Download the Free Track workingclassguitar.com/courses/best-of-corey-s-youtube/lectures/53880855 Check out all of the Murphy Lab and Epiphone Guitars! Epiphone Les Paul Special sweetwater.sjv.io/epilpspecial Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Special Single Cut Reissue sweetwater.sjv.io/57mllpspecial Epiphone ES-335 Semi-hollowbody sweetwater.sjv.io/epi335 Gibson Custom 1964 ES-335 Reissue Semi-Hollow sweetwater.sjv.io/m64ml335 Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s sweetwater.sjv.io/epi50slpgold Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Standard Reissue sweetwater.sjv.io/59mlgoldtop Epiphone Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard - Aged Honey Fade Sweetwater Exclusive sweetwater.sjv.io/59epifam Gibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged Factory Burst sweetwater.sjv.io/59mllpfactory Epiphone SG Standard '61 Maestro Vibrola - Vintage Cherry sweetwater.sjv.io/61sgepicherry Gibson Custom 1964 SG Standard Reissue w/ Maestro - Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged Cherry Red sweetwater.sjv.io/64mlsgcherry Fender Deluxe Reverb sweetwater.sjv.io/fenderdelux... J Rockett HRM Overdrive sweetwater.sjv.io/rocketthrmo...
I've done the same several times. I end up going to Epiphone always. I even built my own Les Paul from a kit that turned out really nice. It is just to hard to justify the price of a Gibson even though I've always wanted one.
@@jacksonmiked I have an Epi LP Custom I got used for $350...previous owner had a fret level, crown. It plays fantastic. I think a setup and pro fret job equalizes all of them. Sure, nitro finish and nice looking wood counts for something, but not an extra $3-4,000.
@Nightwinflyer I've done the same thing . I have one with the chameleon paint. It's got burstbuckers in it, and this spring I did a full refret on it. Plays great and sounds good! It's all the LP I need, which is good because then I still have plenty of room for all my PRS guitars 😅 I will note I recently got a PRS Custom 24 (used cause I ain't rich lol). I have an American CE and a really nice SECU24 as well. There is something about the Core Custom 24. Idk it just feels a bit sweeter. Not a couple grand nicer, but it's got a feel then other just don't quite have. I'm with you it's not cost effective to get a super expensive guitar, but there is still something to it that is "better". Can't quantify it. But when you pick it up there is a feel that try as they may, the others just don't have. Thay said its great we live in a time where even a few hundred bucks can get you a quite serviceable instrument.
Cory, thank you for doing a video like this. Most demos and comparisons today are not using clean tones and also not using real tube amps. A much needed breath of fresh air. Great content, Cory!
I’ve own several Gibsons and have owned several Epiphones . I’ve come to the conclusion that you can upgrade the hardware and pickups and get very similar demo tones, but to me it comes down to the feel of the guitar in your hands and those room frequencies you can hear while playing it. Stuff that’ll never come across in a demo, but when you pick up the guitar and play, you know it’s a keeper. Never had that with an Epiphone, much more common on the higher end pieces and to me that justifies the price difference.
You da man CC! Man I miss my ‘70 ES (un-repairable neck break in airplane cabin) and my ‘68 SG (sold to buy pregnant wife a new bed), BUT, my Epi’s have done me well - I changed pups in both. They don’t fell 6k nice, but pretty damn good for a whole lot less scratch. Sure would love to try out a Powers type A hardtail. Great video and thank you as always! J from Colorado.
Exactly. Imhave an Epi Casino. Modified wiring, pickups, tunera and bridge. Plays really nice. But….. . Feel experience is far behind Gibsons a have and had. Gibson just nspires e to,play, compose. Gibsons just bring me more joy to,play.
0:52 I love how we treat Gibson like a parent who won’t admit their kid is an asshole lol… “he’s not a bad kid he just makes bad decisions” There’s something crazy about the fact that most guitar players have just accepted you have to play through 50 or 60 Les Paul’s at like 3 grand a pop before you find “the one” which really just means “a good one” - don’t get me wrong, I own Gibson, I just think we are all nuts. Anyway, Great video 🤘🤘
You said what I've been thinking for years. I'm a Gibson player, but c'mon. I've recently picked up a few of the new Epiphones and I'm having a blast with them, they're just great guitars.
Ah, I see You've been to Wilcutt guitars! It's THE very best guitar shop in Kentucky! I met Bob way back in the 80s when I was 19 yrs old. Such a great guy, and a master at his craft. He was always ready to talk about guitars, give me advice and help me as a newby in any way he could. Glad you got to visit his shop. Thanks for the video!
The Epiphone TV yellow sounded very impressive, very similar but just slightly warmer. I'm sure it feels different but the sound is already there in my opinion
Corey, thanks for doing this. This is so helpful for those of us that just can't invest a serious bundle in vintage gear. The vintage gear is so cool and sounds great and I wish that I'd known 30 years ago what I know now. But we need to know about what us mere mortals can afford. Really appreciate it, man.
Good looking out on the 1 to 1 sound comparison. Fully appreciated. When someone plays through the position on one guitar, then the other… it’s tone overload for me. This is a cool video. 🤘🏻
Enjoyed this. But it occurred to me that I would like to see/ hear a video with Gibson vs. Eoiphone with the SAME pickups. My bet is they’d sound the same but the feel and the vibe would be the differentiating factors. Rock on Corey!
This is a super valuable video if only to solidify that you should never buy a guitar unseen/played (although we all do, and will continue to do so). I recently bought a Gibson Les Paul, walked into a local dealer and had him pull 7 different Standards (mostly 60's). There was one that clearly stood out above all the others. Funny note: these guitars were all on their website and so I knew exactly what I wanted to see/play before going in....based on pictures. The LP I ended up buying was one that I was really not interested in....based on pictures. While not the prettiest, it was without question the best sounding and playing of the bunch. It was very obvious if you played it. Happened to also be the least expensive of the bunch. If I had bought the guitar online that I was most interested in...based on pictures, which was also the most expensive, I would have overpaid for an inferior guitar.
I own 2 highly modified Epiphone Les Paul guitars, with the old headstock, which I un-ironically love. To each their own I say, whatever inspires you is the right choice.
I have an old plus top Korean made Epi Les Paul plus top and it plays better than virtually every Gibson Les Paul I've ever tried. Don't get me wrong, I'm still looking for that one... but in truth, I think I already own it and just need to accept that fact! 😄
Listen people, buy a used Gibson Les Paul Standard & age it with playing the guitar is always going to be worth what you paid for it , Don't pay silly prices it won't make you a better guitarist.
That Epi LP Special sounds frustratingly great. Not sure if I could have picked one out over the other in a blind comparison, especially if I hadn't heard each already. Pickup swap on any of the Epi's would make a big (?) difference. Best LP I've played in a while was a '57 Murphy I got on backline for a gig in CO. The backline gods smiled on me that day. It was fantastic. Great video, Corey!
Great job done on this vídeo! Both are amazing! The beauty behind Epiphone is that is 95% close his big brother and you don't need to break your bank account to buy one. I love Epiphone, a lot of history behind the brand!
Great video. I own two Murphy Lab LPs, a '68 Black Custom and a '56 Goldtop. Love them both. Can't go back to standard nitro finishes. Also, I would never drop close to $7k on that '59 in the video. A clown burst like that should never make it past QC at that price point. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
My compliments Sir!!! A very worthwhile video. Very informative!!! I left Gibson in the 70s when they were building Les Paul Cheap REPICAs. I will never forget finding that my 71 Gibson Les Paul Custom was laminated over particle board. All my Les Pauls now are Epiphones. All have Tone Rider and GFS pickups and vintage CTS and OIP wiring. The Gibsons are surely different but NO better. And looking back on it...the Epiphone pickups were fine. I just had other ideas!! Nice job Corey!!!
