Epiphone Limited Edition Slash Les Paul Goldtop

There is no mistaking Slash. Even the people that don’t know his music recognize the face of the man that has embodied everything rock and roll since the mid-1980s. Epiphone honors his legacy with the new Limited Edition Slash Les Paul Goldtop – a stunning Les Paul designed in close collaboration with rock’s most recognizable guitar hero. The new Slash LP Goldtop is built using the same techniques that have made Gibson’s family of stringed instruments the finest in the world. Each Slash LP Goldtop features a traditional Les Paul body topped with A-grade maple. The mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and Slash-designed profile is then glued into the body utilizing a long-neck tenon. The pickups are Seymour Duncan’s Alnico Pro-II humbuckers, and the finish is Epiphone’s classic Goldtop finish. Other features include Epiphone’s LockTone™ Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, a Slash truss rod cover, a hardshell case with custom Slash logo, an HD print and COA personally hand signed by Slash, a Slash-inspired leather guitar strap, and 24 custom Slash guitar picks. It’s a package truly worthy of a guitar-playing legend. That legend is Slash. And this is the new Limited Edition Slash LP Goldtop from Epiphone. Only 2,000 will be made – get yours while you still can.

Finishes

  

Hot Points

Epiphone Logo

The legacy of Epiphone guitars and its Greek founders, the Stathopoulos family, goes back to 1873 in Asiatic Turkey, when Anastasios—son of lumber merchant Nicolas—first began making fiddles and lutes. By 1915, the family had moved to New York City and control of the company was in the hands of Epimanondas, one of Anastasios’ four children. It was Epi—as he was known—that combined his name with “phone,” the Greek word for sound, and began using “Epiphone” as the name on the company’s banjos in 1923. He registered the Epiphone brand name in 1924, and successfully established it as one of the world’s most respected makers of quality stringed instruments. That same legacy lives on today in every instrument that bears the Epiphone name and logo, including the Slash Les Paul Goldtop.The legacy of Epiphone guitars and its Greek founders, the Stathopoulos family, goes back to 1873 in Asiatic Turkey, when Anastasios—son of lumber merchant Nicolas—first began making fiddles and lutes. By 1915, the family had moved to New York City and control of the company was in the hands of Epimanondas, one of Anastasios’ four children. It was Epi—as he was known—that combined his name with “phone,” the Greek word for sound, and began using “Epiphone” as the name on the company’s banjos in 1923. He registered the Epiphone brand name in 1924, and successfully established it as one of the world’s most respected makers of quality stringed instruments. That same legacy lives on today in every instrument that bears the Epiphone name and logo, including the Slash Les Paul Goldtop.

Glued-in Mahogany Neck

The Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop features a glued-in mahogany neck, establishing a solid “wood-to-wood” seal and leaving no air space in the neck cavity. This allows the guitar to function as a single unit, increasing the instrument’s resonance and enhancing its overall sustain and tone.The Slash Signature Les Paul Goldtop features a glued-in mahogany neck, establishing a solid “wood-to-wood” seal and leaving no air space in the neck cavity. This allows the guitar to function as a single unit, increasing the instrument’s resonance and enhancing its overall sustain and tone.

Slash-designed Neck Profile with Long-Neck Tenon

The neck on the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Goldtop is crafted from premium mahogany then glued into the body using TiteBond® wood glue, utilizing a historically-correct long-neck tenon typically found on the Les Pauls from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Extending well into the neck pickup cavity, the long-neck tenon provides additional strength and stability to the neck, and offers more wood-to-wood contact between the neck and body, which ultimately results in sweeter tone and longer sustain. The neck also features a “Slash Custom” neck profile patterned exclusively from the neck on Slash’s original Les Paul, and a rosewood fingerboard fitted with 22 nickel/silver alloy medium-jumbo frets.The neck on the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Goldtop is crafted from premium mahogany then glued into the body using TiteBond® wood glue, utilizing a historically-correct long-neck tenon typically found on the Les Pauls from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Extending well into the neck pickup cavity, the long-neck tenon provides additional strength and stability to the neck, and offers more wood-to-wood contact between the neck and body, which ultimately results in sweeter tone and longer sustain. The neck also features a “Slash Custom” neck profile patterned exclusively from the neck on Slash’s original Les Paul, and a rosewood fingerboard fitted with 22 nickel/silver alloy medium-jumbo frets.

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Pickups

The pickups in the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone—a pair of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro pickups—are identical to the ones in Slash’s original Les Paul. The moderate-output humbuckers with Alnico II magnets yield a warm, sweet tone with more natural string vibration for increased sustain. Since Slash gets most of his distortion from the amp rather the pickup, these pickups allow him to back off the crunch and achieve beautiful, clean tones with a softer attack. If you want to sound like Slash, you’ve got to play what he plays, and the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone delivers the guitar—and the pickups—to pull it off.The pickups in the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone—a pair of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro pickups—are identical to the ones in Slash’s original Les Paul. The moderate-output humbuckers with Alnico II magnets yield a warm, sweet tone with more natural string vibration for increased sustain. Since Slash gets most of his distortion from the amp rather the pickup, these pickups allow him to back off the crunch and achieve beautiful, clean tones with a softer attack. If you want to sound like Slash, you’ve got to play what he plays, and the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone delivers the guitar—and the pickups—to pull it off.

Unchambered Solid Mahogany Body

Each Slash Les Paul Goldtop starts with a traditional Les Paul body, consisting of a hand-selected, premium solid mahogany back based on historically-correct specifications, topped with A-grade maple. Using a traditional roller-type carving machine, Epiphone tediously carves each body creating the sexy curves and subtle “dish” along the outer edge of the top that transforms it into an authentic Les Paul.Each Slash Les Paul Goldtop starts with a traditional Les Paul body, consisting of a hand-selected, premium solid mahogany back based on historically-correct specifications, topped with A-grade maple. Using a traditional roller-type carving machine, Epiphone tediously carves each body creating the sexy curves and subtle “dish” along the outer edge of the top that transforms it into an authentic Les Paul.

