the key difference was dynamics I think. When Ben struck the Gibsons hard, volume increases, but with the Epiphones, it maxed out and had fret buzz as well
Agreed - bottom E resonance is huge but balanced on the Gidson. The Epiphone is certainly value for money and would probably be nice to record with. It is not as nuanced across the dynamic but sounds satisfying played a little softer. Gibson for live performance for sure, particularly unamplified.
True - I walked back my comment above thinking Ben was giving the Epi an unfair run by picking weaker.. Its actually the body on the Epi is a little shallower i believe than the Gibby and this would contribute to it maxing-out on bottom end or strummed hard. Still awesome for the price with its all solid woods, real shell inlay and other great appointments
Listening blind, 2 out of the 3 Gibsons did sound a bit better, but I was surprised by the Hummingbird. I genuinely preferred the sound of the Epiphone Hummingbird over the Gibson.
I love seeing these.🤘🏾 you should do one where you compare the standard epiphones to the inspired by Gibson next! I’d love to hear the difference between an EJ-200 and the Gibson inspired J-200!
It was on everyone’s minds before the testing even started. It’s very known that Epiphone isn’t going to be using the nitro lacquer used on Gibsons. It’s honestly disingenuous to not mention it.
You can hear the difference on first strum, even with youtube's compressed sound. The epiphone sounds more harsh - more tinny highs. The gibson sounds big and rich and full.
I’m 60, I don’t know if I could have heard the difference. But, the epi j200 can’t be beat, for the price. The Gibson definitely sounds more like a stage instrument, some because this guy can play sooo good. I would like to see the comments of a similar comparison where, the audience didn’t know which. Thank you for the awesome video!
The Hummingbirds are so close together. Unbelievable. The Gibson J200 is an outstanding guitar - I own Chris Kelly's (Kriss Kross) former J200 and it's the only guitar I'll never give away and leave to my kids.
We’ve noticed a few comments regarding the strings. We kept the original strings on these guitars to represent what it would be like to compare them in your local store. Most the time guitar stores tend to display straight from the box, which would give you an A/B test similar to what was shown. Thanks for tuning in! 🤘
That's a fair point in the guitar shop but wouldn't it be more useful to know what they sound like when you've got them home and restrung them? If I had just spent £750 on a shiny new epiphone (which all looked very nice by the way!) I don't think I'd mind spending £15 on a decent set of Elixirs/some other brand and getting a nice new set of strings on the go. Great video in all other respects and scary how good Ben's playing was when he was blindfolded! Also great to hear all the guitars unplugged.
Besides the string buzz on the Epiphones (especially first two), I agree that the Epi strings seem junky. Although my sample size in Epiphone in general is tiny, being the new ES-335 Inspired. The strings were already showing (rusty) spots and came off before I even played it. Had to work on the frets two, but beyond that they're good value.
Except people aren't at any store, they are here. The vast majority of people change strings as soon as they get a guitar, which would be a better representation. You're comparing guitars, not strings.
I would love to hear these with identical strings, like Elixirs. Nicely done. I have seen other videos that were less discernable in sound difference than this comparison. But you were right, you can tell here. I did blind after J45 too, could tell. Just more definition and fuller in the sound range.
For me, all the comparison sounded almost similar except J45 where Gibson J45 sounded much better. Anyway, thanks a lot for your video. The fact of the matter , it can never be compared to the very pleasing sound of Gibson J45 with any other guitar specially it's nice pleasing tone of the Mahogany.
Also, I think the Gibson archtop acoustics, most of the old models anyway, sound better than the flat tops, to me. Including the J45. What I really want to see Gibson do, is reissue the old 30s and 40s archtops. I mean, archtop acoustic guitars were Gibson's signature for over half a century. It was mandolin company, and they were famous for constructing mandolins and guitars in the manner of European violins. That refers specifically to archtops and floating bridges. (I think the mid to late 30s is when they started with the fixed metal bridges. Pretty much abr, but probably a less refined version.) I'd also love to see Epiphone sell high quality reissues of their pre-Gibson archtops, because they were great guitars.
The best dreadnought would have to be a a D18 or D28, depending on whether you like rosewood or hog guitars, plus the different bracing patterns. The Gibson tone just doesn’t cut it in comparison.
@@kalvino67 "I hear you...but "best", as discussions like this illustrate, is utterly subjective. The Hummingbird,?while not as loud and boomy as those high(er) end Martins, for me, has a resonance I've never felt on any other guitar. It seems to smoothly vibrate through my torso. Would I like a D-41? Yes. And a Guild 512...But I want the 1972 Hummingbird first. 🤩
String them identically, remove the tangibles by having someone else play them, and let the "contestant" only listen. With seasoned ears, such that Ben and Chappers possess, it may not matter. On the other hand, neck and fretboard feel, not to mention the vibrations of the acoustics, is a dead giveaway to a couple of guys who have played the hell out of everything. Plus you have Chappers uncanny ability to smell nitro. Ears only seems to be the fairest way to do comparisons. I'm 2 hours away from Bozeman, Mt. and so I've played many Gibsons and Epiphones, both in Bozeman and my local dealer in Billings, and I can tell the subtle differences myself while only holding them. And I'm just a stupid old drummer.
“Heavier”... yes. I looked recently on Sweetwater which lists the weight of each in stock guitar... the Epiphone J200s were all heavier than the Gibsons. And I agree with Lance S... restring each with brand new identical strings and try again.... maybe closer.
John Diggs Exactly John, I could hardly believe that they did that comparison with the original but different factory strings. Would have been the best comparison if they had used the same strings.
Just a thought; the reason the bird was closer in sound is because they both have bone nut and saddles, the 45 and the jumbo epis are bone, the gibbies are tusq..... I think that is what accentuates the tonal differences. That, and the epis are heavier - thicker wood... Gibson could not allow them to let the cheaper models sound as good as their expensive ones:)
Agree 100%. I closed my eyes first time watching and could not tell the difference on the Hummingbirds, immediately when he started playing the Epiphone J-45 I could hear some top-end sustain that just isn't there on the J-45 which is laser focused on clear thumpy mid-range and sadly that J-200 was really missing the Gibson mojo.