Wow… I felt like I was gambling when I bought my Bonamassa 63 SG. It’s since only been in the case when being transported. (The “in phase” middle position is the bomb! The standout was by far the 335. I felt ALL the Epi’s punched way above their weight. Thanks Cory. I’m gonna be taking a VERY hard look at the 355 Epi.
Me Too!!! I love my JoBo Epi SG-3 - got SD pups and a 6 way Freeway Switch - the noises I can get out of that thing!! Put Greenies in neck and middle and a JB 4 in the bridge - badass for sure. Also really love my Epi dot 335 with SD JB’s - Sweetwater did it up right for me - $3k for tge SG but with PLEK and upgraded everything, that Gibson ‘63 Custom at $9+k, is no comparison . I love me a SG!!! That noise the g string makes gets me going.
You should hear these - bloody fantastic. Yep my middle and neck gets me Peter Green dead nuts and with the switch at 9 pm & you pull up on the tone knob you get to play with all three at once and the out of phase is out of this world - I only use delay and reverb, occasionally a shimmer reverb. Thanks for sharing - I tried to put a pix of mine up on this site but can’t figure out how to… what amp do you have? I got a Supro blues king which was a huge waste of money, then got a Mustang 100 GTX, which works out pretty well…
In headphones the sound was practically indistinguishable. I would have liked to hear his feelings on the setups, however, anything could be set up to perfection... There may be an epi 335 in my future... 🎸
In some cases I preferred the Gibsons, in others the Epiphones. The Gibson SG was the one guitar that sounded A LOT better than its Epiphone counterpart. To my surprise, I liked the Epiphone ES-335 better than the Gibson, much usable tones. Probably the Murphy Lab sounded more aged, but the Epiphone had more presence. In most of these cases, however, I feel one could match the different pickup sounds with slight adjustments on the amp settings. They aren't worlds apart. Important to add though: in 100% of the cases, the Gibsons looked better. Not just the name on the headstock, I mena the overall appearance, colors etc.
I have an old Carlo Robeli SG copy circa 1980's. I have played Gibson SG's and found no real difference in playability or even sound. It has Seymour Duncan Humbuckers and is still one of my go-to's for Allaman Brothers or any southern rock music.
They all sound great in the right hands on the right day. I notice with my guitars on some days I get a different experience with the exact same guitar I played the day before. I don’t think it’s the guitar, I think it’s the player’s perception. But what I do notice is the better you get as a player, the more you notice the little things, if that’s what you’re focused on. I think when you get to being a good to great player, you readily adapt and overcome the little differences, and become more consistent in the performance you produce that day. All that aside I agree with your comment that any of the guitars you demo’d would do a capable job in capable hands.
@WhiskeyBiscuits23 Yes, it is exactly that,..placebo effect. And if or when it isn't placebo, it is just an insincere bias. I've been playing guitar for 44 years now and live gigging the last 32 years...I have fooled many of my seasoned band mates and other seasoned players with pickups and guitar brands,...specifically the Epiphone Les Paul / Gibson Les Paul thing. When it's a blind guess,..they guess wrong about half the time. I've lied and said I swapped out the Probucker with a Duncan Seth lover and they raved about how much better the new pick ups were and "less muddy" the tone was...lol...it was still the same Probuckers in the same Epi Les Paul he had heard before and on the same exact Marshall at the same exact stage / room. Found out they were listening but couldn't see the stage during a rehearsal of a song and they thought I was playing one of my Gibson Les Pauls and it was a new Epiphone Les Paul 50s I had just purchased.
To me, side by side, the Gibsons did sound better, but I don’t think the price difference between them better. I don’t know if that can be fixed with amp settings etc. or you can just change the pickups. It is amazing how much guitar you can get now for the money though.
Corey, This is not fair, bud. With your skill and chops, you can make any guitar sound great. With us, mere mortals, we tend to believe that the more expensive instrument will make us sound better, which we learn the hard way is not always the case. Best to you.
Great playing and super interesting comparison! Personally:The Gibson Goldtop & SG by a mile. The Epiphone Special & '59 were close enough that I'd be happy. I actually preferred the Epi 335 to the Gibson.
First, great demo and thanks for taking the time to post this video. My conclusion: Buy the EPIs, add a BOSS GE-7 Equalizer to the equation to fine tune the pickups and your in No-Brainer Land with a whole sh!t-ton of money left in your bank account. I actually liked the pickups in the EPI Specials over the Gibsons.
I didn’t hear anything that a pickup swap wouldn’t handle. They put hotter pickups in budget/beginner guitars cuz kids tend to play with more gain cuz they haven’t learned to turn the gain down and volume up yet.
That was very fun to watch. Thank you! What I find interesting is that there is no hum when you play the specials/P90s. I own a Melody Maker with two P90s and the hum is killing me - and with a noise gate it does not sound as good anymore. The second thing; I liked the sound of all guitars. The "more defined" sound is a matter of taste I think. In any case I would not pay 5K more for a Murphy Lab because the difference is really not justifying that immense difference.
I own 2 Epiphone 50's LPs and an older Epi 335. Love 'em. I played the Gibson counterparts and there wasn't enough difference to justify the $2300 difference. I also have a Gibson SG 61 reissue that is absolutely wonderful. I am looking to upgrade my 335 and sell off one of the LPs. Their replacements with be a Heritage and a Gibson, I just don't know whether the heritage will be the LP or the 335. Wouldn't mind picking up a Casino somewhere along the way either. Finally played one yesterday and I kinda liked it.
I have owned 4 different 1959 reissue Les Paul’s. All were great guitars. However, once I played a PRS Modern Eagle singlecut guitar I found exactly what I was looking for. I sold the Les Pauls and now have 2 Modern Eagles that I will never sell.
Great review, Corey!!!! I always think about getting a workhorse guitar for lugging around. But what I find is that the sound is thinner on cheaper instruments, they usually lack depth. I think it’s the pickups, but the wood too. Not that Epiphones haven’t surprised me. I tried some at Namm 2019, and sounded really good
Great video, thanks for making it. I found your results to be similar to a comparison Andertons did of the Epi and Gibson Slash LPs. To my ear in both tests the Epis sounded like they had less presence, but still a very nice tone overall. I feel like a good Eq could bridge the 4k price gap pretty well. That being said if i had the money I'd definitely buy a Murphy lab, because, well, you know!
The 335 and 59 were damn close, wow, very impressed. The goldtop and special favored the Gibson, but the Epi counterparts were more than respectable. The Epi SG fared the worst, that was one dead sounding guitar
I've played tons of Gibsons over the years, from CS to USA to Epiphone and some vintage ones. I found the USA range the least consistent. They go from completely dead to proper nice guitars. A good one's worth it, imho, but you need to go through many to find it. Epis are more consistent but an outstanding one can rival an average USA. But the newer CS models range from fantastic to more fantastic. Some will rarely be not quite as great but still really good. Some will stand out and rival even very good vintage ones. Vintage ones usually have a liveliness that's nearly impossible to recreate. A good old Gibson is absolutely unbeatable, imho, but a bad one is just as unenjoyable as any other bad guitar.
I have the 2023 Epiphone Korina Flying V with Gibson pick ups and after hearing it and trying different things with it, I can tell the Epiphone guitars in this video sounded slightly different. If you play at home, especially on clean you'll clearly hear a difference. The Gibsons sound sharper and they will feel different. If I'd had the money I'd go for a Gibson, but the Epiphones sound and probably feel great for the value too.
