YAMAHA SG v’s GIBSON Les Paul | Which Sounds Better? | 1979 Guitars

[@cooksey1ac]

I'll go with the Yamaha, always wanted a SG 2000.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I most definitely want to try one - going by the price, I doubt I’ll be owning one, unfortunately.

[@johnstaf]

Me too! Ever since I was a kid in the '70s!

[@LuciusDeanecelli]

I have a 84 sg200 and its my baby

[@limpeacock573]

As a Yamaha SG 1000 and Les Paul owner, I love them both. If I had to choose only one, I would go with the 1000. I love the batwing design.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I'm very impressed with this 500, I have to say. So much so that I may have an SG1000 arriving at some point!

[@limpeacock573]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld My 1000 is just a joy to play every time I pick it up. I hope you love it!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

@@limpeacock573 It's going to need some work, I'll say that, lol! I'm waiting on it arriving from Japan, so won't be until early next year, but it looks like it has seem some severe combat. Might end up being a full restoration type of video.

[@limpeacock573]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld I bought mine on Ebay 4 years ago for $600.00 bucks. I know it killed the guy to let it go for that. I did change out the pickups and pots. The new pickups are SD 59's. Other than that it was in awesome playing condition except for a few dings here and there. It is getting hard to find a deal on them anymore. Too many people have discovered that these "Les Paul Killers" are just that. I doubt I will ever sell it because it would be way too expensive to find the same tone, fit and finish, and play-a-bility for anything less than a few grand! Good luck with yours.

[@theredyeti3787]

So...... i just scored an Yammy SG 500 in near mint condition 1977 best I can tell. hence why I have arrived here. it makes me so happy to hear you using the "Children of the sea" melody for demonstration purposes. thank you for going to the effort to make this video!!! hello from Australia.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thanks for checking it out buddy and congrats on the fine guitar! Yeah, probably not too many guitar demos using that song to showcase some sounds 😀🤘

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Both sound great, different from each other but no bad tones here !

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Both play really well too - different feel, but both are great.

[@AndrewjWilson]

Many great guitar players in 1970s used Yamaha SGs like Santana ,Adamson, Ure,Mcgeoch, Nelson,Mcglochlan

[@focalfusion]

I have a 1980 SG2000....its the last guitar I'd sell. Also check out the Yamaha AES820 and AES620.

[@ChidOki]

I’m currently tracking and following places for the right AES820…man I wish I had an 1980 SG2000, that’s amazing

[@maryannmoran-smyth3453]

I’ve had both guitars, and the Yamaha hooked up to my Marshall ,of course ,put out the most-crushing bar chords I ever experienced ,mostly because it had a brass block under the bridge, which took the tone and sustain to the next level… it was freaking awesome. The only thing I didn’t like about it was its boat neck profile, Only Guitar I ever regretted selling… keep on rockin…………………………

[@somovvalera]

На фирме Ямаха так и не поняли два главных секрета Гибсона. 1. Глубина врезки грифа в деку. 2. Влияние корпуса на гриф. У Гибсона по форме это полная поперечная волна. А у Ямахи два рога = две встречные поперечные полуволны и именно это даёт эффект вау вау на чистом звуке.

[@basementblast]

Don't think one sounds better than the other just different. They'd actually compliment each other well onstage. Surprised how full SG sounded clean. Broke up sooner too. I've always heard the ES-335 was the Les Paul killer.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, the SG really suits a wee bit less gain - cuts through well when I’m recording.

[@danvankouwenberg7234]

Great video!

[@mitaku2287]

A Yamaha SG 3000 Professional is my dream guitar, its so expensive tho

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Oh yeah, very expensive. Lovely though.

[@JD-vj4go]

It's really close. I'm leaning towards the Gibson because it had a little more bite on the leads but they both sounded great.

[@gordonforbes9948]

In the mix of song I thought so for a lot too

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, I think the leads are better on the Les Paul - for lower gain the SG has a real nice bite and articulation.