@@GlennWW Epiphone makes quite a few Hummingbirds. Just to clarify, do you have this new Inspired by Gibson Masterbuilt $799 Epiphone Hummingbird or the $499 Epiphone Hummingbird Pro? Masterbuilts are all solid woods, real bone nut and saddle, etc... they get a lot right that you usually only find on the real Gibsons (just realized I used American currency notation on a post for a UK based music store... doh)
@@rmzzz76 Mine is the Epi HB Pro..... I added brass pins, lowered action, lighter strings (10's) and this improved the sound a fair bit...... Some days I like it, then another day, I'm thinking it sounds thin... hahaha I can't win. lol. Here it is plugged in: ruclips.net/video/g1Yqo53R5Sc/видео.html ...... unplugged the sound I'm unhappy with..
Idea for future blindfold tests: One blindfolded person plays and describes the differences. Another blindfolded person listens for differences and doesn't play. Lots of commenters are convinced that all that matters is tone but feel is VERY important to bonding with the guitar.
Ben's comment at around 11:30 says it best - "I'd take that one to the pub gig, I'd take this one to the recording studio." My main guitars are a twelve-fret Larrivee Tommy Emmanuel Signature model and a fourteen-fret Martin 00-16E Granadillo. Those only leave my house when I am recording. For kickaround/travel/gigs I use two Recording King models to match the 1.75" nut width and scale of my main guitars, and I've managed to find discounted demo/floor models of each of these Epiphone guitars. For the price point, you can't beat them. And, if I happen to splash a bit of drink on one of the Recording Kings or Epiphones, my heart will stay in my chest instead of trying to exit my throat. My rule of thumb is buy what will make you want to play more. As always, Ben's playing was superb! His comments were fair and reasoned. A great addition to the Andertons team.
I switched from an Epiphone SJC-200 to a Gibson SJ-200 a few years ago. The luthier who sold it to me summed it up really well: the Epiphone is as loud, but you only hear strings. The Gibson, you hear (and feel it if you're the one playing) the whole animal vibrate and resonate.
That's very true. Even I could hear the difference and I certainly cannot hear the nuances that some other people's ears can But then it depends on what you are using them for. I personally think the Epiphones would be better for bluegrass with that sharp sound and the Gibson's maybe for blues. If you listen to Brad Paisley's Southern Comfort Zone he plays a £100 Epiphone (both on the record and live) and if it's OK for him it should be OK for us mere mortals!! He also plays million quid Santa Cruz acoustics but then he can :-)
We would like to highlight a comment made by Gibson TV. "All of the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson acoustics ship with the same factory spec strings that Gibson uses."
@Jon Oz what is a legit setup? I got an extra set of Daddario strings when i got the guitar, which was strange too, because two sets of Daddario strings are as the same value as a set of Gibson string, why would they do that?
I was thinking they probably were, because Gibson have there own brand of strings. I used their j200 strings on my G45, and They actually sounds really good on them.
I got a chance to hear the Gibson Humming Bird and the Epiphone first hand. They were BOTH amazing. And the difference is indeed with the sound, the tone - not in terms of quality, but taste. The Epiphone Hummingbird has a little more tighter sound. But overall very nice, nice all round frequencies, low and high end etc. I really liked the Epiphone. The Gibson has a little more air around it, but not as tight sounding as the Epiphone, and what I am trying to describe is not a difference in quality, just differences in taste. The Epiphones are mega value, they are amazing guitars.
I was considering getting the Epi Hummingbird. This video only solidified the decision. The difference between the Gibson and this Epi in sound (I haven't played it) is minimal to my ears. However, check out videos of the old Epi Hummingbirds. Totally night and day.
Epiphone is extremely high quality now that it makes you seriously consider it over the Gibson and save thousands of dollars! We are in the golden era of quality guitars for affordable prices.
@@mikechivy yes that is true, but for the price, you still get a decent high quality instrument, that you can build up your music with. 20-30 years ago, you either get a gibson or fender for the money, or cheap useless thing with strings, that cannot compare to these brands. Of course there were many skilled people that could craft you an instrument (for example Brain May´s father, crafting one of the most famous guitars ever made without knowing and willing to pay for gibson/fender), but still, there was not much chance to just walk in any store and buy a guitar you like for a few bucks like today.
I own the epiphone 200. The depth is shallower by half inch. Which makes it lose some low end presence. That being said it makes a better recording guitar and more tonally balanced. It's still quite new it will be interesting to see how it matures as it opens up.
I believe the poly finish on the epiphones restricts the woods resonant abilities so its not as audiophorically pronounced as the gibson with the thinner finish. Another thing to remember is that the wood grades are vastly different. This makes a large impact on the overall sound
So glad Epiphone decided to step up their game with these models! I saw an earlier video you shared that compared the lower-priced Epiphone Hummingbird and EJ-200 against their Gibson counterparts, and I could tell even through the medium of my computer speakers that it frankly no contest. These Inspired by Gibson models, while not sounding *quite* as good, seem to hold their own a lot more respectably.
I've listened to this on a phone (without looking) and it was very easy to tell them apart. The epiphones sounded a bit tinny, could be down to the fretwork, maybe? Tonewood makes a big difference in acoustics, so I'm not surprised the Gibsons sound a LOT better. I'm not even a fan of Gibson
The first (and only) Gibson Jumbo I've ever purchased made my whole house smell like sexy bikini girls and candy corn for like two months... there's no way you wouldn't immediately know which one was the Gibson! #makeitacandle
First off, great video, wonderful playing and good comments. But it is very simple to tell the difference, even blindfolded. Gibson pickguards are hand carved, Epiphone are laser printed, so it is easy to tell the difference when you are playing. However, it is a fun video, thank you for posting!
I played along and closed my eyes for the J45s. Nailed the Gibson on the first strum; so much richer. I got the J200s wrong despite what the guys said. The Hummingbirds were a lot closer to my ears.
Thank you for this well done comparison. The sound quality was very helpful. One of the problems I have with making copies of iconic instruments is that it sets up an expectation that looking like a J45 sets up the expectation it should sound like one. And that shortchanges an Epi or Eastman or Santa Cruz which really has it's own beautiful tone. These guitars get short shrifted as wannabes when they are great on their own terms. People obsess over headstocks too much and dismiss the tone the instrument actually has. On imports, one can turn a production guitar into a beast with a setup, ditching the undersaddle pickup and adding bone pins. And then playing it a lot to open it up. Don't be the guy who wants every woman to be the one he lost and miss the gifts you are being offered.
