Don't be fooled by its traditional exterior -- the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra III is a technological powerhouse that combines the classic vibe of a Les Paul with an array of gadgets and features. Now in its third generation, the Epiphone Ultra series represents the guitar maker's efforts to bring the latest in modern guitar technology to an iconic instrument with expanded tonal options and intuitive controls. From the cutting-edge pickup configuration to the USB output and much more, the Ultra III is an excellent choice for a discerning player ready to put the latest in guitar technology to work.

Learn more with this zZounds-exclusive video:

Not Your Grandpa's Les Paul

Wielding traditional Probucker double-coils at the bridge and neck and a Shadow Nanomag pickup system at the edge of the fretboard, the Ultra III gives you a palette of tonal options unlike any other Les Paul. The Nanomag is designed to capture all the nuance of the instrument with acoustic-like tones to complement the rock-worthy edge of the Probuckers. Put these to use with multiple outputting options and a three-way selector button to scroll between the different configurations. Rounding it out, Epiphone has included a control panel for the Nanomag, a chromatic tuner built into the bridge pickup ring, and a USB output to connect to the downloadable Guitar Rig LE software (free with registration!) With so many features packed into the Les Paul Ultra III, you'll be shocked that the price has remained so low.

Features:

- Revolutionary electronics with dual Probuckers and acoustic-like Shadow Nanomag pickups
- Constructed with chambered mahogany body and AAA flame maple top
- Countered body shape and D style neck for maximum comfort and playability
- Chromatic tuner built into to pickup casing which mutes output when engaged
- Intuitive controls for seamless integration of features into live performances
- USB output to connect to included Guitar Rig software*
- Quality Epiphone hardware with tune-o-matic bridge and Grover tuners

With more gadgets and gizmos than a regular Les Paul (or the Starship Enterprise), the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra III delivers the latest in guitar technology with all the swagger of a classic Les Paul. Comfortably priced and endlessly engaging, this is a guitar for the player that needs limitless options in crafting their perfect tone.

Bryan Aspey demonstrates the Les Paul Ultra III's innovative features and tones in this video from Epiphone:


* Guitar Rig LE can be downloaded after registration zZounds is an authorized dealer of Epiphone products.

- Body Material:

- Mahogany; Strategically Chambered

- Comfortable back Belly-scarf

- Top Material: AAA Flame Maple veneer

- Neck Material: Mahogany

- Neck Shape: SlimTaper(TM); D profile

- Neck Joint: Glued-In; Mortise and Tenon

- Truss Rod: Adjustable

- Scale Length: 24.75"

- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood with mother-of-pearl Trapezoid inlays

- Neck Pickup: Epiphone ProBucker-2(TM)

- Bridge Pickup: Epiphone ProBucker-3(TM)

- Fingerboard Pickup: Shadow(TM) NanoMag(TM) Humbucking Low-Impedance Pickup

- Front Controls:

- 3-way Pickup Selector

- Neck Pickup Volume

- Bridge Pickup Volume

- NanoMag(TM) Pickup Volume with push-push A/B switch

- Master Tone

- A/B LED Indicators

- Back Controls:

- NanoMag(TM) Gain

- NanoMag(TM) Treble EQ

- NanoMag(TM) Bass EQ

- Chromatic Tuner:

- On/Off Switch

- A-G LED Note Indicators

- # LED Indicator

- High Pitch, Low Pitch, In-Tune LED Indicators

- Outputs:

- 1/4" Mono (both signals blended)

- 1/4" Stereo

- USB (Computer supplies power to Ultra-III when connected)

- Power: 9 Volt battery (Except when connected to computer USB)

- Binding:

- Fingerboard - 1 ply (cream)

- Body - 1 ply (cream)

- Fingerboard Radius: 12"

- Frets: 22; medium-jumbo

- Bridge: LockTone(TM) Tune-o-matic/Stopbar

- Nut Width: 1-11/16"

- Hardware: Nickel

- Machine Heads: Grover(TM) 16:1 Tuners

- String: Gibson(TM) Brite Wires 10-46

- Includes:

