Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Chris
Table of Contents
Left Handed Epiphone Guitars
After looking at left handed Squier guitars, known for being cheaper versions of Fender guitars, I thought I’d have a look at Epiphone‘s guitars, as they’re often thought of as making cheaper versions of Gibson guitars, though this isn’t necessarily always the case.
Does Epiphone make left handed guitars?
Yes they do! Let’s take a look at the company and how many left handed Epiphone guitars are available for us lefties to buy.
March 2023 Update: Epiphone has recently announced two new lefty models for 2023; the 1958 Korina Explorer and the 1958 Korina Flying V! Each are available with a choice of White or Black pickguards.
Go straight to the left handed Epiphone guitars.
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may get a small commission if you buy anything when you click through. If you do make a purchase, then thank you so much! It really helps me keep this website going.
Who Are Epiphone Guitars?
Epiphone started out as a company founded in 1873 by a Greek man, Anastasios Stathopoulos. His company originally built violins and lutes, but after moving to the United States in 1903, they also started to build mandolins as well.
In 1915, after Anastasios’ death, his son Epaminondas took over the company and named the company The House of Stathopoulo. Epaminondas was also known as “Epi“, hence the name Epiphone, the “phone” part coming from the Greek word meaning “Voice”.
After World War I had ended, the company began producing banjos and later changed the name of the company to the Epiphone Banjo Company, and by 1928, they started to produce guitars.
After Epi passed away in 1943, his brothers took over the company, and later, they sold the company to Gibson in 1957.
What Do I Think of Epiphone Guitars?
Epiphone is often thought of as the company that builds budget versions of Gibson guitars. This is true to some extent, but unlike what Squier is to Fender, Epiphone differ in that they also make guitars that are not Gibson copies.
Before Gibson had acquired them in 1957, Epiphone was already known for making their own guitars, some of which had very high-quality workmanship.
In fact, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison of The Beatles are all well known for playing Epiphone Casinos. Gary Clark Jr. also plays an Epiphone Casino, and Noel Gallagher of Oasis often played Epiphone Sheratons or Rivieras.
Until recently, I owned a 2004 Korean-made Epiphone Les Paul Standard, myself. It was the second electric guitar I ever bought, which I got secondhand from eBay and I loved it! It played really well and seemed to be very well made, and I still played from time to time, long after buying more expensive guitars.
At one point I was also looking into buying an Epiphone Sheraton II but never did in the end, as I then ended up going a different route, and buying an Ibanez guitar.
Different Types of Epiphone Guitars
For their electric guitars, Epiphone has a wide range of guitars available:
- Original Les Paul Collection
- Original ES Collection
- Original SG Collection
- Original Designer Collection
- Original Bass Collection
- Electric Travel Guitar Collection
- Modern Les Paul Collection
- Modern SG Collection
- Modern Designer
- Artist & Limited Run Collection
- Slash Collection
- Power Players
- Made in USA
- Archtop Collection
- Designer Collection
- Bass Collection
And for their acoustic guitars:
- Made in USA Collection
- Original Acoustic Collection
- Masterbilt Collection
- Acoustic Travel Guitar Collection
- Bluegrass Collection
- Ukulele Collection
- Modern Acoustic
- The Super Jumbo Collection
Left Handed Epiphone Electric Guitars
As you can see, Epiphone has a pretty sizable range of guitars, with plenty of electric models available to righties. So how many left handed Epiphone guitars are there?
At the time of writing, there are seven left handed Epiphone guitars in their electric range. Check them out below.
Epiphone, along with Kramer guitars, Steinberger, Mesa/Boogie, Maestro Electronics, and KRK Systems, is part of the Gibson Brands Family.
Please note: Where lefty guitar or bass images haven’t been provided on the official website, I’ve flipped the right handed image to show what the left handed version might look like.
Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer
Epiphone has partnered with the Gibson Custom Shop to produce this recreation of Gibson’s super rare and famous 1958 Korina Explorer.
Available with either a black or white pickguard.
$1,299.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Solid Korina
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Aged Natural
- SCALE: 24.724″ (628.0 mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in Korina with Long Neck Tenon joint
- NECK PROFILE: 1958 Explorer
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.692″ (43 mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Gold
- TUNERS: Epiphone Deluxe, 6 In-Line
- BRIDGE: ABR-1 Style with LockTone Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Burstbucker 2
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Burstbucker 3
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume, Master Tone, CTS Potentiometers, Mallory Capacitor, 3-way Switchcraft Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone 1958 Korina Flying V
Epiphone has partnered with the Gibson Custom Shop to produce this recreation of Gibson’s super rare and famous 1958 Korina Flying V.
Available with either a black or white pickguard.
$1,299.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Solid Korina
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Aged Natural
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65 mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in Korina with Long Neck Tenon joint
- NECK PROFILE: 1958 Flying V
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.692″ (43 mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Gold
- TUNERS: Epiphone Deluxe
- BRIDGE: ABR-1 Style with Gold Plated Brass Flying V String Plate
- NECK PICKUP: Burstbucker 2
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Burstbucker 3
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume, Master Tone, CTS Potentiometers, Mallory Capacitor, 3-way Switchcraft Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins 7-String
$1,199.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 7
- BODY: Mahogany
- TOP: Maple
- WEIGHT RELIEF: Modern
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Ebony, Bone White
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648.0 mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in Mahogany with Modern Contoured Heel
- NECK PROFILE: SpeedTaper D
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Custom Block inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.89″ (48mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Gold
- TUNERS: Grover Locking Mini Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume (push/pull coil splits), 2x Tone (push/pull Humbucker Pickup Voicing), 3-way Epiphone Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom Origins
$1,099.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Mahogany
- TOP: Maple
- WEIGHT RELIEF: Modern
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Bone White, Ebony
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in Mahogany with Modern Contoured Heel
- NECK PROFILE: Slim
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Custom Block inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Gold
- TUNERS: Grover Locking Rotomatic with Tulip Buttons
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Fishman MKH Fluence Alnico
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Fishman MKH Fluence Ceramic
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume (push/pull coil splits), 2x Tone (push/pull Humbucker Pickup Voicing), 3-way Epiphone Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special
$999.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: 2 Piece Solid Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Vintage Cherry
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65 mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in
- NECK PROFILE: Rounded Iommi C
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43 mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Grover Rotomatic with Contemporary Style Buttons
- BRIDGE: Adjustable Wraparound
- NECK PICKUP: Epiphone PRO P-90
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Epiphone PRO P-90
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume, 2x Tone, CTS Potentiometers, Orange Drop Capacitors, 3-way Switchcraft Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Noel Gallagher Riviera
$899.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: 5-ply Layered Maple
- TOP: 5-ply Layered Maple
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Dark Wine Red
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65 mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in
- NECK PROFILE: SlimTaper C
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Pearloid Trapezoid inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43 mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Epiphone Premium Die Cast with Oval Metal Buttons
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Alnico Classic PRO
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Alnico Classic PRO
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume, 2x Tone, CTS Potentiometers, .02 uF Capacitors, 3-way Epiphone Toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Les Paul Custom LH
$729.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Ebony
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65mm)
- NECK: Set Neck; Glued-in Mahogany
- NECK PROFILE: 60s SlimTaper
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony with Pearloid Block inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech NuBone
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Gold
- TUNERS: Grover Rotomatic 18:1
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 2
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 3
- CONTROLS: 2 Volume, 2 Tone – CTS potentiometers, 3-way Epiphone toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s LH
$649.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Metallic Gold, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Vintage Sunburst
- TOP: Carved Hard Maple Cap with AAA Flame Maple Veneer
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65mm)
- NECK: Set Neck; Glued-in Mahogany
- NECK PROFILE: 50s Rounded Medium C
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Trapezoid inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech NuBone
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Epiphone Vintage Deluxe 18:1 ratio machine heads
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
- NECK PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 1
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 2
- CONTROLS: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS pots, 50s style wiring, 3-way Epiphone toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s LH
$649.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Ebony, Bourbon Burst, Iced Tea
- TOP: AA Flame Maple
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65mm)
- NECK: Glued-in Mahogany
- NECK PROFILE: SlimTaper 60s C
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Pearloid Trapezoid inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Grover Rotomatic 18:1
- BRIDGE: LockTone ABR Tune-o-matic with stop bar
- NECK PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 2
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Epiphone ProBucker 3
- CONTROLS: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS pots, 50s style wiring, 3-way Epiphone toggle
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone SG Standard LH
$499.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- BODY: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Alpine White, Ebony, and Heritage Cherry
- SCALE: 24.75″ (628.65mm)
- NECK: Set-Neck; Glued-in Mahogany
- NECK PROFILE: 60s SlimTaper
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Laurel with Trapezoid inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- NUT TYPE: Graph Tech NuBone
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Epiphone Deluxe Tuners 18:1 ratio
- BRIDGE: Epiphone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic and stop bar
- NECK PICKUP: Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO
- BRIDGE PICKUP: Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO
- CONTROLS: 2- Volume, 2- Tone CTS pots, 3-way Epiphone toggle
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Epiphone Acoustic Guitars
Epiphone have quite a large number of acoustic guitars available, as well as one mandolin and two ukuleles.
For us lefties, there are just three left handed Epiphone acoustic guitars, including one of the most expensive Epiphones out there with, at the time of writing, an MSRP of $3,999! A lovely guitar to be sure! One of the others is quite possibly the cheapest at $169!
Check them out below:
Epiphone Frontier LH (USA Collection)
The Epiphone FT-110 Frontier was originally made by Gibson from 1958 to 1970, and now it returns again, handcrafted by Gibson’s finest acoustic luthiers.
