Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s, Cardinal Red vs ESP EC-1000 Lh Vintage Black
The verdict
The ESP EC-1000 Lh Vintage Black comes out ahead overall — 82 to 70 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s, Cardinal Red wins on
- Lower price ($699 vs $1,099)
ESP EC-1000 Lh Vintage Black wins on
- Better build (93 vs 65)
- Better playability (84 vs 75)
- Better value (79 vs 73)
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Standard 50s, Cardinal Red | EC-1000 Lh Vintage Black |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 82 |
| Build | 65 | 93 |
| Playability | 75 | 84 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 73 | 79 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Standard 50s, Cardinal Red | EC-1000 Lh Vintage Black |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Okoume (Gaboon Mahogany) or Sapelli (Sapelli Mahogany) | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 3Pc Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Epiphone Probucker 1 / Epiphone Probucker 2 | EMG 60 Black / EMG 81 Black |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $699 | $1,099 |
| Binding | Single-ply Cream; Top and Fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic | TonePros Locking TOM & Tailpiece |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone Probucker 2 | EMG 81 Black |
| Case | Premium Gig Bag | EC Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Control Covers | Black | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold Top Hat with Dial Pointer | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS Potentiometers and 50s Wiring | Active |
| Finish | Nickel | Vintage Black |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Trapezoid | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 350mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone Logo in Mother of Pearl, Les Paul Model in Gold Silkscreen | — |
| Jack Plate Cover | Cream Plastic Square | — |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck; Long Tenon | — |
| Model | EIGLP5CRNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Cream | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone Probucker 1 | EMG 60 Black |
| Nut | Graph Tech | Molded |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 42mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickguard | Cream | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Toggle | — |
| Profile | 1959 Rounded Medium C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 24.75" |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Upper Bout | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Cream | — |
| Switchwasher | Cream with Gold Text | — |
| Tailpiece | Epiphone LockTone Stop Bar | — |
| Top wood | Plain Maple Cap | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Black Bell; Standard | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Epiphone Vintage Deluxe | LTD Locking |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Set-Thru |
| Hardware | — | Gold |
| Neck profile | — | Thin U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |