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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus vs Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, Ebony

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus
Electric$899
No ratings yet
68Overall / 100
Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, Ebony
Electric$7,799
No ratings yet
77Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, 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 $7,799)
Gibson 1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, Ebony wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 65)
  • Better sound (74 vs 68)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
MetricJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, Ebony
Overall6877
Build6587
Playability7575
Sound6874
Value6667

Full specifications

Specification comparison
SpecJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1957 Les Paul Custom Reissue 2-Pickup, Ultra Light Aged, 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 3Custombucker Alnico 3 / Custombucker Alnico 3
Rating——
Price$899$7,799
AccessoriesCertificate of AuthenticityCertificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Switch Plate Medallion; Reissue Switch Backplate in Case
BindingSingle-ply Cream, Top and FretboardMulti-ply
Body FinishAged GlossMurphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body shapeLes PaulLes Paul
Body StylesLes PaulLes Paul
BridgeEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-MaticNo-Wire ABR-1
Bridge pickupGibson BurstBucker 3Custombucker Alnico 3
CaseIncludes Vintage-Style Case with BONAMASSA Nerdville, CA GraphicBrown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch
Control CoversBlackBlack Royalite
Control KnobsGold Top Hat with Dial PointersButyrate Black 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; Murphy Lab Light Aged
Fretboard inlayPearloid Trapezoid1950s Pattern 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 Split Diamond inlay in Mother of Pearl
Jack Plate CoverCreamMulti-ply Laminated Acrylic
JointGlued in, Long TenonLong Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
ModelEIGCJB59LZNH3LPB57ULEBGH1
Mounting RingsCreamM69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Neck pickupGibson Burstbucker 2Custombucker Alnico 3
NutGraph TechNylon
Nut width43.0mm / 1.69in42.85mm / 1.69in
Output Jack1/4" Switchcraft1/4" Switchcraft
PickguardCreamMulti-ply Laminated Acrylic
Pickup CoversNickelAuthentic Profile Gold-plated Nickel Silver
Pickup Selector3-Way Switchcraft Toggle3-Way Switchcraft
Profile50s Rounded Medium C50s Rounded Medium C
Scale length628.65mm / 24.75in628.65mm / 24.75in
Strap Buttons2 - Bottom and ShoulderBrass
String gauges.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Switch TipAmberAmber Catalin
SwitchwasherCream with Gold TextReplica Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
TailpieceEpiphone LockTone Stop BarLightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Top woodMaple with Wide Grain AAAA Flame Maple Veneer—
Truss rod2-Way AdjustableAuthentic 1950s No-Tube
Truss Rod CoverBell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White)Authentic Stepped 2-Ply Les Paul Custom
Tuner PlatingNickelGold
TunersEpiphone Deluxe with Tulip KeysKluson Waffleback with Pearloid Tips
End Of Board Width—56.89mm / 2.24in
Weight Relief—None

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