Multi-hyphenate artist Janelle Monáe has donned a wide range of guitars over the years, including a Fender Duo-Sonic HS and even a Squier Precision Bass in her earlier performances. Now, in a new social media post hinting at a new artistic (and musical) era, Monáe is seen wielding the cheapest Les Paul Epiphone ever released – and playing neo-soul and jazz-inflected musings. The Epiphone Les Paul SL, which launched in 2017, retails at around $99, and with slim ceramic single-coil units and a budget-friendly price tag, echoes Gibson's ’60s entry-level staple, the Melody Maker. Monáe opts for the Sunset Yellow colorway and plays through a VOX AC15 – a curious pairing considering that her musical director, Kellindo, typically uses Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amps on her records, with the Marshall Plexi ’59 being his all-time favorite.
