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Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
VS
Playability
68
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
71
Score
71
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
72
Value
60
Score
75
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Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String vs Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Specs Comparison
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
General
Brand: Epiphone Gibson
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 6
Made in: China United States
Series: Artist Collection Custom Shop Collection
Colors: White, Black Gray
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Solid Mahogany
Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Locking Mini Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons Schaller M6 with Large Buttons
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony, with 1-ply White Binding
Neck Material: Mahogany 3-piece Maple
Decoration: Custom Blocks Mother of Pearl Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: SpeedTaper D Adam Jones Medium C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Bone
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker / Passive) Custom-Wound Seymour Duncan DDJ (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Custombucker (Reverse-Mounted) (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Gold Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String's switch options
Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS's switch options

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String over Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
SpeedTaper D vs Adam Jones Medium C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
71 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS over Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Decorative Top
3-piece Maple 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
Adam Jones Medium C vs SpeedTaper D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String vs Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS

Bridge Pickup
Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic vs Custom-Wound Seymour Duncan DDJ
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico vs Gibson Custombucker (Reverse-Mounted)
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
4-3 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String vs Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
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
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String favors large hands more than the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS.

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS 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

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    New Player Friendliness

    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    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.

    Woods Used in the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple

    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.

    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.

    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: Tie.

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 68
    Tuning Stability 80
    Sound 78
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 85
    Versatility 53
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 75

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String compares to the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String is built in China while the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS is made in United States.

    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.

    The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

    Winner: Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS

    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 Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String has 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.

    On the other hand, the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    Winner: Tie.

    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

    The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String.

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
    • 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
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 75
    Quality Control 65
    Build Quality 67
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
    Quality of materials 65
    Features 50
    Quality Control 100
    Build Quality 72

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Nut Width
    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Nut Width
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Nut Width
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 5mm (0.197'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String's Scale Length
    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String's Scale Length
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS's Scale Length
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS's 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.

    The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Neck Profile
    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String's neck profile
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Neck Profile
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS'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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String has a D type of 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.

    The Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS, on the other hand, has a C 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

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String and the Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS 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.

    Fret Size

    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String Frets Size
    Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String's Frets Size
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS Frets Size
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS's Frets Size

    The Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String'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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 68
    Gibson Adam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom VOS
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
    Chord Playability 55
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 77