Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Heritage Cherry Burst vs ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic
The verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Heritage Cherry Burst 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 Melody Maker E1, Heritage Cherry Burst wins on
- Better value (80 vs 64)
- Lower price ($145 vs $1,699)
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Heritage Cherry Burst | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 66 |
| Build | 61 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 80 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Heritage Cherry Burst | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Alder |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil / Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $145 | $1,699 |
| Binding | None | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone Lighting Bar Compensated Wrap Around | Floyd Rose 1000SE |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Case | Optional Solid body Electric Guitar Gig bag 940-XEGIG. Les Paul Hard Case 940-ENLPCS, or Les Paul EpiLite™ Case 940-ENLPHG | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Control Knobs | Black ABS “Top Hat” 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 | 22 | — |
| Headstock | Epiphone Clipped Ear; Les Paul Model in gold; Epiphone logo in silver | — |
| Joint | Bolt-on | — |
| Model | ENOLHSCH1 | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width |
| Pickguard | White SL style | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Toggle Switch | — |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper D | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 25.5" |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and shoulder | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Black | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White); Blank | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Case Included | — | Y |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | GL Original U |
| Nut | — | Locking |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |
| Tuners | — | LTD |
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