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Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
VS
Playability
80
Sound
81
Build
67
Value
76
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
73
Score
73
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Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy vs Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy over Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Decorative Top
Maple Cap vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Jerry Cantrell Prophecy vs Slim
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
76 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins over Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Slim vs Jerry Cantrell Prophecy
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy vs Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico
Different Neck Pickup

Shared Features
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy vs Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 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 Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

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

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
  • 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.

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Jerry Cantrell Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple Cap top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Jerry Cantrell Prophecy Set neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Rotomatic tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Matt Heafy Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Slim Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.5lbs (3.9kgs)
  • 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 Both

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: Tie.

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

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy's and use them on any guitar:

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy's pickups are Active while the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

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.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing.

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.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

They both share the following switching options:

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy and Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy and Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 81
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78

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 Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy compares to the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

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: Tie

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.

In this case, both have Ivory Tusq nuts. 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.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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

They both have 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: 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
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy
Quality of materials 65
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 67
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 65
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

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy and Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Neck Profile
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy's neck profile
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Neck Profile
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins'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 Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy and the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 Les Paul Custom Prophecy favors large hands more than the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Frets Size
Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy's Frets Size
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Frets Size
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's Frets Size

The Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's Medium Jumbo 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

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy vs Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
General Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Les Paul Custom Prophecy Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Brand: Epiphone Epiphone
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Artist Collection Artist Collection
Colors: White White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Locking Rotomatic Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Circle in Diamond Custom Inlays Custom Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Jerry Cantrell Prophecy Slim
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.838'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Coil Split, Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2