Epiphone and Trivium’s Matt Heafy present the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7 seven-string, two new and totally killer original takes on the world famous Les Paul. Designed in close collaboration with Matt Heafy, each Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom reflects Heafy’s distinctive approach to guitar, which has earned him and Trivium scores of dedicated fans around the world. Trivium’s records have sold over a million copies worldwide. Check out a Trivium performance and you’ll see why. The rule books on how-to-play a Les Paul go right out the window when Heafy plugs in and his revolutionary use of an LP Custom seven-string is a breakthrough in contemporary metal and hard rock. Now, Matt Heafy joins an illustrious group of Epiphone artists like Slash, Frank Iero, Joe Bonamassa, and Zakk Wylde with the introduction of two signature models, the Epiphone Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7.
Custom Sound, Custom Color: Both Matt Heafy signature Les Pauls feature an all blacked-out Ebony gloss finish that’s especially striking on the sleek profile of a LP Custom. Like all great Les Pauls, both the Matt Heafy 6-string and 7-string Ltd. Ed. Custom models feature a mahogany body with a plain maple veneer top, a time-tested combination that has gone virtually unchanged since the ’50s. The mahogany neck has a fast 1960’s SlimTaper™ “D” profile with a glued-in deep set neck joint with an “Axcess” heel for a smooth and easy reach to the upper frets. The scale length is 24.75″ and the ebony fingerboard has a 12″ radius and 22 medium jumbo frets and features pearloid block inlays, which seem to practically glow in the dark against the Ebony finish.
The nut, which is also black, is cut to 1.68″ on the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom while the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7 seven string features a 1 7/8″ nut. The classic clipped dovewing headstock features the historic pearloid “split-diamond” Les Paul Custom inlay and a vintage style “Epiphone” logo in white. The bell-shaped truss rod cover is black with a shadow of white binding and MKH Les Paul Custom in white silk screen. Each guitar features beautiful 7-ply white and black binding on the top and 5-ply binding on the headstock. The fingerboard features single ply white binding.
The Power of EMG Pickups: Matt Heafy asked that both the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7 seven string feature black active EMG pickups voiced especially for each guitar’s unique profile. The Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom six string features an EMG-85 in the neck position and an EMG-81 in the bridge position. The EMG-81 is one of the most popular metal pickups ever and has been at the center of a sound revolution since it was first introduced. Utilizing powerful ceramic magnets and close aperture coils, the EMG-81 is designed for detailed intensity, incredible amounts of high end cut, and fluid sustain. The EMG-85 features Alnico-V magnets and has a slightly more rounded tone. The classic combination of an EMG 81 with an EMG 85 in a Les Paul Custom offers metal guitarists an incredible array of extreme possibilities. The Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7 seven string features an EMG-707 in the neck position and an EMG 81-7 in the lead or bridge position. The 81-7 is EMG’s king high output pickup, designed especially for 7-string lead guitarists. The EMG 81-7 excels at high volume overdrive. The EMG-707 has long been the standard 7-string guitar pickup since its introduction in 2001. The 707 features Alnico V magnets with wide aperture coils, which beef up the low B tone while offering a more responsive and super tight overall sound. An easy-access 9V battery compartment can be found on the back of each guitar.
No Compromise Electronics: Both the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom-7 seven string feature Epiphone’s no-compromise electronics including a 1/4″ non-rotating output jack and volume and tone controls with Black Speed Knobs that are powered by full-size 500K potentiometers. The pickup switch is Epiphone’s all-metal 3-way pickup selector with a black toggle cap.
Epiphone Rock Solid Hardware: Like all Epiphones, both Matt Heafy LP Customs include Epiphone’s made-to-last heavy duty hardware including Epiphone StrapLocks, a black LockTone™ Tune-o-matic/StopBar bridge on the Ltd. Ed. Matt Heafy Les Paul Custom and a Tune-o-matic-7/StopBar on the 7-string. Both guitars feature deluxe die-cast machine heads with metal “tulip buttons” with a 14:1 tuning ratio. An optional hard case is available for both models.
