2021 Epiphone Lucille vs 2018 Epiphone Lucille : appearance and appointments video

[@ericmoraski9102]

When I left NJ and moved to FLA., I needed money and I sold my Rickenbacker 360 to my cousin Joey for 100 bucks cuz I wanted it to stay in the family . This was back in 80.fast fwd. To 96.he came to visit me in FLA and at the time family, kids, job etc.. I was without an axe. He never forgot me selling my Rick to him for 100.He took me to Modern Music and said "pick out a guitar , any guitar, so I was looking at a strat, tele, ya know just something to jam on. He told the salesman, where is all the good stuff! So the the salesman took us to the vintage Gibson room! I was floored cuz I didn't want to take advantage of the situation, but he said pick whatever you want! Having had SGs, Rick's, tele's I looked at them, he said "pick something good man" so I looked up and there it was Gibson BB King Lucille. WOW. Oki-doki I said and he said your gonna need something to play it through , and after the standard "no man you done enough" conversation, I got a prinston chorus 2x12 amp! AgainWOW I kept that rig for several years and I had to sell it due to family emergency. I never will forget that great thing my cousin Joey did for me and I realize how he felt when I sold him the Rick. God bless ya brother, I love ya dude!

[@losthwy]

Ty for uploading this!

[@gui-texzan7477]

Agree, the '21 is an improvement in all areas noted: Headstock shape, Epiphone logo, ebony board, Grover keystone Rotomatics, pick guard (no "E" with improved mounting bracket), etc. The mounting bracket is commonly found on archtop guitars and is a definite improvement over a standard Les Paul style bracket. Only thing I like better about the '18 is the hard shell case.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

And the older Epiphone case holds the new model perfectly. So putting the new guitar in an older case is absolutely possible. I was able to get the hardshell case added to my order for the 2018 model Lucille for about $50, so that makes these two guitars about the same price, albeit 2018 versus 2021 dollars. I am very partial to the newer model's appointments. That ebony fingerboard makes all the difference in the world.

[@MatteMike2345]

Thanks for this video. I ordered a brand new Lucille yesterday. Interesting to see the changes from the previous iteration of this guitar. I also think that the new one is an even greater guitar. I’m really looking forward to a sound comparison and some comments about build quality and feel of the two Lucille sisters.

[@GlenCraytonJr]

Thank you for the review. I feel better with my purchase for the 2021 model. I’m still getting use to the sound of the ebony fretboard. Wished it would’ve come with a hard case or better esthetic case..but still awesome!

[@DeeTee79]

Just bought the ‘21. Personally I think it’s so much better looking than the ‘18 Thanks for sharing

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I 100% agree. There is something about that ebony fretboard that just makes the '21 model better. I'm partial to the ebony fretboards, anyway, so that just makes this one extra special.

[@craigsanderson3722]

The Pickguard on the new Lucille is standard Gibson ES style

[@alenkrupljanin9531]

Is that a Floyd Rose down there, how does that work & can you lower the strings down a little bit lower than usual???

[@guitarsandgears3948]

Neither of these have a tremolo system on them. You can lower the action with the bridge on them. I currently have the 2021 Lucille set with some pretty low action because that's what I am used to.

[@alenkrupljanin9531]

Sweet, now I am torn on my next guitar 😆

[@guitarsandgears3948]

If you're looking for a semi-hollow body with a trem system on it, I recommend the Joe Bonamassa ES-335 Reissue that came out last year. It's red, but has a great set of pickups on it and it sounds amazing. I've got a couple videos up that I've done with ours. Not exceedingly expensive like some of the JB Les Pauls have become.

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

this is one sweet guitar for 2021 ❕ i recently bought an all black Sheraton II Pro instead and not really because it was a cple hundred cheaper but cause i liked the f sound holes and much preferred the smooth black all maple back ❕🐸 🍀

[@toddplager8676]

I love my 21' Got it as a floor model way cheaper... It has so many settings! Still trying to figure everything out. Awesome Guitar!

[@anthonythornhill8715]

Great side by side video!

[@evolv3r113]

These Epiphones keep getting better. May need to get this to go with my Bonamassa Amos

[@guitarsandgears3948]

The 2021 and newer model Epiphone Lucille guitars are, by far, the best looking Epi Lucilles I have seen and play incredibly well for a budget minded guitar. If you've got an Amos, and like it, I highly recommend you at least try one of these Lucilles. Every time I pick this one up, it brings a smile to my face.

