To me it’s not all about the sound, because they can be very very similar. The feel of the guitar is what’s really inspiring to me. And feels leads to more Inspiring sounds.
Get a Gibson here: 🛒 Sweetwater sweetwater.sjv.io/rnADaG 🛒 Guitar Center guitar-center.pxf.io/LPV7ZL 🛒 Andertons bit.ly/3YPiCFm 🛒 Thomann bit.ly/ThomannGibson 🛒 Reverb reverb.grsm.io/landonbailey Get the Epiphone Les Paul Special here 🛒 *Sweetwater* imp.i114863.net/jP7W6 🛒 *Guitar Center* guitar-center.pxf.io/JrxYKN 🛒 *Andertons* bit.ly/3XbZlwG 🛒 *Amazon* geni.us/EpiSpec 🛒 *Thomann* bit.ly/2HQzb1e *Enter the giveaway* -- kingsumo.com/g/dd4jbh/landons-epiphone-les-paul-special-giveaway Epiphone video: ua-cam.com/video/hVx0yYKqJr4/v-deo.html Gibson video: ua-cam.com/video/iYu1K0IvkOs/v-deo.html *Become a Patron for exclusive stuff!* www.patreon.com/landonbailey *Timestamps:* --------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Coming up 0:10 - Intro and disclosure 1:20 - Blind tone challenge 6:20 - All the specs and features of both guitars 9:53 - headstock drop test? 10:38 - pros and cons and my thoughts
I own both. They are extremely close, but my Gibson feels more substantial weight-wise and is a nice resonate hunk of wood. The epiphone is lighter, but has a slightly thicker neck and doesn't get as sticky while playing. However, the Epiphone, although not a toy, does kind of feel like nice resonate plastic. The gibson is my favorite guitar I own, so It's been my number 1. But this epiphone is my backup and is reliable!
The price difference is justifiable for the build: the wood, finish, hardware, brand and details, not the tone. If you're just for the tone, get the Epiphone, the comparison showed no difference for me, at least through UA-cam in my computer. The feel of the Gibson is so much better for me, the neck is more comfortable and I just love that TV yellow finish where you can see the wood grain through. The Epi just didn't get this finish right, it looks and feels a lot cheaper.
I’ve owned both, the epiphone is not far off the Gibson for sure but there is definitely a quality feel with the Gibson fretboard that the epiphone didn’t seem to have
Every piece of wood is different. Some laurel is higher quality than some rosewood, pau, etc. If it sounds good and your happy that's all that matters. To poo poo other people's choices is childish.
@@matthewearl9824 I think the epiphones use a different wood (more porous) for fretboard and the fretwork is pretty bad, the frets are grainy and rough.
Like a bunch of other people here, I thought Y sounded better. I was surprised to find that Y was the Epiphone. Just as an aside, I spent a few hours today finally setting up my Harley Benton SC Special in TV Yellow with two P90's and I am blown away by the quality of this specific instrument. Tone, playability, and the fingerboard looks like rich dark ebony. If I told you how much they cost you wouldn't believe me.
I bought the Harley Benton version as a B-stock and it came with a botched nut, had not been fixed by Thomann. I installed a TUSQ nut and got 50 bucks back, payed 150(swiss francs) for the guitar and some more for the nut and a set of vintage locking tuners. I like the unbound fretboard way better than on the Gibson/Epi versions. I sold a guitar to a guy who brought along his 6000.- Gibson Les Paul for some comparisons. He wouldn't put down the Harley Benton and was blown away by the playability, sound and quality. I just can't get my head around the 1799.- for the Gibson, take away the neck pup and put on a famous name and they are 2199.-...WTF? Anyways, in the mean time, i have discovered Strats and have a superb MIM Roadhouse Deluxe which i can't put down, it feels like an extension of my body, rather than just a piece of wood with strings and inspires my playing on a whole other level....🎸🤘🎸
@@gearViewmirror great stuff. Congrats. I also wanted to mention that I installed the new String Butler version for guitars with the vintage tuners. This new one is actually a replacement for the truss rod cover. This is the next day so the new strings got acclimated, and I can do insane bends all over the guitar and it stays perfectly in tune. Prior to the String Butler the guitar out of the box did not have the severe string bend making it go out of tune like many of my other Gibson style guitars with the typical bent back headstock, and splayed out side to side tuners. I also put 8.5 Ernie Ball nickel strings on it. It flies and sounds great. I have over 20 guitars in my collection, and this one recently has been my go-to guitar and the only one I have played now going on weeks. To those who don't know, the Harley Benton SC is an exact duplicate to the Gibson single cut mahogany slab body in TV Yellow with two P90's.
