Everything about this video makes me think the Epi is a much better value. No one watching me play at a gig will be able to tell any difference between the two guitars. If I am the only one who knows, except maybe other guitar players who see the difference in the name on the headstock, I can't even begin to justify the price. I have an Epi LP, and it does everything a "real" LP does. And it leaves me money for other toys!
I've owned both and love my Epiphone its exactly like the one in this video its an amazing guitar and after I got use to it I prefer it over my last boat anchor Gibson Les Paul Custom that weighed 12 pounds my Epi weighs 8 1/2 and is a dream after four sets it stays in tune way better sounds amazing I just can't see why have $2700 grand tide up into a name on the head stock for no reason .
In March I purchased a Koa top Epiphone LP Custom. I spent hours at Guitar Center comparing Gibson Heritage/Standard/Custom's along with the Epiphone Custom. I could tell the difference's but I no longer gig and could not justify the price difference & the Epiphone play's & sounds great through my Marshall. Epiphone is making a better product than they did in the past.
I bought a cheap knock off SG, put Gibson 57 classic pickups in it. It now sounds exactly like my real Gibson. Only difference is that the cheap knock off actually has a better neck and fretboard. 😮
One thing worth mentioning, is how much more difficult it is to finish a nitro lacquer guitar versus a poly. A nitro finish is way more difficult to work with when applying it, and handling the guitar immediately after. Nitro is thinner, and more apt to show underlying flaws in the wood versus a poly finish that tends to self-level and hide imperfections. Nitro is way more delicate immediately after it is cured as well. Doing it commercially at scale requires a lot more expense.
Nitro takes more drying time ie factory delay and cost. It shouldn't be shipped until its had a couple of weeks to dry out. It also doesn't take temp or humidity changes well and cracks (I know some like that but not me on a nearly new guitar). It is much easier to polish out marks with nitro, and loads easier to repair/touch up invisibly rather than poly which is a nightmare and impossible to get an invisible touch up. Best thin future finish is the UV lacquer. Instant hard dry. perfect gloss. It does have the impossible invisible touch up issue though.
Nitro is self leveling, poly is not. Nitro is much easier to apply as every additional layer melts the previous layer and bonds to it no matter what point you are at. Poly has to be sprayed in rapid succession in comparison. If you wait more than and hour or so between poly layers (depending on which hardener and temps) you have to wait a few day for it to out gas then sand it before reapplying. This isn't an issue with nitro. You could spray a few coats of lacquer and come back 4 weeks later tack cloth the dust and spray more coats. You can wet sand and buff poly within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on who you ask, it's actually recommended to sand it before 48 hours as is softer and easier to sand. Lacquer requires weeks, to months to cure before sanding as it continues to cure and shrink over a very long period. So sanding it too early will cause sand marks to open up and become visible. Poly hides imperfections simply because it is applied thicker. But lacquer is much easier to apply. I can spray Lacquer just as thick as poly. On show cars. well over 30 layers are used. Lacquer is more delicate at all times after it's been applied. In all honesty, lacquer is much cheaper at a commercial scale. It's much easier to clean up as it doesn't use a catalyst. So clean up is much easier. Poly contains toluene diisocyanate. So it requires a full Tyvek suit to spray as well as a fresh air supply and full face mask covering the eyes. Toluene diisocyanate can be absorbed through the skin and cause severe nerve damage. While Lacquer isn't good for you, it can safely be sprayed using a respirator.
paint technology has made massive leaps in the past decade. anyone who has used even a 100 dollar handheld wagner sprayer to stain a deck or paint a wall would know this. paint / finishes are completely trivial and large corporations only benefit over you not understanding this
I just got my first Gibson LP after years and many Epiphones. Being honest, ive had some seriously great Epiphones but the Gibson is genuinely next level. It sounds, feels, looks and smells incredible.
100% agree.. My 2023 1950's LP Standard "Faded" .. is just superior to any Epi I've owned. It plays, sounds and feels great.. the difference is very apparent when you A/B them.
Only thing I’ll disagree on is the headstock strength. The greater angle and grain direction on the Gibson does make it a little easier to break, but as you said, don’t drop it and you’ll be fine. I do love the nibs on my Gibson. I find a good compromise is my Epiphone 59. It has some good parts in it. Still no nibs though.
Good comparison, and even better points about the two guitars. It’s up to the individual to decide what is “worth it”. I’m a big “bang for the buck” kind of guy, and I just like to noodle around. So in my case, if I want a little LP flavor in my collection, I’d probably get a nice Epiphone. Would I rather have a Gibson? Absolutely. But I’m much more likely to get an Epi and use the savings on something else. Good video!
Agreed, I’d love a Gibson but honestly I’ve never even felt one before so I have no clue what the difference is , I can imagine they’re amazing , but a couple grand is a lot of cash to throw down on a guitar for us normal paycheck to paycheck hobby people!! 😂
@@TheUlesifah701When comparing like to like, the Gibson tends to feel like just about every component is of higher quality. Whether or not that translates into a better sound isn’t guaranteed, as my ears have been fooled before. I played an Epiphone Les Paul 60’s last year and I was very impressed with how well it sounded compared to a Gibson that was 5x the price. I would rather have 5 Epiphones than 1 new Gibson, but I also don’t make an income from playing.
@@TheUlesifah701 I don't own a Gibson and one big reason is about 20 years ago when I cracked the gear code and was able to own about 50 different guitars over a few year period it gave me a chance to just keep what I love and sell off the rest so I get the tone but from other brands. Simple process but not cheap you buy guitars that won't actually COST you any money. A good used $1000-1200 guitar that you can get for that or a bit less like my American Pro Strat which I got around $800 a few years ago won't COST me a dime to own. So a used $3000 Gibson or $5000 PRS that will hold or appreciate value is often a much better choice than a new guitar for half that price.
I’ve spent the last few years on this journey myself trying to figure out what’s best. The channels were so saturated with everyone talking up the guitars you couldn’t get a good sense of what was legit and what wasn’t. I like this video a lot and the points you touch on.
If you think about it, the "Junior" line in the 50s and 60s was Gibson's version of what Epiphone has become today - the lower tier "affordable" guitars. And lots of guitar snobs LOVE Juniors now that looked down on them in the 70s and 80s, so... (As do I, really).
The big difference is that Gibson's quality control is better as well as their components. However, you do occasionally get a magic Epiphone. It took me 5 to find one and I upgraded the electronics and pickups and the thing plays awesome.
Great and thorough LP build comparison thanks! Also worth noting that the Epi back is a veneer. As for body wood choices, I bought a late 2019 Gibson LP Special Tribute and it has a two piece body that looks suspiciously like sapelle. It has a gorgeous flame grain all over and sounds and sustains great, so I'm really happy with it. But it might show that the USA factory adjusted the wood to suit the budget, at least at the tail end of the Henry J era and for a Tribute model.
Great comparison vid, and I love your working class ethic take on which guitar may be "better". By the time most rock and blues players' guitar signals run through several pedals, whatever real differences in the two guitars would probably be moot anyway.
Interesting comparison .. When I owned a music store in the early 2000's (and dealt Gibson) the Epiphones in many cases were better (objectively) than some of the custom shop stuff Gibson had us carry .. Component for component I'm not sure (didn't know the finite details as well back then) .. Fit and finish were noticeably much better on the Epis .. The sustain was superior .. Tone was very comperable .. It was a rough time to try and sell Gibson
I just got the USA Gibson LP Greeny a few weeks ago and I could not be happier. The quality and build of it is amazing and this video makes me even more convinced I made the right decision. Thanks!
I traded 3 guitars and some cash for a Gibson Les Paul Standard. I have to say I am in love with this thing. It plays so well (the other guitars did too) but has some magic to it that the others didn't have. The binding on the frets looks so cool and the smell is so great. Both guitars are great, just need to search for the one that sparks the most joy for you.
That was a good, comprehensive comparison. Everyone that I know who wants an SG or Les Paul, really want a Gibson, but not everyone can justify the cost of one over an Epiphone. I have both. In general, the Gibson's feel better, but don't necessarily sound better--some do, some don't. In my case, the sound differences can be overcome by adjusting the knobs on the guitar, amp or pedals. Rock on with whatever you choose, folks.
