New Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard (Gibson Headstock) Iced Tea Burst Review

I was just looking at this guitar onlnie and your review answered all my questions. Nice comparison betwen it and the lazarus and greeny as well!

I just got the Epiphone 2024 les paul custom in ebony.. I picked it up for 1089 with a full set up and good strings...I have no sharp or rough fret ends, so I guess its the luck of the draw. It really is a great guitar with 498T/490R pickups as in the current custom shop gibson customs. I do like the ebony fretboard alot as opposed to the Indian laurel like on the 59 lps. I am looking at the 1959 355 next with the custom buckers on board. The headstock is only a headstock but is a really nice touch to the visual aspects. Overall I think epiphone are doing a great thing by offering a premium quality line for those who want a bit extra without the gibson price tags.

Wonderful review as always AB!! Congratulations on your new guitar!!

Good review. I have this exact guitar in Ice Tea Burst too. I also owned the previous Epi 59 Aged outfit so I have experience of both for comparison. Firstly I must have been much luckier on the QC as mine is immaculate. Secondly, my Ice Tea Burst top is different in terms of pattern (flame) and variance of colour. Your top looks fairly plain, unless the light in the video is doing it an injustice.
It's plays better than my previous 59 out of the box, very pleased with it. The only thing will be should I have waited to get a better deal as prices will drop.
Thanks for the vid.

You mention the one piece neck on the Lazarus. Does the updated 1959 have it ?

Not epiphones Kalamazoo headstock don't want it.. enjoy your's

Look at it this way...at least it wasn't 3 or 4 grand. And if you really like it, then it's money well spent.

i agree, it looks more l ike a honey, i dont mind that at all though i love honey bursts easy one of my favourite classic finishes i have the now old 59 standard, and im planning on getting the new one in the ice tea, as i love my current 59 and ill gladly spend some to get the new one

Wish they gonna make some lefties.

This is true of whatever Gibson-type brand guitar, regardless of whether nitrocellulose or polyurethane finishes: To have a satin or rather un-glossy finish that is designed to make the body and ostensibly the guitar look aged, old, well worn and loved, but… to have sparking, brand-new looking chrome hardware seems visually incongruous to my eye, increasingly.

I got mine in Tobacco Burst last week and it's pretty epic.

My 90s ritchwood Les Paul has a niro finish and long neck tenon

Great review Dude! Pretty sweet looking ax. There is a glut of guitars in the market for sure!

Most wont agree with this but I would have preferred these come with Worn nickel hardware. And obviously a Rosewood board

It was worth it to me. I traded in my older version of the Epiphone’59 for the newer version, not so much for the Custombuckers, but for the rounded C neck profile. The older version had this large D type profile which didn’t feel right for me. The new neck profile is well worth the upgrade. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

I believe it should have rosewood fretboard, correct plastics dimensions and two screws truss rod cover for that price.

Nice review, and great playing, thanks, keep on shreddin'

USD 1299 No match to Japan Lespaul under USD 1000 so LOL

It would be "PERFECT" if they did a slim tapered neck.I would buy one in every color

The new, extra close, super duper, really really better than the last 59 version....again....

If you had a choice between the greeny and the mew 1959 which one you will pick??

For this sort of money you could buy a new Japanese made Tokai LP which has a solid top unlike the veneer of this guitar.

If you like hefty D 50s neck profiles, then go with the older version of the Epi ‘59. If you like the feel of '59 reissue neck (which Gibson's website calls "Authentic '59 Medium C-Shape") then the neck on the newer ‘59 version is for you. It is somewhere in between the larger Originals Collection '50s Les Paul neck and smaller Originals Collection '60s Les Paul neck. Plus, unlike the older Epi ‘59 neck: it’s a C, not a D. Epiphone is known for their crappy D shapes, and the new ‘59 has rectified that problem. I know… I’ve owned both.

Btw, if you like a hefty neck that isn’t a D profile, the new Epiphone Slash Les Pauls are awesome too. I have the Vermillion Burst model and it’s chunky, and a true C. Again, Epiphone is finally getting away from that awful D profile… about time as the majority love the C profile as it properly fits the hand

Got mine yesterday for a 1039.00 it was gubson day at my local store and also got swag...

Iced tea is usually darker red at the edges so it’s weird this is lighter red than the cherry, as you say it’s like a honey burst, weird.

