I used to have the epi inspired by gibson j45. Holy cow I forgot how much I loved the sound of it. It sounds so dang good. The one thing I would suggest to you, pull that stupid ridiculously thick pick guard off. You can put a thin cheap pick guard on, but it will make it sound drastically better.
I also have the IBG J-45 and an Alvarez Masterworks. I bought the Epi for acoustic sessions and am very happy with it indeed. Haven't put a battery in it yet but it will be used, or at least tried, plugged in. The Alvarez is an MPA66ESHB, a lovely parlour with a fine pickup. I just find it a bit tricky to fret some shapes and it lacked a decibel or two in sessions, hence the purchase of the Epi.
Thanks bro. "I searched for answers with all my might" but still can't pick a winner! The MD60 rings out clearer and is snappier sounding, while the J45 can sound a bit muted and dark, but the J45 with finger style is fuller to my ears. I think the J45 is the more composed under heavy strumming (with less clanging overtones), which is what I'm after, to accompany singing. Am gonna try out that j45 ...
May I ask if there were any dead notes on your MD60BG when you bought it? I really am wanting to buy this guitar, but there are none that are being carried at any of my local guitar shops. Every single Alvarez that I have played that ARE offered in the stores here have dead notes. There is also a youtube short from a guy that shows his MD60BG with dead notes all over the fret board and he calls this guitar garbage out of the box. Thank you for posting this video...
I've actually sold it recently, but only because I started using my old Taylor again (and needed the money). There weren't and dead notes as such but it could probably have done with a fret level as I would get some buzzing on the low E at the 10th fret. I did have the neck pretty straight with a lowish action. But it was overall a really good gigging guitar.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Thank you for replying, GraemeCampbellMusic! May I ask if you have ANY regrets, whatsoever, in selling the Alvarez? If not , I would really like to hear your honest thoughts about that...
@@toneseeker4968 I''m mainly using my Epi J45 and occasionally my Taylor these days for gigs, so I don't miss the Alvarez for live playing. I do sometimes see previous vids and instagram posts and remember how good it sounded (and it was light). If I hadn't needed the money at the time I would have kept it.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Ok, thank you for your input. This guitar would be for gigging; well, I hope it would be good enough for that, anyway. In other words, my next guitar purchase is for a gigging guitar. The specs on this guitar look too good to be true on paper, especially for the price. That's why I am so interested in it. If I can save a grand or two, even better. I have a Taylor and 2 other Alvarez Artist models that are ok, but I don't like to gig with them. But my main acoustic is a 2008 Epi Masterbilt AJ500M, and it blows everything else away. It is, in fact, a J-45 copy. But, I need another guitar for gigging, as well. It's just unfortunate that no guitar sop in my town offers the Alvarez Masterworks series models. Anyway, thanks again! I am going to just stick with my old rule that I don't buy Acoustic guitars without playing them first :)
I’m all about totally unscientific comparisons! The Epiphone definitely sounds like the darker of the two, but they’re both nice sounding guitars. I’m probably more for the electricy (definitely a word!) Alvarez.
I have the Md60 and a Mdr70sb 12th fret slope shoulder. I prefer the neck on the mdr70 and it has a lovely woody tone, but I love how the Md60 has that Martin sound too. Nice comparison, Cheers!
I have the Epiphone J45 and I think it is an excellent guitar, but my question is if the 2 guitars weigh the same, because the Epiphone is very heavy, I don't have how to compare, since I don't have the Gibson, could you clarify this doubt. And if all solid body guitars are that heavy?
The Alvarez is much lighter, and my Taylor 310 (also a dread) is inbetween the two. I've got used to the weight as the Epi is my main guitar for gigs now, but it is heavy.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Thanks for your answer, the Epi J45 is my first guitar with metal strings and I thought it had that weight because it is completely solid, but when I tried other guitars I was surprised that it was heavier than the others hahaha. Although I saw a video that mentioned that the original Gibson J45 was also a big bore hahaha
@@GraemeCampbellMusicTell me something, what do you mean that the Epi has not opened yet? Another thing I see is that your Alvarez is also solid but is it Fir and Rosewood? Because as you mention the Epi has a somewhat dark sound and when listening to different guitars on RUclips I would like to buy the Cort Tierra 200 ATV, solid top with rosewood sides, it has a very rich different sound too
The Epiphone really suprised me. So much for the credibility of the morons that say Epiphone doesn't make a good guitar. I would probably go with the Alvarez...but both sounded really good to me.
The Alvarez is definitely a lot livelier (and louder) in the room. Where the Epi shines is when I’m digging in hard at pub gig. The Alvarez isn’t as good at handling the heavy strumming. That might be a feel thing too as the Epi is sturdier and heavier. For recording etc the Alvarez wins hands down
I used to have the epi inspired by gibson j45. Holy cow I forgot how much I loved the sound of it. It sounds so dang good. The one thing I would suggest to you, pull that stupid ridiculously thick pick guard off. You can put a thin cheap pick guard on, but it will make it sound drastically better.
I’ve got an MD60….. it’s blows big names out the water! Such a great tone! Big sound, and most beautiful v neck!
I also have the IBG J-45 and an Alvarez Masterworks.
I bought the Epi for acoustic sessions and am very happy with it indeed. Haven't put a battery in it yet but it will be used, or at least tried, plugged in.
