Following Peter Inexperienced Collectors Version and Customized Store tribute fashions from Gibson (priced within the tens of hundreds), Epiphone lately jumped into the section with its model, the Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Commonplace.

Half the price of the standard-production Gibson, it’s nonetheless one of many most-expensive devices ever supplied by Epi. And with its value come sure expectations.

With a strong mahogany physique, one-piece mahogany neck, bookmatched flame-maple cap, satin end on a soft-C neck, and Grover Rotomatic tuners, the Greeny has the makings of a stellar taking part in expertise. Furthering the vibe, it will get the identical Greenybucker pickups because the Gibson variations, together with the mismatched Tone and Quantity knobs. Out of the field, the match, end, motion, and intonation (verified with a strobe tuner) on our tester have been immaculate.

Plugged right into a low-watt tube amp with gentle increase between, the low-output Greenybuckers introduced a readability that might beguile a single-coil/P-90 fanatic. The neck pickup with no increase delivers the sonorous tones of Inexperienced’s “Albatross.” Add a contact of increase and also you’ll acknowledge the sound of Moore’s intro to “Nonetheless Bought the Blues.”

The out-of-phase tone with the selector within the center could be modulated with every pickup’s Quantity knob, beginning with a Strat-like quack and taking place to a refined, plaintive moan.

The Greeny’s secret weapon is its neck pickup. Positioned with the pole items nearer to the bridge, it provides a contact extra brightness and word definition.

With the selector the center place with no increase, the tone is pleasantly woody; add increase and it turns into snarky. To listen to one thing akin to Inexperienced on “World Carry on Turning,” choose the bridge pickup and hold the increase out of it. Faucet the increase, and it snarls.

The Epiphone Greeny’s playability, tonal selection, and look put the necessities of a legendary instrument inside attain of many extra gamers.

This text initially appeared in VG’s March 2024 situation. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.