Great video! Agree that Epiphones offer a lot for the price point, but an important difference with Gibsons is how they feel. I own an Epiphone Les Paul with upgraded pickups and electronics, tuners, bridge, and have it set up perfectly. It sounds great, but it doesn't come close to how my Gibson Les Paul feels. Something about the weight distribution, the lacquer, the neck shape,...
Good video Corey! I thought that the '59 LP comparisons had the most similar sound. The 335 comparisons were close too. I have owned the Sweetwater LP for 3 years and I'm really happy with it. Could never afford OR justify anything more expensive as a hobbyist.
Great demo. Yes, you can clearly hear a difference - the Epi’s usually sound a little thinner than the Gibsons. But put the same pickups in both guitars…? Both great guitars, clearly. Great and inspiring playing as usual, Corey! 👍
Here's my take. I started playing when I was very young and after several years in, my first electric was actually a Gibson. Big quality control issues and wasn't anything outstanding. I've owned many guitar since and I'll never pay more than about $1,500 for a guitar again. Nowadays, I'm just a living room guitar player and I don't think it's worth my hard-earned money to pay for a brand on a headstock. Truth is, there's been a high turnover at the Nashville factory in Gibson and the Epiphone factory in China probably employee for employee has more experienced workers. I don't care how people spend their money. It's their money and they can do what they want with it but don't lose any sleep thinking you're missing out by buying an Epiphone. The last gifts and I bought was in 2018 and it also had some quality control issues. Will you pay a lot for a guitar, you don't want that. If I pay $600 for an Epiphone and it has some issues that are fixable, no big deal. The pain twice the price for something that I have to take straight to a luthier, no sir.
Wow, nary a hairs difference between Gibbys and Epi’s. Maybe the Gibbys pickups seem a little “airier” to me, but a twist of tone control on amp or EQ will solve that for the most part. All I can say is Wow
I'm sure they feel different and feel can affect performance, but from a pure listening standpoint -- of the RECORDED sounds on this video, there's not (IMO) enough tonal difference to matter to me. I recently picked up a Murphy Lab Les Paul, and I'll say this: the Epiphones in this video SOUND just as good to me as the Murphys in this context. That's pretty cool news for the budget buyer. I don't hear any difference that matters in this recording (that you couldn't compensate for somewhere else in the chain). Maybe you'd notice a bit more difference in the room, live, but for the recording, except for the SGs, if I closed my eyes, I probably couldn't even tell when you switched guitars.
Epiphones are fantastic for the money. Unless you are a high caliber guitarist like Corey, they are all the guitar anyone could need. A good setup, and MAYBE an update in pups, if you think you just have to have something different, and you are in a glorious world!!
I always say there are two models for guitar collecting, the Rory Gallagher/Brian May model or the Rick Nielsen/Joe Bonamassa model. I got 7 Epiphones alone, 4 LP's, a SG, 335 and a Sheraton so I follow the Rick and Joe model.
i want that cherry sunburst and you know what you play great and honest i hear no difference between the epi and the gibson cherry sunburst - just over price for sure
I’m a long time LP player. Have had the same 1990 LP classic since it was given to me by my father when I was in high school. Since then I have had several LP standards and currently still have two current LP USA standards from Wildwood. All my LPs play great with no issues. The classic has a neck that is super thin which I don’t really like. I recently sold some other guitars and got a Murphy lab 59 reissue with light aging. I actually bought a different one from another store and ended up returning it because it just didn’t play well, even after set up. Got another one from a different store but have had some issues with it too. Some fret buzz and such. A bit frustrating given the price (although I did get 20% off and no tax which was a good amount on a guitar or that price). I’m actually sending the guitar to Gibson Monday for them to look over. The guitar is an absolute stunner and the aging makes it look and feel very vintage. The neck feels perfect and the tone is awesome, just a bit disappointed with the fret work. Hopefully that can be remedied.
A Murphy lab Gibson Les Paul doesn't have an Epiphone counterpart. The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and 60s, have an Epiphone Les Paul 50s and 60s counterpart.
What I love about the custom shop guitars is that I can get LIGHT Les Pauls with the neck shapes that I prefer...and there is a real difference between CS and Gibson USA that doesn't come across on a computer. We all have different budgets, though and it's a great time to be a guitarist...lots of options for good guitars at lower prices. When I was learning in the early 80's, budget guitars were AWFUL.
Im not a rich man, but I've owned more than a few guitars and about a dozen Gibons in my lifetime. I currently own three Gibson Les Pauls and four Epiphone Les Pauls in addition to about 12 other brands. I have to say the current Gibson and Epiphone corporate culture has turned me off. "Play authentic" means nothing, and epiphone price gouging on import instruments is shameful. I'm out until value and quality are the focus over "legacy" and profit. The truth is, there is no "magic." If you can play it on a 59' gold top you can play it on anything else. The only difference is ego.
9:38 not to brag, but I can hear the difference in a blind test but not put my finger on it. 'less refined' is a good way to put it. and the 'hotter' to me comes across as too full and missing some sort of mid-scoop in the right place. Got an Epi to get my 335 fix, but dropped in some MHS II. Along with some minor fretlevel and proper setup, it's now a pretty good contender. Oh, and Grovers.
I once did a similar comparisson between my semi-detached house and Windsor Castle. My house has cheaper fuel bills was the outcome (The King asks : _What's a fuel bill ?)_
I agree with what you said, you have to play them, maybe a lot to find the one that connects and resonates with you! Although the custom shops are really consistent in feel and tone.
I would love to know what the actual difference is. Tuners are the same. Is the wood the same? Why shouldn't it be? I just can't see them having different factories for some of the parts. A Gibson here is about £2500 whereas an Epi is about £600. Yes I can hear a slight difference & the binding is cheap plastic on some but is it £1900 worth? Personally I use Gibsons but I always buy 2nd hand & thus retain the resell value should I wish to move on. Having said that I recently acquired a 1990 Japanese Tokai Les Paul Custom. The only guitars I can compare them with are Gibson LP Ri's. Even my beginner students can hear a distinct difference between my Gib LP standards & this guitar. It really is chalk & cheese. Check one out if you come across one Corey. Astonishingly good.
I can hear a big difference in most of them except for the 335s; the Gibsons have a lot more clarity compared to the Epiphones, but the Epiphones sound really good. The 335 both sound nearly identical. How was the playability of each of them?
After all the years of "wanting the right LP".... I traded my LP for a Firebird and couldn't be happier. I don't like the neck carve on most LP. And I prefer a PRS after trying to avoid liking them for years. YMMV. You do great demos and get great tones. Enjoy your content
Awesome video and comparison! Sound wise, Gibsons sounded a tiny little bit better, clearer but man it's such a small difference that it can probably be "fixed" with adjustments, new pickups, tuneups, etc.....We humans have a psychological side though that we tend to go with Gibsons. Well, I haven't played them but I'm sure the Murphy Lab will feel great and better to play with. I do own a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty btw.
The specials sound very similar. As for the Les Paul’s, there are a lot more similarities when played dirty. The Murphy’s labs have a lot more clarity and definition played clean. For a fraction of the price the Epiphones are great. I still prefer Gibsons on a whole because the necks feel nicer. Feel is just as important as the tone you get
I love my gibsons, love my 05 epi lp classic. If I was buying a new guitar in 2024 ? Epi all the way. I can’t justify paying for a Gibson. 2020 was the last year it made sense to buy a Gibson.
There really wasn’t a lot between the 335s. Is that because as a guitar design, the design creates most of the tone? I have a dirt cheap Harley Benton 335 copy and it does the thing enough
My last 4 guitars have been Epiphones and Fender [Mex] and I love those guitars!! I have a US Vintage SG Gibson and Vintage US Strat that are my number ones but I play all the guitars equally. I think US made Guitars are great if you have the $$ for the investment.