I have both an Epiphone Hummingbird and (later when I could afford it) a Gibson Hummingbird, and they are substantially different, and the difference is entirely due to the quality (resonance) of the wood.
Do you have the Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird? I have A/Bed the IBG Hummingbird with Gibson Hummingbirds and the tonal difference is minimal. In one case all listening preferred the Epiphone. To add, I sell guitar gear at the largest music store in my state.
I'll just say, that if you go to buy a Epiphone or any other version of a J-45 because that's your budget, DON'T play a Gibson J-45 while there. Because once you do, the other will never be enough, regardless of the price difference. There is an indescribable something about them. Some say power, some say personality or magic, whatever it is, it's real.
I heard the richness in the Gibson at first strum. BTW, He gave it away @ 4:22. So he may as well have removed the goggles at that point. The real blindfold test would be to compare them at 3-4 years of age. And 10 years. A much better test. One is a guitar, the other is an heirloom to be passed down for generations. One is 5-600.00, the other around 4 grand.
@@gardenstateflatlandb True, but they didn't compare to a Martin. Have you aver owned/played a well built guitar? So much easier and more fun to play. I'd never buy a new Gibson btw. But, There's just more value in a well built guitar and the older they get the better they play. Not so with an Epiphone. Because of cheaper woods they grow and shrink so much so quickly that they become unplayable when they cannot be tuned properly. That's a major issue especially when you're recording.
The quality of the music is 90% player 10% gear. Eric Clapton could make that Epiphone sing sweeter than most guys who play Gibsons. Epiphone are considered the poor man's Gibson but truth is, their more expensive guitars are very close to Gibson in terms of build and quality. If your playing is good, no-one really cares about the specs of your instrument. Gear heads lose themselves in specs of gear when really it's not that important. Just my opinion. Peace & love
The Gibson does sound a lot better in the deeper tones on the J 200. However the point of strings was brought up and I think that they should put the same identical strings on both guitars just to see.
1) I prefered the Ep 2) I prefered the Gib 3) BOTH... but for completely different reasons. Overall I think the Epiphones are just brighter. But I would be happy with any of them. That said, being that Gibson is now making some of the Epiphones in the USA and they are amazingly fantastic.... never overlook a guitar because of what is on the headstock. Cheers!
Well done. I thought the Gibsons sounded richer and fuller. As Ben said the difference between the 200s was the most pronounced. Huge differences in price though.
That was a good comparison of the J200 for me. I owned a Gibson for a long time and it does have the edge on tonal quality, but it isn't anywhere near £3000 better than the Epiphone. That tonal difference can be EQd in a recorded or live mix and most folks would probably not hear a vast difference. I have only just found out about these new Epiphone models and I am buying one because the price makes sense and they are terrific value. Thanks for doing this, it was a big help.
The J-200 by Epiphone is very quiet. I already played it. The Hummingbird is the best one of the Inspired by Gibsons. Look at the Sigma GJA-SG200 if you want a jumbo.
That 5-10% of difference that Ben hears (or feels while playing) is probably down to the better quality of wood in the Gibson. Though I think that the Epiphone's light satin finish goes a long way toward making that difference only 5%. If it was covered in thick, glossy poly the difference in sound would probably be much larger.
It has to be the wood. It's plain as day, too. My ears usually don't notice subtle things like that. The Gibsons are richer and fuller sounding. The Epiphones sound cheap. These are garbage!
I recently purchased an Epiphone ej200 and was NOT expecting a Gibson, however...taken into the context of price and expectations its still a fine instrument.
I have Gibson and Epiphone guitars, and honestly the new Epiphones are so close that I have a harder time justifying a Gibson purchase these days. I really like both.
I don't know if the comment has been made already, I would love to see the same test done between the Epiphone and the Sigma equivalents? or a 3 way between the Sigma / Epi/ Gibsons.....lets do this Andertons!!
if they do a sigma gja 200 vs the new epi j-200 video then no one would buy the new epi jumbo anymore. the sigma jumbo is sounding so much better than the new epi j-200. huge quality difference in sound for the same price.
Super interesting. I spent nearly 3 years shopping for my current acoustic guitar and came to the conclusion that the biggest factor in sound difference was whether or not you had a solid back and sides (pretty much everything had a solid top). So when I was listening to this video with my eyes closed, and guessed all three correctly, I assumed the Epiphones must have laminate backs and sides on their models. (I also assumed this because back when I was doing my shopping, I couldn't find guitars at an $800 price point with solid backs and sides.) But when I looked up these Epiphones, it turned out that they are all solid. Which leads me to a new question: why did the Gibsons all sound better? I'd really like to know what's structurally different if not the backs and sides.
Much higher end wood used on the Gibson's plus the lacquer is different and I'd say the bracing probably different too. I owned a 45 yr old J200 and it was the lightest acoustic I've ever played hence the top vibrates easier.
Also from what I hear, from some luthiers on RUclips, higher end guitars tend to push the top to near breaking limits, which you of course can't do in budget guitars where you just want the customer happy; so they are always heavier and a little stifled, and I think that's what we hear here
Honestly their electric guitars are just about 1:1 in terms of how they sound. They're really good. But woods make a huge difference in tone for acoustics as evidenced by this video (and a good pair of headphones)
Ben can squeeze more juice out of the first five frets than anyone I have seen on acoustic paradiso...and then there was The Captain meets Tommy Emanuel and he clearly owns all remaining frets.
@@gianthonour Yeah, but its all subjective. In my memory the sigma was better. But I have to play them again, when the shops in Germany open after lockdown.
Gibson sounds so smooth it makes it hard to go for the Epiphone. I would rather save my money and get the one that is more likely to stay with me for years. That being said, there's a lot of music in the Epiphone and ultimately the best guitar to play is the one you have...
For the Hummingbird I personally choose the Epi. To my ear and headphone it just sounds more balanced. The Gibson has more mids, though I am not quite sure
That Epi Hummingbird sounded amazing, just as good as any other guitar in the test, but to be fair though every guitar can sound different, two of the exactly same models can sometimes have a bigger difference in sound than most people realize.. With that being said I'd love to try one out if I ever see one in a guitar store here. Any one here have a Hummingbird Masterbilt?
Yeah that gibson humming bird for sure was brighter on the high,s the twang in the high's were kind of more shimmery. The Low end had a nice clean bass tone, The Epiphone was a bit darker for sure and the high end does not shimmer with the twang as much.
I am really wondering if you slap a high end set of elixirs or stringjoys on the Epi I bet tonally that makes a huge difference. Strings on acoustics really change the clarity and depth of tone on acoustics
The way I see it, the GIbson's are designed for people who can afford them or studio/touring musicians looking for "that tone." While the epiphones are for gigging musicians and people who want the look and similar feel of a $4k guitar. I've wanted Epiphone to do this for awhile and these look and sound close enough to "get you there." None of these are bad guitars, they are just designed for different markets. Everyone wins here now that Epiphone has redone the headstock and has upped their game a bit. I'm a fan for sure. Great job guys!
Most of the time the Epiphone acoustics do end up sounding as good as the Gibsons. They just need years of playing to break in enough to get to that fuller, more balanced sound. I've got two, and both sound substantially better than they did when bought about 10 years ago. In fact, my old Epiphone EJ200 sounds about as good as the Gibson J200 here. Of course, you'll need years to get an Epiphone to that sound, whereas a Gibson will have it right away. That's really where the price comes into play. Pay thousands for a great sound right now, or pay a few hundred and get there in a few years.
i know im late, but is it the ej200ce? I have a friend selling one for about $500. I haven't played it yet, and I definitely won't buy it unless I play it and love it. im unsure of the year but the model is ej200 ce. If I can get it to break in and sound glorious, ill do it.
@@KellerFkinRyan The "Epiphone inspired by Gibson" range is different from the older ranges and they're also more expensive. Not sure it these are CE or not. But the EJ200 is a great guitar.
Regarding strings. According to Gibson Customer Service the new Inspired By lineup ships with "GIbson Masterbuilt Premium Phosphor Bronze Light gauge". The USA built Gibson lineup ships with Gibson Masterbuilt Premium 80/20 Light gauge". Transition from PBs to 80/20 will impact tonal character a little. They do a final inspection, setup and string the Inspired By models in the USA. I've always preferred 80/20s on the J-45 model and pretty much PBs on everything else. Great comparison video guys, this is one I was hoping you would do and it did not disappoint. I love A-B blind test videos!
I got a epi jumbo and changed out the bone nut and saddle for tusq, lowered the action put on some premium strings and whoa..... winner winner chicken dinner!!!!
No offense to anyone but this is some of the most impressive blind folded playing
Ben never fails to impress with his blindfolded acoustic skills!
It definitly was. Main difference is, that Ben just played, while others tried to identify the guitar.
I'm offended.
@@SeanDugaw noooooo:/ I'm sorry!!
I'm offended but I also identify as a walnut, so...
I hate that I can hear the difference. My pockets hate that I can hear the difference.
the key difference was dynamics I think. When Ben struck the Gibsons hard, volume increases, but with the Epiphones, it maxed out and had fret buzz as well
Agreed - bottom E resonance is huge but balanced on the Gidson. The Epiphone is certainly value for money and would probably be nice to record with. It is not as nuanced across the dynamic but sounds satisfying played a little softer. Gibson for live performance for sure, particularly unamplified.
Cheaper guitars always have this issue. Harmonics and dynamic response. Just go up the line of Taylors at a store.
That's because these clowns don't put matching strings on each guitar.
True - I walked back my comment above thinking Ben was giving the Epi an unfair run by picking weaker.. Its actually the body on the Epi is a little shallower i believe than the Gibby and this would contribute to it maxing-out on bottom end or strummed hard. Still awesome for the price with its all solid woods, real shell inlay and other great appointments
@@alexgasiewski4970 Clowns??? C'mon.. These guys and That Pedal Show are the two best guitar and amp videos on the Internet.
Ben has those tone-filled fingers, that's for truth!
Listening blind, 2 out of the 3 Gibsons did sound a bit better, but I was surprised by the Hummingbird. I genuinely preferred the sound of the Epiphone Hummingbird over the Gibson.
I like Ben. More Ben! Gibson was just nicer.
I love seeing these.🤘🏾 you should do one where you compare the standard epiphones to the inspired by Gibson next! I’d love to hear the difference between an EJ-200 and the Gibson inspired J-200!
I have both... the old Epiphone EJ-200 is MUCH better than the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson. By far!
Wow his playing is absolutely phenomenal.
Bringing up the lacquer thing might not have been for the best after first guitar.
Kind of ruins the blind test...
It was on everyone’s minds before the testing even started. It’s very known that Epiphone isn’t going to be using the nitro lacquer used on Gibsons. It’s honestly disingenuous to not mention it.
Gibson's resonance is bigger or fuller.. more bass too.
You absolutely can hear a difference. I thought I imagined it at first.
You can hear the difference on first strum, even with youtube's compressed sound. The epiphone sounds more harsh - more tinny highs. The gibson sounds big and rich and full.
I’m 60, I don’t know if I could have heard the difference. But, the epi j200 can’t be beat, for the price. The Gibson definitely sounds more like a stage instrument, some because this guy can play sooo good. I would like to see the comments of a similar comparison where, the audience didn’t know which. Thank you for the awesome video!
The Hummingbirds are so close together. Unbelievable. The Gibson J200 is an outstanding guitar - I own Chris Kelly's (Kriss Kross) former J200 and it's the only guitar I'll never give away and leave to my kids.
We’ve noticed a few comments regarding the strings.
We kept the original strings on these guitars to represent what it would be like to compare them in your local store.
Most the time guitar stores tend to display straight from the box, which would give you an A/B test similar to what was shown.
Thanks for tuning in! 🤘
That's a fair point in the guitar shop but wouldn't it be more useful to know what they sound like when you've got them home and restrung them? If I had just spent £750 on a shiny new epiphone (which all looked very nice by the way!) I don't think I'd mind spending £15 on a decent set of Elixirs/some other brand and getting a nice new set of strings on the go.
Great video in all other respects and scary how good Ben's playing was when he was blindfolded! Also great to hear all the guitars unplugged.
Mine came with Gibson strings on it I think.
Very good point on the strings. Vary well could be the difference.
Besides the string buzz on the Epiphones (especially first two), I agree that the Epi strings seem junky. Although my sample size in Epiphone in general is tiny, being the new ES-335 Inspired. The strings were already showing (rusty) spots and came off before I even played it. Had to work on the frets two, but beyond that they're good value.
Except people aren't at any store, they are here. The vast majority of people change strings as soon as they get a guitar, which would be a better representation. You're comparing guitars, not strings.
Man I wish I could play like that with eyes open.
I would love to hear these with identical strings, like Elixirs. Nicely done. I have seen other videos that were less discernable in sound difference than this comparison. But you were right, you can tell here. I did blind after J45 too, could tell. Just more definition and fuller in the sound range.
Elixir strings suck with Gibsons imho
@@agusg.t.8950 agreed!!!
For me, all the comparison sounded almost similar except J45 where Gibson J45 sounded much better. Anyway, thanks a lot for your video. The fact of the matter , it can never be compared to the very pleasing sound of Gibson J45 with any other guitar specially it's nice pleasing tone of the Mahogany.
I haven't had the chance to hear it in the headphones yet. I do recommend some quality noise cancelling headphones for these challenges.
Also, I think the Gibson archtop acoustics, most of the old models anyway, sound better than the flat tops, to me. Including the J45.
What I really want to see Gibson do, is reissue the old 30s and 40s archtops. I mean, archtop acoustic guitars were Gibson's signature for over half a century. It was mandolin company, and they were famous for constructing mandolins and guitars in the manner of European violins. That refers specifically to archtops and floating bridges. (I think the mid to late 30s is when they started with the fixed metal bridges. Pretty much abr, but probably a less refined version.)
I'd also love to see Epiphone sell high quality reissues of their pre-Gibson archtops, because they were great guitars.
To me, the Hummingbird is the best dreadnaught ever built. That Epi sounds amazing.
For my money, best dreadnaught would be the Guild D-55.
yeah almost sounds like a martin d28
#D18
The best dreadnought would have to be a a D18 or D28, depending on whether you like rosewood or hog guitars, plus the different bracing patterns. The Gibson tone just doesn’t cut it in comparison.
@@kalvino67 "I hear you...but "best", as discussions like this illustrate, is utterly subjective. The Hummingbird,?while not as loud and boomy as those high(er) end Martins, for me, has a resonance I've never felt on any other guitar. It seems to smoothly vibrate through my torso. Would I like a D-41? Yes. And a Guild 512...But I want the 1972 Hummingbird first. 🤩
try a "guess this acoustic guitar price" blindfold challenge video! that would be fun. blindfold videos are always great
You can definitely tell the harmonic difference between Gibson and Epiphone, for price range Epi is pretty good
I wish you gave him a gretch lol I'm dying to see what Ben can do on an electric.
String them identically, remove the tangibles by having someone else play them, and let the "contestant" only listen. With seasoned ears, such that Ben and Chappers possess, it may not matter. On the other hand, neck and fretboard feel, not to mention the vibrations of the acoustics, is a dead giveaway to a couple of guys who have played the hell out of everything. Plus you have Chappers uncanny ability to smell nitro. Ears only seems to be the fairest way to do comparisons. I'm 2 hours away from Bozeman, Mt. and so I've played many Gibsons and Epiphones, both in Bozeman and my local dealer in Billings, and I can tell the subtle differences myself while only holding them. And I'm just a stupid old drummer.
I haven't played either but I could easily feel the difference
“Heavier”... yes. I looked recently on Sweetwater which lists the weight of each in stock guitar... the Epiphone J200s were all heavier than the Gibsons. And I agree with Lance S... restring each with brand new identical strings and try again.... maybe closer.
John Diggs Exactly John, I could hardly believe that they did that comparison with the original but different factory strings. Would have been the best comparison if they had used the same strings.
Just a thought; the reason the bird was closer in sound is because they both have bone nut and saddles, the 45 and the jumbo epis are bone, the gibbies are tusq..... I think that is what accentuates the tonal differences. That, and the epis are heavier - thicker wood... Gibson could not allow them to let the cheaper models sound as good as their expensive ones:)
Epiphone Hummingbird actually sounded really good! All the others Gibsons way better.
Agree 100%. I closed my eyes first time watching and could not tell the difference on the Hummingbirds, immediately when he started playing the Epiphone J-45 I could hear some top-end sustain that just isn't there on the J-45 which is laser focused on clear thumpy mid-range and sadly that J-200 was really missing the Gibson mojo.
The epiphone hummingbird sounds boomy to me. But i like the clarity from gibby.
I've got the Epi H/Bird, I find it dissappointing sound wise.... (I have made improvements, but still a let down). Build and feel is good though.
@@GlennWW Epiphone makes quite a few Hummingbirds. Just to clarify, do you have this new Inspired by Gibson Masterbuilt $799 Epiphone Hummingbird or the $499 Epiphone Hummingbird Pro? Masterbuilts are all solid woods, real bone nut and saddle, etc... they get a lot right that you usually only find on the real Gibsons (just realized I used American currency notation on a post for a UK based music store... doh)
@@rmzzz76 Mine is the Epi HB Pro..... I added brass pins, lowered action, lighter strings (10's) and this improved the sound a fair bit...... Some days I like it, then another day, I'm thinking it sounds thin... hahaha I can't win. lol. Here it is plugged in: ruclips.net/video/g1Yqo53R5Sc/видео.html ...... unplugged the sound I'm unhappy with..
The playing was killer on all of them! Loved the video!
Idea for future blindfold tests: One blindfolded person plays and describes the differences. Another blindfolded person listens for differences and doesn't play. Lots of commenters are convinced that all that matters is tone but feel is VERY important to bonding with the guitar.
We can play the blindfolded audience tho
Ben's comment at around 11:30 says it best - "I'd take that one to the pub gig, I'd take this one to the recording studio." My main guitars are a twelve-fret Larrivee Tommy Emmanuel Signature model and a fourteen-fret Martin 00-16E Granadillo. Those only leave my house when I am recording. For kickaround/travel/gigs I use two Recording King models to match the 1.75" nut width and scale of my main guitars, and I've managed to find discounted demo/floor models of each of these Epiphone guitars. For the price point, you can't beat them. And, if I happen to splash a bit of drink on one of the Recording Kings or Epiphones, my heart will stay in my chest instead of trying to exit my throat. My rule of thumb is buy what will make you want to play more. As always, Ben's playing was superb! His comments were fair and reasoned. A great addition to the Andertons team.
Any of these tests should have matched strings.
Well said!
100%
I switched from an Epiphone SJC-200 to a Gibson SJ-200 a few years ago. The luthier who sold it to me summed it up really well: the Epiphone is as loud, but you only hear strings. The Gibson, you hear (and feel it if you're the one playing) the whole animal vibrate and resonate.
I preferred the sound of the Epi Hummingbird over the Gibson one but I have to say that Gibson J-45 was a dead giveaway. Sounded soooo good.
I thought the gibson hummingbird sounded miles better than the epiphone
The epi's hummingbird sounds boomy to me
All the gibsons sound so much fuller.
That's very true. Even I could hear the difference and I certainly cannot hear the nuances that some other people's ears can But then it depends on what you are using them for. I personally think the Epiphones would be better for bluegrass with that sharp sound and the Gibson's maybe for blues. If you listen to Brad Paisley's Southern Comfort Zone he plays a £100 Epiphone (both on the record and live) and if it's OK for him it should be OK for us mere mortals!! He also plays million quid Santa Cruz acoustics but then he can :-)
I agree but they don't sound a WHOLE lot fuller.
I literally kept saying this when they couldn’t find the word. They just sound full af.
We would like to highlight a comment made by Gibson TV.
"All of the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson acoustics ship with the same factory spec strings that Gibson uses."
So does that mean Epiphone J200 comes with Gibson Strings, but the one I got is with Daddario.
@Jon Oz what is a legit setup? I got an extra set of Daddario strings when i got the guitar, which was strange too, because two sets of Daddario strings are as the same value as a set of Gibson string, why would they do that?
I was thinking they probably were, because Gibson have there own brand of strings. I used their j200 strings on my G45, and They actually sounds really good on them.
@@xiaochenliu2346 do you have inspired by Gibson or the cheap cutout epiphone
@@jsmoker10 I have the newest Inspired by Gibson,
I got a chance to hear the Gibson Humming Bird and the Epiphone first hand. They were BOTH amazing. And the difference is indeed with the sound, the tone - not in terms of quality, but taste. The Epiphone Hummingbird has a little more tighter sound. But overall very nice, nice all round frequencies, low and high end etc. I really liked the Epiphone. The Gibson has a little more air around it, but not as tight sounding as the Epiphone, and what I am trying to describe is not a difference in quality, just differences in taste. The Epiphones are mega value, they are amazing guitars.
I was considering getting the Epi Hummingbird. This video only solidified the decision. The difference between the Gibson and this Epi in sound (I haven't played it) is minimal to my ears. However, check out videos of the old Epi Hummingbirds. Totally night and day.
I'm an Epiphone fan. It's good to hear that there is very minimal difference between Epiphone and Gibson.
Epiphone is extremely high quality now that it makes you seriously consider it over the Gibson and save thousands of dollars!
We are in the golden era of quality guitars for affordable prices.
Eh. Dude could easily tell the difference in the two. You could say Gibson is overpriced, but you get what you pay for in a top tier instrument.
@@mikechivy yes that is true, but for the price, you still get a decent high quality instrument, that you can build up your music with. 20-30 years ago, you either get a gibson or fender for the money, or cheap useless thing with strings, that cannot compare to these brands. Of course there were many skilled people that could craft you an instrument (for example Brain May´s father, crafting one of the most famous guitars ever made without knowing and willing to pay for gibson/fender), but still, there was not much chance to just walk in any store and buy a guitar you like for a few bucks like today.
@@mikechivy They’re better buy not work the 4K plus price
@@mikechivyMr Dude....no-one would tell the difference ..live in a band setting.
Check out the sigma gja-sg200 an
I own the epiphone 200. The depth is shallower by half inch. Which makes it lose some low end presence. That being said it makes a better recording guitar and more tonally balanced. It's still quite new it will be interesting to see how it matures as it opens up.
It would be good to see a comparison against the old Epiphone models to the inspired by Gibson versions.
I have both... the old Epiphone EJ-200 is MUCH better than the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson. By far!
@@davidbeja no way!
I believe the poly finish on the epiphones restricts the woods resonant abilities so its not as audiophorically pronounced as the gibson with the thinner finish. Another thing to remember is that the wood grades are vastly different. This makes a large impact on the overall sound
Should be something easy to fix wouldn't you say so?
Ben has put in his 20,000 hours... man, he's so good.
So glad Epiphone decided to step up their game with these models! I saw an earlier video you shared that compared the lower-priced Epiphone Hummingbird and EJ-200 against their Gibson counterparts, and I could tell even through the medium of my computer speakers that it frankly no contest. These Inspired by Gibson models, while not sounding *quite* as good, seem to hold their own a lot more respectably.
Can’t be a loser when you sell both. I love both brands. It’s a journey going from your epiphone to that first Gibson that makes me appreciate both.
The big winner was the Epiphone Hummingbird.. The J45 is my next big dollar guitar purchase. What a beautiful guitar.
I've listened to this on a phone (without looking) and it was very easy to tell them apart. The epiphones sounded a bit tinny, could be down to the fretwork, maybe? Tonewood makes a big difference in acoustics, so I'm not surprised the Gibsons sound a LOT better. I'm not even a fan of Gibson
I clearly couldn't hear the difference between the J-45's.
Both sound great!
The first (and only) Gibson Jumbo I've ever purchased made my whole house smell like sexy bikini girls and candy corn for like two months... there's no way you wouldn't immediately know which one was the Gibson! #makeitacandle
I keep my new Gibson in it's case to keep the smell longer. I'd buy the heck outta a candle.
My hummingbird smelled like honey for a couple months. Thanks for reminding me !
First off, great video, wonderful playing and good comments. But it is very simple to tell the difference, even blindfolded. Gibson pickguards are hand carved, Epiphone are laser printed, so it is easy to tell the difference when you are playing. However, it is a fun video, thank you for posting!
This makes me feel at least a little better for buying my SJ-200 a few years ago lol
Guys, I yhad so much fun watching this. Thanks a ton for the comparison.
The hummingbird was impressively close!
Agreed!
I preferred the Epiphone.
