Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s, Goldtop

Les Paul Standard 50s, Goldtop | Epiphone | Musicmaker Dublin

Some guitars don't need an introduction. They need a cable, a valve amp and somebody willing to play an E chord with a frankly unreasonable amount of conviction. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s in Goldtop is one of those guitars. A glorious nod to the golden age of electric guitar design, it captures the look, feel and muscular sound of the late-1950s Les Paul without demanding a vintage collector's bank balance. That shimmering gold finish, those twin humbuckers, that unmistakable single-cutaway silhouette — there's a reason this design has never really gone out of fashion.

The magic starts with a mahogany body and carved maple cap, a classic combination that gives the Les Paul its familiar blend of warmth, punch and singing sustain. There's weight behind the notes, a satisfying richness to big open chords and that wonderful ability to make even a single bent note sound like it has something important to say.

And then there's the neck. Epiphone has given the Standard 50s a 50s Rounded Medium C profile, offering a reassuring handful of mahogany rather than the slim, speedy feel of a more modern shred machine. It's substantial without being unwieldy, and it feels particularly good when you're digging into blues phrasing, classic rock riffs or those glorious open-position chords that seem to ring forever.

Plug it in and the ProBucker humbuckers get straight to work. Inspired by the character of vintage PAF-style pickups, the ProBucker-1 in the neck position brings warmth, sweetness and expressive lead tones, while the ProBucker-2 at the bridge offers extra bite and authority for rhythm playing and solos. Roll back the volume for a cleaner, more open sound, then wind things up when the chorus demands a little more mischief.

The controls are reassuringly traditional: two volume knobs, two tone knobs and a three-way pickup selector. No screens, menus or mysterious flashing lights. Just the wonderfully interactive relationship between your fingers, the guitar and whatever amplifier happens to be on the receiving end.

Of course, a proper Goldtop needs the right hardware. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece provide dependable intonation and sustain, while vintage-style tuners and cream appointments complete the old-school look. The trapezoid fingerboard inlays, cream binding and classic Epiphone headstock give it all the visual charm you'd hope for from a 50s-inspired Les Paul.

And that finish? Absolutely magnificent. The Metallic Goldtop has a particular kind of understated extravagance. It's classy, a little flashy and completely unapologetic about it. The sort of guitar that looks equally at home in a blues club, a rock venue or sitting in the corner of your living room quietly convincing you to practise instead of doing the washing up.

At Musicmaker Dublin, we've always had a soft spot for a proper Goldtop. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s delivers that irresistible combination of vintage style, chunky neck feel and glorious humbucker growl, without the eye-watering price tag of a collector's piece. It's the sort of guitar you come in to try for five minutes and find yourself still playing half an hour later.

Features

• Classic 1950s Les Paul Design: Traditional single-cutaway styling inspired by the legendary late-1950s electric guitars.

• Mahogany Body with Maple Cap: Delivers the warmth, resonance and sustain associated with classic Les Paul construction.

• 50s Rounded Medium C Neck: Comfortable, substantial neck profile with a vintage-inspired playing feel.

• Mahogany Set Neck: Glued-in neck construction supports resonance and smooth sustain.

• ProBucker Humbucking Pickups: Vintage-inspired Alnico II pickups deliver rich cleans, muscular crunch and singing lead tones.

• ProBucker-1 Neck Pickup: Warm, expressive response for blues, melodic solos and rounded rhythm sounds.

• ProBucker-2 Bridge Pickup: Punchy, articulate output for classic rock riffs and cutting lead lines.

• Traditional Four-Knob Controls: Independent volume and tone controls for each pickup provide versatile sound shaping.

• CTS Potentiometers: Quality electronic components for smooth, responsive control.

• LockTone Bridge and Tailpiece: Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece provide stable intonation and sustain.

• Indian Laurel Fingerboard: Traditional feel with classic pearloid trapezoid position markers.

• Vintage-Style Machine Heads: Complete the retro appearance while providing dependable tuning.

• Metallic Goldtop Finish: Iconic gold finish with cream binding and vintage-inspired appointments.

• Versatile Humbucker Sound: Excellent for blues, classic rock, indie, soul and heavier overdriven styles.

Specifications

• Brand: Epiphone

• Model: Les Paul Standard 50s

• Instrument Type: Solid-Body Electric Guitar

• Body Shape: Les Paul

• Body Material: Mahogany

• Top Material: Maple Cap

• Neck Material: Mahogany

• Neck Construction: Set Neck

• Neck Profile: 50s Rounded Medium C

• Fingerboard Material: Indian Laurel

• Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8mm)

• Fingerboard Inlays: Pearloid Trapezoids

• Number of Frets: 22

• Fret Size: Medium Jumbo

• Scale Length: 24.75" (628.65mm)

• Nut Width: 1.69" (43mm)

• Nut Material: Graph Tech

• Bridge Pickup: Epiphone ProBucker-2 Humbucker

• Neck Pickup: Epiphone ProBucker-1 Humbucker

• Pickup Magnets: Alnico II

• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone

• Potentiometers: CTS

• Pickup Selector: 3-Way Toggle

• Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic

• Tailpiece: Epiphone LockTone Stop Bar

• Machine Heads: Vintage-Style

• Hardware Finish: Nickel

• Body Binding: Cream

• Finish: Gloss

• Colour: Metallic Goldtop

• Strings: 6

• Orientation: Right-Handed