Epiphone legendary bluegrass instruments are back, Gibson annouces Jason Isbell Red Eye 1959 Les Paul Standard
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The Epiphone Bluegrass Collection includes the Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe Banjo, Mastertone Bowtie Open Back Banjo, Mastertone Classic Banjo, F5G Mandolin, Mandobird, and the F-5 Studio Mandolin are now available at Authorized Epiphone dealers worldwide.
The Epiphone Mastertone Bowtie Open Back Banjo was inspired by Gibson Mastertone models
The Epiphone Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe is inspired by Earl's longtime musical companion – a rare Gibson RB-Granada Mastertone five-string that was his primary banjo from 1949, when he acquired it, up until his passing in 2012.
The Epiphone Earl Scruggs Golden Deluxe Banjo features a 3-ply maple resonator with figured maple veneer, 3-ply maple rim, and gold hardware, including a gold plated armrest with Earl Scruggs-inspired engraving, a One Piece Flang, and a Mastertone-style plated Brass Tone Ring.
Whether playing rhythmic chops, or lead lines, the F-5G Mandolin’s tone is balanced, deep, and resonant, with great carrying power
The Epiphone Mastertone Bowtie Open Back Banjo was inspired by Gibson Mastertone models with "Bowtie" cosmetics from the 1950s and 1960s and delivers high-quality alongside vintage style at an accessible price point.
Perfect for clawhammer/frailing as well as Scruggs style players, it is equipped with a 26.4" scale length satin-finished mahogany neck that features the Gibson "scroll-style" headstock with mother of-pearl Epiphone logo and Gibson Crown inlays, the bound laurel fretboard has 22 frets and classic mother-of-pearl Bowtie inlays and a Mastertone block inlay at the end of the fretboard.
The rim is layered mahogany with a Brass hoop-style Tone Ring, and the notched nickel tension hoop and 11" Remo Fiberskyn head are held in place with 24 nickel hooks.
The Fiberskyn head contributes warm, full-range, vintage inspired tones with outstanding definition and enhanced mid and low-range resonance. A premium gig bag is also included.
Epiphone’s finest mandolin model to date, this exceptional Inspired by Gibson Custom instrument is a faithful recreation of the time-honored original
The Epiphone Mastertone Classic Banjo features a mahogany resonator, a 3-ply mahogany rim, and nickel hardware, including an armrest, and a One Piece Flang, as well as a Mastertone-style plated Brass Tone Ring.
The 26.4" scale-figured mahogany neck has a laurel fretboard with 22 medium/tall frets and is adorned with Style 3 mother-of-pearl inlays and a Mastertone Block inlay at the end of the fretboard. A hardshell banjo case is also included.
Orville Gibson invented the modern mandolin, and mandolins have been a part of Epiphone’s DNA since its earliest days. Company founder Anastasios Stathopoulo’s first (and only) patent, filed in 1909, was for a mandolin.
Gibson Master Luthier Lloyd Loar designed the original F-5 mandolin in the early 1920s, and its eventual success even led to the creation of new musical genres, such as bluegrass. Now, Epiphone has collaborated with the Gibson Custom Shop on the new F-5G.
Epiphone’s finest mandolin model to date, this exceptional Inspired by Gibson Custom instrument is a faithful recreation of the time-honored original. It features all solid wood construction with a figured maple back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top.
The figured maple neck has an ebony fretboard with a compound radius (10" at the nut, 12" at the end of the fretboard) and an F-style scroll headstock with vintage-style tuners with pearloid buttons.
Ornate touches include the three-ply top binding, mother-of-pearl "The Epiphone" and flowerpot headstock inlays, and the rich Cremona Sunburst finish.
Whether playing rhythmic chops, or lead lines, the F-5G Mandolin’s tone is balanced, deep, and resonant, with great carrying power. A vintage-style rectangular hardshell mandolin case is also included.
The Epiphone Mandobird is back by popular demand.
This is an excellent electric four-string mandolin for all kinds of players, from bluegrass and Western swing mandolin players looking to stretch out and go electric, to rock guitarists looking to explore new tones and alternate tunings.
It features a Reverse Firebird-inspired solid nato wood body, a bolt-on mahogany neck with trapezoid inlays, a reverse Firebird style headstock with four Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, a top-mounted, string-through-body bridge, and an Epiphone Firebird pickup paired with master volume and tone controls. An Epiphone gig bag is also included.
Orville Gibson invented the modern mandolin, and mandolins have been a part of Epiphone’s DNA since its earliest days. Company founder Anastasios Stathopoulo’s first (and only) patent, filed in 1909, was for a mandolin.
Gibson Master Luthier Lloyd Loar designed the original F-5 mandolin in the early 1920s, and its eventual success led to the creation of new musical genres, such as bluegrass.
Now, Epiphone is proud to release its latest mandolins.
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson F-5 Studio mandolin is based on the legendary Loar-designed F-5 and makes a high-quality F-5 style mandolin more accessible than ever. It features all-solid wood construction with a solid maple back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top.
The maple neck is attached to the body with a glued dovetail joint and has a laurel fretboard with 20 frets and a Gibson-style scroll headstock with vintage-style tuners with pearloid buttons.
Its sound is balanced, highly toneful, and resonant, with great carrying power, in part due to the thin satin finish. The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson F-5 Studio mandolin arrives in a Red Wine Satin, and a Vintage Sunburst Satin finish, a premium gig bag is also included.
Gibson announced the Jason Isbell Red Eye 1959 Les Paul Standard Collector’s Edition from Gibson Custom.
Ed originally purchased the guitar in 1982 and nicknamed it “Red Eye†because of its distinctive appearance
“Red Eye,†a 1959 Les Paul Standard, was the long-time sidekick of Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Much of the red color on the top faded while displayed in a store window, except for a patch below the toggle switch that was covered by a hangtag.
Ed originally purchased the guitar in 1982 and nicknamed it “Red Eye†because of its distinctive appearance. After Ed passed away in 2018, the six-time GRAMMY singer-songwriter Jason Isbell purchased Red Eye and often features the guitar in his stage and studio performances across the globe.
This special Collector’s Edition limited run of replications uses new 3D scanning technology and ultra-precise Murphy Lab aging techniques to aid in hand-crafting an effective clone of Red Eye. Every detail has been thoughtfully recreated, from the exact playing wear to the sonic character and solid Brazilian Rosewood fretboard.
The Jason Isbell “Red Eye†1959 Les Paul Standard Collector’s Edition includes some unique case candy
The Jason Isbell “Red Eye†1959 Les Paul Standard Collector’s Edition includes some unique case candy, with a blue Les Paul Protector Series hardshell case with a gray plush interior, a Jason Isbell Strap made by Savas from Midnight Blue Wild Alligator leather with a chain stitched and inlaid Red Eye emblem, two rubber “beer bottle†style strap locks, a certificate of authenticity booklet, and custom and reproduction hangtags. ■