Epiphone Lacquer Series Les Paul Special, cherry red, made in Japan 2006. This is a very classy guitar. The Lacquer Series was a short-lived offering on the Japanese domestic market offering exceptional quality guitars with the true Gibson style open-book headstock. 'Lacquer' refers to the super thin nitrocellulose finish, which allows the grain of the top notch African mahogany to show through in all it's glory. It also means the wood is able to vibrate and resonate freely, offering a richness and openness to the tone not on offer with normal poly finishes; you can really feel all the notes you play ringing up and down the whole length of the guitar. The pickups are legit Gibson USA P90s, which offer a sweet singing midrange and a precise, chiming treble that really brings out the best in the body. The famed Fujigen-factory precision is on show here: perfect fretwork, amazingly tidy finish work, excellent tuning stability... this is a cut above most USA guitars in terms of playability and quality. There's a lot to love here, and we've already watched the price on these creep up steadily over the past couple of years... rightly so, this is a magical unicorn full of wonders. 

Model: Epiphone Japan Lacquer Series Les Paul Special
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 2006 (serial F601711)
Finish: cherry red lacquer, gloss nitro top coat
Body: African mahogany
Neck: African mahogany, rosewood board, slim taper profile, 12" radius
Weight: 3.2kg approx
Mods: none
Pickups: Gibson USA P90 single coils
Case: original padded Gibson gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has some logo fading and some extremely minor dimples. Neck is pretty clean, no major marks, just a couple of extremely minor dimples. The back has a handful of very light scratches, mostly near the switch and knobs covers, as well as a couple of tiny dimples in the middle. The sides have a few very minor marks: on the top horn, the shoulder, near the rear strap pin and around from the knobs. The front is also pretty good, just some play scratches on the guard and top horn, a pair of dimples up from the neck pickup and up from the bridge and some light scratches behind the bridge. Given how thin the finish is, it's in great order. Overall: very condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets look almost new, barely any wear to speak of; 9/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 10/46s.