“I must’ve played hundreds of Les Pauls, and I can safely say this is up there with the best sounding of them – it even gives my own Gibson Les Paul Standard a run for its money”: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop review

What is it?

The iconic Gibson Les Paul can trace its origin back to 1952, but I’d argue that Gibson wouldn’t stumble upon the winning formula until a full five years after the original singlecuts hit the market. While it’s true that the early Les Paul was as groundbreaking as it was beautiful, it wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of playability that Gibson hoped it would be.

A few years of tweaking, tinkering, and borrowing features from other models would lead Gibson to the now legendary ‘57 variant that would cement itself as part of rock ‘n’ roll history and become the LP’s blueprint moving forward.

This was the first year that the Les Paul came as standard with 'Patent Applied For' humbuckers (rather than P90s) alongside the ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece. This made the Les Paul's intonation more accurate, and the humbuckers brought the sonic power players were crying out for.

This spec change was incredibly well received by players of the day – so much so that it’s difficult to picture the singlecut with a different configuration.

Now, if you’re fortunate enough to see an original vintage example in the wild, you’ll understand just how expensive they are – heck, even a Gibson Custom reissue will set you back a pretty penny these days – but don’t worry, Epiphone has the perfect solution for those of us on real-world budgets.

In partnership with Gibson Custom, the new Epiphone 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is a celebration of a pivotal guitar in Gibson’s storied history – and it’s a pretty accurate replica at that. As you’d expect, the body is dense mahogany, which is topped with a carved plain maple cap hiding under its gilded semi-satin 'Vintage Gloss' finish.

The one-piece mahogany neck features a hand-filling 50s 'Rounded Medium' C-shaped profile, and even comes with a long neck tenon – something that's become a staple of the Inspired By Gibson Custom line.

There's a rosewood fretboard – elegantly bound and showcasing mother-of-pearl trapezoid inlays, equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets. The neck is crowned with an “open book” headstock that proudly displays an aged mother-of-pearl Epiphone logo.

At the tonal heart of this model is a duo of USA Gibson Custombucker humbuckers that are paired with expertly hand-wired CTS potentiometers, 'bumblebee' paper-in-oil capacitors, and a Switchcraft pickup selector toggle switch.

All the hardware is nickel-plated and includes an ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, a Gibson Historic reissue aluminum tailpiece, and Epiphone Deluxe 'Keystone' button tuners.

Lastly, the guitar comes bundled with a historically-inspired hardshell case, with a brown exterior, a pink plush interior, and unique Inspired by Gibson Custom graphics.

Specifications

• Launch price: $1,299/£1,199/€1,399
• Made: China
• Type: Six-string electric guitar
• Body: Mahogany/maple cap
• Neck: Maple, Modern 'C'
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale length: 24.75” / 628mm
• Nut/width: 1.69" / 43mm
• Frets: 22, medium jumbo
• Hardware: ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, historical aluminium tailpiece, Epiphone deluxe tuners
• Electrics: 2x Gibson Custombucker humbuckers, 2x volume controls, 2x tone controls, three-way selector
• Weight: 10.5 lbs (4.7 kg)
• Left-handed options: No
• Finishes: Goldtop
• Case: Hardshell
• Contact: Epiphone

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★☆

Lifting the case out of its cardboard cocoon, I know instantly there’s a chunky guitar living inside. Weighing in at a muscle-building 10.5lbs, this electric guitar is not for the faint of heart – Les Pauls rarely are, to be fair – let’s just hope all this extra weight correlates to added sustain and tone.

With the guitar sat in its suitably retro case, at first glance, it certainly looks the part. This Les Paul is dripping with vintage mojo and has an inviting presence that just makes me want to pick it up and play.

The vintage gloss finish looks particularly handsome in this gold variant and leans more towards satin than the full mirror shine you’d maybe expect from a gloss nitrocellulose Gibson.

In fact, it brings to mind a touch of the VOS treatment found on Custom reissues – just without the aged hardware – which is great to see at this price point.

Flipping the guitar over reveals a rather striking slab of mahogany. The wood used for the main bulk of the body has some nice grain patterns and is buffed to a more brilliant shine when compared to the top.

Okay, is the finishing perfect? Unfortunately not. Hold the guitar in the light just right, and you’ll see an obvious off-center seam line that, while it isn’t uncommon to see on Les Paul models, does detract from the guitar’s overall beauty.

