Gibson vs Epiphone, Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior Deepdive + sound test.
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- Hey everyone. In this video I take a deepdive down the Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr signature series from both Gibson and Epiphone.
At first I thought there wouldn't be much there to make this video worth the time, but this turned out to be even more different than I suspected! Thanks for checking it out.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:23 History of the Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr.
01:49 2006-2011 BJA Les Paul Jr.
03:30 How much should a signature guitar match?
04:45 The Gibson Raids
05:06 The Best Case
05:28 2018
05:45 A Humbucker in a Les Paul Jr?
05:56 Kirk Lazarus
07:05 A Les Paul Jr for kids?
08:00 Epiphone enters the game
08:25 the Epiphone BJA Les Paul Jr.
08:35 Gibson reenters…
08:50 Gibson vs Epiphone
08:52 The Price
09:31 The Case
12:10 The Look
12:59 The Body
14:42 The Neck
15:53 The Hardware
18:10 The Electronics
20:27 Other Materials
22:24 The Feel
23:34 The Sound
24:06 Neck Dive Test
30:47 Overall
LINKS:
The Gibson Raids - • The Great Gibson Guita...
Billie Joe Armstrong interview 2018 BJA - • Billie Joe Armstrong |...
50s wiring vs modern wiring - • Gibson Les Paul: 1950s...
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I own the 2018 BJA Signature LP Jr in Sonic Blue, one of the best guitars I ever owned. The back story of it with the 57 Classic is because Hans, Billie Joe's guitar tech stated that he tries to select 57 Classic as his humbucker pickup for all guitars except Blue.
The case that came with the guitar is the TKL Canadian made brown case with scooped top, which is a bit more prefered(and pricier) than the current case made in Costa Rica.
Another thing worth to mention is the time-stamp, where LPJ is *NOT* a Les Paul Jr. LPJ was one of the cheapest models Gibson offered, in satin finish, no maple top, no binding, 2 humbuckers without covers.
Thank you for the information. I have updated the time stamps.
Glad to hear you like the guitar. I’d love to play one someday! 57 Classics are such a great pickup!
Great review. Loved the deep dive into the specs and a bit of history. I own the ebony 2006 Billie Joe Armstrong les Paul junior. I love it actually.
Excellent review! Thanks!
Dude Leslie West was the man, when it came to the popularization of the LP jr.
Should be a Leslie West issue i would buy that, but.......
.i cant stand the American Idiot, that laughed at us all the way to the bank, Sorry but no thanks,
musicans with political agenda's are Crap
Great job! A very fair and comprehensive review(s)!
Thank you for checking it out! Cheers!
Really nice to see a sensible honest and informative review! Very useful. Cheers
Thank you for the kind words!
There are no other reviews like thus one great job and thank you
Thank you checking out my video!
You know, I keep siding with the Epiphone. Maybe it's because of my growing up with cheap guitars in garage bands. I like the basic P90 sound with 50's wiring, a little noisy, but no heavy bass built in. Maybe one day they will make a set of tuners that go up to eleven. Thanks for the in depth review. I got an Epiphone Melody Maker and put on Lindy Fralin P90's and 50's wiring(Poor man's 50's LP). Thanks again.
I was quite impressed with the Epiphone in this comparison. I thought it was a better guitar, personally. I didn’t carry the same line of thought in my SG Modern comparison video, but for this one, I 100% think the Epi is better!
Thanks for checking it out.
oops I meant volume knobs..
I got from my father an 1970's Epiphone E250 electric guitar. I am learning to play that guitar, and watching videos of Epiphone guitars getting a sense of how guitars work, and the different guitars like a Les Paul, Epiphone etc. I like your video with different point of views on guitars.
Great info!
Thanks Glen! Thanks for checking it out. 🤘🏽
Great video! Thanks!
Thank you for checking it out!
My second Les Paul Junior was a TV yellow model. It had a 496T or something like that with push pull volume. I swapped it out for a P90 eventually as it should be. Still have that guitar and i love it
Nice! Thanks for watching my video. Cheers!
I got the Epi BJA and waiting for delivery. Thanks for the review it helped a lot although I was comparing the Epi to the regular Gibson Les Paul Jr and decided on the Epi due to price point. Hope I'm not disappointed. My go to guitar is a Strat but wanted something different to go along. Thanks for the info!
The EBJA is a good guitar! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Def different than a strat, but it’s a lot of fun!
The sustain on the epi is amazing. I never noticed the sustain on guitars until I got the epi
Thanks for checking out the video! Cheers!
Thanks for the comparison. Very honest & to the point. I agree with a lot of the comments I've read below. I'd lean towards the Epiphone. That P90 had some beautiful overtones & quack.... & I'll never forget that early Les Paul junior days going through a 51 Bassman at full volume
Thanks for checking it out!
MASTERFUL WORK getting to the ultimate comparo. Way to go..that's not easy to do. Subscribed. Enjoy your style and look forward to more of your work! Best Regards and Best Wishes!
Later: Oh snap! Is that a VanDamme pillow from the Diner scene? ROFL...Rock On Man!
Han Shot First.
First off - thank you for the kind words and the subscribe. I appreciate it immensely.
2nd: I was wondering and waiting for the day when someone would recognize that pillow. 😂 275,000 views throughout my videos and you’re the first to say anything. 🙌
Cheers!
@@CompanyGrip Ahahhahaha...GREAT!!! Thanks for the chuckle. See ya next time! Best Regards and Best Wishes!
I'm awaiting delivery of a new Epiphone Billie Joe Armstrong. I'm feeling pretty good about my choice. Thanks for the thoughtful and detailed review. Your demonstrations were very helpful.
Thank you for checking it out!
Hi. Did it arrive? If so, how do you like it?! Thanks.
@roymartin500 At the time, it was terminally backlogged. I finally gave up and purchased a Tele. A L.P. Junior remains at the top of my list, and I will take another run at it. Being a rocker I'm pretty sure I would love it. 👍
@@andylowrey5174 I'm sorry to hear that but on the bright side Telecasters are great guitars too. Theres something to be said about two guitars that started the electric guitar market in the early 50's! I had an old beat up Squire in black that I bought for $99 used. It was the son of the guitar store's owner and he even threw in a project pedal he was working on called Distortion X in natural gun metal grey, all paint stipped bare. And They worked!!! Together thru my Fender Silverface 71 Champ I had the Joe Strummer tone which ended up really being Mick Jones's. Enjoy the tele and have a good one!
I have the epiphone bja, it is an incredible guitar, or it turned out very good for me hehe, do you recommend changing the pickups?, Great Video bro lml
Hey! Thanks for checking it out. I don’t think changing them is worth it! They sound great to me! I don’t know if it would be worth it.
1) I love that you picked Seven Mary Three as a demo. I think that’s a great test for chimey tones.
2) I don’t really know about the idea of the Gibson checking. I was watching a video where a refinished was talking about the plasticizers in today’s nitro and how they flex too much for checking. My 1995 LP Studio certainly supports this. I was a dumb kid playing it and put it through all sorts of dumb kid stuff. Rapid change in temperature? You bet. To the point where the poker chip and switch top would break.
I also played it ALL the time and, while there is some wear where my forearm always goes, there’s no checking and it’s almost 30 years of play, moves, temperature shifts, etc.
I wish it WOULD check - I love the look of checked finishes.
3) I wish you could merge the Epiphone’s tone with the Gibson’s quiet.
4) Great video. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback and for checking the video out! You’re right though, it’s much harder for the finishes to check these days, but I have seen it done. 🤷♂️ cheers!
@@CompanyGrip well, I hope it happens to my Les Paul as playing continues. As it is, I’m probably going to get the Epiphone BJ Jr and refinish it with ReRanch. ;-)
Hey Cheers for the video! So a 2013 tobacco burst model doesn't have a rosewood fretboard?
From a paperwork standpoint, it looks like it should have grenadillo fretboard, but there are always exceptions to the published specs when it comes to Gibson guitars and years.
Did you use a pedal for the dirty sound? Which one? Great review btw :)
Thanks for checking it out!
I was actually running through a simulator so I could record it easier. It was a ProCo Rat pedal into a JCM900 and stack. Hope that helps!
A lot of people agree that the case is one of the main reasons to buy it over a standard junior.
buy a guitar with a thick plastic finish import over a better guitar because of the case? Ok...
