Gibson vs Epiphone Side By Side-TV Yellow Les Paul Special-Which One Do I Buy?
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- This is a side by side comparison and review of both the Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul Special and the Epiphone TV Yellow Les Paul Special. The Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul Special cost $1599 and the Epiphone TV Yellow Les Paul Special cost $399. Can a made in China $399 Epiphone TV Yellow Les Paul Special guitar be as good as $1599 made in America Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul Special? How do the Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul Special and the Epiphone TV Yellow Les Paul Special stack up against each other? Which one do I buy?
The TV Yellow Les Paul is one of the best selling guitars on the market currently for Gibson and Epiphone. The choice between the Gibson and Epiphone is not easy because Epiphone has stepped up it quality and it's so affordable. The Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul is more expensive but is it worth it? If you are considering buying a Gibson TV Yellow Les Paul Special or an Epiphone TV Yellow Les Paul Special this video will show you in detail the differences and the similarities of the two guitars and help you make a decision which one is best suited for you.
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My brain tells me to buy Epiphone but my heart wants a Gibson.
Great comment! I love that!
My wallet always screams Epiphone
Gibson warranty only applies to the country of sale as I learnt to my cost.
I have the Epiphone. It stays in tune well, fret work is well done also. I will change the pickups though, not because they’re bad but I don’t like any of my guitars with humming. I have many other guitars that I play more. So I got this because I didn’t have a guitar with P-90’s. So if this won’t be your go to guitar, get the Epiphone you won’t be disappointed, you can always change the pickups. Everything else on the guitar is GOLD 😉.
@@Guitarwizza1 P90's have a noise man. Unless you go to firebird mini-buckers in P90 sized pickup covers the noise is just the noise.
The tone is great though. Granted I bought a 2020 Epiphone LP Modern with the buckers. I'm strongly considering an SG/LP with p90's as a backup/niche.
In conclusion, labour costs are much higher in the USA than in Asia.
To these old ears, the Epiphone definitely sounds more "vintage" and the Gibson more "modern". I prefer the former, but I realise this is a matter of personal taste. I was really surprised at how different these 2 guitars sounded, considering how similar they are in other respects.
Thank you for your comprehensive review.
This is exactly how guitar reviews should be done and what he said resonated so much. I never plug a guitar in when I first play it. If it doesn’t speak to me acoustically then I lose interest in plugging it in. This was really well produced on all levels. I actually like the slightly more chimney compressed sound of the epiphone which is good since mine arrives tomorrow. I have a number of gibsons and epiphones including and Epiphone 339 pro and SG pro. I like the single coil tap options on them and the necks and frets were perfect. The old epiphone headstocks on some of the epiphones were the biggest negative on the guitar. If the headstock doesn’t fit I just can’t play it ( the biggest problem with all the super strat makers out there). The new headstocks are a marked improvement in overall aesthetics. Again, great job.
Thank you Evan! I appreciate the compliment! Please leave me a comment about you new Epi. I'm sure you'll love it!
Brooks Reid got it from Chicago music exchange and came in perfect order. They actually seemed to have inspected it. Only problem I found is there is a truss rod buzz. The truss rod must be sitting weird right at the headstock. Have to decide if I want to try a quick fix or send it back. Otherwise really enjoy it. Nice beefy neck. And the color is more of a tweed amp color which I really like. A lot of the pictures make it look really yellow but it’s more of a tan yellow. Overall great guitar especially it I can fix that buzz.
@@EvanGtr7 Does the neck look like there is enough relief? Hopefully it's just a matter adjusting the truss rod tension.
THANK YOU for the "acoustic" comparison. I don't think anyone knows how important this is when comparing guitars. Excellent video! Thank you, kindly!!
What the hell is important about acoustic testing an electric?
@@Durathakai Well, have you ever played a really resonant electric solid body guitar? I take it you haven't. Or you haven't the understanding between a dead, lifeless piece of wood, versus a vibrant, sonorous offering. Play a few electric guitars unplugged. See if you can understand what I'm saying. Some of us "feel" the resonating of the wood acoustically. Even at high amplified volumes. That resonance can make all the difference in the world as to whether a guitar is a real player or just a piece of lifeless wood with strings on it. It's also one of the reasons people will pay a boatload of money for a custom shop build. They typically come with better wood. I hope that enlightens you my friend.
Did the two guitars have the same brand, model, and thickness strings?
My God, Brooks! You have a voice for radio! What a great presentation!
Add a face for radio too!
@@airtimedesign hahahahaha
Would love to see a full electronics swap between these guitars to see if that is the major difference between the two or not!!!
Totally. I bet the difference is negligible. Someone out there must have done a vid on the Epi with upgraded pups..
Epi has 500 potentiometers
Played both at a shop today, and the pickups we’re a big difference. The Gibsons had more punch and clarity. The Epis were “flatter” sounding, if that makes sense.
I bought the epiphone sg special in Pelham blue. After setting up/ conditioning the neck and replacing the strings it's become outstanding. I'm blown away by the value for my $400. A friend gave me a case and now I'm set with a great instrument to learn and rock out with
Awesome! Congrats!
That’s a nice guitar I’m jealous
I find this guy sounds like Rick Beato...
Wow! Thank you and I'm a big fan of Rick.
I had to do a double check to make sure it wasn't Rick!
Came here to say the same thing! lol
The new Gibsons are worth it. They are solid and play well--almost as good as a Fender.
