Les Paul Custom: Epiphone vs. Inspired by Gibson Custom vs. Gibson
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- I know - it's a tale as old as time... Gibson vs. Epiphone.
I was just going to make a video covering my usage of the
new 2024 IGC model, but I was surprisingly blown away by
just how close it is to the Gibson Custom Shop model and I
thought it would be fun to lock myself up for a few days with
them. Thanks for checking this out!
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I have the Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop Epiphone Les Paul Custom and after hearing that people thought the new model sounded muddy, I listened to the guitar and thought, maybe. So, I changed the strings to the ones I normally use which are Didario Bright Wonds which register in the middle of the spectrum. That made a difference. Here, in this video the author switches picks to get a different tone. If you have one, and you think its muddy, try changing the stock strings out for the kind you normally use.
Great tip! And interesting 🧐 I didn’t know that people thought they’re muddy. I’ve never considered them muddy even on the other guitars. But strings are always a great first step in troubleshooting a guitars issues. It’s really easy to overlook the importance that strings play. Tuning problems, sound problems… 9/10 times a string change has fixed it for me.
Oh and pickup height too! I should’ve mentioned what my pickups heights were because these especially are sensitive to that. I have my pickups a little lower than the out of box settings
Thanks for watching a sharing that btw! Gonna pin this comment cause it can be of use for someone at some point
Couldn’t agree more. First thing I do on any new guitar is throw on my preferred strings (Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9’s)
I'm changing my strings every 2-3 months.
The muddy sound was constantly there until I have changed the pickups.
I have put the cheapest Gibson's set of 490's bridge and neck.
Now.....I can't stop playing it.
Epiphone Les Paul custom 2020. model.
Such a great guitar🎸👍
This is one of the best comparison videos I’ve ever seen. Thank you!
Thank you for watching and taking the time to say that I really appreciate it!
What a fantastic video. Gibson Les Paul Custom for me is kind of a dream guitar, but in my life dropping almost $6k on a guitar just isn’t possible for me. The IGC is however very well done, and to me, I really don’t hear the difference.
Thank you I appreciate that! I’m with you - the custom shop price has always been a tough sell, but with the IGC being as close as it is it’s even harder to justify the Gibson. Truth be told, even the specs that are different on the IGC are only relevant to the current custom shop model. Other customs have thicker necks, some Norlins have the same shallower headstock angle… it’s really apples to apples
Very cool review on some excellent guitars. They all sound excellent, and it truly seems like you can't go wrong with any of them.
I also think your way of reviewing and editing is very cool. This almost felt like a mini investigative documentary. Subscribed! 🤘
I was having a conversation with my friend who repairs guitars for a living. He has worked on hundreds of Gibsons and Epiphones. He said the main differences between the two other than the hardware and poly vs nitro, is the quality of fret wire, which is leaps and bounds better on the Gibsons and the quality of the woods. The Gibson will be made of kiln dried seasoned woods that have been stored and conditioned and may be 20 or 30 years old by the time it's made into a guitar. He told me he has noticed a slight difference in the fret wire from the ones made in Korea to the ones made in China and has said the fret wire on the Korean ones were better quality, but not by much. He said the new ones are so soft, it is very easy to take too much off of them that he hates working on them, where as the Gibsons, he can shape and crown usually with no issues because of the hardness of the wire.
Thanks for sharing that! That’s something I’ve been curious about myself but couldn’t find any conclusive information. I’ll make note of it it in my next video
The alloy of the frets does make a difference. You can see how soft squier and prs se frets are. But the epiphones are actually on par with gibson. And since you have to refret both at some point - you can just throw in the stainless steel ones. The quality of the woods doesn't matter in anything other than weight and looks, really. All the big brands import the woods from Asia. Since the customs are covered in a non-transparent paint - it doesn't matter none. One could say about drying and that the asian guitars have a bigger chance to get a neck warp, but I'm yet to see a warped Epiphone LP. On the other hand, John Mayers uber expensive masterbuilt USA stratocaster has warped lol.
I have 4 Gibsons and 6 epiphones. My luthier has been doing it over fifty years. He says blindfolded, he can't tell the difference
I work on hundreds of guitars a year and I don’t think this holds up post 2015. The prophecy and inspired by Gibsons have better fret wire. Also, some of the Gibson PLEK jobs are just downright terrible.
