Epiphone’s new 1961 Les Paul SG Standard comes loaded with Gibson BurstBuckers
And aged finishes
4,2 / 5,0 | 
The new Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard is based on the original Gibson model from 1961, when it was still called a Les Paul. This Epiphone version of the classic model features some pretty neat features for the price. It’s certainly a lot less money than a vintage one!
Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard
This new Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard model is available in an Aged Sixties Cherry and Aged Classic White finish, both of which look very appealing. It has a two-piece solid mahogany, double-cutaway body with what Epiphone is calling Custom Shop Historic bevels, so hopefully quite faithful to the original ’61 guitars. You also get a one-piece mahogany, SlimTaper C-shaped neck with an Indian Laurel fretboard, 22 medium jumbo frets and a set of traditional looking Pearloid trapezoid inlays.
Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Aged Classic White · Source: Epiphone
Gibson BurstBucker
A nice feature of this model is the inclusion of the Gibson BurstBucker pickups. You get a BurstBucker 2 in the neck and a BurstBucker 3 in the bridge position, which should really help with getting a nice tone. These are wired via a traditional two volume, two tone control layout and a three-way Switchcraft pickup selector switch. Epiphone has also chosen to use CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors for these. Once again, a nice feature of the guitar, and one that should work well with these pickups.
Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Aged Sixties Cherry · Source: Epiphone
Value for money?
These models ship with a hard case included in the price, so you really get a neat package with these and it looks like a good buy. However, I could buy a USA made Gibson SG Standard for around £700-£800 new, only around 6-7 years ago. So maybe these prices are a little on the high side?
With that said, I really have enjoyed the quality of Epiphone guitars the last five years or so. The company has very much upped its game in terms of build quality. And I expect that this new line of guitars will not disappoint.
More Information on Epiphone
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4 responses to “Epiphone’s new 1961 Les Paul SG Standard comes loaded with Gibson BurstBuckers”
Epiphone has been making quality guitars for far longer than 5 years, l think people need to correct themselves and say that they’re just noticing how Awesome Epiphone guitars really are. Could have just taken John Lennons word for it. I have Epiphones from the 80s, 90s and up to 2021 and they seldom disappoint and it really sounds silly to say that they recently upped their game, the Qingdao plant in China headed up by two longtime Gibson guys builds stellar guitars
Well, I dunno I think they’re overpriced by quite a bit. I bought the JJN Epi LP and it’s cool looking but it’s full of flaws including weird coloring on the fretboard, terrible fretwork and finish flaws too. It’s a joke to compare the Epiphone’s from the Beatles period to todays chinese junk.
There’s always an exception with any builder but l own 14 Epiphones and the Qing Dao built models are exceptional guitars, l have some nice Gibsons too but Gibson quality is hit and miss , as for the Bestles era Epiphones, most would agree that the quality now is far better(consistencyandqualitycontrol). Les Paul said that Epiphone is a damn fine guitar and many pros agreeing play Epiphone exclusively, the point is not to judge a company as a whole by one bad apple you probably bought online sight unseen because you’re missing out on some awesome guitars. I have an early Japanese made epi Les paul standard(1982) that rivals any Les Paul Standard up to my 2021 silverburst les paul that is ridiculous quality and sound,and on and on. And most for $1000 or less The Qing Dao plant was headed up by a longtime Gibson employee that worked at both plants in Tennessee as a supervisor in every area and knows his stuff and it shows
To me Epiphone has been in my life scents I started learning how to play in 1965 to me they are a Stella guitar that can’t be beat . Keep it up