That's looks amazing!

I traded my older ‘59 LP for this one…the older one sounded great, but the neck profile was bothering me a bit too much. This C shaped one the newer version feels really like my cup of tea and than, for me, at the ‘end of the day’ It was totally worth it and hey; I do not mind the OB headstock on this and I sure do not mind the CustomBuckers. I also love the top and VOS finish….I do like plain tops a tiny bit better than really shiny grainy tops…so I am a happy camper with this new version. And besides the fret job (which I worked on myself a little bit to get them smooth) the construction and hardware is pretty decent. So not so much interested in the value over time…just wanted a pretty decent LP right now….and maybe when the time comes I’ll search and buy a nice Gibson…but that might as well be a 335 or something like that…For now: this is all the LP I need….I Think 😂

nice playing !

The Lazarus and my 60s std have the epi fat horn vs the real Gibson shape on the new 59 and the front binding is scraped more like a real Gibson

It's NOT a true ABR bridge. On the original 59 the mounting screws were threaded directly into the wood. Th Epi ABR is screwed into threaded bushings. That's the only REAL difference aside of the solid Gibson body and the 2 piece Epi with veneer cap. Great guitar for the price for sure.

Not worth it. It’s a guitar.

Fantastic playing and the fade out worked so well.

I thought it would be a bargain with the case the Gibson pickups and the Gibson headstock but honestly the case was the best part of the deal fortunately Sweetwater gave me my money back it was truly a disappointment to me 😐

I know this is a silly comment but I bought 2 of the burstbucker 59s with cracked headstocks. (Simple repair). I paid $199 for 1 and $299 for the other. Think I'll look for the custombucker one with a cracked neck. Inevitability there will be a few out there.

Great Guitar's for sure..I have the 1959 limited with the Burstbuckers and the Kalamazoo headstock that im making it earn its keep for the last year and i really love it ..Maybe like you say ..when the prices come down Love that color on yours...My 59 is a Great playing Epiphone IMO.. headstock change or not😜

I got the 59 reissue a couple yrs ago came with burstbuckers 2 & 3 for only 849.00 price sure have gone up!

I have both of these and love them both

Really appreciate the in-depth review and thoughts on this!

If you look at the spec pickups, case etc I think it's a deal on reflection

The first guitar I thought of when I seen the iced t finish, was jimmy pages number 1. Definitely the best of the three finishes, but theres a 4th finish on the epiphone exclusive site, washed cherry sunburst. That one’s sweet too

Thanks for the honest review!... I currently own the prior version Epiphone 59 LP (October 2021). I had to get the frets polished and nut required additional slotting - but the action is crazy low and the guitar is pretty nice and I am fairly happy with it. I have to admit that the neck profile along with one piece construction and Gibson headstock are very intriguing - not to mention the improved bridge and tailpiece. (couldnt comment on the pickups being better until I heard them) At first consideration I was going to order one and sell or return the lesser guitar when comparing. However, upon closer inspection - I feel that the Epiphone version has a design oversight in the headstock. The tuner holes are not optimally located. It appears both E tuners holes should be located more towards the edge of the headstock. Although it may be "ok"... I am not all that comfortable with how close the A & B strings travel to the posts of the E tuners - more importantly, I am thinking this takes into account the nut slot angle as well. I would think that angling the slot for the A and B cannot be optimally achieved in efforts to achieve clearance from hitting the E tuner post and windings....

I guess my ocd has pumped the brakes on going down this path - for now. But this guitar really hits many of the marks for what I would be looking for. Perhaps Epiphone will address this on future runs? I guess you could also wind the E strings in the other direction? Or plug and relocate the E tuner holes???

The guitars do look and sound great from what I have heard though... as you mention - perhaps Ill look for one used in a few and play in person to determine if my ocd got the best of me.

I gave in and bought the tobacco burst one. Its an amazing guitar. I had to polish it a bit to make it more close to my own taste. From my pov Its better polished to a high gloss, it just looks sharper and gives it more presence . If any of you are into it but repelled by the satin finish then you should know its an easy fix …. Its a huge upgrade from my SG inspired by gibson. And that’s also a great guitar.

Sell em all and get yourself a real gibson

very nice indeed, especially the custombuckers, they sound great.

the finish on the newer 1959 looks way better to me