Key Takeaways:
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom is the Best Epiphone after considering several factors, such as sound, playability, versatility, hardware, and value for the money. It’s pretty much impossible to find a better Les Paul under $1000 than this.
- Very few Epiphone guitars are produced in the USA, and those that are tend to be much more expensive. Most Epiphones are made in China.
- Our best budget pick is Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1. It has a cheaper feel when compared to the winner, Epi LP Custom, but the Les Paul sound and fun playability are still there.
- If you have any questions about Epiphone or any other guitars, leave a comment down below, we are happy to chat with you!
Best Overall – Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Summary
Pros
-Dressed-up, tuxedo style looks amazing under stage lighting
-Mahogany body and neck give it a ton of sustain
-Solid construction means it’s ready for serious playing
-Warm, rich tone works well with a variety of genres
Cons
-Can be a bit heavy when played standing up for long periods.
Who is this guitar for?
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom is great for anyone who is a fan of the Gibson Les Paul Custom but doesn’t want to pay the high price for it. It is a very versatile guitar that will lend itself well to a wide variety of genres.
How Epiphone Les Paul Custom sounds:
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The Next Best:
Best for Beginners – Epiphone Power Players SG Electric Guitar
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Summary
Pros
- Small scale length is great for smaller hands
- Included accessories make starting off even easier
- Incredibly durable and well built
- Good overall sound when plugged in
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a practice amp
- SGs are known for their headstock “dive”
Who is this guitar for?
The Epiphone Power Players SG is great for beginners who want to get started off on the right foot. They are also great for smaller players thanks to the reduced scale length.
Best Premium – Epiphone USA Casino
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Summary
Pros
- Made in the USA from premium tonewood
- Premium electronics provide an incredible vintage tone
- Lightweight body makes it comfortable to play for longer sessions
Cons
- Tends to feedback a lot at higher gain settings
Who is this guitar for?
The Epiphone USA Casino is a great guitar for anyone who is looking for a classic-sounding axe that is made in the USA. It is the perfect guitar for serious Beatles fans or for those who want a hollowbody equipped with P90s.
Best Budget – Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1
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Summary
Pros
- Quality tonewoods and hardware stand up to extensive playing
- Stripped-down styling looks great under stage lighting
- High-output humbuckers with ceramic magnets sound amazing for high-gain music.
- Neck feels great in your hand and plays effortlessly
Cons
- Can be a little heavy when played standing up for long periods
- Ceramic magnets may be too bright for some players to appreciate
Who is this guitar for?
The Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1 is for anyone looking for a budget-priced Les Paul to add to their collection. It is also great for beginners and for fans of heavy music.
Best for Metal – Epiphone Extura Prophecy
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Summary
Pros
- Premium features such as Grover locking tuners are usually found on much more expensive models.
- Extura body style is comfortable while allowing for sustain and playability
- Fishman Fluence pickups maintain clarity in high-gain situations
- The fast-playing neck makes soloing a breeze
Cons
- Body style may not be for everyone
- A gloss finish would be more durable
Who is this guitar for?
The Epiphone Extura Prophecy is for any metalhead that is looking for a great axe with active pickups to add to their arsenal.
Compare The Key Specs:
Note! This article focuses on Epiphone electric guitars. If you are in search for Epiphone acoustic guitar, check this article of ours: 5 Best Epiphone Acoustic Guitars
Our Reviews of The Top 5
Keep These 3 Key Things In Mind When Choosing:
Pay attention to the pickup choices. Epiphones can have
- humbuckers,
- single coils,
- P-90s,
- P-100s,
- mini-humbuckers,
- active humbuckers,
- and Fishman Fluence pickups installed.
If you play high-gain music, it is typically best to avoid semi-hollow bodied and hollow-bodied guitars due to the amount of feedback they can produce when used in a high-gain situation.
Very few Epiphone guitars are produced in the USA, and those that are tend to be much more expensive. Most Epiphones are made in China.
How Did We Choose These Guitars?