FIrst of all, thanks for not playing corny blues licks in your video. I picked up the Epiphone Inspired Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul and it really is incredible. I immediately replaced the bridge and tailpiece, including inserts with Faber USA parts and it just slightly gave it a more bright and clear sound.
feel you man, hate it when people would grab a Heavenly Godly Guitar such this just to play mainstream country/ Overly happy corny garbage
just give me my Beauty Funeral Doom/Black Metal love and lots of TOOL XD
This is one of the best reviews of a guitar(s) I've ever watched. Really well done! You played really great riffs and no blues wankery!
Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to watch and share that with me! To be fair, I did film some standard blues leads for this but ended up cutting them out... listening to that while editing was not a fun experience lol
I've always wanted a custom. I've got a 2001 Gibson Les Paul Standard and 2003 Special. The Standard was bought from one of my heroes and has the 490R 498T pickup set. Really considering the Epiphone with Gibson Headstock. Haven't got one in my hands yet, the neck will be the deciding factor.
I think this would have been better if you would of used a better amp. Something like a Marshall Plexi or some other high-end tube amp. To me, things like line 6 and Boss Katanna just sound terrible and that affects the sound of the guitar tremendously. As far as the review, The Epiphone IGC is so close to the Gibson Custom it just makes sense to by the epiphone.
Very good demo!
How do the body , headstock , neck binding color look like in real life , comparing the Gibson and the Epiphone inspired by Gibson in ebony?
I have seen both next to each other in a shop and the only optical difference I saw, was, that the Gibson binding seems to be a little bit thicker on the body and more clean white, while the Epiphone
is a little bit thinner and not as white , more like a aged white binding.
Thanks !
Great video!, I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and an IBG SG Custom, while the LP is a keeper for life, the SG Custom is killer., set up as close as I can get to the LP, the pickups are very close., and, depending on if I’m going to use a preamp, instead of a modeler or straight to the amp, I can get both to sound pretty much exactly the same., by the way, my favorite preamp the last few years has been the ISP Theta preamp pedal, the red one. Great vid, thanks!
The white one has the probuckers... which have a more vintage tone
Yeah I think that’s the best way to describe them. They’re very in line with 60s Burstbucker sounds
ProBuckers are excellent in his own way! For what they offer, I believe the Epiphone Les Paul Custom worth more the value than the IBGC model…
@@whiteon5627 Yeah ProBuckers are really great and part of why I can see someone picking that over the IGC. I just wish the QC on the standard Epiphones was a bit better. For beginner players, it could really pose some issues. Still, though, for what it offers - that Custom is untouchable!
You could always swap out the pups
The gold standard of a guitar review/comparison video 👍
Glad you enjoyed it - Thank you for watching and the kind words!
They all look beautiful
I really like your playing by the way
Thank you I really appreciate that!
I just ordered the epiphone custom ebony today !!!!!!! Whoooooooooooo
I put a set of Duncan Blackouts in my 90’s Epi custom. It plays and sounds amazing. Everyone that plays it can’t believe how good it is. I paid $125 on Craigslist
Gibson pickups are overrated. Set of seymour duncans and some locking tuners and the differences disappear
But why buy a Gibson then?😂
Not at all. Gibson pickups have personality. Sounds different.
@oscarsaldanaudio I like my 60s series in my classic but the Seymour Duncan are better
Famous people that wrote great songs using cheap guitars even on studio: 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤
No they're not overrated. But you can hear that the best when you compare an epiphone lp and a gibson 10-15 years later. The pups of the epi with be shutted shit and de gibson will be litterally the same or sound even better!
Excellent video! I’d be super interested in seeing you review the Epiphone Koa Custom. 😁
Thanks I appreciate you taking the time to watch! As a token of my appreciation I’ll be sure to do a Koa Custom video! It’s an incredible guitar and very similar to the white one here
I am pretty sure Epiphone is going to continue to sell the regular Models. Some have said they're going to discontinue them but I don't agree.
Perfect - the more the merrier!
You've set a new standard for a comparison video.
Woah that’s a huge compliment - thank you!
Love my Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul. I have small hands so love the thin neck!
Very well balanced and fair review.
Nice comparison. With everything being setup equally, I wonder how much of the tonal difference comes from the pots, as opposed to the pickups?
Really interesting video thank you! I have a 20 year old Epiphone Korean made LP custom & I’ve noticed recently the white appears to be fading slightly. Is this normal & is there anything I can do to prevent further fade? Thank you
I have a 2012 Korean-made LP Custom Black Beauty from the Unsung Korea factory. Which white are you referring to? The white binding? The white nut?
Keep up the great reviews you are doing. ❤
Thank you very much!
