Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto is a Grammy® Award-winning guitarist, composer, and record
producer. He has been highly successful as a session musician, solo artist, and also as the
guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock duo B’z – the best-selling musical act in Japan.
Epiphone is proud to release the Talk Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul™ Standard, a new
Inspired by Gibson Custom model that was influenced by Tak’s cherished vintage 1955 Les
Paul. It features a mahogany body with a maple top, a one-piece mahogany neck with a
laurel fretboard, a long neck tenon, and a Tak Matsumoto custom neck profile that’s slightly
thinner than a ’59 neck profile, and a Gibson-style “open book” headstock with the mother
of pearl Epiphone logo shifted down slightly, just as they were in 1955. The Gibson Historic
Wraparound bridge features intonation set screws, and the guitar comes equipped with a
set of Pro Rock Gear strap locks. The electronics include a set of Gibson Burstbucker™
PRO Alnico 5 pickups and 50s wiring with vintage taper CTS® potentiometers, Grey Tiger
capacitors, and a Switchcraft® 3-way toggle and output jack. A vintage-style brown/pink
hardshell case with the Inspired by Gibson Custom logo and a reproduction of Tak’s
signature on the outside is also included.