I played along and closed my eyes for the J45s. Nailed the Gibson on the first strum; so much richer. I got the J200s wrong despite what the guys said. The Hummingbirds were a lot closer to my ears.
I'm sure this sounds weird, but I really want to see a video where Chapman plays an acoustic and Ben plays an electric 😄
I have a 15 yr old Epi Hummingbird. Installed a bone nut, saddle, and ebony pegs. Love it!
J45 is my favorite of all acoustics! :) Thank you for the great content!
Thank you for this well done comparison. The sound quality was very helpful.
One of the problems I have with making copies of iconic instruments is that it sets up an expectation that looking like a J45 sets up the expectation it should sound like one. And that shortchanges an Epi or Eastman or Santa Cruz which really has it's own beautiful tone. These guitars get short shrifted as wannabes when they are great on their own terms. People obsess over headstocks too much and dismiss the tone the instrument actually has. On imports, one can turn a production guitar into a beast with a setup, ditching the undersaddle pickup and adding bone pins. And then playing it a lot to open it up. Don't be the guy who wants every woman to be the one he lost and miss the gifts you are being offered.
Probably tell the difference by smell alone...
I have both an Epiphone Hummingbird and (later when I could afford it) a Gibson Hummingbird, and they are substantially different, and the difference is entirely due to the quality (resonance) of the wood.
Do you have the Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird? I have A/Bed the IBG Hummingbird with Gibson Hummingbirds and the tonal difference is minimal. In one case all listening preferred the Epiphone. To add, I sell guitar gear at the largest music store in my state.
I'll just say, that if you go to buy a Epiphone or any other version of a J-45 because that's your budget, DON'T play a Gibson J-45 while there. Because once you do, the other will never be enough, regardless of the price difference. There is an indescribable something about them. Some say power, some say personality or magic, whatever it is, it's real.
I heard the richness in the Gibson at first strum. BTW, He gave it away @ 4:22. So he may as well have removed the goggles at that point. The real blindfold test would be to compare them at 3-4 years of age. And 10 years. A much better test. One is a guitar, the other is an heirloom to be passed down for generations. One is 5-600.00, the other around 4 grand.
Gibson is so overrated and overpriced for what you get. Sorry Gibson fanboys.
@@gardenstateflatlandb True, but they didn't compare to a Martin. Have you aver owned/played a well built guitar? So much easier and more fun to play. I'd never buy a new Gibson btw. But, There's just more value in a well built guitar and the older they get the better they play. Not so with an Epiphone. Because of cheaper woods they grow and shrink so much so quickly that they become unplayable when they cannot be tuned properly. That's a major issue especially when you're recording.
I did the test and preferred the Epiphone Humming Bird over Gibson. Any body else.?
@@multipipi1234 must have been a real bad gibson!
Same with all Gibson low end is huge difference and tonal clarity is sweet ... wish I had the cash for them all !
The quality of the music is 90% player 10% gear. Eric Clapton could make that Epiphone sing sweeter than most guys who play Gibsons. Epiphone are considered the poor man's Gibson but truth is, their more expensive guitars are very close to Gibson in terms of build and quality. If your playing is good, no-one really cares about the specs of your instrument. Gear heads lose themselves in specs of gear when really it's not that important. Just my opinion. Peace & love
The Gibson does sound a lot better in the deeper tones on the J 200. However the point of strings was brought up and I think that they should put the same identical strings on both guitars just to see.
The bass end of the EJ200 takes out all of the tinny tones. It is an amazing guitar for the price for sure.
12:17-12:47 my god thats amazing. His playing and obviously the majestic J200, I just need to get one eventually..
1) I prefered the Ep
2) I prefered the Gib
3) BOTH... but for completely different reasons.
Overall I think the Epiphones are just brighter. But I would be happy with any of them. That said, being that Gibson is now making some of the Epiphones in the USA and they are amazingly fantastic.... never overlook a guitar because of what is on the headstock. Cheers!
Well done. I thought the Gibsons sounded richer and fuller. As Ben said the difference between the 200s was the most pronounced. Huge differences in price though.
That was a good comparison of the J200 for me. I owned a Gibson for a long time and it does have the edge on tonal quality, but it isn't anywhere near £3000 better than the Epiphone. That tonal difference can be EQd in a recorded or live mix and most folks would probably not hear a vast difference. I have only just found out about these new Epiphone models and I am buying one because the price makes sense and they are terrific value. Thanks for doing this, it was a big help.
The J-200 by Epiphone is very quiet. I already played it. The Hummingbird is the best one of the Inspired by Gibsons. Look at the Sigma GJA-SG200 if you want a jumbo.
The laminate back & sided sigma J200 is very close to the same price as the all solid woods of the Inspired by Gibson Epi J200.
@@realdiamondshow I know, but it sounds better and louder in my opinion.
I heard a big difference I wish I was blindfold there was more dynamic range on the Gibson. I would have picked the Gibson out too
That 5-10% of difference that Ben hears (or feels while playing) is probably down to the better quality of wood in the Gibson. Though I think that the Epiphone's light satin finish goes a long way toward making that difference only 5%. If it was covered in thick, glossy poly the difference in sound would probably be much larger.
It has to be the wood. It's plain as day, too. My ears usually don't notice subtle things like that. The Gibsons are richer and fuller sounding. The Epiphones sound cheap. These are garbage!
I recently purchased an Epiphone ej200 and was NOT expecting a Gibson, however...taken into the context of price and expectations its still a fine instrument.
I have Gibson and Epiphone guitars, and honestly the new Epiphones are so close that I have a harder time justifying a Gibson purchase these days. I really like both.
The J200 is sooo sweet!! Ben is exceptional!
I don't know if the comment has been made already, I would love to see the same test done between the Epiphone and the Sigma equivalents? or a 3 way between the Sigma / Epi/ Gibsons.....lets do this Andertons!!
if they do a sigma gja 200 vs the new epi j-200 video then no one would buy the new epi jumbo anymore. the sigma jumbo is sounding so much better than the new epi j-200. huge quality difference in sound for the same price.
@@atomic7731 awesome, now let get these guys to demonstrate it in a blindfold challenge. I would love to hear that.
Everytime dude had a Gibson in his hands, he came alive.
