Epiphone Les Paul VS Gibson Les Paul 7 Reasons Why They Are NOT The Same
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video we compare the Gibson Les Paul Original VS The Epiphone Les Paul "inspired by Gibson" (see pinned comment)
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Correction, The Bridge Is an ABR 1, I misread that when preparing this. Thanks for pointing it out
No worries. The only reason I know is because when I went shopping for a Les Paul recently, that was one thing I made sure it didn't have stock (they came stock on the GT model from a few years ago) ! Wasn't really too fond of the tonepros on my ESPs....
would love to see a video on humbuckers in a tele or even humbuckers in an ibanez or superstrat for that matter
I know why a Stratocaster with a humbucker does not sound like a Les Paul. However, I still like you to explain it. It makes for good entertainment.
Hey Dylan what do you think about the 70's Gibson harmonica bridge? I'm wondering if you can intonate it better. From looks it seems there is more room for the saddles to be adjusted. I'm wondering whats your thoughts vs the ABR-1 or a Nashville. Thank you buddy
Thanks for the video. 7 good points, but I have a couple of counterpoints. 1, tonewood isn't real, the difference between true mahogany and the other is purely cosmetic and I just don't care; and 2, I can take a $750 Epiphone, replace the bridge with one I like better, replace the pickups with Dylan pickups, replace the nut with a real graphtech, and at that point it's still a lot cheaper than a Gibson and it's no longer clearly inferior in any way - with your pickups I bet it would sound better. Plus if I decide next week I want to try active pickups or a b-bender or a floyd rose or what have you, I can just do it. If you have a $2500 Gibson you're kind of in a cage so far as modifications go - yes you can swap pickups, if you're very careful, but a b-bender? Active electronics? I just play for fun and modifying the gear is half the fun.
@@treybennett35 , well, I'm not Dylan, but I can tell you that the Gibson (really Schaller) harmonica bridge is great. They are not at all cheaply made and are of high quality, frankly much better than the Nashville bridges that superseded them.
And yes, they will handle intonation very well. In fact, that's why they were designed, because back in 60s Gibson didn't always get the post holes for the earlier ABR-1 bridges in place, so those guitars that they screwed up on didn't intonate very well. The harmonica bridge allowed for a lot more room for slop, but they don't need that anymore in the age of the CNC machine.
But never feel the harmonica bridge is something to avoid, they were as well made as a bridge can be and were of very high quality.
The one massive thing everyone always forgets when purchasing guitars is that it doesn't matter how much you spend on a guitar it doesn't make you a better player. Only practice will do that!
People spend far too much time on TH-cam and forums asking stupid questions like "Can this amp play metal" and "Will I get Slash tones with this guitar" and not enough time playing their instruments
@@darthgibsonlp6631 I'll go with that. I don't want to sound like anyone else; I want to be me, with a sound I like.
@@darthgibsonlp6631 exactly right!! Two hours spent messing around online instead of 2 hours practising actual scales. Then realising later that tone is more about practice than gear.
Who cares about being good… what of you just “like guitars”
@@DylanTalksTone by all means collect guitars until your heart is content then. However for those people who just collect, tone and playability aren't going to be of great of a concern. I mean everyone wants the holy grail of gibson "the 59" but for players that own them and actually play them I.e Jimmy Page almost always change something about them because of playability and tone.
The quality of guitars being produced in the far east today has risen dramatically in recent years. I have modified, assembled and set up guitars for 30 years. It was rare for me to pick up a guitar and not want to replace something regardless of where it was manufactured. My last 2 purchases were an Epiphone Les Paul Modern and a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe and they needed nothing.
Agreed, guitars today are far better made than 25 years ago, I actually love my copies better. I just bought another epiphone but this time and ES335 and love it!!
I have an Epiphone and after I had it upgraded, it’s just as good as my Gibson. The only thing is that it doesn’t have the pretty wood colors as like the Gibson
I have 5 Epiphones. 3 of the “new headstock” ones. I have 5 Gibsons ranging 1992 to 2017. No, they are not the same. Do I love my Epiphones? Hell yeah. They are a lot more like my Gibsons than my Fenders are. lol Point is, they don’t need to be the same to still be good guitars.
👍😀
Yes Wicked ! I bet you love each one of your ten guitars because they're all different in some way, even though some would ask you " why do you have ten guitars the same?"
I reckon you'd like 10 bucks for every time someone asked that ?
All the best, cheers !.
very true
Last sentence is everything you need to know 👍
I agree with this statement!
Another interesting fact is my friend Chris Hicks just joined the Marshall Tucker band and he plays a Epiphone LP Goldtop and he sounds amazing. So there's a little proof that the sound is more in the fingers.
I bought my first Les Paul recently, after 40 years of playing Fenders exclusively. But I couldn't fork out the cash for a Standard so I bought the Tribute, which feels amazing, (I much prefer the satin finish), plays and sounds amazing -- and at $1200, comes in at half the price of its older sibling. If you want an all-American Gibson and can live without the extra coats of nitrocellulose and the binding, this is one great bang for your buck
I hate nitro finishes. Lol I prefer satin.
I like the cheaper real Gibsons more than the super pricey ones for that very reason, Satin finish or whatever finish the old faded series had is killer, binding and all that is just stupid waste of money has nothing to do with tone or how well your tool performs, guitar is a tool, Tributes are fantastic btw
TheLead satin is the sheen of the finish not the type and yes Nitro comes in satin. Poly while i dont love it i dont hate it for its durability...., BUT.... its sticky af on the neck. I steel wool all of my poly necks to kill that off
@@alexmayhew8989 learn something new every day lol
nitro finish is magnificent
The difference is how good your amp is.
If you have a Gibson, your amp is probably more expensive too.
A very good amp is the great equalizer, cheap guitars sound like expensive guitars thru a really good amp.
@@dannytribble1186 and the inverse is also true, if not more so
@@dannytribble1186 honestly tho, I have a 300 dollar Squier Strat that sounds amazing because of my 40 watt Peavey amp
@@sydguitar99 👍
Fact, sound is subjective to whom is listing. When gigging, most of the people there are civilians and not musicians. They're there to have fun, blow off some steam, and party. They're all drinking (believe me by the end of the first set, most will be 2 sheets into the wind) and if the tune is familiar and the band can play it decently, believe me, they won't know that your Epi LP sound, isn't the same as a Gibson LP sounds. Heck most if not all of them don't know that all of the songs on Led Zeppelin 1 were recorded on a Telecaster, and they won't care. As long as it sounds good to the audience who cares. A Band or Guitarist with decent equipment, that plays well, will always beat a band or guitarist with expensive equipment that can't play well.
As someone who plays in a band myself, I agree wholeheartedly that most people won't know whether you're playing an expensive instrument tone-wise or not because it wouldn't be their area of expertise. The problem however is is that I will know and more crucially I will 'hear' the difference. I'm no great shakes as a musician myself but I've spent years playing cheaper instruments and so when I could afford better ones and got them, I could hear the difference definitely. It can be argued that it will make no difference to the audience but I'll enjoy myself more playing a better sounding instrument obvious as that sounds. I'm not even saying my playing itself will be any better but what I do play will sound better at least to my ears. If I'm enjoying myself more, that will be obvious to the audience and will help them enjoy themselves more. I've seen musicians going through the motions where they've lost the love of playing or it was always merely a means of income for them full stop.Yeah if they're capable enough, it's ok but it's always better to see someone enjoying themselves and performing with enthusiasm and so if playing better sounding instruments contributes to that, then why not I say. Of course somebody more talented than me can play a rubbish instrument and make it sound much better than I can with a better instrument but the fact is, as a limited musician, and I do practice a lot by the way, playing a better instrument makes me sound better and as I've said, perform with more zest. Sorry for the essay.
@@padraiglyons5439 I play an Epiphone Casino (the $700 model not the $2600 model) I can tell the difference in the sound. I still don't play good enough to spend the difference. Most people can't tell the difference and I have only been asked once if it is the expensive or cheap one. When I told him it was the cheap one he said it sounded better than he thought it would.
Try this:
Guitar stays in tune - Check
Feels comfortable to play - Check
Looks good - Check
Good pickups (Upgrade them if they are not good) - Check
Even for most musicians... If you close your eyes. Can you tell the difference in sound between and Epi LP with a Seymour JB and a Jazz, and a Gibson LP with the same pickups? Lets try three times and put a bet on it.
One step further and just listening... I would pick the sound of an Epi LP with Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, or Seymour Duncan 59s any day over a Gibson LP Studio stock. Any day.
But if it makes you happy and proud to own an expensive Gibson, and you can afford it that's cool.
