15 Best Budget Les Paul Guitars (Gibson, Epiphone – 2024)

Written by Jeff Campbell in Equipment Last Updated January 15, 2024

The Gibson Les Paul is a classic legendary guitar that can take any hard rock guitar player to the next level. However, Les Paul guitars can be costly! Thankfully, there are guitars out there that can give you the same feel without breaking the bank. In this article, we break down the best budget Les Paul.

The best budget Les Paul is the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s electric guitar. Being made by Gibson, it has the same impressive playability and rich sound as its more expensive counterparts but can typically be purchased new for under $700.

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

But that’s not the only option!

Whatever your budget is, there’s definitely a perfect guitar for you. From Gibson to Epiphone guitars to Les Paul copies, the sky’s the limit!

Here are some of our top picks for the best Les Paul-style guitars!

Table of Contents:

Budget Les Paul Guitars Under $300

1. Epiphone Les Paul Special II ENJRVSCH1 Electric Guitar

Like the Les Paul Special II, this is one of Epiphone’s most popular models and provides the feel and tone of a true Les Paul. It has a mahogany body with a rosewood fretboard, plus two humbuckers that are hotter than those on the Special II.

The build quality isn’t cheap like you’d expect from an entry-level guitar, but it doesn’t feel as solid as some higher-end models either.

Some owners find that their guitars go out of tune more quickly than others do (and therefore require more frequent tuning), but many others report no problems whatsoever in this area.

The sound is clear and crisp with plenty of sustain, thanks to its great pickups! All in all, this is an incredible value for money considering how much it sounds like its more expensive counterparts—especially when considering how much better they play now compared with previous versions too.

Pros

  • Great construction for its low price
  • Offers clear and crisp sound
  • Great sustain
  • Best value for money

Cons

  • Requires frequent retuning

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

2. Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT ENPTEBNH1 Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT Electric Guitar is a great choice for beginners and intermediate players who want the classic look and sound of a Les Paul without breaking the bank.

The tapered neck makes it easier to reach higher frets, while the mahogany body and neck profile provide warmth in the midrange frequencies. The guitar comes with powerful Zebra-Coil Ceramic humbuckers that deliver a rich, full tone with lots of sustain—perfect for rock or blues playing styles.

It also has great intonation when tuned properly, making it easy to play chords accurately across all six strings (especially if you’re new at this). You’ll feel like a pro as soon as you pick up this affordable introductory guitar!

Some of the drawbacks though are reports regarding loose bolts and frets and unreliable customer service, so it would be a good idea to keep that in mind!

Pros

  • Tapered neck for easy fret access
  • Offers great intonation
  • Easy playability
  • Delivers rich, full tone

Cons

  • Loose bolts and frets
  • Unreliable customer service

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

3. Epiphone Les Paul ENB-EBCH1 Electric Guitar

This is a good guitar that is made of a solid mahogany body and neck. The rosewood fretboard allows you to play any kind of music you want.

The Epiphone Les Paul ENB-EBCH1 Electric Guitar comes with two humbuckers, 650R & 700T Humbuckers, for better sound quality. It is affordable but reliable, with a sleek appearance and incredible value for money, making it one of the best budget guitars available on the market today!

Although this guitar has some minor flaws, such as sharp ends on frets and a cheap pickup switch (which can easily be replaced), it remains one of my favorites with all things considered!

Pros

  • Comes with two humbuckers for greater sound quality
  • Great value for money
  • Sleek appearance
  • Delivers great sound

Cons

  • Sharp ends on frets
  • Cheap pickup switch

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

4. Leo Jaymz LJ001 Les Paul Style Electric Guitar

The Leo Jaymz LJ001 Les Paul Style Electric Guitar is equipped with Leo Jaymz LE-100 Pro Alnico V humbucker pickups that offer bright humbucker tones, great playability, a solid feel, and overall well-polished frets.

This is one of the best Les Paul copies.

The intonation is captivating for beginners who need some changing of the strings on their guitars. For the price, this is such a great guitar!

However, it may need some tweaking here and there because its bridge posts and strings are a bit loose, but that can easily be fixed by spending just a few bucks more than what this guitar costs.