The guitar inspired him.😀
I thought that the first epi has more clarity
The Hummingbird was a very close call sound wise. Every other I could tell with the sound for sure
Super interesting. I spent nearly 3 years shopping for my current acoustic guitar and came to the conclusion that the biggest factor in sound difference was whether or not you had a solid back and sides (pretty much everything had a solid top). So when I was listening to this video with my eyes closed, and guessed all three correctly, I assumed the Epiphones must have laminate backs and sides on their models. (I also assumed this because back when I was doing my shopping, I couldn't find guitars at an $800 price point with solid backs and sides.) But when I looked up these Epiphones, it turned out that they are all solid. Which leads me to a new question: why did the Gibsons all sound better? I'd really like to know what's structurally different if not the backs and sides.
Much higher end wood used on the Gibson's plus the lacquer is different and I'd say the bracing probably different too. I owned a 45 yr old J200 and it was the lightest acoustic I've ever played hence the top vibrates easier.
@@mrjasondylan I'm guessing of all those factors, bracing has the most effect.
Also from what I hear, from some luthiers on RUclips, higher end guitars tend to push the top to near breaking limits, which you of course can't do in budget guitars where you just want the customer happy; so they are always heavier and a little stifled, and I think that's what we hear here
Yep, I think the inspired by epephone line is just built with thicker (which equals heavier) wood.
I'm quite sure that the Epi will sound near as Gibson when the wood dries out.
I appreciate the honesty in this video
Epiphone guitars aren’t actually that bad, I have a Epiphone les Paul, it’s well made and sounds great!🤘🏼🇺🇸
Honestly their electric guitars are just about 1:1 in terms of how they sound. They're really good. But woods make a huge difference in tone for acoustics as evidenced by this video (and a good pair of headphones)
Ben can squeeze more juice out of the first five frets than anyone I have seen on acoustic paradiso...and then there was The Captain meets Tommy Emanuel and he clearly owns all remaining frets.
I would like to hear a blindfolded comparison between the epiphones and sigma Gibson counterparts 🤔
Me too, especially the Hummingbird 👍
@@gianthonour yess! That‘s the one I had in mind the most!
The Epiphone Hummingbird is way better than the Sigma but the J-200 by Sigma is better than the Epiphone.
@@zieemar9660 I'm talking about the Sigma solid top though, yeah? 👍
@@gianthonour Yeah, but its all subjective. In my memory the sigma was better. But I have to play them again, when the shops in Germany open after lockdown.
wow that Ben can hold a tune- cracking video guys :) Had me tapping my foot
The Gibson (Hummingbird) sounded a whole level richer - on an old iPhone
Its a pitty that the strings were different but thanks. It was fun
Frankly, if the strings aren’t the same, it’s not a fair test.
Gibson sounds so smooth it makes it hard to go for the Epiphone. I would rather save my money and get the one that is more likely to stay with me for years. That being said, there's a lot of music in the Epiphone and ultimately the best guitar to play is the one you have...
The Epiphone Hummingbird midrange dominates the other tones of the guitar. The Gibson is more balanced.
Yeah I think you hit it - balance all around.
..and more clarity of hifi just like he mentioned
That Gibson J-45 sounds the best, blown away.
Agree. The Gibson J-45 is my favorite acoustic that I've played.
For the Hummingbird I personally choose the Epi. To my ear and headphone it just sounds more balanced. The Gibson has more mids, though I am not quite sure
That Epi Hummingbird sounded amazing, just as good as any other guitar in the test, but to be fair though every guitar can sound different, two of the exactly same models can sometimes have a bigger difference in sound than most people realize.. With that being said I'd love to try one out if I ever see one in a guitar store here. Any one here have a Hummingbird Masterbilt?
No master built but I do have a 1967 Gibson hummingbird that I love dearly
He said, "It doesnt sound as nice as gibson" that's the truth, and that's the price :)
Yeah that gibson humming bird for sure was brighter on the high,s the twang in the high's were kind of more shimmery. The Low end had a nice clean bass tone, The Epiphone was a bit darker for sure and the high end does not shimmer with the twang as much.
I am really wondering if you slap a high end set of elixirs or stringjoys on the Epi I bet tonally that makes a huge difference. Strings on acoustics really change the clarity and depth of tone on acoustics
The way I see it, the GIbson's are designed for people who can afford them or studio/touring musicians looking for "that tone." While the epiphones are for gigging musicians and people who want the look and similar feel of a $4k guitar. I've wanted Epiphone to do this for awhile and these look and sound close enough to "get you there." None of these are bad guitars, they are just designed for different markets. Everyone wins here now that Epiphone has redone the headstock and has upped their game a bit. I'm a fan for sure. Great job guys!
Most of the time the Epiphone acoustics do end up sounding as good as the Gibsons. They just need years of playing to break in enough to get to that fuller, more balanced sound. I've got two, and both sound substantially better than they did when bought about 10 years ago. In fact, my old Epiphone EJ200 sounds about as good as the Gibson J200 here. Of course, you'll need years to get an Epiphone to that sound, whereas a Gibson will have it right away. That's really where the price comes into play. Pay thousands for a great sound right now, or pay a few hundred and get there in a few years.
i know im late, but is it the ej200ce? I have a friend selling one for about $500. I haven't played it yet, and I definitely won't buy it unless I play it and love it. im unsure of the year but the model is ej200 ce. If I can get it to break in and sound glorious, ill do it.
@@KellerFkinRyan The "Epiphone inspired by Gibson" range is different from the older ranges and they're also more expensive. Not sure it these are CE or not. But the EJ200 is a great guitar.
The J-45 is my dream guitar. I shall own one someday.
3:30 when lee realizes that Chappers isn't the problem with the blindfold challenges.
Regarding strings. According to Gibson Customer Service the new Inspired By lineup ships with "GIbson Masterbuilt Premium Phosphor Bronze Light gauge". The USA built Gibson lineup ships with Gibson Masterbuilt Premium 80/20 Light gauge". Transition from PBs to 80/20 will impact tonal character a little. They do a final inspection, setup and string the Inspired By models in the USA. I've always preferred 80/20s on the J-45 model and pretty much PBs on everything else. Great comparison video guys, this is one I was hoping you would do and it did not disappoint. I love A-B blind test videos!
VIP - very impressive player
I got a epi jumbo and changed out the bone nut and saddle for tusq, lowered the action put on some premium strings and whoa..... winner winner chicken dinner!!!!