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Best Les Paul Style Guitars Made In Japan in 2023

Here are the top Les Paul style guitars made in Japan . You should expect a high-quality guitar with excellent quality control. It can be compared to guitars made in the US, which is why they're also expensive.

Out of the more than 2000 guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

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1. ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed

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ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed

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Playability 82

Sound 79

Build quality 80

Value for money 65

Overall Score 80

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From ESP's 2014 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Maple top
Mahogany body
3pc Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
TOM Bridge & Tailpiece bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Sperzel Locking tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Multi-Voicing Pickups
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

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New from $9,299 >>

2. ESP E-II RZK-II Burnt

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ESP E-II RZK-II Burnt

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Playability 83

Sound 78

Build quality 74

Value for money 68

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)

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From ESP E-II's 2010 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II RZK-II Burnt

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Tremolo
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar

All Prices

Used from $7,000 >>

3. ESP RZK-II Burnt

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ESP RZK-II Burnt

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Playability 83

Sound 78

Build quality 75

Value for money 64

Overall Score 79

Player Feedback

Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)

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From ESP's 2010 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Alder body
3pc Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Thin U Neck-Through neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP RZK-II Burnt

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Neck-Through Build
Tremolo
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar

All Prices

4. ESP Alex Skolnick FR

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ESP Alex Skolnick FR

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Playability 77

Sound 82

Build quality 75

Value for money 63

Overall Score 78

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From ESP's 2016 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Flamed Maple top
Mahogany body
3pc Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Custom U Set neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Grover tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Alex Skolnick FR

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Coil Split Pickups
Tremolo
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar

All Prices

New from $8,699 >>

5. ESP E-II Eclipse-7 Evertune

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ESP E-II Eclipse-7 Evertune

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Playability 77

Sound 83

Build quality 75

Value for money 68

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (6 votes)
Pickups power: Slightly Hot (6 votes)

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From ESP E-II's 2014 Eclipse series
Made in Japan
7 strings
25.5"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker/Passive)
Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
EverTune 7 (F model) bridge
Thin U Set neck
24 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Eclipse-7 Evertune

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Coil Split Pickups
Stays in Tune (Evertune)
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

6. ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune

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ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune

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Playability 77

Sound 83

Build quality 75

Value for money 68

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (6 votes)
Pickups power: Slightly Hot (6 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

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From ESP E-II's 2014 Eclipse series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Mahogany body
1Pc Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Pegasus (Humbucker/Passive)
Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Evertune (F model) bridge
Thin U Set neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Eclipse Evertune

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Coil Split Pickups
Stays in Tune (Evertune)
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

7. ESP E-II Eclipse Full Thickness

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ESP E-II Eclipse Full Thickness

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Playability 78

Sound 79

Build quality 77

Value for money 68

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
Pickups power: Slightly Hot (3 votes)

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From ESP E-II's 2021 Eclipse series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Flamed Maple top
Full Thickness Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic (Humbucker/Active)
2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gotoh TOM & Tailpiece bridge
Thin U Set neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Eclipse Full Thickness

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Multi-Voicing Pickups
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

New from $2,399 >>

8. ESP Iron Cross

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ESP Iron Cross

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Playability 78

Sound 79

Build quality 77

Value for money 63

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)

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From ESP's 2014 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Maple top
Mahogany body
1Pc Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
3-way Switch
Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
Thin U Set neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Sperzel Locking tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Iron Cross

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Neck-Through Build
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Weight Relief
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

9. ESP Gary Holt EC

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ESP Gary Holt EC

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Playability 77

Sound 81

Build quality 75

Value for money 63

Overall Score 78

Player Feedback

Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (4 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

From ESP's 2015 Signature series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.75"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Maple top
Mahogany body
1Pc Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
Neck pickup: EMG 89R (Humbucker/Active)
2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Floyd Rose Original bridge
Thin U Set neck
22 XL Jumbo frets
Gotoh tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Gary Holt EC

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Locking Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Coil Split Pickups
Tremolo
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Neck-Through Build
No Weight Relief
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Retainer Bar

All Prices

New from $7,699 >>

10. Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

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Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

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Want it

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Playability 77

Sound 75

Build quality 77

Value for money 66

Overall Score 76

Player Feedback

Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (6 votes)

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From Gretsch's 2019 Professional Collection series
Made in Japan
6 strings
24.6"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Laminated Flame Maple top
Mahogany body
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
Neck pickup: Gretsch Broad'Tron BT-65 (Humbucker/Passive)
3 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
3-way Switch
Gretsch V Stoptail bridge
Standard U Set neck
22 Medium Jumbo frets
Gotoh Locking tuners
Compare Specs >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G6228FM Players Edition Jet BT

Locking Tuners
Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Ivory Tusq Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Weight Relief
Strap Lock
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Neck-Through Build
No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
No Tremolo
No Luminescent Inlay
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices