Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Express, Vintage Sunburst vs ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic
The verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Express, Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 70 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Les Paul Express, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better value (80 vs 64)
- Lower price ($149 vs $1,699)
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Express, Vintage Sunburst | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 66 |
| Build | 61 | 61 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 71 | 68 |
| Value | 80 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Express, Vintage Sunburst | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Alder |
| Neck wood | Okoume | Maple |
| Fretboard | Granadillo | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 21 | 22 |
| Scale | 21.97" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Epiphone 650R Humbucker Open-coil / Epiphone 700T Humbucker Open-coil | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $149 | $1,699 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone FB-601 fully adjustable | Floyd Rose 1000SE |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone 700T Humbucker Open-coil | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Case | optional | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Control Knobs | Black Speed knobs | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | Black w/ Desert Eagle Graphic |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305mm |
| Fret Count | 21 | — |
| Headstock | Small Sloped Dovewing | — |
| Joint | Bolt-on, Tapered Heel, 4-bold recessed | — |
| Model | ENL2VSCH4 | — |
| Mounting Rings | black | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone 650R Humbucker Open-coil | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) |
| Pickup Covers | open-coil | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Epiphone toggle | — |
| Profile | SlimTaper | — |
| Scale length | 558.0mm / 21.97in | 25.5" |
| Strap Buttons | 2-butt and shoulder | — |
| String gauges | .10, .13, .17, .26, .36, .46 | — |
| Switch Tip | Black | — |
| Switchwasher | Black | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White) Epiphone | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Premium Die-cast | LTD |
| Case Included | — | Y |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | GL Original U |
| Nut | — | Locking |
| Nut width | — | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |