Complete with Gibson USA pickups, the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard is Epiphone’s spin on the legendary 1959 Les Paul played by Peter Green, Gary Moore, and Kirk Hammett. Just like Gibson’s “Greeny” re-creation, this guitar is a spot-on replica of a 1959 “Burst” Les Paul, sporting a mahogany body, pickguard-free maple top, and AAA flame maple veneer. The neck comprises a robust 1-piece hunk of mahogany carved into a Custom Greeny profile — a robust, rounded over shape, topped with a sleek slab of Indian laurel. And most important of all, the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul comes equipped with a pair of Gibson USA Greenybucker pickups, with the same quacky “magic” out-of-phase middle position found on the original “Greeny.” From the smallest aesthetic details to the very feel in your hands, the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul is a truly loving tribute to one of the most iconic Les Pauls in music history.

Gibson USA Greenybucker pickups for “magic” out-of-phase tones 

When Peter Green first acquired his ’59 Les Paul, the legend goes that, by accident or intent, he flipped the magnet in the instrument’s neck pickup. This change resulted in a somewhat nasal, cutting sound in the middle position that would become his signature tone, famously referred to as a “magic” sound by his fans and friends. Well, it may be “magic,” but we now know that the sound is simply a honking out-of-phase tone caused by that flipped magnet! Sporting a flipped bar magnet on the neck pickup, the Greenybucker humbuckers found on the Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard capture that very tone, allowing you to cop Peter, Gary, and now Kirk’s “magic” tones with a quick flip to the middle position. Furthermore, these USA-made pickups are the very same models found on Gibson’s top-of-the-line “Greeny” re-creations, ensuring that even your standard neck/bridge tones deliver all the clarity, depth, and bite of a true 1950s-era PAF humbucker.

Signature “Greeny” aesthetics

While the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard may be missing the accumulated wear of three legendary guitarists and 60-plus years of hard playing, this guitar’s aesthetic outfit is still irrefutably “Greeny.” In other words, it’s by no means a typical ’59 Les Paul re-creation. First up, the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard maple top with AAA flame maple veneer is displayed in its full glory, with no pesky pickguard to obstruct the sheer beauty of its highly figured grain. Next, you’ll notice that the volume and tone knobs aren’t exactly matched: they were replaced during Gary Moore’s tenure with the instrument to make it easier to distinguish between them. And while plenty of Music Experience guitarists love the worn-in look and feel of a relic’d instrument, those who prefer the new-guitar sheen of a model fresh from the factory will be pleased to hear that Epiphone opted not to replicate the vestigial screw holes, play wear, and multiple headstock breaks of the original “Greeny”!

The legend of “Greeny” 

Peter Green originally purchased “Greeny” in the late 1960s, reportedly for sixty guineas (roughly $6 USD), after joining John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Green also used the guitar during his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, lending its unmistakable tone to such esteemed classics as “Black Magic Woman,” “Albatross,” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown).” In January 1970, Green generously sold the guitar to his friend Gary Moore, reportedly for £100–£110 (roughly $120–$132 USD). It’s been said that Moore initially hesitated to buy the guitar as he didn’t think he could afford it, which is why Green sold it to him for such a paltry sum. Moore went on to record and perform with “Greeny” until the early aughts. For a tasty helping of Moore’s “Greeny”-wielding sound, check out “Parisienne Walkways” on his 1978 album, Back on the Streets. In 2006, during a period of financial hardship, Moore sold “Greeny” for around $750,000–$1.2 million, after which it was shuffled between numerous dealers and private collectors. Finally, in 2014, the guitar was purchased by Kirk Hammett for around $2 million, and it’s been his #1 instrument ever since.

What Epiphone Says...

The story of “Greeny” is shrouded in mystery, but few guitars are as illustrious. Greeny is one of the most iconic original Les Paul™ Standards ever made, with a unique sound as recognizable as the guitar itself. Previously owned by Peter Green, it was used throughout his time with Fleetwood Mac and later sold to Gary Moore, who used it for three decades with Thin Lizzy and as a solo artist. Now owned by Kirk Hammett, Greeny has passed through the hands of three legendary guitarists. Its distinctive sound is partly from the out-of-phase middle switch position due to the neck pickup’s reversed magnetic polarity. The Epiphone Kirk Hammett "Greeny" Les Paul Standard is a collaboration between Epiphone and the Gibson Custom Shop. This exceptional guitar was inspired by Kirk's legendary original and allows players around the world the opportunity to experience some of the magic of "Greeny" for themselves. It features premium components, including Gibson USA Greenybucker pickups with the neck pickup reverse mounted and complete with a reverse polarity magnet, a Switchcraft® pickup selector and 1/4" output jack, CTS® potentiometers, Mallory™ capacitors, and Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with spade-style buttons on a Gibson-style “open book” headstock. A vintage-style brown and pink hardshell case is also included.