So I own a Gibson 339 and waiting for my Epiphone Casino to arrive. I own none of the compared guitars. To be honest, I just purchased a PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo Electric Guitar . The guitar plays great and is very active in sound But I was extremely disappointed with the battery compartment setup. Now after watching this video, I’m sorry I didn’t try out some of the Epiphone’s prior to making that purchase. I feel that with amp modeling, you can pretty much duplicate the sound of any guitar through most amps or at least get to 98% of that sound. These guitars fall into the personal choice of affordability and playing comfort and I guess a bit of swagger or prestige at owning a Murphy Labs as opposed to an Epiphone. I’m not a snob. I can appreciate a bargain any day. And if the sound differentiation is minimal, I believe most won’t hear it like I might. So my final assessment is it really comes down to the musician and the musicians ability to play an instrument as opposed to the technology applied in the instrument. At the end of the day, a musician who is trained and practiced can make a $39.95 guitar sound like a Hummingbird. And that’s what you do so very well Corey.
I really wished you discussed their playability more. It's a major deal breaker for me. Back around 2019 I played both Gibson and Epiphone ES-335's and ES-339's. They were all just horrible. I ended up with an Ibanez MIJ semi hollow and have been extremely happy with it since. Like you and others have said, Gibsons are hugely hit or miss and you have to try a bunch.
I hear ya. However, it’s a little tricky to talk about that because of personal preferences, hand size, people’s set up preferences etc. I will tell you that all three Epis necks felt very similar and not nearly as comfortable as the Gibsons.
@@coreycongilio Fair point. Maybe in a more general way though as to the quality of the playability - are they similar, does one feel noticeably better/different and why. For example, your neck comment alone is helpful. For years now I've had to take chances buying guitars online because the local shops are limited in what they offer, so the playability feedback is valuable. That being said, I appreciate your videos and I think most viewers realize that making them takes more work than meets the eye.
I realize your didn’t have a Gibson Special ( Non Custom shop ) in this comparison, I own one and it’s one of my best playing guitars here. Sure it’s more than double what the Epi is however it’s less than half of what the Murphy Lab one costs as well. For me, that was the best bang for the buck and it’s in the middle somewhere.
Dude! A 2021 Murphy Lab Les Paul is the first legit Les Paul I every owned, too! 😃🎸👍 Love the comparisons. As with other Gibson/Epiphone comparisons I've heard, the Gibsons tend to have a broader spread of frequencies and extra high end clarity, giving the Gibsons an overall richer, bigger sound. But the Epiphones still sound great, especially for the price!
The Epi's sounded great compared to the Gibson's. I know what you mean about the feel though. Maybe one of Tom's guys should start an Epiphone distress lab.At this point in my life, I'd save or sell off some things to get the "FEEL" Thanks for a cool video.
If you want an instrument that will not only retain its value, but increase, go find a Norlin Era Les Paul. These modern Custom Shop instruments are struggling to sell for half their retail price on the used market for the simple fact that Gibson is making far too many of them. The market is saturated.
I'll go with the cheaper epiphones and go enjoy a whole lot of Fort Worth steak dinners with my wife of 40 plus years at Texas Road House. Lol, God bless one and all.
I’ll tell you what I got out of this video, six great licks that I’m adding to my collection (and a broken Working Class Guitar link) Thank you, Corey. Overall, another great video.
Here's my take, I am so over Gibson. They owe everything to just being picked by a few of our heroes at some point in the distant past, not because they were amazing at the time, but because other options sucked more. They've been screwing it up ever since, and we've just been taking it. There are so many objectively better guitars out there.
Agreed - great choices now I you don’t care what somebody be played in the 50s-70s. Gibsons being owned by private equity and shackled with 250 million in debt explains some of the choices these days.
What the h*ll are you yapping about??? Have you ever owned a proper Gibson? They’re nothing short of amazing sounding and playing guitars! They designed some of the most unique and cool designs ever. They surely don’t suck. They never did, either! I have owned many guitars over the years and the Gibsons I’ve had were always of better quality than the rest of them. Granted, they’re expensive, perhaps a bit too expensive these days. But they sure are good!
@@emptypromises2962 First, your mom is yapping. Second, it's all in your head, that's my original point. I was like that until the cloud lifted one day and I saw her for the troll that she is. You think there is some magic in making guitars on an assembly line, by workers who do not care and are not particularly cared for? Is it the spirit of Ted McCarty guiding their hand, or the ever-present spirit of penny pinching and corner cutting?
I have a nice Epi Custom White. It's a very nice guitar, yet the lack of brightness and clarity is lacking like my Gibson Gold Top. I really wish Epiphone would consider better wood, then they would totally dog Gibson.
Corey, this video shows exactly why I buy Epiphone over Gibson for my playing guitars. The Gibson's I own are more for collecting, except for my favorite 335. I put Seth Lover's in all of my Epi's eventually. I know the poly vs nitro is a big deal and I don't deny that at all. I know that pretty much every Epi I bought new needed some fret end love outta the box. The big thing for me is the cost. I love and respect Gibson as an iconic American treasure. That said, being 100% honest, the iconic Gibson models simply don't sound 5 to 10+ times better in my hands. I'm a hack compared to you, but that's the straight up truth. The difference between the Gibson and Epi stuff in your video here, is hardly detectable sound wise. You're the ultimate pro and I'm a huge fan, so I defer to you, but G is no longer worth the $$$ for me. Thanks for a great video
I’m quite surprised at the tonal comparison to the Epiphones. There is a difference but it is pretty minor. I am curious about neck/fretwork/hardware on the Epi’s. Most of that is relatively inexpensive to tweak. Gotta say that the 335 got my attention
Interesting. Like you say, marginal difference in sound. So really, from what an audience hears perspective its hard to look beyond the Epi's. But we play with our eyes too. Branding and how it feels in the hands can also squeeze extra out of the performer. The psychology side of it. If we acknowledge we're buying pricey tools for our own pleasure rather than the audiences ears, its all harmless fun.
Interesting, I have a vintage Epiphone/Gibson on the truss rod cover at ITS THE BEST LES PAUL IVE EVER PLAYED YET EVER OWNED. MOST LIKELY THEY USED MANY GIBSON STOCK PARTS DURING THE CHANGE OVER . IF ANYONE KNOWS MORE ID APPRECIATE IT ❤.
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The Gibsons always sound superior, although the Epi’s can be tweaked to close the gap, but the feel is what seals the deal.
Just did the same exercise comparing Gibson’s and Epiphones and came out buying the Epiphone 335 and it is amazing for the price
I've done the same several times. I end up going to Epiphone always. I even built my own Les Paul from a kit that turned out really nice.
It is just to hard to justify the price of a Gibson even though I've always wanted one.
The Epiphone 335 is a great guitar. It just needed a decent pro set up and I have a great local luthier. Now it’s as playable as my USA Fender.
@@jacksonmiked I have an Epi LP Custom I got used for $350...previous owner had a fret level, crown. It plays fantastic. I think a setup and pro fret job equalizes all of them. Sure, nitro finish and nice looking wood counts for something, but not an extra $3-4,000.
@Nightwinflyer I've done the same thing . I have one with the chameleon paint. It's got burstbuckers in it, and this spring I did a full refret on it. Plays great and sounds good! It's all the LP I need, which is good because then I still have plenty of room for all my PRS guitars 😅
I will note I recently got a PRS Custom 24 (used cause I ain't rich lol). I have an American CE and a really nice SECU24 as well. There is something about the Core Custom 24. Idk it just feels a bit sweeter. Not a couple grand nicer, but it's got a feel then other just don't quite have.
