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Products Electric Guitars Les Paul Epiphone
Neck and Headstock Neck and Headstock
Neck Species
The neck of the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul is constructed from solid mahogany, the most traditional wood for Gibson and Epiphone electric guitar necks, and an original feature of the legendary Les Paul Standards of 1958-'60. Neck Species Neck Profile
The neck on the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul is carved to a rounded '50s shape, which offers a beefy "D" profile with plenty of grip in-hand, but is not so clubby as to make it a difficult reach around to the fingerboard. Neck Profile Tonal Characteristics
The angled, classical-style peg head and mahogany neck work together to provide exceptional tonal richness and sustain from the neck, while the extra mass of guitar guitar's thick neck provides added depth and resonance. Joint
Epiphone uses what is known as the Mortis & Tenon joint to bind neck to body so that the two pieces form one solid unit. The solid Mahogany neck is hand-fitted into the body with an historically accurate "deep-set" joint that extends well into the neck pickup cavity creating even more tone and sustain. Neck Joint
Headstock Shape & Angle
The Joe Bonamassa Les Paul headstock is carved to the traditional "clipped ear" shape recognizable on countless classic Epiphone guitars over the course of more the past century. It is carefully angled at the 14 degrees, which increases pressure on the strings and helps them stay in the nut slots, while retaining crucial strength at where the headstock meets the neck. An increase in string pressure also means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain. Finally, the back of each headstock is stamped with every Joe Bonamassa Les Paul's individual serial number, in the longstanding tradition of the best Epiphone and Gibson guitars. Headstock Angle Truss Rod
Epiphone's traditional truss rod, found in most of our guitars, is highly responsive to the individual adjustments you'll want to make to personalize and optimize string action and sustain. Truss Rod Logo
A pearloid Epiphone logo is inlaid across the top of the headstock face of the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul, with "Les Paul Model" silkscreened in gold along the center of the headstock. "Bonamassa" is also imprinted in the truss-rod cover. Logo
Fingerboard and Nut
Fingerboard Species
The Joe Bonamassa Les Paul carries a rosewood fingerboard, the traditional fingerboard of the original Les Paul Standard. Rosewood is both hardwearing and sonically superlative, adding sweetness and depth to the guitar's overall sound. Fingerboard Species Frets
The Joe Bonamassa Les Paul sports 22 medium-jumbo frets, all immaculately dressed and polished. Frets Radius
The 12" radius of the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates "dead" or "choked out" notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.
Inlays
The Joe Bonamassa Les Paul fingerboard carries acrylic trapezoid position-marker inlays, echoing the traditional look of the original Les Paul Standards. Inlays Nut Material
The nut on the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul is made from synthetic bone, a very durable material that delivers enhanced sustain, and holds the tolerances of the precision cuts made in the slotting process. Nut Width Nut Width
The width of the nut on the Joe Bonamassa Les Paul is approximately 1.68", the traditional nut width of Gibson electric guitars. Tonal Characteristics
Rosewood fingerboards are known for their rich, round tone, which enhances the overall depth of the tone of the guitar as a whole.