Hey Mark, thank you for the comment and I've got a review of the Fender Squire CV Tele I'm finishing up now. If you enjoyed it please subscribe Thanks!
😮
Ha! Better than Fender! :-)
Hahaha
Buy the Epiphone and spend the rest of the money on a better amplifier
Get a Helix!
@@kalkidasofficial he said a better Amplifier, not a digital copy.
Yes RB, you're right. If all things being equal, the Epi is almost as nice as the Gibson,and for sure, the P90s are just fine, then the only thing left to do is get a good amp. I actually have one of these new Specials,I had to buy it after seeing so many good reviews. The only thing I didn't like was the lightening bar. I fixed it by getting a Tone Pros one piece bar bridge. Now the intonation is just about perfect... I am impressed by this guitar, and I'm not easily impressed anymore. Sure, if I had an extra $1500, I'd get the Gibson too. But I don't.
Right on!
😁👍
YES
I picked up the Gibson les paul special in tv yellow today to add to my collection . And maybe I am a brand name snob but I feel good playing Gibsons and they do put a big fat smile on my face, I have had epiphones and sold every one but have kept all my Gibson guitars.
I enjoyed your video.
Gibson is definitely meatier, Epiphone sounds thinner.
I had the Epi les Paul
Junior and it sounded great, until
I played the Gibson
That being said the cost difference is painful
Great review! I agree that Gibson sounds a little better to my ears. But I don't think we can use Kia vs Porsche as a comparison. I don't think Kias have 95% performance of Porsches. I don't think we can find a product that is 95% performance/quality of the other at only 25% of the price. I think if you don't show the head stocks or close up finish, more people might think that Epiphone sounds better. The eyes might influence the ears in this case too. Thanks for a great review.
Hey Saran, yeah the Kia Porche comparison is a little further apart than the Epi and Gibson. I guess it depends on the model of the Kia and Porche! It's true the finish has a lot to do with the Gibson. If the Epi had the same finish I don't think Gibson would sell as many TV Yellow LPS. Thank you for the compliment! I appreciate it.
Saran,yes
True, because they are very similar guitars, ok of course there are differences, but today everything is solved with an amplifier and pedals, in the end there is only one thing left and that is really the right thing and that is a guitarist, are you a master or not, does anyone think that top guitarists would be bad if they played epiphons, no, no, of course not, does anyone think that at a concert of say rolling stones where 50,000 people realize the difference that Keith or Ronnie plays Epiphon or some other cheaper guitar, not of course not to, everything would be exactly the same, but these guys God give them health have some guitars very very long and just love them, and in the end they are the ones who decide what and how to play, these rock n roll legends have enough money yes I can, but it's not a problem if you're a beginner playing epiphone is top, of course you can buy a top gibson, but that does not mean you are a top or good guitarist, the ego is what everyone should suppress
As someone who has owned both Epiphone and Gibson versions of the same model, I can say that they are not 95% similar. Maybe 25% if you get a really good example of an Epi. The Epiphone feels like a toy version of the Gibson. Yes, they are both guitars and of the same general shape, that’s where the similarity ends. A good comparison is a handmade wooden Louisville Slugger versus a plastic wiffle ball bat from the dollar store. Yes they are both bath but there’s a reason major league baseball doesn’t use plastic toy bats.
The cars don’t look anything like each other. Having said that… I got the Gibson.
3:06 only a true gibson smells like vanilla when it's in it's case. That's how you can actually tell it's a real one. Nitro doesn't smell like that on it's own.
Nitro on its own smells more like pear-drops.
That’s right! Mine is from 2012 and still has that sweet smell
That’s exactly what my buddies les Paul smelled like. I always wanted to smell it lol
Hmm, Well don't tell my Fender AVRI '52 Tele that.
My cheap Martin acoustic smells like vanilla, and has for 5 years. I assume that is artificial.
It's all in the set up. If you don't like the electronics in the Epiphone, upgrade. Still a better value IMO
Not really. Yes, electronics may be the most obvious difference, still wood selection, lacquer, etc. should not be underestimated.
@@modestoney1577 wood selection ? It's a myth, a mahogany piece is just a mahogany piece with the same density! Put the same pickups on the both, and sound the same.
@@iggyflop3777 well, i have played enough guitars in my life to know that it is not a myth. Different acoustic peculiarities do translate to the amplified sound. Though some may argue that the impact is to small to make a difference to them, or they don´t notice it at all. I owned a lot of guitars and played identical models (same pickups, same hardware, same sort of wood) and yet there was a noticeable difference between some of them. Some pieces of wood can sound dead and hardly resonate, almost have an "dampening" effect. Of course that is something you are more prone to notice with a clean and "delicate" sound and way of playing and an amp that is able to project nuances.
For a lot (most?) styles and occasions those differences won´t be noticed, as an extreme example: if you play in loud band through a distorted amp it most probably won´t play a role.
Only a Gibson is good enough
@@modestoney1577 how lucky, you were able to compare the resonance of guitars that have the same necks, the same bodies, the same pickups, the same pickup heights, the same bridges, the same strings with the same age, the same electronics, the same lacq, and of course the guitars have all the same age.
A mahogany has the same structure as another mahogany and nothing can resist vibrations. Some pieces of wood take longer than others to reach their vibratory performance.
