In 1954, Les Paul walked into Gibson's offices and asked for something specific: a fancier version of his signature guitar, with cosmetics refined enough to look like a tuxedo. What followed was the Les Paul Custom — one of the most visually striking and tonally distinctive guitars in history, adorned with binding, block inlays, and a split diamond headstock that announced its intentions from across the room. The Interstellar Tone Traveler is proud to carry the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom in Ebony, and it wears that original brief impeccably. Ebony finish over a mahogany body and maple cap, 7-ply top binding, 5-ply back binding, bound ebony fingerboard, bound headstock — gold hardware throughout, mother-of-pearl block inlays, and that iconic Custom split diamond gleaming from the headstock. Les Paul wanted a tuxedo. This is black tie at the edge of the cosmos.

 What makes the Inspired by Gibson Custom collection different from standard Epiphone fare is where Gibson chose not to compromise — and on this Les Paul Custom, the most significant decision is the pickup set. These are USA-made Gibson 490R and 498T humbuckers — the same pickups found in Gibson USA production guitars — installed in an Epiphone chassis with a hand-wired electronics harness built from CTS volume and tone pots, Mallory tone capacitors, and a Switchcraft 3-way toggle and output jack. The result is a tonal pedigree that goes well beyond what the price tag suggests. The one-piece mahogany neck connects via a long tenon for maximum coupling and sustain, the bound ebony fingerboard sits at a comfortable 12" radius with 22 Medium Jumbo frets, and Grover Rotomatic tuners with a Graph Tech nut keep everything in tune through any session. A LockTone Tune-O-Matic and LockTone Stop Bar anchor intonation and sustain at the other end. At 9lbs 3oz, this guitar has weight and authority — players who love a substantial LP will feel right at home. Ships in the premium hardshell case with goldenrod interior.

Model: IGC Les Paul Custom
Body Construction: Solid Body
Body Top: Maple
Body Back: Mahogany
Body Finish: Gloss 
Body Binding: 7-Ply Top, 5-Ply Back, Single Ply Fretboard
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: MOP Blocks 
Nut: Graph Tech 1.69in
Neck Profile: Modern Medium C
Headstock: Gibson Open Book
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Truss Rod: Fully Adjustable
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Binding: White
Scale Length: 24.75"
Neck Finish: Gloss 
Tuners: Grover Rotomatic
Hardware Color: Gold 
Bridge Style: LockTone Tune-O-Matic 
Tailpiece: LockTone Stopbar
Pickguard: Black 5-Ply
Pickups: 498T (Bridge) 490R (Neck)
Switching: 3-Way Toggle 
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS Potentiometers and Mallory Caps
Weight: 9lbs 3oz. 
Series: Inspired by Gibson
Case: Hardshell Case