I have played some real US Gibsons that feel or sound of lower quality. You can search the internet for "Gibson Les Paul broken headstock" or "Gibson Les Paul tuning problems". Share here what you find. Gibson Les Pauls are known for headstocks that break easily and tuning problems.
If you want to flash your money, and get better quality, try a PRS.
Anderton's has a video of one of their guys blindfolded trying to distinguish HIS Gibson from an Epiphone copy. When he listened and his buddy played he got it wrong. When they put his guitar in his hands he got it right.
@@fbcpraise And that is whithout upgrading pickups in the Epi...
I finally got to experience that new Gibson guitar aroma with my first Gibson cherry burst les paul standard and I'm so glad that I waited 3 years after the new Gibson team took over and started doing what they do and that's making a good guitar because that's what they do.
I've watched, listened to reviews and how they noticed that the guitars were getting better so I made my decision to get one now before the prices started going up. I haven't plugged it into my new marshall head and cabinet but acoustically I I can hear that it is going to sound awesome and without a bunch of effect pedals that I will sprinkle in a little for flavor and not to cover up the natural sound that this guitar has.
this guitar is a piece of art and a Rock n Roll machine I just love what Gibson is doing btw I'm not a wealthy person to go buy a guitar like this I'm a 56 year old retired teamster that has played $500 guitars with cheaper non tube amps and now that the kids are grown time for Dad to start Rockin again I got the time and the equipment and a garage with tv for football a refrigerator for cold beer a pool table couches and doubles as my office and yes sometimes I have to sleep on the couch I have everything in my garage to survive a nuclear attack.
in fact I'm going to fire up a bowl of sativa.
Where do you recommend purchasing a Gibson from, and have they fixed the pickguard screw making a hole on the maple top issue?
@@MrDream-zm1pw My 2 cents - but I always buy Gibsons at a physical store. For starters, if you're buying clear color, you might want to see the top so you can pick the one that you like (even plain tops look very different) - I treat it as though I'm starting a new relationship haha - wouldn't want to go in blind. Also, check that there aren't small blemishes in the finish, i.e. check the fingerboard for small tooling marks - i've seen that in a few of the 2020s (it's not to the level where they'd call it a b-stock for the demo shop, but something that you could avoid if you get to try out). The store should be giving you a full setup before it exits the store as well. Depending on where you are, the fingerboards may need a good coat of oil, standard 5 point check, new strings etc... Current models have a felt pad under the pickguard screw.
Fk, I wanna come over! I got my first LP 3 years ago - but since it was a humble Tribute, I didn't experience any nitro aroma.
Buuuttt! Last year I coughed up for an SG Special (Gib), and I got hit in the face with a a palpable punch of nitro aroma! Damn, that smell, while you're laying eyes on your new baby...it's really something. It's special. (Excuse the bad pun).
I'm not wealthy at all, either friend. These two Gibsons are my greatest possessions. I really don't own anything of value much..besides my guitars and gear.
Btw...that's the SG in my circle up there👈👈👈. You see him..? The Pelham Blue one there..?
Rock on , fellow rocker! 🤘😎
@@MrDream-zm1pw i concur.
@@lueysixty-six7300 don't sniff it too much. lol btw I had to wait 56 years and 3 weeks.i was into the 80's guitar I should've bought a few back in the 80's and saved until they were vintage.but that isn't what I get guitars for.
I like the way Dylan discounts other peoples opinions as just opinions; then gives us HIS opinion... some of the things he says are true, some are just his opinion...
I agree. He doesn't provide any proof.
I'm more inclined to believe a guy who's job it is to make pickups than some random online
Opinions are like arseholes; everyone has one, you just don’t have to be one.
"The smell of a new Gibson in the case is worth the price alone" I came here to agree with this. I want an air freshener in that scent 🤤
This answers so many questions I've had for a long time: thanks!
Really appreciate you and your content. I feel like some visuals would help one some of these subjects. It’s great when you have an actual pickup with you to show the differences.
Please make the video about why a telecaster with humbuckers won't sound like a les paul! Thank you!
I got a guitar to disprove that lol. Fender fmt the neck pickup sounds a awful lot like a Les Paul not exact but it's very Les Paul construction type tele. Set neck maple top mahogany body and neck.
@@armandomorales3809 thats not a Tele 🤨🙄🙄
@@papasmamas1 but it looks like one 😭 maybe I've been mislead.
Tis a fine guitar but tis no telecaster english...
Which btw I'm not a guy out there chasing tones I could care less what my guitars sound like compared to each other but I just really like my tele and surprising people they made a guitar even like that.
I need to say: I LOVE my Epiphone '59 Outfit. It has what you mentioned: Switchcraft Switch, CTS Pots, Mullard Caps, 50's wiring and...................... USA Burstbucker 2 & 3 :-)
Wonder if Dylan has ever seen one in person? They are superb. I agree 100%. Best value Les Paul EVER. Hands down
@@SamVecchio Thanks for your kind comment! My new No. 1 Guitar!
I bought the 59 also, really impressed and happy with it, it's got a deep creamy singing tone to it😎👊
Love and appreciate that you focus so much on OBJECTIVE differences. I really value that about your videos that I've seen.
Not related to the video but I just wanted to say big fan on your channel. Discovered it two months ago. I’ve learned a ton, I have applied much of it to my gear, and very recently rebuilt my guitar inside and out. What I learned from your page allowed me to customize my guitar to my exact liking and It feels amazing to play. Also as a fellow Dylan I appreciate the “Dylan” Merch ha.
My '93 MIK (Samick factory) Epiphone Les Paul Custom Black Beauty (2 humbucker) is, without a doubt, the best Les Paul I've ever owned. The internals were all replaced with CTS/Switchcraft, Russian PIO K-40 caps, Gavitt vintage cloth wiring. The bridge and bridge posts were also replaced with Gibson parts including a Nashville bridge. Finally the tuners are Grover 18:1 vintage style.
Since I bought that guitar I've sold my Gibson Les Pauls, all 3 of them. The Epi has better playability, feels more solid, sustains better, and has better action for my taste...very low and no buzzing. I remember being in love with Zeppelin as a kid and buying my first Les Paul clone in the mid 80's and I've played and owned more Gibson Les Pauls than I can count. But there's something about my Epiphone and how everything just comes together, I don't want to sound ridiculous but it's almost magical. I've had buddies play it and offer to trade me their lower end Gibsons for it and the answer is always no. A few weeks ago I was offered a SG Standard and turned that down as well.
Nobody believes me that the pickups are original either but they are. I'm a pickup snob and incredibly picky about humbuckers particularly...and never once did I think about changing these stock ones.
I totally agree with everything being put forth in the video, especially when we're talking about stock Gibson vs stock Epiphone. But at one point I think the Korean and Japan factories were using really good woods and the build quality did indeed rival the Gibson models, to the point where those imports were starting to cut into Gibson profits so they stopped making them. I'll just say this...if you ever come across an early 90's Epi Les Paul Custom with an S serial, plug her in and give her a play. You might be surprised.
I think if you want a les Paul you should absolutely get an epiphone over a chibson. But if you can get a vintage Japanese made Greco or Burny or an Orville that is definitely a great option as well unless you just absolutely have to have a Gibson... start off with a used studio because you can find one for a about the same price as a new epiphone les Paul 59. I’ve had a few epiphones ive since sold then and bought Gibson Les Pauls but they were great for the moment that I had them... I still own a 2004 epiphone dot studio it’s my favorite semi hollow body I own
Couple of Qs -how would you rate the differences between a fixed vs. a bolt-on neck? General consensus seems to be fixed=better sustain - do you agree? (I would also guess that the very fact that a (cheaper) guitar with a bolt-on neck will likely be constructed from more inexpensive woods overall - what do you reckon the relative impact of these factors?
Also, let's say I have a guitar with a bolt-on neck which is set up just how I like it - would there be any value/advantage in simply glueing & bolting the neck (epoxy?) into place?
Thanks for any thoughts
Can i get your opinion, should i buy an adam jones Epiphone or the lp studio from gibson, the epiphone is vastly upgraded from stock but i should say right now im playing on a marshall 30 and i am buying to play not to collect.
Love to see a video (with sound samples) between a Gibson Les Paul Standard R9 vs Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard Outfit. I own the Epiphone and love it. Has the Gibson Burstbuckers 2 & 3 with CTS and Mallory caps. It’s amazing. I’ve owned a few Gibson LPs (Never a R9) but this punches WAY above its weight.
I think Andertons did that video.
@@cole5561 I’ll check it out. Thanks
Agree, have the 59 and Lazarus. Have new Gibson LP Tribute that is going in a box back to them.....