I'm with you it's not cost effective to get a super expensive guitar, but there is still something to it that is "better". Can't quantify it. But when you pick it up there is a feel that try as they may, the others just don't have.
Thay said its great we live in a time where even a few hundred bucks can get you a quite serviceable instrument.
Cory, thank you for doing a video like this. Most demos and comparisons today are not using clean tones and also not using real tube amps. A much needed breath of fresh air. Great content, Cory!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve own several Gibsons and have owned several Epiphones . I’ve come to the conclusion that you can upgrade the hardware and pickups and get very similar demo tones, but to me it comes down to the feel of the guitar in your hands and those room frequencies you can hear while playing it. Stuff that’ll never come across in a demo, but when you pick up the guitar and play, you know it’s a keeper. Never had that with an Epiphone, much more common on the higher end pieces and to me that justifies the price difference.
I agree
You da man CC! Man I miss my ‘70 ES (un-repairable neck break in airplane cabin) and my ‘68 SG (sold to buy pregnant wife a new bed), BUT, my Epi’s have done me well - I changed pups in both. They don’t fell 6k nice, but pretty damn good for a whole lot less scratch. Sure would love to try out a Powers type A hardtail. Great video and thank you as always! J from Colorado.
Exactly. Imhave an Epi Casino. Modified wiring, pickups, tunera and bridge. Plays really nice. But….. . Feel experience is far behind Gibsons a have and had. Gibson just nspires e to,play, compose. Gibsons just bring me more joy to,play.
0:52 I love how we treat Gibson like a parent who won’t admit their kid is an asshole lol… “he’s not a bad kid he just makes bad decisions”
There’s something crazy about the fact that most guitar players have just accepted you have to play through 50 or 60 Les Paul’s at like 3 grand a pop before you find “the one” which really just means “a good one” - don’t get me wrong, I own Gibson, I just think we are all nuts. Anyway, Great video 🤘🤘
You said what I've been thinking for years. I'm a Gibson player, but c'mon.
I've recently picked up a few of the new Epiphones and I'm having a blast with them, they're just great guitars.
Ah, I see You've been to Wilcutt guitars! It's THE very best guitar shop in Kentucky! I met Bob way back in the 80s when I was 19 yrs old. Such a great guy, and a master at his craft. He was always ready to talk about guitars, give me advice and help me as a newby in any way he could. Glad you got to visit his shop. Thanks for the video!
The Epiphone TV yellow sounded very impressive, very similar but just slightly warmer. I'm sure it feels different but the sound is already there in my opinion
So.. you played 3 guitars?!? 😂
Took the words out of my mouth lol
"Workingclassguitar" 😂
Lmao you beat me to it
Hahaha!
to be fair the epiphones are getting a lot of love.
i'm very happy with my epi 1959 i found as a b-stock for 675,-
Awesome video and timing. Going to pull the trigger on the Sire H7 to get into the shorter scale guitars realm. All I have are strats currently.
Corey, thanks for doing this. This is so helpful for those of us that just can't invest a serious bundle in vintage gear. The vintage gear is so cool and sounds great and I wish that I'd known 30 years ago what I know now. But we need to know about what us mere mortals can afford. Really appreciate it, man.
Good looking out on the 1 to 1 sound comparison. Fully appreciated. When someone plays through the position on one guitar, then the other… it’s tone overload for me. This is a cool video. 🤘🏻
Enjoyed this. But it occurred to me that I would like to see/ hear a video with Gibson vs. Eoiphone with the SAME pickups. My bet is they’d sound the same but the feel and the vibe would be the differentiating factors. Rock on Corey!
This is a super valuable video if only to solidify that you should never buy a guitar unseen/played (although we all do, and will continue to do so).
I recently bought a Gibson Les Paul, walked into a local dealer and had him pull 7 different Standards (mostly 60's). There was one that clearly stood out above all the others. Funny note: these guitars were all on their website and so I knew exactly what I wanted to see/play before going in....based on pictures. The LP I ended up buying was one that I was really not interested in....based on pictures. While not the prettiest, it was without question the best sounding and playing of the bunch. It was very obvious if you played it. Happened to also be the least expensive of the bunch. If I had bought the guitar online that I was most interested in...based on pictures, which was also the most expensive, I would have overpaid for an inferior guitar.
I own 2 highly modified Epiphone Les Paul guitars, with the old headstock, which I un-ironically love. To each their own I say, whatever inspires you is the right choice.
I have an old plus top Korean made Epi Les Paul plus top and it plays better than virtually every Gibson Les Paul I've ever tried. Don't get me wrong, I'm still looking for that one... but in truth, I think I already own it and just need to accept that fact! 😄
The Gibson GoldTop more articulation and umph but the Epi 335 was indistinguishable in sound from the Gibson...a real eye opener
Yeah, it's all in your fingers
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
Watch tory slusher on a 129 dollar fesley. @@jimmyparris9892
Listen people, buy a used Gibson Les Paul Standard & age it with playing the guitar is always going to be worth what you paid for it , Don't pay silly prices it won't make you a better guitarist.
Always buy used. You can always find one that was bought and never played on fb marketplace if you live near a decent sized city.
That Epi LP Special sounds frustratingly great. Not sure if I could have picked one out over the other in a blind comparison, especially if I hadn't heard each already. Pickup swap on any of the Epi's would make a big (?) difference.
Best LP I've played in a while was a '57 Murphy I got on backline for a gig in CO. The backline gods smiled on me that day. It was fantastic. Great video, Corey!
Great job done on this vídeo!
Both are amazing! The beauty behind Epiphone is that is 95% close his big brother and you don't need to break your bank account to buy one.
I love Epiphone, a lot of history behind the brand!
Great video! Sweet sounds and fun comparisons. Thank you, Corey!
Great video. I own two Murphy Lab LPs, a '68 Black Custom and a '56 Goldtop. Love them both. Can't go back to standard nitro finishes. Also, I would never drop close to $7k on that '59 in the video. A clown burst like that should never make it past QC at that price point. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
My compliments Sir!!! A very worthwhile video. Very informative!!! I left Gibson in the 70s when they were building Les Paul Cheap REPICAs. I will never forget
finding that my 71 Gibson Les Paul Custom was laminated over particle board. All my Les Pauls now are Epiphones. All have Tone Rider and GFS pickups and
vintage CTS and OIP wiring. The Gibsons are surely different but NO better. And looking back on it...the Epiphone pickups were fine. I just had other ideas!! Nice job Corey!!!
Wow… I felt like I was gambling when I bought my Bonamassa 63 SG. It’s since only been in the case when being transported. (The “in phase” middle position is the bomb!
The standout was by far the 335. I felt ALL the Epi’s punched way above their weight. Thanks Cory. I’m gonna be taking a VERY hard look at the 355 Epi.
Me Too!!!
I love my JoBo Epi SG-3 - got SD pups and a 6 way Freeway Switch - the noises I can get out of that thing!! Put Greenies in neck and middle and a JB 4 in the bridge - badass for sure. Also really love my Epi dot 335 with SD JB’s - Sweetwater did it up right for me - $3k for tge SG but with PLEK and upgraded everything, that Gibson ‘63 Custom at $9+k, is no comparison . I love me a SG!!! That noise the g string makes gets me going.
@@jeffbaily8247 I’m still running bone stock. Still feel like the secret weapon on that is the middle position that’s in phase!
You should hear these - bloody fantastic.
Yep my middle and neck gets me Peter Green dead nuts and with the switch at 9 pm & you pull up on the tone knob you get to play with all three at once and the out of phase is out of this world - I only use delay and reverb, occasionally a shimmer reverb. Thanks for sharing - I tried to put a pix of mine up on this site but can’t figure out how to… what amp do you have? I got a Supro blues king which was a huge waste of money, then got a Mustang 100 GTX, which works out pretty well…
Wow. The 335 comparison was extremely close.