While we’re on the subject of things not being quite right, I need to mention the pickups and, more specifically, the rings that surround them.

On my review model, they seem to be a little too big for the pickups they encase, and the pickups appear to move around too much for my liking – in fact, if you press down on the bridge humbucker, you can actually adjust its angle with little to no pressure.

A deal breaker? No, of course not, but as this guitar is listed at a premium price point, I’d expect Epiphone to get these little things right – and as I’ve seen with my own eyes, it has gotten it right with every other entry to the Inspired by Gibson Custom line.

Thankfully, my concerns about the build quality end here. The neck welcomes me with a substantial profile that feels very smooth and hosts some exceptional fretwork. No sharp edges or high spots to be found, and they’ve been meticulously polished, too.

The Gibson-style headstock is always a welcome sight at the end of the neck, as are the robust Epiphone Deluxe Keystone machine heads that operate smoothly and hold their tuning well.

Playability

Playability rating: ★★★★☆

This guitar is unapologetically vintage-styled, and as such, it sports a fairly sizable neck. This is more than a handful – especially as you make your way towards the 12th fret – so be warned, if you aren’t a fan of Gibson's rounded ‘50s neck profile, you’ll not like this guitar.

For me, I had a lot of fun with this neck. Out of all the Epiphone and Gibson Custom collaborations, this one feels the closest to the real deal, in my opinion.

It’s narrow but rounded at the nut, making it perfect for first-position chords and chunky enough at the 5th that I can really dig in and grip the guitar for expressive blues work.

As I move closer to the dusty end, it can get a little too fat in places, so it’s safe to say I won’t be breaking out any shred licks, but that said, I found myself really gelling with it after just a couple of plays.

Straight out of the box, the action on the guitar was incredibly low and pretty effortless to play, but standing up with it reminded me why my own Les Paul often gets shunned for a lighter alternative.

As mentioned above, this guitar is heavy, like, really heavy. The thought of playing this singlecut beauty at a 3-hour cover gig is enough to break me out in a cold sweat. That said, it does have great sustain and plenty of bottom-end, so maybe there are benefits to a dense guitar after all.

Sound

Sound rating: ★★★★½

Like other instruments in this line, a major selling point, along with the open-book headstock, is you get a set of genuine Gibson pickups already installed – no need for modding here. Now, this is where this guitar really shines. Simply put, this is an incredible-sounding instrument.

When plugged into a Fender-style amp, the neck position of this guitar is as smooth as butter, with a rounded bass response that never tires of blues licks. But it's not just limited to blues.

Roll back the tone a touch, and it can effortlessly manage jazz – proving that you don't necessarily need a hollow body when it's time to break out the 7th chords.

Switching to the bridge pickup, I’m greeted with the oh-so-familiar tone of this Gibson classic. With just a tickle of overdrive, this ‘57 reissue sounds focused with plenty of bite and a forward-sounding top-end that is clear, crisp, and detailed.

However, calling on all the filth of a Marshall JCM800 proves this guitar isn’t just a vintage throwback, it can handle the heavier side of rock, too. Turn up the gain, and the guitar comes to life. The extra saturation unlocks almost infinite sustain and a fierce mid-range bark that’s the foundation of great-sounding rock ‘n’ roll.

Over the years, I must’ve played hundreds of Les Pauls, and I can safely say this is up there with the best sounding for sure – it even gives my own Gibson Les Paul Standard a run for its money in the tone department.

Verdict

The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue pays homage to its Gibson muse with class, with the USA-spec electronics acting as the icing on an already very tasty cake.

The build quality is impressive overall, showcasing an attractive finish that evokes the retro spirit of the original. While there are minor cosmetic imperfections noted – such as an off-center seam visible under the finish and slightly oversized pickup rings – the overall playability and construction are commendable.

Bundled with a stylish hardshell case, this model stands as a fitting tribute to a pivotal moment in guitar history while remaining accessible to a wider audience, and for that, I need to give Epiphone props.

Guitar World verdict: The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue is a remarkable tribute to one of rock 'n' roll's most celebrated guitars. With outstanding playability, stunning aesthetics, and great tonal capabilities, it offers fantastic value for those looking to capture the essence of the legendary Les Paul for less.

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