The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard in Copper Iridescent recreates one of the most unusual guitars in Joe Bonamassa's collection: a rare 1955 Les Paul finished in a distinctive metallic copper colour originally associated with a NAMM display instrument.

Built with a mahogany body, maple top, long-tenon mahogany neck and substantial Custom '59 Rounded C profile, it combines vintage-inspired Les Paul construction with a pair of Epiphone P-90 PRO soapbar pickups, CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors and traditional '50s-style wiring.

This pre-owned example is presented in Very Good Condition, showing some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional. A hardcase is included.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Epiphone
Model	Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard
Finish	Copper Iridescent
Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition
Pickups	Epiphone P-90 PRO Soapbars
Neck	Custom '59 Rounded C
Included	Hardcase
Main Appeal	Rare '55-inspired P-90 Les Paul with premium electronics
Best For	Blues, classic rock, rock, soul, indie and studio work

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard is presented in Very Good Condition.

Under the Fair Deal Music grading system, Very Good Condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional and ready for regular playing, recording and live use.

What's Included?

✔ Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard Copper Iridescent
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Confirmed

Condition Notes

The guitar displays cosmetic signs of previous use consistent with its Very Good condition grading.

No specific faults, repairs or modifications are recorded.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned Epiphone Les Paul has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before being offered for sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck P-90 PRO pickup tested
• Bridge P-90 PRO pickup tested
• 3-way selector checked
• Individual volume controls tested
• Individual tone controls checked
• Output jack tested
• Neck condition assessed
• Laurel fingerboard inspected
• Frets checked
• Tuning machines assessed
• LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge checked
• LockTone stopbar inspected
• Hardware assessed
• General playability checked
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are checked for setup and general playability before leaving the shop.

Key areas assessed include:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Pickup operation
• Electronics
• Bridge setup
• Hardware
• General playability

Minor setup movement can naturally occur during transportation due to changes in temperature and humidity.

What Makes The Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard Special?

The inspiration for this guitar is far from an ordinary Les Paul. Bonamassa owns a rare original 1955 Les Paul Standard finished in Copper Iridescent, a colour created for an exceptionally unusual mid-'50s Gibson display instrument. Epiphone recreated that distinctive metallic appearance while pairing it with the P-90 electronics and substantial neck feel associated with a mid-1950s Les Paul.

The specification goes considerably beyond cosmetic tribute. A long neck tenon, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors, '50s wiring and twin P-90 PRO pickups make this a particularly serious Epiphone for players who want vintage-influenced construction and electronics rather than simply an artist-branded finish.

Key Features & Benefits

Epiphone P-90 PRO Pickups

The twin soapbar P-90 PRO pickups provide more midrange body and output than many traditional single coils while retaining the openness, attack and dynamic response that distinguish P-90s from humbuckers.

Custom '59 Rounded C Neck

The mahogany neck uses a substantial Custom '59 Rounded C profile, offering a more hand-filling feel than a slim modern Epiphone neck and complementing the guitar's vintage-inspired character.

Long Neck Tenon

The glued-in mahogany neck uses a long tenon extending further into the body, reflecting the construction approach associated with vintage-style Les Paul builds.

Premium Electronics

CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors are combined with '50s-style wiring, giving the control circuit a premium specification and allowing the individual volume and tone controls to play a significant role in shaping the pickups.

Copper Iridescent Finish

The unusual Copper Iridescent finish can appear relatively understated from some angles while revealing a much stronger metallic character under direct light, giving the guitar a visual identity quite unlike a conventional Goldtop or Sunburst Les Paul.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul vs Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s

A regular Les Paul Standard '50s offers the familiar twin-humbucker Les Paul format. The Bonamassa model is more specialised, combining P-90 pickups, premium CTS/Mallory electronics, a long neck tenon and its highly distinctive Copper Iridescent finish.

Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul vs Epiphone Les Paul Special

Both offer the raw attack and dynamics of P-90 pickups, but the Bonamassa model adds a carved maple-topped Les Paul body, bound fingerboard and more substantial Standard-style construction.

P-90 Les Paul vs Humbucker Les Paul

A humbucker-equipped Les Paul generally produces a smoother and thicker response with natural hum cancellation. P-90s retain more single-coil attack and openness, making this guitar particularly appealing to players who want classic Gibson-style construction with a more immediate and expressive pickup response.

Who Is It For?

Joe Bonamassa fans – A signature model based on one of the more unusual vintage Les Pauls in Bonamassa's collection.

Blues guitarists – P-90s excel at touch-sensitive clean, edge-of-breakup and overdriven sounds.

Classic rock players – The bridge P-90 provides plenty of bite and midrange for riffs and expressive lead playing.

Vintage-inspired players – The Rounded C neck, long tenon and '50s wiring give the guitar a traditional feel beyond its appearance.

Players wanting something different from a conventional Les Paul – Copper Iridescent and soapbar pickups make it immediately recognisable without abandoning the familiar Les Paul platform.

Suitable Genres & Applications

Particularly well suited to:

• Blues
• Blues rock
• Classic rock
• Rock
• Garage rock
• Indie
• Alternative
• Soul
• Americana
• Roots rock
• Studio recording
• Live performance
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Valve amplifier rigs

Why Choose A P-90 Les Paul?

A P-90 Les Paul occupies a useful tonal space between a conventional Fender-style single-coil guitar and a twin-humbucker Les Paul.

The pickups retain plenty of treble response and picking dynamics but add the thicker midrange and stronger output that make P-90s particularly effective with valve amplifiers and overdrive pedals.

