Gibson (and Epiphone) Finally Did It: Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Doublecut Reissue Review

This type of a guitar has been out of the market for too long and Gibson has finally found their “middle class”.

This isn’t going to be like a lot of my other guitar reviews, in fact it’s going to be more of a rant. But truth be told, I couldn’t be happier with the guitar you see pictured above. This is one of the newest additions to the “Inspired by Gibson” lineup that brings classic legacy models to the Epiphone line at a cheaper price. This line is becoming increasingly important, as domestic guitar prices here in the US continue to balloon behind tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty. When you consider those factors it’s easier to see why this is the guitar that Gibson has needed to make for years.

Gibson has tried all sorts of things in the past decade or so to offer some sort of “Mexican Fender” version of their own products. They had very cheap (and relatively poorly made) USA models like the Les Paul Special I owned, plus the failed Melody Maker lineup. They began righting the ship some years back when they completely overhauled the new Epiphone lineup, adding tons of iconic Gibson models to their menu. However, these were still just Epiphone guitars, with Epiphone headstocks and non-premium components for the most part.

Enter The Inspired By Gibson Range

Finally, a Gibson-shaped headstock was brought to the Epiphone lineup. I could care less about the name brand on the headstock, I’m not a snob. But I want something that feels and looks like a real Gibson, I want the guitar that I grew up obsessed with! The Inspired by Gibson lineup did just that, bringing more of a middle class option to the Epiphone lineup that could feature USA pickups and parts or collaborations with the Custom Shop to ensure careful attention to detail. These are akin to what Fender’s done with the higher end Mexican builds, and both brands now have competitively priced guitars with high build quality.

The reason I’m so hyped on this newest Epiphone is multifaceted. First off, they have never shown the Junior/Special love the proper love it deserves. These aren’t simple student models, they are incredibly soulful yet simple guitars. Additionally, neither Gibson or Epiphone has ever made a lot of variety of these at an affordable or accessible level. A quick review of Gibson’s website shows that a true single pickup Junior Doublecut is $1699, with the only other Doublecut option being a Murphy Lab single P90 model for $6499. So this $999 Les Paul Special Doublecut with dual American-made P90s is a bit of a steal.

That’s the other thing, this feels, plays, and sounds as close to an American or boutique LP Special as you’re going to find, even if it is an Epiphone. It’s got US pickups, pro-grade electronics (CTS pots, oil-in-paper capacitors, Switchcraft hardware), and feels every bit the part of a more premium priced guitar.

It’s absolutely awesome to see Gibson finally sort out a true version of their brand’s Mexican Fender lineup. And the icing on top is that one of the flagship guitars from this new era is brilliant. I’d take this any day over the USA-made Gibson Les Paul Special I got from Guitar Center in 2013 for $900. The fact that this guitar outplays that guitar, while only costing $99 more 12 years later speaks volumes.

Go check out my more thorough Ultimate Guitar review and if you dig the guitar, do me a favor and use my affiliate links to grab your own!