Can a cheap Epiphone SG beat a 60's Vintage Gibson?

[@lucianoponzano]

Wow they are closer than I expected! You can see how the Gibson has more of a fuller sound on the bridge pickup, but the Epiphone is quite quite close!

[@Guitarjosii]

Yep, thats what I thought!

[@ryanfulldark2775]

I gotta tell you, this is the perfect video for me. I have the Pro Junior IV, a late 60s batwing SG Special is my dream guitar and as a placeholder I intend on getting the Epiphone you’re playing until the right vintage one finds me. I had a Pelham blue Epi special a couple years ago but having a tuneomatic bridge appeals to me. Thanks for clearly demonstrating the differences and proving the Epiphone is a fine guitar for the money!

[@Guitarjosii]

Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you like the video. 😊These Epiphones are great guitars for the money. It might make sense to refine the frets a bit though - and maybe it is possible to make the edges of the fretboard a bit more smooth. I use this guitar mainly as a backup guitar for Gigs and for rehearsals and it always sounds great in these situations.

[@kinderobi]

Hey great video! Could you give a little bit of information on how did they compare in playability/feel? :)

[@Guitarjosii]

Thank you! That's a tough question, I will try to explain 😅The feel of both guitars is really different. The Vintage SG has the narrow nut width, which is typical for Gibson guitars from that era. The Epiphone has the standard nut width. The shape of the neck is very different. The Vintage SG has a really round neck, the neck of the Epi is much more flat and has wide shoulders. The Vintage SG has a really thin coat of Nitrocellulose which has cracked a lot over the decades. The Epiphone uses poly, but these worn finishes don't use as much grain filler and much thinner finishes. So the feel of these guitars are really different. Of course, I like the Vintage SG better. But the Epi is really great - I really prefer these to the ones with the thick and glossy poly coat on them. The Epi is a relative cheap guitar, but Epiphone really did their homework when it comes to QC. I am impressed. So the playability of the Epiphone is quite good. I put some love into the fretwork, but after that, it plays absolutely fine 🙂 hope that helps

[@kinderobi]

@@Guitarjosiithanks for the detailed information! So overall, so you consider this guiar a good value for the money? I am thinking of purchasing one here in Nashville…

[@Guitarjosii]

@@kinderobi Yes, absolutely. I was hoping for less when I bought them back then. I had an Epiphone G-400 many years ago when I started playing guitar. And the quality of the guitar was a disaster compared to today's Epiphones. I think this one is great, considering the money, it really is a well-functioning and serious instrument.

[@AwardSession]

One's not better than the other... they're just different! As any two guitars would be. It cannot be controlled, it's the nature of wood!

[@DrillSergeant379]

Great comparison! I have the green worn and LP standard from that new line and its awesome guitars for that price. Epis are seriously rise in quality!

[@Guitarjosii]

Thanks! Yeah, modern day Epiphones are no comparison to the older models. I had a 2006 SG Epiphone and it was horrible

[@DrillSergeant379]

@@Guitarjosii exactly

[@timgonzales25]

The Epiphone sounded nice, with a slightly tighter sound, but the old Gibson has something more to it. You’re playing on it even seemed a little more inspired.

[@Guitarjosii]

Thank you for your comment! Yeah, I think the Gibson sounds a bit more transparent and I really enjoy that ☺️

[@Ingeborg323]

The Gibson is a many years played guitar and is swinged in and is logically more resonant. But i´am very sure, that the Epiphone will follow in this range of resonancy by playing!

[@markpassell8379]

The tailpiece makes a difference

[@Guitarjosii]

Yup, it absolutely does

[@HorizonMelt]

I'd definitely go Epi on this duo. And what was that amazing opening riff?

[@Guitarjosii]

Oh really? That‘s interesting. I think the Gibson sounds way better. But the difference is much more noticeable, if I would be plugged to a bigger amp with bigger speaker. This was a little 10“-Pro Junior Tweed. The opening riff was just some Improvisation but I might use it for a song :-)

[@HorizonMelt]

@@Guitarjosii Geeze. I envy that I didn't come up with it.

[@LeeHoMusic]

Wow,Epiphone souds so great and the price comparig to G.... I m impressed. Put Gibson pickups in it and you are on the ball

[@unabonger777]

are the epiphone frets vintage-tiny? does the frets require leveling? how about neck dive?

[@Guitarjosii]

No, I would compare the fret wire very much with the wire of current Gibson guitars. My Epiphone didn't need a leveling job, though it may be necessary on other Epiphones. At least I read about it often. I suspect it will be neckdiving, I mean.. after all it is an SG. I could never perceive this as a problem though, as I play all my SGs with a leather strap.

[@darwinsaye]

Really close, but put it down to the P90s. If they both had humbuckers the old Gibson would slay the sound of a new Epi. Even if you put a new *Gibson* with humbuckers up against an old one with the humbuckers, the old one would slay the new Gibson. For whatever reason Gibson cannot make vintage sounding humbuckers.

[@Guitarjosii]

You might be right. I just bought another Vintage Gibson SG with old PatentNumber Pickups from the mid-60s. I never heard better pickups. These are absolutely amazing. But we shouldn‘t underestimate the relevance of the pots and their values.

[@morcheenn]

wie du einfach so secret dieses video gemacht hast

[@morcheenn]

frech

[@Guitarjosii]

@@morcheenn Du warst nicht daaaa 🥺

[@emdee2728]

Same, the Gibson sounds like the Epi

[@Guitarjosii]

I think the Gibson sounds a bit more transparent and has less Output :-)

[@joeo3808]

a guitar is a tool. it's only as good as the player. A guitar pro can make a $90 guitar sound awesome. Kieth Richards once said something like, give me any guitar and I can get it to sound exactly like I want it to.

[@northernthrifter8817]

Thats because he's off his tit's on smack

[@1thess523]

The Epiphone is a tad looser sounding but still in the same range as the Gibson

[@Guitarjosii]

Yup, but the differences are bigger when plugged to a bigger amp with a bigger cabinet.

[@dumptodreamhome2630]

I just hate these types of videos. No offense to anyone, but there is no Real comparison they are 2 different guitars. The Eps are Poly which feels "Sticky" and have different pick ups all together. The Gibsons have Nitro different feel and "Better" pick ups. Plus I just love the SMELL of opening the case of a Nitro Guitar, Cancer and all.

[@northernthrifter8817]

Bollocks your listening with your eyes and 50 year's of marketing spiel