Combined with the mahogany-and-maple Les Paul construction, the result has substantial sustain and weight without losing the raw attack that makes a good P-90 guitar feel so immediate.

Story & Context

Joe Bonamassa is known almost as much for his extensive vintage guitar collection as for his playing.

Among the rarities in that collection is a 1955 Les Paul Standard with a Copper Iridescent finish, an extremely unusual Gibson colour connected with the 1955 NAMM Show.

Rather than using the more familiar Goldtop finish associated with mid-'50s Les Pauls, Epiphone recreated the unusual copper appearance of Bonamassa's guitar and paired it with a period-inspired P-90 configuration.

The result is a signature model that offers something genuinely different within the wider Epiphone Les Paul range rather than simply adding an artist name to an existing Standard.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Epiphone
Model	Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard
Finish	Copper Iridescent
Body Shape	Les Paul
Body Material	Mahogany
Top Material	Maple
Body Binding	Single-Ply
Body Finish	Gloss
Neck Material	Mahogany
Neck Construction	Glued-In Set Neck
Neck Joint	Long Tenon
Neck Profile	Custom '59 Rounded C
Fingerboard Material	Laurel
Fingerboard Binding	Single-Ply
Fingerboard Radius	12" / 304.8mm
Scale Length	24.75" / 628.65mm
Number of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Fingerboard Inlays	Pearloid Trapezoid
Nut Material	Graph Tech
Nut Width	43mm / 1.693"
Pickup Configuration	SS
Neck Pickup	Epiphone P-90 PRO Soapbar
Bridge Pickup	Epiphone P-90 PRO Soapbar
Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Potentiometers	CTS
Capacitors	Mallory
Wiring	'50s Style
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece	Epiphone LockTone Stop Bar
Tuning Machines	Epiphone Deluxe
Control Knobs	Copper Iridescent Speed Knobs with Pointers
Hardware Finish	Nickel
Included	Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required.

The two P-90 PRO pickups and traditional control circuit are passive and connect to an amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard in Copper Iridescent is one of the more distinctive Bonamassa signature models and offers considerably more than an unusual finish.

The combination of P-90 PRO pickups, CTS/Mallory electronics, '50s wiring, a long neck tenon and substantial Rounded C neck gives it a strong vintage-inspired specification, while the metallic Copper Iridescent finish makes it immediately different from the countless Sunburst and Goldtop Les Pauls available.

Presented in Very Good Condition and supplied with a hardcase, this is an appealing pre-owned choice for blues and rock players as well as Bonamassa collectors.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying pre-owned can provide access to distinctive signature instruments and discontinued specifications while offering excellent value compared with purchasing new.

Every pre-owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually assessed before sale so its condition and included items are clearly represented.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Fair Deal Music is Birmingham's largest independent music store, combining a major showroom with nationwide ecommerce and decades of experience buying, selling and part-exchanging new, used and pre-owned musical equipment.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987
• Birmingham's largest independent music store
• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews
• Expert musician-led advice
• Extensive experience with guitars and premium pre-owned instruments
• Pre-owned equipment individually assessed
• Competitive prices on leading music brands
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing guitar could help towards the cost of this Epiphone.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects, keyboards and a wide range of other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your existing gear could be worth towards this Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What guitar inspired this Joe Bonamassa signature model?

It is inspired by a rare 1955 Gibson Les Paul Standard in Copper Iridescent from Joe Bonamassa's vintage guitar collection.

What is unusual about Copper Iridescent?

It is an exceptionally uncommon vintage-inspired metallic colour that can appear relatively brown or copper in subdued light while showing significantly more metallic character under brighter direct lighting.

What pickups does it use?

It has two Epiphone P-90 PRO soapbar pickups.

Are P-90s humbuckers?

No. P-90s are single-coil pickups and therefore have a more open, raw response than conventional humbuckers.

Can P-90 pickups produce some electrical hum?

Yes. As true single coils, P-90s can produce some mains hum depending on the electrical environment, amplifier gain and surrounding equipment.

What is the neck profile like?

It uses a substantial Custom '59 Rounded C profile, giving it a fuller vintage-inspired feel.

Does it have a long neck tenon?

Yes. The set mahogany neck uses a long neck tenon extending further into the body.

What fingerboard does it use?

It has a bound laurel fingerboard with pearloid trapezoid inlays.

What electronics are fitted?

The guitar uses CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors and '50s-style wiring.

What does '50s wiring change?

'50s-style wiring changes the relationship between the volume and tone circuits and can help retain greater clarity when adjusting the guitar's volume and tone controls.

What bridge is fitted?

It uses an Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and LockTone stopbar tailpiece.

Does it require a battery?

No. The pickups and electronics are completely passive.

Does it come with a hardcase?

Yes. A hardcase is included with this pre-owned example.

Did this model originally come with a special case?

The model was originally supplied with a custom Joe Bonamassa “Nerdville” graphic hardshell case. This listing confirms the hardcase accompanying this individual guitar without assuming additional factory accessories that have not been specified.

Was a certificate originally supplied with these guitars?

The factory package included a Certificate of Authenticity. A certificate is not listed as included with this individual guitar unless separately confirmed.

Is this suitable for higher-gain rock?

Yes. P-90s have enough output and midrange for powerful overdriven rock tones, although their single-coil construction means some background hum can be expected at higher gain levels.

Can I request a closer look at this individual guitar?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo service is ideal if you would like to see how the Copper Iridescent finish reacts to different lighting and inspect the guitar's individual cosmetic condition.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music considers trade-ins and part exchanges across a wide range of guitars and other musical equipment. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation.