5 Things I Love About The 2020 Epiphone SG Special... and a few I don’t

2020 Epiphones seem to be quite a big step up in quality and attention to detail. This SG Special looks great. Let’s take a closer look...

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Just to say i had a couple of issues with this guitar after filming this... watch out for a video about it in a few days. Cheers

[@bobbymould7685]

I bought one of these yesterday after watching this video!! Thanks, James! I went to the local shop to try it first (PMT) and I'm glad I did - it was poorly setup and needed a truss rod adjustment as it was choking badly through the first 5 frets. They did it there and then so I left with it singing nicely. (I also had to tighten the jack socket as it was loose). After years of playing a 52 Tele with 3 brass saddles I thought I was quite relaxed about intonation. This guitar was too far away from where it needs to be though (even with a bit of my not caring), so I've just bought a replacement bridge from Guitar Anatomy for £15.99. When fitting I'll then drop the action a touch (mainly because the truss rod tweak brought the neck forward/action up) and swap the stock 10s for my favourite Hybrid Slinkys. So... it needed bit of tweaking, which couldn't be escaped. However... it sounds frikkin awesome through my valve amp and works great with my pedals! Loving the P90s. For the money it is incredible!! It is lightweight, comfortable, has a fast, comfortable neck and rocks! "Why have I not bought one sooner" is all I'm left thinking. It cost £310 from PMT, so about £350 with a strap, strings and upgrade wraparound bridge. Bargain. I'll be using it for gigging very happily. Bad points... were the need to set it up so I'm glad I didn't buy online, having to swap out the bridge and the neck dive when stood up.

[@clemdewitt4522]

James, great, in-depth review. Thanks. You now have a new subscriber. For those who have not seen Pelham Blue in person, it is a stunning color.

[@TVguy9999]

Solid review. I'm digging the color and style of this SG.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

👍🏼

[@alexmedia8094]

Just pulled the trigger on one of these. I recently played a 90's Gibson SG Special and fell in love with it. Being a strat man, I chose the P90's for the cleans and versatility 😎

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Oh lovely! I think you’ll really like it! 🤟🏼

[@camilo1455]

Love those P90s!

[@dtdaniel700]

Nice review 👍🏻 I play mostly Fender - a JP Strat and Mexican Tele, and also some one-off bespoke stuff made by enthusiast I know - but I picked up the Epiphone LP modern figured last year and was really impressed with it. I'm thinking of picking one of these SGs up just for fun as they're even cheaper here (I live in Shanghai).

[@jeffscott4692]

Good review, thanks! I'm thinking about it.

[@jmscnny]

Excellent review, mate. I had my eye on the last SG Special in this part of the world, which also happens to be in pelham blue, and you just pushed me over the edge. The finish on mine is perfect. No lumps, bumps or flaws in the finish, but the frets are going to need quite a bit of work. And that white plastic on the machine heads is just plain wrong, they just stick out like a sore thumb, they are almost like an afterthought. The machinheads themselves do have an old timey look to them, but after the frets are sorted, they just have to go. Overall, I am a happy little camper, only a little bit of stuffing around and this is going to be a sweet little rig.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Great choice 👍🏼 but yeah those machine heads are naff... but at least some fun to be had in customising it!

[@MikeFromNashville]

Great review James!!

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks👍🏼

[@mistamovegas]

That Khruangbin in the background! NICE!

[@genekloszewski5484]

I recently bought the same guitar. Epiphone has really stepped up thier game! The fit & finish, the neck, & the P90 pickups all were fine. A minor issue with the switch, which i will probably replace with a better quality! Pretty good for 399!,, i got the hardshell case for 120.

[@myotheraccount2]

Nice clean sound!

[@ChuggOfCthulhu]

Spoooooot on mayyyyyyte!!!!

[@dumitrugulipe731]

Awesome review and guitar, James! The music on background sounds really familiar, but could you just remind me what that is? Maybe Khrungbian or Arc De Soleil?

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Thanks! Good ear you have - Arc de Soleil 👍🏼👍🏼

[@joegoddard6895]

Just got one. I dunno why but I’ve always liked the style of tuning heads. The original had them, Fender seemed to use them on their “student models” too, like the Duo Sonic and Mustang

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Interesting, didn’t know that... cheers

[@raymeedc]

Ditto….. I would just replace these cheap ones with similarly styled 18-1 Grover’s to improve quality & performance while retaining the original vintage look….. for those of us that appreciate that minimalist nostalgic look.

