Modern twist on a classic

Epiphone's new Futura line reimagines six revered Gibson guitars with modern specs and a striking Chromashift finish that changes color depending on viewing angle.

The Futura ES-355 specs

This semi-hollow features a 10-14 inch compound radius, modern C-shape neck, ProBucker Ignite pickups, coil-splitting, phase-switching, stainless steel frets, and locking Grover tuners. Price: $899.

Show-stopping finish

The Dragonfly Shift finish shifts from green to blue as you view it from different angles, creating a mesmerizing visual effect that demands attention every time you pick up the guitar.

“I can't help but spend a chunk of time admiring the guitar every time I pick it up.”

Premium details throughout

Gibson Custom-inspired split-diamond inlays, bound fretboard and body, knurled control knobs, and nicely finished stainless steel frets give it a premium look beyond the price tag.

Minor finish imperfections

The finish inside the F-holes is slightly scrappy and sticky, showing a bit of room for improvement in the manufacturing process.

Hardware quality shines

The guitar arrived well set up with buzz-free, low action and excellent tuning stability thanks to quality hardware including the Graph Tech nut and locking Grover Rotomatic tuners.

Strap buttons have limits

The Posi-Lok strap buttons add extra security but can still detach if pulled at the right angle, so they're not true strap locks despite marketing claims.

Compound radius feels great

The 10-14 inch compound radius makes open chords and country picking comfortable at the lower frets while facilitating flashy runs higher up the fretboard.

Effortlessly playable

Low action and the modern neck profile make lead licks feel buttery-smooth and stretchy chord shapes pop out with minimal finger strength required.

Upper fret access challenge

The shallow cut of the lower horn makes reaching the top two frets awkward, and players with bigger hands may find the 20th fret slightly uncomfortable.

Tighter lows, more output

The ProBucker Ignite pickups deliver a tighter low end than traditional ES-355s and considerably more output, creating sparkling cleans and excelling at overdriven sounds.

Semi-hollow sustain and feedback

The guitar offers buckets of sustain and readily breaks into musical feedback at minimal overdrive levels when combined with volume, delivering classic rock tones before uncontrollable feedback kicks in.

High output requires gain tweaks

The increased output drives amplifiers harder than comparable guitars, requiring significant gain adjustments when switching between the Futura and other models like a Les Paul.

Coil-split and phase options

Three push-pull pots enable coil-splitting on each pickup and phase-switching on the neck pickup, creating thin single-coil tones and a distinctive quacky midrange reminiscent of a cocked wah.

“Like most coil splits, these are a little thin-sounding”

Modern features, classic respect

The Futura respects ES-355 heritage while adding modern tweaks like compound radius, high-output pickups, and coil-splitting that bring it up to the present day.

Not for traditionalists

If you prefer traditional ES-355 specs and lower output pickups that reflect the semi-hollow nature, this modern iteration isn't for you.

A different, rockier sound

The Futura ES-355 offers something different from the traditional ES-355, delivering a rockier take on the classic semi-hollow tone with more growl and presence.

Overall verdict

A superbly playable guitar with a stunning finish and modern features that make it a worthwhile alternative to the traditional ES-355, despite the high-output pickup choice.