New Epiphone Futura guitars: classic shapes, modern performance!

The new Epiphone Futura Series is all about bringing iconic Gibson designs bang up to date for today’s players (and at an accessible price point, too). Whether you’re gigging every weekend, tracking riffs at home or smashing out content for your socials, these Epiphone Inspired by Gibson electrics are built to cover all the bases, with killer tone, bold looks and an impressive set of forward‑thinking features.

In this blog, we’re gonna dig into all the coolest things about these hot‑rodded instruments. From their colour‑shifting finishes to their compound radius fingerboards loaded with stainless steel frets.

Epiphone Futura Series

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Which models are in the Epiphone Futura Series?

Epiphone Futura guitars take much‑loved ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Gibson shapes and launch them head‑first into the present day. The lineup includes legendary models like the Les Paul, SG, Flying V and Explorer. So, there’s something for pretty much every type of player.

And if offsets are more your thing, you’re in luck. The cult‑fave Firebird and the ever‑cool RD both make an appearance. There’s even an ES‑355 that’s easily one of the most souped‑up semi‑hollows we’ve seen from Epiphone yet!

Epiphone Futura guitars: key features

All Epiphone Futura electric guitars share a bunch of premium, player‑first features designed to make them feel rock‑solid, comfortable and ready for any style:

Chromashift finishes: These vibrant, colour‑changing finishes react to light and movement, making sure you stand out on stage or in front of a camera.
Modern “C” Mahogany necks: Smooth and comfy, ideal for everything from chunky rhythm work to speedy lead lines.
10”–14” compound radius Ebony fingerboards: Make chords feel easy to fret down low while offering flatter, bend‑friendly playability higher up the neck.
Stainless steel, medium jumbo frets: Not only do they feel fantastic under the fingers, but they also last longer and wear better than traditional fret wire.
Epiphone ProBucker Ignite humbuckers: Pack plenty of punch while retaining clarity and definition — all without unwanted hum. Perfect for rock, metal and whatever else you throw at ’em.
Versatile push/pull electronics: Coil‑splitting, plus phase switching when both pickups are engaged, unlocks a wide palette of usable tones from a single guitar.
LockTone bridges & tailpieces: Keep everything firmly in place, boosting sustain and helping maintain tuning stability when you dig in with heavy palm mutes or go for big bends.
Locking Grover Rotomatic tuners: Fast, stable and super easy to restring — just how we like it!
Posi‑Lok strap buttons: Provide a secure strap fit without needing extra hardware bolted onto your guitar.
Premium gig bags included: Great if you’re a player constantly on the move, keeping your Futura safely protected between rehearsals and gigs.
Weight-relieved bodies (Les Paul & ES-355 only): Easier on your shoulder but still big on sustain.

What colours are Epiphone Futura guitars available in?

There’s nothing classic about the Chromashift finishes these guitars come in. They’re all‑new, seriously striking and shift colour depending on the lighting and viewing angle. They’ve got some wicked names too — from ‘Dragonfly Shift’ (a dreamy greeny/blue) to ‘Firestorm Shift’ (a rich orange/gold).

What’s more, every model (apart from the SG Custom) sports elegant multi‑ply body binding, helping those finishes pop even more. Plus, Super 400‑style pearloid split‑block inlays that add an extra dose of high‑end flair.

Here’s a breakdown of each Epiphone Futura guitar and the available colour options:

Les Paul Custom Futura: Firestorm Shift, Twilight Shift
SG Custom Futura: Midnight Ember Shift, Nitro Shift
ES-355 Futura: Dragonfly Shift, Firestorm Shift
Explorer Custom Futura: Dragonfly Shift, Firestorm Shift
Firebird Custom Futura: Firestorm Shift, Quicksilver Shift
RD Custom Futura: Midnight Ember Shift, Twilight Shift
Flying V Custom Futura: Quicksilver Shift, Solaris Shift

How do they compare to other Epiphone models?

As the name suggests, Epiphone’s Futura Series guitars are built to be more future‑ready than much of the rest of the Inspired by Gibson range. By that, we mean that they lean firmly towards modern performance rather than vintage correctness.

Compared to more traditional Epiphone models, Futura guitars come equipped with contemporary specs like compound radius fingerboards, stainless steel frets, expanded pickup switching and locking hardware. The result is an instrument that feels slicker, faster and more adaptable — ideal for players who want one guitar to handle a wide range of styles and situations.

Where are Epiphone Futura Series guitars made?

All Epiphone Futura guitars are built at Gibson’s own factory in Qingdao, China. This has been Epiphone’s primary manufacturing hub since 2004, and the quality coming out of this facility has only continued to improve over the years. In short, you can expect an instrument that’s well put‑together, consistently finished and ready to play straight out of the box.

Epiphone Futura guitars in action!

We’ll be sharing our own video on these high-octane guitars soon. But for now, check out the official Epiphone demo down below — it’s the next best thing!

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Want to learn more?

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