Epiphone Les Paul Standard LTD Edition Red (2001) Unsung, Korea + Other Upgrades

The Les Paul has always been an iconic guitar, and this Limited Edition model featuring a striking translucent red stain with a gorgeous AAA flame maple veneer is a proper thing of beauty. Built in June 2001 at the highly respected Unsung factory in Korea (identified by the “U” prefix in the serial number), early 2000s Korean-made Epiphones from the Unsung plant are legendary among players. Guitars built during this period in Korea represent the “golden era” of Epiphone production and are widely respected for their skilled construction, quality wood selection, and excellent craftsmanship. Many players praise their consistent build quality, resonance, components, and feel, giving these guitars a fierce reputation as serious value giants. When properly set up, these Korean Unsung Epiphones are absolute slayers that can comfortably rival far more expensive modern Gibsons in both playability and tone!

Under the hood, this instrument is far from standard - it has been thoughtfully upgraded by the previous owner to bring out its absolute best. It is loaded with the factory Epiphone 57CH humbucker in the neck and the HOTCH humbucker in the bridge, however it has been completely re-wired to incorporate a traditional 50’s wiring configuration. This upgrade utilises vintage-style push-back braided wire, high-quality CTS pots, and high-performance Orange Drop polypropylene film capacitors made by Cornell Dubilier Electronics (CDE). This premium electronics overhaul really opens up the pickups, giving you incredible control and a beautiful, dynamic tone.

Condition-wise, this is a guitar that has been really enjoyed over the last 25 years, and it has stood up well while picking up the usual bumps and bruises along the way to prove it. If you are looking for a pristine "case queen," then step aside, because perhaps this isn't for you. However, if you appreciate a worn-in classic, with genuine battle scars and proof of proper enjoyment, this is maybe the one. It has matured beautifully, much like a fine wine. A few of the larger dents have been sympathetically filled and made smooth under the touch in order to avoid further chipping or paintwork loss, but I intentionally decided to leave some of the other natural wear, such as the belt buckle rub, some surface marks, and authentic play-wear on the pickups because it gives the guitar so much authentic character and mojo.

It features Epiphone Vintage logo tuners, and while all the hardware has been thoroughly cleaned during its service, I made a conscious attempt NOT to make it look pristinely new. I wanted to keep that authentic VOS (Vintage Original Spec) aged look that people seem to pay vast amounts of money for the Gibson Murphy Lab to reproduce! (Please note: at the time of writing this listing, the guitar is showing 4 x broken speed knobs in the photos. I am awaiting brand new replacements which will be put on the guitar as soon as they arrive).

As with all instruments that pass through my hands at Sosbro Guitar Co., this guitar has just undergone a thorough professional refurbishment and setup to ensure it arrives stage ready and plays to its best ability. Full setups in most shops are expensive, and because of the high cost of paying a guitar tech, very few new guitars off the shelf or even second-hand guitars ever get a proper going over before being sold. I have personally already done the hard work for you. During its service, I removed the old strings, cleaned the fretwire, polished the frets, cleaned and tested all the upgraded volume/tone pots and the pickup switch, and polished the entire guitar. Finally, it was restrung with a fresh set of D’Addario XL Nickel Wound strings (9-42 gauge), tuned, and dialed in with a comfortable medium/low action that makes it an absolute joy to play.

Due to the extensive workshop setup, this guitar genuinely plays better than when it was sold brand new. If you are looking for a guitar that feels, sounds, and looks like a proper thing of beauty with years of history baked in, this absolute slayer is the one.

No gig bag or hard case is included in the price, but as a specialist reseller, I have various suitable options available separately. I stock a number of brand-new big brand name bags and cases, as well as a few quality second-hand options. Just ask for details, and I’ll be happy to offer a discount when a case is purchased together with the guitar.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Condition: Used – Natural relic/road-worn condition with filled dents and premium electronics upgrades (see description)