Stellar review sir! Very, very well done. I also believe in the placebo effect. If in someone’s mind they feel more personally connected to one or the other for even the slightest difference whether that is the finish, pickups or even the logo then that’s the one you should buy. With many stores offering payment plans most everyone can fit the Gibson into their budget if that is the one your heart wants. Now you should get a Custom shop Special and compare to yours. Without going to the trouble I think the result would be the same. “Maybe” 5% better but ya never know. Thanks again ..
Thank you Green River Jones! I appreciate the kind words! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Nice job on the review. I've been playing Gibsons since 1964, have several and just bought the TV Yellow Special. That being said I have noticed the upgrade in quality in the Epiphone line. You won't go wrong with the new Epiphones, especially as an instrument you can grow into. You can always buy the more expensive instruments later if you feel the need.
Thank you Doug! Please subscribe
I'd get an Epiphone except I hate poly finishes. Deal killer for me
Great review and comparison. I’m going with the Epiphone. I want a tube amp also and don’t want to refi the house to buy a guitar and amp! They are both beautiful, great sounding guitars!
Thank you BoccaRocka! Please subscribe!
I bought a Gibson and, it is the best guitar I ever owned. However the Epiphone arrives tomorrow... I ll let you know.
The Gibson was 10 times more than the Epiphone .However it was NOT 10 times better.. Maybe it was twice as good. The Gibson was a guitar for a pro player while the Epiphone would please any hobbyist
Any updates?
@@rrmb4739 Epiphone Still sucks really bad
Best comparison I’ve seen yet. Outstanding video man. Thanks so much.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Thank you Mike for the compliment and taking time to comment. I appreciate it!
Best most thorough side by side comparison I’ve ever watched. Great work here.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and the compliment! I appreciate it and please subscribe!
Nice review. Just picked up a used 2020 Les Paul Special for $1200. I am really liking it. Love the P90 pickups..
Glad you enjoyed the review Robert and congrats on the new used LPS. I'm planning more reviews, please subscribe! Thanks
The Epiphone looks sounds great for the money 💰
Strings weren’t spaced correctly on that one you demonstrated .
I’ll hold out for the Gibson
It’s where my heart is ♥️♠️😎
That Epi has a _serious_ string spacing problem with the G and upper-E. Look at the video at 10:30. I've see this often with Epi wraparound/lightning bolt tailpieces. I always replace with an intonatable bridge anyway (so it would not deter me buying the Epi), but it's an issue that should have been mentioned.
Gibsons only sound better when you stare at the headstock.
Yeah. They also FEEL better. People forget what you are paying for: where it is made, wood selection, pickups and electronics. You can buy a less expensive guitar, do a lot of upgrades to make it sound better, but the FEEL in most instances will not be as good.
Late to the party/show but I just have to say, this was probably one if not the best comparison video I have seen. Top notich. It's just too bad that Im still undecided on which one to get!
Thank you Jason, I appreciate the compliment. Please subscribe to see my other reviews!
This is easily the best guitar review I’ve ever watched. I was rather surprised by the acoustic comparison, the Gibson was much better to my ears.
Thank you so much for saying that! I appreciate it. Please subscribe.
Could the strings have something to do with it ? I’ve heard that Epi strings are not good quality & most recommend changing them as soon as you receive the guitar. New quality strings make a difference !
@@tonytribble2977 I'm surprised no one from the video replied. It kept me from subscribing.
Aloha Brooks, you have a very pleasant voice….like a DJ or Hollywood narrator. Your video presentations are professionally done. Mahalo nui loa for sharing!
I got my Tv Epiphone other day. Sounds fantastic love it
For the record, I set the neck of a cheap epi special and upgraded all the parts. It's phenomenal now
Fantastic review. As always, at the end of the day......... it’s night. You can have an excellent guitar or an excellent guitar.......
Thank you! and you are right! Where is the Chase band based?
Two things. Played acoustically, you can hear a more solid and balanced resonance in the Gibson. And the pickups are a fuller sounding set.
I think you can get away with the epi by just replacing the bridge p90 with an original.
Chicago Transit Authority! "South California Purples", or whatever that song is called. Such a great riff. Easy to play, but sounds so badass! Thanks for playing that one!!
Glad you got a kick out of that Ian! All the best!
Excellent review my man. I recently bought the Epiphone and it’s exactly as you said, great quality and looks almost as good as the Gibson, but the pickups and solid finish are what lets it down.
Mine sounds exactly like the one in your vid both acoustically and plugged in.
Still, I’m happy enough just to swap out the pickups for something better. I got mine for 265 English pounds 2nd hand off eBay, but it was practically brand new and still in its original packaging. New set of pickups about £140 and that’s some guitar for not much money right there.
Thanks again mate - cool vid 👍🏼
Excellent and honest review. Having played both, personally I feel that in the hands of the right player. Either one is good.
I fairly recently bought the Epiphone and I like it. The quality of its finish was good overall although I did have to do some fret adjustment as a couple of them were sitting high and I like a low action. For the money though you really can't go wrong. I actually like the Epiphone logo as it reminds me of the Beatles.
Yeah I found the epiphone guitar were not setup but that maybe the only difference between the two..in reality the guitar stores should be setting up all the guitars they sell.I had to bring my rather expensive Gretsch back to the store to have it adjusted.
Wow, what a great review. Really smart, well thought-out. You covered all the bases. Nice job.
Thanks Jack Hobson-Dupont! I appreciate the compliment, Please subscribe!