Pros

  • Delivers bright tone
  • Great playability
  • Impressive intonation
  • Sleek appearance

Cons

  • Loose strings and bridge posts
  • May need some adjustments

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

5. LyxPro Left-Handed Les Paul Style Electric Guitar

The LyxPro EGLPSBLH Les Paul Style Electric Guitar comes with solid body construction and a rich and dynamic sound. The guitar has great volume and tone controls, making it easy to adjust the instrument’s sound.

The finish can be improved, but overall it’s good quality for a low price. The tuners are pretty good as well, especially considering that they are not locking tuners or Grover Rotomatics (which cost twice as much).

The only negative point is that there are some sharp frets that need filing down before playing on them because they will hurt your fingers if you don’t do this first!

Pros

  • Solid body construction
  • Delivers rich and dynamic audio
  • Comes with tone and volume controls
  • Decent tuners for the price

Con

  • Sharp frets may need some filing down

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

6. LyxPro SB Series EGLP39B Les Paul Style Electric Guitar

The LyxPro SB Series EGLP39B Les Paul Style Electric Guitar is a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike. The solid wood body construction provides rich sound, and its vintage appeal makes it look just like a Gibson Les Paul classic compared to new models.

It’s high quality for its low price, but there are some flaws in the finish that may affect your decision to buy this guitar or not.

This guitar has a mahogany body with a maple top for extra tone and sustain, as well as two humbucker pickups with individual volume controls for each pickup and master tone knobs for tone control. There are also Grover tuners on this beast!

Overall, I think this is one of the best cheap electric guitars out there: it looks great (even though there was some excess polish residue)!

Pros

  • Solid body construction
  • Offers rich and bright sound
  • Great sustain
  • Comes with two humbucker pickups and tone control knobs

Con

  • Flaws in the finish of the guitar

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

Budget Les Paul Guitars Under $700

7. Epiphone Les Paul Classic EILOEBNH1 Electric Guitar

If you’re looking for a Les Paul that’s not too expensive but still has the classic look and feel of one, then this is the guitar for you.

The Epiphone Les Paul Classic EILOEBNH1 Electric Guitar has all of the features you would expect from a Gibson-made instrument. It has a 24.75″ scale length mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and chrome hardware—but it comes at a relatively affordable price point!

This guitar also features Alnico Classic humbuckers which give it a great tone for both lead and rhythm-playing styles. If you’re new to playing electric guitars or just want an affordable option that will help you get started on your journey as an aspiring musician, we highly recommend checking out this model from Epiphone!

Pros

  • Comes with Alnico Classic humbuckers for better sound quality
  • Impressive tone for lead and rhythm-playing style
  • Great value for money
  • Classic look and feel

Cons

  • May require frequent retuning

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

8. Epiphone Les Paul Modern EILMSBUNH1 Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern EILMSBUNH1 Electric Guitar is another great choice. This instrument comes with all of the standard features you would expect from a good quality electric guitar: mahogany body, slim taper neck, ebony fretboard, Grover locking Rotomatic tuners, and Graph Tech nut.

The sound on this guitar is clean and smooth, thanks to its ProBucker pickups which give it more clarity than many other budget models available today. It also has better sustain due to its classic design that allows for maximum resonance without being too heavy or bulky.

One thing worth mentioning about this model though is that some people have reported receiving damaged items upon arrival because they weren’t packaged properly during shipping; it may also need frequent re-tuning.

Pros

  • Slim taper neck for easy fret access
  • Delivers clean and smooth sound
  • Comes with ProBucker pickups
  • Great sustain

Cons

  • May require frequent retuning
  • Occasional damaged items upon delivery

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

9. Epiphone Les Paul Studio EILTAWNH1 Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio EILTAWNH1 Electric Guitar is a modern version of the classic 80s Les Paul. It features a mahogany body and neck, with a rosewood fingerboard.

The PRO humbuckers are excellent for both clean and distorted tones, and they come with push/pull volume controls for added versatility. The playability on this guitar is impressive: it has great action right out of the box, which makes it easy to play even if you’re just starting out or if your hands are small.

There are some downsides though; some users have complained about issues with selector switches and cheaply made strings (which can be replaced).

Pros

  • High-performing humbuckers
  • Comes with push/pull volume controls for versatility
  • Impressive playability
  • Great action

Cons

  • Issues with selector switches
  • Cheaply made strings that may need replacing

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

10. Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s Electric Guitar – Left-Handed

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s Electric Guitar is a recreation of the 1950s Era Les Pauls that have been on stage with artists like Slash, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Jimmy Page.

It is undeniably one of the Epiphone Les Paul guitars.

It boasts impressive sound, feel, and tone that can hold its own against any guitar in its price range. The solid sound produced by this instrument makes it perfect for rock music or any other genre where thick distortion is desired. The sleek appearance will make you want to show it off at every gig!

It does have some drawbacks though—if you don’t know how to tune your own guitar, then you might find yourself needing frequent re-tuning before each performance (or recording session) in your local guitar center.

Pros

  • Delivers great tone and feel
  • Offers rich sound
  • Perfect for thick distortion
  • Sleek appearance

Con

  • May require frequent retuning

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

11. Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s Electric Guitar is a recreation of the 1960s Era Les Pauls.

It features an all-mahogany body and neck, a rosewood fingerboard, two humbuckers, and an aluminum pickguard. The gold hardware complements the vintage look while providing sturdy support for your playing style.

The guitar comes with an adjustable Tune-o-Matic bridge that provides accurate intonation along with excellent sustain for long-lasting performance even when you’re playing aggressively or bending strings aggressively. The high-quality materials used in making this guitar ensure superb playability while keeping things affordable at the same time!

The only downside we found was that there was some fret buzzing when we first got our hands on it, but after doing some adjustments ourselves (and maybe doing some refretting), everything sounded great again!

Pros

  • Comes with two humbuckers and an aluminum pickguard
  • Sleek vintage look and feel
  • Adjustable intonation
  • Excellent sustain

Cons

  • Occasional fret buzzing
  • May require some refretting

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

12. Epiphone Les Paul Special EILPTVNH Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Special EILPTVNH Electric Guitar is a recreation of the rare single-cut design 1950s Era Gibson Le Paul Special.

It features a P-90 PRO pickup with CTS electronics, which gives it an aggressive tone with lots of bites. The binding around the body and neck is clean, as are all other cosmetic aspects of this instrument.

There are some dings here and there, but nothing major at all—just enough to show that you’ve played it!

The intonation was spot on when we got it out of its case; however, after playing it for a while, I noticed some fret buzz. I think this may just need some fretwork done before being able to get rid of any buzzing entirely though. The neck-to-bridge alignment seems a bit off too; otherwise, everything else seems fine!

Pros

  • Sleek appearance
  • Impressive intonation
  • Comes with a P-90 PRO pickup
  • Great playability

Cons

  • Occasional fret buzz
  • May need some fretwork done
  • Neck-to-bridge alignment feels a bit odd

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

13. Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured EILMFCBNH Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Les Paul Modern Figured EILMFCBNH Electric Guitar is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate players.

It has an ebony fingerboard, so you’ll be able to play fast solos without any difficulty. The versatile tone of this guitar can be used in many different styles of music—from blues to rock ‘n roll—and still sound fantastic!

This guitar is equipped with 2 humbuckers that provide impressive sound quality, even on low-gain settings. This guitar also has great tuners that make tuning easy (especially compared to some other guitars).

However, there may be some minor issues with this Les Paul model: saddle notches might need polishing before use; frets may need some retuning after playing it for a while; strings could loosen up over time due to vibrations caused by strumming techniques such as tremolo picking (or simply using too much force while strumming).

Pros

  • Offers versatility in tone
  • Great for various music styles
  • Offers great sound quality
  • Easy tuning

Cons

  • Saddle notches may require polishing
  • Frets may need retuning
  • Strings loosen up easily

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

Budget Les Paul Guitars Under $1,000

14. Epiphone Les Paul Custom EILCEBGH Electric Guitar

If you’re looking for a Les Paul that’s both affordable and great quality, the Epiphone Les Paul Custom EILCEBGH Electric Guitar is just what you need.