Have you ever considered swapping out the speed knobs for either gold top witch hats or top hats for a different look...? The gold top knobs do look very classy on a custom..
That’s a great idea. I’ve actually put speed knobs on my Supreme. Think I may try out the gold witch hats on my Custom!
The body binding on the Gibson looks whiter and wider... Looks more prominent and vibrant... Would you agree?
Absolutely! The biding is definitely more intricate & prominent from the Custom Shop
I think that’s what throws people off about body size and shape
Thank you for the video! I've always wanted to own a LP and the Custom is so beautiful. After seeing the Inspired line from Epi im so close to buying one. Im a beginner at guitar so i dont know the finer details but what I do know is I would love to own a Custom. I've been thinking between this and an ESP E2 Eclipse.
Thanks I’m glad you liked it! I haven’t played an E2 but every LTD I’ve played has been very comfortable and would be perfect for beginners.
Of these Les Pauls in the video the standard white one is closest to the feel and profile of an ESP neck if you’re looking for a Custom that plays like an ESP 👍
Congrats on starting the guitar journey! Let me know what you end up picking and how you like it
Great review, so far the best one available.
I have an Epiphone Les paul custom pro with ebony fretboard Alpine white and the new Epi IGC (black beauty).
For me it feels like, when I'm lazy to play I usually goes for my LP AW since it has a 0.9 strings and the neck is thicker. Otherwise, I use my new Epi IGC, which is AMAZING! It definitely fulfilled my dream instead of buying a Gibson Black beauty which is way more expensive. Maybe one day who knows, meantime, I'm happy and having fun with these 2.
Side note, my EPI IGC's fretboard seems to be much better finished than the one you have shown in the video.
Glad you’re enjoy both of yours! They each have things the other one doesn’t so they balance nicely. Honestly, I totally understand the desire for a Gibson, but if you get the flagship Custom over a specific reissue you may be underwhelmed because of how close the new Epiphone is - it’s incredible!
I’ve also gotta say that I used an extreme macro lens for the fretwork closeup - to the naked eye I didn’t even catch that stuff! Even the tooling marks aren’t noticeable unless I’m right on it and they’re definitely not something I feel when playing
Thanks for watching and the kind words. Congrats on the new Les Paul!
The white sound exactly like my propecy gx who gots exactly the same pickup 490R and 498T. I alway do the same as you when i change my strings excepted i use always elixir stings because of the feeling sound and longevity of the string the ernie ball always come oxided too quicly.
Very nice video.
i own Exactly One of the Black Beauty LP Custom shown in this nice video
300% feel you when you say is your most beloved Guitar of all times
it truly is just like a Angelic Gothic Cathedral dream made into Guitar form
perfect for my type of instrumental Funeral Doom/Black Metal music
well also Massive SG Custom lover at the same time, truly cannot decide which Guitar type i love the best i guess both equally
anything that resembles good guitars such this are just my kind
specially also those Good Hybrid between Lespaul & SG
Thanks for making this video. I own both Gibson and Epiphone, and I am not one to freak out if the Epiphone rivals a Gibson in sound or playability. I have 2 Epiphone LP Customs and my Gibson LP has the 490/498 combo. When I play through my solid state amp, the difference between the Probucker and the 498 is noticeable, but not by a huge margin. If I plug into my tube amp, a DSL 40 with a lot of gain, the 498 really separates itself from the Probuckers.
I am curious to try one of the IGC Epi LPC's as the Gibson model just might forever be out of my price range. It is what it is, no sour grapes from me. One thing stuck out to me. Is it the headstock angle that makes the Gibson feel better than the Epiphone?
Agreed about the bridge and tailpiece on the iGC. If Epiphone can give it to other models, this one deserves it just as much.
Thank you for watching!
Yeah I went the DI route for the initial comparison because amps (and even certain models) can color things differently enough to where it might not be an accurate representation of the pickups.
The IGC is great if you’re considering one! I actually just said in another comment that I was almost bored because of just how close it is to the Gibson - it barely felt like a different guitar!
I feel like it could be the headstock angle that makes the Gibson feel different but I suppose it could also be the angle because even between the Gibson’s I’ve played each one’s tension can feel a touch different even though all the other stuff is set the same. Because on the flip side of this IGC and Gibson feeling different, the 355 I had feels exactly like one of my other Gibsons. It’s fascinating 🧐
probuckers have that muddy squeel 490r/498t has the perfect feel IMHO
I Just traded my 2021 epi LP custom for a 2024 alpine, great LP Custom comparison
Thanks! Yeah I’d agree with you there. I think that’s why I like Probuckers in heavily processed environment environments so much
And congratulations on that new custom!
