What it does mean is you have to ask yourself if the difference in quality is worth the difference in price. SG-Special-I is a great way for new players to get started on electric guitar at a price anyone can afford. So, more of the Epi’s neck projects and the strap button is closer to the pickups, allowing more of the neck’s weight to jut out and give it that tendency to drop. Isn't the point to actually review the guitars rather than make unfounded speculative claims. They are pretty much in line with the differences I've typically seen between Epiphone and Gibson guitars. This is a very tasty looking SG model. 1) Gibson SG Standard â61 2) Gibson SG â61 Reissue 3) Gibson SG Standard What are your experiences with these, and which one would you recommend? You know these guitars do come with four knobs. Needless to say, the Les Paul and SG both hung in the there and went on become two of the most beloved guitars in the world. (my wife & I bought him). This makes the nut more of a tone contributer than say, the strap pin. 7. They are hot enough for metal and hard rock, but versatile enough for jazz and blues. The biggest difference in the G-400 is the brighter Alnico V humbucker pickups that ⦠Maybe not. Pickups can be changed, and if you decided you weren’t happy with the stock Epi pickups you could swap them out for Gibsons or something else down the road. Then it’ll sound better too. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. A_ChordWithNoName Member. Did you know that there are entire manufacturing plants that deal solely in mother of pearl and abalone? The G-400 also features a Tune-o-matic Bridge, all chrome hardware, mahogany neck and body. Brown Box on the doorstep today! The other epiphone is a 2002 made in korea g-400 tobacco burst. This might make the comparison seem a little unfair from the beginning. This model comes in a Vintage Cherry finish and looks lush! Epiphone manufacture this guitar in a few colors, perhaps that iconic cherry red being the most prominent but we are going to look at the ebony version. Gibson’s are made in the USA and Epiphone’s are made overseas in China or Korea.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'guitaraffinity_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',104,'0','0'])); Now before you ask, “Which one’s better, China or Korea?”, I can tell you first hand that there’s no significant difference. it’s worth to your adoring fans. Now it literally takes minutes. You can just hop on Amazon or whatever and slap down your credit card and still get a good night’s sleep without worrying about how the thing is going to play. My choice are PRS SE custom 24 or gibson sg standard . All-mahogany guitars can get a little muddy and boomy with the wrong pickups, but I think these are a really good fit. Whether it’s the tone, price, or body shape, you have tons of options to choose from to get the perfect instrument for your needs. Read up and Pay attention. It featured a thinner flat-top body, a double-cutaway with contours, and a shifted neck joint for improved upper fret access. Both styles are perfectly adequate although the Epi's Grovers are smoother and more precise. At first viewing it is impressive. Epiphone just started having these pots this year as well I believe. If you favor durability over tone, you need to look to Epiphone for their hard poly coats. It’s not the hardest finish however. Pickups -- different pickups yield different sounds. The ’61 neck joint is at the 16th fret, the Gibson’s at the 19th. The impression that I kinda get when I pick up and SG from Epiphone is like, man this is really put together and made out of the same materials that a real Gibson is but…. Anyway, my favorite is the Gibson SG Les Paul Custom made in the early 1960s, about 6,000 of which were produced. The 490R and 490T Alnico II pickups provide the power to drive. Body Body Shape SG Body⦠I have been comparing the Standard against the G400, and to be totally honest, the Epiphone has the edge right now. Hats off to Epiphone for I kept it on to compare directly with the new pickup I put in on the Neck side. A rounded profile mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, long tenon 19th fret neck joint, and a solid mahogany body provide the backbone for singing sustain. The newly refreshed Gibson SG Modern incorporates many contemporary updates that players have embraced and it’s much more than a classic “solid guitar”; it’s a hybrid between an SG and a Les Paul. Today we’ll take a look at two SG’s from different places pitting the Gibson SG against the Epiphone SG. the epiphone was heavier than the gibson, which was a feather weight, it is afterall an SG! I pick up a Gibson SG and immediately I’m like, “yeah” just by the general heft and solid feel as I take note of the impeccably manicured and bound fretboard. It just validated what I thought I was hearing. If you aren’t a fan of the SG, you may just want to move on completely. Now I'm comparing a new Epiphone Elitist '61 SG Reissue with two new Gibson SG Standards, side by side by side. Gibson had a lot of problems with that particular material because the government literally barged right in and seized all of their ebony. Other brands may make copies of the Les Paul, SG, 335 etc but Gibson and Epiphone are the only two brands that can really lay ⦠It means that you don’t have to be concerned about trying out your guitars before you buy them anymore. I thank you deeply for your support. Although this SG doesn’t quite have the velvety woodiness of the very finest examples of the breed, it’s still an absolute blast to play and a rather wild and thrilling ride. From the new Inspired by Gibson Collection, the Epiphone SG Standard ’61 harks back to the debut of the SG/Les Paul Standard with a Vintage Cherry finish and mahogany neck and body. Epiphoneâs Inspired by Gibson offering for 2020 brings the likes of Les Paul and SG guitars that everyone aspires to play to a price thatâs much more reasonable for the majority of guitarists!These models echo last yearâs Gibson relaunch, with like for like copies along with more original designs. It's a