$3,999.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
- BACK AND SIDE: Solid Figured Maple
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer – Frontier Burst
- SCALE: 25.5″ (647.7mm)
- NECK: Mahogany with Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue
- NECK PROFILE: Rounded C
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Rosewood with Mother of Pearl Slotted Rectangle inlays
- NUT WIDTH: 1.725″ (43.815 mm)
- FRETS: 20 Legend
- TUNERS: Gotoh Keystone
- BRIDGE: Indian Rosewood; Belly Up with Bone saddle
- UNDER SADDLE PICKUP: LR Baggs VTC
- CONTROLS: 1 Volume, 1 Tone, Soundhole-mounted
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Texan (USA) LH
$2,849.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK AND SIDE: Solid Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Nitrocellulose – Antique Natural, Vintage Sunburst
- SCALE: 25.5″ (647.7mm)
- NECK: Mahogany; with Compound dovetail neck joint
- NECK PROFILE: Round D
- FINGERBOARD: Indian Rosewood with Mother-of-pearl single Parallelogram inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″ (304.8 mm)
- NUT TYPE: Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 1.73″ (43.815mm)
- FRETS: 20 Legend
- HARDWARE COLOR: Nickel
- TUNERS: Grover Cream Button
- BRIDGE: Indian Rosewood
- UNDER SADDLE PICKUP: LR Baggs VTC
- CONTROLS: Volume and Tone
Check price/availability at:
Epiphone Songmaker DR-100 LH
$169.00 MSRP
- STRINGS: 6
- TOP: Select Spruce
- BACK AND SIDE: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Natural
- SCALE: 25.5″ (647.7mm)
- NECK: Mahogany with Dovetail Glued-in neck joint
- NECK PROFILE: SlimTaper C
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- NUT WIDTH: 1.69″ (43mm)
- FRETS: 20 Medium Jumbo
- TUNERS: Premium Die Cast
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- UNDER SADDLE PICKUP: None
- CONTROLS: None
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Epiphone Basses
Unfortunately for left handed bass players, there are no left handed Epiphone bass guitars available at the time of writing.
Final Thoughts
As with most other guitar companies, there’s a distinct lack of variety when it comes to left handed Epiphone guitars. We get the most common/popular Epiphone electric models; Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom, and SG Standard.
It would’ve been fantastic if some of the other Epiphone original models such as the Casino, as used by lefty Beatle, Paul McCartney, were available to left handers.
I remember a few years ago, the Casino and Sheraton II were available left handed, but at the moment, none of those Epiphone archtops are made in lefty form.
It is, however, fantastic to see that the Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) SG Special, Noel Gallagher (Oasis, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds) Riviera, and Matt Heafy (Trivium) Les Paul Custom models are available in left handed versions.
We rarely get artist models, so these are a welcome addition to the range of left handed Epiphone guitars.
And now we even get a Flying V and an Explorer too! It’s really fantastic to see a couple more models released for lefty players.
What are your thoughts on left handed Epiphone guitars? Do you own any? If so, what do you have and what do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Image credits: epiphone.com
Hey lefties,
I have a lefty Epi LP Special in ruby red and with all black hardware.
It has great sustain and is pretty heavy.
Sounds great, my only issues are crappy tuners, plastic nut, plastic tone selection switch broke and it’s hard to get matching hardware to upgrade it in black! I added a secondhand Gibson, black 3 ply pickguard that took a little modification. I still like the ? more than the newer Epi SG Special in Cherry Red. Feels cheap and it is.SG Standard is worth the extra bucks imo.
I must admit, I am a fan of red guitars with black hardware! There’s something very cool-looking about them.
I just did a search on Thomann (not sure where in the world you are, but they ship to a lot of places); they sell a fair number of different black hardware. Here are some links (affiliate links):
Grover Rotomatics: https://www.thomann.de/intl/grover_gr305_bc_mid_size_rotomatic.htm?partner_id=42621
Nut: https://www.thomann.de/intl/graph_tech_pt_6000_l0_nut.htm?partner_id=42621
There are various toggle switches on Amazon. You could try this: https://amzn.to/3xNaKWy
Hope that helps! Thanks for commenting.
I would Love an Epi Lefty Firebird. Come on man, Hwelp me out.
Hi Christopher,
I’d love to help you out, but according to Epiphone’s website, the Firebird is only available to right-handed folks I’m afraid.
https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPIQZX512/Firebird/Vintage-Sunburst
Hopefully one day we’ll get the Firebird!
Thanks for commenting!
Epiphone Explorer….cant find
Inspired by the rare 1958 classic and powered by Epiphone ProBucker™ with CTS electronics
The Epiphone Explorer from the Inspired by Gibson Collection recreates the ultra-rare classic from 1958. Featuring a Mahogany body in a gloss Ebony finish, Epiphone ProBucker™ humbuckers with CTS electronics, and Grover® tuners.
Finish
Ebony
Ebony
Handedness
Hi Leroy,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, it’s a cool guitar, and I’d love to have one! However, unfortunately, according to the Epiphone website, it’s only available for right handed players.
https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPINIQ803/Explorer/Ebony
Hopefully one day…
I am lefty and I want a les paul junior under 500 dollars I need help
Hey Owen,
Guitar Center sells a lefty Epiphone Les Paul Junior in Vintage Sunburst for $429.
Check the link below (affiliate link):
https://guitar-center.pxf.io/ORL0Lr
Hope that helps!