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Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
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Playability
73
Sound
78
Build
67
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
57
Value
70
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins over Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
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
Value Score
73 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 over Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins

Decorative Top
Cracked Mirror 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
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Bridge Pickup
Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic vs EMG MF Signature
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico vs EMG MF Signature
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
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
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

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?

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

New Player Friendliness

Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • 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 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 >

Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2021 Artist Signature series
  • Marty Friedman Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Cracked Mirror top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking 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 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.

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 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.

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's switch options
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1'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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 75
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 compares to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

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.

The Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 comes with 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.

Winner: Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins.

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 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 67
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Quality of materials 45
Features 60
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57

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 Nut Width
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 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 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins, 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 and Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1'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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Neck Profile
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's neck profile
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Neck Profile
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1'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 Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins and the Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 have a D-shaped 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 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 and the Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 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.

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 .

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Frets Size
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins's Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's Frets Size

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 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 Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
General Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins Jackson Pro Series Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Brand: Epiphone Jackson
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Artist Collection Artist Signature
Colors: White, Black Purple
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Custom Blocks White Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Slim Speed
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic (Humbucker / Passive) EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico (Humbucker / Passive) EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2