95% of these guitar comparison videos have one thing in common. When the player hits the distortion button, you can tell the difference between a $5,000 Gibson and a $500 Epiphone. Ditto Fender vs Squire.
Great Video that did change it up from other G vs E comparisons; just what I needed, ergh or perhaps needed 6 months ago. I have two Gibson SG's from my late brother. Absolutely great guitars, and learned how to play on them, and pretty much can't stand most other scale lengths or radius's as a result. However, I always wanted a Les Paul...they just always spoke to me. Earlier this year, I had the itch and was mulling it over. At first, I wanted to build a kit LP from scratch, since I'm a very handy type person and love hands on projects. Then I said, well I don't want my first Les Paul to be crappy if it were my first build job. Then I convinced myself, I'll get a used, Epi LP, and change out all the hardware and have some kind of a decked out Les Paul. So I found a used, Epi Les Paul (22' Trad Pro IV) locally at a phenomenal price in mint condition (shipping plastic still on pickguard). I proceeded to replace the tuners, bridge, tail piece, input jack, bridge pickup. Love the guitar, except I've had issues with buzzing below the 12th fret on the low strings. Finally ordered a bunch of fret leveling/dressing tools through Stew Mac last week and am going to attempt to see if I have a fret level problem. I'm probably in about $750 in total, not counting tools. So essentially new standard Epi Price Range, but with custom hardware. I've spent so much time trying to put in a good setup on this thing like my Gibson SG's, that I've contemplated ripping out all my upgrades and trading the Epi on a Gibson. Since the chase never ends, I still envision myself getting a Gibson Les Paul soon. Honestly, probably not worth it to even trade the Epi in on it. Two things: You can't change the wood that came with your guitar and having to refret a guitar is not an easy or cheap job for the vast majority. Question: Where do you stop on the Gibson train though? Tribute, Studio, Traditional, Standard, Custom shop, etc, etc?
I sold my Gibson LP about 10 years ago. I recently bought an Epiphone LP to install Seymore Duncan P-rails. I was shocked in how well the Epiphone sounded and felt in stock configuration. Yes, the electronics, build, and the parts on my Gibson were superior, but the Epiphone was sufficiently put together for my level of playing. Years ago you had to spend some money to ensure a good guitar experience, but I think that has greatly changed over the last 20 plus years as you can buy a fun enjoyable instrument for much less.
Man....I paid the same amount of money for a good affordable guitar in 2024....that I paid for a completely unplayable crap guitar back in....1982. Considering inflation over 42 years that is crazy. This is the golden age of good affordable guitars....enjoy 😊
Congratulations. I hope you love that Epiphone because it’s never going to be worth anywhere near what you paid for regardless of what you stick on it. Same can’t be said about that Gipson.
@@werewolflover8636 I do love that Epiphone. Its a beautiful blue maple burst with my electronics and does exactly what I bought it for. I would never have modded a Gibson. I agree with you. I will never get back what I paid for it. When I sold the Gibson, I was able to get more than double for what I paid for it and would have gotten at least double that today. I have recently bought two Fenders over other brands with that in mind.
yes in the Modern line, my Epi Sparkling Burgundy LP arrived today, beautiful visually and in playability and tone. However for an additional $2500 I could have had heavier screws, maybe next time, not!
So basically ... get a better, proper bridge (TonePros or other), pickups to your liking (Duncan Custom bridge / Jazz neck or other favorites), electronics how you want them and a good pro setup and you're good with the Epiphone and still spent far, far less and have a helluva a guitar. Really good breakdown here and appreciate the time and effort (especially liked that you took them apart and really inspected it all). Thanks for this!
Very good comparison. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard that I purchased this year and have it set up to my liking. I also have a Gibson Les Paul Tribute that is the budget Gibson but its plays and sounds better. I have no need for the Gibson Standard at 3K so happy with my Epiphone. I can keep it out on the stand and grab when I feel like playing. I grab my Gibson when I go out to jam. Nice job breaking down both guitars.
I saved up to get a Gibson LP and a good Marshall half stack. When it came time to pick out the guitar. I didn't like how any of them felt. After a couple days and a bunch of stores, nothing stood out to me. I gave up and started looking at amps and asked my friend to grab me a guitar. He didn't know the difference and grabbed an Epi LP. I seriously fell in love with it. If upgraded the tuners, because I liked the Gibson green more and upgraded the electronics and had it set up by a trusted local luthier and I've never looked back. I still play other guitars sometimes, but nothing I can say I've fallen in love with the same way.
Great insight into what's really involved. My second guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul (first was a Squier) and it was great and really served a purpose. Until I got a Gibson! Of course the real deal is something special and knowing those small differences makes you appreciate the Gibson that much more.
The Epiphone's headstock will have a scarf joint so that's why it doesn't break as often. With a one-piece neck there's going to be tons of grain runout which is definitely weaker, but arguably more aesthetically pleasing. A one-piece neck also requires a lot more wood in comparison to an import guitar's scarf joint and heel stack (which the Epiphone also has).
Epiphone necks break too - just not quite as easily. its the angle thats the main problem. How many strat and tele one piece necks do you see broken in comparison to LP?
DTT, great video, I learned a lot. I would love to see a Fender US vs Fender Mexico comparison. Fender’s near-shoring approach with their Mexican plant is interesting, and I’m curious to see how similar/ different a Player Series is from a Pro II or Elite series
Just like Taylor guitars- near shoring. For me Alvarez guitars sound better and offer more quality than Taylor’s overall, regardless of where Alvarez is made
I've had an Epiphone Classic LP for about a year or so. I found it to be a very good guitar for price (I've gigged with it). A week ago I bought a 23 Gibson Classic LP. They are similar but the difference is much more than you would expect in a good way. Thanks Dylan for the comparison.
Someone, please explain to my stupid little brain, wom a metal string oscillating over wound coils, is affected by the wood that the strings are anchored to. Not how expensive the wood is, ....; how it makes an elecric guitar that is amplified, sound better?
It may not be answerable, but you can play an ash bodied Tele, or one made of pine, and it should prove to you that the same configuration in a guitar can sound different when different types of wood are used in its construction.
The reason the Epiphone has a pretty back is they use mahogany veneers for the back as well. If you compare the back grain to the sides of the guitar they do not line up. This is common practice at this price point across multiple brands. Not entirely a negative just something to be aware of.
Yeah I missed that a bit in the video. Doubt that a pro like Dylan wouldn't have noticed and supposed it's a high grade solid 2 piece "magogany" body at this price point... Mine is definitely a 3 piece. Don't like the veneer thing much, but damn who cares if it plays well and is mostly oriented towards your body...
Yeah nobody likes a 3 piece.....2 piece ok but beyond that it just cheapens the build quality. My "goldtop" is a 3 piece and I didn't notice or care until I went to pick it up and was so in awe of the rest of the Epi I didn't pay much attention......now it matters funny enough.@@alanst.4417
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special that came in a $200 kit. It is the only guitar I own that was set up and playable out of the box. Never been to a tech and still has the factory strings.
I’ve had my an sg special for almost 20 years and it plays well. I put a 4 wire conductor in the neck pickup (both still stock pickups) for series/parallel and coil split and a phase switch for the middle position. I like the variety.
The screws were far too soft (and eventually bent) on my Epiphone LP bridge. I replaced it with a Gotoh Nashville bridge. The increased depth of the Nashville gave the added benefit of making intonation a lot easier. I also had to replace the output jack socket (for a Pure Tone) after 12 years (which is normal, so no complaints). Finally, I cured a dead g string by replacing the plastic nut with a bone nut The string was dead from birth. If I had been a more experienced player I would have sent the guitar back.
I just ordered an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50’s. I have a relatively unused set of Gibson 57 Classic pickups that were taken out of a Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 2000’s). Pickups are complete with original wiring, screws, springs that I plan to install into the Epiphone. Will I have any retrofitting issues or problems doing this? Love the tone of the 57 Classics.
Can't tell you how many times my old Gibson LP Custom has fallen on stage/offstage (on concrete bar floors) and headstock is still intact. And that's the 70's shovel. Not sure where this headstock break stuff is coming from.
Thanx Dylan, that's the correct way of goin' with a comparison.! I brought a SX LP AUD $469 R & D in Australia & built in China. I've fitted Gibson NOS 1959 "Pearly Gates" pickup's ZZ Top.
This is a great breakdown that goes beyond the typical comparison of manufacturer spec sheets. The different sized screws is interesting, it's all these little things that add up to increase cost. Then of course USA labor vs. foreign labor
Very true about US vs foreign labour costs. It's something that very few people ever acknowledge and must have a huge significance on the final retail price.
@@anthonycraig1458 They probably use 12, 13 year olds in their manufacturing processes over in China, allegedly. China does have facilities where they make high quality instruments like Eastman. I'm no Epiphone basher, I own a 2021 Lucille semi hollow guitar which is pretty good.
It's all based on what guitar are you going to love and whether it will speak to you. For business purposes, it makes a lot of sense why a Gibson costs more than an Epiphone. Is that cost important to you or not. I have had 8 Epiphones and I'm down to one left. I was thinking on impulse mostly during that time we couldn't go out and check them out in a store. Fast forward to today with the 7 Epiphones now sold, traded, and with some other maneuvering I got a Gibson Custom Shop R8, Gibson ES-345, Gibson Les Paul Special, and a custom-made Fender Strat. To me, everything is in the feel and sound. I can pick up the guitars I own and do exactly what I want them to do. That does cost a lot more money but the end result is that you will play them a lot more. If I loved what the Epiphones did for me, I would have kept them all, end result is what will make you happy. When people criticize about cost? play them side by side, and you will feel the difference in the quality. The wood, parts, and craftsmanship are different. It took me a lot of time to get exactly what I wanted.
I have a Epiphone Korina 59 V. When I got it I changed the nut to a bone nut and got a pro set up. The guitar is amazing. Sounds incredible and I love playing it. I tried a 6000 usd Gibson Korina V at Andertons. Honestly couldn't see a huge difference in quality. The only big difference is the Korina is laminated on the Epiphone. But that's something you only notice when looking carefully. For reference, I have a USA Strat, a Japanese Joe Satriani Ibanez and a German Warwick bass. So it's not like I don't have premium instruments. And I love all of them (the warwick is by far the best build quality of the lot). But I can tell you, the Epiphone isn't out classed by the others in terms of sound and playability. They are all just great!
Your points are all totally valid man, the wood is certainly not the same. The top alone is a huge difference, then it’s blindingly noticeable to see the difference on the fretboards as well. I owned an Epiphone and it played fine, especially at the price. The frets were definitely made of a softer material, I eventually sold it years back. Great video especially if you’re new to all this with good explanations to why and what 🤙
What ive found is that to make the epiphone feel right a fretjob is required along with the upgraded pickups and electronics. Fret leveling and crowning makes the most difference in the “feel” department
Comments are crazy. Everything said was true, or I agree. I like my Epiphones, but they don't really compare to my Gibsons. The feel is very different. Cheers
I just got a epiphone les Paul custom; wish I could afford a Gibson or even be good enough to play one. But I am enjoying Heavy Betty 😁 second video I’ve seen and I dig what you got going; will be watching more. Thanks!
I like this type of comparison. As you said at the end, they’re made for different people and purposes and the Epiphone is still a great guitar. Appreciate your viewpoint.
I care a lot more about the quality of the piece of wood than the specific species. When Novo manages to make great guitars out of pine I think the body being the very specific species of mahogany doesn't really matter that much. That said, I would appreciate them listing the species correctly so that the consumer can make an educated decision according to their own preferences.
Surely that's the point of their disclaimer. If the actual species of wood is changing quite frequently, it saves them having to update their website and any other promotional material etc. I don't especially subscribe to the tonewood debate, so it wouldn't (woodn't?) matter to me. Regardless of the specific woods used, individual guitars will just be more vibrant/resonant than others
I just bought a 2017 EPI les Paul custom pro . Used For 275 bucks . Always been a Tele fender guy .. I’m am absolutely amazed at the tone options and craftsmanship ! And the most important thing ! It’s a blast to play ! A lot of bang and bling for my hard earned money! Don’t get me wrong I’d love to own a Gibson! It just isn’t in my budget. I still drive a 1996 GMC ! And love it
I dipped my toe in the LP Pool by starting with an Epiphone which I upgraded various parts (including pups) etc. Somehow, I never 'gelled' with it - never really liked the more "D" shaped neck profile for one thing. The Axcess neck joint got me interested in the Gibson HP models. I now own a 2016 Studio HP and a 2018 Standard HP2. Both bought used and 'minty'. Despite the reported QC issues, both are flawless. The Standard is a bit brighter tonewise than I expected but the Studio is incredible. Best £800 (including the huge Aluminium case..) I ever spent on a guitar. Even the G-Force tuners are great (once you calibrate them and opt for 'one string at a time' tuning). I'm no Gibson fanboy (Ibanez Jems are my thang...) but Gibson's are worth every penny
At the moment I have an Epiphone and a Gibson SG Standard. The Epiphone is an SG Special with P90s from the current "Inspired by Gibson"-line. I've owned a couple of these as Gibsons before, but the Epiphone sounds and plays better. Maybe I was just lucky to find a good one, but this goes to show that you never can tell and sometimes the final product is better than the sum of its parts.
I’m also curious about comparing the two by making all electronics are the same, and see how much difference there is. We know there are a zillion LP copies, varying in price from cheaper to more expensive than Gibson. Comparing 1:1 with electronics, then calculating that additional cost to the Epi, how do they compare?
I change for Seymour Duncan Jazz and JB on my Epi and it becomes a killer tone beast ! Install all CTS parts and Switchcraft input and toggle as well. I kept the very good Grover tuners .Tone wood ??? Who cares? As long as you get fun to play it !
@@strawsparky33 Ah ha! I've never researched it but I feel like I've seen several broken heads on Gibsons. I can't say I've ever seen on one an Epiphone. Thanks for the info.
@@scillyautomaticYeah, Gibsons don't use volute, scarf joints or laminated necks which make them fragile if you consider the tilt back headstock and the trussrod access. They make their guitars defective on purpose for the sake of "vintage correctness"
@@maxmustardman298 Interesting. I just got a notification about Dylan's next video - today at 4pm EDT - is about "why Gibson heads break". I'm looking forward to that.
Owning several of both your analysis is spot on. My Epi’s I use to go out and play in public the Gibson’s well they stay home. I still own my very first LesPaul I bought in 1972. 30:01
I notice that this Epiphone is restricted in terms of Burst options, if you want those you'll need to buy the Gibson, and for me it's also about the finish and look of the guitar.
I guess the concerning part is, even though Gibson uses better components in every instance, there is a disproportionate premium charged for those components. At some point, a hefty premium is being charged for just the name (which is totally fine). Just don't complain at time of checkout if you don't agree with it.
Car companies create luxury brands that cost more, but guitar companies are so greedy and self-absorbed they have to create companies that cost less, just so people can own one! It shows exactly where their heads are.
The best guitar is the guitar you can afford at the time that makes you want to pick it up and play it. I started out with an Epiphone LP Studio. Moved up to an Epiphone LP standard that I enjoyed for a long time before eventually purchasing a Gibson LP standard. And I just recently found my grail guitar, a 2013 Gibson CS R9, with a AAA flamed top, of course 😉 They’ve all made me happy and made me want to play. That’s really the bottom line. Sometimes it’s hard to realize that until you get to the point where the cost isn’t that much of a factor anymore. Which is why there are so many options at every price point. We all forget that there is a sea of $200 axes out there that with the proper set up will play extremely well. You just have to find the $200 guitar that speaks to you!
I have 2 Gibson Les Pauls , and I have 2 Epiphone guitars ( a firebird , and an explorer ) and I think they are all well built and sound just fine. If you want to do a real test , dont use effects just play dry and you will hear the true sound of the guitar. Different guitars react differently to effects.
The different fit of how the screwdrivers fit into the screws is related to the Epiphone screws are not Philips, they are JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) which look like Philips but have different angles to the slots. Much Asian produced products use JIS screws.
