Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Review

[@trevorposey7109]

Got to hear Joe shred on this last night in my hometown of San Jose. I had just purchased it from his website the day before! I'm not a guitar player, but am a collector. This is my second guitar. My other is a GCJ Signature "Blak & Blu" Epiphone Casino. When I was at his merch booth before the show I saw he had several of these for sale. The one on top of the table had a sign that said $1100 and it was the limited to 300 edition with his name in the fretboard, and a big fat signature in gold on the body! He had what looked like 10 of these lined up in the back in his "Nerdville" branded cases. There was another sign next to this, that said he was selling this same guitar for $1500, but it would be the one he opened with his first song of the show! I asked his merch team for more details, and they said yes, the same 300 edition model he would be playing in the first song of the performance would be for sale, and he would sign AND date it. Like Arthur_My_Dear said, they all sound more or less the same, but Joe himself said this Epiphone actually sounds better than the real deal '55 Les Paul's in Copper Irredescent he's acquired (3). Watching and hearing him play this Epiphone replica live was the biggest endorsement ever, and I'm super happy with my purchase, even if it never gets played.

[@slimfire5475]

Awesome review man and great playing to.I saw this guitar after I just spent $2000. on a used Gibson Les Paul T. I think it's it beautiful guitar and you make it sound great and the price is very good.I'm starting to save up for this one.Hopefully they will be making them for a while longer.Thanks for the video.

[@davlavmusic7070]

Like I said, this is my first Epiphone. I'm super impressed. I'm more of a Fender style player so most of my guitar spends goes that direction but it's great to have some affordable Gibson style guitars as an option. Maybe one of the 335 style guitars next...

[@mattrosen5438]

@davlavmusic7070 would love to see you review the epiphone 335's or even the riviera with mini humbuckers!

[@mattrosen5438]

I've been seriously considering one of these. Would to play one in person but haven't seen one yet. You certainly made great fantastic! Great review! Wish they could keep the weights closer to 8 pounds but I guess you can't complain at the price point.

[@davlavmusic7070]

I guess having owned a 2019 Les Paul standard that was closer to 10 lbs, I'm just happy to have something under 9 lbs.

[@JoshuaBatch]

That finish is gorgeous! Also, great sounding guitar.

[@harry8097]

Sweet playing!

[@davlavmusic7070]

Thanks!

[@MarkStearle-w1m]

Just bought one

[@philiprourke7732]

Great review...wonderful playing! I have seen a few reviews on this guitar and it really caught my attention. I think I saw that they are only making 1500 units for this model? I pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago, paid in full up front and apparently got the last one allocated to the shop. Delivery is expected some time in November.

[@davlavmusic7070]

I didn't know there was a productive limit. Glad you found one, I'm really liking mine

[@philiprourke7732]

@davlavmusic7070 Im not certain about that, but I was sure I read that somewhere...they do a Bonnamassa signature model every year, so I guess they would have to put a cap on how many they make.? I can't see the Lazarus les paul model for sale , new and in stock anywhere...so I guess it sold out and that's that..

[@philiprourke7732]

@@davlavmusic7070 I just realised where I got that 1500 unit number from...I just re watched a video with joe talking about this guitar and how it came to be that Epiphone has done a joe signature model for the last 13 years..he says... "" a 1500 piece series...so we've done about 18,000 so far "" loo, up joe talks 2 new signature models

[@trevorposey7109]

I thought I heard Joe say he wasn't putting a cap on these, but they always sell out on his website, so what is that number for the non Joe Bonamassa fret board models?

[@philiprourke7732]

@@trevorposey7109 he distinctly said 1500 units on the video I watched, but it seemed to be referring to all of the JB models they have done..he said we made about 18,000 in the 13 years they've been doing it. Definitely limited in Australia..

[@davidcaro8217]

Replace those (usually dull sounding) stock chinese pickups with Gibson original P90s for more clarity and you'll have a real keeper!

[@davlavmusic7070]

I'm on the fence on that. I've looked at Gibson, Lollar, etc. For now, I'm just going to stick with the stock pickups.

[@glencooper1091]

To replace them could be considered being picky simply for the sake of being picky. :)

[@davidcaro8217]

@glencooper1091 true indeed, but I have an Epiphone SG with P90s that I swapped for a set of genuine Gibson P90s l bought from Sweetwater and the difference in bandwidth between the two is quite considerable. Yes, I had to cough up $220 plus tax for the set, but totally worth it to me.

[@glencooper1091]

@@davidcaro8217I can see doing that, I have done similar myself. I don't know for sure but i would think this specific JB guitar would have the P90's wound to a specific spec, so if i owned it and was tempted to change i would find the Gibson era correct wound p90's. I am so tempted to buy one. Great video review and nice playing.

[@davidcaro8217]

@glencooper1091 Oh yes and yes, an era correct Gibson wound coil would really be something special!

[@Tonetwisters]

Yeh. I'd buy one were they not made in China.