Epiphone’s New LockTone Stopbar/Tune-o-matic System

Since their invention in 1954, the original Tune-o-matic bridge system and stopbar tailpiece have changed very little, which is a testament to their overall design quality and timeless functionality. Over the years, however, the engineers at Epiphone have thought about ways to keep both the stopbar tailpiece and Tune-o-matic bridge from falling off the guitar during string changes—a common occurrence most players are familiar with. This has led to the proud introduction of Epiphone’s new LockTone Stopbar/Tune-o-matic System, which locks downs both pieces onto their respective posts without the use of any tools. In doing so, Epiphone engineers also discovered that the tighter fit and greater surface area contact between the pieces results in tone enhancement, and a nearly 20 percent increase in sustain. Both pieces are now standard equipment on all Tune-o-matic/stopbar equipped Epiphone electric guitars, including the Slash Les Paul Goldtop.Since their invention in 1954, the original Tune-o-matic bridge system and stopbar tailpiece have changed very little, which is a testament to their overall design quality and timeless functionality. Over the years, however, the engineers at Epiphone have thought about ways to keep both the stopbar tailpiece and Tune-o-matic bridge from falling off the guitar during string changes—a common occurrence most players are familiar with. This has led to the proud introduction of Epiphone’s new LockTone Stopbar/Tune-o-matic System, which locks downs both pieces onto their respective posts without the use of any tools. In doing so, Epiphone engineers also discovered that the tighter fit and greater surface area contact between the pieces results in tone enhancement, and a nearly 20 percent increase in sustain. Both pieces are now standard equipment on all Tune-o-matic/stopbar equipped Epiphone electric guitars, including the Slash Les Paul Goldtop.

Epiphone’s Classic Goldtop Finish

The finish on the new Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone is very similar to the same Goldtop finish introduced on the original Les Paul model in 1952. Applying it is one of the most labor-intensive processes of building guitars, but it’s worth it. There are three different coats of paint in all – a base coat of black primer, followed by two coats of metallic gold paint, which must be agitated continuously to achieve a consistent and even coverage. Those three coats are then sealed by four thin coats of polyurethane, each one buffed to an illustrious shine before adding the next. The entire process of painting a Slash Les Paul Goldtop – from primer to the last coat of polyurethane – takes nine days!The finish on the new Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone is very similar to the same Goldtop finish introduced on the original Les Paul model in 1952. Applying it is one of the most labor-intensive processes of building guitars, but it’s worth it. There are three different coats of paint in all – a base coat of black primer, followed by two coats of metallic gold paint, which must be agitated continuously to achieve a consistent and even coverage. Those three coats are then sealed by four thin coats of polyurethane, each one buffed to an illustrious shine before adding the next. The entire process of painting a Slash Les Paul Goldtop – from primer to the last coat of polyurethane – takes nine days!

Vintage Tulip Machine Head Tuners

Some of the most classic and legendary Les Pauls have come equipped with Vintage Tulip Machine Head Tuners, and they were Slash’s personal choice for the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone. These durable tuners deliver simple and precise tuning capability with trouble-free access, making a string change an easy task.Some of the most classic and legendary Les Pauls have come equipped with Vintage Tulip Machine Head Tuners, and they were Slash’s personal choice for the Slash Les Paul Goldtop from Epiphone. These durable tuners deliver simple and precise tuning capability with trouble-free access, making a string change an easy task.

Angled Headstock

The angling of an Epiphone headstock at precisely 17 degrees increases the pressure on the strings and helps them to stay in the nut slots. This also diminishes the loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain.The angling of an Epiphone headstock at precisely 17 degrees increases the pressure on the strings and helps them to stay in the nut slots. This also diminishes the loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain.

Adjustable Truss Rod

Gibson introduced the adjustable truss rod in the early 1930s and instantly revolutionized the guitar. Before this important innovation, the truss rod was used primarily to strengthen and stabilize the neck of the guitar. Now it’s the safest and most efficient way to straighten the neck, and allows a guitar to be set up using a variety of string gauges and string heights to accommodate any style of playing. By placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible, making any adjustment possible even while the strings are still on the guitar.Gibson introduced the adjustable truss rod in the early 1930s and instantly revolutionized the guitar. Before this important innovation, the truss rod was used primarily to strengthen and stabilize the neck of the guitar. Now it’s the safest and most efficient way to straighten the neck, and allows a guitar to be set up using a variety of string gauges and string heights to accommodate any style of playing. By placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible, making any adjustment possible even while the strings are still on the guitar.

Classic Trapezoid Inlays

Trapezoid inlays have graced the fingerboards of the most iconic stringed instruments in the world, including the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Goldtop.Trapezoid inlays have graced the fingerboards of the most iconic stringed instruments in the world, including the Epiphone Slash Les Paul Goldtop.

Binding

The binding on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a fundamental part of the company’s rich, guitar-making history. Though some people assume it is applied for aesthetic purposes only, the binding actually protects the body’s edges against damage and eliminates the sharp edges of the frets, providing a much smoother neck and easier playability.The binding on an Epiphone Les Paul Standard is a fundamental part of the company’s rich, guitar-making history. Though some people assume it is applied for aesthetic purposes only, the binding actually protects the body’s edges against damage and eliminates the sharp edges of the frets, providing a much smoother neck and easier playability.

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