Back in issue 373 we took a look at the rather fine Gibson USA Kirk Hammett ‘Greeny’. Easily one of the most debated and discussed guitars of 2023, it’s quite a piece, except it costs just shy of three grand. But just as we were writing that review, Kirk Hammett let slip that there was going to be an Epiphone version and here it is! It might not be a cheap date but at half the price of that Gibson USA guitar, is it only half as good? No. It’s much better than that.
Classed as an ‘Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop’ model –like the current ’58 Vand Explorer, the ’59 Les Paul Standard and ’61 SG Standard –the new Epi Greeny lacks the battle scars of the real thing, or the cost-a-lot Gibson Custom versions, but headstock logo aside, it does a pretty good impersonation of the USA model.