I have a 2013 epi les paul 60s tribute and a 2016 gibson les paul traditional.. The epi is top of the line came from the factory with cts pots, Mallory caps, grover locking tuners, gibson 57 classic pups,switchcraft switch, a real full maple cap not veneer a long neck tenon, and rosewood fretboard.. In 2013 it was $ 800 amazing guitar. Have a played it side by side with my gibby that also.has the 57 classic pups Surprisingly th Epi is more resonant and has more sustain.
In high school in 1971 I worked part time after school cleaning a bakery. I saved every dime and then went to the guitar store with cash in hand. They pulled a brand new walnut finish ES-335 from the stock room that still hadn't been opened yet. They opened the box and I was the first person since the factory to hold that guitar, and I still remember the smell of that new nitro finish.
I would like to see the Tele Humbucker video :) I have an Epi LP Trad Pro Limited Edition. This the GC special and it has the "same" specs as the EPI standard just with push/pull pots and a statin neck. I replaced the pups with Gibson 590r/t and really love the sound. Recently, I've been going into GC to play the Gibson 50s and 60s. Hard for me to tell the difference other than the necks are really different. I have reserved a Sire L7, but wondering if this just another Epiphone LP from another mother? Any thoughts? Thanks
Great video! Been wondering what all the real differences are for awhile. I knew the price difference had to be more than just because of the country where the guitar was made. I will say I’m the proud owner of a higher end epiphone and I honestly don’t see my self buying a Gibson anytime soon. Personally I don’t think these differences are big enough to buy a Guitar priced 3 to 4 times as much money. But that’s just me cause at the end of the day, it’s you that makes your guitar sound good. The guitar is an extension to who you are and biggest thing that effects tone is your heart and sole! Sounds kinda silly but just think about for a moment.👍
Thanks for making me a proud owner of two Gibsons I bought for a song ( but waited for a decade to get). Having said this, I also own a couple of decent Epiphones and my ear tells me they aren't bad for the money. Like any musician who started out with a Sear' s acoustic and learned the value of a good guitar later on, I would never ever take my Gibsons on the road, strictly studio recording only.
Hey enjoyed your comparison. Question: I am looking at the Epiphone Prophecy LP, which has Fishman Fluence pups and Grover locking tuners. Would you say this has higher quality than the $699 Epi? Maybe that transfers to the other features of the Epi as well. It's $900. Thanks.
Great video, as always. As a pickup guy, what do you think of the Seymour Duncan P-Rails ?
I've gotta say a couple things. I agree a Gibson is different. But a couple points I can tell from experience. I had a 2008 epiphone les paul custom in ebony. It had a true mahogany neck and body, 2 piece body. Also, a true rosewood fretboard. And lastly grover sealed tuners.
Yeah, they changed. While I agree that Epis are not the same quality as Gibson, many things have changed in Epiphone, for instance the Grovers and fretboard woods. I have 3 Epis, and they all have Grover tuners
I own an Epi LP standard 2019 as well as an Epi SG standard pro 2017. I also own a 2021 Gibson LP Tribute. The Gibson is superior, BUT!!!!!!! my 2 Epi's are still in my collection because they play and feel pretty damn good. Of course the Epi's have been upgraded to around the same price as the Gibson Tribute. I will say this! I love playing all of them and will always keep the Epi's because they a really good instruments. Just a side note. My Epi LP is made in China in 2019 and my SG pro was made in Indonesia in 2017. The SG plays almost as good as the Gibson LP Tribute. ALMOST! Great video Dylan.
I agree. Once you upgrade parts on an Epi, it's a great player.
There is nothing wrong with owning Epiphone's at all. I've got an Epiphone and a couple Gibson's, the epiphones are much harder to find a good example though. I had to search hard for ones that had good frets but once I found one it's a great gig guitar.
@@seanc.5310 The Epi is a guitar I can leave out on a stand. It makes me nervous to leave the Gibby out.
@@qua7771 Absolutely. I also like the idea of owning a Gibson LP and a few variants in Epiphones like an ES style or Casino or something with P90's, it all depends on each person's preference but for me I need to own a Gibson LP at minimum in my collection.
My Epi LP Standard is 20 years old and was produced in Czech Republic (Europe) at that time. It is a great guitar and i don't really miss anything when playin it, but still i want to own a gibson LP one day just because ....yes ...i don't know... maybe it's just the headstock and a bit of prestige.. ;-)
Your DAF humbuckers - does the alnico 3 set have the same output/resistance for the neck and bridge or is the neck lower output than the bridge?
they are a bit different
Bought a Dylan centerpunch and tele flat 6 a couple weeks ago. They are absolutely what I wanted for my sound. I have a Les Paul 73 custom. Thinking of putting a centerpunch in it.
I recently tried out a bunch of Les Pauls, both from Epiphone and Gibson. I ended up choosing the Epiphone Les Paul Muse for it's features, which I don't believe have a Gibson counterpart. I don't expect it to be of the same quality as a Gibson, but then again I don't need it to be. It plays and sounds great and perfectly serves the purpose I have for it. If it starts falling apart, I can always replace the odd part. The fact that it costs much less than a Gibson doesn't hurt either.
Always love Tele videos. They never get old to me
Great breakdown! I buy Gibbies myself, I didn’t know about the ‘Nu-bone’ thing either, thanks! Great video 🤙
Yes, I agree with pretty much the whole talk. I have never owned an Epi, but I have owned 4 LPs and 2 335s. So definitely familiar. I could see an Epi for exactly the reason you said - in the end, swap out PUPs (I tend to do that with almost everything anyway...) and then off we go. Figure out any other mods later.
For me, it's always come down to price vs quality. Every Epiphone I've picked up or bought, I couldn't fault the setup and finish. Yeah the pickups aren't as good, but their Gibson designed pickups sound close. I certainly didn't feel that any Gibson I compared it to at the time was 4x better. In-fact, a lot of the GIbson's I compared had minor faults to them. At $4500AU+ price point, it's unacceptable to have ANY fault.
Unfortunately there's a lot of "If it's not USA made, it's rubbish. USA made stuff is better". Being from Australia and not always having access to products or prices the US guys get, I certainly have a different point of view on US made stuff. Sure, if you're a US resident buy US - makes sense for your economy. I'm not in the US, so it doesn't make a shred of difference to me.
But you're right in as much as if you don't like something on the guitar, they're cheap to upgrade what you want. And you still have enough money left over for a carton of beer!
It actually should matter to you eventhough you're not American. Do you want the whole world to just rely on China for everything? Say goodbye to freedom and liberty that took thousands of years too achieve because you want to save a few bucks for yourself. Who cares what world you leave for our children in the future right! If the American economy falls the whole free world WILL fall it is not my opinion but a fact, sad but true. The only reason Chinese made stuff is even near good quality is because they are copying American quality. If American quality ceases to exist so will the great Chinese guitars. Every Chinese company is controlled by the communist government. The first day they don't have to worry about America the quality will go out the window. Generations decades later would never know what real quality looks like anymore and it'll be like freedom and liberty never existed. But hey at least you can buy a six pack still.
People around the world really need to start using their brains. If you bought an American Les Paul 10 years ago even you could sell it and with the profit alone by another Gibson whereas an epiphone is worth half as much. It all boils down to one thing. Do you want to leave your kids value or trash?
Unfortunately the majority of folks alive today are soulless and could care less about the future.
@@drewjohnson4794 Not entirely true. Is the quality of a Gibson so much better than an Asian made guitar? Gibsons been sourcing a lot of their hardware from China for years. So the only thing USA made is perhaps the body and neck. And Gibson stock doesn't always go up in value.
Unfortunately times have changed and you need to look at how you use the guitar. It might be nice to have a $10K Gibson, if you were a well payed muso playing stadium arenas. But most of us aren't. Are you really going to play that $10K Gibson at a weekend pub gig? I think not.
@@peterschmidt9942 Not true! Over 90% of their parts are made in the USA, this is required by law in order to stamp it on the headstock! Also there’s a huge difference between a Chinese sweatshop and Gipson In Nashville TN, one of these are mass produced while the other are all made individually by hand!The fact that you’re sitting there trying to compare the to proves to me you either can’t afford a Gipson or you’re you’re content just playing importuned cheap crap and couldn’t care less about keeping WELL PAYING jobs in America!
@@werewolflover8636 Its a pretty old comment, but anyway you obviously didn't read what I said in it. A $4500 guitar should have ZERO faults. Whether I have money to buy a Gibson or not is irrelevant. Whether I have money to by a Squier or USA Fender would also be irrelevant. What I look for in a guitar is value for price. If an expensive guitar is well made it might be justified. But what I find is the inflated prices for some higher end guitars aren't justified. Gibson being one of them.
