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Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus vs Gibson LE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top

Epiphone Joe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, Lazarus
Electric$899
No ratings yet
68Overall / 100
Gibson LE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top
Electric$7,899
No ratings yet
75Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson LE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top comes out ahead overall — 75 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 $7,899)
Gibson LE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 65)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
MetricJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, LazarusLE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top
Overall6875
Build6587
Playability7575
Sound6868
Value6665

Full specifications

Specification comparison
SpecJoe Bonamassa "Lazarus" 1959 Les Paul Standard, LazarusLE 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Light Aged, Ebony Top
BrandEpiphoneGibson
TypeElectricElectric
Years
CountryUS
Body woodMahoganyMahogany
Neck wood1 Piece MahoganySolid Mahogany
FretboardLaurelEbony
Strings66
Frets2222
Scale24.75"24.75"
PickupsGibson Burstbucker 2 / Gibson BurstBucker 31968 T-Top Reissue / 1968 T-Top Reissue
Rating
Price$899$7,899
AccessoriesCertificate of AuthenticityCertificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags
BindingSingle-ply Cream, Top and FretboardMulti-ply top and back
Body FinishAged GlossMurphy Lab Aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Body shapeLes PaulLes Paul
Body StylesLes Paul
BridgeEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-MaticABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Bridge pickupGibson BurstBucker 31968 T-Top Reissue
CaseIncludes Vintage-Style Case with BONAMASSA Nerdville, CA GraphicCustom Shop Hardshell
Control CoversBlack
Control KnobsGold Top Hat with Dial PointersBlack Witch Hats
Controls2 Volume, 2 Tone, with 50s Wiring, CTS Potentiometers, and Mallory Capacitors2 500K CTS Volume Pots, 2 500K CTS Tone Pots, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors
FinishNickelNickel
Fretboard inlayPearloid TrapezoidMother of Pearl Block
Fretboard radius304.8mm / 12.0in12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count2222
Headstock60s Kalamazoo
Headstock InlayEpiphone logo in Mother of Pearl, Les Paul Model in Gold Silkscreen
Jack Plate CoverCream
JointGlued in, Long TenonLong neck tenon
ModelEIGCJB59LZNH3LPC6826LE23257
Mounting RingsCream
Neck pickupGibson Burstbucker 21968 T-Top Reissue
NutGraph TechNylon
Nut width43.0mm / 1.69in1.69mm / 0.07in
Output Jack1/4" SwitchcraftSwitchcraft
PickguardCream
Pickup CoversNickelNickel
Pickup Selector3-Way Switchcraft Toggle3-Way Switchcraft
Profile50s Rounded Medium CAuthentic 1968
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 TipAmber
SwitchwasherCream with Gold Text
TailpieceEpiphone LockTone Stop BarStop Bar
Top woodMaple with Wide Grain AAAA Flame Maple VeneerMaple
Truss rod2-Way Adjustable
Truss Rod CoverBell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White)
Tuner PlatingNickel
TunersEpiphone Deluxe with Tulip KeysKluson Waffleback
End Of Board Width2.23mm / 0.09in
Plastic PartsBlack
Weight ReliefNone

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