[@txpete296]

Do you feel a difference in neck shape? Specs show rounded C for the new model.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I really don't. And that could be because I have chunky hands. But I can usually feel a difference between neck profiles and I don't feel like it is different at all.

[@freddiebishop5952]

How do you keep the gold-plated hardware from tarnishing?

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I've heard some people say that they used a special coating to stop it, but I don't see how that doesn't rub off/wear off with time. Mine doesn't get much use, and lives in it's case most of the time, so it hasn't tarnished at all. To clean it, I've had luck with silver/gold jewelry polish and using two different microfiber towels. Use one microfiber towel to dip into the polish and apply it, then another one to wipe it off and dry the area that you're cleaning. That's how I kept the hardware clean on the Epiphone Black Beauty when I had it.

[@christopherclarke3022]

2021 model is a vast improvement over the 2018 model which looks very underwhelming in comparison though I do prefer the look of the scratchplate holder/positioner, I prefer a Hardcase. Thank you for the comparison.

[@modestoney1577]

agree on all points, except the binding - i`d prefer the yellowish look, but the rest of uogrades easily outweigh the binding

[@phillipholt6005]

I wonder if the varitone is the same as coil splitting and a phase switch on my LP Muse?

[@guitarsandgears3948]

It is my understanding that the Varitone switch changes the frequency cap in each of the settings. In the video I'm making about comparing the sounds, I'll try and talk about what the different settings do.

[@leviathan76]

I actually don’t mind the old headstock on Epiphone ES guitars. The top of the headstock always reminds me of The Rolling Stones “lips and tongue” logo.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

What has been seen cannot be unseen! I never noticed that until you said it. lol

[@audiomonster303]

My 2017 Epiphone lucille has a super dark fretboard but I think its rosewood.

[@billmack753]

That Epiphon ES335 should have Grover Tuners. Smalle block inlayes. Radiusde neck binding. 1 11/16" wide neck at the top insted of 1 9/16". 1962 neck shape, M.H.S. ( P.A.F. styl P.U.'s ) 550 k pots with orange drop cap's.

[@MocapLatte]

does it matter (sound) which output hole I use on the 2021 lucile ?

[@guitarsandgears3948]

Yes, it does. To hear both pickups from one output, you need to plug into the forward output. If you want to play it in stereo, you plug into both, because the rear output is just for the rear pickup. If you just want the rear pickup, and don't want to have to worry about the front pickup, you can plug into the rear output. When two output cables are plugged in, the front output is for the front pickup and the back one is for the rear pickup, giving you the ability to plug into two different amps that allow you to tailor those amps to the desired pickup output.

[@billmack753]

I have a 2018, 2017 first run Gibson ES335 Traditio nal, Ebony, Aged Faded ( all binding aged ) made in Memphis the LAST YR. before they tore the plant down. The binging is sapoce to be yellowed. For 2018!!!!

[@phillipholt6005]

I also wonder why Epiphone uses plastic jack plates for their new inspired by Gibson?

[@ninamib]

Great video Are there any differences in the necks ? The new inspired by Gibson 335’s have a nicer thick neck more like the original 335’s.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I haven't played them back to back yet, but I'm planning to do that when I'm not slammed busy with customers. I have felt both and I think the 2021 model is ever so slightly thinner, but that could be just a matter of two necks not being identical because of less restrictive quality control.

[@TropicalLatitude]

The new Lucille has a Sheraton neck. Same 9 pounds. Basically a dressed up Sheraton with lots of upgrades.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

The 2021 neck is definitely thinner than the 2018 neck. As I said, that could just be the difference between two different quality control systems or it could be a genuine profile difference. I'm not professional enough to say anything other than that they feel very close to being identical. If the Sheraton neck is this comfortable, though, I'm going to have to check one of those out. I'm super tempted to get a Gibson 335 and see how it compares to the new Lucille model.

[@TyRoxYaMan]

Can you do a video with some clips showing the inside of the control cavities I know what the inside of the original Epiphone looks like but I’m curious to see the inside of the new model

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I'll incorporate that into the sound demo video. I, too, have been curious about what's inside of there, having never taken the cover off the 2018 model.