You've also just proved my point by stating USA made products are better than overseas regardless of whether it's true or not. Am I worried about "keeping WELL PAYING jobs in America"? Nope, couldn't give two shits. I'm in Australia and ANYTHING imported from the US is overpriced here because of your one way trade agreements. We've got better trade agreements with the UK than the US. When the dollar was roughly 1:1, buying US wasn't too bad. Now with exchange rate, taxes and freight (which is the real killer), that $50 pickup isn't so enticing any more.
And you might want to re-check where your Gibson parts are made. I think you'll find there's more imported parts on a Gibson these days than you think. It's more an "assembled" in the USA. But if you're in the US, I did state your should buy in the US to help YOUR economy. Buying US does nothing for Australia.
I have an upgraded Epiphone. Gutted out with USA style electronics and USA made boutiques pickups and I also have a good stock Gibson. In my opinion they are equal quality. The Gibson looks nicer with the fancy wood. But with eyes closed, they both feel the same.
My two cents... buy a used Epiphone Plus Top, install a GraphTech nut, upgrade electronics to taste, clean up the frets, and set it up. Presto, an awesome guitar for under $700. And yes, that's the one I own. :)
I agree but you can do the same thing to the more entry level epiphones for even cheaper, its still a knock off no matter what, I do not care about tops and all that, les pauls are ugly grandpa guitars to me no matter what is done to them...lol. Great tone though!
If they were a 25 1/2" scale it's the way I would take. Dr. Epiphone sold me on the 2010 Les Paul Tribute way back then, but they're not 25 1/2".
@@tankdarla637 Les Paul is anything but a grandpa guitar. I don't own one but as a millenial I don't see anything ugly in their design. It's a classic design for a reason. At least still better than any Explorer that look like someone slipped while routing the wood.
And it’s still worthless! A Gipson will always be worth something while that cheap Chinese Knock off your pushing will be worthless the moment you buy it and it doesn’t matter how much crap you put on it your still just polishing a turd!
@@werewolflover8636 Who the fuck cares? You're not investing much money in the first place so you aren't really losing anything either. If you bought new pickups your can sell them separately. Gibson's QC is so bad that a lot of budget guitars nowadays are even better.
Yes, Tele vs LP video plz!
I bought a Riviera (mini-HBs), it sounds and plays as good as I imagined but the first thing I noticed was that the tuners and knobs felt cheap... I'm not opposed to changing these parts out, but I'd like to put a couple miles on the instrument first.
Also, suspension bridges generally, cuz this isn't the first one, are noisy with buzz. I can usually isolate the strings and note range but I can't figure out exactly what causes it. Guys tell me that's normal for these bridges, but I don't entirely buy that. Is that normal or can it be fixed/replaced?
Sir im agree with your thoughts about epiphone, last year epiphone launched ‘59 les paul (featuring gibson) and im really curious about it. Please make a thought video between gibson and epiphone les paul ‘59 because some people said it sound really “close” to gibson. Thank you I appreciate your consideration.
I like more details to back up what I kinda already know / suspected . . . epiphone used to be gibson's competitor until Gibson bough it out way back when. Like Gibson and Fender Epiphone had its own amps too . . . but the thing with epiphone is you can learn to mod it so it sounds close to a gibson equivalent . . . and when gigging, the other band's guitarist's gibson will be stolen instead of your epiphone
Yes one of the upsides of an Epi
Look man, I absolutely love Epiphone. However, none of the epiphones I've ever owned, except maybe the SG special I bought with the EMGs, ever played as good as the SG Standard I have now.
On the flip side of this, I could have taken my Epiphone outside, without a case, into the bitter freezing cold Nebraska winter, and then back into the heat, without any finish checking....in fact I did it frequently....
You have helped me be happy with my Epiphones. Thanks //ji
Very timely for me - thanks!
:-)
It’s the player , it’s always the player. The players choice, the players skill level and creativity. On paper you are correct……in the real life day to day variations of necessity not an open and shut case. Kinda like a real diamond on an ugly hand or a fake diamond on a beautiful hand. Jack Pierson plays squires off the wall like nobody’s business. I better stop typing and watching you tube and start playing. Thank you for your inspiration. Aloha
These are basically the same arguments of saying a Squier does not equal a USA made Fender.
I remember when Squier were bad quality when I was starting out, but quality has apparently improved as has Chinese production in general and this applies to all brands, including Epiphone. Is it a Gibson? No. But is it good enough for what you want? I would ask that question before considering any kind of comparison on purchasing any instrument north of 1K in price.
Squier Classic Vibes are amazing guitars. IMO the CV's are as good as a MiM. I recently picked up a used 2010 Epiphone Les Paul 50th Anniversary 1960 Standard V1 Heritage Cherry Sunburst and wow! The specs, hardware, and electronics are top notch. USA Burstbuckers are the sh1T, I cannot stop picking up this guitar!
I absolutely agree, Squire classic vibe guitars have been mistaken for custom shop Fender's in blind tests. Squire and Epiphone are amazing quality instruments for the price.
Yoo!!! I’m straight up binge watching your stuff - so glad I found your channel - Wow!!! If I may - here’s a question I would super love answered: How to do DIY soldering correctly - talking pots, switches, etc + importance of wire type, grounding dos and don’ts… also how to avoid getting burned like an idiot… seems I’m either getting cold solder or I’m melting the mofo. I would love to be introduced to some kind of training exercise for practice. Thx again!!
What about high end epiphone vs low end Gibson ? They may be built different but which one is better which one are you better off getting?
I’d never say that there aren’t differences. And I’ll acknowledge those differences justify a higher price. For me, though, I can’t imagine those differences will ever make a Gibson worth it for me. I’m generally happy with the Epiphone trade-offs.
In the end, I’m more of a Fender/Squier person anyway, though. I don’t know that I need more of a real Les Paul experience than I get from my Toronado. 😁
I did pick up one of those very low-end Epiphone Les Paul Specials recently. Mainly because I wanted to get more experience working on a guitar that I wouldn’t worry about messing up. Although the more I do that, the more I start to worry about messing it up. 😀 There’s something really special about a guitar that you put “sweat equity” into, which I always knew but only now really appreciate from experience.
I would be interested in the “Tele with humbucker isn’t the same as a Les Paul” topic. Not because I’d disagree, but I always find it interesting to hear the discussion.
Go play a Gibson you can tell a world of difference. I have owned both
@@samright4661 I’ve played plenty of Gibsons.
I own equal nunbers of Gibsons and epiphones, and i've seen Epi rise in quality a lot over the last few years. The hardware argument isn't as strong at it used to be, since the IBG Epiphones all have CTS pots and Grover tuners and the upgraded locking bridge. Their pickups are quite good, even if Gibson pickups are a bit richer, and there are models like my 59 with proper Gibson Burstbuckers. My Gibson SG Standard and Thunderbird and J45 are special instruments tho.
Epiphone upgrading the nut was a big deal for me. That was the first thing I used to do with Epiphones. And often a quality nut will really improve a guitar.
The CTS pots and Grover tuners Epiphone uses still isn't the same quality as the ones Gibson uses, it's like buying a cabinet that says it's got Celestion speakers yet they're 70/80s and not vintage 30s.
@@srh361 you’re talking out the dose or your mouth. Do you own one? Didn’t think so.
@@michaelmenkes8085
He might have a point with the tuners since Grover is a company that makes a wide range of tuners at different price points. It’s conceivable that Gibson/Epiphone could order less expensive tuners that have slightly different specs for Epiphone guitars. I’m not suggesting that they are doing this, but it is within the realm of possibility.
As far as the CTS pots are concerned he’s full of it. The pots are either within the specific tolerances or they aren’t, and Gibson/Epiphone are going to make sure they are getting exactly what they ordered from CTS (or any of their suppliers).
@@charlesbolton8471 yes but Grover makes good tuners and great tuners and we’re not talking about Grover licensed tuners. As Dylan has done there is a product distinction even at graph tech between the TUSQ and the NuBone and the Epiphone specs are clear on this.
Proper Grover Mini Rotomatics are on the models that specify them like my 2020 Firebird. Solid and stable like grovers should be. My prophesy has locking Grover Rotomatics.
You can’t misrepresent other brands products without repercussions.