"which one do I buy?" As if one doesn't cost 1200 bucks more than the other lmao
GREAT video! I agreed with everything up until the "5% difference." There is nothing "wrong" with the Epiphone. I own a couple that I love! (339 and 335) But people need to seriously understand that the Gibson is substantially better in every single way from top to bottom: Wood selection, electronics/switches/pups/fit/finish/fret work/manufacturing time, etc. And above all, a real American Gibson has majorly skilled Gibson craftspeople spending serious amounts of time building each guitar by hand...far more time than their overseas counterparts, at least.
If you want a guitar that sounds and plays pretty decent without breaking the bank, get an Epiphone. Great! Rock on! For a LIFETIME, legendary, iconic, instrument that sounds and plays exactly as it should that is handmade by serious craftsmen with all premium parts, buy the Gibson. It's very much like playing a Mexican Telecaster then playing the American Professional. Not even close. Every single thing considered, I'd say the Gibson is more like 30-40% better than an Epiphone in most cases.
For the price you can't beat the Epiphone. You almost couldn't tell them apart if it wasn't for the headstock or color. They are so similar in quality it's unbelievable.
Thé pickups from thé Gibson is way better..
What a shame
Amazing job here! ,only 100% likes ,I watch it like 3 or 4 times ,thanks for the work and your time on this one
Excellent review - fair, clear, precise and easy to understand - thank you.
Thank you so much Thrum! Please subscribe!
Aesthetically they’re the same, but those Gibson p90’s.. wow
The poly is much different to the nitro also. Poly - no grain, nitro - grain
I own 3 of the Inspired by Gibson Epiphone’s, all are awesome (339 & 2 Les Pauls) . I haven’t played a Gibson, but just got the Epi ‘59 Std Outfit Les Paul that has the Gibson Burtsbucker pickups in it. The sound of this thing blew me away. I’m convinced the pickup is what sets Gibson apart. I think people buy Gibsons for the name & iconic headstock shape. The nitro finish. And the Gibson sound…nothing sounds like a Gibson Les Paul.
This is probably the best comparison video ever made between 2 guitars in the whole RUclips, thanks a lot for your contribution and your work, you have a new follower :) Speaking about the guitars I just bought the Epiphone Les Paul Special TV Yellow last week (after waitings for months) and I have to say it's reaaaally impressive. I have a nice small collections of guitars including 2 Gibsons, Fujigen, Japanese Fenders... and honestly as you said this "cheap" Epi is 95% as good as a Gibson. In my case I just wanted to have a good P90's guitar and for 349 UK pounds and I have a great one.
I would really like to try the Gibson though seems pretty impossible in this pandemic times. Thanks again for your video, I was looking forward to something like this
Thank you Samuel! That means a lot and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Thank you Samuel!
Samuel Olivares Altazco I totally agree with you. This is the best compare and contrast video on RUclips. It really is. He covers both guitars in a very detailed and interesting way.
Thank you Samuel for the tremendous compliment! Congrats on your new Epi!
Incredible review. You’ve created the best review format.
The Gibson had a little..and I mean little…bit more mid-range and a little bit fuller sound. The Epiphone was just a little bit more treble-y….
You just sold a lot of both of these for both Epiphone and Gibson.
Another great review. I bought the Epiphone and the build quality, fit and finish is outstanding. The sound is excellent. My only criticism is the colour is not quite what it could be. It may be true to tv yellow but it’s a little more brown- yellow than yellow. But beyond that it’s an absolutely brilliant guitar. And that’s before I factor in the price. The analogy I employ, slightly different from your ratio of 4:1 is I can (and have bought) 4 different Epiphones (LP, LP special. Firebird and SG for the price of a Gibson LP standard. That’s a no brainer for me.
Yeah it's a crazy good deal for the money! Thanks for the compliment and glad you're enjoying your 4 guitars! Happy New Year David!
I just got a new TV Yellow Special and it's perfect. Now, I can't see paying $4000 for the Custom Shop version but I'd consider a used one if it was no more than $2500.
I bought the Epiphone one, I cannot recommend it highly enough! For $400, it is a lot of guitar! It gives great tone at a reasonable price. Epiphone, like Gibson, have been making a great comeback since the new management/ownership (I also bought a Gibson Les Paul Std '50's in 2019, as well as an Epiphone Joe Bonamassa LP Custom "Black Beauty" this year). All 3 of the guitars I have bought from Gibson/Epiphone over the past two years, are amazing, and I don't regret buying a single one.
Good luck with your guitar! I suspect it will provide that happiness and as well as the smiles you alluded to.
Now $450
@@ibberman still a steal. Although I’m selling/trading mine.
@@ibberman it’s a great guitar but the neck, for me, is a bit too big.
Now $499. I got the Gibson discounted for $1500.
Really great honest and unbiased evaluation. Well done!
10:24 Chibiphone string spacing on the left.
Has anybody noticed that the Epiphone has a weirdly messed up string space? Check the High E being almost on the edge of the fretboard while having huge space towards the B string. At first I thought it was the cameras angle but I saw it throughout the whole video. I would have shipped it back as you‘d have to either get a new nut thats cut right or change the tailpiece.
This is one of the best guitar reviews i've ever seen. Keep it up!
Thank you Felix, please subscribe more on the way!
Felix, I see you already did! Thank you!
@@airtimedesign I noticed that too. I've never seen one that's so unique and high quality! It would take a Very long comment to sum it all up so I'll just say the simpler parts.
The history!
