The Epiphone Futura Series is built for modern guitarists who expect more from their instruments than traditional reissues can offer. Rather than recreating vintage guitars piece‑for‑piece, the Futura range reimagines some of Gibson’s most iconic designs with features aimed squarely at today’s playing environments — live stages, recording studios and digital content platforms alike.
Inspired by classic Gibson models, each Futura guitar combines familiar body shapes with contemporary materials, upgraded hardware and versatile electronics. Striking Chromashift finishes ensure they stand out visually, while newly developed ProBucker™ Ignite humbuckers and flexible switching options provide a wide tonal palette without unnecessary complexity. Add in premium details such as stainless steel frets, compound‑radius ebony fingerboards and modern neck profiles, and the Futura Series positions itself as a practical, forward‑looking option for serious players.
Rather than focusing on one genre or style, the range is designed to be adaptable — guitars that feel equally at home delivering classic tones, modern high‑gain sounds, or clean, articulate parts for recording and content creation.
Shared Specifications of the Futura Range
While each model has its own personality, the Futura Series shares a consistent set of modern features that define the range.
Chromashift Finishes
Every Epiphone Futura model features a Chromashift finish that changes colour depending on lighting and viewing angle. These finishes are particularly effective under stage lights or camera setups, giving the guitars a dynamic look that suits modern performance and visual media.
ProBucker™ Ignite Pickups and Flexible Electronics
The ProBucker™ Ignite humbuckers, developed by Epiphone specifically for the Futura Series, deliver a powerful, articulate tone with plenty of headroom. They’re designed to handle everything from clean passages to driven sounds while remaining clear and hum‑free.
Push/pull controls enable coil‑splitting across the range, with phase switching available when both pickups are used together. This allows each guitar to cover a broad range of sounds without relying on external switching systems.
Stainless Steel Frets
All Futura models are equipped with stainless steel medium jumbo frets, offering a smooth playing feel and long‑term durability. Compared with traditional nickel‑silver fretwire, stainless steel resists wear and maintains consistent performance over time.
Ebony Fretboards with Compound Radius
Each guitar features a bound ebony fretboard with Super 400‑style pearloid inlays. The 10”–14” compound radius makes chords comfortable in lower positions while allowing effortless string bends higher up the neck.
Modern Appointments
Across the range, Epiphone includes practical, player‑focused hardware:
- Grover® Rotomatic® or Mini Rotomatic® locking tuners
- Posi‑Lok™ strap buttons
- Graph Tech® nuts
- Gig bag included with every model
- Contour heel on applicable Les Paul‑style models
Model Overviews
Futura ES‑355
The Futura ES‑355 brings a contemporary approach to one of Gibson’s most enduring semi‑hollow designs. Featuring a maple body with a solid centre block and weight‑relief window, it balances sustain with feedback resistance while remaining comfortable for long sessions.
A mahogany neck with a Modern C profile is paired with a bound ebony fretboard, stainless steel frets and compound radius, making it equally suited to chord work and lead playing. ProBucker™ Ignite humbuckers and push/pull controls provide tonal flexibility, from full humbucker warmth to brighter, more focused sounds.
Available colours:
- Firestorm Shift
- Dragonfly Shift
- Midnight Ember Shift
Futura RD Custom
The Futura RD Custom updates one of Gibson’s most distinctive body shapes with modern appointments and electronics. Its extended outline offers a balanced feel, while the shared Futura features ensure consistency in tone and playability with the rest of the range.
With ProBucker™ Ignite pickups, coil‑splitting and phase options, the RD Custom offers a wide tonal range in a design that has always stood apart from more traditional silhouettes.
Available colours:
- Firestorm Shift
- Twilight Shift
- Midnight Ember Shift
Futura Firebird Custom
The Futura Firebird Custom represents the next evolution of one of Gibson’s most recognisable designs. Originally conceived by automotive designer Ray Dietrich, the Firebird’s bold lines are preserved here but refined with modern construction and hardware.
A sculpted mahogany body with 7‑ply binding and a contoured back improves comfort, while the reverse Firebird headstock and Mini Rotomatic locking tuners maintain the model’s iconic identity. ProBucker™ Ignite humbuckers and push/pull controls deliver a wide range of usable tones in a visually striking instrument.
Available colours:
- Firestorm Shift
- Quicksilver Shift
- Midnight Ember Shift
Futura Les Paul Custom
The Futura Les Paul Custom offers a modern take on one of the most celebrated electric guitar designs of all time. Ultra Modern weight relief reduces overall weight without sacrificing sustain, while a maple cap retains the classic Les Paul tonal balance.
A Modern Contoured Heel improves upper‑fret access, and the long‑tenon mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and stainless steel frets deliver a smooth, confident playing experience. Push/pull electronics expand the tonal range well beyond traditional Les Paul territory.
Available colours:
- Firestorm Shift
- Twilight Shift
- Midnight Ember Shift
Futura SG Custom
The Futura SG Custom keeps the aggressive, lightweight feel that has defined the SG since the early 1960s, while updating it with modern hardware and electronics. The double‑cutaway mahogany body provides excellent access across the fretboard, supported by a fast‑playing Modern C neck profile.
ProBucker™ Ignite pickups combined with coil‑splitting and phase switching make the SG Custom more versatile than traditional SG designs, without losing its unmistakable character.
Available colours:
- Dragonfly Shift
- Nitro Shift
- Midnight Ember Shift
Futura Explorer Custom
The Futura Explorer Custom revisits one of Gibson’s most forward‑looking designs, originally introduced in the late 1950s. Its angular mahogany body and 7‑ply binding maintain the Explorer’s bold aesthetic, while modern hardware ensures reliable performance.
With stainless steel frets, a compound‑radius ebony fretboard and flexible electronics, the Explorer Custom balances visual impact with practical playability.
Available colours:
- Firestorm Shift
- Dragonfly Shift
Futura Flying V Custom
The Futura Flying V Custom takes one of the most adventurous guitar designs ever produced and updates it for contemporary players. The angular mahogany body, bound ebony fretboard and arrowhead headstock preserve the classic Flying V identity.
Unique within the range, the Flying V Custom uses multiple push/pull controls to enable coil‑splitting and phase switching, offering a particularly wide range of tones from a traditionally focused design.
Available colours:
- Quicksilver Shift
- Solaris Shift
Summary
The Epiphone Futura Series signals a clear change in direction. Rather than simply echoing historic Gibson designs, these guitars use familiar shapes as a foundation for something deliberately modern. The focus here is not on vintage correctness, but on how guitars are played today — across stages, studios, home setups and on camera.
Taken as a whole, the Futura Series feels less like a tribute to the past and more like a statement about the future. It reflects Epiphone’s willingness to evolve — combining established shapes with forward‑thinking design choices to create instruments that feel relevant, expressive and purpose‑built for today’s musicians.
Where to Purchase in Australia
The Epiphone Futura Series is available through official Epiphone Australian dealers, ensuring genuine instruments, local warranty support and access to current models and finishes.
A list of authorised Epiphone dealers in Australia can be found here:
https://linktr.ee/Epiphone_AU
