Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $441
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Epiphone Les Paul Special". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Step into a legacy of tone with the Epiphone Les Paul Special, a tribute to the iconic 1950s Gibson originals, offering timeless sound and style. This solid body electric guitar boasts a robust mahogany construction, delivering the warmth and sustain that has defined rock music for decades. Its sleek TV Yellow finish is not just a nod to the past but a statement in the present.
Equipped with dual P-90 Pro Soap Bar single-coil pickups, the Les Paul Special captures the classic single-coil bite with a beefy midrange. These pickups are designed to respond to the nuances of your playing, offering everything from sparkling cleans to a snarling growl when pushed. The Indian Laurel fretboard with a 12-inch radius provides comfortable playability, making it a joy to navigate through complex chords and speedy solos alike.
The neck features a vintage '50s profile, ensuring a familiar, comfortable grip for players who appreciate a bit of substance in their hand. Modern enhancements like the Graph Tech nut improve tuning stability and tone, ensuring your sound is as solid as your performance. This guitar is a perfect blend of the old and new, offering the aesthetic and sound of a classic Les Paul while providing the reliability and playability expected by today’s musicians.
Key Features:
- Mahogany body and neck with Indian Laurel fretboard
- Vintage '50s neck profile
- Dual P-90 Pro Soap Bar single-coil pickups
- Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup
- Graph Tech nut for enhanced tuning stability
- 12-inch fretboard radius with medium-jumbo frets
- Lightning Bar wraparound bridge
- TV Yellow finish
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | Les Paul Special |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Vintage 50s |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid Dots |
| Number of Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.693" |
| Nut Material | GraphTech |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Lightning Bar Wrap Around |
| Tuners | Vintage Style Deluxe tuners with Ivory buttons |
| Neck Pickup | P-90 PRO Soap Bar Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | P-90 PRO Soap Bar Single-coil |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 2 x tone |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | Gibson, .010-.046 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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What kind of pickups does the Epiphone Les Paul Special have?
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The Epiphone Les Paul Special is equipped with P-90 PRO Soap Bar Single-coil pickups, known for their clear, punchy sound that is versatile for various music genres.
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Is the Epiphone Les Paul Special suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Epiphone Les Paul Special is a great choice for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and straightforward controls, making it easy to play and learn on.
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What is the neck profile of the Epiphone Les Paul Special?
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The neck profile of the Epiphone Les Paul Special is a Vintage 50s shape, offering a thicker and more substantial feel that appeals to players who prefer a traditional neck style.
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Does the Epiphone Les Paul Special come with a case or gig bag?
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No, the Epiphone Les Paul Special does not include a case or gig bag; these must be purchased separately.
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How does the Epiphone Les Paul Special handle different music genres?
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The Epiphone Les Paul Special's P-90 pickups provide a versatile tone suitable for rock, blues, and jazz, making it adaptable for various music styles.
Videos
The Trogly's Guitar Show
These are Priced TOO LOW! | 2020 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow Review Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Excellent value for money, often compared favorably to much pricier Gibsons
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TV Yellow finish is a standout, with a semi-visible wood grain
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P90 pickups offer versatile sound, from clean to biting overdrive
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Solid construction with good quality hardware and electronics
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Neck feels substantial, appealing to those who prefer a thicker profile
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Intonation and setup generally praised straight out of the box
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Resonant sound, both acoustically and plugged in
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Comfortable weight, balancing well for long play sessions
CONS
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Some units have uneven frets and sharp edges requiring additional work
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Finish color may appear different in person compared to pictures
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Neck alignment issues reported, affecting string positioning
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Tendency for fretboard wood to arrive dry, needing conditioning
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Neck profile may not suit players with smaller hands
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone Les Paul Special.
Mods and upgrades
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Owners recommend upgrading capacitors to Orange Drop models (47 bridge, 22 neck) and replacing the stock bridge with a Wilkinson for improved playability.
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The Epiphone Les Paul Special-II serves as a good platform for experimenting with new pickups, bridges, and other customizations.
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Adding chrome knobs is a popular modification to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the guitar.
Source
Build quality
User experience
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The TV Yellow Special's weight is balanced and suitable for gigs, though it is heavier than the bolt-on neck models, affecting longer play sessions.
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Despite being a budget guitar, it has been favored by some over more expensive models like a $5000 Les Paul for its practicality and sound.
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Owners find the Special I with P90s extremely fun to play, citing its lightweight and simplicity as factors that encourage energetic playing.
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Comparisons
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The Epiphone Les Paul Special in TV Yellow is noted as a solid gigging guitar, contrasting with the generally poor reception of the Special II models.
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The sound and feel of the Epiphone Les Paul Special-II are preferred by some over the Harley Benton for its smaller body and ease of play.
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Compared to traditional Les Pauls, the Special I is lighter and doesn't provide the "true" Les Paul feel, making it a blend of Les Paul and Strat characteristics.
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Features and functionality
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The TV Yellow model with P90s is praised for its tonal quality and easy-to-set-up stoptail bridge, making it a reliable choice for regular use.
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The stock pickups are hot ceramic humbuckers that suit metalcore and hardcore styles well but may sound muddy for other genres.
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Ceramic pickups in the Special I can become microphonic with high gain, affecting sound quality in certain styles.
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Setup and maintenance
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Owners often need to address significant fret edge smoothing and nut slot fixes to improve playability and tuning stability.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 14 Reviews and 14 Ratings
139
It have become my main guitar
Under 3 kg and very good sounding. The neck pickup is a bit dark, but that is what I like.
It is part of the inspired by Gibson series so all hardware is good quality. CTS pots and Switchcraft switch.
Have not used my Clapton Strat or PRS since i bought this one. For the price, there is not much to chose from.
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
656
Best "bang for your buck"
Like many have already said, this guitar is waaaay better than you'd expect it to be at this price point. The finish is actually more of a "real" TV-Yellow than it seems in pictures (Wood grain is semi-visible). And it sounds absolutely lovely
Artist usage
Add artist
in an interview dom says he brought his own guitar to the euphoria set instead of a trumpet which was originally his character’s instrument
you can also see him playing it multiple different concerts he performs at
He used the guitar in recent live performances. He even attached the jazz master's unique tremolo arm to make a stopper.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Epiphone Les Paul Special, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation1 alternative for Epiphone Les Paul Special, curated by the Equipboard community.
$1,333.00 - $1,799.00
Same but the Gibson model is more expensive. Almost same sounding.
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