Epiphone Les Paul Special II.
​It’s often the "first love" for many guitarists because it captures the iconic Les Paul silhouette without the heavy price tag (or the heavy weight) of a Gibson.
Pro-Tip: If you’re just starting out with this beauty, a quick "setup" by a local guitar tech to lower the action (the height of the strings) can make this budget-friendly workhorse feel like a much more expensive instrument.