Bottom Line: The Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue is the sleeper hit of the Inspired by Gibson Custom line — USA-made Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups, Bumblebee paper-in-oil caps, and a wraparound bridge in a stripped-back double-cutaway design at $999.
While the Les Paul Standard reissues get the headlines, the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut might be the smartest buy in Epiphone’s entire catalog. At $999 — $300 less than the Standard reissues — it packs USA-made Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups, Bumblebee paper-in-oil capacitors, CTS pots with hand-wired electronics, and a wraparound bridge that transfers string energy directly into the body. No maple cap, no binding, no vanity features. Just a mahogany slab, two of the best single-coil pickups ever designed, and a neck that plays like butter. If the Les Paul Standard is the tuxedo, the Special is the leather jacket.
What’s New on the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Body | Mahogany, double cutaway |
| Neck | One-piece mahogany, 1960s SlimTaper C profile |
| Fretboard | Rosewood, 12″ radius, white mother-of-pearl dot inlays |
| Frets | 22 medium jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75″ |
| Nut | Graph Tech, 43mm width |
| Pickups | USA Gibson P-90 Soapbar single coils |
| Electronics | Hand-wired, CTS pots, Bumblebee paper-in-oil capacitors, Switchcraft toggle and jack, 2V/2T/3-way |
| Bridge | Historic aluminum wraparound with intonation adjustment screws |
| Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe three-on-a-plate |
| Finish | TV Yellow (VOS) |
| Extras | Vintage-style hardshell case with brown exterior and pink plush interior |
| Street Price | $999 |
The USA-made Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups are the star of this guitar. P-90s occupy a unique space in the pickup world — fatter and grittier than a Strat single coil, but more open and aggressive than a humbucker. They snarl when you push them, clean up beautifully when you back off, and have a midrange presence that cuts through a band mix like nothing else. These aren’t Epiphone-branded copies; they’re the same P-90s wound at Gibson’s Nashville facility for their USA-made Special and Junior models.
The double cutaway design gives full access to the upper frets — something the single-cut Les Paul has never been great at. Combined with the SlimTaper neck profile, this is one of the most playable guitars in the Les Paul family. The wraparound bridge is beautifully simple: no separate tailpiece, no saddle adjustment fiddling. String energy goes straight into the body, and the intonation screws let you dial in each string individually.
Bumblebee paper-in-oil capacitors and CTS pots round out the electronics. The tone knob on a P-90 guitar is arguably more important than on a humbucker model — rolling it back tames the P-90’s characteristic bite while maintaining warmth and body. Bumblebee caps handle this beautifully, giving you a usable range across the entire tone sweep.
The Epiphone Les Paul Special Double Cut Figured offers a different approach within the same Epiphone family.
Who Is the 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue For?
Punk, garage rock, blues, and indie players — anyone who wants raw, unfiltered tone with attitude. The P-90 Les Paul Special is the guitar that powered The Clash, Green Day’s early albums, Bob Mould’s wall of noise, and Leslie West’s Mississippi Queen tone. It’s also secretly one of the best recording guitars ever made — producers love P-90s because they sit in a mix without competing with bass frequencies or disappearing behind distortion.
If you’re a player who values tone and playability over cosmetic luxury, this guitar was designed for you. The stripped-back aesthetic — no binding, no flame top, just mahogany and P-90s — is a statement of intent. This is a working musician’s guitar.
If you’re exploring the Epiphone lineup, the Epiphone Explorer 80s EMG is also worth a look.
✓ PROS
- USA Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups — raw, aggressive tone that humbuckers can’t replicate
- $999 price point makes it the most affordable model in the Inspired by Gibson Custom line
- Double cutaway provides excellent upper fret access
- Wraparound bridge is simple, effective, and maximizes sustain
✗ CONS
- P-90s hum in single-coil mode — no noise cancellation like humbuckers
- Only available in TV Yellow — love it or leave it
- No maple cap means less visual flash than the Standard reissues
How Does It Compare to the Gibson Les Paul Special?
The Gibson USA Les Paul Special runs around $1,499-$1,699. It uses the same P-90 design, a similar mahogany body, and a wraparound bridge. The Gibson version is made in Nashville with nitrocellulose lacquer and Gibson-branded hardware throughout. The Epiphone matches it on pickups (both USA-made P-90s), uses the same Bumblebee caps and CTS pots, but saves money on the body construction and finish. For $500-$700 less, you’re getting the same tone engine in a slightly different chassis. That’s a hard deal to beat.
For a competing option, the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom Long Scale targets a similar player at a comparable price point.
First Impressions and What Players Are Saying
MusicRadar noted that the 1960 Special “looks, feels and sounds far more expensive than it actually is.” Premier Guitar’s review praised the USA P-90 pickups as “the real differentiator” and called the guitar “a genuine threat to Gibson’s own Special models.” Players on forums have highlighted the TV Yellow finish as “perfect” and the wraparound bridge as surprisingly good for intonation accuracy.
The most repeated sentiment: at $999, this guitar makes it genuinely hard to justify spending more on a Gibson USA version unless the “Made in USA” label is non-negotiable for you.
For a competing option, the Squier Sonic Mustang 2026 targets a similar player at a comparable price point.
Pricing and Availability
Available now at $999 from major retailers. Ships with the same vintage-style hardshell case as the rest of the Inspired by Gibson Custom line. Given the lower price point and strong reviews, this model has been selling quickly — check availability if you’re interested.
FAQ
Is the Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue worth it?
It’s arguably the best value in the entire Inspired by Gibson Custom line. At $999, you get USA-made Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups, Bumblebee capacitors, and hand-wired electronics — the same tone engine as the Gibson USA version at roughly half the price. If you love P-90 tone, this is a no-brainer.
If this model catches your eye, the Epiphone 1964 SG Standard Reissue is also worth checking out.
What’s the difference between the Epiphone Special and the Gibson Les Paul Special?
Both use USA-made Gibson P-90 pickups and similar electronics. The Gibson is made in Nashville with nitrocellulose lacquer; the Epiphone is made in China with a poly-based VOS finish. The Gibson costs $1,499-$1,699; the Epiphone is $999. Tone and playability are remarkably close.
Do P-90 pickups hum?
Yes, P-90s are single-coil pickups and will produce some 60-cycle hum, especially under high gain or near interference sources. This is normal and part of the P-90 character. Using both pickups together in the middle position cancels most hum. Many players consider the trade-off worth it for the unique P-90 tone.
Where is the Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut made?
Made in China with USA-made Gibson P-90 Soapbar pickups from Gibson’s Nashville facility. The Bumblebee capacitors, CTS pots, and Switchcraft switches are sourced from the same American suppliers used by Gibson for their domestic production.
The 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut is the working guitarist’s choice from the Inspired by Gibson Custom line. It’s proof that you don’t need a flame top and gold hardware to make a great guitar — sometimes all you need is mahogany, P-90s, and a clear path to the upper frets.