In headphones the sound was practically indistinguishable. I would have liked to hear his feelings on the setups, however, anything could be set up to perfection... There may be an epi 335 in my future... 🎸
In some cases I preferred the Gibsons, in others the Epiphones. The Gibson SG was the one guitar that sounded A LOT better than its Epiphone counterpart. To my surprise, I liked the Epiphone ES-335 better than the Gibson, much usable tones. Probably the Murphy Lab sounded more aged, but the Epiphone had more presence. In most of these cases, however, I feel one could match the different pickup sounds with slight adjustments on the amp settings. They aren't worlds apart. Important to add though: in 100% of the cases, the Gibsons looked better. Not just the name on the headstock, I mena the overall appearance, colors etc.
It’s all in your fingers. Guitars and amps have nothing to do with it.
@@mattdelany6799Uhm… sure. But this is literally a video where the same fingers compare different guitars.
I have an old Carlo Robeli SG copy circa 1980's. I have played Gibson SG's and found no real difference in playability or even sound. It has Seymour Duncan Humbuckers and is still one of my go-to's for Allaman Brothers or any southern rock music.
They all sound great in the right hands on the right day. I notice with my guitars on some days I get a different experience with the exact same guitar I played the day before. I don’t think it’s the guitar, I think it’s the player’s perception. But what I do notice is the better you get as a player, the more you notice the little things, if that’s what you’re focused on. I think when you get to being a good to great player, you readily adapt and overcome the little differences, and become more consistent in the performance you produce that day. All that aside I agree with your comment that any of the guitars you demo’d would do a capable job in capable hands.
Yeah I think it's placebo
@WhiskeyBiscuits23 Yes, it is exactly that,..placebo effect.
And if or when it isn't placebo, it is just an insincere bias.
I've been playing guitar for 44 years now and live gigging the last 32 years...I have fooled many of my seasoned band mates and other seasoned players with pickups and guitar brands,...specifically the Epiphone Les Paul / Gibson Les Paul thing.
When it's a blind guess,..they guess wrong about half the time.
I've lied and said I swapped out the Probucker with a Duncan Seth lover and they raved about how much better the new pick ups were and "less muddy" the tone was...lol...it was still the same Probuckers in the same Epi Les Paul he had heard before and on the same exact Marshall at the same exact stage / room.
Found out they were listening but couldn't see the stage during a rehearsal of a song and they thought I was playing one of my Gibson Les Pauls and it was a new Epiphone Les Paul 50s I had just purchased.
To me, side by side, the Gibsons did sound better, but I don’t think the price difference between them better. I don’t know if that can be fixed with amp settings etc. or you can just change the pickups. It is amazing how much guitar you can get now for the money though.
Corey, This is not fair, bud. With your skill and chops, you can make any guitar sound great. With us, mere mortals, we tend to believe that the more expensive instrument will make us sound better, which we learn the hard way is not always the case. Best to you.
Great playing and super interesting comparison!
Personally:The Gibson Goldtop & SG by a mile. The Epiphone Special & '59 were close enough that I'd be happy. I actually preferred the Epi 335 to the Gibson.
First, great demo and thanks for taking the time to post this video. My conclusion: Buy the EPIs, add a BOSS GE-7 Equalizer to the equation to fine tune the pickups and your in No-Brainer Land with a whole sh!t-ton of money left in your bank account. I actually liked the pickups in the EPI Specials over the Gibsons.
Some string-balance/tone clarity deficits can be mitigated by raising some of the pole pieces and/or overall pickup height. Nice review!!
I didn’t hear anything that a pickup swap wouldn’t handle. They put hotter pickups in budget/beginner guitars cuz kids tend to play with more gain cuz they haven’t learned to turn the gain down and volume up yet.
That was very fun to watch. Thank you! What I find interesting is that there is no hum when you play the specials/P90s. I own a Melody Maker with two P90s and the hum is killing me - and with a noise gate it does not sound as good anymore. The second thing; I liked the sound of all guitars. The "more defined" sound is a matter of taste I think. In any case I would not pay 5K more for a Murphy Lab because the difference is really not justifying that immense difference.
I own 2 Epiphone 50's LPs and an older Epi 335. Love 'em. I played the Gibson counterparts and there wasn't enough difference to justify the $2300 difference. I also have a Gibson SG 61 reissue that is absolutely wonderful. I am looking to upgrade my 335 and sell off one of the LPs. Their replacements with be a Heritage and a Gibson, I just don't know whether the heritage will be the LP or the 335. Wouldn't mind picking up a Casino somewhere along the way either. Finally played one yesterday and I kinda liked it.
I have owned 4 different 1959 reissue Les Paul’s. All were great guitars. However, once I played a PRS Modern Eagle singlecut guitar I found exactly what I was looking for. I sold the Les Pauls and now have 2 Modern Eagles that I will never sell.
Just bought an old Epiphone and it is the bang way cool no bling just a great old piece .I picked it up n it gave that bitchin feeling stompgroove
Great review, Corey!!!! I always think about getting a workhorse guitar for lugging around. But what I find is that the sound is thinner on cheaper instruments, they usually lack depth. I think it’s the pickups, but the wood too. Not that Epiphones haven’t surprised me. I tried some at Namm 2019, and sounded really good
Absolutly Right !! If you dont like the tone ...Change the pickups .
Great video, thanks for making it. I found your results to be similar to a comparison Andertons did of the Epi and Gibson Slash LPs. To my ear in both tests the Epis sounded like they had less presence, but still a very nice tone overall. I feel like a good Eq could bridge the 4k price gap pretty well. That being said if i had the money I'd definitely buy a Murphy lab, because, well, you know!
All this proves is that when u can play everything sounds good irrespective of cost
Yep,
The 335 and 59 were damn close, wow, very impressed. The goldtop and special favored the Gibson, but the Epi counterparts were more than respectable. The Epi SG fared the worst, that was one dead sounding guitar
I've played tons of Gibsons over the years, from CS to USA to Epiphone and some vintage ones. I found the USA range the least consistent. They go from completely dead to proper nice guitars. A good one's worth it, imho, but you need to go through many to find it. Epis are more consistent but an outstanding one can rival an average USA. But the newer CS models range from fantastic to more fantastic. Some will rarely be not quite as great but still really good. Some will stand out and rival even very good vintage ones. Vintage ones usually have a liveliness that's nearly impossible to recreate. A good old Gibson is absolutely unbeatable, imho, but a bad one is just as unenjoyable as any other bad guitar.
I have the 2023 Epiphone Korina Flying V with Gibson pick ups and after hearing it and trying different things with it, I can tell the Epiphone guitars in this video sounded slightly different. If you play at home, especially on clean you'll clearly hear a difference. The Gibsons sound sharper and they will feel different. If I'd had the money I'd go for a Gibson, but the Epiphones sound and probably feel great for the value too.
Great video! Agree that Epiphones offer a lot for the price point, but an important difference with Gibsons is how they feel. I own an Epiphone Les Paul with upgraded pickups and electronics, tuners, bridge, and have it set up perfectly. It sounds great, but it doesn't come close to how my Gibson Les Paul feels. Something about the weight distribution, the lacquer, the neck shape,...
Good video Corey! I thought that the '59 LP comparisons had the most similar sound. The 335 comparisons were close too. I have owned the Sweetwater LP for 3 years and I'm really happy with it. Could never afford OR justify anything more expensive as a hobbyist.
I need to hear this again with my headphones, because the 335 sounded real close I was surprised.