[@TyRoxYaMan]

@@guitarsandgears3948 awesome I’m looking forward to it!!!!

[@guitarsandgears3948]

Comparison video with control compartment cavity inside look is uploading now.

[@polaritypictures]

I Like the E on the Guard.

[@tonythecroc]

so curious to hear them side by side

[@troybagby4902]

I like the newer model simply because it looks classier in the top it off. It doesn’t have that big.e on the pit guard. It just makes it look real cheap to me so I’m glad they eliminated that from the newer model… I’m gonna be getting one in December when they come in at Sweetwater.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

Yeah, I'm 100% with you on that one. I love the way the Ebony fretboard looks compared to the 2018 model. If yours is anywhere near as good as mine, you'll love it!

[@billytorney6336]

The fret board on the 2018 looks like pau ferro terrible to light for that guitar🎸🎸

[@mikesalt8248]

The fingerboard on 2018 Epiphones are Pao Ferro not Rosewood I own two of them just thought I would inform you of that😏

[@samright4661]

The 21 looks better too mu eyes I like the age biding

[@glennevans5824]

The 21 hands down…

[@giannicinelli9971]

The body shape is better on the new one

[@erickmo1188]

Is that carpet in a garage…. Beautiful guitars though. Love the new Lucille

[@guitarsandgears3948]

It is actually pulled up carpet from a house that we keep as a rug in the shop. We use it to contain spills and stop them from spreading to much larger areas. We have a series of these big "rugs" that are carpet from a house we changed the flooring in. They are also a lot nicer to be on in the cold, as concrete is both cold and hard if you hit your head on it.

[@erickmo1188]

@@guitarsandgears3948 I kinda dig it. Looks messy. But is pretty functional when you explain it like that. May have picked a different spot for the video just to make it look neater. But the point was the comparison- which was well received. Hoping you’ll do a sound comp with a tube amp

[@ayersbiz6458]

2021 is better and looks like the original version of the Gibson. The 2018 is missing something, the head stock looks like the Genesis Pro deluxe, epip symbol is engraved on the pickguard which is a "NO". Fretboard is too reddish brown looking, rather have the ebony look. 2021 is a Winner.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

I just like everything about the 2021 better than I did the 2018. The ebony fretboard, the CTS pots, the new headstock. It all adds up to be a much nicer guitar. The 2018 had more of an Epiphone headstock than the new Inspired by Gibson headstock, but I just never was a fan of the older headstock. So the new one will always be my choice.

[@JBASH2011]

The only area in which the 2018 version is better, is the case.

[@guitarsandgears3948]

And I want to reiterate that the case that I have the 2018 was NOT part of the original guitar's $899 pricetag. That was a case I found in stock and got them to ship it in. But the good news is that the new guitar fits in the old case and the older guitar fits in the new case, so I have already swapped them around.

[@HENNINGRAS]

.......and then people will go and make the new one looks old like relic it ....bwahahahha I like the older verson as I have two them, one will stay stock standard and one is in for a full mod of pickups and switches, maybe do some tuners tooo like Grover locking tuners...

[@harringtonbenton334]

EPIPHONE WAS SO CHEAP WITH THIS MODEL. A GIG BAG ..NO CASE. WHY SO CHEAP NO LEFTY VERSION JUST CHEAP

[@TropicalLatitude]

The new Epi Lucille borrows heavily from the Gibson version seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ-VhJV5rNathLc

[@bnastali]

"FO" aged.

[@atifroome]

Dumb review, who cares what he likes, we want to know which is better

[@guitarsandgears3948]

It is kind of subjective. Do you like the hotter pickups and more level tonal output of the 2018? Are you an ebony fretboard or nothing type of guitar owner? There is a lot to these guitars. From appearance to performance, they are very different considering they are both the same type of guitar from the same manufacturer only 3 years apart.

[@atifroome]

@@guitarsandgears3948 you are rotating the view point and not mentioning which one is new and which one is old, yet you are talking about the difference without pointing at guitars

[@chrisdurante2544]

Good presentation of a chinese imitation guitar, sort of a step up from SX. These days it behoove you to look elsewhere. Koreans make some nice stuff FOR THE MONEY.