@@johnharrington2400 I mean the Epiphone standard for the Epiphone model and Gibson standard for the Gibson model. Never buy an instrument for the case, just sometimes including a case makes the cost a little easier to swallow. Besides, if you have a tight budget sometimes all you can afford are worthless imports, but it is the artist not the instrument that makes it sound so good.
@@johnharrington2400as long as it sounds better who cares. who wants to pay 2+ k for a junior with a fucking humbucker roflmao 😂 the epi is more true to the original gibson vintage
Great video! I think the Gibson for sure sounds smoother and overall a hair better. The comments suggesting the EPI is a better guitar is absurd, go to your local rep and pick up each one. The EPI feels so plasticky and cheap. Nice guitar for the $, but its not a Gibson. The nitro on the Gibson is killer!
found the one who overpaid for the lesser gibson lol
of course it will sound smoother because it has a humbucker in it and not a p90
p90 must sound dirty and raw though, thats the whole point
Just got the Gibson. The smell alone is worth it. Nitro 😮
Very well-done comparison. I have the Gibson, but think the Epi is the much better value. I have smaller hands and prefer slim-taper necks. I had originally planned on swapping the DC pickup, but actually really like it.
Thanks for checking it out. I agree - I liked the DC much better than I thought I would!
I was wrong in my thought. Big necks are not good for everyone. Enjoy. I do really like the sound of the pickup in the Gibsan.
QC at Gibson is getting to be a real let down especially since its a lot of coin. The Epiphone on the other hand is becoming to be the go to when getting a LP. I have an Epi LP Jr and its amazing. Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks, you gave me the info about the two Ive been looking at. The Epi seems to be more accurate to the original intent and design. I think you missed the boat a little though with the side by side. While you did a good job showing the two pickups’ differences, you didn’t really show how different the controls work. P90s are traditionally very interactive and touch sensitive. If you demonstrated both guitars through a tube amp with the guitars overdriving w/o affects, you will see that the rolling off the volume cleans up the sound, and with the 50’s style wiring the tone rolled off to ‘5’ will also clean up the sound w/o getting too deep in the the tone. A ‘50’s/early ‘60s p90 can get almost acoustic sounding with the tone and volume set just right. Traditionally the Jr’s bridge pups are a lot more versatile than the bridge pups on the Special’s w/the same pups. Thanks again for showing the neck, weight and physical differences of the two guitars, as the electronics can always be changed, but the physical guitars not so much!
I’m a Greenday fan since way back when they were still on Lookout! Records, plus I collect Epiphone Artist signature models, so the BJA Epi was a must have. I agree with what you said, “the case is the coolest part of the guitar”. I like LP Junior’s, but I just did not bond with this guitar at all. I felt like the P-90 pickup was very weak compared to the humbucking pups in my other LPs. I also though the action was too high, which isn’t a big deal. I didn’t feel like messing with it, so I hung it up along with a pic of Billy playing his Les Paul Junior, which is how I display my signature models. I only paid $450 for it in mint condition, but even at full price the Epiphone is a great deal. I think the Inspired by Gibson Epiphones are so good, there really is no reason to buy a Gibson if money is an issue. I’m sure with a hotter pickup & a setup
I’d like this guitar more, but I collect the artist model to display & not play
I have the version with a bolt on neck and this is just a me thing but I prefer bolt on necks on guitars. I also love epiphone because you can buy a guitar for cheap and then swap the pickups out and boom a whole new sound comes out
Ngl I was trying to persuade myself that I made a good purchase. I got scammed.
33:51 Excellent review of these guitars. I've always preferred Epiphones, maybe because that's what I started out with.
Also, I've tried Humbuckers, but except for my no-name LP that I bought in the early 80s (and unfortunately left behind when I moved), I just don't like them. They just get too muddy. I love the expressiveness of P90s.
Noise or no noise, they're just better, IMO.
I always like to add a "treble bleeder" circuit to the volume controls, too.
I plan to either buy & mod, or just outright build a strat type guitar with a slim "wizard" style neck, all 3 P90 Pros, and either no whammy bar or one that will lock in place. Cuz sometimes I like to experiment with Drop D tuning, etc.
Excellent review, though!