[@gordonforbes9948]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld accurate assessment

[@KyleCastroTheDrummerBoy090613]

Another great show my dear friend Dunsy!! Love and respect Kyle!! 😊🥁🇵🇭

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thank you Kyle, always appreciate your support and best wishes.

[@russperry6307]

bought an SG2000 new in 78 and it was an amazing guitar. My best friend got a Les Paul Custom that year for a HS graduation gift. We constantly compared them at the time - The Les Paul couldn't touch the Yamaha for sustain but the LP had an amazing tone. Both guitars were beautiful but the LP was a bit fancier with all the binding front and rear. Back then I paid $610 for the Yamaha and the LP was $650... the value of the LP went up 2-4x faster than the Yamaha so if you're looking for a used guitar, understand the LP will be the better investment.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, they are both great guitars - I think Gibsons tend to hold value a wee bit more.

[@edwardsmith9801]

I like the Yamaha, just sounds warmer & more full.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I don’t think I had ever even played one until I got this 500. They’ve never really crossed my path before - nice guitars. Thanks a lot for checking out the video, much appreciated.

[@thisjaredrussell]

Great video. Yamaha all day long for me. Just deciding whether to go for an SG700/1000/2000 or SF700/1000. It’s keeping me awake at night 😂

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Gotta be a 2000!

[@eddiesell8577]

The Yamaha had more clarity, but a bit less bite. Does it have those spinnex pickups in them Dunsy? Or was that on the 1000 + models.

[@gordonforbes9948]

We’s gotta know

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Only markings are SG500 - lower DC resistance than the T Tops in the Gibson. Don’t know a whole lot about Yamaha pickups, but these ones are pretty articulate. Sound great on those 70’s SLF songs I did recently.

[@spookybaba]

No spinex pick ups in the 500.

[@andydinesguitar]

V little in it, both sound great. But I'll always just go for Gibson because I'm a fanboy!😝 That JTM 45 patch sounds incredible!🤘

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, I do love that JTM 45 patch. I think it's the one I use the most on the Kemper. To be honest I could get away with a 3 patch Kemper, the JTM 45, a JCM800 and some kinda clean Fender, lol!

[@AdamBurseMusic]

Great guitar shoot out Dunsy, both guitars sound great 😀🤘🎵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Cheers Adam, yeah a coupla nice old 70's guitars played by a 60's fella!

[@gordonforbes9948]

Definitely the Yamaha. How much better can the 2000 be for goodness sake? I thought the difference being Gibson like using Dolby on a tape deck. Same sound but lacking that clarity, sharpness the Yamaha has….the Yamaha without the hiss so no need for Dolby….if that makes sense. I think it was 7min 45sec before I gave the edge to the Gibson, but in a full mix of a song it was hard to say which was better, but yeah it was the Yamaha. Actually it wasn’t that hard to say 😂 Great playing and a very good choice of guitars for comparison.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I think it must be 4 times better 🤣For the SLF stuff I did recently the Yamaha is absolutely perfect through a 70's Marshall. Really great cutting sound for that kinda thing. Both are fantastic playing guitars.

[@randysrhythm]

Perhaps the video I have enjoyed the most, brother man. All of your videos are informative, well produced and excellent guitar skills. That said, since the first time I heard the 500, my mouth has simply watered, full bore. The crazy thing is that I think I owned that guitar at one point, but didn’t realize what I had. The Les Paul was fine, but after hearing both, I closed my eyes and called both of them correctly. The 500 was much more powerful and ear tingling, if that makes sense? Great video, my friend and confidante 👍🏻

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thanks for checking it out, Randy, hope you're well, Sir. Yeah, they're both great guitars - I think they are kinda similar, but they do different things well. I've been enjoying using the SG to do some late 70's Punk stuff and it really suits that style though a Marshall JTM45, nice cutting sound on the chords.

