The LS was Samick's Les Paul Standard style model. The LSRC-402 was introduced in 1989 as a direct copy of the Gibson Les Paul, but they were likely pressured by Gibson to change it if they wished to continue producing Epiphones. Therefore, the headstock was changed to a refined version of Hondo's Deluxe headstock around April 1990 (the same time Epiphone switched from an "open book" headstock to their current "clipped ear" headstock). For a short time, it kept the same body shape, until May 1990 when it was redesigned with different proportions and a longer, sharper horn. In 1991, Samick changed their naming conventions, resulting in the new name, "LS-450". In May 1993, it was redesigned again, this time with a smaller, more rounded horn. For 1995, it became part of the Artist Series. In 1997, it returned to "correct" Les Paul proportions but retained the shortened horn. It was produced until 2002 when it's likely that Gibson put pressure on them once again to make more original designs. However, there was no lawsuit, despite what some people may claim.
Related:
LSRC-402[]
- 1989-1990
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Open Book headstock (1989 - April 1990)
- Deluxe headstock (1990)
- Mother of Pearl Wave logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (TS)
- Orange Sunburst (OS)
LS-450 (1991-1992)[]
1991 LS-450 CS (finish mis-labeled in catalog)
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Mother of Pearl Wave logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh tulip style tuning machines
- Bell shaped truss rod cover (1991)
- Pointed bell shaped truss rod cover (1992)
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic style bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Orange Sunburst (OS)
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
- Honey Sunburst (HS)
LS-450 (1993-1994)[]
1993 LS-450 CS
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Mother of Pearl Wave logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh tulip style tuning machines
- Pointed bell shaped truss rod cover (1993)
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover (1994)
- Amber Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic style bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Honey Sunburst (HS)
LS-450 (Artist Series, 1995-1996)[]
1995 LS-450 HB
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl Artist logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- Shielded pickup cavities
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh tulip style tuning machines
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Metal knobs
- Tune-O-Matic style bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst (CS)
- Tobacco Sunburst (TS)
- Honey Sunburst (HB)
LS-450 (Artist Series, 1997-2002)[]
2000 LS-450 finishes
LS-450 BU features Bubinga veneer (Natural finish only).
Body:
- Solid Nato body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer (Select finishes)
- "Bird's Eye" Maple veneer (PBE)
- Bubinga veneer (BU N)
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Ebony fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Ornate Mother of Pearl Artist logo inlay
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Conductive paint shielded cavity, medium tenon
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- Shielded pickup cavities
- 3-way switch
- Knurled switch nut (2000-2002)
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh tulip style tuning machines
- Headstock-matching truss rod cover
- Amber Bell knobs
- Metal knobs (special finishes)
- Tune-O-Matic style bridge with stopbar tailpiece
2000 LS-450 finishes
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- Cherry Sunburst, Tiger Tail top (CS)
- Wine Red, Tiger Tail top (WR)
- Translucent Blue, Tiger Tail top (TBL)
- Translucent Burgundy, Tiger Tail top (TBU)
- Tobacco Sunburst, Tiger Tail top (TS)
- Metallic Gold, Walnut or Wine Red back (MG)
- Pink Tint, Bird's Eye top (PBE)
- Granite Gold (GTG)
- Metallic Green Flake, Cherry back (MGRF)
- Metallic Gold Flake (MGF)
- Metallic Blue Flake (MBF)
- Metallic Red Flake (MRF)
- Natural, Cherry or Wine Red back (N, BU model only)
LS-450/12 (Artist Series)[]
Twelve string version of LS-450.
- 1997-2000
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst (CS)
LS-450 LH[]
Left-handed version of LS-450.
Finishes:
- Cherry Sunburst
LS-ST(T) (Japanese Market)[]
1990 LS-7-ST CHSB
Re-named LS-7-ST in 1989.
- 1987-1991
- ¥45,000 Yen (1988 MSRP)
- ¥48,000 Yen (1990 MSRP)
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
- "Tiger Tail" flame Maple veneer (Sunburst finishes)
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Mother of Pearl Script logo inlay
- Silk-screened Script logo
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (front) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- Gotoh tulip style tuning machines (1987-1988)
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines (1989-1991)
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Gold Bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
Also branded as:
- Aria Diamond LPS-470
- ¥47,000 Yen (1990 MSRP)
LS-CUS (Japanese Market)[]
1990 LS-7-CUS B
Re-named LS-7-CUS in 1989.
- 1987-1991
- ¥45,000 Yen (1988 MSRP)
- ¥48,000 Yen (1990 MSRP)
Body:
- Solid Alder body with arched top
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck w/ scarf joint
- Slim profile
- Medium-long tenon
- Rosewood fretboard with acrylic block inlays
- Open Book headstock
- Mother of Pearl Script logo inlay
- Silk-screened Script logo
- 14o headstock pitch
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Triple-ply body (front and back) and headstock
- Single-ply neck
Aria Diamond LPC-470
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Bell shaped truss rod cover
- Black Speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (B)
- White (W)
Also branded as:
- Aria Diamond LPC-470
- ¥47,000 Yen (1990 MSRP)