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 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!
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
@@dixiefallas7799 I don’t understand this mentality. These guitars haven’t changed in value since they were first introduced in the 40s and 50s and they were played to death in bars, dives, juke joints, honky tonks. Like, I get it. They’re expensive but I’m not gonna lose sleep over nicks, chips, potential drops. It’s not a collector’s item. It’s an instrument.
@@anthonybenavides720 yeah, I bang into shit all time with my Gibson, even the on first day. I’m kinda ADD so I’m always swinging around not paying attention and nailing my guitar on everything in my house. I always lose or misplace the truss rod covers too on all my guitars...
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.
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..
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.
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.
The humming bird was minor enough that I couldn't say which was which but the j-45 was pretty glaring. I still would probably get an acoustic from a company that specializes in acoustics specifically. I would for example get a classical from Cordoba instead of ibanez.
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.
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 was 3/3 on picking which was which. With that said, the Epiphones didn't sound bad, just a little less. For the different in price, it could be the difference between having a guitar that sounds really good and not having one at all...
“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.
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.
There is obviously a difference between the Gibsons and the Epiphones but I've now listened - with headphones - on both a laptop and a phone. On the laptop, the Gibsons had the edge, whereas on the phone the Epiphone Hummingbird and J200 won out. If this proves anything, it's probably that the various eq 'enhancements' on our devices influence things more than we sometimes realise and that there is no substitute for trying the guitars in person. Which is a bit of a bummer when there's Covid about!
Worth mentioning that Gibson do not honour their “warranty” I had a Gibson j200 that needed a neck reset after two years. Gibson told me it was fine and offered me a new saddle out of courtesy. They told me they very rarely do neck resets , after i sent them the pictures of the guitar which I hadn’t seen for three months showing it blatantly did need a reset , they reconsidered and told me the guitar did need a neck reset but they consider that general maintenance. Sold the thing at a loss and bought a much better atkin from Andertons. Be prepared for no help from Gibson if their product is faulty. Andertons were helpful even though they didn’t sell me the faulty Gibson
Martin too have somewhat of a track record. Warranty sucks. The best thing you can do is buy the guitar you loved to play in store (buying online is a risk)...
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.
I have unseasoned ears for music but the difference is quite noticeable. The epiphone is buzzy when hit aggressively. The Gibson just shows a richer and fuller sound. But with the price difference, I'll go with the epiphone.
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. 🤩
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'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
Love the channel. Great fun people. Consider in the "can you tell the difference" in letting someone play who has been playing guitar for 1-2 years and a pro. I bet the new players won't see the difference too often.
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.
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:)
I prefer the Epiphany Hummingbird - it has less of a bottom end which is way better to record with .... I used to own a '61 Gibson HB and it was too bass-ie to record with ....
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
I'm constantly amazed at the number of people that swear out an Epiphone is anywhere near comparable to Gibsons. They just aren't. Not sonically, not feel, and not looks. The proof is in the pudding. Stop worrying about price. Gibson acoustics have a tighter more controlled voice, especially in the mid range. Epiphone acoustics have this inherent looseness especially in the high end. Gibson acoustics just have something more, about 10%-15% more in my opinion. Even blindfolded, his body language completely erupts up when he plays one note on the Gibson, then he can't put it down. I totally hear the tonal difference, so I can't imagine how this guy can't hear the difference sitting right in front of them. Maybe because acoustic guitars are my life, so I hear the difference in guitars immediately. I hear the difference between Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. If you played the same song on all three back to back, I could probably pick out the manufacture because they all have their own sound. Also, I'm so over people trying to be PC about this. Man if the guitar doesn't stand up it just doesn't stand up. It's not mean or nice, it's just FACTS. Say, "this sounds better, this sounds worse". Now, all this being said, I own and love my Epiphone j200. There's a thing that it has in the tone and pickup system that is incredibly unique and pleasing to me. It fits the songs and tuning I use it for. BUT when I play a Gibson j200, sonically they aren't at all on the same level.