[@phaeded0ut]

I much prefer the Yamaha SG-2000’s and SG-3000’s, but also greatly enjoy Burny RC-105S’ over Gibson’s Les Paul’s of equivalent models. In the case of the Yamaha’s the added sustain of the brass plate under the bridge and the fit and finish are instruments of beauty (and a bit more weight). Also, the Yamaha SGs were less expensive than the Gibson Les Paul equivalents. The Burny’s are a great way to get a much less expensive instrument with or without a Fernandes Sustainer or a Floyd Rose for the Steve Hacketts out there.

[@650thunderbird]

Great, Dunsy 👍🏻👍🏻 Both sound great, but the player makes a difference (Yammy sounded to have more output in the early tests)! This would have taken me 6 months to make, and would still be crap. This channel is criminally undersubbed!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I 100% appreciate that comment, I can assure you! Yeah, it did take a wee while, but I wanted it to be good and accurate. I don’t want to point anyone in the direction of the guitar that I like, just to the guitar that they think sounds the best.

[@standingbadger]

What a great video! Thank you 🙏🏼. I found it impossible to like one over the other but it’s clear to me that the cheaper guitar certainly holds its own against the long-established and hallowed competition. I see why you have the two but I’d pick a 335 or its numerous fantastic replicas over both.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Feel wise there's nothing in it at all, for sure. You would never tell that there was any difference in price between these two guitars. Thanks a lot for checking it out, much appreciated.

[@johnpulaski3293]

Great sounding guitars either way. The Gibson gets the nod because of the shape! That said, the Gibson neck pickup was a little darker so I liked the middle and neck positions on it better. The bridge on the Yamaha caught my ear as it had a little more life to it. I would have liked to hear both playing chords with more gain without a backing track.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Time to resurrect my Stormtroopers of Death backing track! I think I’m going to take both of these guitars to my next rehearsal and give them a proper volume test, see how they do at ill advised sound pressure levels.

[@andybarrons323]

Hi Dunsy, I thought there was very little in it. The Paul has a little more nuts but that Yamaha is so so cool. Be happy you own both! I’ll also be nicking some of those licks by the way 😂

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Steal away, Andy! I like to keep things simple, no Yngwie going on here, that’s for sure!

[@hanetor4571]

The SG500 really goes wild and bites, but in band performances, it fits better than the Les Paul and SG2000. The low frequencies don't boomy.

[@Vincentbrennan1301]

Both sound great. Yamaha more ballsy sounding. The LP more articulate to my ears. Great vid.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, I’m struggling to decide which one to use live or rehearsals. Probably best to take both, just in case!

[@royrcf]

As a big Stuart Adamson fan, got to go with the Yamaha.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Love to have a wee shot of the higher up modes like a 1000 or 2000. Not sure which one Stuart used?

[@markmcgibbon2101]

The 500 sounds hotter but I’m assuming that’s to do with the p’ups being uncovered. They both sound good though. Mikes got a 500 and he loves it. It’s a great sounding guitar. He’s put Toneriders in it though. That’s a whole other story. Great vid as usual bud.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thank ya! Yeah, I sought Mike’s advice before I hit the “buy” button on this one. As he speaks so highly about his, I had to get it! I noticed that you need a new pickup surround to change pickups, so I just stopped at that - plus the stock wiring is so neat I’d just make a right mess of trying to solder a new one in.

[@jeromestevenfaigin6059]

Not fair! Price alone makes the Yamaha automatically a winner base on parts-casters. It's more economical to make tone with all types of controls, pickups, pedals. The Gibson is a belief they're USA. And automated with CNCs and Great Luthier's I'm sure.

[@davepatterson4774]

Go Dunsy! They both sound great! Apples and oranges. To my ears, the Yamaha has a bit more grunt, whereas the Gibson is a bit more "polite" and nuanced. Depending on what style you're playing and what sound you're going for, either of them would be a solid choice. I'm jealous. 🤘🤜

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I’m struggling to decide which one to take to rehearsal next time. I might just take both to hear how they sound at combat volume!

[@davepatterson4774]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld Sound thinking. Pun intended, but also true.

