In this video, I compare the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1960s Les Paul to a USA Gibson Les Paul Standard and my personal Gibson Custom Shop R9. Built in China but spec’d like a high-end Gibson, this new Epiphone is designed to offer custom shop-level appointments at an attainable price.
Is it just a budget-friendly Les Paul? Or is this Gibson’s smartest move in years? We break it all down — tone, feel, build quality, electronics, and value — and talk about what this shift really means for the guitar industry.
Huge thanks to my friend Zach Broyles from @MythosPedals for joining me today, check out our podcast @DippedInTone
As always huge thanks to @sweetwater for sponsoring today's video
🔗 Gear Links & Giveaways: (affiliate links)
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 60's Spec Les Paul
→https://sweetwater.sjv.io/EExj7X
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 1959 Spec Les Paul
→https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqO5YD
Gibson Les Paul Std 60's Spec
→https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aOLkEj
Revv D25 Joey Landreth Spec 1x12 combo
→https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Wy9LV3
Akai MPCX SE (from the intro jam)
→https://sweetwater.sjv.io/yqO5VD
🚨 Enter to with an AEA R92 Ribbon Mic Here
→https://kingsumo.com/g/3l5gqp1/rhett-shulls-aea-r92-mic-giveaway
🎓 My Guitar Courses
- Fretboard Fundamentals Ultimate
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p//admin/site/pages/17443293/edit
- Breaking Out of the Pentatonic Box
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p//admin/site/pages/11164005/edit
- The CAGED Course
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p//admin/site/pages/14445211/edit
- The Inner Circle (Monthly Membership)
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p//admin/site/pages/8242728/edit
💥 Browse all my courses:
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/l/products
🎁 Free Resources
Grab the Fretboard Fundamentals eBook and other free downloads:
→ https://rhettshullguitarcourses.com/p/free
🎙️ Podcast
🎧 Dipped In Tone (with Zach Broyles):
→ https://www.youtube.com/@DippedInTone
Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:33 Sponsorship
3:02 Signal Flow and Giveaway
3:53 Epiphone vs Gibson Standard w/ Zach
6:11 Epi vs Standard Playing Examples
7:24 Thoughts
9:17 Epiphone vs Custom Shop R9s
10:38 R9 vs Epi Playing Examples
13:42 Final Thoughts w/ Zach
16:54 Wrap Up
19:11 Outro