[@toxicmartoc]

I've just bought one of these, I don't really like SG's, I don't like the look of P90's but for some reason it caught my eye, it feels nice so far and maybe I've turned a corner, as for squire, did you try a telecaster contemporary, wow I love mine, maybe more than my gibson les paul 😊

[@raymeedc]

The tuning machines are what they are because those were the cheap tuners that were on the originals, & so don’t appear out of place to those of us who grew up with them (I’m 73)

[@TonyMartin-xg1rd]

I quite like the little button tuners. Quite classy in their own way. Still put them on Gibbo Jr’s and specials I believe

[@raymeedc]

Ditto. I utilize 18-1 versions of those I replace. I wish they would offer the old school white/bone colored tuning head buttons, tho.

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

The tuners are the same on the early Gibsons, on this one and the junior models.

[@gurtana]

Did you end up keeping this guitar and how do you feel about it two years on?

[@magicgryszun9216]

How about the neck? Is it C or flat D? Is it chunky or rather slim? Great review anyway!!!

[@adrianlance3965]

the tuners look identical to the gibson SG’s they are meant to look like. they’re meant to look like the first line of gibson SG’s

[@JamesOnGuitar]

Oh, all of the vintage Sg/61-63 les paul’s i’ve seen have the other style of Kluson Tuners rather than these button shapes. But I might be wrong 🤷🏽👍🏼

[@Martos59]

I love button tuners, very retro!! They reduce the weight at the headstock so overall balance is bound to be better, and SG’s tend to be headstock heavy. I think it’s a real plus personally.

[@youreatoilet]

@@JamesOnGuitar SG and Les Paul specials/juniors have always had the white button tuners, but SG/LP standards have always had the Kluson keystone ones. I own this very SG and I swapped them for Schaller's just because I feel they hold tune better and I'm a big Tony Iommi fan

[@christianknobloch934]

The white button tuners are an historical spec. But I can see why someone wouldn't like them.

[@youreatoilet]

Agreed.. I have this guitar and I swapped them for schallers, but I think the guitar suits the look of the white button tuners

[@garrynathan8478]

The SG special is my favourite guitar but I actually play an Epiphora Wilshire which is very similar, no way am I paying out for a Les Paul DC special. My problem is the location of the strap button and the location of the bridge pickup, it's far too forward from the bridge giving it less top end, why Epiphora ?

[@doctorskull8197]

I wish the Epi SG Special was available in black.

[@Commonsenseprevails23]

I love this guitar but I prefer the bridge pickup on the gibson is nearer to the bridge. Gives more twang

[@ChuggOfCthulhu]

Those are faithful to the original tuning pegs. The gibson has literally the same, just not made in china. The current gibson sg's have had horrible paint job issues. This paint job is miles better than gibson.

[@bluesguy875]

What's the background music

[@MrSkunk1964]

i bought sparkling red in june. i found the pick ups are thin in sound .Far far better tone when changed strings to medium 11's. soaked the fretboard. use Boss eq pedal to adapt the sound. for £330 cant really gripe. plays really easy . i just wish Epiphone make there P90 pick ups more beefy in tone.

[@diddymies]

Cant expect for the electronics to be good on a cheap guitar. Easy to upgrade pickups later doe.

[@waitin4winter]

What does soaked the fretboard mean?

[@bridgetpollock6760]

Is the bridge adjustable?

[@henrydiaz720]

There is a hex nut behind the post on the bridge itself, which pulls the bridge down or up depending on what the adjustment requires.

[@user-hc8cl2ez9m]

Why can’t epiphones use the Gibson headstock styles for Gibson models? It’s a copy, make it look like it. I hate the dorky headstocks they use.

[@mr_freezey2120]

sup

[@archiiebarrett]

Unfortunately the "real thing" Gibsons aren't worth their price honestly.

[@JamesOnGuitar]

They are to me. Ymmv

[@henrydiaz720]

Yeah, those pegs. They actually are period correct. I bought my first SG Soecial new in 1969, decades before you were born...🤣 and those are the same pegs. Great for giving one paralyzing cramps between the thumb and forefinger! Too tiny, too slippery, and probably with an 8:1 ratio! They truly sucked BMC. At least the ones on these, as well as the first Gibson Special reissues have 18:1. I doubt however, that it makes a lot of difference, as the size and shape of the beans is such that no matter what the ratio, your hand will hurt do badly when you're done tuning that you won't be able to play the gig! I'd suggest a set of Waverleys, but that would be half the cost of the entire guitar! So, just get a set of Grover Minis.