Two more differences are that the pickup rings on Epiphones (and any import guitar) are wider than the Gibsons, and the truss rod access channel has some wood behind the nut on the Gibson which allows for attachment with only one center screw versus one on each side on the Epi. And I don't know what those Epiphone pickups are, but I have a Custom with Probuckers and they are great for a PAF inspired, do-it-all kind of sound. They're keepers as far as I'm concerned.
Great video walkthrough to settle the debate. When I was a new guitar player it had to be all top of the line and as I got older (5-6 years in) I sold my higher end USA models and stopped caring as I played more. I hear and feel the subtle differences... though, the way you dial in the amp; the setup, and... 'em yawnnn, I can't hear a $1,000 difference. It's there but I'd rather own two guitars for that price. :)
I think you'd find a few more differences if you did a Gibson vs Epiphone SG comparison Dylan. I get the whole nostalgia thing for vintage guitars and wanting a guitar that your hero played . There's just so many options now with better manufacturing, wood and paint choice that for me it's hard to justify paying that sort of money now for flawed manufacturing. Overall, the $200 price difference in Gibson vs Epiphone parts doesn't really explain the huge markup of Gibson prices. A lot has to do with labour pricing between where they're made. It still takes the same amount of time to put a 3c screw in compared to a 9c screw. Its also interesting that it cost less to make guitars with nibs than it is to do it the way eEpiphone does it in terms of labour costs. Then again, even Epiphone prices have hiked up considerably over the last few years. I'm more inclined to go with a Tokai these days over an Epiphone.
I don't know what the new Gibsons are like, but older ones needed some serious QC improvement. My new in 2012 LP Supreme needed a new nut and bridge from the get go as the high e string was way too close to the fretboard edge. My 2018 Standard was ok though, as the dealer let me pick from the five he had in stock. I bought two brand new Epiphone Les Paul Prophesy's. First one had lifting frets and poor action even after adjusting the bridge. I was told to superglue the fret ends and notch and file the bridge saddles by the selling dealer in the UK ( famous for their youtube videos). I sold it and later bought another new Epi LP Prophesy - thinking the first may have been a one off. Nope - the second one had lacquer runs (polished out but visible when I got it out of the shop) and even worse - the 3 way switch rout was off centre so much that two of the cover screws were hanging in mid air. That had to go too. I now won't buy another Epi, and I'm sticking with the two Gibson LP's I have. And now the Epiphone prices have gone up so much that there are plenty of cheaper and better LP.s available.
Dylan. Its your delivery.....which I f#cking love....got heads popping all over this comms section. The Epis are great we both know it. I love mine. We also know there is no "real comparison " to my Gibsons. They're just not....Its the way they feel. Gibsons just feel better. Respond better. So much more sensitive to the touch. EPIS feel like they cost, awesome. Best buck bang 4sure. We have great choices...A+ vid. 27:18
You laid out valid points amd were very complimentary in the end with epiphone...people love epiphone...personally im a g&l guy...you are going to get hate every time for doing these lol..but god bless..i will say this ..as a leo guy..every guitar player secretly wants a real les paul..
Great video, Dylan. I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these guitars side by side. I don't own a Gibson yet, but surely will one day in the not too distant future, for now I'm happy with having two (soon to be three) Epiphone Les Pauls in my collection. One thing to note, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, is that Gibson actually owns and runs the Epiphone factory in Qingdao, China, unlike other major brands that hire a third party to build their guitars for them. I also read somewhere that former Gibson master builders supervise the factory and run a tight ship, which may explain why their quality keeps getting better and better. I wonder if this means that Epiphone is sourcing better quality wood, not just generic stuff, but who knows. Also, the backs on these guitars have veneers, I've a pretty stunning one on my SG G400 and I just think it looks neat.
I’m assuming I don’t know. You probably right. Gibson does own Epi. You can get a Epi setup really good that will be able to compare to the Gibson. I think that his opinion on the wood and what Epi uses way less quality wood is a little extreme to realty PRS or Gibson should not and i would think that they would not allow China to lie about what kind of wood is being used. Most of the time the pickups are trash and need to be replaced.
@@tom0ocadoo maybe that disclaimer pertains more to the fretboard wood, as I've seen them use indian laurel and pau ferro or something else available instead of rosewood. I'd like to think they're not using "plywood" for sure, as some folks claim in the interwebs. They may not be as picky with the wood as PRS is with their SE line, or maybe they are. Anyway, if the player doesn't believe in tonewood, then it doesn't really matter :) just drop a nice set of pickups, maybe swap the hardware, and you'll have a sweet(er) guitar :)
This is a great comparison video. Sound comparison videos are fine, but it doesn’t tell me why one is so much more expensive than the other. This video explains that well.
My first les paul copy was a 80s samick that even had the fret nibs that only the much higher end Tokais had in a review back in the day. Wish I never got rid of that one.
Great video Personally I have a new Epiphone less Paul standard pro. And I'm very happy with it. Please, good sounds good. As long as you have that that's all you need
I have a Gibson Sg and a Epiphone less Paul. When i'm playing them I don't know the difference one is Heavier and one is lighter. One is thicker one is thiner. I love them both .
Everything about this video makes me think the Epi is a much better value. No one watching me play at a gig will be able to tell any difference between the two guitars. If I am the only one who knows, except maybe other guitar players who see the difference in the name on the headstock, I can't even begin to justify the price. I have an Epi LP, and it does everything a "real" LP does. And it leaves me money for other toys!
I've owned both and love my Epiphone its exactly like the one in this video its an amazing guitar and after I got use to it I prefer it over my last boat anchor Gibson Les Paul Custom that weighed 12 pounds my Epi weighs 8 1/2 and is a dream after four sets it stays in tune way better sounds amazing I just can't see why have $2700 grand tide up into a name on the head stock for no reason .
In March I purchased a Koa top Epiphone LP Custom. I spent hours at Guitar Center comparing Gibson Heritage/Standard/Custom's along with the Epiphone Custom. I could tell the difference's but I no longer gig and could not justify the price difference & the Epiphone play's & sounds great through my Marshall. Epiphone is making a better product than they did in the past.
My Epi LP sounds as good or better than Gibson in my recordings when everything is mixed and compressed.
I bought a cheap knock off SG, put Gibson 57 classic pickups in it. It now sounds exactly like my real Gibson. Only difference is that the cheap knock off actually has a better neck and fretboard. 😮
One thing worth mentioning, is how much more difficult it is to finish a nitro lacquer guitar versus a poly. A nitro finish is way more difficult to work with when applying it, and handling the guitar immediately after. Nitro is thinner, and more apt to show underlying flaws in the wood versus a poly finish that tends to self-level and hide imperfections. Nitro is way more delicate immediately after it is cured as well. Doing it commercially at scale requires a lot more expense.
Sorry NO
lacquer is dead easy, Poly is hard to repair a mistake that happened
Nitro takes more drying time ie factory delay and cost. It shouldn't be shipped until its had a couple of weeks to dry out. It also doesn't take temp or humidity changes well and cracks (I know some like that but not me on a nearly new guitar). It is much easier to polish out marks with nitro, and loads easier to repair/touch up invisibly rather than poly which is a nightmare and impossible to get an invisible touch up.
Best thin future finish is the UV lacquer. Instant hard dry. perfect gloss. It does have the impossible invisible touch up issue though.
Nitro is self leveling, poly is not. Nitro is much easier to apply as every additional layer melts the previous layer and bonds to it no matter what point you are at. Poly has to be sprayed in rapid succession in comparison. If you wait more than and hour or so between poly layers (depending on which hardener and temps) you have to wait a few day for it to out gas then sand it before reapplying. This isn't an issue with nitro. You could spray a few coats of lacquer and come back 4 weeks later tack cloth the dust and spray more coats.
You can wet sand and buff poly within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on who you ask, it's actually recommended to sand it before 48 hours as is softer and easier to sand. Lacquer requires weeks, to months to cure before sanding as it continues to cure and shrink over a very long period. So sanding it too early will cause sand marks to open up and become visible.
Poly hides imperfections simply because it is applied thicker. But lacquer is much easier to apply. I can spray Lacquer just as thick as poly. On show cars. well over 30 layers are used. Lacquer is more delicate at all times after it's been applied. In all honesty, lacquer is much cheaper at a commercial scale. It's much easier to clean up as it doesn't use a catalyst. So clean up is much easier. Poly contains toluene diisocyanate. So it requires a full Tyvek suit to spray as well as a fresh air supply and full face mask covering the eyes. Toluene diisocyanate can be absorbed through the skin and cause severe nerve damage. While Lacquer isn't good for you, it can safely be sprayed using a respirator.
paint technology has made massive leaps in the past decade. anyone who has used even a 100 dollar handheld wagner sprayer to stain a deck or paint a wall would know this. paint / finishes are completely trivial and large corporations only benefit over you not understanding this
@@thegrimreefer3185 Ok boomer.
I just got my first Gibson LP after years and many Epiphones. Being honest, ive had some seriously great Epiphones but the Gibson is genuinely next level. It sounds, feels, looks and smells incredible.
The smell alone shows what a farce all those blindfold Epiphone Gibson challenges are
100% agree.. My 2023 1950's
LP Standard "Faded" .. is just superior to any Epi I've owned. It plays, sounds and feels great.. the difference is very apparent when you A/B them.
How about lick to taste it?
@@danialm8122 .. each to their own I suppose 😄
EPIPHONE IS GIBSON what are you talking about
Only thing I’ll disagree on is the headstock strength. The greater angle and grain direction on the Gibson does make it a little easier to break, but as you said, don’t drop it and you’ll be fine. I do love the nibs on my Gibson. I find a good compromise is my Epiphone 59. It has some good parts in it. Still no nibs though.
Good comparison, and even better points about the two guitars. It’s up to the individual to decide what is “worth it”. I’m a big “bang for the buck” kind of guy, and I just like to noodle around. So in my case, if I want a little LP flavor in my collection, I’d probably get a nice Epiphone. Would I rather have a Gibson? Absolutely. But I’m much more likely to get an Epi and use the savings on something else. Good video!
Agreed, I’d love a Gibson but honestly I’ve never even felt one before so I have no clue what the difference is , I can imagine they’re amazing , but a couple grand is a lot of cash to throw down on a guitar for us normal paycheck to paycheck hobby people!! 😂
@@TheUlesifah701When comparing like to like, the Gibson tends to feel like just about every component is of higher quality. Whether or not that translates into a better sound isn’t guaranteed, as my ears have been fooled before. I played an Epiphone Les Paul 60’s last year and I was very impressed with how well it sounded compared to a Gibson that was 5x the price. I would rather have 5 Epiphones than 1 new Gibson, but I also don’t make an income from playing.
@@TheUlesifah701 I don't own a Gibson and one big reason is about 20 years ago when I cracked the gear code and was able to own about 50 different guitars over a few year period it gave me a chance to just keep what I love and sell off the rest so I get the tone but from other brands. Simple process but not cheap you buy guitars that won't actually COST you any money. A good used $1000-1200 guitar that you can get for that or a bit less like my American Pro Strat which I got around $800 a few years ago won't COST me a dime to own. So a used $3000 Gibson or $5000 PRS that will hold or appreciate value is often a much better choice than a new guitar for half that price.
Epiphones are made for playing while your gibson is a case queen nice idea I love ALL my Epiphones
I play my Gibson every day. It hasn't seen the inside of a case since maybe December.
Gibsons aren't case queens. You're thinking of PRS. Gibsons get played, loved, and beat up. Theyre not that expensive.
I’ve spent the last few years on this journey myself trying to figure out what’s best. The channels were so saturated with everyone talking up the guitars you couldn’t get a good sense of what was legit and what wasn’t. I like this video a lot and the points you touch on.
Why can’t the Epiphone be “good enough” for what it is? It’s not a Gibson but who cares?
Exactly!!!
It's not just good enough, but great.
If you think about it, the "Junior" line in the 50s and 60s was Gibson's version of what Epiphone has become today - the lower tier "affordable" guitars. And lots of guitar snobs LOVE Juniors now that looked down on them in the 70s and 80s, so... (As do I, really).
I think a lot of epiphone’s are good just not great. They need some help.
The big difference is that Gibson's quality control is better as well as their components. However, you do occasionally get a magic Epiphone. It took me 5 to find one and I upgraded the electronics and pickups and the thing plays awesome.
Great and thorough LP build comparison thanks! Also worth noting that the Epi back is a veneer. As for body wood choices, I bought a late 2019 Gibson LP Special Tribute and it has a two piece body that looks suspiciously like sapelle. It has a gorgeous flame grain all over and sounds and sustains great, so I'm really happy with it. But it might show that the USA factory adjusted the wood to suit the budget, at least at the tail end of the Henry J era and for a Tribute model.
I have been looking for a useful real comparison like this and not by spec sheets. Thanks for all the efforts you put in this video.
Great comparison vid, and I love your working class ethic take on which guitar may be "better". By the time most rock and blues players' guitar signals run through several pedals, whatever real differences in the two guitars would probably be moot anyway.
Interesting comparison .. When I owned a music store in the early 2000's (and dealt Gibson) the Epiphones in many cases were better (objectively) than some of the custom shop stuff Gibson had us carry .. Component for component I'm not sure (didn't know the finite details as well back then) .. Fit and finish were noticeably much better on the Epis .. The sustain was superior .. Tone was very comperable .. It was a rough time to try and sell Gibson
I was going to mention this- I lived in Nashville… Gibson came close to going under.
My Epi LP from 1996 is a killer guitar. Endless sustain. I have no idea what the pickups are either.
@Guy Narnarian The pups on your Epi are good sounding. Period.
All that’s necessary to know. : )
Yeah Epi LP
The amount of work you put into this video is insane. Thank you very much for this deep dive!
I just got the USA Gibson LP Greeny a few weeks ago and I could not be happier. The quality and build of it is amazing and this video makes me even more convinced I made the right decision. Thanks!
I traded 3 guitars and some cash for a Gibson Les Paul Standard. I have to say I am in love with this thing. It plays so well (the other guitars did too) but has some magic to it that the others didn't have. The binding on the frets looks so cool and the smell is so great.
Both guitars are great, just need to search for the one that sparks the most joy for you.
That was a good, comprehensive comparison. Everyone that I know who wants an SG or Les Paul, really want a Gibson, but not everyone can justify the cost of one over an Epiphone. I have both. In general, the Gibson's feel better, but don't necessarily sound better--some do, some don't. In my case, the sound differences can be overcome by adjusting the knobs on the guitar, amp or pedals. Rock on with whatever you choose, folks.
95% of these guitar comparison videos have one thing in common. When the player hits the distortion button, you can tell the difference between a $5,000 Gibson and a $500 Epiphone.
Ditto Fender vs Squire.
Great Video that did change it up from other G vs E comparisons; just what I needed, ergh or perhaps needed 6 months ago. I have two Gibson SG's from my late brother. Absolutely great guitars, and learned how to play on them, and pretty much can't stand most other scale lengths or radius's as a result.
However, I always wanted a Les Paul...they just always spoke to me. Earlier this year, I had the itch and was mulling it over. At first, I wanted to build a kit LP from scratch, since I'm a very handy type person and love hands on projects. Then I said, well I don't want my first Les Paul to be crappy if it were my first build job.
Then I convinced myself, I'll get a used, Epi LP, and change out all the hardware and have some kind of a decked out Les Paul. So I found a used, Epi Les Paul (22' Trad Pro IV) locally at a phenomenal price in mint condition (shipping plastic still on pickguard). I proceeded to replace the tuners, bridge, tail piece, input jack, bridge pickup. Love the guitar, except I've had issues with buzzing below the 12th fret on the low strings. Finally ordered a bunch of fret leveling/dressing tools through Stew Mac last week and am going to attempt to see if I have a fret level problem. I'm probably in about $750 in total, not counting tools. So essentially new standard Epi Price Range, but with custom hardware.
I've spent so much time trying to put in a good setup on this thing like my Gibson SG's, that I've contemplated ripping out all my upgrades and trading the Epi on a Gibson. Since the chase never ends, I still envision myself getting a Gibson Les Paul soon. Honestly, probably not worth it to even trade the Epi in on it.
Two things: You can't change the wood that came with your guitar and having to refret a guitar is not an easy or cheap job for the vast majority.
Question: Where do you stop on the Gibson train though? Tribute, Studio, Traditional, Standard, Custom shop, etc, etc?
I sold my Gibson LP about 10 years ago. I recently bought an Epiphone LP to install Seymore Duncan P-rails. I was shocked in how well the Epiphone sounded and felt in stock configuration. Yes, the electronics, build, and the parts on my Gibson were superior, but the Epiphone was sufficiently put together for my level of playing. Years ago you had to spend some money to ensure a good guitar experience, but I think that has greatly changed over the last 20 plus years as you can buy a fun enjoyable instrument for much less.
Man....I paid the same amount of money for a good affordable guitar in 2024....that I paid for a completely unplayable crap guitar back in....1982. Considering inflation over 42 years that is crazy. This is the golden age of good affordable guitars....enjoy 😊
Congratulations. I hope you love that Epiphone because it’s never going to be worth anywhere near what you paid for regardless of what you stick on it. Same can’t be said about that Gipson.
@@werewolflover8636 I do love that Epiphone. Its a beautiful blue maple burst with my electronics and does exactly what I bought it for. I would never have modded a Gibson. I agree with you. I will never get back what I paid for it. When I sold the Gibson, I was able to get more than double for what I paid for it and would have gotten at least double that today. I have recently bought two Fenders over other brands with that in mind.
Does epiphone drill holes in their LPs for weight relief?
yes in the Modern line, my Epi Sparkling Burgundy LP arrived today, beautiful visually and in playability and tone. However for an additional $2500 I could have had heavier screws, maybe next time, not!
Thank you for doing this comparison, this the most concise and non-biased I have found on TH-cam. Excellent job sir!
So basically ... get a better, proper bridge (TonePros or other), pickups to your liking (Duncan Custom bridge / Jazz neck or other favorites), electronics how you want them and a good pro setup and you're good with the Epiphone and still spent far, far less and have a helluva a guitar. Really good breakdown here and appreciate the time and effort (especially liked that you took them apart and really inspected it all). Thanks for this!
Very good comparison. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard that I purchased this year and have it set up to my liking. I also have a Gibson Les Paul Tribute that is the budget Gibson but its plays and sounds better. I have no need for the Gibson Standard at 3K so happy with my Epiphone. I can keep it out on the stand and grab when I feel like playing. I grab my Gibson when I go out to jam. Nice job breaking down both guitars.
I saved up to get a Gibson LP and a good Marshall half stack. When it came time to pick out the guitar. I didn't like how any of them felt. After a couple days and a bunch of stores, nothing stood out to me. I gave up and started looking at amps and asked my friend to grab me a guitar. He didn't know the difference and grabbed an Epi LP. I seriously fell in love with it. If upgraded the tuners, because I liked the Gibson green more and upgraded the electronics and had it set up by a trusted local luthier and I've never looked back. I still play other guitars sometimes, but nothing I can say I've fallen in love with the same way.
Superb breakdown. I own both and like Epis very much but LOVE my Gibson.
Great insight into what's really involved. My second guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul (first was a Squier) and it was great and really served a purpose. Until I got a Gibson! Of course the real deal is something special and knowing those small differences makes you appreciate the Gibson that much more.
The Epiphone's headstock will have a scarf joint so that's why it doesn't break as often. With a one-piece neck there's going to be tons of grain runout which is definitely weaker, but arguably more aesthetically pleasing. A one-piece neck also requires a lot more wood in comparison to an import guitar's scarf joint and heel stack (which the Epiphone also has).
For the life of me I don’t understand why Gibson insists on using a one piece carved neck given its well documented history of breakage.
Gibson economise on the neck wood by adding "wings"to the headstock. and the way the wood neck blanks are cut wastes little wood.
Epiphone necks break too - just not quite as easily. its the angle thats the main problem.
How many strat and tele one piece necks do you see broken in comparison to LP?
Dylan, you are top-drawer. Your videos like these are an unusual - and rare - combination of a university class and a trade school class.
DTT, great video, I learned a lot. I would love to see a Fender US vs Fender Mexico comparison. Fender’s near-shoring approach with their Mexican plant is interesting, and I’m curious to see how similar/ different a Player Series is from a Pro II or Elite series
Just like Taylor guitars- near shoring. For me Alvarez guitars sound better and offer more quality than Taylor’s overall, regardless of where Alvarez is made
I've had an Epiphone Classic LP for about a year or so. I found it to be a very good guitar for price (I've gigged with it). A week ago I bought a 23 Gibson Classic LP. They are similar but the difference is much more than you would expect in a good way. Thanks Dylan for the comparison.
Someone, please explain to my stupid little brain, wom a metal string oscillating over wound coils, is affected by the wood that the strings are anchored to. Not how expensive the wood is, ....; how it makes an elecric guitar that is amplified, sound better?
It may not be answerable, but you can play an ash bodied Tele, or one made of pine, and it should prove to you that the same configuration in a guitar can sound different when different types of wood are used in its construction.
The reason the Epiphone has a pretty back is they use mahogany veneers for the back as well. If you compare the back grain to the sides of the guitar they do not line up. This is common practice at this price point across multiple brands. Not entirely a negative just something to be aware of.
Yup. While its common knowledge the maple top is a veneer, not everybody realizes the back is also a veneer. Which hides at least a 3 piece body.
Yeah I missed that a bit in the video. Doubt that a pro like Dylan wouldn't have noticed and supposed it's a high grade solid 2 piece "magogany" body at this price point... Mine is definitely a 3 piece. Don't like the veneer thing much, but damn who cares if it plays well and is mostly oriented towards your body...
Yeah nobody likes a 3 piece.....2 piece ok but beyond that it just cheapens the build quality. My "goldtop" is a 3 piece and I didn't notice or care until I went to pick it up and was so in awe of the rest of the Epi I didn't pay much attention......now it matters funny enough.@@alanst.4417
I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special that came in a $200 kit. It is the only guitar I own that was set up and playable out of the box. Never been to a tech and still has the factory strings.
I’ve had my an sg special for almost 20 years and it plays well. I put a 4 wire conductor in the neck pickup (both still stock pickups) for series/parallel and coil split and a phase switch for the middle position. I like the variety.
Nice video. I own both and you are absolutely correct about the subject matter. Thanks for breaking it down in a simple and thorough evaluation
The screws were far too soft (and eventually bent) on my Epiphone LP bridge. I replaced it with a Gotoh Nashville bridge. The increased depth of the Nashville gave the added benefit of making intonation a lot easier.
I also had to replace the output jack socket (for a Pure Tone) after 12 years (which is normal, so no complaints).
Finally, I cured a dead g string by replacing the plastic nut with a bone nut The string was dead from birth. If I had been a more experienced player I would have sent the guitar back.
The best comparison video I've ever seen. Thanks for the incredible detail and clear explanation.
The side by side comparison I (and others) have been waiting for. Thanks Dylan. 🎸
I just ordered an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50’s. I have a relatively unused set of Gibson 57 Classic pickups that were taken out of a Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 2000’s). Pickups are complete with original wiring, screws, springs that I plan to install into the Epiphone. Will I have any retrofitting issues or problems doing this? Love the tone of the 57 Classics.
Can't tell you how many times my old Gibson LP Custom has fallen on stage/offstage (on concrete bar floors) and headstock is still intact. And that's the 70's shovel. Not sure where this headstock break stuff is coming from.
Lol, can't tell you how many times I've looked at my 15 epi CustomPro in wrong way and it broke down in one way or another
Thanx Dylan, that's the correct way of goin' with a comparison.! I brought a SX LP AUD $469 R & D in Australia & built in China. I've fitted Gibson NOS 1959 "Pearly Gates" pickup's ZZ Top.
This is a great breakdown that goes beyond the typical comparison of manufacturer spec sheets. The different sized screws is interesting, it's all these little things that add up to increase cost. Then of course USA labor vs. foreign labor
Very true about US vs foreign labour costs. It's something that very few people ever acknowledge and must have a huge significance on the final retail price.