This is probably the best epiphany custom video, others don’t go into much depth on the actual important things like the pickup specifics. You played the Wino?
Glad you enjoyed it! I thought I might’ve went in to details a little too exhaustively 😅 but that’s the stuff that stands out to me
I haven’t played the Wino sadly. Jerry Cantrell is the reason I started playing and responsible for my LPC fascination… it’s just been hard for me to catch one in stock! I like that white one too and hopefully at some point I’m able to check them both out
I own a wino and the neck profile is the biggest difference. It's very similar to a 60's C vs the standard Epiphone Custom.
Oh that’s sounds like it’s pretty close to the Gibson profile then? I really gotta check one of those out! Have you tried the prophecy?
@@sunnyhaair I have not tried that one but Epiphone say's "artist profile" which is what they say about the Wino version.
@@sunnyhaairWHAT!?!? Youre friggin kidding me my man lol. Jerry is the reason I play and I'm considered a young AIC fan at 34yo lol. I have the Wino right now on my worktable getting a little love, its a FANTASTIC guitar man ya gotta try it out. Plus i think Epis 98T is a little ruder/nastier than Gibsons 498T I love both though. Probably my favorite bridge pickup ever, hot but still tight. I love the JB too but you get too heavy handed with it and youre pulling subs with the bassist 😂
Wow, this is absolutely a great video! Thank you so much!
Thanks for watching Jason I’m glad you enjoyed it!
What was the CD Project Red job?
It started out as a track I titled “Comatose.” It was a losing contest entry for a Cyberpunk expansion but they got the rights to that and later I was commissioned for another one as well. Not really sure what’s become of either one tbh because I’ve never actually played Cyberpunk and it’s been radio silence for a year now lol. The irony is I feel like Comatose is some of my best
work but I can’t share it and I don’t know if they will either! I’m a gamer though so it’s still been a cool experience. Thanks for asking!
But which one felt the best in your hands and can you honestly say that the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop is a better or close to equal value than shelling out a small mint for the Gibson
The Gibson felt the best because that neck shape feels like it was made for my hand (and most peoples’ hands I’d guess) being a slim C.
The fact that the IGC was close enough for me to think it was the Les Paul I’ve played for hundreds of hours over the last year really did shock me because from a measurement perspective the necks are different enough to where I KNEW they were different right? The Gibson’s my favorite- and there was no contest. But I was wrong. When playing it, my mind didn’t register that different neck or the poly finish on the IGC. I honestly find it close enough to the Gibson that if I played it without knowing it was an Epiphone, I would just think it was a Gibson from a different era - maybe a 57 reissue or an 80s model or something. Whereas I’ve never been able to say that about any other Epiphone.
Thanks for watching and the question!
Pickup and height make a difference along with strings then speakers so at that point anesthetics is the main difference I would see here
Maybe I missed it, but I'd be curious to know what the 3 guitars weigh.
Edit: you mention they are all about 9 lbs. Curious if you've weighed them after the fact.
Great review,
I have an Epiphone elite 2003 Les Paul custom (made in Japan) and is a phenomenal guitar. Have you tried a side by side of that and a gibson LP custom?
I think it will be the closest match.
I went into pmt the other weekend with every intention of buying an Adam jones epiphone but ended up leaving with the aj standard, for me the Gibson just beats the epi in every department although epiphone have come a long way since my old heavy as shit epi lester
If you buy a Gibson you are only buying the name.. Any guitar can be made to play perfectly. I can put strings and pickups on a two by four and if it is set up right it will play just like a Gibson.
Elegant in an understated way. Dude, it has gold hardware, multiple ply binding, mother of pearl inlays. There is no understatement with this guitar. It is the Trumpian zenith of ostentatiousness.
목소리 무슨 탐사 보도 하는거같네.. 무서워 ㅋㅋㅋ
Think you might do a standalone Pod Express video? Kinda interested in one (and it sounds good here) and I'd definitely watch it if you did one.
@@ak2112 Yeah that would be fun, I love this thing and it’s made me play more than ever. Anything in particular you’d like to hear it do or hear an opinion on? Thanks for watching and for the suggestion!
Capital Kind of Strain! Thought I recognized that. I'm sure your content is great but I'm subbing for the Autolux nod alone.
