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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus vs Gibson 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus
Electric$899
No ratings yet
68Overall / 100
Gibson 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony
Electric$6,899
No ratings yet
77Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony comes out ahead overall — 77 to 68 on our estimated score.

Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus wins on
  • Lower price ($899 vs $6,899)
Gibson 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 65)
  • Better sound (74 vs 68)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
MetricJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony
Overall6877
Build6587
Playability7575
Sound6874
Value6667

Full specifications

Specification comparison
SpecJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Left-Handed, VOS, Ebony
BrandEpiphoneGibson
TypeElectricElectric
Years——
Country—US
Body woodMahoganySolid Mahogany
Neck wood1 Piece MahoganySolid Mahogany
FretboardLaurelEbony
Strings66
Frets2222
Scale24.75"24.75"
PickupsGibson Burstbucker 2 / Gibson BurstBucker 3Custom Staple / Custom Soapbar P-90
Rating——
Price$899$6,899
AccessoriesCertificate of AuthenticityCertificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Medallion Switchplate; Extra Switchplate in the Case
BindingSingle-ply Cream, Top and FretboardMulti-ply
Body FinishAged GlossNitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina)
Body shapeLes PaulLes Paul
Body StylesLes Paul—
BridgeEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-MaticABR-1
Bridge pickupGibson BurstBucker 3Custom Soapbar P-90
CaseIncludes Vintage-Style Case with BONAMASSA Nerdville, CA GraphicCustom Shop Hardshell
Control CoversBlackBlack
Control KnobsGold Top Hat with Dial PointersBlack Top Hats
Controls2 Volume, 2 Tone, with 50s Wiring, CTS Potentiometers, and Mallory Capacitors2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
FinishNickelGold
Fretboard inlayPearloid TrapezoidBlock Mother of Pearl
Fretboard radius304.8mm / 12.0in304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count2222
Headstock60s Kalamazoo—
Headstock InlayEpiphone logo in Mother of Pearl, Les Paul Model in Gold SilkscreenGibson logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl
Jack Plate CoverCreamBlack Multi-Ply
JointGlued in, Long TenonLong Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
ModelEIGCJB59LZNH3LPB54LHVOEBGH1
Mounting RingsCreamBlack
Neck pickupGibson Burstbucker 2Custom Staple
NutGraph TechNylon
Nut width43.0mm / 1.69in42.85mm / 1.69in
Output Jack1/4" Switchcraft1/4" Switchcraft
PickguardCreamBlack Multi-Ply
Pickup CoversNickelBlack Soapbar
Pickup Selector3-Way Switchcraft Toggle3-Way Switchcraft
Profile50s Rounded Medium C1950s Chunky D
Scale length628.65mm / 24.75in628.65mm / 24.75in
Strap Buttons2 - Bottom and Shoulder—
String gauges.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Switch TipAmberAmber
SwitchwasherCream with Gold TextBlack
TailpieceEpiphone LockTone Stop BarStop Bar
Top woodMaple with Wide Grain AAAA Flame Maple Veneer—
Truss rod2-Way AdjustableStandard
Truss Rod CoverBell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White)—
Tuner PlatingNickel—
TunersEpiphone Deluxe with Tulip KeysKluson Waffleback
End Of Board Width—52.37mm / 2.06in
Weight Relief—None

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