I didn't know all the differences between the two that you mentioned! Interestingly, I purchased a Gibson Custom 1959 Re-issue VOS in Washed Cherry Burst in May of 2021 and also the Epiphone Slash LP in appetite burst a few months ago. Here were the differences that I found (surprisingly).... The Slash Epiphone LP came with a great setup - perfect intonation, quite low action, etc. The Gibson LP came with the action being much higher and the B, G, & A strings needing several big turns of correction to the intonation (All drastically sharp), and there was almost no travel left on the A string. The 14th fret by the low E string had a big gouge out of it as well. I was more than a bit disappointed and the Guitar store replaced it after a bit of back and forth. The new Gibson came with a much better set up and the only flaws were a loose pickup switch and a half inch blemish by the binding by the fretboard on top. At that point I just decided to live with it. I like the tones out of both guitars to be honest. I'm not the most accomplished guitar player with the most discerning ears so I will leave others to debate that subject. I do find myself playing the Epiphone more often because at around $900 feel safe taking it everywhere, throwing it on the stand by my desk, and just being rougher on it. The Gibson stays in its case until I pull it out every few weeks to breathe in the nitro cellulose finish 😊
That was a great Forensic analysis!
But for me I was hoping for something a little more practical and compelling. Is there three times better tone?
Is there 3 times better playability? Will the “G” last 3 times longer?
I could boast I have a chair that was made from rare Kobi Wagyu beef hides, does it make enough difference in my sitting to justify the cost or is it just some thing to brag about?
I can’t speak for everyone but for me at some point the law of diminishing return comes into play.
You only get what you pay for, and that's if you're lucky.
There is a difference. I've Squire and Epiphone guitars I use as tools.
I've also custom Gibson and Fender guitars I classify as Heirlooms I'll pass on to my children.
Guitars are as individual as people and they all have something to offer (usually).
"You only get what you pay for"
True, but with most things there's a diminishing value of returns. It's more-or-less a bell curve.
@@DapperHesher depends on the 'value' that's being measured.
I agree but a big reason why I bought a Squire P bass is because the cheap Nato wood is lighter and my Squire bass is about 8.02 pounds. Strangely the stock pick up is outstanding and sounds just like the pick ups from the 60s and 70s recordings.
@@nalukeko Most things in general: Pickups, fretwire, wood, wire, pots, CNC precision, paint, and so on. Every time you double the cost, the gains are smaller and smaller. Same goes for the cheap end of the curve. It's the nature of just about anything.
Use solid gold conductor wire, titanium screws, +/- .01 mm tolerances on the fingerboard. It's not "twice as good" as Grade 8 steel screws, regularly available quality wire, .1 mm tolerances, etc. You can pay six times as much if you want to.
@@DapperHesher Absolutely. Like making beer -- between the $25 dorm-room kit that makes something marginally drinkable and a $5000 prosumer turnkey brewery that will almost compete with the boutique craft breweries, there are a million little price breakpoints. At each step, twice the money gets you half the improvement the last increment did (in concept at least). Just about anyone can make great beer with about $500 of equipment and $25 to $50 in ingredients. The turnkey prosumer brewery doesn't make beer that's 10x better. Some people will make fun of the guy with the $25 dorm kit. Some people will make fun of the guy who has custom TIG-welded 30 gallon tanks made. Everyone is both right and wrong --- right when you're deciding what you shoudl do for you, and wrong when you're deciding what I should do for me.
And if it sounds and feels good, it IS good.
The screws on my Epiphone LP pick guard are rusting. Only thing I've noticed in owning it for close to 2 years.
I'm sure you're right about all this stuff... that's why I don't even bother picking up a Gibson to see the difference.
Currently going for quantity over quality (within reason) as I only own 2 guitars. I got my 2nd one yesterday... a G&L Tribute Comanche.
Once I own 7 or 8 I'll look into getting American instead of import.
Thanks Dylan 😁👍
epiphone do not have the gibson quality of the the body construct of les pauls. but when it comes to explorers, flying v, sg which do not require any fancy maple caps or bindings, epiphone have no problem matching up with gibson if you upgrade all the parts.
I did find some small differences in my Epi V and my Gibby's. The only reason the Epi is even close to my Gibby's is because I upgraded all the electronics Burstbuker 2&3. My retro 58 V is one of only 2 Epi's I kept in my collection the other is the Iommi SG
You spend more money upgrading a Epi
@@samright4661 Not even close. Changing pickups bridge and pots can be done under $400. A Gibson LP standard cost a few thousand more than an Epi. Some Epi's come with Gibson pups.
@@qua7771 Dude Studios and Tribute don't cost anywhere near 2500 $s
@@qua7771 I had a Epi Les Paul tribute plus it had 57 classic pick ups and a switch craft switch.. I can tell you my 08 Traditional is miles ahead in feel the neck just a over all better Guitar. The Epi was good but the Gibson is more Godder
I own both, as well as plenty of other brands but in some cases an Epiphone can be as good as a Gibson. One of the Epi's I own is a 2017 Lee Malia RD Artisan which was made in Indonesia ( same factory as PRS SE ) but came stock with Gibson Custom Shop pickups, Gibson & CTS electronics, and was finished in the US with a laquer finish. That's aside from it being an RD and having the Artisan mother of pearl inlays. I have 12 other electrics being Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Godin, etc and that RD is my go to 98% of the time. Obv not all Epi's have that much into them stock, but there are some gems out there that null this argument.
Very True, I have an 05 quilt top LP classic and that thing is amazing. Mine came with the Anico and they were wired pretty hot, but not like A 92 Jackson Solo hot. I love that Chinese made epi. I love my LP Standard. Especially for 600 bucks, I can't complain about that epi.
It will never be “good as a Gipson” I do not care how much you want to tell yourself this! I keep on seeing comment after comment making this BS claim or similar all with many likes and it just makes me laugh as I know good and damn well that all of you are just trying to defend your crap! Regardless of how you feel that guitar is worthless now and no matter how long you keep it or what you put into it it’ll never be worth anywhere close to a Gipson and no matter how much you want to believe it’ was still made in China by slave labor! That’s something you can not deny and will ever change! You can also pat yourself on the back for taking away WELL PAYING jobs from Americans because you’re to cheap and would rather support a country with terrible labor practices.
@@werewolflover8636 my Epi's were made in Japan, Indonesia, and US. Don't own a Chinese one, and own multiple gibsons in general and the ones I just listed are just as good as my Gibsons lol
Great vid!
Hahaha! I'm sorry you had to deal with the fight in the background, but your reaction was classic, man. xD
I’ve played many Gibsons with severe finish issues. I’m talking off the shelf at a brick and mortar Gibson dealer. Not some knock off. Most Epiphones I’ve tried have been well built. They have to be because they have to compete with the USA made.
It's just bigotry in my opinion, there is obvious bigotry toward China and Korea where manufacturing is concerned, They use the same CNC machines, measurements and sand paper.
I have both, love both, but when you open that Gibson case and that smell hits your nose, its love at first site, Gibson could make billions selling that as a cologne.
Yes.
True
do you know anything about the Epliphone Elite?
Touchy subject! 👍👍👍👍👍I was going to make a video that is similar to this but just based on your title alone, I subscribe to your channel because it takes definite balls to make this video.
I've actually never had a conversation with another guitarist who thought an Epiphone was as good as a Gibson. Unless they are a newer player or totally naive about guitars in general, most seasoned guitarists know that a Gibson is a superior instrument.
To your credit you’ve obviously not spent a lot of time reading TH-cam comment sections!! 😝😉
I 100% agree with you on that one. a chinese made epiphone will never be as good as an american made gibson!! 🇺🇲
I support
Epiphone is not a one piece body and neither is Gibson. No he didn't come out and say Gibson was multiple pieces but he did imply it. The hardware argument doesn't fly either because all of that can be easily upgraded. Lets talk Tone Dylan...if the Epiphone sounds great acoustically and fit and finish are good, everything else can be upgraded, and you can still have $1,500 in your pocket
Exactly! All the wood differences he mentioned are musically fairly inconsequential since they don’t effect the most important things: mass, density, etc. So if I spend $3-400 upgrading all the hardware, and another $50 perhaps doing a bit of subtle fret finish, I have a guitar that is acoustically and electronically indentical, that feels as good, for waaaay less money.
I have two epis like this. I’ve done multiple blind taste tests w friends and they often outshine Gibsons. They’re both 90s Korean Epis). So no, I don’t buy the justification for the price difference at all. If they were $1500, maybe.
@@artyom108 To me anyway the last few Dylan Talks Tone Gibson videos sound more like a Gibson infomercial than an unbiased gear analysis...Am I beating around the bush????????????????
my whole gibson sg is one piece, neck and eveything, i went and chopped down the best mahogony tree i could find and gibson made it for me....for real
I disagree, I own 2 Epiphone SGs and 2 Gibson SGs and the Gibsons are way superior in there fit and finish and the funny thing is one of my Gibsons was cheaper when it was new than both of the Epiphones I have....
