Head to head
Epiphone IGC 1962 ES-335 Reissue, Aged Ebony vs ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic
The verdict
The Epiphone IGC 1962 ES-335 Reissue, Aged Ebony and ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic are closely matched overall — 68 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone IGC 1962 ES-335 Reissue, Aged Ebony wins on
- Lower price ($1,199 vs $1,699)
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | IGC 1962 ES-335 Reissue, Aged Ebony | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 66 |
| Build | 65 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 66 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | IGC 1962 ES-335 Reissue, Aged Ebony | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | 5-ply Layered Maple/Poplar | Alder |
| Neck wood | One Piece Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Gibson Custombucker / Gibson Custombucker | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,199 | $1,699 |
| Back | 5-ply Layered Maple/Poplar | — |
| Binding | Single-ply Cream; Top, Back, and Fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Vintage Gloss | — |
| Body shape | ES-335 | — |
| Body Styles | ES | — |
| Bracing | Spruce | — |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic | Floyd Rose 1000SE |
| Bridge pickup | Gibson Custombucker | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Case | Hardshell with Black Exterior, Goldenrod Interior, and Inspired by Gibson Custom Graphics | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Centerblock | Maple | — |
| Control Knobs | Black Top Hat with Silver Reflector (Sixties Cherry), Gold Top Hat with Silver Reflector (Vintage Burst); Both with Nickel Dial Pointers | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS Potentiometers, Black Beauty Paper in Oil Capacitors | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | Black w/ Desert Eagle Graphic |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother-of-Pearl Small Block | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | Gibson Open Book | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone Logo and Gibson Crown in Aged Mother of Pearl | — |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck; Long Tenon | — |
| Model | EC335R2EBNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Gibson Custombucker | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) |
| Nut | Graph Tech | Locking |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 5-ply Black, Gibson ES-335 Shape | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Pickup Selector | Switchcraft 3-way Toggle | — |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 25.5" |
| Side | 5-ply Layered Maple/Poplar | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Back of Heel | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Ivory | — |
| Tailpiece | Gibson Historic Reissue Aluminum Stop Bar | — |
| Top wood | 5-ply Layered Maple/Poplar | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Black Bell; Blank, Wide White | — |
| Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe, Double Ring | LTD |
| Case Included | — | Y |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | GL Original U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |