I remember showing up to rehearsal one day with my electric guitar, ready to rock out. Our rhythm guitarist had an SG sitting around told me I could use it. As soon as I played the SG, I feel I love with the it’s superior tone. It just cuts through like a knife.
I briefly owned an Epiphone Special last year, bought it for dirt cheap but I was thoroughly impressed. Helped that I was playing through an all-tube amp with good pedals… Playability was fantastic
Picked the Special as Z in the Blind Test, but had the other two switched. Didn't think the Epi Standard sounded too bad. Actually seems like a pretty good option for the $$$.
I totally blew the tone challenge. Had them in reverse order. Go figure. My first electric was the SG Special VE and I still play it quite a bit. It's all about the neck for me. I can manipulate tone, but the neck just has to feel right. Very nice guitar for under $200.
I’ve got an older (2016) Epiphone SG vintage worn. Better then the current version as it has a rosewood neck and binding on the neck. Really nice to play, super low action, creamy pickup’s.
Now this is my shtick! I got quite a few Epiphone (3) and Gibson (2) SG’s and I must admit that my 2014 Epiphone G-400 Pro is still the best one I have played so far. The day it arrived I just kept playing it for hours on end really enjoying all these sounds I could get out of it and the mojo it has. When I got my Gibson SG Standard my expectations were quite high, but I unfortunately never gelled with it. Tried to sell it twice but I can’t get over the fact that a real Gibson SG Standard doesn’t feel or play right, so I did all kinds of setup jobs on it.
Gibson unfortunately is hit or miss when it comes to quality, which is kind of bad considering the prices they ask for. The CEO newest one has been trying to clean it up and get it alot better, he has made alot of improvements.
I did the same thing - had and loved an Epiphone SG, then went to a guitar shop for a Gibson SG with high expectations. Luckily for me I tried the Gibson in store and didn't buy it. I did, however, leave with an excellent Les Paul!
Same story here. An Epic G400 Custom was my first major guitar purchase, ages ago now. A couple years ago I decided to buy an upgrade and got a Gibson SG Standard. Welp. The Gibby is already long gone and the G400 is going nowhere. It's got such a full bodied tone that is unlikely to be replaced by anything else.
I started with a telecaster, for the pickup, then I tried a Gibson SG standard,that John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service,had when we opened for them.This was 1967, and John told me he played Claptons SG standard, and wouldn't play anything else. At that time, up until after Cream, Clapton played a SG through 2 Marshall stacks.I have a Epiphone Riviera and it's great.Never tried their SG, but I am sure of its quality. So far, I have had seven SGs due to theft on the road,got a new one 2020.72, never heard of neck dive until late 80s . Must have a good wide strap. I like the standard by Gibson, the rosewood is more comfortable than my 81, Les Paul custom.Ebony is too hard for me.Have not seen many pros use Epiphone like the Gibson, probably status, money thing, also like full batwings.
Great comparison video, I guessed right in the tones. I watched all 3 videos & enjoyed them all. For me the Epiphone SG standard is the best value for money for myself
Just got a Special yesterday and I could NOT put it down. So so good for $180. Really like the throaty tones esp. in neck position. Guitar is just a hobby for me and I havent been playing very long so it totally meets my needs. I didn't have any neck dive either, like I do on my Harley Benton or my super cheap Glarry P Bass.
@@Malachibadgerman Check Guitar Center's used gear section. I got a SG Special a couple of days ago for $155! It was an impulse buy. I haven't really plugged it in yet. It will be my fun road guitar instead of my Gibson when not playing on stage. I was eyeing an Epiphone Les Paul vintage white for $400 on sale. But the SG caught my eye instead. I definitely will do an upgrade to the electronics/ pick ups to a P90. Good luck!
@@Malachibadgermanthey’re selling them again on epiphones site and most guitar shops for 200 Nevermind i reread your comment but yeah like the other guy said reverb and guitar centers used section in store and online have it sometimes
The neck of the special is a bolt on and that is why the guitar is shorter. It just impacts the superior access the set neck provides but, I have both and prefer the special anyways because I am not playing past the 15th fret for entire songs; I just live with the extra bit of stretching if I am using the 17-22nd fret.
For the blind challenges, I don’t try to get them right. I try to pick which sounds best to me. In this case I picked the tone of the Epiphone Standard. The Gibson pickups came in at a close second.
I’d say the opposite, dude bro. From what I heard the Gibson blended a little better and didn’t let the higher end bleed out as much. When he changed the chord progression in the dirty 😏 … mode … it was way clear that was Gibson. But… I only play SGs. The two phones played fairly well. I also don’t fancy those pickups in the Gibson. They’re really hot … and I think people mistake “hot” for heavy tone and that doesn’t always translate. I could take some Seymour Duncan High Voltage pickups (Alnico) 2. They’re supposed to be a 1:1 copy of what Angus young used. Wax coating and all. Those pickups are less hot than the 490s and they completely destroy the competition in every way. If you’re more into other music than heavy AC/DC then go with pearly gates. Put a new nut on the neck before the headstock. People also don’t look at the fact that the epi dots is modeled after the 61’ reissue. So there’s all wood filled in there… meaning … heavier tone. You take that Gibson and epi pickguard off and it’s a huge empty space/ cavity. Less material = lesser tone. Even on the half pickguard itself that’s still all solid wood. Literally every inch about under the other two pickguards is almost all empty space with some wires routed. That makes a hugeeeee difference. Probably 61%
Guessed right for once 😅. Was a little surprised they all sounded so close together. Very interesting comparison; $200 v $500 v $2000 priced guitars. Love my 2013 Epi SG Special which is different in a good way than the new ones today.
That's one thing I've learned through the years (that's a lot of years sadly!) that played into the same amp (especially a distorted amp) most guitars sound pretty similar. The differences aren't anywhere near as big as you might imagine.
An interesting comparison, I reversed the Epi standard with the Gibson, and got the special right. I actually thought the Epi standard was the Gibson as I thought it sounded better. Thank for sharing Landon! I thought the Gibson would dive lol. Ide keep the Epi Standard.
Blind test, got them all wrong but liked the sound of the Special most (thought it was the Epi Standard though) I thought the Gibson sounded the thinnest of the bunch and liked it the least. I did think the Gibson would dive and the Epi’s wouldn’t 🤘 I am an Epi fan though, my Dot sounds fantastic and plays like a dream….it’ll be pried out of my cold dead hands.
At 7:10 you mention that the SG Special neck looks shorter, but not sure why. It is because they moved the neck farther into the body (closer to the neck pickup) to give the neck room to be mounted with the 4 screw (bolt, if you prefer) neck mount plate and to give the heel joint more strength. The SG Modern also has the neck mounted so the fingerboard is up against the neck pickup. Of course, it does not have a bolt-on neck. Nice review. Thanks, man.
When I bought my SG Standard in '74, it was the best guitar I'd ever owned. With the exception of my two custom-built guitars, it still would be if I still had it.
The Special's humbuckers surprised me, throwing all my guesses out the window. The Neck Dive Challenge wasn't surprising. The one with the thickest neck dove like a champ. Gibson really should put in weight compensation to balance it out.
@@DMSProduktions Settle down, Beavis. We ain’t curing cancer here. As I recall several iterations of SG’s over the years did in fact result in a better balanced instrument. I’ve yet to encounter a mid to late 70’s/early 80’s SG with the deeper set neck and heavier bodies that dives horribly. I’ve got a 2007 Faded Special that doesn’t dive at all You and I both know the hissy fit people will throw if Gibson’s are not made to historical specs.
I bought the Gibson after going back4 times and checking it out. It went on sale, thus I bought it. The Gibson felt so good. They tried to give me a boxed brand new one but I fell in love with the demo. No price change, but that didn't matter. It was the feel. It spoke to me.
Guitar Z sounded snappier / percussive (the Epiphone special) which gave it away for me. I couldn't tell the difference between the other two. I had a black SG and sold it because of the neck dive and tuning stability.
I'd love to see the 61 SG with the vibrola, I think those look the best! The added weight of the vibrola on the body usually helps prevent neck dive as well.
@@nocturnal101ravenous6 not necessarily. The official Hendrix version only comes in white, has 3 pickups, and is way more expensive. The 61 w/ vibrola is only a bit more expensive than the SG Standard he used in this video, has better pickups (imo), and comes in red with the smaller pickguard.
My first electric was a 69 Gibson SG custom. Paid $350 in 1977 and had no clue what I really had. Traded it for a 12 string acoustic a few years later. I kick myself everyday for ever letting it go. I just bought a new SG special and am waiting for delivery. I hope I'm not too disappointed. Your vid helped me know it's not that bad of a guitar and should fill my needs. BTW I picked Z as my favorite. Thanks for the info. 👍
@@Jeb4100Actually I was purchasing an Epiphone, not a Gibson. Unfortunately I'm still looking. Ironically a couple days after I posted my comment the seller backed out and changed his mind on selling it. I did get my money back but I would've much rather had the guitar at the time. All things happen for a reason. I'm saving to buy a Gibson now. After watching several other comparison vids, I think I'll be happier with the real thing. ☮️
I am a big SG guy, ever since the early 70's and I bought an SG Special. Man do I wish I still had that one. Today at 70 yo and realizing that I don't play so great and not gigging, I choose to play Epiphone's. I've a '2020 Epi SG Special P-90 and I have 2020 Epi SG Jr., which are not easily found. I also have an Epi EBO1 bass. I love SG's and as far as I am concerned they are the best of all worlds between a LP and a standard Strat. Keep On Rockin' !
I have a mint condition 2016 Epiphone SG 400 that I bought at a pawn shop for $150 a few years ago. This model came with the Grover tuners and “classic” Alnico pickups. Love it, but it does have neck dive…thinking the heavier tuners are the suspect. 🤔✌🏻
Hey! I stumbled onto your channel. I bought an Epiphone SG Muse. I got it by mistake, and I kept it anyway, because it's kinda cool. I also bought the Les Paul '59. I really liked it. The Casino has P-90's.... so I bought one of them. Then I saw the SG with P-90's. Damn it. I love P-90's with some distortion and a little reverb and a SLIDE. So, I think Epiphone is a good choice. Gibson must agree, they bought Epiphone years ago. They were competitors and Gibson was smart to do this. Oh.... I am a covid player, 62 years old. It all started when I bought a 1955 Gibson ES125T (with a P-90)
Surprisingly close tones , well at least from what one can glean over the net. I’m sure it’s different in person. But I have the special, and have decided to use it as a mod platform, which should be fun now that winter is here. I enjoyed the comparison . It was interesting.
I've moved almost all of my guitars on - the two that have always remained are my Gibson SG Tribute and Standard. Love both of them, they just 'do it' for me.
Ive had the special for the last 5 years or so and shes been a workhorse. It's comfortable to wear and play for hours. I spent most of my time playing it just holding down the rhythm in a metal band.
I didn't care for the Epi Special clean tone, but they all had a usable driven sound. It was really close between the Epi Standard and Gibson, but the Gibson had a more responsive sound, willing to give more to the player's variations of attack. One thing I had to relearn when I got my Epiphone Explorer after playing Fender for so long was my grip on the neck. You can manhandle a bolt-on maple Fender neck and cause very little neck bend. The same cannot be said of mahogany set necks. I had to regain my subtler touch to avoid bending the neck when playing in the lower frets ("cowboy chords", open chords, low-fret twangy stuff that I play on my Tele, etc)
Epi SG Special DEFINITELY has a thin veneer of some sort on its front and back surfaces .....BUT it is more difficult to see due to the sharper edges and the subtleness of the grain on the veneer compared to the quite dramatic grain on the Epi SG Standard which has a more outstanding grain.
I just bought the Special as my 1st guitar to learn on. Rather than upgrading to a new guitar in 2-6 months (based on my progress and feel the want for an upgrade) I am planning on replacing the tuners and pickups for a better sound. The goal I have set now is to keep it for a year and see where I'm at.
I recently bought the SG Special in the Worn Ebony, and it is a dream for the price. If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend picking one up. It is an amazing guitar with an amazing sound for about a tenth of the cost of a Gibson. The Special is truly a gift in what she has to offer. I can't sing her praises enough. I plan to buy an Epiphone Classic or the Standard in the summer, but for now, I am more than happy with the Special.
Never wanted an SG, hated them without ever trying one. Found an Epi GOTH SG as is in a pawn shop, the output jack had broken the front and was floppy loose, hot wire shorting on the bridge ground. Couldn't touch it without it buzzing. Bought it CHEAP. Love it! The flat paint is getting shiney spots and nor looking quite as "goth" so considering polishing it. Talkjnv about neck dive, I owned a 70's numbered reissue of a reverse Firebird. Talk about "neck dive". Many times the front button couldn't hold the strap, and the guitar fell headstock first into my metatarsal, breaking my foot once. I finally put 1 inch washers between the body and strap button to keep the strap attached to the body.
I have a 20 year old epi standard at my parents house that I want to get back into again, always loved that guitar, the shape, the sound, had some minor problems with wiring and the nut - a friend helped solder the connections years ago, I should probably replace the latter.
I was able to tell which was the SG Special, but was unsure which was the Epiphone Standard and which was the Gibson so didn't pick those. Even though I was able to pick out the Special it isn't bad sounding for the money. I would likely go for the Epiphone Standard if I were buying, because of price.
I guessed the Special but too close to call (for my ears) between the ESG and the Gibson. In fact in the first test the Epiphone sounded better. Great channel by the way, its like watching a musically capable Bill Murray.
Nice, I guessed the guitars correctly. The tone got slightly muddier each step going from X to Y to Z. The Gibson definitely sounded the best, but not miles ahead really. Good choice! LoL I can't really bond well with SGs, something about the ergonomics, but I did have to own one, so I picked the Epiphone Tony Iommi signature model, which has his Gibson USA signature pickups in it. Because he is the riff lord, and the guitar sounds amazing.
Sound test was clear to me - certainly more obvious here than in most comparisons I've heard. Now the Epi Special was always going to sound thinner & plainer and it did. But the Gibson was clearly tonally more rich and also notably less muddy than the Epi standard - to me a rather big difference here!
So glad you did this. I gave an Epi Special and Epi Standard. The special is very different though. Same satin finish, but yours has almost like black binding up fretboard. Also ihe as special is as malles because the end of the fretboard is further into the body
I have the Gibson, Plays nice, once you get used to it. Tweak the PU/Pole Piece Height To get the sound you want. I always have to do a setup on my new guitars, The dealers don't do squat. The bridges are always high.
love the Gibson SG Standard, but would definitely swap out the bridge out to a vibrola trem like the custom shop 60th anniversary set up all chromed out!
Thanks for this. I’ve been playing a Hagstrom guitar ( the one with the F hole to give a better tone) for years, and have always wanted a Gibson SG. So thanks for this.
Got 3 sg’s together last night with friends. One was Gibson 1973 standard, another was a 2013 Gibson 3 knob made for Guitar Center, and the last was custom made bolt on sg with Seymour Duncan’s. The 2013 had the hottest pickups, but all were more alike than different. I wouldn’t prefer one much over the others. Just play what you have.
i just bought a Gibson SG Standard. I was considering the '61 SG, but I wasn't in love with the slim taper neck. I wasn't thrilled about getting a soft shell case with SG Standard....until I saw it. I think I actually like it better than the Gibson hard shell case I got with my Les Paul.
Enjoyed the straightforward and frank comparison between the three. This helped me decided on getting an Epiphone SG Standard because I liked the sound of it the best of the three. I've owned a couple of Gibsons in my 40+ years of playing, and their "vibe" is no longer as important to me as is pure functionality -- and I think the Epiphone Standard is just right for me. Many thanks!
I was way off on the tone comparison I have not had a chance to play a epi sg standard . I currently own a Gibson sg 61 standard and am very happy with it. I have played the Epi Tony Iommi model sg and I gotta say that guitar was as good as any Gibson I have ever played I was super impressed with it.
I have the special. It really was inexpensive. Even in the 1970s you wouldn’t have got much for this price. It goes out of tune a lot. This can be remedied. The sound is good. I wonder what Angus would make of it
I had them correct in the tone challenge. You can definitely hear the difference in the clips., though the difference between the Epi standard and the Gibson are more subtle. The Epi Classic Pro pickups are really quite good.
I have a Korean Epiphone from 1998 with the small scratch plate and not fret binding. It dives through the floor, the pickups are awful and it has only just started to hold tune now that I swapped out the tuners to guyker metal locking ones (which make the dive even worse). Man, it's survived many a beating though.
I have quite a few SGs in my collection, both Gibson and Epiphones. I won't go into details about which particular models I have, since I don't want to brag, or come across as an elitist collector, or guitar snob, but let me the first to tell you, (OK, maybe I'm not the first) that you get a LOT of bang for your buck with the Epiphone special model. In fact, when people ask me what kind of guitar they should get for themselves, or their kid, I usually ask them what kind of music they want to play. Nowadays, it's always punk or heavy metal. The Epiphone special is great for all kinds of musical styles. It's light weight, economically viable, and sounds just as good as the higher priced counterparts. It's always my go to guitar when I want to go to an open mic and rock out. Don't be fooled by affordability. This gets the job done! If it gets ripped off (Fingers crossed) it's so affordable, I can replace it and not worry about weather or not I'm gonna pay the bills this month. Oh, sure, go out and get the higher priced models if you can afford it, but if you want to rock out, and are on a budget, you really can't go wrong with the Epiphone special. Oh, and I loved your use of Badfinger when you played dirty and distorted. I was even singing along. So I'm definitely subscribing to your channel. And ignore all the "Professionals" who say Epiphone are POS Chinese knock-offs. They're SNOBS, and should be rudely reminded that if an Epiphone was good enough for John Lennon, they're good enough for you! (And me, obviously!)
I should also point out that I've almost never had any serious problems with neck dives on any of my SGs until recently. I'm a fan of the P-90 sound, so over the summer, I purchased one of the new Epiphone SG special models with P-90 pick ups. (NOT to be confused with the model you demonstrated in your video. Totally different guitar) This is the first time I've ever experienced any real issues with neck dives from any of my SGs. Just thought I should warn people in advance.
Man that gibson and epi sg standard sound great I was only able to play an sg once in a guitar center but it was the best and still my dream guitar! Nice video
Have the fancy Epiphone from 2017 and the Gibson from 2021. The construction is different, but "inspired by Gibson" today may be closer. The Epiphone I have does have a bold striped veneer top and back that has a noticeable color change from the sides-it hides the look of the wood underneath and how many pieces they used. I liked that top, and waited until I found a Gibson with a bold look like that.
I didn't want to spend for s Gibson. Tried the Epiphones at my guitar store andv didn't love it. Ended up going with the Harley Benton sg clone. Love it. Here are the specs from the hb site. features a meranti body and set neck, and a roasted jatoba fretboard with trapezoid inlays. The neck, has a comfortable C-shape profile, ensures comfort, while the 24 medium jumbo Blacksmith stainless steel frets offer smooth playability. Sporting Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 humbucker pickups
I own 2 SGs now, both Epiphone. The first is a 1997 G310. It was my main electric for 15 years (I then got a Gibson Les Paul Studio) and I still love it. The second is a very recent (in the last 7 days) purchase. Epiphone SG Special Stain E1 Vintage. I bought it because I am in China and I did not bring my guitars with me. I considered a Standard but decided on a cheaper guitar incase I am unable to sell it when I leave China. Got it for the Chinese equivalent of $145. Generally very happy but I am not fond of the placement of the tone select switch. When I go to switch I often hit the volume control. Other than that, very happy with Maya (I name my guitars).
I used to have an SG Special a few years ago, I've never liked the looks of the exposed pickups and only having two controls. I've ordered an Epiphone SG Standard to retake playing guitar, and it arrives tomorrow in the mail. Great video, thanks.
I got every single one wrong. So I guess that’s a win for the special and the Epiphone. But I get you on the “feel” and “vibe”. I’m a Les Paul guy and have always kept Gibsons over Epiphones, no matter how nice the epis get.
A brother-in-law had an early 70's Gibson SG, and neck dive was a small but definite problem. I would have guessed that the Epiphones wouldn't have a significant neck dive, but the Gibson would. Depending on set-up and personal taste, I think I would prefer Y (Epiphone SG Standard)
I’ve got an Epi SG from the early 2000’s (G-400, technically) with a maple neck that dove like crazy before I added a Bigsby and moved the strap button to the upper horn. My Gibson SG Special Faded from 2007 has a huge mahogany neck with the ‘59 profile, doesn’t dive at all. It really depends on the specific examples of wood they are made out of honestly.
I scooped up an Epiphone SG a few years back at a garage sale for $99. It looked grimy with a few chips in the finish. Spend $100 for an inspection, set up, and cleaning, and it plays like a dream. Best money I ever spent. I love playing it!
I bought the epiphone special as a mod platform. Bought the black one instead of the red one and replaced all the hardware with black hardware. Black bridge and saddle, black tuners, pickups with black covers, the whole shebang. Sounds great too
I have the 2020 Gibson SG standard in Angus ebony...it's amazing..can't put it down...but I also have an epi es 339..2020 ..a 2020 Les Paul studio in wine red..epi Les Paul special 2 2016...all play great as well as 2020 prs custom 24 se...2020 fender player stratocaster HSS...love them all... quality of them all is outstanding
$. Gibson had brighter high ends (ala Gibson, not Fender), and more balance between highs and lows. The Z Epiphone did have a bit of a tuning issue that may have been tuning, or guitar. But would have to spend the dough.
Clean I couldn't tell a difference. But I'm not really into clean. Distorted the Special was the clear winner. Playability, ergonomics, quality, maybe the Special comes in last, but it's got more balls than the more expensive guitars.
I never realized i had an SG Special, it is quite thick as compared to my LTD Eclipse QM-401. Would love to try an SG Standard (Epiphone) to know the difference, but the reason why I wanted an SG was to get a rhythm guitar I think the Special is quite good at that, the pickups on it sound massive for some reason I think it's because of the wood it feels as it resonates through out the entire body of it. But yeah, I'd love to try a Standard Epiphone just to know the difference, especially would love to know the difference in neck as i really like the neck on my LTD which happens to be a "Thin U" neck, it's perfect for roarin solos and what-have-you. Cool video man keep it up and stuff im sure you're a millionaire youtuber and a online micro-celebrity cheers man !
I ordered an alpine white Epiphone SG standard. I already have a Gibson Les Paul and just wanted a thrasher/player guitar and as much as I wanted a Gibson SG, for $499 brand new, and after hearing all of the positives about the SG standard, I pulled the trigger on the Alpine white SG as a lefty...... The only color in stock. I REALLY prefer black for SG's.
I have an Ep SG that I bought new in the 80s and It doesn't match any of these. It has a maple body, mahogany neck, semi trans cherry with gloss, Grover style tuners, 2 vol, 2 tone, 3 way, the bridge is narrower than a Nashville, thin D shaped neck. Frets are more medium than jumbo but names change. I wouldn't trade that guitar for a Les custom. Great vid, thanks for sharing.
I liked Y for some reason. I thought for sure it was the Gibson but I was wrong. Its the Epi standard. It really isn't much different sounding especially overdriven. I think I preferred it. Playing them would be another story. The Gibsons always feel better to me.
I've never been in love with Gibson pickups and I change them out fairly early on. I had a set of Bare Knuckle pick ups being made before I even bought my SG knowing I was going to change pick ups / pots / and caps. I bought my SG last Wednesday, and I'm getting it hot rodded next Wednesday.
7:20 The neck on the Special is joined with the 22nd fret inside the body of the guitar right against the pickup, whereas on the Standards, the base of the cutaway meets the 22nd fret with space in between.
Yeah, I don't believe the fretboard on the Special is rosewood either. I can't find the SG Special on the Epiphone website, but the Les Paul Special-II E1 has an Indian Laurel fretboard. The fretboard on your SG Special looks exactly the same. Got the blind test right for a change lol.
I also was impressed with the sound of the Epiphone Standard but like you, kept the Gibson. I live out in the mountains of Colorado and I have to order most things. Last May I ordered two different Epiphone SG Standards and both arrived broken. One had a crack down the back of the neck and the other came with the head stock broken completely off. Tears. I took a chance on the Gibson SG Standard in ebony and had it shipped by air, cutting down on the time the ground shipping crew could use it for a hockey stick. I've been playing acoustic/electric gigs for 3 decades, but I fool around with "solid body" guitars at home through a Fender Super Reverb Tone Master (it's a honey too). I've never taken so quickly to any guitar like I have with this Gibson SG Standard. It really works for me. Neck dive? I use a suede leather strap---not a concern. Your subtle humor had me rolling throughout the vid. Thank you Landon. I look forward to more. Two tired. Bicycle. Killer!!
I just got an epiphone SG modern a few weeks back.think its like"black burst fade" or something.has a flamed maple veneer, looks pretty nice.one of the nice things is the output jack where a tele or similar would be.instead of on the top.that annoys me about traditional SG's.loving it thus far.lots of nice specs on it vs. The epiphone standard.obviously for a little higher price point .but not by alot.
@@landonbailey you should pick one up too if possible.i mean if not entirely because you might not own a guitar with an ebony Fingerboard yet😂 But also coil splits,out of phase.stock locking tuners 24 frets etc.
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The Epiphone Standard for me sounds the best
thanks for watching :)
I was sure it was the Gibson. The actual Gibson sounded the worst.
@@tomalcolm Agreed. I was sure X was the Special.
The Epiphone pickups are hotter than Gibson's. 8.something to 7.something
I think the Gibson has the 490T pickups, they are horrible in my opinion. I like the 498T a lot, but the 490T is just meh
I remember showing up to rehearsal one day with my electric guitar, ready to rock out. Our rhythm guitarist had an SG sitting around told me I could use it. As soon as I played the SG, I feel I love with the it’s superior tone. It just cuts through like a knife.
Got the Epiphone special right in the blind tone challenge, the two standards both sound awesome to me!
👍🎸
I briefly owned an Epiphone Special last year, bought it for dirt cheap but I was thoroughly impressed. Helped that I was playing through an all-tube amp with good pedals… Playability was fantastic
Thanks for sharing! they are really good
ditto
Picked the Special as Z in the Blind Test, but had the other two switched. Didn't think the Epi Standard sounded too bad. Actually seems like a pretty good option for the $$$.
👍🎸
I totally blew the tone challenge. Had them in reverse order. Go figure. My first electric was the SG Special VE and I still play it quite a bit. It's all about the neck for me. I can manipulate tone, but the neck just has to feel right. Very nice guitar for under $200.
Right on!
The neck is everything
My first electric was a black SG special.
I’ve got an older (2016) Epiphone SG vintage worn. Better then the current version as it has a rosewood neck and binding on the neck. Really nice to play, super low action, creamy pickup’s.
What does "Creamy" mean?
Now this is my shtick! I got quite a few Epiphone (3) and Gibson (2) SG’s and I must admit that my 2014 Epiphone G-400 Pro is still the best one I have played so far. The day it arrived I just kept playing it for hours on end really enjoying all these sounds I could get out of it and the mojo it has. When I got my Gibson SG Standard my expectations were quite high, but I unfortunately never gelled with it. Tried to sell it twice but I can’t get over the fact that a real Gibson SG Standard doesn’t feel or play right, so I did all kinds of setup jobs on it.
Gibson unfortunately is hit or miss when it comes to quality, which is kind of bad considering the prices they ask for. The CEO newest one has been trying to clean it up and get it alot better, he has made alot of improvements.
🎸👍
I did the same thing - had and loved an Epiphone SG, then went to a guitar shop for a Gibson SG with high expectations. Luckily for me I tried the Gibson in store and didn't buy it. I did, however, leave with an excellent Les Paul!
Same story here. An Epic G400 Custom was my first major guitar purchase, ages ago now.
A couple years ago I decided to buy an upgrade and got a Gibson SG Standard.
Welp. The Gibby is already long gone and the G400 is going nowhere. It's got such a full bodied tone that is unlikely to be replaced by anything else.
I started with a telecaster, for the pickup, then I tried a Gibson SG standard,that John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service,had when we opened for them.This was 1967, and John told me he played Claptons SG standard, and wouldn't play anything else. At that time, up until after Cream, Clapton played a SG through 2 Marshall stacks.I have a Epiphone Riviera and it's great.Never tried their SG, but I am sure of its quality. So far, I have had seven SGs due to theft on the road,got a new one 2020.72, never heard of neck dive until late 80s . Must have a good wide strap. I like the standard by Gibson, the rosewood is more comfortable than my 81, Les Paul custom.Ebony is too hard for me.Have not seen many pros use Epiphone like the Gibson, probably status, money thing, also like full batwings.
Great comparison video, I guessed right in the tones. I watched all 3 videos & enjoyed them all. For me the Epiphone SG standard is the best value for money for myself
thanks! I'll have a Gibson review eventually
Just got a Special yesterday and I could NOT put it down. So so good for $180. Really like the throaty tones esp. in neck position. Guitar is just a hobby for me and I havent been playing very long so it totally meets my needs. I didn't have any neck dive either, like I do on my Harley Benton or my super cheap Glarry P Bass.
Where did you buy it ?? I cant find it for that cheap anywhere!!
@@Malachibadgerman Check Guitar Center's used gear section. I got a SG Special a couple of days ago for $155! It was an impulse buy. I haven't really plugged it in yet. It will be my fun road guitar instead of my Gibson when not playing on stage. I was eyeing an Epiphone Les Paul vintage white for $400 on sale. But the SG caught my eye instead. I definitely will do an upgrade to the electronics/ pick ups to a P90. Good luck!
@@Malachibadgermanthey’re selling them again on epiphones site and most guitar shops for 200
Nevermind i reread your comment but yeah like the other guy said reverb and guitar centers used section in store and online have it sometimes
I thought Y sounded the best (thought it would be the gibson) I got the Special right. They all sounded really similar, particularly with distortion.
thanks for playing
Y is epi?
I also liked the Y but the differences are really undistinguishble. I owned the SG (sold It, fool me)
The neck of the special is a bolt on and that is why the guitar is shorter. It just impacts the superior access the set neck provides but, I have both and prefer the special anyways because I am not playing past the 15th fret for entire songs; I just live with the extra bit of stretching if I am using the 17-22nd fret.
For the blind challenges, I don’t try to get them right. I try to pick which sounds best to me. In this case I picked the tone of the Epiphone Standard. The Gibson pickups came in at a close second.
cool!
I’d say the opposite, dude bro. From what I heard the Gibson blended a little better and didn’t let the higher end bleed out as much. When he changed the chord progression in the dirty 😏 … mode … it was way clear that was Gibson. But… I only play SGs. The two phones played fairly well. I also don’t fancy those pickups in the Gibson. They’re really hot … and I think people mistake “hot” for heavy tone and that doesn’t always translate. I could take some Seymour Duncan High Voltage pickups (Alnico) 2. They’re supposed to be a 1:1 copy of what Angus young used. Wax coating and all. Those pickups are less hot than the 490s and they completely destroy the competition in every way. If you’re more into other music than heavy AC/DC then go with pearly gates. Put a new nut on the neck before the headstock. People also don’t look at the fact that the epi dots is modeled after the 61’ reissue. So there’s all wood filled in there… meaning … heavier tone. You take that Gibson and epi pickguard off and it’s a huge empty space/ cavity. Less material = lesser tone. Even on the half pickguard itself that’s still all solid wood. Literally every inch about under the other two pickguards is almost all empty space with some wires routed. That makes a hugeeeee difference. Probably 61%
@@highspeed_hula1938 you have no idea what you’re talking about
@@Ottophil don’t I?
Guessed right for once 😅. Was a little surprised they all sounded so close together. Very interesting comparison; $200 v $500 v $2000 priced guitars. Love my 2013 Epi SG Special which is different in a good way than the new ones today.
🎸👍
That's one thing I've learned through the years (that's a lot of years sadly!) that played into the same amp (especially a distorted amp) most guitars sound pretty similar. The differences aren't anywhere near as big as you might imagine.
An interesting comparison, I reversed the Epi standard with the Gibson, and got the special right. I actually thought the Epi standard was the Gibson as I thought it sounded better. Thank for sharing Landon! I thought the Gibson would dive lol. Ide keep the Epi Standard.
cheers!
LMAO "the tuners look like somebody's bad teeth were stuck on a stick"
I spit out my drink on that 1🤣
it's true!
Blind test, got them all wrong but liked the sound of the Special most (thought it was the Epi Standard though) I thought the Gibson sounded the thinnest of the bunch and liked it the least. I did think the Gibson would dive and the Epi’s wouldn’t 🤘 I am an Epi fan though, my Dot sounds fantastic and plays like a dream….it’ll be pried out of my cold dead hands.
thanks for playing!
At 7:10 you mention that the SG Special neck looks shorter, but not sure why. It is because they moved the neck farther into the body (closer to the neck pickup) to give the neck room to be mounted with the 4 screw (bolt, if you prefer) neck mount plate and to give the heel joint more strength. The SG Modern also has the neck mounted so the fingerboard is up against the neck pickup. Of course, it does not have a bolt-on neck. Nice review. Thanks, man.
ya the neck is bolted on further down
Great video! It's the Epiphone Standard all the way!
👍👍
When I bought my SG Standard in '74, it was the best guitar I'd ever owned.
With the exception of my two custom-built guitars, it still would be if I still had it.
The Special's humbuckers surprised me, throwing all my guesses out the window. The Neck Dive Challenge wasn't surprising. The one with the thickest neck dove like a champ. Gibson really should put in weight compensation to balance it out.
Simple fix. Just move the strap button up an inch or 3.
Oh yeah forgot about the neckdive....its anoying as you play in a band of so. I hate it.....Just my 2 cents.
Technically SG’s originally had weight compensation with the sideways vibrola during their first few years of production.
@@DMSProduktions Settle down, Beavis. We ain’t curing cancer here. As I recall several iterations of SG’s over the years did in fact result in a better balanced instrument. I’ve yet to encounter a mid to late 70’s/early 80’s SG with the deeper set neck and heavier bodies that dives horribly. I’ve got a 2007 Faded Special that doesn’t dive at all
You and I both know the hissy fit people will throw if Gibson’s are not made to historical specs.
As cornelius mentioned they all came with big heavy trems originally
I bought the Gibson after going back4 times and checking it out. It went on sale, thus I bought it. The Gibson felt so good. They tried to give me a boxed brand new one but I fell in love with the demo. No price change, but that didn't matter. It was the feel. It spoke to me.
Good on ya mate! You pick the one that speaks to you. The best way to pick a guitar every time. They were all in a box at some time! Lol
Guitar Z sounded snappier / percussive (the Epiphone special) which gave it away for me. I couldn't tell the difference between the other two. I had a black SG and sold it because of the neck dive and tuning stability.
I'd love to see the 61 SG with the vibrola, I think those look the best! The added weight of the vibrola on the body usually helps prevent neck dive as well.
So the Hendrix version? which was essentially the Mary Ford Special.
@@nocturnal101ravenous6 not necessarily. The official Hendrix version only comes in white, has 3 pickups, and is way more expensive. The 61 w/ vibrola is only a bit more expensive than the SG Standard he used in this video, has better pickups (imo), and comes in red with the smaller pickguard.
My first electric was a 69 Gibson SG custom. Paid $350 in 1977 and had no clue what I really had. Traded it for a 12 string acoustic a few years later. I kick myself everyday for ever letting it go. I just bought a new SG special and am waiting for delivery. I hope I'm not too disappointed. Your vid helped me know it's not that bad of a guitar and should fill my needs. BTW I picked Z as my favorite. Thanks for the info. 👍
cheers!
how do you like your new Gibson?
@@Jeb4100Actually I was purchasing an Epiphone, not a Gibson. Unfortunately I'm still looking. Ironically a couple days after I posted my comment the seller backed out and changed his mind on selling it. I did get my money back but I would've much rather had the guitar at the time. All things happen for a reason. I'm saving to buy a Gibson now. After watching several other comparison vids, I think I'll be happier with the real thing. ☮️
@@cfaubs7516 shame! glad your saving up for a Gibson, i hope you'll love it
Hope you got the Gibson.
I am a big SG guy, ever since the early 70's and I bought an SG Special. Man do I wish I still had that one. Today at 70 yo and realizing that I don't play so great and not gigging, I choose to play Epiphone's. I've a '2020 Epi SG Special P-90 and I have 2020 Epi SG Jr., which are not easily found. I also have an Epi EBO1 bass. I love SG's and as far as I am concerned they are the best of all worlds between a LP and a standard Strat. Keep On Rockin' !
Rock on!
I have a mint condition 2016 Epiphone SG 400 that I bought at a pawn shop for $150 a few years ago. This model came with the Grover tuners and “classic” Alnico pickups. Love it, but it does have neck dive…thinking the heavier tuners are the suspect. 🤔✌🏻
Hey! I stumbled onto your channel. I bought an Epiphone SG Muse. I got it by mistake, and I kept it anyway, because it's kinda cool. I also bought the Les Paul '59. I really liked it. The Casino has P-90's.... so I bought one of them. Then I saw the SG with P-90's. Damn it. I love P-90's with some distortion and a little reverb and a SLIDE. So, I think Epiphone is a good choice. Gibson must agree, they bought Epiphone years ago. They were competitors and Gibson was smart to do this. Oh.... I am a covid player, 62 years old. It all started when I bought a 1955 Gibson ES125T (with a P-90)
Surprisingly close tones , well at least from what one can glean over the net. I’m sure it’s different in person. But I have the special, and have decided to use it as a mod platform, which should be fun now that winter is here. I enjoyed the comparison . It was interesting.
ya in the room sounds are always much different than the mic'd recordings. cheers!
I've moved almost all of my guitars on - the two that have always remained are my Gibson SG Tribute and Standard. Love both of them, they just 'do it' for me.
Ive had the special for the last 5 years or so and shes been a workhorse. It's comfortable to wear and play for hours. I spent most of my time playing it just holding down the rhythm in a metal band.
I've owned all three - and kept the Gibson!
ah cool, then you get my decision most likely 👍🎸
@@landonbailey Yes, you made the right choice!
I started off with the special then moved up to the G400 Pro. Still have both and they're great guitars
I didn't care for the Epi Special clean tone, but they all had a usable driven sound. It was really close between the Epi Standard and Gibson, but the Gibson had a more responsive sound, willing to give more to the player's variations of attack. One thing I had to relearn when I got my Epiphone Explorer after playing Fender for so long was my grip on the neck. You can manhandle a bolt-on maple Fender neck and cause very little neck bend. The same cannot be said of mahogany set necks. I had to regain my subtler touch to avoid bending the neck when playing in the lower frets ("cowboy chords", open chords, low-fret twangy stuff that I play on my Tele, etc)
Hard to get clean tone with the speciald
Specials ceramic pickups.
Epi SG Special DEFINITELY has a thin veneer of some sort on its front and back surfaces .....BUT it is more difficult to
see due to the sharper edges and the subtleness of the grain on the veneer compared to the quite
dramatic grain on the Epi SG Standard which has a more outstanding grain.
I've got an Epiphone SG Pro with the coil-tap. So comfortable to play, and the coil-tap makes it very versatile. Great video, as always!
Rock on!
I just bought the Special as my 1st guitar to learn on.
Rather than upgrading to a new guitar in 2-6 months (based on my progress and feel the want for an upgrade) I am planning on replacing the tuners and pickups for a better sound.
The goal I have set now is to keep it for a year and see where I'm at.
have fun!
I recently bought the SG Special in the Worn Ebony, and it is a dream for the price. If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend picking one up. It is an amazing guitar with an amazing sound for about a tenth of the cost of a Gibson. The Special is truly a gift in what she has to offer. I can't sing her praises enough. I plan to buy an Epiphone Classic or the Standard in the summer, but for now, I am more than happy with the Special.
Thank you for your feedback, just ordered one.
@@hussamjamil4980 I bought the P90 Epi Inv Green.
Never wanted an SG, hated them without ever trying one. Found an Epi GOTH SG as is in a pawn shop, the output jack had broken the front and was floppy loose, hot wire shorting on the bridge ground. Couldn't touch it without it buzzing. Bought it CHEAP. Love it! The flat paint is getting shiney spots and nor looking quite as "goth" so considering polishing it. Talkjnv about neck dive, I owned a 70's numbered reissue of a reverse Firebird. Talk about "neck dive". Many times the front button couldn't hold the strap, and the guitar fell headstock first into my metatarsal, breaking my foot once. I finally put 1 inch washers between the body and strap button to keep the strap attached to the body.
I have a 20 year old epi standard at my parents house that I want to get back into again, always loved that guitar, the shape, the sound, had some minor problems with wiring and the nut - a friend helped solder the connections years ago, I should probably replace the latter.
I was able to tell which was the SG Special, but was unsure which was the Epiphone Standard and which was the Gibson so didn't pick those. Even though I was able to pick out the Special it isn't bad sounding for the money. I would likely go for the Epiphone Standard if I were buying, because of price.
I guessed the Special but too close to call (for my ears) between the ESG and the Gibson. In fact in the first test the Epiphone sounded better. Great channel by the way, its like watching a musically capable Bill Murray.
🤪🎸
Nice, I guessed the guitars correctly. The tone got slightly muddier each step going from X to Y to Z. The Gibson definitely sounded the best, but not miles ahead really. Good choice! LoL
I can't really bond well with SGs, something about the ergonomics, but I did have to own one, so I picked the Epiphone Tony Iommi signature model, which has his Gibson USA signature pickups in it. Because he is the riff lord, and the guitar sounds amazing.
ah cool!
Sound test was clear to me - certainly more obvious here than in most comparisons I've heard. Now the Epi Special was always going to sound thinner & plainer and it did. But the Gibson was clearly tonally more rich and also notably less muddy than the Epi standard - to me a rather big difference here!
So glad you did this. I gave an Epi Special and Epi Standard. The special is very different though. Same satin finish, but yours has almost like black binding up fretboard. Also ihe as special is as malles because the end of the fretboard is further into the body
👍
I've owned a Gibson SG standard for 7 years now, played it, loved it, thought X was definitely the special
ah cool!
I have the Gibson, Plays nice, once you get used to it. Tweak the PU/Pole Piece Height To get the sound you want. I always have to do a setup on my new guitars, The dealers don't do squat. The bridges are always high.
👍👍🎸
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=============================
Timestamps:
=============================
0:00 - The guitars
2:15 - 3 way spec comparison
11:25 - the wiring compared
11:48 - guitar weights
12:20 - Blind Tone Challenge
14:35 - Will it dive?
15:13 - Summary and my top pick
But... Gibson SG Special? And, do different colours sound different?
love the Gibson SG Standard, but would definitely swap out the bridge out to a vibrola trem like the custom shop 60th anniversary set up all chromed out!
The body shape already makes them all an 11/10.
👍
I had a Gibson, but ended up settling on an Epiphone SG Standard. Happy with it.
Thanks for this.
I’ve been playing a Hagstrom guitar ( the one with the F hole to give a better tone) for years, and have always wanted a Gibson SG.
So thanks for this.
No problem!
Got 3 sg’s together last night with friends. One was Gibson 1973 standard, another was a 2013 Gibson 3 knob made for Guitar Center, and the last was custom made bolt on sg with Seymour Duncan’s. The 2013 had the hottest pickups, but all were more alike than different. I wouldn’t prefer one much over the others. Just play what you have.
The Epiphone Standard is a great guitar!
👍🎸
i just bought a Gibson SG Standard. I was considering the '61 SG, but I wasn't in love with the slim taper neck. I wasn't thrilled about getting a soft shell case with SG Standard....until I saw it. I think I actually like it better than the Gibson hard shell case I got with my Les Paul.
that softcase is awesome!
Wow! I've always wanted a Gibson SG, but the blind sound test resulted in Y, Z and then X!
Very good way to determine which you think is best!
Enjoyed the straightforward and frank comparison between the three. This helped me decided on getting an Epiphone SG Standard because I liked the sound of it the best of the three. I've owned a couple of Gibsons in my 40+ years of playing, and their "vibe" is no longer as important to me as is pure functionality -- and I think the Epiphone Standard is just right for me. Many thanks!
I was way off on the tone comparison I have not had a chance to play a epi sg standard . I currently own a Gibson sg 61 standard and am very happy with it. I have played the Epi Tony Iommi model sg and I gotta say that guitar was as good as any Gibson I have ever played I was super impressed with it.
I got the blind tone challenge correct, and was surprised they do sound good. I didn't like the tone of the SG Special a lot, but it was okay.
👍🎸
Been having this exact debate and discussion about Gibson V's against Epiphone V's. Would love to see a video!
I never thought I'd even buy a Gibson, so I'll never say never to trying new models :)
I have the special. It really was inexpensive. Even in the 1970s you wouldn’t have got much for this price.
It goes out of tune a lot. This can be remedied. The sound is good. I wonder what Angus would make of it
I had them correct in the tone challenge. You can definitely hear the difference in the clips., though the difference between the Epi standard and the Gibson are more subtle. The Epi Classic Pro pickups are really quite good.
Good stuff!
I suspect the Gibson neck dives more (in part) due to the Grover tuner. They are a bit heavier than the kluson styles.
Epi special is the best beginner guitar
I have a Korean Epiphone from 1998 with the small scratch plate and not fret binding. It dives through the floor, the pickups are awful and it has only just started to hold tune now that I swapped out the tuners to guyker metal locking ones (which make the dive even worse).
Man, it's survived many a beating though.
I have quite a few SGs in my collection, both Gibson and Epiphones. I won't go into details about which particular models I have, since I don't want to brag, or come across as an elitist collector, or guitar snob, but let me the first to tell you, (OK, maybe I'm not the first) that you get a LOT of bang for your buck with the Epiphone special model. In fact, when people ask me what kind of guitar they should get for themselves, or their kid, I usually ask them what kind of music they want to play. Nowadays, it's always punk or heavy metal. The Epiphone special is great for all kinds of musical styles. It's light weight, economically viable, and sounds just as good as the higher priced counterparts. It's always my go to guitar when I want to go to an open mic and rock out. Don't be fooled by affordability. This gets the job done! If it gets ripped off (Fingers crossed) it's so affordable, I can replace it and not worry about weather or not I'm gonna pay the bills this month. Oh, sure, go out and get the higher priced models if you can afford it, but if you want to rock out, and are on a budget, you really can't go wrong with the Epiphone special. Oh, and I loved your use of Badfinger when you played dirty and distorted. I was even singing along. So I'm definitely subscribing to your channel. And ignore all the "Professionals" who say Epiphone are POS Chinese knock-offs. They're SNOBS, and should be rudely reminded that if an Epiphone was good enough for John Lennon, they're good enough for you! (And me, obviously!)
I should also point out that I've almost never had any serious problems with neck dives on any of my SGs until recently. I'm a fan of the P-90 sound, so over the summer, I purchased one of the new Epiphone SG special models with P-90 pick ups. (NOT to be confused with the model you demonstrated in your video. Totally different guitar) This is the first time I've ever experienced any real issues with neck dives from any of my SGs. Just thought I should warn people in advance.
Yeah but the headstock is awful. I have the epi standard the same displayed in this video . Its immaculate
Man that gibson and epi sg standard sound great I was only able to play an sg once in a guitar center but it was the best and still my dream guitar! Nice video
Right on!
Have the fancy Epiphone from 2017 and the Gibson from 2021. The construction is different, but "inspired by Gibson" today may be closer. The Epiphone I have does have a bold striped veneer top and back that has a noticeable color change from the sides-it hides the look of the wood underneath and how many pieces they used. I liked that top, and waited until I found a Gibson with a bold look like that.
thanks for sharing
I didn't want to spend for s Gibson. Tried the Epiphones at my guitar store andv didn't love it. Ended up going with the Harley Benton sg clone. Love it. Here are the specs from the hb site.
features a meranti body and set neck, and a roasted jatoba fretboard with trapezoid inlays. The neck, has a comfortable C-shape profile, ensures comfort, while the 24 medium jumbo Blacksmith stainless steel frets offer smooth playability. Sporting Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 humbucker pickups
I own 2 SGs now, both Epiphone.
The first is a 1997 G310. It was my main electric for 15 years (I then got a Gibson Les Paul Studio) and I still love it.
The second is a very recent (in the last 7 days) purchase. Epiphone SG Special Stain E1 Vintage. I bought it because I am in China and I did not bring my guitars with me. I considered a Standard but decided on a cheaper guitar incase I am unable to sell it when I leave China. Got it for the Chinese equivalent of $145. Generally very happy but I am not fond of the placement of the tone select switch. When I go to switch I often hit the volume control. Other than that, very happy with Maya (I name my guitars).
I used to have an SG Special a few years ago, I've never liked the looks of the exposed pickups and only having two controls. I've ordered an Epiphone SG Standard to retake playing guitar, and it arrives tomorrow in the mail.
Great video, thanks.
Thanks for sharing
I got every single one wrong. So I guess that’s a win for the special and the Epiphone.
But I get you on the “feel” and “vibe”. I’m a Les Paul guy and have always kept Gibsons over Epiphones, no matter how nice the epis get.
Same opinion, (I didn't want to inadvertently dis on Landon's first gibbby:) u phrased it well
ya you need to have them in hand to know if you'll like it
A brother-in-law had an early 70's Gibson SG, and neck dive was a small but definite problem. I would have guessed that the Epiphones wouldn't have a significant neck dive, but the Gibson would. Depending on set-up and personal taste, I think I would prefer Y (Epiphone SG Standard)
🎸👍
I’ve got an Epi SG from the early 2000’s (G-400, technically) with a maple neck that dove like crazy before I added a Bigsby and moved the strap button to the upper horn. My Gibson SG Special Faded from 2007 has a huge mahogany neck with the ‘59 profile, doesn’t dive at all. It really depends on the specific examples of wood they are made out of honestly.
I scooped up an Epiphone SG a few years back at a garage sale for $99. It looked grimy with a few chips in the finish. Spend $100 for an inspection, set up, and cleaning, and it plays like a dream. Best money I ever spent. I love playing it!
Your delivery is hilarious 😂 You sound like a seasoned comedian.
Ich habe auch ein Epiphone SG Special Gitarre. Ich bin sehr zufrieden. 🎸💯
Ha, I preferred the Epi Standard Alnico Classic Pro pickups in the dirty tones, seemed like more clarity in the lows/mids.
I bought the epiphone special as a mod platform. Bought the black one instead of the red one and replaced all the hardware with black hardware. Black bridge and saddle, black tuners, pickups with black covers, the whole shebang. Sounds great too
I have the 2020 Gibson SG standard in Angus ebony...it's amazing..can't put it down...but I also have an epi es 339..2020 ..a 2020 Les Paul studio in wine red..epi Les Paul special 2 2016...all play great as well as 2020 prs custom 24 se...2020 fender player stratocaster HSS...love them all... quality of them all is outstanding
$. Gibson had brighter high ends (ala Gibson, not Fender), and more balance between highs and lows. The Z Epiphone did have a bit of a tuning issue that may have been tuning, or guitar. But would have to spend the dough.
Tokai sg might be considered or the Vintage v6 sg !
considered what?
Clean I couldn't tell a difference. But I'm not really into clean. Distorted the Special was the clear winner. Playability, ergonomics, quality, maybe the Special comes in last, but it's got more balls than the more expensive guitars.
I never realized i had an SG Special, it is quite thick as compared to my LTD Eclipse QM-401. Would love to try an SG Standard (Epiphone) to know the difference, but the reason why I wanted an SG was to get a rhythm guitar I think the Special is quite good at that, the pickups on it sound massive for some reason I think it's because of the wood it feels as it resonates through out the entire body of it. But yeah, I'd love to try a Standard Epiphone just to know the difference, especially would love to know the difference in neck as i really like the neck on my LTD which happens to be a "Thin U" neck, it's perfect for roarin solos and what-have-you. Cool video man keep it up and stuff im sure you're a millionaire youtuber and a online micro-celebrity cheers man !
🎸😛👍
I miss my Special honestly. They changed the model name, but it's basically unchanged from my 2006 model. Every time I pick one up it feels like home.
I ordered an alpine white Epiphone SG standard.
I already have a Gibson Les Paul and just wanted a thrasher/player guitar and as much as I wanted a Gibson SG, for $499 brand new, and after hearing all of the positives about the SG standard, I pulled the trigger on the Alpine white SG as a lefty...... The only color in stock. I REALLY prefer black for SG's.
I got 4 epiphone sg 400s 1 of them I've had for 18 years never a problem never lost tune nothing still looks almost as good as the day I bought it
Thanks, but why didn't you make an evaluation of the 3 guitars? Love the attention to detail but I really want to hear informed opinions.
I dont remember making the video :)
I have an Ep SG that I bought new in the 80s and It doesn't match any of these. It has a maple body, mahogany neck, semi trans cherry with gloss, Grover style tuners, 2 vol, 2 tone, 3 way, the bridge is narrower than a Nashville, thin D shaped neck. Frets are more medium than jumbo but names change. I wouldn't trade that guitar for a Les custom. Great vid, thanks for sharing.
Man that's crazy.I didnt really try to guess which was which.As far as liking them though it was cheapest to expensive in order.
The Special bolt on neck is recessed into the body for stability. The bridge and pups are closer to the tail of the guitar. That's why it's shorter.
I liked Y for some reason. I thought for sure it was the Gibson but I was wrong. Its the Epi standard. It really isn't much different sounding especially overdriven. I think I preferred it. Playing them would be another story. The Gibsons always feel better to me.
thanks for sharing!
I've never been in love with Gibson pickups and I change them out fairly early on. I had a set of Bare Knuckle pick ups being made before I even bought my SG knowing I was going to change pick ups / pots / and caps. I bought my SG last Wednesday, and I'm getting it hot rodded next Wednesday.
Cool, I was waiting for this
hey cool
7:20 The neck on the Special is joined with the 22nd fret inside the body of the guitar right against the pickup, whereas on the Standards, the base of the cutaway meets the 22nd fret with space in between.
Yeah, I don't believe the fretboard on the Special is rosewood either.
I can't find the SG Special on the Epiphone website, but the Les Paul Special-II E1 has an Indian Laurel fretboard.
The fretboard on your SG Special looks exactly the same.
Got the blind test right for a change lol.
I think it's cardboard 🤪
@@landonbailey lol ouch.
I also was impressed with the sound of the Epiphone Standard but like you, kept the Gibson. I live out in the mountains of Colorado and I have to order most things. Last May I ordered two different Epiphone SG Standards and both arrived broken. One had a crack down the back of the neck and the other came with the head stock broken completely off. Tears. I took a chance on the Gibson SG Standard in ebony and had it shipped by air, cutting down on the time the ground shipping crew could use it for a hockey stick. I've been playing acoustic/electric gigs for 3 decades, but I fool around with "solid body" guitars at home through a Fender Super Reverb Tone Master (it's a honey too). I've never taken so quickly to any guitar like I have with this Gibson SG Standard. It really works for me. Neck dive? I use a suede leather strap---not a concern. Your subtle humor had me rolling throughout the vid. Thank you Landon. I look forward to more. Two tired. Bicycle. Killer!!
Superb video! I really like this detailed look at the specs and how you arranged all given information!
hey thanks! hope it was helpful
I just got an epiphone SG modern a few weeks back.think its like"black burst fade" or something.has a flamed maple veneer, looks pretty nice.one of the nice things is the output jack where a tele or similar would be.instead of on the top.that annoys me about traditional SG's.loving it thus far.lots of nice specs on it vs. The epiphone standard.obviously for a little higher price point .but not by alot.
cool congrats!
@@landonbailey you should pick one up too if possible.i mean if not entirely because you might not own a guitar with an ebony Fingerboard yet😂
But also coil splits,out of phase.stock locking tuners 24 frets etc.
Got the Gibson right but the other two wrong. But my blind impression was that the actual SG Special awesome!!
🎸👍