I just recently picked up the Epiphone "SG classic". It has the same pickup and wiring as the the LP special here, and has that Pete Townsend early Who kind of vibe to it. Can't go wrong with either guitar here, but when you have limited funds, it doesn't matter what the headstock says. As long as it sounds, and plays great is what matters. Great video, keep up the good work.
I’ve been digging a lot of the Epiphone stuff lately. Seems like a smart choice to have rethought their design philosophy. Definitely makes me wonder if I can keep it to only one.. Been eyeing this, SG w/P90s, SG Muse, and the Flying V they recently released. 😂 too many to convince my wife of.
I bought the $400 P90 Epiphone SG and it's such a great guitar! Always wanted a LPJ but don't need one now. The SG came with pretty much perfect frets, didn't need to do any fretwork, didn't have to do anything to the nut, just put on new strings and play it. Epiphone and Squier are making the best $400 guitars ever!
Isn't the headstock angle different on the 2 guitars. Usually, my understanding is that Gibson uses a 17 degree angle vs 14 for Epiphone (which is supposedly less likely to break if you actually did that drop test).
I had a 92 Gibson LP standard for over 10 years. I had a bunch of issues with it. I just got this epiphone. It is such a better guitar than my standard. This thing is amazing.
Mild preference for X, seemed to have a smidge more clarity. But post unveiling, I think I'd take Y, save $1300 and maybe one day upgrade the pups. Thank you Sweetwater for slowly giving everyone a free guitar 🎉😂
Yeah same here. I feel like most of the difference sounded like it came from ease and comfortably of play...seemed like there was slightly less sloppy playing on the Gibson. And a touch more clarity from the pups and separation of the notes. But the ease of play thing can probably be corrected with a solid setup.
Agree about the headstock. I have the Gibson and epiphone versions. I don’t notice the epiphone headstock when playing, but I notice when I see it’s reflection and it throws me off haha. Could look much worse though.
i got the epi, just because i wanted a dual p90 in my collection, and why not a special in tv yellow with a big fat neck right? it was also a pleasant surprise to find out that epi's tv yellow is the same as fender's butterscotch blonde. ...so i put those 2 next to each other :)
The differences are: meranti instead of mahogany for the body and neck, Indian laurel instead of rosewood for the fingerboard, and lower-quality tuners. The pickups might be slightly better on the Gibson-though you'd need an excellent amp to really notice. The finish on the Epiphone is stiffer. In the end, the Gibson has more mids, while the Epiphone sounds more "modern" in the sense that the frequencies are more balanced, but it may come across as duller. I've got the epi and it's just what i need.
Oh by the way, i just bought a Epiphone LP Special "Mustard Yellow" like the one you played and what i can say is the finish overall is pretty good looking but the frets are rough, the action high a bit and the thickness where the head meets the neck is thinner(fragile) than a Gibson. This guitar sounds good to my ears.😉
Les Paul style guitars from Epiphone and Gibson are prone to breaking where the neck meets the headstock because the headstock is angled backwards instead of straight, and they do that without using a scarf joint or volute which makes that point fairly fragile if you add to that the routing for the trussrod access, that in some cases they might dig a bit too much into the wood. Fender/Squier guitars have straight headstock in most models and sometimes make use of scarf joints so they are less likely to break, also maple is harder than mahogany.
i think this is the one case where id rather have the gibson than the epiphone, purely because of the finish though. i actually like the epi headstock and pickups more but i cant get past that flat mustard look without the grain
I guessed correctly about 3 seconds into the Y sample. Having said that, I own the Epiphone. They are amazing guitars for the money. I switched out the pickups for Fishman Greg Koch P90s, just because it is such an inexpensive guitar and great to mod. I thought the original pickups sounded great and definitely did not need to be changed, but I also like the Gregs.