A lot of great close up shots
A lot of great information
Quality opinions
You played the guitars unplugged!!
Your Own Unique Style
Just keep it up and you're set!!!
@@TheMidnightModder Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
We have a 2018 Epi LP Special . TV Yellow. It's been a fun axe for home use so far.
Guitars are like Jewelry. Sure, I could spend $400 on an Epi and it functions all the same, but I paid for the Gibson because its the real deal. Not only is it nicer, but it has the wow factor. I can impress my friends and family. "Oh, its a real Gibson!" instead of "Oh, its the Epiphone knockoff".
Is it logical? Not really, but if I have the money, I'd get the Gibson every time.
Hi Robert thank you for the comment. Coming from a guy who bought the Gibson I have to agree although IMHO the Epiphone is no slouch. It's really close and had the finish been the same or the sound a little closer I would have gone home with the Epi.
Lol at the I can impress my friends and family. People concerned about that usually lack in the actual playing department and buy trophy guitars to keep around to impress people. I own Gibsons and Epiphones and never once did "oh this will impress people" pop into my head. Go buy another really nice watch to go with your really nice guitar you probably can't play.
@@jeremywooldridge5537 Haha relax dude, its not worth getting so angry over. If you want to share some of your work, I can share mine and we can see who plays better. At minimum I think you'd find I know my way around the neck. But seriously, chill.
Thank you for pointing out that craftsmanship is a skill that people can have, regardless of what country they're in... I live in Asia, and I personally know local guitar makers who love their craft and put their heart and soul into building a quality instrument. What we're seeing today is competition, the cornerstone of capitalism! Why are so many Americans upset that people from China are competing for quality and participating in the market for great guitars? They ought to step their game up, rather than get offended... You seem to understand how healthy the competition is - too many others just want monopolies (which always result in lower quality and higher prices).
You're welcome Ian! Glad you enjoyed the review. Thank you!
the epi is great however the Gibson wins, its more resonant, it has more of a midrange, and its more throaty, i do love the epi and have no problem spending 400 on it
Great comparison. There is something about the Gibson that's hard to articulate. It just has a thicker, smoother sound without losing that P-90 bite. The problem with the new Epiphones are they are close to the price of a used Gibson in most cases and there's plenty of used Gibsons out there
Thank you Michael!
This is hands down the best guitar comparison on RUclips. Love how you emphasize on the guitars acoustically. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50's Goldtop from the inspired by Gibson series and I absolutely love it. I don't even really want to change the pickups to be honest, they are pretty good. Also, I don't feel as insecure when taking it to a gig as it is not as expensive as a Gibson one, however I take really good care of it. I am considering buying an Epiphone SG or a TV Special and save some money but still enjoy some quality instruments.
Well Thank you Federico, you made my day! I was on the fence until I plugged both guitars in. The Gibson pickups just sounded better. With a pickup upgrade I would have been very happy with the Epi. Thanks for the compliment and please subscribe!
Yeah you should ! Ahah I have an epi sg special, the pelham blue one, awesome guitar! (Ànd I have gibsons too, a lp junior and an sg junior) the epi is just so cool to play with, p90 are just fine, don’t need to change sounds good as is !
@@julienferran9028 Awesome! I recently tried one from a friend and it was great! His came with a bit of faulty wiring, but nothing we can’t fix so im definitely coping a SG in Pelham blue like yours!
no doubt , for me the Gibson sounds better . on my floor there is box with an Epiphone Tv-Yellow i have to unpack !😁 good comparison with Porsche and Kia . honestly , so it is !
Hey Books. Really well done! If you aren't in the broadcasting industry, consider it as an option. Gibson should have reached out to you to if they haven't. Have to admit, the epiphone is really tempting. And, as you said there's maybe 5% difference. I read something recently that said 80% of what we do, anyone can do. 15% of what we do can be trained for someone else to do. But, 5% of what we do- Noone else can do. That 5% is our personal differentiator. And,that's worth a lot. On second thought ...Gibson should call us both:)
This video got recommended to me because I watch a lot of guitar videos and I'm so glad I watched it. It was a great review and comparison and it was nice to learn some of the history. I have subscribed and can't wait for more of these comparison type reviews (if you did one with the epiphone junior vs the gibson junior I would be thrilled) Good job man!
Hello Paspa, Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed my review. Please thank your friend for recommending it. I would like to do more side by side comparisons with similar models and that's in the works. Since I'm just starting I don't have manufactures sending me product to review, so it's a little harder to get my hands on the guitars I'd like to review. I am just finishing up on a review of my Squire CV Tele which I'll post soon. Hopefully I be able to do more side by side comparisons with the help from all the amazing people who have subscribed and posted to the channel. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!
Gibson definitely sounds better and looks better but that epi is still cool 😎
Would I be alone in saying the Epiphone sounded better?
Sound is so subjective and finding the right sound is personal. Also if the Epi was setup and the pickups were adjusted I'm sure that would have changed the sound a bit. All up to you which one is better sounding!
Is the Epiphone lower output? Your tubes distort a lot more with the Gibson, resulting in a very different sound. Hard to compare like this.
Hi Rowan, you are right the Gibson has more output and yes it does change the sound into the amp. Also it could have been just a height adjustment that would make them closer in output. I did not do any adjustments. I just played them into the amp. Thank you for the comment and please subscribe!
@@airtimedesign I think the video is nicely done, but "Which one do I buy" is a bit too much for this I think. If you could match the gainstaging it would be awesome, then we could closely compare the amount of harmonic distortion and dynamics both guitars produce.
