USA pickups, rosewood fretboards, and new Vintage Gloss finishes star on premium Epiphone Les Paul, SG, Firebird, and ES-335 models with Gibson Custom features
Launched in 2024, the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom line made headlines for offering an unprecedented array of premium features at accessible price points, including the iconic Gibson “open book” headstock. Now, 2025 sees the next evolution of the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection, including genuine rosewood fretboards and new thin Vintage Gloss finishes that are much closer to the look and feel of nitrocellulose. New, upgraded models include four Les Pauls, two Firebirds, an SG Standard, and an ES-335.
The new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection represents a bold evolution for Epiphone, pairing some of the most iconic guitar designs of all time with historically accurate features, USA-made Gibson pickups, and vintage-correct construction that honours the golden era of guitar-making.
Each Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom model is built with a clear purpose: to deliver the sound and specs serious players expect, at an accessible price. The 1959 Les Paul™ Standard Reissue, for example, features the same Gibson Custombucker humbuckers you’ll find on Gibson Custom instruments, alongside CTS® potentiometers and Black Beauty capacitors—components usually reserved for guitars at the very top end of the Gibson catalog.
Likewise, the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue is fitted with USA Soapbar P-90 pickups and Bumblebee capacitors, giving it the kind of classic bite and articulation that’s anything but stripped-back. As Gibson Gear Guide host Dinesh Lekhraj notes in the accompanying video, there’s no need to mod these guitars because Epiphone has done it for you: “There’s nothing to change. Not in the electronics, the pickups. Out of the box, this guitar is awesome.”
Check out the Gibson Gear Guide video below to see Dinesh put each new model through its paces and chat to Epiphone Product Development Manager Aljon Go, who gives us the inside scoop on how these new models came into being. And stay tuned until the end of the video to see how the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue compares to a Gibson Custom R9 in an A/B shootout.
Are these Epiphone guitars replacements for high-end Gibson models?
These aren’t replacements for high-end Gibson models, but they are an authentic way to get that classic sound and iconic design in a guitar that’s ready to hit the stage and available at a more accessible price point. As Gibson Gear Guide host Dinesh Lekhraj puts it in the Inspired by Gibson Custom video, “This looks to me like a good alternative. Grab some of those models you don’t already have, or as a guitar to take out on the road for those local bar gigs.”
With new Vintage Gloss finishes, hard shell cases, and specs designed to impress, this is Epiphone’s most feature-rich electric collection to date. You’ll find an incredible level of detail across the lineup: the 1964 SG™ Standard Reissue with its Maestro™ Vibrola™ and twin Custombuckers; the 1962 ES-335™ Reissue with a solid maple center block and vintage-correct inlays; and the 1963 Firebird™ V Reissue, built with nine-ply neck-through construction for exceptional tonal transfer and sustain, just like the originals.
Premium specs that matter to guitarists
Every guitar in the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection is designed with the serious player in mind and has been meticulously crafted to deliver vintage-inspired tone, trusted components, and construction details that reflect some of the most iconic eras in Gibson history.
Take the 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue, for example. This model features a one-piece mahogany neck with a long tenon, delivering greater resonance and sustain that Les Paul lovers really love. When paired with its Custombucker humbucker™ pickups, this guitar screams when you need it to and croons when you bring the volume down. The pickups are wired with CTS potentiometers and Bumblebee capacitors, a premium signal path that mirrors what you’ll find in high-end Gibson models. As Dinesh highlights in the video, “You’re hearing a pair of Gibson Custombuckers, hand-wired CTS pots, and Bumblebee paper and oil caps—premium electronics throughout.”
Image: The new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection features an array of “desert island” models
If P-90s are more your speed, the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue features Gibson Custom USA P-90 Soapbar pickups wired to Bumblebee capacitors, giving this particular guitar the kind of tight, punchy, vintage snarl that P-90 lovers, well… love. And it’s not just about what’s inside. As Epiphone Product Development Manager Aljon Go explains, “We used a 3D scanner to make the neck profiles as accurate as those found on Gibson models, using their historical instruments for measurements.”
Other vintage-authentic touches include lightly rolled fretboard edges on every model, which add comfort without needing years of playing in. Even the side dot markers are vintage-correct in size and placement. This is what happens when specs matter: you hear and feel the difference. You see it in the details. And you can take it on stage with confidence.
Which guitars are in the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection?
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection includes eight guitars: the 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue, 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue, 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue, 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue, 1964 SG Standard Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, 1962 ES-335 Reissue, 1963 Firebird V Reissue with Maestro Vibrola, and 1963 Firebird I Reissue.
This isn’t just a new range of guitars, it’s a carefully curated celebration of the most iconic vintage electric guitars in Gibson history. The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection covers what Aljon from Epiphone calls the “desert island” models: the greatest hits of the Gibson Golden Era, reissued with historical accuracy and loaded with top-tier specs that even the most ardent of guitar historians will love. Let’s take a closer look at the new-for-2025 lineup.
Image: The 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue in Washed Bourbon Burst
The 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue is a standout for Les Paul purists, described by Dinesh as “The ‘59, the definitive model, the voice of rock ’n’ roll.” It features a AAA flamed maple veneer, Custombucker pickups, a one-piece mahogany neck with long tenon and 1959 Rounded Medium C profile, and Vintage Gloss finishes in Washed Bourbon Burst and Deep Cherry Sunburst.
