The idea behind Epiphone’s “Impressed By Gibson” assortment is to supply correct reissues with key appointments just like the 1962 ES-335 Reissue’s “open e book” headstock.

Specs on the 1962 Reissue commemorate the 12 months Gibson launched “small block” inlays on the ES-335, as seen within the arms of heroes like Alvin Lee, Larry Carlton, and Wealthy Robinson of the Black Crowes. Inbuilt Epiphone’s manufacturing unit in China, it has a semi-hollow five-ply maple/poplar physique (with spruce bracing) and solid-maple middle block, mahogany neck, and a 22-fret rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl inlays. One other draw is the fretboad’s rolled edges, offering a contact of consolation. The shiny nickel-covered pickups are unpotted Gibson Custombucker Alnico III humbuckers, whereas the {hardware} contains an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and Historic Reissue aluminum cease bar, Epiphone Deluxe tuners, and tophat knobs. End decisions are Sixties Cherry and Classic Burst that, mixed with that timeless headstock form, appears each inch a traditional 335.

On the job, the ES-335 Reissue proved a well-made employee bee. Match and end are above common, which you anticipate from Epiphone, and {hardware} is passable for its value. It has a meaty neck, reducing the road between pace and sturdiness; Epi calls its carve a Nineteen Sixties SlimTaper C, but it surely shows a little bit of girth on the ninth fret and above.

Maybe the most effective a part of the ES-335 Reissue expertise is tone. It’s a giant, daring semi-hollow that may bark out the blues, rock, or the rest you take into consideration. The neck Custombucker delivers heat, fats tones for days, whereas the bridge is suitably brash and rocking. The center mixture has a fantastic, funky honk to it, even swampy, venturing into Meters/Little Feat territory. There are three distinct and usable sounds, which isn’t all the time the case with two-humbucker guitars.

Backside line: with a value within the mid zone, Epiphone is providing a lifeless ringer for a Gibson ES-335 that can set you again about one third of a U.S. construct. Little doubt, the 1962 Reissue is sure to be an attention-getter. – Pete Prown

This text initially appeared in VG’s August 2025 challenge. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.