- Native Instruments(TM) GuitarRig(TM) Software

- 3 meter USB Cable

- 9 Volt battery

- User's Manual

- Bumper Sticker

- Poster

- Trussrod Wrench

- 10' Economy 1/4" cord

- Warranty Information

- Colors: Faded Cherry Sunburst (FC), Midnight Ebony (ME), Midnight Sapphire (MS), Vintage Sunburst (VS)

- Warranty: Epiphone Limited Lifetime

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Faded Cherry

Shipping Weight: 11 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 42 x 17 x 5 in

Midnight Ebony

Shipping Weight: 11 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 42 x 17 x 5 in

Midnight Sapphire

Shipping Weight: 10 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 42 x 17 x 5 in

Vintage Sunburst

Shipping Weight: 10 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 42 x 17 x 5 in

Product Description

Deep down, most guitarists are traditional. They love classic designs and shapes dating back 50 years ago. Well, Epiphone knows the way you feel. That's why they designed the Les Paul Ultra-III with the same look and features of a traditional Les Paul but fresh approach, giving you a guitar that's a real Les Paul but also so much more.

Two Great Pickup Systems in One Guitar

At the heart of the Ultra-III are two pickup systems. Powering the first are Epiphone's ProBucker(TM) humbucking pickups, patterned after Gibson's famous BurstBuckers(TM). With authentic 18% nickel silver base and cover, Elektrisola wire, accurate bobbin, slugs and screws and sand casted Alnico-II magnets, they replicate that classic "Patent Applied For" airy tone that defined rock and roll. The second system features Shadow(TM) Germany's patented NanoMag(TM) pickup embedded discreetly at the end of the fingerboard. Featuring three samarium cobalt magnets, an air coil and active electronics, this low-impedance pickup captures your Ultra-III's subtle body acoustics and string harmonics. Together, you get powerful humbucker-driven rock crunch as well as shimmering acoustic-like tones -- and everything in between.

One-Of-A-Kind Electronics Built In

If you thought the Ultra-II was jam-packed with modern features, you won't believe what Epiphone has designed into the Ultra-III. Built discreetly into the bridge pickup mounting ring is a fully functional chromatic tuner. Push its ON/OFF button and sound is immediately muted and the tuner activated. Eleven color-coded LEDs identify the note as well as whether it's sharp, flat or in tune. Also, to allow quick and seamless changes between each pickup system, the Ultra-III's NanoMag Volume knob doubles as an A/B switch. Just push it in and quickly toggle between Magnetic, NanoMag or both pickup systems -- with no delay and no "pop." Two additional LEDs on the pickup mounting ring provide a visual indicator of which pickup system is active: Red is NanoMag; Blue is Magnetic, and Red/Blue is both.

USB Directly to Your Computer

The Ultra-III features three different outputs. By using the standard 1/4" MONO output, both the Humbuckers and NanoMag are mixed into one signal. When you plug another 1/4" cable into its STEREO output, the Humbuckers are routed through one cable and the NanoMag the other. In this way, you can send the Humbuckers to your favorite guitar amp and the NanoMag to the PA or an acoustic guitar amp. Using the A/B switch, you can now change on-the-fly between the two outputs. The third output is USB. Using the included USB cable, you can plug directly into your computer and use guitar applications such as the included Native Instruments GuitarRig 4 LE software to play your guitar through a variety of simulated amplifiers and effects, while listening through your computer speakers or headphones. GuitarRig also features a recorder, a metronome, a tuner and more.

Great Tonewoods and Hardware

While the Ultra-III is packed with technology, it still maintains the same basic specifications that's made Epiphone Les Pauls the choice of so many guitarists, including a solid mahogany body with glued-in mahogany neck and comfortable SlimTaper neck profile, a flame maple veneer top and Rosewood fingerboard. The result is a guitar with that classic Les Paul tone and sustain. Like most Epiphones, it's also equipped with Epi's patent-applied-for LockTone(TM) locking tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for increased sustain and string changing ease as well as quality Grover(tm) 16:1 machine heads for tuning accuracy and stability.

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Like every Epiphone, the Ultra-III features their Limited Lifetime warranty backed by world famous 24/7/365 day Gibson Customer Service. If you want a versatile professional instrument designed for live performance or studio and capable of both Les Paul crunch and real acoustic-like tones, the Epiphone Ultra-III is an excellent choice.