The Alvarez is an MPA66ESHB, a lovely parlour with a fine pickup. I just find it a bit tricky to fret some shapes and it lacked a decibel or two in sessions, hence the purchase of the Epi.
Thanks bro. "I searched for answers with all my might" but still can't pick a winner! The MD60 rings out clearer and is snappier sounding, while the J45 can sound a bit muted and dark, but the J45 with finger style is fuller to my ears.
I think the J45 is the more composed under heavy strumming (with less clanging overtones), which is what I'm after, to accompany singing. Am gonna try out that j45 ...
Thanks for watching to the end :) Let me know what you think of the J45 when you try it out.
May I ask if there were any dead notes on your MD60BG when you bought it? I really am wanting to buy this guitar, but there are none that are being carried at any of my local guitar shops. Every single Alvarez that I have played that ARE offered in the stores here have dead notes. There is also a youtube short from a guy that shows his MD60BG with dead notes all over the fret board and he calls this guitar garbage out of the box. Thank you for posting this video...
I've actually sold it recently, but only because I started using my old Taylor again (and needed the money). There weren't and dead notes as such but it could probably have done with a fret level as I would get some buzzing on the low E at the 10th fret. I did have the neck pretty straight with a lowish action. But it was overall a really good gigging guitar.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Thank you for replying, GraemeCampbellMusic! May I ask if you have ANY regrets, whatsoever, in selling the Alvarez? If not , I would really like to hear your honest thoughts about that...
@@toneseeker4968 I''m mainly using my Epi J45 and occasionally my Taylor these days for gigs, so I don't miss the Alvarez for live playing. I do sometimes see previous vids and instagram posts and remember how good it sounded (and it was light). If I hadn't needed the money at the time I would have kept it.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Ok, thank you for your input. This guitar would be for gigging; well, I hope it would be good enough for that, anyway. In other words, my next guitar purchase is for a gigging guitar. The specs on this guitar look too good to be true on paper, especially for the price. That's why I am so interested in it. If I can save a grand or two, even better. I have a Taylor and 2 other Alvarez Artist models that are ok, but I don't like to gig with them. But my main acoustic is a 2008 Epi Masterbilt AJ500M, and it blows everything else away. It is, in fact, a J-45 copy. But, I need another guitar for gigging, as well. It's just unfortunate that no guitar sop in my town offers the Alvarez Masterworks series models. Anyway, thanks again! I am going to just stick with my old rule that I don't buy Acoustic guitars without playing them first :)
I’m all about totally unscientific comparisons! The Epiphone definitely sounds like the darker of the two, but they’re both nice sounding guitars. I’m probably more for the electricy (definitely a word!) Alvarez.
I'm enjoying having the two flavours, and still the NGD novelty for the Epi, so the Alvarez had been a bit neglected lately. I'll have to remedy that.
I have the Md60 and a Mdr70sb 12th fret slope shoulder. I prefer the neck on the mdr70 and it has a lovely woody tone, but I love how the Md60 has that Martin sound too. Nice comparison, Cheers!
I like both for different reasons but if I had to choose one it would be the Alvarez.
how man i learn this peace of blues from you like de alvarez thank you
I have the Epiphone J45 and I think it is an excellent guitar, but my question is if the 2 guitars weigh the same, because the Epiphone is very heavy, I don't have how to compare, since I don't have the Gibson, could you clarify this doubt. And if all solid body guitars are that heavy?
The Alvarez is much lighter, and my Taylor 310 (also a dread) is inbetween the two. I've got used to the weight as the Epi is my main guitar for gigs now, but it is heavy.
@@GraemeCampbellMusic Thanks for your answer, the Epi J45 is my first guitar with metal strings and I thought it had that weight because it is completely solid, but when I tried other guitars I was surprised that it was heavier than the others hahaha. Although I saw a video that mentioned that the original Gibson J45 was also a big bore hahaha
@@GraemeCampbellMusicTell me something, what do you mean that the Epi has not opened yet? Another thing I see is that your Alvarez is also solid but is it Fir and Rosewood? Because as you mention the Epi has a somewhat dark sound and when listening to different guitars on RUclips I would like to buy the Cort Tierra 200 ATV, solid top with rosewood sides, it has a very rich different sound too
The Epiphone really suprised me. So much for the credibility of the morons that say Epiphone doesn't make a good guitar. I would probably go with the Alvarez...but both sounded really good to me.
Holding 2 guitars I see! I must watch it now :D
I think I like the Alvarez more acoustic
🤣
Good video mate 👍🎸
Cheers Ian
The Alvarez sounds much better. Not even close.
The Alvarez is definitely a lot livelier (and louder) in the room. Where the Epi shines is when I’m digging in hard at pub gig. The Alvarez isn’t as good at handling the heavy strumming. That might be a feel thing too as the Epi is sturdier and heavier. For recording etc the Alvarez wins hands down
That Alvarez sounds far more resonant.......both sound great though.....Epiphone is warm
The Alvarez is definitely more open acoustically. In the room the j45 was more mid-heavy and, as you say, warmer.
The correct vs was with Gibson j45
I don't have a Gibson J45 so that would have been tricky
That would be an $950 guitar vs. a $3000 guitar.
The Alvarez sounds flat, the J45 rings and has more depth.
Epiphone wins it for me.
Really?