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Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
73
Sound
71
Build
67
Value
75
Score
70
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Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged over Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
50s Rounded Medium C vs Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Gibson Custom 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
Paint Finish
Aged vs Poly
Paint has been artificially aged
Avg. Weight
7.95lbs (3.6kgs) vs 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured over Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile
Asymmetrical Slim Taper vs 50s Rounded Medium C
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
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
Paint Finish
Poly vs Aged
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
75 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Bridge Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs ProBucker 3
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs ProBucker 2
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Nylon vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
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
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 Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
  • 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.

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged Overview

  • From Gibson Custom's 2022 Murphy Lab series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar bridge
  • 50s Rounded Medium C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson Single Line, Single Ring tuners
  • Weight around 7.95lbs (3.6kgs)
  • 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 Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Woods Used in the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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

The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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 Jazz 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: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged.

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.

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged'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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged is built in United States while the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured is made in China.

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.

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: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged

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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged has a Nylon nut. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

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: 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 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
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged Nut Width
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged Neck Profile
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged'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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged and the Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured 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 .

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 60
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged vs Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
General Gibson Custom 1959 ES-335 Ultra Light Aged Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured
Brand: Gibson Custom Epiphone
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States China
Series: Murphy Lab Epiphone Inspired by Gibson
Colors: Black, Natural Blue, Brown Burst, Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring Grover Locking Rotomatic tuners with Tulip Buttons and 18:1 ratio
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Les Paul Standard Trapezoid
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: 50s Rounded Medium C Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Nylon NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split, Phase Out
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2