Ok this is what I have and what they cost when I purchased them (3 of the guitars I bought new 1 I bought used and I shall point that out) all prices are in GBP since thats where I'm from
2005 Gibson SG Supreme £1600 bought new
2004 Gibson SG Special £500 bought new
2020 Epiphone SG Prophecy £800 bought new
2018 Epiphone SG Tony Iommi sig £580 used (about £700 new)
OK... the Supreme isn't worth discussing, it was a lot of money... it is easily my favourite guitar and I aint going to give you an objective opinion... i love it and I'd do it all over again not questions asked...
The other 3 are worth discussing....
In 2004 you can get a USA made Gibson SG Special for £500 (they call it a "Tribute" now and the specs are 99.9% the same, the only difference is it now has a leaf on the headstock and thats it...) £500 in 2004 is about £750 today....
My other Epiphones cost about the same as that now and they are really no where near of the same quality of my Gibson but the Prophecy does have some tasty parts like Locking grover tuners, fishman fluance pickups and a graphtech nut. however the tony iommi sg has just the gibson made signature pickups... (the tuners on the Tony Iommi sig are garbage.... really cheap and nasty, literally the same as on my £200 LTD Eclipse)
The Gibson came with a really nice gig bag and the Epiphones didn't come with anything...
I had to level the frets on my brand new Epiphone Prophecy before it played right.... I didn't have to do a thing to my Gibsons.... ( also had to on my Iommi sig but they were worn because it was a used guitar so again, not a fair comparison
Do I regret buying my Epiphones? No not at all but I agree with Dylan in the fact that Epiphones really aren't of the same quality of a Gibson even with swapping all the parts out.... its the fit and finish that is the big difference in my experience as to why Gibsons cost more.....
Dylan wasn't being biased..... Gibsons are objectively better than Epiphones and they command more money for the privilege, weather that cost is worth it to you.... is only for you and you alone to deside...
@@jarrusjenkins to be fair I don’t think there is much point discussing an epiphone that is 15 years old. Gibson has also charged a premium and supposed to eb a premium product. Epiphone for the last 30€ yrs has been an affordable guitar company that has made a massive improvement in quality in recent years.
What’s your opinion of the latest incarnation of the Epiphone Lucille?
Hi Dylan, thank you for the informative, no nonsense video. How about one on the Fender vs Squier thing, if you haven't already done one? To narrow it down a bit, say Fender Player vs Squier CV series.
As much as all these differences are real, I see a lot of "valuing the cost" involved in the appraisal of Gibsons. This is the common fallacy of confusing expense for quality, as in "hand made" things.
A different mahogany species does not make a lesser instrument and a thicker top does not make a better guitar. Gibsons are undoubtedly nicer, made by people who are paid more and a lot of the price difference goes into things that make no musical difference. That's why the Telecaster was a success: the primitive, cheap plank of wood with strings looked terrible but did a good enough musical job.
The maple cap on the Gibson and the Epiphone are virtually the same. Same thickness, same milking machines to the exact same dimensions. The difference is that Gibson spends a lot of time trying to cull the nicest looking pieces. Zero effect on tone quality! Epiphone does it smarter and picks veneers for the pieces that are only for beauty! And they do an excellent job too! I rarely see a Gibson with the figuring of Epiphone. If it is just for look then why use an entire plank when you can find a much nicer piece of maple and make many veneers out of it!
It kind of like picking the most precious, flawless wood to build a desk and then only to cover it with paint! Yeah, you have bragging rights but who gives a fuck? That’s what most of Gibsons claim to fame is, bragging rights! Mental masterbation as far as I am concerned!
The Epiphone has a deep set neck. The Gibson standard has a shallow one with gaps filled with glue. Epi has SS frets.
I have both. They feel the same in my hands, so I daily play the Epi. Of course I gutted the electronics.
@@rdpurdom toon mahogany body on Epiphones a softer more unstable wood with little tonal qualities pickups do all the work .. Gibson uses genuine Honduran mahogany with exceptional tonal qualities for use with lower output picks for a more natural woody tone ................ if you think you get that with Epiphone you are sadly mistaken
@@bengordon7635 could you explain what ''exceptional tonal qualities'' are and what woody tone means and how you measure the woodiness of the tone, you're just another capitalist sheep who have fallen in the marketing trap, with no basic knowledge of engineering.
I own an Epiphone 339, I like it a lot, but I don't think it's equal to a Gibson.
To my knowledge the epiphone 339 has a slimmer neck than the Gibson version. If you prefer a slimmer neck the epiphone might be a better pick. Just change the pickups and hardware
that was pretty thorough. back in the 2000's-2010's when guitars were really booming, you'd see this argument ALOT in the forums. a video like this one would have been pretty useful then. the nut on my LP was originally corian. i didn't think much of it, and it wasn't cut very well in the first place. i swapped it for bone. i have heard the graph-tech ones have graphite in them and are self lubricating. is that true?
There’s the point, to me, at least, that as a hobby player, I simply cannot justify that price difference. I am in the process of upgrading my beloved Epiphone LP Standard, and even with new electronics, tuners, and pick ups , it will never reach the price of a Gibson. Also, I would love the Tele vs LP video. I saw that Billy Gibbons has started playing a Tele with buckets and have wondered if there is a reason.
Epiphones are good enough but think of this for a second. Do you want the whole world to just rely on China for everything? Say goodbye to freedom and liberty that took thousands of years too achieve because you want to save a few bucks for yourself. Who cares what world you leave for our children in the future right! If the American economy falls the whole free world WILL fall it is not my opinion but a fact, sad but true. The only reason Chinese made stuff is even near good quality is because they are copying American quality. If American quality ceases to exist so will the great Chinese guitars. Every Chinese company is controlled by the communist government. The first day they don't have to worry about America the quality will go out the window. Generations decades later would never know what real quality looks like anymore and it'll be like freedom and liberty never existed. But hey at least you can buy a six pack still.
People around the world really need to start using their brains. If you bought an American Les Paul 10 years ago even you could sell it and with the profit alone by another Gibson whereas an epiphone is worth half as much. It all boils down to one thing. Do you want to leave your kids value or trash?
Unfortunately the majority of folks alive today are soulless and could care less about the future.
Make no mistake, the Epiphone is mahogany! Whether it uses I, 2 or three pieces doesn’t really affect the sound! And YES, GIBSON doesn’t just use 1 piece bodies! That’s. Fact! Another fact. Epiphone maple tops Amy not be “Pretty” figured maple tops but “Pretty” does NOT equate to better s]tone! Never had bd never will! The fact that a veneer of “Pretty” wood is applied to the top does NOT Affect tone! If having a laminate wood top was bad then you might want to tell that to all the GRET GUITAR players that play the Gibson ES335. ARGUABLY THE BEST SOUNDING GIBSON GUITAR OUT THERE! IT IS ALL LAMINATED WOOD CONSTRUCTION!
Fact, Epiphone hardware is every bit as good as those in the Gibson! Quality of construction and materials!E pickups are nearly identical to those on a Gibson! In some controlled blind test, the Epiphone pickups were PREFERRED over the Gibson pickups!
Fact, specs on the Epiphone vs Gibson Les Pauls are nearly identical. YES, there are some differences, mostly in the final 10% (or less) of the QC, CERTAINLY nothing an average guitarist with a little skill couldn’t properly sort out in a few minutes! The entire premise of this guys comparison is totally without merit! How ridiculous! To compare a guitar costing 3-700 dollars with a guitar costing 3-6000 dollars is stupid on its face!
Here is the truth! Epiphone makes its profit via volume! Gibson makes far less guitars by a factor of at least 10, therefore they need to charge more per unit to even compete! Epiphone guitars has a long history every bit as storied and innovative as Gibson. Their craftsmanship and production facility is every bit as modern as Gibson, probably more so! Most of the actual production equipment and mfg techniques are identical. There are minor differences, very minor and certainly nothing to warrant the price variance!
Personally, I don’t like the fact that Epiphone is made in China! I wish they would move to any other Asian nation but it is what it is! Let’s face it. The manufacturing line at Gibson is not populated with journeyman luthiers! They are regular assembly line workers, doing one job all day, just like those in China!! The biggest difference is the Chinese worker may make $3.00 and hour and the person at the Gibson factory is making $30.00 per hour! THAT’S WHERE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS!
I’ve owned many different guitars in my lifetime of playing guitars (over 60 years) and in MHO, there isn’t dimes worth of difference between these two guitars other than the name on the headstock!