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)
Of course Gibson would assert that the epiphones are shipped with the same strings....but it matters not. The only superb Gibsons I’ve ever played were made before the company moved manufacturing to Bozangeles. I was in the hunt for high end jumbo a few years ago amd I decided to go to Music Villa in Bozo to compare Gibson, Martin, Taylor, etc. (I can’t afford a Collings). M.Villa is Gibson’s hometown showroom. I was astonished & disappointed to find that the Gibson (J-200)wasn’t even in the same class as the Martin J40 or Taylor 618. I decided on the Taylor and planned to purchase Timon a couple weeks. When I returned to buy it it just so happens that someone had brought in a 2007 Guild F50 made in Tacoma, WA. It blew all of them away. There was no question. I’m not vouching for the F55’s made in Corona, which has replaced the F50, but it’s clear to me that the F50 is the best jumbo guitar made in America by the large guitar companies. Collings are preeminent. Of course, this is all my opinion. I would love to hear Ben play a guild. Blindfolded or not. Which I’m not sure what is so impressive about the blindfold. Pro’s like Ben haven’t needed to look at their hands while playing for a really long time. Blindfolded car racing, now that’s impressive. Sorry I’m such a arse. This is a great service these guys are providing for guitar buyers.
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.
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.
@@JonasCraftUltimate £4000 for a guitar? They are using the same woods as a lot of other guitar companies but other companies charge a lot less! You are paying for the name, end of story!! I wouldn't complain as much but charging more for the guitar whilst downgrading the components used is greed! There are lots of "private companies" out there that don't charge astronomical prices for their products just because!
I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m drinking the Kool Aid…I’m sure that the Epiphone J200 is an amazing guitar but even on the video the Gibson sounds much more balanced and loud ( without any buzzing). There is clearly a reason that they cost more( I don’t know if 6x the price is worth it, however)
I've purchased one of those Epiphone Humming birds. No more than what you'd expect for the money. Mine does not project that well (lack volume). They say the back and sides are mahogany but I think it may be 'Sapele' mahogany. In retrospect I think I should have been patient and put my money towards something better sounding. Although they do have their uses. Forget the hype my humming bird isn't worth any more than what I paid...it sounds like a £700 quid guitar. Mine still possesses that classic Epiphone tininess once strings broken in - bit disappointing when you hear these guys drooling.
Yamaha and Alvarez are the most underrated acoustics in the world. Don't let the price tag fool you. My FG-TA is one of the best acoustics I've played under the £1300 price range and it's half that.
Interesting - nailing it and correctly naming the brands with great confidence. However, if the Gibson guitars with bound necks have the fret nibs, that would be a dead giveaway, too.
Get a Faith guitar they are awesome all solid wood and fantastic build quality You can also pick them up cheap second hand and they usually have a hard case👍
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.
@@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.
Save a few thousand bucks and get the Epiphone unless you can easily afford the Gibson or the inspiration and pride of the Gibson headstock is important to you. They both sound great. Gibson is a bit greater though.
We decided to keep the original strings on these guitars to represent what it would be to like 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. 🤘
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.
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
People who hasnt owned a high end gibson or used one for some time will always say dumb shit about Epiphone😂 great guitars but no its not even a contest but they do sell alot to people who say they r as good as gibson but have never owned a gibson😂😂
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.
Hey guys, please do a video comparison between inspired by Gibson hummingbird, versus the Epiphone hummingbird pro. No one has made this yet on RUclips. I had the hummingbird pro for 7 years, i want to check what kind of upgrade to expect.
The crappy strings that come on the Epiphone aren't doing the guitar any justice. I would love to see these comparisons with the same set of strings on each guitar.
I thought the first two pairs were pretty close, but there was really NO comparison between the J200 and its Epi counterpart: the Gibbie was just more 'open,' with a more balanced midrange, and both more low and high end. Disappointing for buyers with limited budgets, but the difference is clearly there. Having said that, I've noticed that these blind challenges often have another factor besides strings, finish, etc. to make things unfair: when the testers hit their favorite combination of feel, tone, and playability, they just seem to play a bit more animatedly. When Ben started playing the J200, you could sort of see his eyes light up -- blindfold notwithstanding.
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...
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.
Ben has those tone-filled fingers, that's for truth!
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 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!
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.
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.
Any of these tests should have matched strings.
Well said!
100%
If you playing live, no one will hear the difference. In the studio, go with the Gibson if you can.
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.
Gibson's resonance is bigger or fuller.. more bass too.
You absolutely can hear a difference. I thought I imagined it at first.
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 !
This makes me feel at least a little better for buying my SJ-200 a few years ago lol
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
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.
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
Man I wish I could play like that with eyes open.
Frankly, if the strings aren’t the same, it’s not a fair test.
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.
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!
try a "guess this acoustic guitar price" blindfold challenge video! that would be fun. blindfold videos are always great
I wish you gave him a gretch lol I'm dying to see what Ben can do on an electric.
The RUG really pulled the whole room together.
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
The lessons taught here today ....Save your money people , and buy a Gibson!
Yeah and watch it like a hawk and don’t drop it or you will 😢
@@dixiefallas7799 I don’t understand this mentality.
These guitars haven’t changed in value since they were first introduced in the 40s and 50s and they were played to death in bars, dives, juke joints, honky tonks.
Like, I get it. They’re expensive but I’m not gonna lose sleep over nicks, chips, potential drops.
It’s not a collector’s item. It’s an instrument.
@@anthonybenavides720 yeah, I bang into shit all time with my Gibson, even the on first day. I’m kinda ADD so I’m always swinging around not paying attention and nailing my guitar on everything in my house. I always lose or misplace the truss rod covers too on all my guitars...
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.
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..
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!
Wow his playing is absolutely phenomenal.
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!!!
The humming bird was minor enough that I couldn't say which was which but the j-45 was pretty glaring. I still would probably get an acoustic from a company that specializes in acoustics specifically. I would for example get a classical from Cordoba instead of ibanez.
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.
Weight is a dead giveaway. The Epiphones are well known to be much heavier than their Gibson counterparts.
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.
You can definitely tell the harmonic difference between Gibson and Epiphone, for price range Epi is pretty good
Probably tell the difference by smell alone...
I was 3/3 on picking which was which. With that said, the Epiphones didn't sound bad, just a little less. For the different in price, it could be the difference between having a guitar that sounds really good and not having one at all...
“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.
Great to see the captain back on Paradiso! This is the kind of content that got me hooked on Anderton's TV in the first place!
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.
There is obviously a difference between the Gibsons and the Epiphones but I've now listened - with headphones - on both a laptop and a phone. On the laptop, the Gibsons had the edge, whereas on the phone the Epiphone Hummingbird and J200 won out. If this proves anything, it's probably that the various eq 'enhancements' on our devices influence things more than we sometimes realise and that there is no substitute for trying the guitars in person. Which is a bit of a bummer when there's Covid about!
I'm sure this sounds weird, but I really want to see a video where Chapman plays an acoustic and Ben plays an electric 😄
Worth mentioning that Gibson do not honour their “warranty” I had a Gibson j200 that needed a neck reset after two years. Gibson told me it was fine and offered me a new saddle out of courtesy. They told me they very rarely do neck resets , after i sent them the pictures of the guitar which I hadn’t seen for three months showing it blatantly did need a reset , they reconsidered and told me the guitar did need a neck reset but they consider that general maintenance. Sold the thing at a loss and bought a much better atkin from Andertons. Be prepared for no help from Gibson if their product is faulty. Andertons were helpful even though they didn’t sell me the faulty Gibson
Martin too have somewhat of a track record. Warranty sucks. The best thing you can do is buy the guitar you loved to play in store (buying online is a risk)...
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.
I have unseasoned ears for music but the difference is quite noticeable.
The epiphone is buzzy when hit aggressively.
The Gibson just shows a richer and fuller sound.
But with the price difference, I'll go with the epiphone.
Ben has put in his 20,000 hours... man, he's so good.
I'm an Epiphone fan. It's good to hear that there is very minimal difference between Epiphone and Gibson.
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. 🤩
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'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
Love the channel. Great fun people. Consider in the "can you tell the difference" in letting someone play who has been playing guitar for 1-2 years and a pro. I bet the new players won't see the difference too often.
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.
Say what you want but I played the inspired by Gibson j-45 and it was underwhelming at best.
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:)
I prefer the Epiphany Hummingbird - it has less of a bottom end which is way better to record with .... I used to own a '61 Gibson HB and it was too bass-ie to record with ....
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
I'm constantly amazed at the number of people that swear out an Epiphone is anywhere near comparable to Gibsons. They just aren't. Not sonically, not feel, and not looks. The proof is in the pudding. Stop worrying about price. Gibson acoustics have a tighter more controlled voice, especially in the mid range. Epiphone acoustics have this inherent looseness especially in the high end. Gibson acoustics just have something more, about 10%-15% more in my opinion. Even blindfolded, his body language completely erupts up when he plays one note on the Gibson, then he can't put it down. I totally hear the tonal difference, so I can't imagine how this guy can't hear the difference sitting right in front of them. Maybe because acoustic guitars are my life, so I hear the difference in guitars immediately. I hear the difference between Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. If you played the same song on all three back to back, I could probably pick out the manufacture because they all have their own sound. Also, I'm so over people trying to be PC about this. Man if the guitar doesn't stand up it just doesn't stand up. It's not mean or nice, it's just FACTS. Say, "this sounds better, this sounds worse". Now, all this being said, I own and love my Epiphone j200. There's a thing that it has in the tone and pickup system that is incredibly unique and pleasing to me. It fits the songs and tuning I use it for. BUT when I play a Gibson j200, sonically they aren't at all on the same level.
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
i always beieve that lighter acoustics are more resonant....that is a fact
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)
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
the first gibsons sound was so much better. after listening to all of them when it comes to acoustic, gibson wins hands down
There is a richness no pun intended to the Gibsons. Epic is missing some mods and a bit bright or not as full
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!
Of course Gibson would assert that the epiphones are shipped with the same strings....but it matters not. The only superb Gibsons I’ve ever played were made before the company moved manufacturing to Bozangeles. I was in the hunt for high end jumbo a few years ago amd I decided to go to Music Villa in Bozo to compare Gibson, Martin, Taylor, etc. (I can’t afford a Collings). M.Villa is Gibson’s hometown showroom. I was astonished & disappointed to find that the Gibson (J-200)wasn’t even in the same class as the Martin J40 or Taylor 618. I decided on the Taylor and planned to purchase Timon a couple weeks. When I returned to buy it it just so happens that someone had brought in a 2007 Guild F50 made in Tacoma, WA. It blew all of them away. There was no question. I’m not vouching for the F55’s made in Corona, which has replaced the F50, but it’s clear to me that the F50 is the best jumbo guitar made in America by the large guitar companies. Collings are preeminent. Of course, this is all my opinion. I would love to hear Ben play a guild. Blindfolded or not. Which I’m not sure what is so impressive about the blindfold. Pro’s like Ben haven’t needed to look at their hands while playing for a really long time. Blindfolded car racing, now that’s impressive. Sorry I’m such a arse. This is a great service these guys are providing for guitar buyers.
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.
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
Gibson charging more for the J200 now but they are cutting costs with the construction (cheaper scratch plate and cheaper pickup).... greed!
They’re a private company and need to make money lol
@@JonasCraftUltimate £4000 for a guitar? They are using the same woods as a lot of other guitar companies but other companies charge a lot less! You are paying for the name, end of story!! I wouldn't complain as much but charging more for the guitar whilst downgrading the components used is greed! There are lots of "private companies" out there that don't charge astronomical prices for their products just because!
I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m drinking the Kool Aid…I’m sure that the Epiphone J200 is an amazing guitar but even on the video the Gibson sounds much more balanced and loud ( without any buzzing). There is clearly a reason that they cost more( I don’t know if 6x the price is worth it, however)
I've purchased one of those Epiphone Humming birds. No more than what you'd expect for the money. Mine does not project that well (lack volume). They say the back and sides are mahogany but I think it may be 'Sapele' mahogany. In retrospect I think I should have been patient and put my money towards something better sounding. Although they do have their uses. Forget the hype my humming bird isn't worth any more than what I paid...it sounds like a £700 quid guitar. Mine still possesses that classic Epiphone tininess once strings broken in - bit disappointing when you hear these guys drooling.