@@rowandegeus Great idea Rowan!
Outstanding review. Thank you. I do not gig and at this point in my life (I'm 64) I am happy to do a little work and change out pickups, pots, jacks, and hardware. I have a 2006 Epiphone '57 Reissue LP Junior. The fret work is excellent, as is the fit and finish. For me the nitro finish on the Gibson is better quality than Epi's polyurethane, but not a big enough difference to pay the higher price. I'm more likely to purchase the 2020 Epiphone version at this point. I've had four Gibsons in the past year and sold them all. They're great investments, but the practical side is playability and value. For recreational playing the Epiphone checks all the boxes without the premium price tag.
Thank you Jeffery! And nobody is gigging much anymore for the time being until the world is a little safer again. Hopefully soon! All the best.
Jeffrey Winter You should get one! I did, and it's giving me a ton of inspiration to rock,turn up, and get in touch with my inner child of the sixties. It's a lot of fun, getting me out of Strat rut, and I older than you!
So true just switch out pick ups. They already have 500 k pots. I own a epi les Paul ultra put a set Seymore dunken pearly gates in it sounds and plays amazing. I'll never get rid of it.
for the same price you can get a LP Trad Pro or a LP Studio, hell even the SG Standard should suffice
I would rather buy 4 Epiphones. That special is about £400 and for the same price you could get 4 very different Epiphones. Some with p90s, some humbuckers. SGs, Les Pauls, hollowbodys. Maybe something with a trem system. So for 1 Gibson Les Paul Special you could get a nice, versatile collection of Epiphones which arent very far off the Gibson veriant
This is exactly what I did. A Epi Les Paul TV Yellow Special, A Epi ES-339, and a Epi Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird. £1500 in total.
I then put in some nicer handwound p90s, and it sounds as good as the Gibsons I've had before. Actually different, and a little better for how I play. £500 in total, including some Les Paul strings, and some Dunlop 75 picks that give such a rich vintage tone.
@@kerpoise Great you could confirm it closer to a Gibson with a change of P90s set.
Did that. Kept the Epiphones. Still bought a Gibson and a Dangelico
So you could have 4 guitars that aren’t the real thing… or one that is.
I have both the Gibson & Epi models. Plain truth: the Epi (stock), bury's the Gibby. Period! I run it straight into a Marshall HW Plexi 100 head and 2 4/12 bottoms w/ 25W greenbacks. Leslie West is looking down with a big smile!
Congratulations on the Gibson Les Paul Special! It’s a great choice! I have been playing for 21 years and been down the entire spectrum of cheap and higher end guitars. Gibson have done a good job improving their quality over the last 3 years and Epiphone I used to cringe to the ideal of playing those stiff action guitars. I think Fender changed it all for everybody. In the 80’s Fender raised the bar (post cbs buy out) and made high quality guitar in Mexico, Japan, and America. Squire have consistently put out quality guitars since their induction. The success of Squire was killing Gibson/Epiphone. Gibson to me had no choice but to up their game. I now believe I would go for a Epiphone. In you’re amazing shootout I would have chose the Epiphone. From my standpoint I buy and sell often and guitars generally have a high turnover rate at my house. Ultimately I like cheap guitars I can mod and neither of these guitars sounded like a 50’s Junior. Both sounded good but I would have gutted these guitars and loaded up as nice set of pickups and a prewired harness from RS Guitarworks. It’s just what I do. I would have more in electronics than the Epiphone and I would be comfortable with that.
Thanks Arnold for the compliment! It's great that we have so many inexpensive options. I also have a review of the Squier CV Telecaster if you want to take a look.
ruclips.net/video/Sa2UXPsC76w/видео.html
@@airtimedesign sure I’ll check it out! I just got a Squire CV 60’s Thinline I love it! I’ve got some lower back pain and I attributed it from playing 10 pound guitars! This ones only 5 pounds 10 ounces!
@@arnolddealiii4259 Nice! that's definitely easier on your back! So I guess you had a non-weight relieved Les Paul before this?
@@airtimedesign I’ve had a Les Paul Classic that had the 7 holes under the maple cap that was about 9.5-10 pounds, Les Paul Studio plus top that weighted about 9 pounds, a DC Les Paul Special faded finish studio model, a Epiphone Les Paul Studio that was a boat anchor, a Les Paul Traditional Pro v1. The heaviest guitar I’ve owned was a Fender Baja Telecaster weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces! Sold it to buy the Squire, and couldn’t be happier! I won’t touch a guitar over 7 pounds anymore.
@@arnolddealiii4259 I sent back a MIM Telecaster that was also too heavy. I don't know the weight but it just didn't make any sense. I never thought a Telecaster could weigh that much!
Have the Gibson tv yellow special and it really is a special guitar. I love mine.
The D and G strings spacing in the Epiphone seems weird.
Thank you for your comment and I appreciate you watching the video! I did not notice anything awkward about the spacing on the Epiphone. But I did not measure it or get into that kind of detail. For me it's just about how it feels and plays and I thought the setup was pretty good right out of the box. I do think that it's always a good idea to have a guitar tech or luthier fine tune everything but on the Epiphone that might cost you more than the guitar!
You mean at 11:55?
Good eye! Someone pointed it out at 10:24 & you can see the difference more clearly in that shot.