It’s an homage to the Gibson Les Paul Custom with a rolled neck for comfort and an ebony fingerboard.

The Epiphone Les Paul has been around since ’57, when it was first introduced by Gibson as its top-of-the-line model. Since then, it has become one of the most popular guitars ever made—and with good reason! It sounds amazing whether played through an amp or even just as an acoustic guitar; plus, there are so many different versions available that will suit any style or playing level.

The only negative aspect about this particular model is that some players have reported issues with fretwork and truss rod adjustments needed after purchase; however, overall, these complaints seem minimal compared to how much people love their new LP!

Pros

  • High-quality guitar
  • Delivers rich and warm sound
  • Comes in different versions
  • Comfortable and easy playability

Cons

  • May need fretwork and truss rod adjustments

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

15. Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar

The Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar is a celebration of the guitars used by Slash, the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses.

This electric guitar has been designed to look exactly like his favorite Les Pauls, and it’s perfect for any beginner or intermediate player who wants to play like him.

The sound quality is impressive, especially considering how affordable this guitar is. It also has a great build quality that feels solid yet not too heavy—it doesn’t feel cheap at all! The intonation on mine was perfect right out of the box, but if yours isn’t set up well, then you may need to make some adjustments before using it.

The pickups are alnico classic humbuckers that produce a sound similar to what you’d expect from more expensive models like Gibson’s ’57 Classic Plus Reissue Humbuckers but without costing as much money either!

Pros

  • Sleek, vintage design
  • Impressive sound quality
  • Great value for money
  • Solid construction

Cons

  • May need some adjustments before using

CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good price for a true Gibson Les Paul? (New and used)

Now that you know what makes a good Les Paul, it’s time to talk about what kind of price you should expect to pay for one. The answer? It depends on whether you’re buying a new or used model and how much money you want to spend.

The price range for new Gibson Les Paul guitars ranges from about $2,500 to $3,500, but some models such as the Les Paul Tribute sell for approximately $1,300. Used Gibson Les Paul Guitars average $1,500-$2,000.

Gibson Les Pauls hold their value well.

But if your budget is higher than that or if there are specific features that matter most to you, then go ahead and spend up to ten grand for Gibson custom shop models!

There are eight main models in this category:

  • Les Paul Special Tribute
  • Les Paul Tribute
  • Les Paul Junior
  • Les Paul Studio
  • Les Paul Special
  • Les Paul Classic
  • Les Paul Modern
  • Les Paul Standard

If none of these suit your needs exactly, then maybe try something like Epiphone Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar? It’s the closest thing that’ll run closer into the same ballpark as any one of those Gibsons but still deliver similar quality at slightly lower prices.

When it comes to used Gibsons, though, the sky’s really the limit when it comes down right now because demand has never been higher!

You can find used Gibson Les Paul guitars for as low as around $100, but you can’t expect them to be in tip-top shape. If you look well enough though, you should find a good balance between good-conditioned guitars and a fair price for a used unit in used markets out there.

Can you buy a new Gibson Les Paul for under $1,000?

Generally speaking, except for rare sales, you will not likely find a new Gibson Les Paul for under $1,000.

That being said, you can find one for close to $1,000! The Gibson Les Paul Tribute Electric Guitar currently has a list price of $1,299. It is available in 4 different finishes.

CLICK HERE to see the current price and finish options on Musician’s Friend.

Gibson has been making guitars for over 100 years now, and they have always been worth every penny spent on one of their instruments because they produce quality products made from high-quality materials which will last for many years if taken care of properly.

They’ve also developed their own proprietary pickup system called “humbuckers”, which combine both single coil pickups with magnets inside them so they can cancel out any unwanted noise while still maintaining an authentic tone when played through amplifiers or other devices such as effects pedals, etc.

While these guitars can be a little bit of a splurge, I’d say it’s a great run for your hard-earned money at a closer look. They may be incredibly expensive, but if you are a guitar enthusiast and you know your way around guitars, this is such a great investment.

