Upgrading a Cheapson (Gibson Copy) with new frets and EMG James Hetfield Set of pickups

Disclaimer: This guitar belongs to a friend of mine and was given to me fo unbiased review. I DO NOT approve of buying copies of any guitar brand or shape but wanted to give you guys a look of what is it like to buy and upgrade a cheap Chinese copy.
But even though I do not approve of buying copies I try to give you a subjective point of view and even I can't deny that this one turned out good. But not everyone is going to be that lucky.
P.S. This video has been recorded a while ago and I struggled to finish it because I really needed a break... it is summer after all. I will be coming back with more videos from a new studio setup ;)
0:00 Intro
1:04 Stock Chibson
2:21 Upgraded Chibson
3:52 The Guitar Tech
6:35 Chibson vs ESP
8:39 The Specs
11:02 The Pickups
16:41 Bridge & Tailiece
17:27 Body
19:11 Gibson vs Chibson
21:32 The Neck
22:19 Back & Electronics
23:56 The Weight
24:11 Tone Demo Stock vs Upgraded
27:49 Don't buy a Copy
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
#gibsonfake #fakeguitar #chinacopy

[@totallynotjohn8083]

I feel like chibsons are okay if there is a certain guitar you want but it's unattainable bc it's really expensive or it's not in production anymore and its super expensive used but the thing is they take a lot of work and money to get them working and sometimes they have mistakes in the finish or they messed some other part of the guitar so at the end of the day it's really up to someone if they wanna spend their hard earned money on it.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Or get a good quality copy made by a luthier

[@Gunsnr13]

The ace freely chibson that another you tuber came ok decent out of the box

[@totallynotjohn8083]

@@Gunsnr13 are you talking about kdh?

[@ericlopez9640]

Awesome job as always. Glad to have you back brother.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

🤘🏻 Thank you! Yeah having a bit of a summer break, riding my Harley, gathering inspiration for the videos in my new studio. Some interesting guitars are waiting for a review 👀

[@aaronballantyne]

I randomly saw this thumnail on my feed and though you posted a new video. A few months ago I got really into your videos. I rarely leave comments but just wanted to leave a word of encouragement that your videos were really good. I know life/ work gets in the way but hope all is well!

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you, your words mean a lot to me. I will get back to the videos soon in a new studio 🤘🏻🎸

[@PC85X]

Can't believe I only just found your channel. Subbed and going to have fun digging through your reviews 👍🏻

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I hope you enjoy 🤘🏻

[@weejay2860]

I'm from Malaysia and I love your channel bro. What an honest review, very detailed. Also not to forget, love the fact that you put an EMG on it and not that much a Chibson hahaha. I've been playing guitar for 15 years now and can't barely afford an Explorer even the cheapest one. I really want an Explorer but I don't have that kind of money 😢

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you, I am glad you like the chanel. Get one of these. If you cant afford it then its absolutely ok to get one of these. Just upgrade it a little bit over the years.

[@alvaroquijano579]

same here. chibsons are an excellent alternative to unobtainable guitars as well. I bought a chESP eet fuk for $250usd including shipping and taxes and I love it. Just changed the nut and the pickups for emg81/60 and it's one of my fav guitars. And yes it probably doesn't sound 100% like hetfield's original ESP but it does look and play amazing, and most important of all eet fuks are impossible to get and if you do manage to find one they'll have you pay like 500 thousand times more than any chibson out there. can you honestly say that a real esp eet fuk sounds 500 thousand times better? no.. never in a million years. It's ridiculous, there's a limit to how much money should be spent on a guitar if you're not a professional and incredibly famous musician, simple as that.

[@stefandesouza5610]

Great job. Any plans on a video for LTD's Black Metal or EX series?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you. Yeah I would love to get my hands on them someday.

[@p4blovy595]

New sub here. Keep rocking bro🤘

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thanks, you too 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@mrvt2747]

Hey, George what can you say about new solar s guitar?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I haven't tried one yet. To be honest i was not impressed with solar guitars that i tried in the past but I am going to give them another go.

[@mrvt2747]

@@GeorgeVGuitars have you ever thought of making a video about ultimate James Hetfield guitar, in which all the designs of his guitars would be in one guitar?

[@steffkeirn5017]

Hey man, where this guitar store located in Sofia and what's it called?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Music Division Mini

[@dobry514]

Hello very nice video .what about shecter e1 custom

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I would love to review one eventually

[@Zombie_13x33]

i think the pickups are hitting the sides of the pickup cavities. the holes need to be widened towards the bridge on both pickups. my cheap les paul copy and explorer kit did the same thing. the screws you can just cut if there bottoming out. i used a special drill bit that goes sideways. im sure its meant for a different purpose but it worked for my guitars. just a suggestion anyways. good day and thanks for the video.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yep its exactly that

[@jamesseverin]

Whats up George my brother! I friggen hate chibsons.. Good video brother

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Sup, man 👀 Yeah me too, bit people still buy them :/

[@andytrendy4841]

Very interesting to see a guitar with EMG 57/66 on the review

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

👀

[@lilhyena7534]

hey man u got a link for your store maybe?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

