gibson™ Custom, the Epiphone 1959 Les Paul™ Standard is Epiphone’s incredible recreation of the rare vintage classic, updated to be more authentic and true to the originals than ever. It features a mahogany body with a maple top with a solid flame maple veneer, a one-piece mahogany neck with a comfortable ’59 rounded, medium C profile, long neck tenon, and Gibson-style “open book” R9 headstock shape, VOS (Vintage Original Sheen) finish, Gibson Custombucker humbucking pickups, Switchcraft® selector switch and 1/4” output jack, CTS® pots, 50s era wiring, Mallory™ capacitors, non-beveled pickguard, Epiphone Deluxe vintage tuners with Keystone buttons, and a vintage-style brown and pink hardshell case.
