Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s review

A gold standard from a golden era of inspiration?

Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s
(Image: © Olly Curtis/Future)

Guitar World Verdict

A Les Paul that's indicative of Epiphone's stellar year, this '50s Standard has a lot of class, with sweet sustain, a classy feel and a pickup pairing that puts a wealth of classic rock and blues tones at your fingertips.

Pros

  • +

    Wonderful range of classic Les Paul tones.

  • +

    Neck profile feels comfortable.

  • +

    Long-neck tenon is vintage-appropriate.

  • +

    The ProBuckers have a lot of PAF magic in them.

  • +

    Great sustain, great value.

  • +

    Build and finish hard to fault.

Cons

  • -

    It's heavy.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

It’s been quite a year for Epiphone; starting strong at January’s NAMM with a tour de force in the shape of the Inspired By Gibson range, we’re now able to take stock of models in isolation. 

And if we’re talking Gibson legacy, its 1950s Les Pauls don’t get much more hallowed in the halls of legendary guitars. Alongside the Standard 60s, Custom, Junior, Special and higher-end 1959 model in the Original Les Paul Collection, the range allows players to hone in on the specific Les Paul experience they want. 

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49