Epiphone Kirk Hammett Greeny 1959 Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Greeny Burst
Kirk Hammett's Greeny is an Epiphone take on the legendary Peter Green / Gary Moore / Kirk Hammett talisman. Covered Greenybucker pickups with reversed magnet polarity deliver that thick, expressive humbucker voice suited to blues and hard rock.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Greenybucker pickups with reversed neck magnet polarity capture the soul of the original
- +Effortless playability and fast fretwork make bending and vibrato feel natural
- +Iconic tones: Peter Green bark, Gary Moore sustain, Kirk Hammett aggression
- +Greeny Burst finish is exclusive and visually striking
- +Gibson Custom Shop collaboration ensures quality control on pickups and electronics
Cons
- −1,499 GBP price is steep for an Epiphone, undercutting Gibson USA Greeny by only 1,600 GBP
- −Covered pickups limit tonal tweaking and visual customization
- −Limited to one finish—less color choice than standard SG Custom
The Verdict
Here’s a weird situation: Epiphone and the Gibson Custom Shop released the Greeny at almost the exact same time, and Kirk himself told reviewers he prefers the Epiphone. At 1,499 GBP, that’s a lot of guitars to ask from an Epiphone, but the credentials are legit.
Tone is where this guitar justifies its price. The Greenybucker set—particularly the neck pickup with its reversed polarity—unlocks the kind of singing, sustain-rich voice that made the original Greeny legendary. It’s warm without being dark, clear without being brittle. You get the thickness for blues riffing and the snap for hard rock leads. This is a pickup set that rewrites the rules.
Everything else supports that mission. The Les Paul platform is timeless—solid construction, neck-through stability, resonant mahogany. Playability is impeccable, fast enough for metal but thick enough to shine at lower volumes with overdrive. The Greeny Burst finish is a subtle nod to tradition without screaming ‘signature model.’
Buy if you’re a blues-rock or hard-rock guitarist willing to pay for pickup quality and pedigree, or if you want to own a piece of metal history without five-figure spend. Skip if you need maximum tonal variety or modern features—this is a purist’s instrument. At this price, it competes with Gibson USA, not standard Epiphones. Worth every penny if your tone matters.
