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D'Angelico Premier DC XT
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
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Playability
72
Sound
69
Build
62
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
73
Sound
71
Build
67
Value
75
Score
70
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D'Angelico Premier DC XT vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Reasons to Get
D'Angelico Premier DC XT over Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
C-Shape vs Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
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 Les Paul Modern Figured over D'Angelico Premier DC XT

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile
Asymmetrical Slim Taper vs C-Shape
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
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
75 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
D'Angelico Premier DC XT vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Bridge vs ProBucker 3
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Neck vs ProBucker 2
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple 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 NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
D'Angelico Premier DC XT vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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 Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the D'Angelico Premier DC XT's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the D'Angelico Premier DC XT in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured is the better choice.

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the D'Angelico Premier DC XT meets only 4. 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 DC XT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 DC XT Overview

  • From D'Angelico's 2021 Premier series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Maple body
  • Maple Scarf neck
  • Ovangkol fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Bridge (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Neck (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Chrome Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • C-Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Super Rotomatic tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ProBucker 3 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ProBucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Asymmetrical Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Rotomatic tuners with Tulip Buttons and 18:1 ratio tuners
  • Weight around 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • 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 DC XT

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

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

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 Les Paul Modern Figured.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. 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 DC XT has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured. 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 Hard Rock 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 DC XT.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split, Phase Out.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

D'Angelico Premier DC XT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
D'Angelico Premier DC XT's switch options
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured'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: Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured.

Final Sound Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier DC XT
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 69
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 71

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 DC XT compares to the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The D'Angelico Premier DC XT is built in Indonesia while the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured 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 DC XT

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 DC XT 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 Les Paul Modern Figured comes with a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

Winner: Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured.

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 DC XT'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 Les Paul Modern Figured'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

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured.

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 DC XT
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Coil Split, Phase Out Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

D'Angelico Premier DC XT
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Quality of materials 70
Features 70
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 67

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 DC XT Nut Width
D'Angelico Premier DC XT Nut Width
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Nut Width
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured 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 Les Paul Modern Figured, 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 DC XT and Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured'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 DC XT Neck Profile
D'Angelico Premier DC XT's neck profile
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Neck Profile
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The D'Angelico Premier DC XT has a C type of 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.

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured, on the other hand, has a Asymmetrical neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

Fretboard Radius

D'Angelico Premier DC XT Fingerboard Radius
D'Angelico Premier DC XT's Fingerboard radius
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured'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 Les Paul Modern Figured's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the D'Angelico Premier DC XT'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 DC XT.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

D'Angelico Premier DC XT:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

D'Angelico Premier DC XT and Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

D'Angelico Premier DC XT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

D'Angelico Premier DC XT vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
General D'Angelico Premier DC XT Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Brand: D'Angelico Epiphone
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Premier Epiphone Inspired by Gibson
Colors: Brown Matte Blue, Brown Burst, Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Laminated Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Chrome Tune-O-Matic LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Super Rotomatic Grover Locking Rotomatic tuners with Tulip Buttons and 18:1 ratio
Fretboard: Ovangkol Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Scarf Mahogany
Decoration: White Pearloid Block Les Paul Standard Trapezoid
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: C-Shape Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 12"
Nut: Plastic NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Psyclone Humbucker Filter Tron Neck (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split, Phase Out
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2