[@handybunny]

Both sound great. LP is darker tone to my ears. I slightly prefer the Yamaha tone. - Lara

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I think live it would come down to which one was easier on my back if it’s a 2 hour covers set 😆

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

That Gibson SG sounds really good 👍

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

😎

[@clownose2831]

awesome as usual 🐱 s.g sounded fuller and slightly louder on cleans, but les Paul caught up with the ol'gain on! 😃 not much at all between em! I'm assuming Yamaha doesn't have push coil splits! oh,get the hoover out too!😃

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Lol, I knew someone would notice the cat trash on the floor! I’m liking the Yamaha for having a right bite to it on the lower gain, but I do prefer the Gibson on a fair bit of overdrive. Oh, I picked up an 80’s CE2 the other day. Pop roon way yer Japanese one and you can do the shoot out oan the SG?

[@george-wg6ug]

Maybe more chime and sustain on the SG. Gibson came alive with higher gain. It's a close one but if I had to keep only one it would probably be the SG as an all round player. All very subjective of course, which one feels nicer to play Dunsy ?

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

To play - probably the Yamaha. To keep probably the Gibson. Man, it’s such a difficult one and kind of hard to explain, but for gigs I can play the Gibson and I have zero issues. From a fan perspective that is the guitar I always wanted to own as a teenager. If I was a studio guy, the Yamaha would be what I would use for a bitey late 70’s rock tone, absolutely.

[@juanchaves2971]

Great video. There is no contest. The Yamaha is 100 times better. Sounds way thicker and is a better value $$$. Plus Stuart Adamson played a Yamaha!

[@davi90rtcb]

Hey Mr. Dunsy. Long time no see ;-) How's it going?

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

All good here buddy, hope you’re well 👍

[@davelewis4215]

Dunsy , Both sound really good 👍To my ears the Gibson sounds more mellow compared to the Yamaha.Are the Yamaha pickups hotter?

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Crazily although the Yamaha records louder the pickups only read 7.07k compared to the 7.5k of the t tops on the Gibson.

[@TimothyHagerTCH]

Great playing and video format!! Question since I'm debating on picking either of these up- no store in my area has Yamahas on hand. What's the neck feel like compared to a Les Paul? The fretboard almost looks flatter in the video, but how chunky is it behind there?

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thanks for checking it out, much appreciated. The neck on this 79 Yamaha feels rounder than the '79 Gibson. It's also wider at the nut. So a bigger neck. but not overly so. It may have a flatter fingerboard radius than the Gibson, it feels like it, but I'm not 100% sure.

[@alejoromero]

Yamaha for the win.

[@martinclayton7260]

I wouldn't say one was better than the other, they both have their own sound. I'd be happy with either, but as I already own two Les Paul's, I'd like to have the Yamaha. I think that as the Gibson is a 1979, it will have a maple neck? So there will be a bit of difference? I hear people saying that this, or that guitar is a Gibson killer, but it's usually because they don't own a Gibson? If you want a Gibson, then buy one, if not then there's plenty of options of other guitars!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, a maple neck on the Gibson. I don't hear any difference in the neck material on the Gibson's I have, tbh. Both of these are great to play and I don't think on stage, through a roaring amp, I'd be able to tell any great difference in the sound in a full band setting. But, for some reason, the Yamaha really suits the SLF songs I did recently, really nice bite on that JTM45 sound for chords. Definitely worth checking one out. Just watched your video on the Crimson Guitar Destroyer. Man, that is beautiful! I had an Ibanez one back in, I think, 1986, but it's long gone. Same flame top as Dave Murray's one. The DT150's I've had over the last few years really haven't been as good playing as the glued neck ones.

[@steviem1000]

In the mix, very little in it. Stick the same pickups in each and youd never know. Except ive a sg700 and it's far easier to get your high notes. And the finish is top notch as is frets and playability.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, absolutely much easier to get up there on the Yamaha. Lovely guitars.

