Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard WBB

Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard WBB review

The Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard WBB is part of the 2025 Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection, with availability listed from April 2025. Its specification follows a familiar Les Paul recipe: a mahogany body, maple top, set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and two humbucking pickups. The supplied price is 1066, with no currency specified. A hard case is included, while a gig bag is not.

Owner feedback ranges from enthusiastic praise to a few notable quality concerns. Several players describe the guitar as attractive, comfortable to play, and capable of a rich, sustaining sound. Others report substantial weight, setup issues, or a faulty tone control on arrival. Those differences matter: the instrument has strong features on paper, but the individual guitar and its inspection can affect the experience.

Construction and appointments

The body and neck are mahogany, topped with maple. A bound top, cream pickguard, trapezoid fingerboard inlays, and nickel-plated hardware complete the traditional appearance. The Washed Bourbon Burst finish is a frequent highlight in owner comments, with players praising the figuring and visual presentation of the top. One reviewer called the finish exceptional, while another described opening the case to find an especially attractive top.

The neck has a rounded 1959 C profile and a rosewood fingerboard with a 12-inch radius. It is joined to the body rather than attached with bolts. The fingerboard has 22 frets, and the scale length is listed as 24.75 inches. Players who liked the neck said it sat comfortably in the hand. Feedback on factory fretwork is less uniform. Some guitars reportedly arrived in good playing condition, with low action and level frets. One owner found a few sharp fret ends, minor finish marks on the neck, and a slightly protruding nut, then paid for a professional setup and fret and nut work.

Pickups, controls, and playing response

Two USA-made Custombucker Alnico 3 humbuckers provide the main voice. The control layout has separate volume and tone controls for each pickup, a three-way pickup selector, and.022-microfarad Luxe Bumblebee capacitors. Owner impressions of the pickups are generally positive. Some describe a warm, full sound with a strong midrange and long sustain, particularly from the neck pickup. One player said notes seemed to sing and hold for an unusually long time. Another compared the guitar favorably with less expensive Gibson models.

There is also a sharply contrasting report from a buyer who found the sound thin and disliked its character. That same guitar arrived with a defective tone control. This is important context for a prospective buyer, since the supplied comments do not support a claim that every example sounds or performs identically. Check both tone controls through their full range, test the selector in all three positions, and listen for unwanted dropouts or abrupt changes before accepting the instrument.

Weight, setup, and case

Weight is the clearest practical drawback in the feedback. Individual owners report figures of 4.8, 5, and 5.1 kilograms. These are player-reported measurements, not a published weight specification, but they point to a guitar that may feel heavy during a long standing set. Players looking for a lighter instrument should try one on a strap before buying if possible.

Setup reports vary. One buyer received a guitar that needed little adjustment, while another chose to have a technician address fret ends and the nut. The latter reported that the work cost about $100. That expense is specific to that owner's experience, not a required upgrade, but it is sensible to inspect the frets, nut, action, and neck relief on arrival. The included hard case receives positive feedback for its secure fit and protection. Several buyers also praised careful shipping and packaging, though delivery handling depends on the seller.

Verdict

The Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard WBB brings a vintage-inspired specification, premium-positioned pickups, and an included hard case at a listed price of 1066. Owner feedback supports its appeal for players seeking a warm, sustaining Les Paul sound and a striking Bourbon Burst finish. The neck profile and general playability also earn praise when the setup is right.

Its weight is substantial, and quality reports are not entirely consistent. Inspect the controls and fretwork, and allow for a professional setup if the instrument needs one. For a player comfortable with a heavy guitar, this model offers a compelling set of materials and appointments. Buyers who cannot tolerate a five-kilogram instrument, or who expect every example to arrive perfectly adjusted, should approach with that variation in mind.