no-brainer, right? So it’s no surprise that Gibson’s are better especially when it comes to workmanship and attention to detail. Or you can get the S2 Studio if you want something a little higher end. Get better pickups there are loads available some at reasonable prices. $25 is not a hefty price to pay to make their guitars so much more beautiful. This may or may not have implications for tone and tuning stability. Score one for Gibson (by a very slight margin). Neck construction -- the Gibson's neck is shaped from a single piece of Mahogany, while the Epiphone's uses a scarf joint to join the headstock to the neck, and another joint to fill out the heel at the other end where it joins the body. I have a 2019 Gibson SG Special with 500k CTS audio taper pots. Not too much sizzle, and fairly articulate. Review: Gibson SG Junior, SG Standard ’61 Maestro Vibrola, SG Standard ’61 Sideways Vibrola The last 12 months have seen major changes at Gibson Brands Inc, with the company’s Original Collection intended to give Gibson fans the guitars they want at prices that won’t break the bank. But honestly, you shouldn’t need to bother with that. The Epiphone G-400 is also in the Gibson SG style, and largely similar to the G-310. Don’t be fooled by imitations! because they lock in with a little circlip. Both plastic. That’s what you get with a Gibson that you don’t get with an Epiphone. are of a exceptional high standard (I am a retired joiner. ) I can sit down and play it. And has a unique town that resonates like no other on full bends I’m not that proud of Gibson Qc though. It'll save you $500-$600 over the SG ⦠Quick and dirty, but definitely gett’er done, or wait a while, Yes the finish actually does impact the tone of an instrument. SG's usually have "faster" when compared to Tele's. I'm trying to decide if I take a PRS or a Gibson. Gibson is one of the finest guitar companies in the world, and Epiphone specializes in affordable guitars for beginners and intermediate players. Same for the Gibson. I have more than a few friends with Epiphone’s that play really nice and believe me, they do not come out of the box that way. The materials will also be as closely matched as possible. Guitar Gopher (author) on April 10, 2017: @Naetharu: This is hardly an "unfounded, speculative claim". Whether you’re interested in playing rock, blues, grunge or indie, this is a great chance to pick up an iconic model at a super price. I own 2 epiphone sgâs and a gibson sg standard. I bought in the '80s for $200, played if for 25 yrs, and sold it for $1,200. 4. The mystery of how all things being equal but clearly aren’t is called “craftsmanship” and you get it in spades with the Gibson SG. Kudos to For the purpose of this article I’ll be comparing the Epiphone G-400 PRO and the Gibson SG Standard. 2) Materials – varies but generally sameeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'guitaraffinity_com-box-4','ezslot_2',106,'0','0'])); 3) Workmanship and attention to detail – on this point I definitely have to give the USA made Gibson’s the crown of authority. Manufacturers include Fishman, Seymour Duncan and EMG. This is one of those guitars. However, I know some players must stick to a certain budget, and I totally understand that. Let’s do the time warp again with Gibson this time. The reason I like to do that is because it levels out the playing field as far as the natural acoustic tone of the instrument. It remains in production today in many variations of the initial design. The newly refreshed Gibson SG Modern incorporates many contemporary updates that players have embraced and itâs much more than a classic âsolid guitarâ; itâs a hybrid between an SG and a Les Paul. As always, I invite you to do your own research and draw your own conclusions. These guitars were still known as Les Pauls (Standard, Custom, Junior, Specials) until the series was renamed SG ('Solid Guitar') in 1963. If it is at all reasonable, I think I’d much prefer to drop the extra cash on the Gibson. But this is why they play so great right out of the box. I have a Epiphone G400 1966 edition and its awesome has a great sound and feel the pickups have a good clean tone and have nice crunch/muddy tone when you put a amp in overdrive all and all its a great guitar for $400. In the end both the Korean and the Chinese Epiphone’s are overseen by Gibson’s management. Pickguard, some times overall better quality, including terms of material used and fret quality, ocasional tremolo bars. I think that’s an important point, because it’s all too easy to get hung up on the name on the headstock and not truly consider your needs and budget. So what do you get from Gibson for a similarly speced out SG? They’re made in the USA to very high standards, and their guitars show it. RRP â USD 549 Then as I check the neck I notice there are no dead spots, no buzzes. Messages: 87 Likes Received: 49. In my opinion the Gibson ones are a little better, but we’re talking fine shades of gray here. No runs, no drips, no errors, perfect intonation, and there’s a reason for that. My opinion don't mean nothing but we all know its true Lol. 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Reissue Stop Bar the poly finish on the epiphone didn't really appeal to me, personally the finish on a bass means alot to me, but the gibson i played was a semi-stripped red, and the body felt beautiful. But the G-400 is a great guitar for the money, and worthy of serious consideration if you think the SG design is for you. In the late 1950s the Fender Stratocaster was giving Gibson heavy competition in the solid-body guitar market, so they set about redesigning a Les Paul with a lighter double-cutaway design that might be a little more appealing to then-modern players. You can mod it later on, but even left stock it is plenty good enough for bands, gigging and recording. You can buy a pre-soldered wiring harness that uses the exact same components as the Gibson for about $80 (CTS pots, Sprague capacitors, Switchcraft jack and switch) and drop it in the Epi and see if it makes a difference. 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