@@anthonycraig1458 They probably use 12, 13 year olds in their manufacturing processes over in China, allegedly. China does have facilities where they make high quality instruments like Eastman. I'm no Epiphone basher, I own a 2021 Lucille semi hollow guitar which is pretty good.
I like the way you explained the differences with the frets and pots.
It's all based on what guitar are you going to love and whether it will speak to you. For business purposes, it
makes a lot of sense why a Gibson costs more than an Epiphone. Is that cost important to you or not. I have
had 8 Epiphones and I'm down to one left. I was thinking on impulse mostly during that time we couldn't go out
and check them out in a store. Fast forward to today with the 7 Epiphones now sold, traded, and with some other maneuvering I got a Gibson Custom Shop R8, Gibson ES-345, Gibson Les Paul Special, and a custom-made Fender Strat. To me, everything is in the feel and sound. I can pick up the guitars I own and do exactly what I want them to do. That does cost a lot more money but the end result is that you will play them a lot more. If I loved what the Epiphones did for me, I would have kept them all, end result is what will make you happy. When people criticize about cost? play them side by side, and you will feel the difference in the
quality. The wood, parts, and craftsmanship are different. It took me a lot of time to get exactly what I wanted.
I have a Epiphone Korina 59 V. When I got it I changed the nut to a bone nut and got a pro set up. The guitar is amazing. Sounds incredible and I love playing it. I tried a 6000 usd Gibson Korina V at Andertons. Honestly couldn't see a huge difference in quality. The only big difference is the Korina is laminated on the Epiphone. But that's something you only notice when looking carefully.
For reference, I have a USA Strat, a Japanese Joe Satriani Ibanez and a German Warwick bass. So it's not like I don't have premium instruments. And I love all of them (the warwick is by far the best build quality of the lot). But I can tell you, the Epiphone isn't out classed by the others in terms of sound and playability. They are all just great!
Your points are all totally valid man, the wood is certainly not the same. The top alone is a huge difference, then it’s blindingly noticeable to see the difference on the fretboards as well. I owned an Epiphone and it played fine, especially at the price. The frets were definitely made of a softer material, I eventually sold it years back. Great video especially if you’re new to all this with good explanations to why and what 🤙
Yeah that’s what makes the Epiphone look cheap from 20 feet out. Pale ashy dog haired fretboard. I’m not a fan of the rosewood substitutes .
@ 4:17 it looked like the controls on the Gibson were slightly higher? Please let me know.
What ive found is that to make the epiphone feel right a fretjob is required along with the upgraded pickups and electronics. Fret leveling and crowning makes the most difference in the “feel” department
Comments are crazy. Everything said was true, or I agree. I like my Epiphones, but they don't really compare to my Gibsons. The feel is very different. Cheers
The feel yes. But not the sound
@rigodon97 having played both not sure about that but both nice guitars in their own way.
I just got a epiphone les Paul custom; wish I could afford a Gibson or even be good enough to play one. But I am enjoying Heavy Betty 😁 second video I’ve seen and I dig what you got going; will be watching more. Thanks!
24:40 - actually the headstock angle as well as the neck angle (where it mounts to the body) are both different between Epiphone and Gibson.
I like this type of comparison. As you said at the end, they’re made for different people and purposes and the Epiphone is still a great guitar. Appreciate your viewpoint.
I care a lot more about the quality of the piece of wood than the specific species. When Novo manages to make great guitars out of pine I think the body being the very specific species of mahogany doesn't really matter that much. That said, I would appreciate them listing the species correctly so that the consumer can make an educated decision according to their own preferences.
Surely that's the point of their disclaimer. If the actual species of wood is changing quite frequently, it saves them having to update their website and any other promotional material etc. I don't especially subscribe to the tonewood debate, so it wouldn't (woodn't?) matter to me. Regardless of the specific woods used, individual guitars will just be more vibrant/resonant than others
I just bought a 2017 EPI les Paul custom pro . Used For 275 bucks . Always been a Tele fender guy .. I’m am absolutely amazed at the tone options and craftsmanship ! And the most important thing ! It’s a blast to play ! A lot of bang and bling for my hard earned money! Don’t get me wrong I’d love to own a Gibson! It just isn’t in my budget. I still drive a 1996 GMC ! And love it
Talking about two very popular guitars, yes for sure that brings in the viewers. Some people will do anything to be noticed. - Peter age 73
Best most comprehensive comparison of the two I've ever seen, well done Dylan.
Great video, awesome breakdown of the major and meaningful differences between the two guitars. Very useful info
"Better" wood? Better screws? Better pickup surrounds? Binding edges? Surely, these things will help me become a better player.
A BMW won't make you a better driver than a VW, but a BMW is still a nicer car...
@@Sarge978 And I'll still be late to work driving it.
@@Zoso981 Skill issue
Biggest difference is probably the cost of American labor vs Indochina.
@@Sarge978and way more expensive.
Such a great breakdown of the many differences between the Gibson & Epiphone. I never knew before watching this video.
and you still don't
I dipped my toe in the LP Pool by starting with an Epiphone which I upgraded various parts (including pups) etc. Somehow, I never 'gelled' with it - never really liked the more "D" shaped neck profile for one thing. The Axcess neck joint got me interested in the Gibson HP models. I now own a 2016 Studio HP and a 2018 Standard HP2. Both bought used and 'minty'. Despite the reported QC issues, both are flawless. The Standard is a bit brighter tonewise than I expected but the Studio is incredible. Best £800 (including the huge Aluminium case..) I ever spent on a guitar. Even the G-Force tuners are great (once you calibrate them and opt for 'one string at a time' tuning). I'm no Gibson fanboy (Ibanez Jems are my thang...) but Gibson's are worth every penny
At the moment I have an Epiphone and a Gibson SG Standard. The Epiphone is an SG Special with P90s from the current "Inspired by Gibson"-line. I've owned a couple of these as Gibsons before, but the Epiphone sounds and plays better. Maybe I was just lucky to find a good one, but this goes to show that you never can tell and sometimes the final product is better than the sum of its parts.
@14:00 - my Epi Les Paul Standard 60s Series Quilted Top has flat-screw hardware...
I’m also curious about comparing the two by making all electronics are the same, and see how much difference there is. We know there are a zillion LP copies, varying in price from cheaper to more expensive than Gibson. Comparing 1:1 with electronics, then calculating that additional cost to the Epi, how do they compare?
Hah! The way it smells id really going to affect the sound. C'mon, guys & galls. Electric guitars are planks of wood and electronics....
There is a difference on the headstock sturdiness. Since Epiphone has a scarf joint, the grain at the weak spot is better aligned, thus stronger.
Yes he didn't want to mention that as he is very obviously a Gibson fan boy.
I change for Seymour Duncan Jazz and JB on my Epi and it becomes a killer tone beast ! Install all CTS parts and Switchcraft input and toggle as well.
I kept the very good Grover tuners .Tone wood ??? Who cares? As long as you get fun to play it !
Would love to see a shootout between the different Les Pauls out there... Traditional, Standard, etc. Great work, Dylan!! Thanks for the share!!
To anyone listening to this video he is 100% absolutely telling you the truth. This video is terrific.
Headstock - are they both made with a scarf joint?
epi is scarf, Gibson joint is solid wood.
@@strawsparky33 Ah ha! I've never researched it but I feel like I've seen several broken heads on Gibsons. I can't say I've ever seen on one an Epiphone. Thanks for the info.
@@scillyautomaticYeah, Gibsons don't use volute, scarf joints or laminated necks which make them fragile if you consider the tilt back headstock and the trussrod access. They make their guitars defective on purpose for the sake of "vintage correctness"
I think certain epi models dont have a scraf joint..might get it twisted but some of the limited runs or sig models do not have scarf joints
@@maxmustardman298 Interesting. I just got a notification about Dylan's next video - today at 4pm EDT - is about "why Gibson heads break". I'm looking forward to that.