So you love it after you made the changes yes? If you changed pickups, bridge and tuners then it's not really an Epiphone Les Paul Special anymore is it. Not trying to be a troll but just factual.
@@astrogerard2022 it's still an Epiphone, just with a heart transplant. Bought it on a whim because I'd never had a guitar with P90s. Did a setup and loved the neck. Ended up making some quality of life improvements (locking tuners are just faster string changes) and some other swaps for fun. Stock pickups weren't bad, bridge has adjustable intonation and more adjustment options. I've got American Gibson and Fender guitars. Also have an Epiphone and Made in Mexico Fenders. This one has just ended up being one of the best overall for feel, looks and sound, despite costing less (even with upgrades) than most of my other guitars.
@@thseed7 I know what you mean. I bought an Epi 2020 modern and love it. The Pro Buckers sound like burst buckers (I compared it in a shop one day) and it has an extra bitey sound when all the way up on the guitar, similar to a P90 but not as much. The neck plays great and the lighter body weight is good as well. It is currently with a luthier for a proper set up, that is how much I like it. Try one if you haven't yet.
This would be excellent next to my Epi les paul special II. I have the AFD addition in yellow, match made in heaven. Though I honestly would love to really feel the difference between the two with more than 5 minutes to do it.
Hey Landon! Not been on here for a while... Your content has really gone up a few levels but, remained as entertaining as always!! One quick point that I always find useful when measuring the neck on a guitar is the width at the 12th fret. It could be quite a deep C at the 12th but if the neck it not wide at the 12th then it can feel slimmer than you'd expect from just the caliper readings. Cheers 👍
My guess listening back on my iPhone is the X sounds more single coil open than the Y. The Y guitar sounds almost like a humbucker, more powerful than the X guitar. So I say X is the Gibson and Y is the epiphone.
I think Y sounds Richer and deeper than X. My guess is the Gibson is Y. Hard call, I love P90's though. I really need a P90 guitar. Thanks for the video.
Thanks, a good comparison. I took your advice and tried different sauces. My fingers got sticky but I did prefer the BBQ. i have the Epi version and your test agreed with my feeling that the Epi P-90s have a thicker sound. My biggest issue is the finish on the Ep - it's a virtually opaque Mustard, not TV Yellow. I expect Gibson/Epiphone decided to do that as another point of difference.
Great video! The difference in sound from both guitars sitting here listening to you play was minimal, so I didn't want to guess. I'm sure after playing both guitars most guitarist will know which one's the Epiphone.
I did get the tone test correct, but it was tough. The high-gain bridge-pickup tone kind of confused me a bit. I had picked them correctly on the first two tests, but then on the third, I almost switched my guess. They're *very* close. But you can still tell them apart. Question is, is it worth 3X the price to get a *tiny* bit better sound, and a nitro-cellulose finish? For me? No. I plan to buy the Epiphone in a couple of months. Worst case, I'll get some better pickups for ~$150 and *still* be *way* ahead of the game.
I have the Epiphone and it’s an awesome guitar. My only complaint is the wrap around bridge just will not intimate the G and B string. I switched to a Wilkinson bridge with an adjustable saddle for G and B . Fixed. I’ve also got Gibson’s and with a few exceptions the Epiphones are very nice and are a better value for the price. If that finish on the neck bothers you carefully sand it off. You can always rewire Gibson style.
Just as visual difference: Gibson have a slant bridge post position(lower strings are closer to the nut). The body is one piece mahogany(but sometimes 2 pieces) and the neck is 1 pièce mahogany with NO scarf joint at the head. In general, Gibson use superior quality woods but some Gibson have QC issues(most of them esthetic issues hopefully...). Sound wise it doesn't show much.
I have Gibsons and I have Epiphones. The Epiphones are great for the price, and I like the "new" headstock way better than the clipped wing one. I'd love a TV Yellow Special, and considered the Epiphone, but I prefer the color and visible grain on the Gibson. I wish Epi's TV Yellow looked more like Gibson's. As of this moment, I'll wait for a used Gibson to show up for sale. If not, I'll probably go with the Epi.
