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Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
62
Value
69
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
68
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
72
Score
62
FIND IT ON:
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Show Full Spec Comparison
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Specs Comparison
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
General
Brand: Epiphone Fender Squier
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Artist Affinity Series
Colors: Yellow White, Black, Green, Orange, Red, Yellow, Gray, 2-Color Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: Gibson Historic Wraparound with Intonation Set Screws 6-Saddle Hardtail with Cast Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Epiphone Deluxe Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Laurel Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Trapezoid Black Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Custom Tak '59 Rounded C Modern C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's switch options
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard over Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Pickups Brand
Gibson vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
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
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster over Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard

Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
72 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 vs Standard Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 vs Standard Single-Coil Tele
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard vs Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

Price History Comparison

Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT
    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

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

    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard 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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • 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 the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany
    Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
    Laurel

    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.

    There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

    Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    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.

    Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

    Winner: Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has SS pickups.

    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.

    On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

    Pickups Quality

    The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster. 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: Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard.

    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.

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

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

    Winner: Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 53
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 72
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
    Pickups 70
    Sustain 65
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 65

    Build Quality Comparison

    When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster.

    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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard 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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

    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

    Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's are Epiphone Deluxe while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's are Standard Die-Cast

    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.

    The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard has 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.

    On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

    Winner: Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • 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
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • 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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 55
    Quality Control 65
    Build Quality 62
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 54

    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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Nut Width
    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Nut Width
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Nut Width
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, 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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's Scale Length
    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard 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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Neck Profile
    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's neck profile
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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 Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

    Fretboard Radius

    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard Fingerboard Radius
    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard's Fingerboard radius
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster'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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard'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 Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard.

    Fret Size

    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard and Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster 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

    Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 73
    Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 68