YESSSS! Someone knows it! I’ve played it in a few videos waiting for someone to catch it. Love that band and that’s a part I play every time I pick up a guitar.
Thanks for subscribing!
Loved the review, thank you!
Thanks! And thank you for watching!
I have a 2021 Custom in silverburst with the Epi Probuckers. Those pickups are terrible. Muddy, undefined when playing chords and low output. I’m switching them for Dimarzio SDs. Otherwise, I really love the guitar. Very well made and looks great.👍🏻
They are purposely made to be low output for clarity, but you can raise them to get more oomph, although they'll never be exactly the same as higher output, and there are many other factors than output ohms. I have the opposite problem, since my preference are clean tones the Gibson humbuckers and especially P90 pickups tend to be too high output, so I lower them way down, which helps - but lower output pickups are still better to my ears. You can always add gain with a peddle, but if the pickups are too high-output you can never get the clarity back, although lowering does help.
Am i tripping or really the white epi has the most definied DI?
Your feet are firmly planted on the ground 🤘 The white one was more defined. I didn’t include the spectrum analysis on that one, but it had a lot less going on under 200Hz so it sounds much cleaner in a DI setting. Basically a mix ready EQ!
FINALLY... I've been waiting for this exact comparison! Both Epiphones sound great. I reckon the maple cap on the Inspired By Gibson Custom model is why the highs sound different. Also the pickups are different - vintage pafs (probuckers) vs modern pafs (490/498). The great thing about these guitars is they are supposed to be different rather than just an update. I guess they kind of mimic the Gibson 57 and 68 models
Also, ProBuckers are amazing! I have a set of them in a Gibson LP because I prefer them to BurstBuckers
Yep you’re spot on! They definitely modeled the standard Epi to fit the vintage tone range but luckily Probuckers can work for the more modern tones as well. The 498 specifically struggles to do the more mellow stuff. And I completely agree with you about it being great that it’s something new instead of like what they’re doing with the 59 Standard. The more Customs in the marketplace the better I say haha I’m sure at some point they’ll release a period specific one in the IGC lineup
Thanks for watching by the way!
There are lots of comparison videos out there. This is probably the best comparison…hands down. In my opinion, I believe that the manufacturers would also benefit by your evaluations. Clear, concise and mainly…to the point. I own many guitars and all different types and manufacture. I wish that I could have had a resource like this for all of them. You also mentioned products that will make playability and care the utmost. This information that you have presented is nothing short of the best that I have seen. Thank you so much for this.
That means a lot to me thank you! I’m glad you found it to be concise cause I wondered if I might’ve went in to too much detail 😅 Thanks again for watching!
Thanks for the great review and demo.
I bought the new Epiphone les paul custom with open book headstock. It is a great guitar and sounds great in either digital, normal solid state or tube amps.. Like you say.. It is an Epiphone that closely resembles a true gibson in looks, feel and sound.. I doubt that anyone would tell the differences in a live band performance setting... One question though.... Is there a difference in the styling and the font of the speed knobs between the new epiphone and the gibson?
Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed! You’re right it does sound great thru everything. I actually thought about including a segment where I play it thru a little solid state Peavey combo but the video ran long so I didn’t.
I just compared the knobs and they are exactly the same 👍
Thanks again for watching and congrats on the new Les Paul!
Although I like the stock speed knobs on my IGC LP Custom Alpine White, I realized I like it more when I tried changing them to the black Gibson Tophats with gold metal inserts.
@@mr3klax That sounds cool...
@@pauljohnson3686 Yeah, I really like it so much so that I went ahead and also changed the stock knobs on my 4 other Epiphone Les Pauls, including my new Ebony IGC 1959 ES-355.
Really well done!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Good job !!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Way to heavy and quality issues
Definitely not light... And my old bonamassa black beauty had to be a pound or two heavier 🤘😅🤘
I like heavy guitars 😞
Same here 👌
How do you figure it is heavy? I have a 1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom and it weighs 14.5LBS., My Gibson LP Standards weigh over 10LBS. Most of the IGC I have seen come in around 8.5 to 9 so that is really light as far as Les Pauls go.
I bought the Larry Carlton L-7 Black Beauty, better choice 😊
I haven’t had a chance to play one but I’ve heard really good things about Sire. How do you find the pickups?
@@sunnyhaair IAM not a pro player by no means, but I own two sires and absolutely love them, the L-7 les Paul has the cut away at the upper frets, the only model that has it, beats Gibson 😊👍
Hi Gain = every guitar sounds the same even a Telecaster