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D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
VS
Playability
72
Sound
61
Build
60
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
73
Sound
65
Build
62
Value
72
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford vs Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom

Reasons to Get
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford over Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
P90SP90 vs HH
Vintage tone with a lot of versatility
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom over D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Decorative Top
Plain Maple Cap vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs P90SP90
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
72 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford vs Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Designed Stack P-90 vs 98T PRO
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Designed Stack P-90 vs Alnico Classic PRO
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ovangkol vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford vs Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom is probably the better product overall with its final score of 67 compared to the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom is the better choice.

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Overview

  • From D'Angelico's 2021 Premier series
  • Bob Weir Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple Scarf neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Designed Stack P-90 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Point Tremolo bridge
  • C-Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover 109 Super Rotomatic tuners
  • Weight around 7.8lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Artist Collection series
  • Jerry Cantrell Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Plain Maple Cap top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: 98T PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Jerry Cantrell Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatic 18:1 with Kidney Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ovangkol wood pattern used for guitar building
Ovangkol
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ovangkol is a beautiful wood that's popular for acoustic guitars. Its tone sits somewhere between rosewood and mahogany, meaning it has a punchy low-end and nice mid-range. Find out more about Ovangkol.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom.

Pickup Configuration

The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford has an P90SP90 configuration while the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom has HH pickups.

P90SP90 is a rare configuration for P90 lovers that want to achieve unique jazzy sounds. The advantage over having three P90s is that the middle pickup doesn't get in the way of your picking as easily since it's a small single coil.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford gives you 5 switch options while the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom gives you 3. This means that the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's switch options
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford.

Final Sound Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
Pickups 70
Sustain 55
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 61
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford compares to the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford is built in Indonesia while the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom is made in China.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's are Grover 109 Super Rotomatic while the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's are Grover Rotomatic 18:1 with Kidney Buttons

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Weight Relief
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
Quality of materials 70
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 62

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Nut Width
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Nut Width
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Nut Width
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford and Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Neck Profile
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's neck profile
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Neck Profile
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford and the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Fingerboard Radius
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's Fingerboard radius
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom favors large hands more than the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford.

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Frets Size
D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's Frets Size
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom Frets Size
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom's Frets Size

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford vs Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
General D'Angelico Premier Bob Weir Bedford Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino Les Paul Custom
Brand: D'Angelico Epiphone
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: P90SP90 HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Premier Artist Collection
Colors: Blue Matte Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany
Bridge: 6-Point Tremolo Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover 109 Super Rotomatic Grover Rotomatic 18:1 with Kidney Buttons
Fretboard: Ovangkol Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Scarf Mahogany
Decoration: White Pearloid Block Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: C-Shape Jerry Cantrell
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 12"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Designed Stack P-90 (Single Coil / Passive) 98T PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan Designed SC-101 (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Designed Stack P-90 (Single Coil / Passive) Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 2 2