Owning several of both your analysis is spot on. My Epi’s I use to go out and play in public the Gibson’s well they stay home. I still own my very first LesPaul I bought in 1972. 30:01
Thanks Dylan and Les. 🙂
I notice that this Epiphone is restricted in terms of Burst options, if you want those you'll need to buy the Gibson, and for me it's also about the finish and look of the guitar.
I guess the concerning part is, even though Gibson uses better components in every instance, there is a disproportionate premium charged for those components. At some point, a hefty premium is being charged for just the name (which is totally fine). Just don't complain at time of checkout if you don't agree with it.
SUPER IN-DEPTH VIDEO!! Great job 👏🏼
I really thought this video was going to be another rehash-comparison but it was one of the most interesting and informative comparisons I've seen.
Car companies create luxury brands that cost more, but guitar companies are so greedy and self-absorbed they have to create companies that cost less, just so people can own one! It shows exactly where their heads are.
"Don't drop your guitar, and the headstock will stay on". "I don't know if you know this." 😂😂😂
Thanks for the really precise video with lots of information I didn't know!
The best guitar is the guitar you can afford at the time that makes you want to pick it up and play it. I started out with an Epiphone LP Studio. Moved up to an Epiphone LP standard that I enjoyed for a long time before eventually purchasing a Gibson LP standard. And I just recently found my grail guitar, a 2013 Gibson CS R9, with a AAA flamed top, of course 😉 They’ve all made me happy and made me want to play. That’s really the bottom line. Sometimes it’s hard to realize that until you get to the point where the cost isn’t that much of a factor anymore. Which is why there are so many options at every price point. We all forget that there is a sea of $200 axes out there that with the proper set up will play extremely well. You just have to find the $200 guitar that speaks to you!
I have 2 Gibson Les Pauls , and I have 2 Epiphone guitars ( a firebird , and an explorer ) and I think they are all well built and sound just fine. If you want to do a real test , dont use effects just play dry and you will hear the true sound of the guitar. Different guitars react differently to effects.
The different fit of how the screwdrivers fit into the screws is related to the Epiphone screws are not Philips, they are JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) which look like Philips but have different angles to the slots. Much Asian produced products use JIS screws.
Very cool analysis between the two - have not seen anyone present it this way before! Thanks for the great information
Great video thank you so much, Mark from Connecticut
Loved the review, good job 👍
How do you know the is not as good on the epiphone?
Two more differences are that the pickup rings on Epiphones (and any import guitar) are wider than the Gibsons, and the truss rod access channel has some wood behind the nut on the Gibson which allows for attachment with only one center screw versus one on each side on the Epi. And I don't know what those Epiphone pickups are, but I have a Custom with Probuckers and they are great for a PAF inspired, do-it-all kind of sound. They're keepers as far as I'm concerned.
I have an Epiphone SG and it’s very nice. The main thing I don’t like compared to my Gibson is the narrower nut width on the Epiphone
Great video walkthrough to settle the debate. When I was a new guitar player it had to be all top of the line and as I got older (5-6 years in) I sold my higher end USA models and stopped caring as I played more. I hear and feel the subtle differences... though, the way you dial in the amp; the setup, and... 'em yawnnn, I can't hear a $1,000 difference. It's there but I'd rather own two guitars for that price. :)
Which sweep of frequencies is the one that ppl reapond the most?
I think you'd find a few more differences if you did a Gibson vs Epiphone SG comparison Dylan.
I get the whole nostalgia thing for vintage guitars and wanting a guitar that your hero played . There's just so many options now with better manufacturing, wood and paint choice that for me it's hard to justify paying that sort of money now for flawed manufacturing.
Overall, the $200 price difference in Gibson vs Epiphone parts doesn't really explain the huge markup of Gibson prices. A lot has to do with labour pricing between where they're made. It still takes the same amount of time to put a 3c screw in compared to a 9c screw. Its also interesting that it cost less to make guitars with nibs than it is to do it the way eEpiphone does it in terms of labour costs. Then again, even Epiphone prices have hiked up considerably over the last few years. I'm more inclined to go with a Tokai these days over an Epiphone.
I don't know what the new Gibsons are like, but older ones needed some serious QC improvement. My new in 2012 LP Supreme needed a new nut and bridge from the get go as the high e string was way too close to the fretboard edge. My 2018 Standard was ok though, as the dealer let me pick from the five he had in stock.
I bought two brand new Epiphone Les Paul Prophesy's. First one had lifting frets and poor action even after adjusting the bridge. I was told to superglue the fret ends and notch and file the bridge saddles by the selling dealer in the UK ( famous for their youtube videos). I sold it and later bought another new Epi LP Prophesy - thinking the first may have been a one off. Nope - the second one had lacquer runs (polished out but visible when I got it out of the shop) and even worse - the 3 way switch rout was off centre so much that two of the cover screws were hanging in mid air.
That had to go too. I now won't buy another Epi, and I'm sticking with the two Gibson LP's I have.
And now the Epiphone prices have gone up so much that there are plenty of cheaper and better LP.s available.
Dylan. Its your delivery.....which I f#cking love....got heads popping all over this comms section. The Epis are great we both know it. I love mine. We also know there is no "real comparison " to my Gibsons. They're just not....Its the way they feel. Gibsons just feel better. Respond better. So much more sensitive to the touch. EPIS feel like they cost, awesome. Best buck bang 4sure. We have great choices...A+ vid. 27:18
Thanks for a great down to earth video talking about the two guitars!
You laid out valid points amd were very complimentary in the end with epiphone...people love epiphone...personally im a g&l guy...you are going to get hate every time for doing these lol..but god bless..i will say this ..as a leo guy..every guitar player secretly wants a real les paul..
Great video, Dylan. I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these guitars side by side. I don't own a Gibson yet, but surely will one day in the not too distant future, for now I'm happy with having two (soon to be three) Epiphone Les Pauls in my collection. One thing to note, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, is that Gibson actually owns and runs the Epiphone factory in Qingdao, China, unlike other major brands that hire a third party to build their guitars for them. I also read somewhere that former Gibson master builders supervise the factory and run a tight ship, which may explain why their quality keeps getting better and better. I wonder if this means that Epiphone is sourcing better quality wood, not just generic stuff, but who knows. Also, the backs on these guitars have veneers, I've a pretty stunning one on my SG G400 and I just think it looks neat.
Gibsons smell so good.
I’m assuming I don’t know. You probably right. Gibson does own Epi. You can get a Epi setup really good that will be able to compare to the Gibson.
I think that his opinion on the wood and what Epi uses way less quality wood is a little extreme to realty PRS or Gibson should not and i would think that they would not allow China to lie about what kind of wood is being used.
Most of the time the pickups are trash
and need to be replaced.
@@tom0ocadoo I hear the nitro smells like vanilla, but I heard yesterday it kinda smells like Play Doh. What do they smell like? :D
@@tom0ocadoo maybe that disclaimer pertains more to the fretboard wood, as I've seen them use indian laurel and pau ferro or something else available instead of rosewood. I'd like to think they're not using "plywood" for sure, as some folks claim in the interwebs. They may not be as picky with the wood as PRS is with their SE line, or maybe they are. Anyway, if the player doesn't believe in tonewood, then it doesn't really matter :) just drop a nice set of pickups, maybe swap the hardware, and you'll have a sweet(er) guitar :)
@@JuanJaim Play Doh smells like a Gibson....
@25:15….”don’t drop your guitar and the headstock will stay on”…best advice ever…hahahaha👍
This is a great comparison video. Sound comparison videos are fine, but it doesn’t tell me why one is so much more expensive than the other. This video explains that well.
Very enlightening. What do you think of the Gibson Les Paul Tribute? Is it like a Gibson or like an Epiphone?
I mean…. It’s a Gibson.
My first les paul copy was a 80s samick that even had the fret nibs that only the much higher end Tokais had in a review back in the day. Wish I never got rid of that one.
Great video Personally I have a new Epiphone less Paul standard pro. And I'm very happy with it. Please, good sounds good. As long as you have that that's all you need
The position of the tailpiece and bridge or the volume knobs is also different
I have a Gibson Sg and a Epiphone less Paul. When i'm playing them I don't know the difference one is Heavier and one is lighter. One is thicker one is thiner. I love them both .