Should you buy and upgrade the cheapest guitars? Epiphone SG Special E1 Vintage Edition Worn Walnut

DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored video. It is a honest review and represents my personal opinion about this guitar.
This is the first guitar that I can not recommend you buy. Or at least don't buy it online, if possible go to a guitar store with a more experienced friend who is going to try it out for you. Check the 3-way switch, the output jack, make sure both pickups are functioning. If possible, ask the store to do a proper set up, because these come out of the box pretty bad. If you are thinking about buying the Epiphone SG Special E1 and investing into a lot of upgrades for it, maybe you are better off saving up for the SG Standard.
Facebook: / georgevguitars
Instagram: / georgevarbanov
Gear used to record this video:
Amp: Diezel VH-4 120W Head
Cab: Diezel 2x12 Vintage 30 Rear Loaded
Mic: Shure SM57, Audio-Technica AT2035
Interface: M-Audio 192/4
Camera: Sony A6400 with Sigma 30mm F1.4 and Iphone 13 Pro Max
Stands: Athletic stand for cab microphone
#guitar #guitarreview #metal

[@Sancho_Retablez]

I had this guitar. It's the LIGHTEST guitar I've hold in my arms. Period.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

true

[@sydguitar99]

What I do not understand is how these SGs have better 'tops' or wood grain veneers than the more expensive Epiphone SG that have that weird vertical striped veneer

[@djkreature]

I did back in 2012, replaced the pickups on the SG Special with Dimarzio D-Activator X pickups, wired in toggle switches for coil splitting/coil select and phase reverse, replaced the tuning machines with Hipshot locking tuners, I adjusted the truss rod and bridge height to set the strings as low as possible without fret buzz. I took that 169 dollar guitar and put about 500 dollars in parts and my time into upgrading it. Lost it to a pawnshop. Just bought a new one and at some point i may do it again. The one that i lost was one of a kind.

[@johnnydew4122]

I just bought one from 2010 for 100 bucks, was used as a wall decoration still had the plastic on, works alot better than I thought just plugging it in the way I got it, but I fucked with the action and the frets are actually pretty good, on par with my $500 gretsch, pickups are pretty muddy, but imma swap those out and maybe wire sumthing in like that!

[@ibberman]

Great video, very helpful. I think it might be hit or miss with cheapest Epiphones. I took a chance with this because the Les Paul SL I bought 3 years ago turned out really well. I even thought of buying another, but figured I'd try the SG now, and just received it a couple days ago. I gotta say, it's like night and day compared to the SL. Even without plugging in, the SL is loud and resonant, whereas the SG is like a dead piece of wood. Maybe I just got really lucky with the SL. 👍

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah the LP was fine... the SG is absolutely dead :/

[@ibberman]

@@GeorgeVGuitars 👍

[@trivialtrav]

You don't buy this guitar and then just "upgrade" it with drop in replacement parts. This is not a delicate priceless guitar that you're afraid will get scratched. Get out your Drill Press and Router and turn it into something cool. I have this exact one and after many fun hours messing with it it's now unrecognizable. Refret, level, polish, and crown. New pot holes for 4 CTS push pull pots. Completely cheesy and useless kill switch button in a hidden but accessible spot. Made new wiring routing channels to make changing configs easier. Neck is no longer bolt on and is set. I even reshaped the headstock to actually look like a Gibson. Which mean't filling old and drilling new headstock holes and obviously adding locking tuners. It's a hunk of wood. Do what you want with it.

[@robertruamps5680]

Can you show it ? Do you have a Facebook account ?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

You went all in :>

[@onsecondthought4802]

You should post photos.

[@Stevierschannel]

I bought this one in black last Christmas, and as you said, it came out of the box needing a setup. Apart from that, everything else was fine. I bought it at L&M, and the associate told me that they would take care of the setup. There is nothing else I would want to upgrade on it apart from the tuners. IMO, it is a better choice than the Melody Maker LP.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah I didnt like the melody maker

[@paulcatarino2209]

I would buy this only for the fact that you can buy a proper thick neck and bolt it on

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah that would be interesting to do

[@nieko3038]

Shame the brown one isn’t available anymore. Liked that the most. Was looking into these with modding in mind (Keep original parts in case of selling it again. You’ll lose money on the mods otherwise) In the end I decided to go for the special with p90. Bolt on neck just isn’t right on a Gibson style guitar. I do like the basic setup with just 2 knobs.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I think in the case of this guitar you can actually increase the price when modding 👀

[@nieko3038]

@@GeorgeVGuitars Don’t know. Looking at bids on local market place. I do live in the Netherlands and people want everything as cheap as possible. Depends on what brand of parts I guess. I think it still would be a great platform for modding and getting started with working on fretends and so on. For someone who doesn’t want a strat or tele type guitar.

