Epiphone Les Paul Special DC 1960 Reissue Cherry Red IGC IBGCS

The Essentials to Know About the Les Paul Special DC 1960 Reissue Cherry Red Guitar

• True 1960 Spirit: double cutaway silhouette, modernized comfort, and "Cherry Red" look with Vintage Gloss finish.


• Two Gibson Custom USA P-90s: thick, singing cleans to edgy crunch, with a very organic response.


• Mahogany neck with 60s SlimTaper profile: quick grip, easy access to the upper frets thanks to the double cutaway.


• Premium electronics: hand-wired, CTS potentiometers, and Bumblebee Paper-in-Oil capacitors for a vintage-style tone progression.

A Cult Special, Reissued with the "Inspired by Gibson Custom" Standard

The Les Paul Special first appeared in 1955 as a more refined evolution of the Junior: same "plug and play" philosophy, but with two pickups to broaden the sonic palette, and more detailed touches like bound fingerboard and pearloid logo. Starting in 1958, the Special adopted a double cutaway body to improve access to the upper frets. In 1960, the arrival of a slimmer neck and small placement adjustments made the instrument even more comfortable.

This Epiphone in collaboration with Gibson Custom follows this logic: offering a faithful and exciting reinterpretation of a sought-after model, preserving the raw and musical DNA of the Special DC, while providing manufacturing coherence designed for stage and studio. The result: a straightforward mahogany solidbody with an immediately recognizable character.

Who Is the Les Paul Special DC 1960 Reissue For?

This electric guitar is aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists who want an expressive, direct, and lively instrument, but it remains very accessible for a motivated beginner seeking a guitar with real character from the start. Its double cutaway ergonomics help with solos and licks high up on the neck, while the 60s SlimTaper profile favors fast runs and long sessions without fatigue.

In terms of styles, it's an ideal base for rock, blues, punk, indie, and anything requiring a sharp attack and presence in the mix. For softer sounds, it can also deliver warm textures suitable for soul, garage, or pop, with dynamics that respond to pick attack and guitar volume.

The Sonic Signature: Mahogany + Two P-90s, Between Vintage Grit and Modern Bite

The heart of this Les Paul Special DC is the combination of a solid mahogany body (no weight relief) and two P-90 Soapbar pickups. Mahogany generally provides a dense foundation, with full mids and a natural sustain feel, while the Wraparound bridge contributes to this impression of direct response and "in-the-fingers" vibration.

The Gibson Custom USA P-90s offer a unique personality, halfway between single coil and humbucker: more body and muscle than a classic single coil, but with clarity, bite, and a very "vintage" grain. In the neck position, expect round, woody, and singing tones, perfect for blues lines and open chords. At the bridge, the register becomes more incisive: sharp attack, prominent mids, and a crunch that naturally kicks in as soon as the amp starts to break up.

The electronics are designed to respect this dynamic: 2 volumes and 2 tones to finely sculpt the balance between pickups, and a 3-position toggle switch to instantly switch registers. Hand-wiring, CTS potentiometers, and Bumblebee Paper-in-Oil capacitors contribute to a progressive pot sweep, useful for cleaning up overdrive with the volume or darkening a pickup without totally choking the guitar.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To get the best out of it daily, you can pair it with a strap (standard size), a good quality 6.35 mm jack cable, a guitar stand for storage, and a set of electric guitar strings (gauge chosen according to your touch). The instrument comes with a hard case with a vintage look, practical for transport and protection.

Technical specifications

Category	Single cut	Scalloped	Simple
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Strings	Steel	Color	Red
Nbr of strings	6

Shape	Les Paul	Scale length	24.75" / 628.65 mm
Style	Solidbody	Nut	Graph Tech
Material	mahogany	Bridge	Wraparound (with vintage-style intonation screws)
Cutaway	double cutaway	Hardware finish	nickel
Binding	none	Tuners	Epiphone Deluxe (3 per plate)
Finish	Vintage Gloss	Plastics	black
Weight relief	none	Knobs	Black Top Hats
Available finishes	TV White, Cherry Red, TV Yellow	Pickup covers	Soapbar
Profile	60s SlimTaper C	Neck pickup	Gibson Custom USA P-90 Soapbar
Joint	long neck tenon	Bridge pickup	Gibson Custom USA P-90 Soapbar
Fingerboard	rosewood	Controls	2 volumes, 2 tones
Fingerboard binding	single-ply	Switch	3-position toggle
Inlays	dots	Components	CTS potentiometers, Bumblebee Paper-in-Oil capacitors
Frets	22 medium jumbo	Wiring	hand-wired
Radius	12" / 304.8 mm