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  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

Summer NAMM 2016: Epiphone reissues the Century and "the most beautiful electric guitar ever made"

News
By Michael Astley-Brown published 2 June 2016

Plus affordable and spec'd-out Les Pauls

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Introduction

Introduction

Summer NAMM 2016: While Gibson hailed 2016 as its “best year ever”, Epiphone has been noticeably quiet, with the Brent Hinds Flying VCustom the only new model to its name… until these four exciting new electrics were announced.

Most notable is the reappearance of the Century archtop - we'd wager that's largely thanks to Mr James Bay, who's a huge fan of the model - but Les Paul’s "most beautiful electric guitar ever made" ‘tuxedo’ Custom is also seeing a reissue, while two new LPs - one stripped-down, one highly spec’d - are also cause for celebration. Head on through our gallery for the full lowdown…

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Epiphone Inspired by '1966' Century Archtop

Epiphone Inspired by '1966' Century Archtop

A faithful reissue of the thinline all-hollowbody archtop, the ‘1966’ Century packs Epiphone’s new P-90 PRO pickups, which offer bobbins manufactured to historic dimensions, with sand-cast Alnico V magnets and ‘50s/’60s-style tin-plated brass base plates.

Elsewhere, the guitar's laminated maple body is paired with a rounded C-shape mahogany neck, plus Wilkinson Vintage machineheads.

We’re thrilled to see this one back in the Epiphone line-up - it’s available from July in Cherry and Vintage Sunburst Aged Gloss finishes.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Epiphone Ltd. Ed. Inspired by '1955' Les Paul Custom Outfit

Epiphone Ltd. Ed. Inspired by '1955' Les Paul Custom Outfit

This suave LP is based on Les Paul’s ‘tuxedo’ Les Paul, which he designed to be the most beautiful electric guitar ever made. Certainly, an Ebony finish and gold hardware never fail to class up the LPC outline, and this Inspired by reissue has been done to historic specs.

The new version offers a mahogany body in an Aged Gloss Ebony finish, along with Gibson USA Soapbar P-90 pickups with gold pole screws - P-90s being Les’s favourite style of pickup for LPs.

Hardware has been given an upgrade, too: Epiphone’s Heavy-Duty Non-Rotating 1/4" output jack, a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, plus Epiphone Deluxe machineheads are all onboard - in gold, natch.

You can expect this handsome number in July - and don’t worry: a vintage-style hardcase and certificate of authenticity are included.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Epiphone Les Paul Special VE

Epiphone Les Paul Special VE

$149? $149?! Yes, Epiphone has revamped its ultra-affordable, and accordingly, best-selling Les Paul Special for 2016 with a Vintage Edition suffix.

Epiphone’s open-coil humbuckers provide the tones - a 650R in the neck and hotter 700T in the bridge - while the guitar’s body is poplar bolted onto a mahogany neck with 1960s SlimTaper D profile and rosewood fingerboard.

There’s only a single volume and tone knob apiece, but Epiphone hasn’t skimped on hardware, equipping the VE with a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece plus Epiphone Premium tuners.

The Les Paul Special VE is available from July in a ton of Vintage Worn finishes, including Cherry, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Vintage Sunburst, and Walnut. Tasty.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Epiphone Les Paul Traditional PRO-II

Epiphone Les Paul Traditional PRO-II

This updated take on Epiphone’s ever-popular LP Traditional PRO offers a traditional mahogany body and carved top, but packs a veritable orchestra of bells and whistles, including coil-splits and a 15dB boost.

Epiphone’s Alnico Classic PRO and PAF-aping ProBucker-3 Alnico II-equipped humbuckers fill the cavities here; coil-split sounds are available on push/pull volume and tone knobs, while pulling the bridge pickup’s tone knob serves up that 15dB boost, which is powered by a 9V battery.

Otherwise, the PRO-II offers Grover machineheads, cream pickguard, nickel LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, plus Epiphone straplocks.

A worthy, tricked-out addition to the LP stable, we reckon. The Les Paul Traditional PRO-II is available from August in Ebony, Desertburst, Ocean Blue, Vintage Sunburst, and Wine Red finishes.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue TV Yellow
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue TV Yellow review
On the left, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut, solid-bodied, in Vintage Cherry Sunburst, it looks like the archetypical singlecut. On the right, the new Les Paul Parlor, a guitar that applies the LP aesthetic to a small-bodied acoustic.
Gibson has just unveiled a new Les Paul like no other
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul Standard
“If you’re all about getting as close as possible to period-correct as you can for this price point, then you won’t be disappointed here”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue review
The Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Custom Widow introduces bold fresh colour burst finishes on the Les Paul Custom – Purple, Red, Indigo and Orange Burst, anyone?
Epiphone and Guitar Center team up for colourful riff on a cult classic – the Les Paul Custom Widow
Guitar Center Guitar-A-Thon sale
Guitar Center’s massive Guitar-A-Thon sale has landed, and it includes $600 off a Gibson Les Paul and a host of exclusive models from Epiphone, Taylor, and more
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