That's just a bit slided on the tailpiece. It's perfectly fine at the nut.
so early on since 1950s they buy out their competitors. killing the competition
I think I’ll buy a telecaster🎸🎼
The Epiphone sounds absolutely good enough for me. I like the opaque color much better. The lacquer on the Gibson seems a bit off in my eyes. I'm a sucker for esthetics, so I like the headstock design on the Gibson better, but the Epiphone isn't as bad as they have been through the years.
I bought one of the Epiphones, for the 400 bucks I thought it was definetly worth the money although it felt kind of plastic with the heavy poly finish and the Indian laurel fingerboard felt like plastic. It sounded really good the pickups were great. I sold it on craigslist for what I paid, it just wasn't up to my usual standard being a Gibson player. Overall, worth the money.
The frets are the major flaws on some Epiphone guitars. My finger tips get sore playing on some Epiphone guitars whereas it's a pleasure to play on Gibson guitars. I absolutely love my 2021 Epiphone Lucille guitar! I give a 6 out of 10 as far as the frets are
Always try Epiphone before you buy Gibson.
Economics made me buy the Epiphone. Oh also, I watched a bunch of videos last winter of NAAM, where they debuted the new lineup. I had a 1968 Riviera Epiphone back int eh mid seventies, made in Kalamazoo, blue label, mini HBs. As good as any 335, and it was 1/2 the price, even back then. So... I like the LP Special... I put a tone pros vintage bar bridge on it, but everything else will stay stock. Pickups, tuners, wiring, fit and finish all fine.
You really give me that feeling of grabbing one of that Epiphone Les Paul Special. 😔
Such a great video! Thanks!!
Thank you Douglas I appreciate that you took the time to leave a comment. All the best!
Great review, thank you! 👍🏻
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it. Please subscribe!
"epiphone upgrade the quality in 2019" false, the quality was already there long before 2019. See the epiphone les paul 1960 tribute plus. You are just reading an article !!
You are right that Epiphone has had excellent quality for some time. The change in the headstock and the new "Inspried By Gibson" series was what I was trying to point out. Thank you for your comment!
@@creamwobbly For sure the neck profiles are very close now. I did not put a gauge on it but if I was blindfolded I could not tell the difference.
I have a epiphone les paul 1960 tribute plus, stock with : groover locking tuners, long neck tenon, gibson classic 57 and 57+ pickups, carved hard maple top, mallory capacitor, pot CTS, push pull pickups serie and parallel, no body chamber, fretboard perfect, lutherie perfect.
Is there a Gibson with all of its features? If yes, what's the price ?
The Epiphone George Thorogood with the p-90s is a monster. I’ve got Gibson SG and Epiphone SG I actually like the Epiphone better. This particular model is another great example of Epiphone being a better buy. It’s a lot of guitar for the money. The Gibson is just not worth nearly four times the price.
The Gibson sounds quite a bit better both acoustically and plugged into an amp. Sure, you could buy 4 Epiphones for that price, but a Gibson won't lose 40%+ of it's value after a few years. In terms of longevity, I think the higher build quality and better components will outlast the Epiphone. I, and many others, have had epiphones where the frets have worn quickly. Definitely an important factor in making a decision, since a fret job will cost about as much as the whole Epiphone guitar.
Not a dig on the Epi at all, for the price it's very hard to beat. But those who swap guitars often as well as those who intend to play the crap out of it for many years would probably be better off with a Gibson. I imagine a 20 year old gibson played 2 hours a day will feel considerably better than a 20 year old epiphone played the same amount of time. I suppose time will tell since Epi has stepped their game up lately. I know for sure that as a short term purchase that I'd plan to flip after a few years, as well as something I plan to use for life, I'd feel alot better getting the Gibson
fret work will cost the price of one epi? look, it's hard to believe, it´s a super normal thing that you need to do every year in your guitar. if the place you usually do that is that price, you should buy the tools and do it for yourself but i think you can find places waaay less expensives .
@@Rafael-zl4vu You're right. I was thinking more along the lines of it costing as much as a used Epiphone, $200-300 for a full, well done, fret job
@@Baghdadbatterymusic that's still very expensive, I just picked my guitar with the luthier for a fret job and it costed to me less than 50$ you should do it yourself
@@Rafael-zl4vu A full refret for $50? damn who is your luthier!?
@@Baghdadbatterymusic fret job! Not a refret. You don't need to do a refret jut because it's sharp ou anything like that.
2004?!? Epiphone guitars have been made overseas since 1970, with just a very few exceptions.
Amazing how marketing shapes our perceptions.
When guitars sound that close can you really hand on heart tell the difference by the time you put them through an amp and a bunch of pedals. There was a difference acoustically though.
will run the gibson through chinese amps and pedals anyway
Naaaaah, Gibson Schmibson!!!! EPIPHONE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!!!!!
Not that it justifies the 4x price difference but when comparing a Gibson USA LP to an Epiphone LP you need to add a couple hundred to the epi price for the lack of a any case to be fair. I own a bunch of guitars, Gibson and Epiphone included...I just prefer the neck feel, finish and overall tone of Gibson. Haters will always find something to complain about but I just look at more options as a plus for all players.
It's true the case should be deducted from the price when comparing. I was on the fence for quite a while but what really won me over is when I plugged them in. Really I could have easily decided on the Epi up until the point I plugged them in. So if you replaced the electronics and pickups with better stuff it would be a lot closer comparison.
