The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor is an Epiphone electric guitar, currently around $499.99. Close alternatives include the Gibson Byrdland and the Heritage Kenny Burrell Signature. It pairs well with the Peavey Decade Too and the PRS HX 100 Head.
Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor
Epiphone · electric guitar
The Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II is a full-depth hollowbody jazz archtop bearing the name of jazz great Joe Pass, an affordable take on the classic Emperor with a laminated maple body and twin humbuckers. It produces a warm, round, woody jazz tone with smooth highs and full lows, suited to comping and single-note lead. It is a budget-friendly gateway to traditional archtop jazz tone.
- jazz
- round
- woody
- traditional archtop tone
- playability
- smooth highs
- full hollow body
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor is commonly used in
- Jazz
Amps that pair well with the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor
Peavey Decade Too
Peavey
22% matchPeavey Decade Too's bright balances out the warm tone
PRS HX 100 Head
PRS
20% matchRun PRS HX 100 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
19% matchVox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp's bright balances out the warm tone
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Boss Waza-Air answers back bright
Egnater VN-412A
Egnater
tonal matchRun Egnater VN-412A after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
tonal matchRun PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple) answers back bright
Pedals that stack with the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
19% matchRun Catalinbread Galileo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Catalinbread Formula 55
Catalinbread
19% matchCatalinbread Formula 55's bright balances out the warm tone
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchBoss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchCALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition's bright balances out the warm tone
Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Fuzzrocious Baxtabber
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchFuzzrocious Baxtabber leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Hornby Skewes Treble Booster
pedal
tonal matchHornby Skewes Treble Booster leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Ibanez Jemini
Ibanez
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Ibanez Jemini answers back bright
Boutique & premium upgrades
Gibson ES-175
Gibson
70% similarityShared character: laminated_maple_body, woody, round
Ibanez Joe Pass JP-20
Ibanez
62% similarityShared character: woody, round, jazz
Gibson Steve Howe ES-175
Gibson
61% similarityShared character: woody, round, jazz
Gibson ES-150
Gibson
91% similaritysimilar tone character
1961 Gibson ES-335
Gibson
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson L-5
Gibson
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gibson Byrdland
Gibson
66% similarityShared character: volume, woody, effortless_playability
Heritage Kenny Burrell Signature
Heritage
90% similaritysimilar tone character
D'Aquisto Archtop
Daquisto
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino Reissue
Epiphone
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Gretsch G6120 Brian Setzer
Gretsch
88% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone Casino
electric guitar
87% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson Byrdland, the Heritage Kenny Burrell Signature, the D'Aquisto Archtop. Boutique upgrades: Gibson ES-175, Ibanez Joe Pass JP-20, Gibson Steve Howe ES-175.
What pairs well with the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Decade Too, PRS HX 100 Head, Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp — Peavey Decade Too's bright balances out the warm tone.
How much does the Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor cost?+
Around $499.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).