If you prefer a slimmer neck profile on your guitar, the 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue gives you a super comfortable SlimTaper™ neck and comes available in Iced Tea Burst and Washed Cherry Sunburst.
Image: The 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue in classic TV Yellow
Players looking for the P-90 growl will love the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue in TV Yellow, with USA-made Soapbars and a wraparound bridge for rock-solid simplicity.
Image: The 1964 SG Standard Reissue with Maestro Vibrola
The 1964 SG Standard Reissue with Maestro Vibrola keeps it classic in Cherry Red, with Gibson Custombuckers, Black Beauty capacitors, and the unmistakable Maestro tailpiece for expressive vibrato. As Dinesh puts it, “This guitar is another voice of rock ’n’ roll.”
Image: The impossibly cool 1963 Firebird V Reissue with Maestro Vibrola in Polaris White
Firebird fans have two incredible Firebird guitars to choose from. The 1963 Firebird V Reissue with Maestro Vibrola in Polaris White features a nine-ply neck-through-body design and USA Firebird humbuckers, while the 1963 Firebird I Reissue keeps things stripped back with a single pickup and wraparound bridge in eye-catching Cardinal Red.
Image: The Epiphone inspired by Gibson Custom 1962 ES-335 Reissue
For fans of semi-hollow tones, the 1962 ES-335 Reissue in Vintage Burst or Sixties Cherry delivers warm resonance and feedback control thanks to its solid maple centerblock—it’s also a model year even Gibson Custom doesn’t currently offer.
Finally, the 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue rounds out the collection with a plain maple cap, Custombuckers, and a Double Gold finish that looks straight out of a vintage catalog. Every guitar comes with a hardshell case, rolled fretboard edges, and the kind of specs and attention to detail that make these models stand out, whether they’re your first Epiphone or a roadworthy partner to the Gibson or Gibson Custom guitar you already own.
Why these models? Why now?
The new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom collection isn’t just a lineup of visually striking guitars. It’s a carefully curated selection of the most iconic models in Gibson history, faithfully reissued by Epiphone with historically accurate specs designed for standout tone—whether you’re playing at home, in the studio, at a local gig, or stepping out in front of thousands at a festival.
From the Les Paul Standard to the Firebird, each model has been chosen to reflect the shapes, model years, and pickup configurations most beloved by Gibson players. As Aljon Go puts it, “If you were to put together a desert island disc, this is the best of the best that represent the Gibson Golden Era.”
That’s exactly what the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection offers. These aren’t just Epiphones with new names. They’re built with USA-made Gibson pickups, vintage-voiced electronics, long neck tenons, rolled fretboard edges, and Vintage Gloss finishes. These guitars have been scanned, measured, and shaped using 3D profiles from original Gibson Golden-Era instruments. As Aljon Go explains, “We used their 3D scans—everything from the shape to the neck profiles is as accurate as Gibson guitars.”
Whether you’re building a dream collection or looking for a reliable on-stage partner, the choices here are deliberate. They represent tone, heritage, and design that have stood the test of time, and are now made more accessible than ever.
Image: The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection features a range of Les Paul, SG, ES™, and Firebird models
For every stage—electric guitars that are gig-ready and road-tested
Not every guitarist (including me!) wants to take their high-end instrument out on the road. Whether it’s the risk of spillages at a bar gig or the wear and tear of regular touring, many players are looking for a guitar that looks the part, sounds phenomenal, and can handle life on stage. That’s exactly what the Inspired by Gibson Custom models offer: vintage tone, historic design, and premium features in a format you’re confident putting in the back of a van or on a plane.
These guitars are loaded with premium components designed to deliver consistency and tone night after night, taken directly from the Gibson craftory. Each model comes with a hardshell case, designed to keep your guitar safe in transit. And whether you’re playing bars, clubs, festivals, or studio sessions, details like the solid maple centerblock in the 1962 ES-335 Reissue, or the neck-through construction of the 1963 Firebird V, deliver the resonance and tone working guitarists depend on.
It’s the details that make the difference. Pair that with the new Vintage Gloss finish, which looks timeless without being too fragile, and you’ve got a guitar you’ll want to bring everywhere and make your number one playing, gigging, and songwriting instrument.
The best Epiphone guitars yet?
The Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection isn’t just a new chapter for Epiphone; it’s a new benchmark of quality in accessible electric guitars. As Aljon puts it, “We tried to capture the heart of what a Gibson Custom guitar is, and I think we really have done it.”
And while these guitars may not replace a high-end Gibson in your collection, they’re ideal as an extension of it. As Dinesh explains, “You look at the headstock, you hear the tone—and you don’t have to change a thing or think about modding or upgrading.”
Need a double-cut solidbody with P-90s that can take a few knocks? Grab the 1960 Les Paul Special. Want a semi-hollow for live work to nail that blues-rock growl or indie jangle? The 1962 ES-335 Reissue has you covered. Whether you’re building a versatile collection of guitars (aren’t we all?), looking for a new sound, or taking your stage rig to a new level, the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection guitars deliver the tone, specs, and heritage players like you have been waiting for.
Visit Epiphone.com to shop now and stay tuned to the Gibson Gazette for all the latest Epiphone news.