This guy can claim anything he wants but the proof is in the pudding! Without a blind test, which he refuses to do, none of this means squat! It nothing more than his biased opinion! Most rel guitar players aren’t on a perpetual vacation, living out of their quarter million dollar mobile home!
ALL guitars, old, new, vintage, etc. are all about the sound and playability, two things this guys simply will not address! This is what is all comes down to and I challenge this guy to do just that and PROVE how his 7 reasons why Gibson is better than Epiphone and actually worth the price premium being charged!!
This should be a blind sound test only because of the “Nibs” on most Gibson necks prevent a Blind playability test. As soon as you feel the neck you can tell. Not better or worse just different!
Bottom line is, the ONLY THUNG THAT RELLY MATTERS IS THE SOUND1
I couldn't agree more. I've owned many Gibsons and Epiphones. Some of each brand were magnificent while others were glorified 2x4s. I notice he doesn't mention Gibson's richlite and baked maple fretboards. Tuning key differences? Hmmm most of my epis and Gibsons sported the SAME Grovers. The smell of a Brand new Gibson in the case is worth the price of admission? Nitro smells like a unicorn fart. I'll hang a vanillaroma air freshener in me epi case. Many epis come with Gibson pickups so he is being dishonest. To be completely honest, my 83 Burny blows all my Gibsons and epis out of the water.
@@williamdesmarais4931 Richlite, in my limited experience, is actually just fine. Martin uses it too. The tuning keys on my Epi leave something to be desired, but they aren't so bad I feel the need to pay full price for replacements so far - the Gibson's I've played with had no better just prettier. Serviceable, not stellar, get ratios or something when you see them on sale but they'll do.
I do think Gibson pickups sound better than Epi, but again either will eventually be replaced with something better. Lose the Epiphone pickups and you might lose a few dollars on resale (maybe.) Lose those Gibson pickups and you might have easily lost thousands on eventual resale.
Don't let this guy bother you. He believes an average of 8 pounds is heavy for Les Pauls. He is just another trying to carve out some cash from youtube. He's certainly knowledgable in some areas but is he a master mind of all? Living out of a camper in an RV trailer park tells me no, he's not.
BTW, I never met anyone who thought their Epiphone was the equivalent of a Gibson. I don't own one btw, for the price they're a lot of guitar.
Does this guy even realize that modern Gibson Les Pauls are also copies?
“This guy”…. Lol.
I am not sure where you are getting your info from. 8 pounds would be a relatively light LP in my experience. I'm not sure what you think you are accomplishing with the dig on RV life, but I will say, It is fantastic. It is not cheap, and it has it's challenges, but it is a blast. If you want to know some actual facts and not spread incorrect assumptions, let me know and I will fill you in.
Did I miss it or you forgot about the PLEK thing with Gibsons? :) afaik they PLEK their axes as a standard setup procedure.
hand leveling and crowning produces identical results as a PLEK. Sometimes the fretwork on the Epiphones needs some work, but once its done, a freshly leveled and crowned fret board is god tier
@@michaelmenkes8085 my very experienced luthier in Warsaw has a PLEK and his comments are just the opposite, especially when it comes to nut and fretwork :)
@@nuggers23 I have several pleked guitars and also know how to do my own leveling. Ben Crowe and I disagree with your luthier. A leveling beam is just as accurate as a laser because it’s cut with one. Maybe your luthier just doesn’t want to bother doing the work. It’s like owning a CNC machine which can be cutting and carving while you’re doing other work.
@@michaelmenkes8085 maybe, I believe you may be right :)
correction ... they claim pleck'ed ... the reality is though .. there 1/2 assed plecked vs a REAL plek job at a place.
Agree 100%. I have a Casino and a Epi Thunderbird. Both need pickups+. Thanks D!
I totaly agree!!! Last time I changed the tuners from my Epiphone Les Paul "Black Beauty", because this tuners are crap! Some of the screws were rather deviated. The guitar is not bad, but never as good as my Gibson Les Pauls.
Another important difference is the neck. A Gibson neck is a one piece neck and the headstock is not glued on.
I’m sitting here noodling on my Tele, and wanting you to do the video about why a Tele won’t sound like a LP. Another is why putting a Tele pickup in an LP will not sound like a Tele.
1. The distance of the pickup from the saddles would be one of the factors. Also the distance between the two pickups.
2. The other thing is, the distance from the saddle to the nut is important too. Essentially, the scale length. The scale length will affect the tension of the string, which in turn affects action height, and some say even the sustain.
3. You won't believe me, but the ergonomics of a guitar also play a role in how it sounds. The choice of bridge, the shape of the body actually affect how you're playing the guitar, for example, you can easily rest your palm on the Tune-O-Matic bridge, or palm-mute very close to the bridge. On Telly, it's quite different.
There will definitely be more factors, but these I could mention off the top of my head.
@@BayandurPogosyan you forgot bridge postion from scale length. You also forgot scale length overtones. A shorter scale will have lower frequency than a longer scale.
@@gavinw5469 you mean it will color the tone warmer, because the main frequency of the note is the same.
Haven't tested that.
@@gavinw5469 you're losing me here. So you have the main frequency of the note. Like the E string. It is the same no matter what the scale length. Then there's the first overtone, an octave higher than the main frequency. It is still the same, no matter what the scale length. The third overtone, the fifth, same no matter what the scale length. And all the other overtones.
What definitely changes is WHERE those overtones occur. And what might change, though I have not checked it, is the volume of those overtones compared to the main frequency and each other, and different ratios between those overtones will color the note differently.
Other than that, the shorter the scale length, the less string tension it needs to produce the same main frequency of the note. Or else you would have different tunings on different scale lengths.
@@BayandurPogosyan You forgot the wood
I've owned lots of both. Epiphone all the way! Plus if you record in a studio with a band and have a reasonably good understanding of processing/eq, you're just fine. Most guitarists should spend more time trying to write hit songs rather than obsessing over these details
The frets are a big one for me - most budget import guitars I've used or worked on are less good out of the box than a gibson, and tarnish much quicker. And it's hard to explain, but the quality (as in subjective aspects, not goodness) of the nitro and the plastics is definitely a lot nicer and more "organic" almost on the gibsons. However I've been pretty disappointed with the wiring of some of them - especially the 2000s era. 300k pots, super thin PVC wire (which I've had break on me before, even when sealed up inside a guitar), and ceramic caps.
I have an Epiphone 1960 tribute plus with Gibson™ 57 pickups compared to my friends 70s gibson demo or weird model it was very similar in sound, the feel was slightly better on the gibson. I want to know opinions on the top tier Epiphone more but deff get it.
Unless it's a customshop or vintage Gibson in my experience I think the epipone is the better choice. Unplugged my epipone sounds much nicer than all 3 Gibsons I've owned. Also I only have to tune the epipone once to every 5 times I do with Gibsons. Gibson may look better on a specsheet, but musically I prefer the Epi.
And you say this from what experience? How many Les Pauls have you owned? And how old are you? These are the questions I’d ask anyone who makes such bold claims as you have without any proof other than it just being your opinion because you happen to like cheaply made mass produced guitars over one’s made by hand in America! Oh and I bet you also believe employers should pay their employees more also don’t you? If this is the case then why aren’t you actually supporting companies that do (higher wages equals higher prices) rather than supporting country that’s taking away jobs from Americans and using low paying slave labor to do it!
@@werewolflover8636 Nah cheap labour is best. I found North Korean made is ideal. Sure it's work camp conditions and it supports an actual dictator but they get the jobs done really well. You can almost smell the tears of anguish put into the construction when you strum that thing
😂😂
One more thing about the finishes... they do not age equally either. The nitro finish will age in a far more pleasing way. I'd go so far as to say that poly gets old while nitro matures. Translation: the nitro finish on a Gibson adds to the lifetime/long term value of the guitar and the poly makes a guitar look nice enough to buy initially. A guitar that is better, longer is the superior guitar.
I think it is very similar with Gretsch. With the Player Edition Broadkaster Jr ($2500 Japanese) and the Electromatic G5655T ($800 Chinese) it’s very similar to the Gibson/Epiphone divide, with the fit & finishing, wood, hardware, and electronics differences. I definitely use both live, and have no issues with either one, but if the gig outside of at a dive bar, it’s the Electromatic, if the gig is at a decent venue then it’s the Player’s Edition. I would say the Electromatic is 90% of what the Players Edition is.
I agree, although I would say the Epi LP's (with Gibson pickups) are 95%.....there is just that last little bit missing. Coming from multiple Epi guitars, a couple of American finished with Gibson pickup models (limited edition anniversay etc). They still don't have that last little mid-range crunch the Gibsons do.