[@clydebrown9982]

Very interesting, If I waited 4 more years (1984) I'd prefer a SG 3000. They were , still, in the right hands a "Gibson Killer" !

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Hoping to try a 2000 (or higher) at some point. Expensive guitars these days.

[@emelle1283]

What about SF1000?

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I've heard that they're really good guitars, but I've never tried one.

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

The new Yamaha look like that but with p 90 sound good too

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, they look super cool - I would like to try one of those P90 guitars.

[@lordPix3lUK]

Yamaha sounds better and is most definitely built better too

[@CJZM7777]

I liked the Gibson better. Yamaha was a bit too bassy at times while the Gibson had more clarity. Might be a function of the uncovered pickups on the Yamaha but the Gibson sounded more musical and I could hear the notes better. The Yamaha wasn't as smooth note to note with some notes popping out too much. By the way, I am not a Gibson fan and am surprised I liked the Gibson more. I've listened to a blind test with a custom shop Les Paul and a Vintage (brand Vintage) Les Paul clone and picked the far less expensive Vintage clone based on blind sound samples.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Thanks for checking it out Joe, much appreciated. I though the Gibson was better on those lead tones, not sure what it actually was, but it just sounded better to me. I might start doing some blind test videos and see (hear) how people distinguish what they prefer and why. Thanks again.

[@santanafan1713]

The Yamaha SG 500 is a budget model of the Yamaha SG 2000. So a way more fair comparison would be with a Gibson's budget model, an Epiphone LP. Having that said, for me the Yamaha SG 500 in this video blows the WAY more expensive Gibson Les Paul away. So imagine when you compare a Yamaha Sg 2000 with a Gibson Les Paul.......

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

I have a 1979 SG1000 coming up soon, will be doing a comparison with that. Sadly an origal SG2000 is out of my price range at the moment.

[@santanafan1713]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld Congrats ,the SG1000 is definitely an upgrade and closer to an SG 2000. It will be heavier and have a set neck in stead of a bolt on. Still the 500 is really a great guitar and some may even prefer it because of being lighter in weight. At the moment I have an SG 500 as back up guitar, and a SG 2000 as my number 1 for my Santana tribute band. The 2000 really is the best guitar I've ever owned and PERFECT for what I use it for. I started of with the SG 400 which was also a great guitar for the money. Also had an SG 700....which I regret selling as it was beast and light in weight. Good luck with the 1000 and looking forward to a video on it.

[@groovymoon]

I keep eating my up for selling my EXACT same Yamaha as that.

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

They're great guitars, for sure.

[@gobeco]

I played both on mid 80s on studio and SG500 were milles away better than Norlin ones. Much better construction on SG500 and similar humbuckers. Nowadays you can buy a SG500 for 800€and Norlins starts around 3000€.....stupid mytos on guitars I am tired of how ultra-conservative the guitar world is, in 2020s main axes are from the 50s.....70 years!!!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Yeah, there's a huge difference in price between these two guitars and not a huge amount of difference in terms of playability and sounds. Both are great. Looking forward to a video with the SG1000 I now have. I may do a blind test to see which one folks prefer.

[@andreamuchetti4932]

You are comparing a 500$ Yamaha with a 2000$ les Paul...should pick a 1000, a 1500 or a 2000...

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

1979 SG1000 coming up soon 👍

[@dinoarcurio1011]

The yam

[@AHouseThatMoves]

Are you by chance Scottish Korean?!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

Scottish Scottish, not aware of any Korean heritage, although I think a great grandmother was born in Ireland.

[@AHouseThatMoves]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld I was joking around. Great comparison, thanks for the response!

[@DunsysGuitarWorld]

@@AHouseThatMoves lol, no worries! Appreciate ya checking out the video - crazy that this is the first Yamaha SG I’ve owned in 40 years of playing.

[@AHouseThatMoves]

@@DunsysGuitarWorld I’ve always wanted one so I had to see the comparison! I’ve subbed and keep up the great videos!