But then again, there are also other models in the market that can give you some good playability. Just know where to look.

What is the cheapest Gibson Les Paul?

If you’re looking for the cheapest Gibson Les Paul, then look no further than the Gibson Les Paul Tribute Electric Guitar. It currently has a list price of $1,299. It is available in 4 different finishes.

CLICK HERE to see the current price and finish options on Musician’s Friend.

This guitar has a mahogany body with set neck construction. It also has Alnico II 490 humbuckers that will give you excellent versatility when playing different genres of music.

Even though it’s one of the lowest-priced guitars, we can assure you that its quality is unmatched—it even comes with high-quality build materials like Grover tuners and chrome hardware!

If this doesn’t quite fit into your tight budget or if you want something more unique than just another standard black classic Les Paul Standard, which is also available from Epiphone), then there are plenty of other great options out there too, such as those listed on the top.

Do Gibson Les Paul guitars sound better than Epiphones?

Gibson Les Paul guitars are more expensive than Epiphones. But even so, they’re both good quality and worth the money you’ll spend on them.

Gibson guitars are classic instruments that have been around since 1952, when they first burst onto the scene with their iconic design by Les Paul himself.

Gibsons are superior in many aspects, from setup, finish, and overall quality, which makes them worth their high price tag if you have the budget for them. No wonder legends such as Duane Allman, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, and Joan Jett opted for Gibson Les Paul guitars. You can’t put a price on the real thing!

However, if your budget is tight, but you still want a great-sounding guitar, then Epiphones might be for you instead because they offer similar sound quality at an affordable price point without sacrificing much else besides looks (which aren’t everything anyway).

And other than Epiphones, there are also other brands like LyxPro and Leo Jaymz that can give you great playability and feel without you having to spend so much. You just have to be prepared for the significant changes they might have.

Is a Les Paul Standard worth it?

The Gibson Les Paul Standard is widely considered the most popular Les Paul. It has a rosewood fingerboard with a compound radius and a slim-taper asymmetrical neck that provides players with an excellent playing experience.

They currently sell new for about $2,700.

The single-piece mahogany body features a maple top for additional sustain, while the modern weight relief system makes it comfortable to play for long periods of time.

The 22 medium frets are perfect for any genre of music you want to play, from classic rock and blues to metal or jazz fusion. This guitar also comes equipped with dual humbuckers—a 490R in the bridge position (which produces warm tones) and a 498T at the neck position (with brighter overtones).

These pickups give this instrument its signature sound while providing great versatility when it comes to different genres of music! Plus, this will last you a long time in the best way possible!

If you are looking for something that will make an impact on stage, then look no further than this signature model because not only does it sound great, it looks amazing too!

Thanks to its beautiful finish options: cherry red transparent lacquer finish, tobacco burst transparent lacquer finish, black cherry transparent lacquer finish, sunburst transparent lacquer finish…the list goes on!

What is the most sought-after Les Paul?

The most sought-after Les Pauls are the Gold Top and Sunburst Standards with humbucking pickups. They were produced between 1957 and 1960, which makes them some of Gibson’s best work during that time period.

The reason why these guitars are so desirable is that they’re not only great sounding but also incredibly playable as well.

But what makes these particular models so special?

For starters, they were made at a time when Gibson was starting to perfect its craftsmanship; this means that every single piece is perfectly fitted together, and there aren’t any loose parts anywhere on your instrument (unless you’re looking at one of those reissues).

Secondly, these instruments have some pretty cool features like binding around the body edges or neck joints that give off an elegant look while still retaining its classic aesthetic appeal—something not many other guitars can boast about!

With the scarcity of these models, expect their price to be sky-high too!

Conclusion

We hope that our list of the best budget Les Paul guitars has helped you find the perfect instrument for your needs.

The Les Paul is the quintessential guitar. And while the classic design may not be as popular as it once was, there are still plenty of great Les Pauls out there for you to purchase at a variety of price points.

Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an inexpensive instrument or a premium one—you can always find something great for the right price!

Start with the guitars on this list to suit your budget.

Enjoy!

Image by SeanKearns from Pixabay

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