The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 is a nod to one of the most iconic guitars in history. With its semi-hollow maple body, mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard, this guitar is designed to deliver the rich, resonant tones that have made the ES-355 a favourite among players for over 60 years. The appointment of the open-book style headstock and USA-made Gibson Custombucker pickups ensures you get an authentic, vintage sound—warm, smooth, and full of character—while also capturing the timeless aesthetic that the ES-355 commands. Here's Nick Jennison to tell us more.
For many, the Gibson "ES" ("Electric Spanish") is the shape they imagine when they think of an electric guitar. These beautiful, slim-bodied semi-hollows have a reputation not only for their good looks and exquisite craftsmanship but also for their versatility, finding favour with players as diverse as BB King, Larry Carlton, Chuck Berry, Joe Perry, and Richie Blackmore.
Built in close collaboration with the Gibson Custom Shop, Epiphone's new Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 encapsulates all of the elegance, class, and craftsmanship of the originals, but at a much more appealing price point. Given Epiphone's history of building Sheratons, Casinos, and the like, it should come as no surprise that the 1959 ES-355 is excellent.
The body is a centre block design with a maple block and 5-piece layered maple and poplar body, with the same contours as the original. The long-tenon neck is a single piece of mahogany with no scarf joints, and it comes with a genuine ebony fretboard. It's a super comfortable neck shape, with plenty of beef (and the tuning and tonal benefits that come with a bigger neck), but it never feels clubby or cumbersome—nor is it heavy enough to cause the dreaded "neck dive." And of course, it comes with the Gibson-style "open book" headstock.
The difference between the 335 that we're all familiar with and the more high-end 355 is largely cosmetic, with the latter sporting an ebony fretboard, more elaborate binding (3-ply on the back, 5-ply on the headstock, and 7-ply on the top), and more "premium" inlays—block position markers and the classic "split diamond" on the headstock. Just like the Gibson Custom version, the Epiphone 1959 ES-355 uses genuine mother of pearl for all of these inlays.
Perhaps the most "premium" feature on this guitar (and all of its Inspired by Gibson Custom stablemates) is the electronics. It comes loaded with CTS pots, Switchcraft jack and toggle switch, Mallory capacitors, and—most importantly—a set of Gibson USA "Custombuckers." Costing about half the price of this entire guitar, these pickups are Gibson's latest (and best) attempt to capture the magic of the PAF humbuckers found on their '50s and '60s guitars. Given how varied the originals were, the "PAF sound" means many things to many different people, and the Custombuckers are an aggregate of the best qualities of all of the many original '50s and '60s PAFs that Gibson collected and examined during their development. They're un-potted, with a fairly low output and a beautiful airy high end and a fast transient "smack." The result is a guitar that sounds beautifully balanced for both clean and dry tones, with plenty of "sting" for bluesy leads and more than enough warmth and articulation for intricate jazz lines. They're not the best equipped for modern metal tones, but I'm assuming you aren't buying a 355 to play djent. For everything else, the 1959 ES-355 really delivers with class, poise, and tons of vibe.
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 is a very attractive and high-quality recreation of an all-time classic. The inclusion of a set of Custombuckers really elevates this instrument beyond similar offerings, and the construction and attention to detail are first-rate. It's also worth mentioning that, for the price of a Gibson Custom 355, you could have an Epiphone 355 in each of the three colours it comes in. A very appealing proposition!
For more information, please visit:
We will never share your email without your prior consent. Please see our full Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
We will never share your email without your prior consent. Please see our full Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