It is not my store, I just work there. This guitat is not sold in the store ;)

[@lilhyena7534]

@@GeorgeVGuitars oh i just wanna check it out, if thats ok

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

@@lilhyena7534 Of course, the shop is amazing and has great stuff, it also ships internationally: musicdivision.bg/

[@KarlssonnsKlister]

Very nice 👍

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thank you 👍

[@parthibmahmud26]

Make a video about PRS SE Tremonti

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Someday maybe

[@ryant3600]

i have never seen a Chibson need new frets that was new to me. I've been buying them off and on since 04'. They've gotten way better over the years, are they amazing.. no not at all, at least not out of the box. By now I think everyone that buys these knows these will need work and upgrades. But for 200-300 dollars you can get a great looking guitar that can be upgraded into a really good playing and looking guitar. I think most people that buy these are getting guitars they've always wanted but are no longer available or just way over priced and it's not in their budget to pay 2-3-6 grand or more for the real deal. I have some now that are some of my best guitars

[@ElmaRaniyo]

On the slanted pickups you just put a foam block under and fixed.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

doesnt work like that sometimes, because the wood is not properly cut under it

[@Arkadius87]

ESP's and Caparison's are killer guitars. Japanese guys know how to build the beast with their precision and steady hands. But they come with the price.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah theay are

[@eastendimages]

Not all made in Japan anyway

[@beeman47]

A lot of the 'Chibsons' aren't that great out of the box.....but,then,....what do you expect? You should know that even after replacing ALL of the hardware,and electrononics...do the frets....you STILL will being spending THOUSANDS less than a Gibson.AND... have just as good of a guitar. If you expect a 'perfect' guitar,you won't get a 'perfect' guitar...not even from Gibson. I used to be an Authorized Gibson/Epiphone/Guild/Fender warranty,and a 50 year veteran Luthier,and THAT is what I have observed over the years. Gibson quality is down,and their prices are up. ............................Just sayin'.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah, unfortunately I also have to confirm that Gibson's quality is down...

[@ericfreitas2934]

Aliexpress?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Probably, I think so yes.

[@raytorvalds3699]

Good video. But a Chibson will always be a polished turd at best. I say stay clear of them for multiple reasons.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Same here 🤘🏻

[@raytorvalds3699]

@@GeorgeVGuitars Yeah, you said that in the video. It was good to hear \m/

[@illiakutsenko595]

Actually don't hear any difference between ESP and upgraded Gibson copy. Maybe need to hear it live or play :)

[@BIC-Smokes]

Yeah there’s not really a difference in the sound but I bet they feel completely different, that’s the real difference between an inexpensive and expensive instrument

[@dp9550]

Looks like Mahogany in front pickup cavity.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah some sort of mahogany

[@leviathan_is_me]

Huh. Never seen a chibson that used the actual 2 screw truss cover. That could easily fool many.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Naaah, too many other tells

[@Riotss]

Well people can’t afford the “real” deal. And some guitars are not made anymore. Like the EET FUK esp custom guitar that Hetfield used in the late 80s. A real one cost $25k. That’s almost a down payment for a house. So I say buy a cheap copy. Do the right things to make it sound good and good to go.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

True

[@agcacustoms2852]

It is unethical to buy counterfeit guitars and punishable by law but Gibson has proved itself out of the market for most players and has had bad quality for its product in many cases. Although I don’t think it’s right to support these manufacturers and factories actively selling fake and counterfeit copies of Gibson, Fender, ESP, Kramer, etc.. I do think that copies are very much welcomed but not often sold unless a brand name is added. Many Chinese guitars like the Starshine brand guitars are made in the same Chibson factories but given a different headstock shape and logo.

[@elspanoo]

you have such hard feelings about a company not copying another company, yet you use an esp single-cut, which is literally a les paul? could have gotten a gibson with those emg pickups maybe? you also say its the best sounding one you got, so you are saying a copy can be as good(or the best/better than) as a gibson. ofcourse I know esp/ltd is a company on its own an definitely trying there own thing, but arent they just ripping off the les paul anyway? do agree on you that ripping off and plainly copying gibson guitars, even with the logo and all, is very sickening. the chinese company can clearly make a guitar that is almost good, just charge a bit more and make it decent from the start... shame this is how the world is turning good video though, really enjoy your channel! its interesting that "cheap" wood basically sounds the same with these pickups and a sick amp, says a lot about how much wood matters for the tone. ofcourse the cheap one is a lot more lickely to crack or have other faults, but the sound difference is so minimal. cheers mate, if you'd be more local i'd let you have a go on my guitars if you'd ever want haha!

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I own 4 LP Custom Gibsons ;)

[@richardt3041]

Mew ? Meow 😂

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Exactly 🐱

[@xsanos2586]

haha Cheapson

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Why didn't I think of that. I am stealing it for the title! 👀 Thank you

[@xsanos2586]

@@GeorgeVGuitars 🤣🤘

[@jaredpritchard4991]

Just another Gibson suck up

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Okay :>

[@beeman47]

Just an observation/opinion,ect....but,if you you think you are qualified to review an instrument,maybe you should learn how to play one first?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Nah, thats too convinient 😳