A New Inspired by Gibson Custom Signature Model From One of Japan’s Most Well-Loved Guitarists

Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto is a Grammy® Award-winning guitarist, composer, and record producer. He has been highly successful as a session musician, solo artist, and also as the guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock duo B’z – the best-selling musical act in Japan. Epiphone is proud to release the Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul™ Standard, a new Inspired by Gibson Custom model that was influenced by Tak’s cherished vintage 1955 Les Paul. It features a mahogany body with a maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck with a laurel fretboard, a long neck tenon, and a Tak Matsumoto custom neck profile that’s slightly thinner than a ’59 neck profile, and a Gibson-style “open book” headstock with the mother of pearl Epiphone logo shifted down slightly, just as they were in 1955. The Gibson Historic Wraparound bridge features intonation set screws, and the guitar comes equipped with a set of Pro Rock Gear strap locks. The electronics include a set of Gibson Burstbucker™ PRO Alnico 5 pickups and 50s wiring with vintage taper CTS® potentiometers, Grey Tiger capacitors, and a Switchcraft® 3-way toggle and output jack. A vintage-style brown/pink hardshell case with the Inspired by Gibson Custom logo and a reproduction of Tak’s signature on the outside is also included.

SPECIFICATIONS

Body

Body Style : Les Paul
Body Shape : Les Paul
Body Material : Mahogany
Top : Maple
Binding : Single Ply, Top and Fretboard
Body Finish : Gloss

Neck

Profile : Custom Tak '59 Rounded C
Scale Length : 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
Fingerboard Material : Laurel
Fingerboard Radius : 304.8 mm / 12 in
Neck Material : One Piece Mahogany
Fret Count : 22
Frets : Medium Jumbo
Nut Material : Graph Tech
Nut Width : 43.0 mm / 1.692 in
Inlays : Mother of Pearl Trapezoid
Joint : Glued In, Set Neck; Long Tenon

Hardware

Finish : Nickel
Bridge : Gibson Historic Wraparound with Intonation Set Screws
Tuning Machines : Epiphone Deluxe
Pickguard : 1959 Les Paul, Cream, No Bevel
Truss Rod : Dual Action
Truss Rod Cover : Black 2-ply Bell, Wide White
Control Knobs : Gold Speed
Switch Tip : Amber
Switch washer : Cream with Gold Text
Jack Plate Cover : Nickel Plated Metal
Control Covers : Brown
Strap Buttons : 2 Pro Rock Gear Locking - Bottom and Upper Bout
Mounting Rings : Cream
Pickup Covers : Nickel

Electronics

Neck Pickup : Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5
Bridge Pickup : Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5
Controls : 2 Volume, 2 Tone; 50s-era Wiring with CTS Potentiometers and Luxe Grey Tiger Paper in Oil Capacitors
Pickup Selector : 3-way Switchcraft
Output Jack : 1/4" Switchcraft

Miscellaneous

Strings Gauge : .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case : Vintage-style Brown/Pink Hardshell with Inspired by Gibson Logo and Tak Signature Reproduction