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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus vs Gibson 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus
Electric$899
No ratings yet
68Overall / 100
Gibson 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive
Electric$7,399
No ratings yet
77Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive 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 $7,399)
Gibson 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 65)
  • Better sound (74 vs 68)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
MetricJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive
Overall6877
Build6587
Playability7575
Sound6874
Value6667

Full specifications

Specification comparison
SpecJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus1961 Les Paul SG Standard Quilt Sapele, Ultra Light Aged, Natural, Exclusive
BrandEpiphoneGibson
TypeElectricElectric
Years——
Country—US
Body woodMahoganyOne-piece Quilt Sapele
Neck wood1 Piece MahoganyMahogany
FretboardLaurel1 Piece Dark Indian Rosewood
Strings66
Frets2222
Scale24.75"24.75"
PickupsGibson Burstbucker 2 / Gibson BurstBucker 3Custombucker Alnico 3 / Custombucker Alnico 3
Rating——
Price$899$7,399
AccessoriesCertificate of AuthenticityCertificate of Authenticity Booklet
BindingSingle-ply Cream, Top and FretboardSingle-ply Cream, Fretboard
Body FinishAged GlossMurphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body shapeLes PaulSG
Body StylesLes PaulSG
BridgeEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-MaticABR-1
Bridge pickupGibson BurstBucker 3Custombucker Alnico 3
CaseIncludes Vintage-Style Case with BONAMASSA Nerdville, CA GraphicGibson Custom Hardshell
Control CoversBlackBlack
Control KnobsGold Top Hat with Dial PointersBlack Top Hat with Silver Insert
Controls2 Volume, 2 Tone, with 50s Wiring, CTS Potentiometers, and Mallory Capacitors2 Volume, 2 Tone; Hand-wired with CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers and Black Beauty Capacitors
FinishNickelNickel
Fretboard inlayPearloid TrapezoidCellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Fretboard radius304.8mm / 12.0in304.8mm / 12.0in
Fret Count2222
Headstock60s Kalamazoo—
Headstock InlayEpiphone logo in Mother of Pearl, Les Paul Model in Gold Silkscreen—
Jack Plate CoverCream—
JointGlued in, Long TenonLong Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
ModelEIGCJB59LZNH3SGSR61PSL21679
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
PickguardCreamTrue Historic Black Multi-Ply
Pickup CoversNickelAuthentic Profile Nickel Silver
Pickup Selector3-Way Switchcraft Toggle3-way Switchcraft
Profile50s Rounded Medium C60s SlimTaper
Scale length628.65mm / 24.75in628.65mm / 24.75in
Strap Buttons2 - Bottom and Shoulder2 - Aluminum
String gauges.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Switch TipAmberCream
SwitchwasherCream with Gold TextSilkscreened Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
TailpieceEpiphone LockTone Stop BarLightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Top woodMaple with Wide Grain AAAA Flame Maple Veneer—
Truss rod2-Way AdjustableAuthentic 50s No-Tube
Truss Rod CoverBell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White)Authentic Stepped 2-Ply Les Paul
Tuner PlatingNickelNickel
TunersEpiphone Deluxe with Tulip KeysKluson Single Line, Double Ring
End Of Board Width—56.89mm / 2.24in
Saddle Material—Nickel-plated Brass

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