Björn Gelotte explains why he turned down a Gibson signature Les Paul

Björn Gelotte
(Image credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

When an electric guitar star is given a signature Gibson, it’s usually – not always, but most of the time – followed by a more affordable Epiphone version, accessible to those whose budget might not stretch to the original Gibson model.

Standout examples include Slash’s Les Pauls and acoustics, which have been reimagined numerous times in multiple Epiphone formats, Joe Bonamassa’s recently released Lazarus Les Paul, Alex Lifeson’s Floyd Rose-equipped LP and Tony Iommi’s “Monkey” SG.

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Matt Owen

Matt is a Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.

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