Thanks! 👍 👌
Thank you for the kind comments and for checking out the video! Agree, P90s are awesome! Cheers!
I just picked up the epiphone billie for cheap used and replaced the wiring harness with an Emerson 50s style harness, and replaced the stock pickup with a Duncan antiquity P90. I’ll take that all day long over the $2200 Gibson.
Nice! That’s Billies pickup of choice too.
It wasn't a BJ but I had a Gibson with two P90s. Put the Antiquity in - it sounded fantastic. Mine was a Gibson but I agree with you that I would go with the Epiphone and put a SD Antiquity in it.
I have fun checking out guitar review channels with less exposure. Off to a good start.
Thanks for the kind words and for checking it out!
Cheers!
I have the Epiphone BJA Les Paul Jr. I like it. I own several Epiphone guitars, and they have gotten significantly better with the quality of product they’ve been releasing lately. I’ve never owned a Gibson. Honestly, I’ve only ever played an SG Special that my dad owns from 1966. I just can’t justify paying that much more for a name.
Makes sense! Epiphone has been making some great guitars for a while now! Thanks for checking out the video!
Would love to see the epiphone compared to the 50s/ 60s standard epi (and tone rolloff to mimic faux neck pup, from other videos I've seen with Gibson's the junior always sounds more vintage just curious if that's the case with the epiphone by contrast
Interesting. I’ll look into and see!
Love Your Lock It Strap
They are the best!
@@CompanyGrip my first Lock it strap is from 2017.. and recently i purchase leather lock it strap for my Sg and Lespaul
Nice! That’s awesome.
I wish the epiphone one had the slanted bridge, it’s the one thing I always wanted with a les Paul junior but it’s just me being picky but it adds to the iconic look
I hear ya. It does add to the charm of it, doesn’t it?
Did you check the Epiphone volume and tone knobs ? oh my Epiphone SG muse the knobs were not roll straight . they were not straight when rolling up or down with the bridge tone . Love the educational value of the research of the guitars you display on the channel.. so for the price of billy joe's guitar. i got 2 Harley Benton's SC-450 vintage and the DC-600 and a jambox modeling ampifier and accessories yanno, gig sack and a gigbag, picks etc,etc oh yeah some Erine Ball super slingys -9-42 .. oh yeah a couple of stands for each guitar.. once again thanks for the education on guitars .👍 yeah i'm ole and using guitar learning as therapy or an excuse to ignore the wifey...
Haha! The knob rolls were good on both guitars! Thanks for checking it out. I’m glad it’s helpful to you and hopefully to others as well. I love the intricacies of what goes into a guitar, whether it’s built by hand or on an assembly line, so I really enjoy doing these videos. It’s too bad the editing takes so long! Hahah
Take care!
😩@32:52-:55 awwww🥀! Very cool. Nice work, complete and visually informative also with close-up of volume & tone settings. Price, quality, and my conservative bias steers me away from B. J. A.'s model, yet the base instrument is a must have🍒. Great content & thanks for all your efforts in these productions✝️
Thanks for checking out the video! I hear ya. Other than the case, I’d say I’m more than fine with a regular LPJ!
I like Indian laurel. I have it on the Epi Slash Victoria which is the nicest Les Paul I have ever played. I bought it already set up from a music store is one reason it is so impressive. 15:02
Excellent! Thanks for checking the video out. 🤘🏽
Tone wise Epiphone easier to work with. Gibson thicker tone can get muddier easier. Epiphone I think would cut through mix well, let the bass hold the low end. Epiphone wins for me and price difference is huge. Thanks for your great review!
Thanks for checking it out!
….Gibson USA all day
Would the Gibson tuners fit on the Epiphone without any modification?
I can’t say for certain, but I believe they are the same Klusen style housings. So I think they would fit. Maybe at most a bushing swap. I know that doesn’t help much. Sorry.
Thanks for checking out the video!
@@CompanyGrip Thank you anyways, video was great !
The Gibson sounds way better to me. I’ve just bought a Harley Benton junior and it’ll be interesting to see how it compares
Agreed! Let me know how the Benton is! Thanks for checking out my video!
