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Head to head

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus vs Gibson Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus
Electric$899
No ratings yet
68Overall / 100
Gibson Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony
Electric$19,999
No ratings yet
78Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony comes out ahead overall — 78 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 $19,999)
Gibson Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 65)
  • Better sound (79 vs 68)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
MetricJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, LazarusEric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony
Overall6878
Build6587
Playability7575
Sound6879
Value6668

Full specifications

Specification comparison
SpecJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, LazarusEric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom, Ebony
BrandEpiphoneGibson
TypeElectricElectric
Years——
Country—US
Body woodMahoganyOne Piece Ultra-Light Weight Mahogany
Neck wood1 Piece MahoganyMahogany
FretboardLaurelEbony
Strings66
Frets2222
Scale24.75"24.75"
PickupsGibson Burstbucker 2 / Gibson BurstBucker 3Custombucker / Custombucker
Rating——
Price$899$19,999
AccessoriesCertificate of AuthenticityCertificate of Authenticity, Extra Pickguard Signed by Eric Clapton and Albert Lee, Custom Shop Switchplate Medallion in the Case
BindingSingle-ply Cream, Top and FretboardMulti-ply Top, Back, and Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard
Body FinishAged GlossMurphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body shapeLes PaulLes Paul
Body StylesLes PaulLes Paul
BridgeEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-MaticABR-1; Screws Towards Neck
Bridge pickupGibson BurstBucker 3Custombucker
CaseIncludes Vintage-Style Case with BONAMASSA Nerdville, CA GraphicCustom Duck Brothers Case
Control CoversBlackBlack Royalite; EC Signature Switch Plate Medallion Installed (Custom Shop Medallion in the Case)
Control KnobsGold Top Hat with Dial PointersTrue Historic Black Top Hat (No Dial Pointer)
Controls2 Volume, 2 Tone, with 50s Wiring, CTS Potentiometers, and Mallory Capacitors2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper in Oil Capacitors
FinishNickelCustom Murphy Lab Aged Gold
Fretboard inlayPearloid Trapezoid1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl Block
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 Inlay in Mother of Pearl
Jack Plate CoverCreamMulti-ply Laminated Acrylic
JointGlued in, Long TenonLong Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
ModelEIGCJB59LZNH3CSECB8MLAEBGH1
Mounting RingsCreamM69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Neck pickupGibson Burstbucker 2Custombucker
NutGraph TechNylon
Nut width43.0mm / 1.69in42.86mm / 1.69in
Output Jack1/4" Switchcraft1/4" Switchcraft
PickguardCreamMulti-ply Laminated Acrylic
Pickup CoversNickelAuthentic Profile Gold-plated Nickel Silver; Murphy Lab Aged
Pickup Selector3-Way Switchcraft Toggle3-way Switchcraft
Profile50s Rounded Medium CMedium C
Scale length628.65mm / 24.75in628.65mm / 24.75in
Strap Buttons2 - Bottom and ShoulderBlack
String gauges.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046—
Switch TipAmberCream
SwitchwasherCream with Gold TextTrue Historic Black
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 PlatingNickelCustom Murphy Lab Aged Gold
TunersEpiphone Deluxe with Tulip KeysGrover Milk Bottle
End Of Board Width—56.89mm / 2.24in
Middle pickup—Custombucker Screw Side Towards Neck
Weight Relief—None

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