@@airtimedesign surprisingly the epiphone burstbuckers on my Sheraton II Pro sound very good for an inexpensive guitar but I don't have any experience with the P90 Epiphone uses. If you've never seen Eastman guitars, please check them out. Gibson custom shop quality stuff for pricing under a Gibson USA. Nice video btw and I'll check out the rest of your channel🎸🤙🏻
@@seanc.5310 Thanks Sean, I'll check out Eastman, Please subscribe, it helps promote the channel and I'm just getting started. Thanks!
Good review, shows how much better the Gibson is, not even taking into account how much the better wood used plus with the lacquer will age. No Comparison for a real guitar player.
Hey Paul, Thank you for your comment, I agree the finish and the wood were a big part of my decision.
Another factor people forget about those 50's guitars is that was just the beginning of the electric guitar market starting out, so the wood being used in those guitars, even on something like the low end "student" models like the Les Paul Juniors or Melody Makers, was probably very old growth wood from trees a century or more in age. So now this guitars as "vintage" instruments, are made of extremely rare in age further dried out wood. Compared today, with mass manufacturing and the demand associated with that, the wood going into these guitars, even high end Gibsons/Fenders are recent growth wood, not nearly as dried out, so in no way can they ever be as resonant as guitar from the 50's.
Hey Michael, I agree with you but I can tell you from the comments I have received whenever I talk about the wood making a tone difference, there are people who feel that "tonewood" is a myth and wood does not effect the sound on a solid body electric guitar. I am not one of those people and I agree that the older slower grown wood with tighter grain is a better resonating material. How much difference does it make on a solid body guitar? lt makes a little, not a whole lot and there are lots of other factors that make more of a tone difference like the pickups, the setup and the amp or effects. With that said I'll go with a nice piece of wood every time. If it's a nice chunk of wood and it sounds true and loud acoustically I think it improves the sustain and the sound of the guitar. Even a solid body guitar. All the best and please subscribe!
@@airtimedesign I agree with you. “Tonewood” is a thing as far as resonance whey player acoustically and how it feels to play, but when amplified probably not really gonna make a difference as much as pickups and electronics are going. It’s more when you’re holding against your body, you “feel” the difference and that will definitely inspire and affect how you play or attack the guitar.
@@msmoniz I actually think it's more than that. When ever I try out an electric guitar I like to play it first without an amp. I want to hear what's going on with the wood. Most of the time I pick the louder more resonate guitar and that acoustic quality transfers to the pickups. Thanks for the comments and Please subscribe!
I feel the same
I wanted the Epi to win bc of the price. And finish wise (I know, maybe I’m weird), even though the nitro finish breathes better, and the guitar ages better, I actually prefer the opaque finish on the Epi . . . at least for the TV yellow. But I guess I’d have to go with Gibson. Sounds better, better quality woods, better-sounding pickups, better resale value. Good review. The only thing missing was a closeup of the frets to see if any tooling marks.
I can tell you that both guitars were finished very well. There was not roughness or snags on the frets. They felt smooth and finished on both guitars. If I never played the Gibson I would have bought the Epi and thought it was a great guitar. Like I said there is a difference but is it worth 4X the money?
I own the Epiphone LP Special, and even factory stock straight out of the box, it's fantastic for $399. The thing to understand here is that this is a comparison of a more budget friendly guitar with a non-budget friendly guitar; there will be differences based on the price points. Very often, the feel and tonal differences will be slight, while the biggest differences are where they're made, and of course, the price tags. As a semi-professional guitarist of 46 years, I've owned several Gibsons and loved them, but I've been a dedicated Epiphone player and owner for nearly half of that time. If you're solely focused on the brand name on the headstock, for "prestige", "bragging rights" or whatever, you're already in it for all the wrong reasons. For the better part of the last decade, Gibson has produced guitars with QC that's questionable at best, that definitely did not justify the high prices; after financial restructuring and change in ownership, they're only just recently starting to improve. You could take a stock Epiphone, like the Special, mod it to Gibson specs or your own, and still come out ahead cost-wise, and most importantly, have a helluva good playing and sounding guitar. The name on the headstock isn't the be all end all.
Name on the headstock only valuable when you resell it.
The open book shaped headstock, the paint, and pick úp might not worth more than 1000 usd. When it comes to gibson , people mostly pay for the brand
It a simple fact that Gibson are over priced. Interesting that the Gibson bridge looks off to one side. where as on the Epiphone looks square
Hi Gareth, Thank you for the comment. The Gibson bridge is angled for intonation compensation and the Epi is straight but has the raised sections or "lighting bar" on the bridge for intonation compensation.
Great review! I think I would be happy with the Yamaha Revstar, I'm in Asia anyways.
Thank you See Sharp! I appreciate the compliment. Please subscribe for more reviews.
I always suggest starting with the Epiphone to make sure it’s the style of guitar you want to put a lot of time on. If it meets that, then keep the Epi and put the time on it. Buy a Gibson after a year or two. Keep the Epi as a back up. If you follow this approach you won’t have thousands of dollars of high end guitars just hanging on a wall. You might have a couple thousand dollars of Epiphones on the wall, but you won’t lose as much bank doing it. 😉
Most people cant justify spending $1600 on, lets face it, unless they are a professional or semi professional musician, a total luxury, so there isn't really a choice for most people.
The pick ups dont sound alike but neither sounds better than the other which is great.
That means I can buy them both without having to feel guilt.
Hey Anneke, that's a good way to look at it!