Modified Epiphone Hummingbird vs Gibson J-45

Comparing two guitars with same scale length 24.75", spruce top, mahogany back and sides (laminate for the Epiphone). Just for fun.
Obviously there's no comparison between an Epiphone and Gibson. I know it's not fair because they're different models. I don't have a Gibson hummingbird (for now).

[@smflyboy]

Surprisingly I preferred the sound of the Epi. It had the bass, warmth, and definition of the J45, but it had a little more brightness which complimented the overall tone. Both sound fantastic though.

[@giambu]

Agree…as owner of an Epiphone from 1978….

[@beasheerhan4482]

You would be right to be surprised, 25 years ago, that the Epiphone sounded so good, BUT, given the all out wars the major guitar companies are righting with their so-called 'budget' brands', over the last decade, plus the fact that everybody is making these guitars in counties for pennies on the dollar, one can no longer assume that price or name is indicative of quality. I've been playing guitar since the mid 1970s, and what I see now is that we are in an acoustic guitar golden age, a major aspect of which is so many first rate 'budget guitars'. The Epiphone, both in video and in the music stores, continually wins the comparisions between not only equally cheap guitars, but, it most often beats guitars that are 10 times more expensive...

[@beasheerhan4482]

Thank you for the excellently made comparision video. Though I like the Gibson J-45, I much prefer the Epiphone Hummingbird, here. Why? Because the Epiphone has all the intimate fragility and tonal contrast that the Gibson has, plus it has a kind of charming frosty haze (pronounced higher harmonics) to a much great extent than does the Gibson. Also, the Epiphone projects a greater sense of space, than does the Gibson, because of the wider and deeper amplitude of the bass strings, versus the wintry sound of the treble strings. The Gibson sounds good, but, the Epiphone sounds treat - not taking into consideration their contrast in price

[@jpxsat444]

For me, the J45 is the sound that I'm looking for in a guitar... but the price is just out of my budget!! Then, I "discovered" (or "allowed myself" to look at ;) the Epiphone brand and got interested right away! These 2 guitars side by side I feel the depth from the J45 in the Hummingbird which I'm really happy - The tonal difference is just a matter of taste but both sound really REALLY very similar--- at 1/3rd of the price :P !!! Thank you very much for this review -- it helped me EXACTLY between the 2 guitars that I was looking at and decide which one to buy! (the Epiphone one) Also, what you play is very much in my style, so really grateful to you :)

[@simpleone1989]

Glad to help!

[@3cardmonty602]

I would perform more scalloping on the tone bars and finger braces on the Bass side. That should really open up the Hummingbird. I did it to a QVC guitar with a Sitka Top & Mahogany back and sides and I’ll put it up against any Martin D-18 any day of the week.

[@ggrahman9371]

Sepertinya..... epiphone... sound nya....bagus....👍

[@icarocosta4302]

my friend, do you have instagram ? i would like to ask you some questions about acoustics pickup. thank you

[@vespass225]

Hi J45 sounds much much better I think

[@stricknine8623]

Whatever your preference is but there isn't a nickels worth of difference regardless. Subtle !!

[@vespass225]

@@stricknine8623 Well, whatever your perception and preferences! Anyway, I would doubt many listening to this through good speakers or headphones, would argue that the J45 has a much, much fuller bottom end than the EPI.

[@usuarioprivado574]

What did you modify?

[@simpleone1989]

I scalloped the braces to make the top lighter.

[@jpxsat444]

@@simpleone1989 how did you do that?? The sound's really amazing!

[@bobhayden469]

@@simpleone1989 It sounds great after modification. I purchased a Epi Dove today and want to do some mods and would love to hear more of the details on where and how much wood you removed. Thanks

[@simpleone1989]

Let me redirect you to the man himself Mr Brian Kimsey. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHulaZxvitalbM0

[@monoblues]

its quite obvious that solid body of J45 sound better than laminated Epiphone.

[@jpxsat444]

This Epi is not laminated ;)