Gibson VS. Epiphone | ES335 Shootout | Unboxing Honest Thoughts

[@keithb549]

Bought a EpiphoneES 335 “they have exceeded expectations they are now up there with quality however that said GIBSON is GIBSON

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

That’s awesome man! How do you like the Epi?!

[@kurtfroberg3608]

I guess I got a good Epi Dot. (2010). Smooth playing, no pickup issues to speak of once I set the pups to the right height. Definitely not worth shelling out the extra $2500 for a Gibson, but that’s merely my opinion. Thank you so much for the comparison video on these two great guitars! 🤘🏾

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

That’s awesome man! I wouldn’t say what I got was a “bad” one. There’s just an obvious quality difference between the EPI and the Gibson. Thanks for your comment!

[@Jimmy5934-e1y]

The neck and frets on my inspired by 335 felt every bit as good as the Gibsons at the store. A quick fret polish will go a long way.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Great advice! I’ll look into it!

[@rareform6747]

Epiphones just need new strings , truss rod & bridge adjustments. Oil fretboard and pickup height . Before playing ..👍

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

And better frets 🫣

[@stancoleshill8925]

I agree 100% but is it worth $4500 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

[@georgehorner1578]

I have been playing all my life and to me, my very humble opinion, the signature models like the Bonamassa 62 reissue 335 are as good as the Gibsons. I had intended on forking out the 2800 bucks for the Gibson 339 that was hanging there next to the Epi, after playing the Epi it was an easy choice. The difference in price to me, did not justify someone saying oh wow, he is playing a Gibson, I am a Fender guy anyway.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

To each their own! Good opinion and thanks for the comment!

[@jellyfish3333]

A Plek setup on the frets would cure the issue of the uneven, scratchy feel on the Epi frets. I personally wouldn't consider purchasing an Epi 335 without getting a Plek from the dealer. (Before purchasing, check to see if the seller offers this service, as not all do.) Even at $300 for the Plek, setup, the Epi is still less than a third of the cost of a new Gibson ES-335.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Not a bad idea at all! Thanks for sharing!

[@davidcudlip6587]

Fine steel wool across the frets and then a dab of Simichrome polish and buff the frets and it's good to go. 10 minutes, tops.

[@rickwilliamson9371]

Thanks Jorge. Nice comparison. They both sound great. To me, it's easy to see that the Gibson has the edge, but at a price. It's up to the individual to decide if it''s worth it to them. Great music could be made with either instrument. It's a good time to be a guitar player.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Thanks man! I agree with you. Gibson def has the edge but I always try to be subjective with my responses because there’s a lot of great Epiphones too. Cheers 🤘🏼

[@JamesBowles-e6k]

Got the epi inspired by Gibson new on clearance for 420 it was like hard to pass up.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Jeeeeeez that’s a deal. It play good?

[@JamesBowles-e6k]

@@JorgeSalasGuitar yes it does I got it at guitar center it's the interest green one they put new strings and mini setup

[@Thearcherfl]

Just got the epi 335 in blueberry burst. Normally I’m a Strat and super Strat player. But this one spoke to me. I love it. Have never played a Gibson version. But I really enjoy the epiphone. I set it up. New strings. Plugged in to a blue’s jr and let er rip. Nice jazzy mellow tone if you want it. But hot if you need it. Crazy value for a guitar under $1k

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Damn that sounds badass… EPI has come a LOOOONG way. Congrats on the awesome guitar and hope it brings you much joy 🙏🏼

[@pauljohnson3686]

If you are a bedroom rock star then the Gibson is absolutely unnecessary because it will never live up to the full potential that it deserves. It really is a professional working guitar... The Epiphone is perfect for bedroom rockstars, home jam, recording and also for gigging... At the end of the day... who in the audience is going to call the cops and have you arrested for not using a full on gibson version?

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Absolutely POINTLESS!!!!

[@ElIsraelJijijiji]

Ive recently got an epiphone inspired by Gibson es 335 and it looks great olays great after my own setup, for the scratchines of the frets i just polished them out with some metal polish and i oiled the fretboard, also the biggest difference for me is attention to detais, mine came with some distortion on the biding at the end of the neck the one thats closer to the Neck Pickup, just had to file it down, obviously it got thinner but i think it resembles eric claptons ES-335 at the end, great review as always, and be careful with the Gibson's finish, i think kts nitrocellulose so no alcohol cleaning please lol, keep the good work! Cheers!!

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Thank you! Glad you love your 335!

[@ElIsraelJijijiji]

@@JorgeSalasGuitar oh I do, I look out for every detail that can easily be fixed

[@mattwilliams3104]

The Gibson sounds like it has more depth and bloom to the notes however it isn’t a +$1000 difference. I have the epiphone and with some fret love and changing out the bridge and tailpiece it sounds much better already

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Perfectly said! The Gibson also does feel better in the hands.

[@davecooper360]

You need to polish the frets on the Epiphone with some 0000 steel wool, then they'll be shiny and smooth... your vibrato will feel like butter 😁 Also, i have that same Gibson Satin Cherry 335! It's beyond incredible! But i still love my Epi 335 Trad pro.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Great idea! I'd recommend this to anyone! I basically just wanted to play and compare each one out of the box but man, great tips! Thanks again!

