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The Epiphone Les Paul SL™ - 60 Secondsplay button

The Epiphone Les Paul SL™ - 60 Seconds

Epiphone

collapse expand iconDescription

Epiphone presents the Les Paul Melody Maker E1, an affordable evolution of one of the most iconic guitars in music history. The Melody Maker E1 pairs a slim, lightweight poplar body with dual Epiphone ceramic pickups to deliver a range of classic rock tones with simplicity. The bolt-on mahogany neck has a beginner-friendly SlimTaper-D profile and traditional 24.75" scale, while familiar Les Paul esthetics like the clipped-ear headstock and bell-shaped truss rod cover provide vintage-inspired looks. Whether you're a new player or a seasoned pro, the Melody Maker E1 is a guitar that inspires.

Lightweight Poplar Body Offers Playing Comfort

The Melody Maker E1 features a lightweight poplar body that provides enhanced comfort during long practice or performance sessions. Its slim, contoured shape fits close to the body, enabling fluid movement across the fretboard. The body's resonant poplar construction helps produce a lively, open tone that rings out with clarity.

Powerful Ceramic Pickups Deliver Versatile Tone

The Melody Maker E1 is equipped with two Epiphone ceramic pickups that provide a range of classic rock sounds. The neck pickup delivers a warm, mellow tone perfect for blues and jazz, while the bridge pickup produces a bright, cutting tone ideal for rock and roll. A three-way selector switch gives you access to neck, bridge or both pickups at once for maximum tonal flexibility.

Simple Controls Make Sound Shaping Easy

Master Volume and Master Tone controls make it easy to shape your sound without complication. Roll back the Master Volume to go from a crunchy overdrive to a cleaner tone, then adjust the Master Tone to cut highs for a warmer sound or boost treble for extra bite. The Melody Maker E1 gives new players an intuitive platform to experiment with different sounds as their skills develop.

Iconic Les Paul Looks, Beginner-Friendly Feel

While the Melody Maker E1 delivers simplified controls and a lightweight, comfortable build ideal for new players, its design also pays homage to Les Paul tradition. The clipped-ear headstock, bell-shaped truss rod cover and vintage-style tuners provide iconic looks and the slim mahogany neck with its rounded profile feels fast and familiar. The Melody Maker E1 lets you channel the style and spirit of a legend, with an instrument built for learning and growth at an affordable price.

Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry Sunburst
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry Sunburst
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry Sunburst

collapse expand iconFeatures

Body
  • Body shape: Single cutaway
  • Body type: Solid body
  • Body material: Solid wood
  • Top wood: Not applicable
  • Body wood: Poplar
  • Body finish: Gloss
  • Orientation: Right handed
Neck
  • Neck shape: '60s slimTaper D
  • Neck wood: Mahogany
  • Joint: Bolt-on
  • Scale length: 24.75 in.
  • Truss rod: Standard
  • Neck finish: Gloss
Fretboard
  • Material: Rosewood
  • Radius: 12 in.
  • Fret size: Medium
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Inlays: Dot
  • Nut width: 1.68 in. (42.67 mm)
Pickups
  • Configuration: SS 
  • Neck: 650SCR Ceramic single-coil
  • Middle: Not applicable
  • Bridge: 700SCT Ceramic single-coil
  • Brand: Epiphone
  • Active or passive pickups: Passive
  • Series or parallel: Series
  • Piezo: No
  • Active EQ: No
  • Special electronics: None
Controls
  • Control layout: Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2
  • Pickup switch: 3-way
  • Coil tap or split: No
  • Kill switch: No
Hardware
  • Bridge type: Fixed
  • Bridge design: Tune-o-matic
  • Tailpiece: Stopbar
  • Tuning machines: Die-cast
  • Color: Chrome
Other
  • Number of strings: 6-string
  • Special features: Body wood
  • Case: Sold separately
  • Accessories: None
  • Country of origin: China

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.07

61 Reviews

76%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Loved the awesome sound it has for single coil pickups
Great starter guitar - a review from a novice.
Great starter guitar - a review from a novice.
Very well
Simply UNBELIEVABLE!
Not good.
Pleasantly Surprised
Great bargain.
Very pleased

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Very pleased

Ordered this guitar after seeing them at the NAMM convention. The look of a Danelectro is what drew me too it. Having never played it just from the look and price point of the guitar I simply just wanted one. I ordered the black matt finished model. Keep in mind this is not a top of the line guitar here, but for what you will pay it is a very good guitar. Very light weight, plays comfortably, sound is very bright, looks cool. Perfect for just sitting around the house playing/practicing, great for beginners to learn. Out of the box the setup was nice, action I had to adjust a bit. Tuners are a little cheaper but overall I'm very pleased with this inexpensive guitar. Probably will buy another in a different color.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

Good for beginners

I got this guitar as my first electric guitar after playing only an acoustic guitar. In the store, the yellow finish really stuck out to me, and the price since at the time I was fairly new to guitar in general, also was appealing. I got this guitar and got used to it off amp and the frets were so buzzy even if I barely moved a finger. Mine also never worked quite right with any amp, as all it would do was get louder than playing it normally, and yes, I adjusted every knob tons of times and still nothing happened. For it being my first electric guitar, i'm not too disappointing or surprised about these flaws especially with it's price point, but I will definitely be saving up for something better as my skills continue to grow.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing35
  2. Jamming29
  3. Recording12
  4. Small Venues12
  5. School Bands5
Cons
  1. Fret Buzz11
  2. Craftsmanship10
  3. Poor Pick Up7
  4. Flat Sound6
  5. None1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced26
  2. Novice10
  3. Professional Musician7
  4. Child1
Pros
  1. Fun To Play34
  2. Good Feel30
  3. Good Tone23
  4. Good Pick Up16
  5. Solid Electronics13

Reviewed by 61 customers

  • everything good

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byCaroline

    fromUtah

    nothing bad. i have no complaints. the guitar is great, especially for the low price point. it's a very lightweight guitar. but i and my other musician friends have been subtly surprised at how well this guitar plays.