I’m a self-professed Epiphone freak. In fact, the best sounding and playing lead guitar that I’ve ever had was an Epiphone Explorer that I sold many years ago. I have since been on the lookout for another one, but they only made it for 2 years which makes them both hard to find and pricey now (just my luck).
Since I have been on an Epiphone kick lately, I have had some time to shop around and play several models that I have not played before. I had no idea I would be writing this article, so you could say that things just sort of fell into place. I now know that the universe wants me to get a new Epiphone!
Basically, I looked at my notebook that I keep with all of my guitar notes in it. I also refreshed my memory by doing some in-depth research online. I relied on my recent experiences of playing fresh Epiphone models in music stores. Ultimately, I came up with this list for you all so that I could try to hit every player that might be reading it.
Most electric guitars we recommend are run through tests like these:
- We check electronics.
- We inspect the guitar carefully to get a good idea of the finish and built quality of the guitar.
- We inspect the fretwork and edges of the fretboard to make sure there are no sharp edges.
- We run the guitar usually through BOSS Katana 50 MK2 and test clean, crunch, and distorted tones with lead and rhythm playing.
- We use different playing styles to get a good feel for the playability. We use fingerpicking, sweep picking, riffs from different genres, shredding, tapping, chord playing, etc.
- We test all the possible pickup combinations and use different Volume and Tone settings from the guitar.
- We measure and weight the guitar.
- We test the guitar with drop tunings.
Learn more about GND’s testing and reviewing processes here.
This article was originally published on July 30, 2023. It was revisited, refined, and republished on July 17, 2025.
Best best best..
BEST
Jesus they didn’t include a Riviera. You can throw all of those in the garbage (including the casino) and get a Riviera instead.
Hi Pedro and thanks for reveling your opinion! Could you give some context on why Riviera is the #1 Epiphone in your opinion? Just curious and would love to hear your thoughts 🙂
I’ve been playing the guitar for over 50 years. I own several Epi’s. My favorites are the Les Paul modern. I love the sound of the humbuckers on it and the push/pull coil tapping. I also love my Epi Sheraton. It has a very eye pleasing headstock and fret board, and it’s all trimmed in gold. It has a more mellow sound, as hollow bodies often have. The pro-burst humbuckers sound great, and this also has coil tap for each pickup. It’s great for playing old CCR songs. Thanks
Hi Mike and thanks for commenting and reveling your experience! What do you think: what lifts Les Paul Modern below Les Paul Custom for you? Would love to know! I have read and listened to Epi Shearton on Youtube, but for some reason, most local music stores don’t carry it where I live…hopefully one day…Take care Mike!
People don’t give the Sheraton enough love. I work in a music store – and recently bought an Epiphone Sheraton Pro II in wine red. It’s so beautiful and elegant! I love the flower inlay on the headstock and the binding around the guitar. It came from the factory perfectly set up and intonated, which is very rare for an epiphone especially. The only downside is the gold hardware, however. Unfortunately gold plated hardware likes to tarnish so requires light polishing. Some of these suggestions are great for the respective groups you’ve listed for each model. Thanks for the article!
Hi and thanks for commenting and sharing your experiences! I agree, Sheraton is a great guitar that doesn’t get that much attention. Would love to hear your thoughts on this, since you seem to love Sheraton: What lifts Sheraton on top of the Epiphone B.B. King Lucille and Epiphone ES-339 for example in your opinion?
I have a Epiphone wildkat royale. It’s an awesome guitar. I highly recommend it.
Hae you had the chance to gig with it at all? I’m interested in getting one of these and would love to know how it holds up!
Darren lifted up great picks here
And I agree on #1 pick. Epiphone Les Paul Custom the best overall Epiphone Electric guitar to me too.
If you are looking for a more unique Epiphone with versatile sounds, check Epiphone Firebird.
Darren listed Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1 as the “Best Budget”. It offers excellent value, sounds good, and looks stunning.
But if you have closer to $500 to spend, check Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn & Epiphone SG Classic Worn P-90s. Both cost well under $500, but are a clear step up from Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1.
What do you think?
Great picks! I just ordered Epiphone Les Paul Custom. So Excited!