I've ended up with one Gibson LP Standard and sold off my Epi's. I'm now a reluctant believer :) Though I do miss the Epi LP in TV Silver I fitted a Bigsby and Gibson Pickups too!
You are absolutely right. Epiphone will not sound or feel as good as a Gibson. And you are still right. Epiphones are great guitars on their own right for the money. Great video. Now.... I don't want my tele to sound like a Les Paul
I've always like Gibsons and I never thought my Epi was as good in build quality as my Gibson, however, Gibson owes debt of gratitude to it's subsidiary, Epiphone for helping to keep it's ass above water enough to prevent them from almost going out of business for the decline in quality over the years. Bad enough to make me open my mind to Fender products, who frankly, has done a better job in running their company and offered better levels of quality for the money one spends. For example, they offer Asian Made,, Mexican Made,, Japanese (Asain but as good as U.S.A.) and U.S.A. at the top. With Gibson you JUST get Asian and U.S.A. and that's it. Even if you buy a Fender product from China or Indonesia, ie. A Squire, the quality of thier Vintage Motified or Classic Vibe series are just amazing for paying for Fenders lower-tier products. The same of thier mid-tier Mexican stuff. On the other hand,, Gibson offered Epiphones on the lower end and thier U.S.A. where they had cut corners in recent years offering lack luster products such as the faded series to address the needs of those who wanted a mid level product for the purpose of playing and not just have a show piece to show off. That is why many players bought Epiphones, swapped out the internals with CTS, Switchcraft and Duncans to make a pretty nice ax at the fraction of what a Gibson cost. In other words, they've ignored the player in favor of the collector. This is why people love seeing Gibson snobs, especially collectors who can barely strum a note, squirm when someone says Epi is as good as Gibson.. Gibson has now realized this and is making efforts to bring back the quality balanced with value. They are doing cool things like working with Epiphone, to bring out cool collaborations like the Epi 58 tribute and making cool Epi models like Dots and Casinos back in the U.S.A. I'm glad to see Gibson making efforts to bring back that quality instead of doing lame gimicks like automated self tuners that don't work. In the recent past it would be a true statement when someone would say that an Epiphone was a better value then a Gibson due to quality issues, but it's nice to see present day Gibson changing that and even bringing up the level of quality of its Epiphone models. They even have done this with other brands they've acquired. I'm proud to say that latest Gibson products I've bought were 2 Kramers...LOL!
Why humbuckers in a telecaster won’t sound like a Les Paul: scale length, nut/ saddle material, saddle type.
Also the body mass/wood and neck joint type make up a huge difference
I was one who never could hear or feel the difference between Gibby or Epi while testing for 20 min in a guitar shop. One day I pulled the trigger and bought a real LP and after playing it for a month or two went back and played the Epi (tribute) thats when it all hit me and my eyes were opened. I sold all my Epi other then two and replaced them with Gibby's. Trust me from long time Epi supporter there is a major difference between the two and i only bought the high end Epi's
Had a few Epi's since the new headstock and definitely not the same guitars. Had to sell a few of them. a few areas that I can't seem to get over with is the Metric bridge, the 3 screws truss rod cover and square edge mounting rings and toggle switch.
I would take any of the new Epi's over a Gibson any day. The comforting part about it is that the headstocks on the Epi's probably won't break, but occasionally do.
Says someone who’s never owned a Gibby…🤣
@@ryanfulldark2775 guess again
Gibson is definitely better, just not $2,000 better.
Really enjoyed that...schooled me in what I needed to know in the LP/SG etc World.
I got my first LP about 3 years ago, and my first SG a year ago. I went through all the crash course of utube videos on Gibson vs Epiphone...and, though I never had it explained like you just did...still I took the general consensus that Gibson is the shining beacon..and Epiphone is just OK.
So I got a Gibson LP Tribute rather than a blinged up Epiphone for kinda close money ($1600 vs $1000AUD). Now I still haven't played an actual Epiphone properly (outside the store) but the quality and mojo of that stripped down LP showed me that I made that right call!
It's a phenomenal tone machine! Resonant, vibrating, character filled notes...loaded with nuance.. It's the greatest guitar I've ever played!
Now I'm just a humble intermediate rocker...but I am so glad I picked the guitar that will see me through life, wherever that may lead. I did the same thing with an SG Special last year. And even though Epiphone is running the exact copy at 25% the price ($2400 vs $699AUD)..I didn't even need to pick either up to know I was buying Gibson...
Well I agree with you that as of December 2019 you're absolutely right. Epiphone discontinued a series of guitars that were excellent. One of them is the tribute plus, which has all the specs except the fancy wood, but tonewood doesn't matter right?
Neck Joint: Vintage "Deep-Set", Glued-In
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood with mother-of-pearl Trapezoid inlays
Pickup: Gibson USA '57 Classic™ Humbucker (4-wire)
LockTone™ Tune-o-matic/Stopbar bridge
Had the nut replaced with bone. Don't like the teflon coated thing you mentioned.
Is not a 800 buck guitar either, but it's nowhere near 25 hundred bucks.
Why did it get pulled from market? At 1000 bucks more or less it was quite a deal.
Another I'll miss that I didn't get is the ultra III.
My thoughts exactly. The current 59 epi filled that spot. A very good Les Paul in every way.
@@USTTRM agreed. That's a sweet guitar! And as of 2021 the epiphone lineup has gotten better. I hope it keeps on that path.
I've heard guy's like Joe Bonamassa play his "Gibson" Les Paul, then play his "Epiphone" Les Paul... NO DIFFERENCE ! He still sounds like an amazing guitar player. I didn't hear any difference. Hate to bring it up... But you could possibly be a "guitar snob". I love watching "professional" players play cheap ass guitars and make them sound like a high end instrument. Jack Pearson comes to mind, as well as Joe Bonamassa. I also wonder why huge players like, Eric Clapton stopped playing Gibson years ago, and hasn't gone back. Jimi Hendrix played mainly Fender. Stevie and Jimmy Vaughan played Fender. The great Eddy Van Halen didn't play a Les Paul (why?) Funny how 4 of the top guitar players, of all times, (Jimi, Eric, Stevie, and Eddy) played Strat's or switched from Les Paul's
They may have stopped playing Gibsons but they sure as shit didn't switch to epiphones! The examples you've used are pointless because a gibson vs fender is apples and oranges...its a different style of guitar with a different tone. As far as joe sounding the same on both...sure..90% of the tone is in the pickups..but I'm sure they didn't feel the same to him..and he's also playing the Epi cause he's trying to $ell the epi$$$.
I coud not decide between Gibson and Epiphone, so I bought 1996 PRS Custom 22, Gibsons wood and craftmanship is a joke in comparsion with PRS ;)
You should make Gibson vs. PRS episode.
BTW I watch Troglys guitar show time to time, and it is funny how Gibson fans are used to poor craftsmanship and even consider it normal.
Youre laquer sinks? Normal. Your laquer is cloudy after 5 years? Its aging sign. Inlays look like a crap? Its tradition. There are crasks in finish around heal and nut? It happens, get use to it. Cavity edges are all fuzzy? Dull routing bit, what do you want. Headstock shape changes all the time? Whatever. Pickups are out of phase by accident? It has unique sound... and LOT more ;)
Now, I put Gibson 57’s and Seymour Duncan 59’s in my various Epiphones. The Maple Spacers in the Gibson and Seymour Duncan’s I would assume are in there because of the affects the maple will present in the tone. Is this a correct assumption?? And with the modern amplification and affects pedals, you can get exceptional sound/tone quality hence a great sounding guitar? And just a comment regarding Fender USA vs Fender Mexico, I think that the Mexican Fenders are exceptional guitars considering the difference in cost and the marginal utility between the two! Would you agree?
No
Found your video very informative, however I have yet to play a Les Paul style guitar I actually like. My current guitar is a high end 80s Japanese neck thru build, and I love it. Horses for courses I suppose.
For a guitar to be "USA made" it has to be 95% sourced in the US. 95% of a guitar is made out of wood that comes from other countries. LOL
Can’t wait for the massive amounts of butthurt in the comments.
Yes, please. Make that video on why a telecaster with humbuckers does not sound like a Les Paul. Love the videos, thanks!
I think a lot of it has to do with choice-supportive bias, you see it everywhere with guitar brands. I do feel that the fact conversations like this even happen, whether it be Epis and Gibson or Squiers and Fenders, does show the increase in quality of budget brands. But as I've tried to point out when talking about Epis, there will always be a difference otherwise why make one or the other?