The Murphy lab was very close, not ten times as good, but as you say the feel is the difference too.
The Murphy SG was actually my fave. I really think that sounded incredible.
Great demo. Yes, you can clearly hear a difference - the Epi’s usually sound a little thinner than the Gibsons. But put the same pickups in both guitars…? Both great guitars, clearly. Great and inspiring playing as usual, Corey! 👍
Here's my take. I started playing when I was very young and after several years in, my first electric was actually a Gibson. Big quality control issues and wasn't anything outstanding. I've owned many guitar since and I'll never pay more than about $1,500 for a guitar again. Nowadays, I'm just a living room guitar player and I don't think it's worth my hard-earned money to pay for a brand on a headstock. Truth is, there's been a high turnover at the Nashville factory in Gibson and the Epiphone factory in China probably employee for employee has more experienced workers. I don't care how people spend their money. It's their money and they can do what they want with it but don't lose any sleep thinking you're missing out by buying an Epiphone. The last gifts and I bought was in 2018 and it also had some quality control issues. Will you pay a lot for a guitar, you don't want that. If I pay $600 for an Epiphone and it has some issues that are fixable, no big deal. The pain twice the price for something that I have to take straight to a luthier, no sir.
Wow, nary a hairs difference between Gibbys and Epi’s. Maybe the Gibbys pickups seem a little “airier” to me, but a twist of tone control on amp or EQ will solve that for the most part. All I can say is Wow
Neck and middle positions sounded pretty dang close. But in the Bridge position you could easily tell them apart.
Happy with my Epi 335 but definitely want to own a Gibson someday
I'm sure they feel different and feel can affect performance, but from a pure listening standpoint -- of the RECORDED sounds on this video, there's not (IMO) enough tonal difference to matter to me. I recently picked up a Murphy Lab Les Paul, and I'll say this: the Epiphones in this video SOUND just as good to me as the Murphys in this context. That's pretty cool news for the budget buyer. I don't hear any difference that matters in this recording (that you couldn't compensate for somewhere else in the chain). Maybe you'd notice a bit more difference in the room, live, but for the recording, except for the SGs, if I closed my eyes, I probably couldn't even tell when you switched guitars.
Epiphones are fantastic for the money. Unless you are a high caliber guitarist like Corey, they are all the guitar anyone could need. A good setup, and MAYBE an update in pups, if you think you just have to have something different, and you are in a glorious world!!
I always say there are two models for guitar collecting, the Rory Gallagher/Brian May model or the Rick Nielsen/Joe Bonamassa model. I got 7 Epiphones alone, 4 LP's, a SG, 335 and a Sheraton so I follow the Rick and Joe model.
Those Epiphone Probuckers are very good pickups.
i want that cherry sunburst and you know what you play great and honest i hear no difference between the epi and the gibson cherry sunburst - just over price for sure
I’m a long time LP player. Have had the same 1990 LP classic since it was given to me by my father when I was in high school. Since then I have had several LP standards and currently still have two current LP USA standards from Wildwood. All my LPs play great with no issues. The classic has a neck that is super thin which I don’t really like. I recently sold some other guitars and got a Murphy lab 59 reissue with light aging. I actually bought a different one from another store and ended up returning it because it just didn’t play well, even after set up. Got another one from a different store but have had some issues with it too. Some fret buzz and such. A bit frustrating given the price (although I did get 20% off and no tax which was a good amount on a guitar or that price). I’m actually sending the guitar to Gibson Monday for them to look over. The guitar is an absolute stunner and the aging makes it look and feel very vintage. The neck feels perfect and the tone is awesome, just a bit disappointed with the fret work. Hopefully that can be remedied.
great video. Keep em lessons coming too. Have a great weekend
A Murphy lab Gibson Les Paul doesn't have an Epiphone counterpart.
The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and 60s, have an Epiphone Les Paul 50s and 60s counterpart.
What I love about the custom shop guitars is that I can get LIGHT Les Pauls with the neck shapes that I prefer...and there is a real difference between CS and Gibson USA that doesn't come across on a computer. We all have different budgets, though and it's a great time to be a guitarist...lots of options for good guitars at lower prices. When I was learning in the early 80's, budget guitars were AWFUL.
There is not really differences in the sound between the both 335 it's crazy
Im not a rich man, but I've owned more than a few guitars and about a dozen Gibons in my lifetime. I currently own three Gibson Les Pauls and four Epiphone Les Pauls in addition to about 12 other brands. I have to say the current Gibson and Epiphone corporate culture has turned me off. "Play authentic" means nothing, and epiphone price gouging on import instruments is shameful. I'm out until value and quality are the focus over "legacy" and profit.
The truth is, there is no "magic." If you can play it on a 59' gold top you can play it on anything else. The only difference is ego.
However, if your a newbie or even intermediate just wanting a DECENT guitar then the Epiphones and MIM Fenders are great
9:38 not to brag, but I can hear the difference in a blind test but not put my finger on it. 'less refined' is a good way to put it. and the 'hotter' to me comes across as too full and missing some sort of mid-scoop in the right place. Got an Epi to get my 335 fix, but dropped in some MHS II. Along with some minor fretlevel and proper setup, it's now a pretty good contender. Oh, and Grovers.
I once did a similar comparisson between my semi-detached house and Windsor Castle. My house has cheaper fuel bills was the outcome (The King asks : _What's a fuel bill ?)_
I agree with what you said, you have to play them, maybe a lot to find the one that connects and resonates with you! Although the custom shops are really consistent in feel and tone.
Very interesting! I like all of the tones - none is "better" than the other.
I would love to know what the actual difference is. Tuners are the same. Is the wood the same? Why shouldn't it be? I just can't see them having different factories for some of the parts. A Gibson here is about £2500 whereas an Epi is about £600. Yes I can hear a slight difference & the binding is cheap plastic on some but is it £1900 worth? Personally I use Gibsons but I always buy 2nd hand & thus retain the resell value should I wish to move on. Having said that I recently acquired a 1990 Japanese Tokai Les Paul Custom. The only guitars I can compare them with are Gibson LP Ri's. Even my beginner students can hear a distinct difference between my Gib LP standards & this guitar. It really is chalk & cheese. Check one out if you come across one Corey. Astonishingly good.
I can hear a big difference in most of them except for the 335s; the Gibsons have a lot more clarity compared to the Epiphones, but the Epiphones sound really good. The 335 both sound nearly identical. How was the playability of each of them?
After all the years of "wanting the right LP".... I traded my LP for a Firebird and couldn't be happier. I don't like the neck carve on most LP. And I prefer a PRS after trying to avoid liking them for years. YMMV. You do great demos and get great tones. Enjoy your content
Hey thx for that! Appreciate you watching!
Awesome video and comparison! Sound wise, Gibsons sounded a tiny little bit better, clearer but man it's such a small difference that it can probably be "fixed" with adjustments, new pickups, tuneups, etc.....We humans have a psychological side though that we tend to go with Gibsons. Well, I haven't played them but I'm sure the Murphy Lab will feel great and better to play with. I do own a Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty btw.
The Epi special was the best/closest to the Gibson counterpart IMO
The specials sound very similar. As for the Les Paul’s, there are a lot more similarities when played dirty. The Murphy’s labs have a lot more clarity and definition played clean. For a fraction of the price the Epiphones are great. I still prefer Gibsons on a whole because the necks feel nicer. Feel is just as important as the tone you get
I love my gibsons, love my 05 epi lp classic. If I was buying a new guitar in 2024 ? Epi all the way. I can’t justify paying for a Gibson. 2020 was the last year it made sense to buy a Gibson.
awesome playing tasty no diminished runs etc just sweet blues !