  • Love this guitar

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byBrendan

    fromConnecticut

    I bought this guitar a while back as a project guitar/backup for my '65 Epiphone Olympic special. I've always loved that single coil Melody Maker style guitar, and while this is not exactly the same, I love the feel and tone I get out of it. It's extremely lightweight and comfortable to sit with, and I got lucky that it came out of the box set up fairly well (I know for budget guitars it's rare that's the case). The pickups are good for the price point, but I do have plans to upgrade them (already bought some Seymour Duncans, just haven't had time to make the switch out). If you like the sound or style of the Melody Maker (which sadly Gibson is no longer making), this is a solid alternative IMHO. Definitely recommend trying one out!

  • Cheap, Lightweight (by Les Paul standards) and Fun

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byWill N

    fromVirginia

    I bought this as a a backup for my Gibson Les Paul. I was looking for a cheap and comparatively lighter guitar with a similar feel to my Gibson. I got both of those with this Epiphone. As an added plus, the guitar sounds great. The single coils obviously sound different, but I actually like it. It's very clean and responsive. For reference, I play exclusively clean (through a DV Mark Jazz 12 with a few pedals) and play mostly Les Paul (the man) and Chet Atkins style stuff.

  • I would buy this product again and again.

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byMisha

    fromVirginia

    I am glad I have this guitar as an introductory Les Paul. Once I master this one, I'll buy other Les Pauls.

  • Loved the awesome sound it has for single coil pickups

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byLevi K

    fromSimmesport Louisiana

    I play my guitar every day and it's awesome each time 👍👍

  • Epiphone LP

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted4 years ago

    byTony

    fromCoopersville MI

    Great product

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byPeter

    fromSpanaway, WA

    Is this a three-quarters; a travel guitar? It looks smaller than full size in the video. Is it full size or Jr. size?

    Is this a three-quarters; a travel guitar? It looks smaller than full size in the video. Is it full size or Jr. size?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Scale length: 24.75 in.. Full size.

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byAsh

    fromundisclosed

    does this guitar need to be plugged in to be played?

    does this guitar need to be plugged in to be played?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    No, but you won't hear it very well

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byMika

    fromPacific ocean 😂

    does it come with a amp cord?

    does it come with a amp cord?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    This will not come with any cables

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byGabe

    fromFL

    Should I remove the 9 gauge strings and put 10 gauge strings on?

    Should I remove the 9 gauge strings and put 10 gauge strings on?

    Open Reply - Ronald
    the only difference that really can cause a problem is if you go from max gauge, to super lights (or vice-versa) going from 9's to 10's would take a minor adjustment at worst. But it all comes down to personal preference which gauge to use.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byRod

    fromMiami, Florida

    Is this a single or double coil pickup guitar?

    Is this a single or double coil pickup guitar?

    Open Reply - Charles
    This has 2 single coil pickups.

  • submitted7 years ago

    asked byRichard

    fromClemson, Sc

    I've seen a few review videos stating the cheaper tuners unable to keep the guitar tuned for more than 10 to 20 mins of play time. Can anyone confirm or non issue?

    I've seen a few review videos stating the cheaper tuners unable to keep the guitar tuned for more than 10 to 20 mins of play time. Can anyone confirm or non issue?

    Open Reply - Charles
    This is more of a non issue as it takes time for a guitar to acclimate. These are inexpensive guitars that will need some setup to fine tune to a players needs.

  • submitted7 years ago

    asked byCharlie

    fromTexas

    What kind of strings are on this guitar? Are they 9 gauge or 10 gauge?

    What kind of strings are on this guitar? Are they 9 gauge or 10 gauge?

    Open Reply - Gear Head
    D'Addario EXL110 Nickel Light Electric Guitar Strings .010

  • submitted7 years ago

    asked bynaomi

    fromFL

    Is this a full sized guitar?

    Is this a full sized guitar?

    Open Reply -
    Yes, this is a full sized guitar. Mahogany neck has a traditional 24.75 in. scale. Neck shape: '60s slimTaper D. The body is a standard Les Paul shape with standard sized upper and lower bouts.

  • submitted7 years ago

    asked byDerrick

    fromundisclosed

    Does this guitar have a neck plate on the back? I have seen multiple YouTube videos where there is a chrome neck plate. The photos here, do not show one. Thanks.

    Does this guitar have a neck plate on the back? I have seen multiple YouTube videos where there is a chrome neck plate. The photos here, do not show one. Thanks.

    Open Reply -
    This guitar does not have a chrome neck plate.