I just want to eat pillow! Jean-Claude Van Damme in the diner in Oatman Az. For the movie, Universal soldier was filmed in Oatman, Arizona, Kingman, Kingman airport ,Hoover dam, and other places in Arizona.
Hahah! Out of 50k views, you’re only the 2nd person that’s seen that!
This was a fun watch, I liked the natural storytelling type feel of it.
Thank you for the kind words and for checking out the video!
I have both guitars, but my Gibson is the Vintage Ebony. Clearly, the Epiphone is the winner. First of all, you get an actual P90. Also, it's a quarter of the cost. The cases are the highlight of both pieces, but the Epiphone has that classic feel. But I do like the Gibson case. Anyone who is curious about P90s should look into the Epiphone, but if you're serious about owning a Junior, just go with one from Gibson's Original Series.
100% thanks for checking it out!
the blue and red one were straight badass.
$700 Gibsons? Those were the days.
Agreed!
I think the most expensive version of a signature should be as close to the artist's guitar as possible. The cheaper versions could be more player friendly or generalized as in the neck profile and such. But all versions should at least have the same pickups bridge and tuners as the one they are based on. I am a bass player so it may skew my view a little.
I kind of agree, but it’s definitely worth discussion, right? I see merits to both lines of thinking.
@@CompanyGrip for sure, besides it is a good way for guitar manufacturers to know what customers are thinking.
You forgot the gibson yellow double cut jr signature he had.
He did indeed, but this was specific to just the standard Les Paul Jr. model. I should have clarified that in the video. Thanks for checking out the video! Also - I love that double cut in TV yellow.
I have the epiphone version and the only gripe i have is id rather have the gibson chainsaw case. Thats it. I prefer everything about it over the gibson. I tried the gibson in my local shop and would never pay that price for it. The epi is better in almoat every way i can think of.
except the epi has a poly finish, Gibson has a nitro, except resale value and made in the USA. besides those things. Some people dislike a finish that feels like thick plastic.
@@johnharrington2400 that's a fair statement, and I agree, finish preference is a thing. My preference is poly. It is more resilient and will never check. It won't yellow over the years either. I also have no intent on ever selling it, so the resale value plays no part for me. I get why that factor matters to a lot of people though. Sometimes ish happens and we have to sell some of our gear.
holy fuck these quality issues are unacceptable on both BUT the gibson is over 2k and at this point its just spitting in their customers faces
unfucking believable
Excellent review. Don't like pickups on any of them though. They sound very generic. Epi is much less output, but highs seem pushed to the limit. Unpleasent for the ears.
Thanks for checking it out!
Where is the freaking link 🔗 about Gibson smuggling “timber “?
It’s in the description. Cheers!
To me the Gibson had more growl and the Epiphone had more bite.
It’s crazy billie even let them sell for that amount, but I guess they’re sold out
I know, right? Thanks for checking it out!
Great video.. I think Gibson blew it again. Slim taper necks are terrible. Surprisingly the Gibson pick up sounded good. I will stick with the Epiphone or buy the standard Les Paul JR.
Agreed! Thanks for checking it out.
I wonder if the only differences between the BJA Epiphone and the standard Epiphone jr is the colour and the case?
I picked up the Regular Gibson Les Paul JR and LOVE it.@@stuartpowell255
Funny that people in the Ozarks are the only ones smart enough to adjust the truss rod…
Gibson all the way. It’s an investment. When you buy an Epi you’re really just buying a budget version of the real deal. Go for the best. It’s a guitar for life.
The Epiphone sounded better.
The tone you tested with is horrible....
Epi is noisy
Epiphone is better.
As always the Gibson sounds better
Not $1,100 better.
For the price… Epiphone sounds way better
Not necessarily better, but higher output. Swap the pickup in the Epiphone and it will sound the same
@@quinnjamess I definitely agree with you on that
@@diegochavez901 Strongly agree
Meh. Green Day sucks and so does Armstrong.
Why did you watch this if you don't like anything about it?
@@davidg1612 I didn't.
I'll take the Gibson, but save the signature! and maybe the pink case.
one has a nitro finish, one doesn't. so one feels like it's dipped in plastic, one doesn't. no offense, the Gibson kills the import.
Oh, it doesn’t offend me. I just look at them and play them, not married to either. 😃
Thanks for checking it out!