[@85rockhound]

I have the Epiphone ES335 in Raspberry Tea Burst. My first electric guitar, I'm still learning. I watch these comparison videos keenly. The question I have to answer is, do I want a Gibson ES335 down the road when I get better and I am 'worthy'. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The Gibson has a depth to it that the Epi doesn't, but the Epi sounds good. Just doesn't sound quite like the Gibby (maple/poplar/maple vs maple/maple/maple?) Close, though. Right now, I'm enjoying my Epi and learning. Time will help in my decision making. Nice video and playing. Thanks.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

You are worthy

[@85rockhound]

@@JorgeSalasGuitar Yeah, I AM worthy!!

[@gregperkins7723]

Probably but once you are REALLY worthy, you'll go back to Epiphone because you'll have lot's of other guitars to spend your salary cap on.

[@richardpleasant]

my biggest disappointment with the epiphone ES 335 is the nickel plating on the pickup covers and tail piece. All it took was a couple gigs (and I am very careful) for pickup covers to fade in certain areas where it looks like the nickel plating has actually wore off,, as well as tailpiece which also scratches up so easily, of course guitar was beautiful when taken out of the box,, hardware coating deteriorated so quickly and I feel it looks bad

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Sorry to hear that! My Gibson is still the same way but I don’t take it out gigging it’s only in the studio. Thanks for the comment!

[@catdaddy57]

Nice video..... I agree with the fret work on the Epi's... scratchy is a good word for it.... If Epiphone used some quality frets they would surely give Gibson a run for their money

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

100% if they did that, it would be a close one

[@MichaelHattem]

But scratchy frets are easily fixed with a quick polish. That hardly seems like a significant difference given that the lower price means less time and attention to the kind of stuff that any buyer can do themselves in 15 minutes.

[@catdaddy57]

@@MichaelHattem oh agreed for sure. A quick fret polish would fix that right up...

[@Mikephotog-b9z]

I just bought the inspired by gibson custom made with the bigsby. Fretts are done very nicely....wish they did a matte finish...but it sounds amazing.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

That’s awesome man! Glad you enjoy it’s such a great guitar

[@pierre-olivierturmel1705]

Brought the same 1 week ago. What a lovely guitar...

[@robertrouleau1000]

Excellent review!

[@stancoleshill8925]

Before I pass 30 seconds, I notice that the Gibson is very dull and the Epiphone looks great, nice and shiny. Sorry, I'm old school. I like a shine on my guitars and cars.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

To each their own! Some like the faded look, some like em shiny 😉 thanks for the comment!

[@user-jb4um9tl8d]

I've played Gibsons for years. The Epi is more bang for the buck! Lately Gibson CANNOT line up the neck to the body or neck to bridge. How many of you have noticed the distance of the low E string from the edge of neck is far greater than the distace of the high E string! Epiphone has never gaffed on this one, and all strings pass over their respective pole pieces on BOTH pickups. Suffice to say, that after putting Burstbuckers, audio-taper pots, and a Switchcraft toggle and output jack in my Epi 335, I would pick the Epi 100 times over the Gibby.

[@gregoire8376]

I thought the Epiphone was good, then you played the Gibson. A little more open, clear and balanced. And your playing was great to show the difference. Now i just have to check the ol' Bank Balances. ;) 15:30

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

The Epi is good! I hope I don’t make it seem like a “bad” guitar. The honest answer is that you get what you pay for. In this case, the Gibson is just a better quality guitar. That doesn’t mean the Epi can’t be great in its own way and in the right hands. Thanks for the comment!

[@NoThatRyan]

Yeah, the Gibson sounds a bit better an it may feel a little more comfortable in the hand, is that worth a $3,000 difference, though?

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Depends what you’re doing and what you’re looking for. In my case, I’d go Gibson over EPI anyday but up to the individual!

[@richard3716]

are the pups the same?

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

No sir. They are stock pups but different.

[@johnm3152]

Kids, do not touch/play/or handle a Gibson 335 it's magic $$$ wink-wink - However, nothing compares. Oh yeah, excellent comparison

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Thanks for the comment! Cheers!

[@dwocelot6913]

Get a quality fret dressing on the Epiphone - maybe a hundred bucks. That's roughly $700 in, vs $3000 for the Gibson. Not saying the Gibson isn't better in every respect, but $2300 better? I seriously doubt it.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

To each their own! Thanks for the tips though I’ll definitely try it on the next EPI I get.

[@iain1019]

Ive got a epiphone 335, one word, it pornogaphy, get one ( maybe two )

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

I don’t watch porn

[@ManfredElsingBielefeld]

Äh..for me both guitars are soundind very shity!What a bad comparidon!Go and do something other!

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

😂😂😂

[@dannyharvey7398]

🤣🤣 That’s hilarious. Your inability to spell and use correct grammar while degrading Jorge’s comparison had me in stitches. Keep up the good work. We all need a laugh from time to time. 😂

[@heyho2752]

try not to make an execuse for your playing that makes your playing looks and sounds even more lame and if you are gonna compare the guitar sounds plz for godsake don't put the delay on it

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Sir yes sir 🫡 I wanna see some of your immaculate videos!

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Oh wait…..

[@heyho2752]

@@JorgeSalasGuitar ughh.... advice not taken well.. i'm sorry i didn't know you were that fragile...

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

It wasn't critical advice. It was demeaning. I can take advice well but I don't appreciate the disrespect coming from someone who offers nothing of their own.@@heyho2752

[@85rockhound]

​@@JorgeSalasGuitarAgreed.