[@onsecondthought4802]

Amazon has it?

[@jamesseverin]

Hey george good video my friend! Kluson 3x3 plus series tuners are a direct fit, there a drop in 18-1 ratio quality tuner. Screw holes line up and no reaming the holes. Take care buddy

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

That is useful info, thank you!

[@jamesseverin]

@@GeorgeVGuitars Anytime buddy

[@rmkk89]

best review on YT, theres not much material on this, funny since its a best seller. just ordered one btw

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you, enjoy it man!0

[@Dude13450]

I got the LP Special 1, the one with the super crappy single piece compensated wrap around bridge. While I have to say, if you’re paying full price for this particular model: DON’T. $170 vs $200 for the Special 2 which gives you a proper bridge and stopbar. Yes, you can buy an aftermarket swap in fully adjustable wraparound bridge for $30, but for the same $200 investment just get the guitar with a better set up to begin with. Now if you manage to snag it on sale like I did ($130 before tax), it’s not a bad buy AT ALL. After adding the adjustable bridge and some very minor set up (pretty much only the truss rod needed adjusting), this LP-S1 actually it’s a rather good player. Lightyears beyond my first guitar which was some bs FirstAct monstrosity. I will say that the quality is subpar from the get-go: same crappy tuners, lame-o-matic non-adjustable bridge, the output jack keeps vibrating loose (and has somehow managed to crossthread itself in the process), and the body DENTS by simply putting a fingernail into it, but to be completely honest, I take my $130 guitar and put like $200 into it and it will play alongside any $800+ all day, everyday. Here’s my viewpoint: I already have mine. Shops will only give me $40 trade-in on it since it only sells for 90-100 used. The pickups alone are worth the $40, let alone the neck. I am going to mod mine just because the only other option is practically to just throw it away. I actually already experimented with putting a trapeze tailpiece on it and installed pickup covers. Next up is going to be controls (individual pots, relocating & replacing the jack) and tuners. Already got the pots just need to look for decent tuners. Once I’m at a point that I’m satisfied with the function, I’m going to refinish the guitar and turn the beast into a beauty and have a true to me guitar that’s one of a kind.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Good point, thanks for that 🤘🏻

[@namimilk]

Your crunch settings are sick

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

😳🤘🏻

[@tonypirulli571]

Great review George..i like the accent,and youre very funny..i have the same guitar,i guess i got lucky mine in in good shape

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

😳👀🤘🏻

[@Spazz5697]

boy, talk about a Killjoy could you be any more negative?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Oh yes deffinetely, but i tried being objective. I just call em as I see em ;)

[@thegraniteers2146]

Great video! Would an sg special pickguard fit on this?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I have no idea :/

[@emanuelesanzone8212]

I have this sg but made in indonesia and it s so much better than this one the pickups are not muddy on mine and good for 185 euros the tuners stay in tune well maybe it s because in indonesia they produce it better idk

[@ibberman]

I bet yours is made with better wood and it looks like the photos on the websites, where the sides of the body are also stained like the top and bottom so you can see the woodgrain. The one I just got has painted body edges, that makes me wonder what they are trying to hide behind the paint.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah probably

[@franke_]

@@ibberman someone in youtube must have sanded it

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeeaah, buddy :>

[@pie-vd5qq]

Looks like Roxy!

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

👀

[@Chillwave.o]

damn

[@pig6696]

I wanna buy my first guitar but I don't want to spend more than 200$ dollars, do you recomend something better?

[@The_Algae]

Other than probably a Squier bullet and some other cheap guitars, I don't think there's a guitar with your criteria sadly.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Get the LP version of it.

[@Erkin_Baba_Arsivi]

​​@@GeorgeVGuitarsreally nice video. Why you think les paul special is better than sg special? I'm gonna buy sg or les paul special for making fretless. Your thought is important for me.

[@Centipede70770]

10:14

[@bob-eu1jq]

You bought one so who is the idiot? $200 what did you expect?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Uhm, no I did not. Thats just a brand new guitar off the wall in a shop that I demonstrated. ;)

[@sofakingkewel]

I will be More than Happy if I can make Mine sound like yours in the end of video. I understand you want to sell more expensive guitars.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

These videos are not about selling ;) The amp is important to the sound

[@leocalinawan8429]

A chibson wil shame that guitar in terms of price and materials. I really dont know how them chiney do it but for 150 youl'd get real wood(mahogany 1 or 2 piece body), middle grade hardware and electronics built in and a set neck. Heck it could even state chibson on the headstock and it'd still kill your epiphone..just saying yo!

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Good Chibsons are a bit more expensive than this.