There really wasn’t a lot between the 335s. Is that because as a guitar design, the design creates most of the tone? I have a dirt cheap Harley Benton 335 copy and it does the thing enough
My last 4 guitars have been Epiphones and Fender [Mex] and I love those guitars!! I have a US Vintage SG Gibson and Vintage US Strat that are my number ones but I play all the guitars equally. I think US made Guitars are great if you have the $$ for the investment.
I have had high end guitars 5k+ and my favorite guitar is a epiphone..currently selling the fake old guitars that are over 5k
So I own a Gibson 339 and waiting for my Epiphone Casino to arrive. I own none of the compared guitars. To be honest, I just purchased a PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo Electric Guitar . The guitar plays great and is very active in sound But I was extremely disappointed with the battery compartment setup. Now after watching this video, I’m sorry I didn’t try out some of the Epiphone’s prior to making that purchase. I feel that with amp modeling, you can pretty much duplicate the sound of any guitar through most amps or at least get to 98% of that sound. These guitars fall into the personal choice of affordability and playing comfort and I guess a bit of swagger or prestige at owning a Murphy Labs as opposed to an Epiphone. I’m not a snob. I can appreciate a bargain any day. And if the sound differentiation is minimal, I believe most won’t hear it like I might. So my final assessment is it really comes down to the musician and the musicians ability to play an instrument as opposed to the technology applied in the instrument. At the end of the day, a musician who is trained and practiced can make a $39.95 guitar sound like a Hummingbird. And that’s what you do so very well Corey.
Appreciate that and thanks for watching!
I really wished you discussed their playability more. It's a major deal breaker for me. Back around 2019 I played both Gibson and Epiphone ES-335's and ES-339's. They were all just horrible. I ended up with an Ibanez MIJ semi hollow and have been extremely happy with it since. Like you and others have said, Gibsons are hugely hit or miss and you have to try a bunch.
I hear ya. However, it’s a little tricky to talk about that because of personal preferences, hand size, people’s set up preferences etc. I will tell you that all three Epis necks felt very similar and not nearly as comfortable as the Gibsons.
@@coreycongilio Fair point. Maybe in a more general way though as to the quality of the playability - are they similar, does one feel noticeably better/different and why. For example, your neck comment alone is helpful. For years now I've had to take chances buying guitars online because the local shops are limited in what they offer, so the playability feedback is valuable. That being said, I appreciate your videos and I think most viewers realize that making them takes more work than meets the eye.
I have an Epiphone 50’s Goldtop and a Fibson Les Paul. I like the Epiphone just as much as the Gibson. Can’t justify the extra spend to get the Gibson
Great comparison video. Thanks.
I realize your didn’t have a Gibson Special ( Non Custom shop ) in this comparison, I own one and it’s one of my best playing guitars here. Sure it’s more than double what the Epi is however it’s less than half of what the Murphy Lab one costs as well. For me, that was the best bang for the buck and it’s in the middle somewhere.
Dude! A 2021 Murphy Lab Les Paul is the first legit Les Paul I every owned, too! 😃🎸👍
Love the comparisons. As with other Gibson/Epiphone comparisons I've heard, the Gibsons tend to have a broader spread of frequencies and extra high end clarity, giving the Gibsons an overall richer, bigger sound. But the Epiphones still sound great, especially for the price!
The Epi's sounded great compared to the Gibson's. I know what you mean about the feel though. Maybe one of Tom's guys should start an Epiphone distress lab.At this point in my life, I'd save or sell off some things to get the "FEEL" Thanks for a cool video.
Forget about either brand and pick up a Heritage! I’ve had both Gibson and Epiphone and the Heritage is just a nicer instrument in every way
If you want an instrument that will not only retain its value, but increase, go find a Norlin Era Les Paul.
These modern Custom Shop instruments are struggling to sell for half their retail price on the used market for the simple fact that Gibson is making far too many of them. The market is saturated.
I'll go with the cheaper epiphones and go enjoy a whole lot of Fort Worth steak dinners with my wife of 40 plus years at Texas Road House. Lol, God bless one and all.
I’d like to have heard your thoughts on how the guitars sounded acoustically and the nitty-gritty of how they felt.
I’ll tell you what I got out of this video, six great licks that I’m adding to my collection (and a broken Working Class Guitar link) Thank you, Corey. Overall, another great video.
Broken link? Worked for me. Give it another try
Amazing top on that Murphy lab you have! you go for the same type of top as I do.
Here's my take, I am so over Gibson. They owe everything to just being picked by a few of our heroes at some point in the distant past, not because they were amazing at the time, but because other options sucked more. They've been screwing it up ever since, and we've just been taking it. There are so many objectively better guitars out there.
Agreed - great choices now I you don’t care what somebody be played in the 50s-70s. Gibsons being owned by private equity and shackled with 250 million in debt explains some of the choices these days.
Yeah and a timex tells the time same as a Rolex!
@@johnblack9037 actually, a quartzTimex tells time better than any Rolex :)
What the h*ll are you yapping about??? Have you ever owned a proper Gibson? They’re nothing short of amazing sounding and playing guitars!
They designed some of the most unique and cool designs ever. They surely don’t suck. They never did, either!
I have owned many guitars over the years and the Gibsons I’ve had were always of better quality than the rest of them.
Granted, they’re expensive, perhaps a bit too expensive these days. But they sure are good!
@@emptypromises2962 First, your mom is yapping. Second, it's all in your head, that's my original point. I was like that until the cloud lifted one day and I saw her for the troll that she is. You think there is some magic in making guitars on an assembly line, by workers who do not care and are not particularly cared for? Is it the spirit of Ted McCarty guiding their hand, or the ever-present spirit of penny pinching and corner cutting?
I have a nice Epi Custom White. It's a very nice guitar, yet the lack of brightness and clarity is lacking like my Gibson Gold Top. I really wish Epiphone would consider better wood, then they would totally dog Gibson.
Corey, this video shows exactly why I buy Epiphone over Gibson for my playing guitars. The Gibson's I own are more for collecting, except for my favorite 335. I put Seth Lover's in all of my Epi's eventually. I know the poly vs nitro is a big deal and I don't deny that at all. I know that pretty much every Epi I bought new needed some fret end love outta the box. The big thing for me is the cost. I love and respect Gibson as an iconic American treasure. That said, being 100% honest, the iconic Gibson models simply don't sound 5 to 10+ times better in my hands. I'm a hack compared to you, but that's the straight up truth. The difference between the Gibson and Epi stuff in your video here, is hardly detectable sound wise. You're the ultimate pro and I'm a huge fan, so I defer to you, but G is no longer worth the $$$ for me. Thanks for a great video
I’m quite surprised at the tonal comparison to the Epiphones. There is a difference but it is pretty minor.
I am curious about neck/fretwork/hardware on the Epi’s. Most of that is relatively inexpensive to tweak. Gotta say that the 335 got my attention
Interesting. Like you say, marginal difference in sound. So really, from what an audience hears perspective its hard to look beyond the Epi's.
But we play with our eyes too. Branding and how it feels in the hands can also squeeze extra out of the performer. The psychology side of it.
If we acknowledge we're buying pricey tools for our own pleasure rather than the audiences ears, its all harmless fun.
Interesting, I have a vintage Epiphone/Gibson on the truss rod cover at ITS THE BEST LES PAUL IVE EVER PLAYED YET EVER OWNED. MOST LIKELY THEY USED MANY GIBSON STOCK PARTS DURING THE CHANGE OVER . IF ANYONE KNOWS MORE ID APPRECIATE IT ❤.
The Epi’s hold their own for the price point.
the epi 59' with burstbuckers at 12:45 is the real deal !!
no difference at all with the Gibson 59 murphy . try a blind test.....