They go for around £300, do you still think it’s a worthwhile purchase, for that money. Looking to upgrade from a Fender cd140.
@@brendangray go for a yamaha. And pay for a setup. You'll be happy and spend less money.
Yamaha and Alvarez are the most underrated acoustics in the world. Don't let the price tag fool you. My FG-TA is one of the best acoustics I've played under the £1300 price range and it's half that.
@@brendangray these actually go for around 700. The older models are super cheap.
Interesting - nailing it and correctly naming the brands with great confidence. However, if the Gibson guitars with bound necks have the fret nibs, that would be a dead giveaway, too.
The Gibson (Hummingbird) sounded a whole level richer - on an old iPhone
Could have been the strings, but the Epi’s all sounded like there was a towel over the mike in comparison to the Gibsons
So basically, if you want an "affordable" solid-wood acoustic, go Yamaha!
Absolutely, wouldn’t touch Epiphone acoustics. They’re trash.
Some of these aint cheap either........£749 for the Epi Hummingbird
@@briandevitt6903 Indeed, £799 is hand-made Canadian territory, with a hard-case and a reputation for making incredible instruments.
Yamaha blows Epiphone out of the water with tone
Get a Faith guitar they are awesome all solid wood and fantastic build quality
You can also pick them up cheap second hand and they usually have a hard case👍
Lee, I don’t know how much you pay him, but I reckon a wage rise is in order 🥇
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.
Quality remains...long after the pain of paying.
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.
Save a few thousand bucks and get the Epiphone unless you can easily afford the Gibson or the inspiration and pride of the Gibson headstock is important to you. They both sound great. Gibson is a bit greater though.
You did NOT put the same string sets on these instruments? Whaaa?
We decided to keep the original strings on these guitars to represent what it would be to like 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. 🤘
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.
He said, "It doesnt sound as nice as gibson" that's the truth, and that's the price :)
I hear a big difference in the hummingbirds. However the epiphone doesn’t sound bad
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?
People who hasnt owned a high end gibson or used one for some time will always say dumb shit about Epiphone😂 great guitars but no its not even a contest but they do sell alot to people who say they r as good as gibson but have never owned a gibson😂😂
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 clearly couldn't hear the difference between the J-45's.
Both sound great!
I can’t hear $3000 more tone in the Gibson
The law of diminishing returns guarantees that.
I can
@@stanislavmigra i don't think so
@@edsonmontana that all depends on how much money is worth to you
For example if 3000 dollars is nothing to you, then you would just buy whichever one is better to you, even if it’s only slight
16:30 Yes.
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
Hey guys, please do a video comparison between inspired by Gibson hummingbird, versus the Epiphone hummingbird pro.
No one has made this yet on RUclips. I had the hummingbird pro for 7 years, i want to check what kind of upgrade to expect.
yes I agree this is the video they should've made. I have a Pro and ordered an IBG so I'll be making a video soonish.
Would be interesting to see if average musicians could “hear” a difference in person. Ben can obviously tell the difference just from handling them.
Your right the epiphone's all have a different feeling to the finish just by touching them you know the difference
hard to tell over youtube, but i doubt i'll ever be In a position or a frame of mind to pay for the difference :)
The crappy strings that come on the Epiphone aren't doing the guitar any justice. I would love to see these comparisons with the same set of strings on each guitar.
J45 is my favorite of all acoustics! :) Thank you for the great content!
This one was a no brainer. Gibson’s sounded better IMO.
The playing was killer on all of them! Loved the video!
I thought the first two pairs were pretty close, but there was really NO comparison between the J200 and its Epi counterpart: the Gibbie was just more 'open,' with a more balanced midrange, and both more low and high end. Disappointing for buyers with limited budgets, but the difference is clearly there.
Having said that, I've noticed that these blind challenges often have another factor besides strings, finish, etc. to make things unfair: when the testers hit their favorite combination of feel, tone, and playability, they just seem to play a bit more animatedly. When Ben started playing the J200, you could sort of see his eyes light up -- blindfold notwithstanding.
The Gibson is the best guitar they can make.
The Epiphone is the best guitar Gibson will let them make
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...