Gibson string separation more defined imho, sound wasn't different enough to justify price. BUT Like prs s.e. v core models, your buying time or lastability? build reliability, hopefully? Resale value clearly a factor.. for now. Playability and feel aren't always subjective & the main difference. Materials, future availablity of, particularly with mahogany or threat to species & luthier build costs? PlEK machines etc can of worms opening in near future lol
Okay. For real. What you were missing was a delay or slapback echo on "Comparison". Both sounded great (actually I couldn't really tell which was which) - they both really nice. Looks-wise I like the Gibson more, but to be honest I'd be happy with either.
Watching on my TV I thought the Epiphone sounded better, but I don’t play guitar through my TV. I’ve own/owned both Gibson and Epiphone LP, SG, and ES guitars. Epiphone Riviera P93 was a fantastic guitar, but overall Gibson are much better and holding them in my hands I’d buy one Gibson over four Epiphone. However, I have been tempted to buy this model to have a nice guitar with P90s again while I save up for a gold top.
The Gibson is more expensive due to the quality of the Mahogany, rosewood, Gibson pickups, hard shell case, nitro finish and Country of origin. Not to mention resale value. That being said I’ve got Gibson’s and two Epi’s!
Never played the Gibson model, but the Epiphone model I played reminded me of my Gibson SG Classic with P90s in terms of sound and the way the neck felt. It’s really an excellent guitar, especially for the price. Total bang for your buck.
I got it right, X had better string separation. Now, does it matter? Not really, I don't even like Gibson pups (Wolfetone pickups for me), so I'd rather get the Epi and upgrade the pups.
I admit that I’m superficial. Looks are very important to me. I much prefer Gibson headstock. Timeless. Is it worth the price? I own about 15 guitars and not one has P90’s. What to do?
I guessed correctly, but the high gain recordings really made me think...I preferred the Gibson clean and mid gain, but that Epiphone really did the thing on the high gain...Epi may be the way to go!
My experience with Epiphone is that they lack finishing the fretwork and fret material is sometimes a lesser quality. Buddy of mine had a n Epi Joe Bonamassa LP the fretwork was horrendous. Had gouges and were not polished at all. Those may have been made in China?
I am someone who can afford the gibson (and own several), but ended up proudly going with the epiphone in this case. To me, the color (though not as authentic) looks better on the epiphone. The bridge design is better on the epiphone. And it’s literally 1/4 of the cost. The little compromises being made on the epiphone were no issue to me whatsoever. It plays and feels incredible and I never want to put it down once I play it. I’ve gotten over the whole country of origin thing. I know epiphone specs aren’t the same as gibson, but in an electric guitar I find it far less important than an acoustic
I honestly got it right, but I wouldn't want either of them. I'm not a Gibson fan, I'm a Strat man. Although, I would like to have an Explorer. I love that shape.
I found one of these Epiphones used but mint, for 340€ only and I am soooo impressed! It rings acoustically but I find the pickups a little dark and lacking definition. The finish is plasticky also...
Eh? I live in the NCR and have a epipi LP Special with one volume and tone, the lower, lighter end version. It's a beast on its own. I'd be curious.....
On the tones I picked the Gibson by a small margin. It just seemed a little cleaner and brighter. That said, put them both in a mix and I highly doubt you hear a difference. Watching this and several other comparisons has convinced me to go with the Epiphone.
I got it right but they were extremely close. I do like the Gibson color better, it’s more traditional to the original models. I own two Epi Les Pauls but would opt for the more expensive Gibson.
At the end of the day, 98% of your audience does not care about the name on your headstock. I've used $100 guitars and $1500 guitars. Most people don't notice or care. Use whatever gear gets the job done. It's about the player, NOT the gear. Good video. I'm opting for the Epiphone.
The LP junior is one model I urge people to consider the Epiphone for. The differences are negligible compared to the Gibson. If your interested in a bare bones model like this the advantages of the Gibby just aren't there. Same for the new korina 58's Epiphone just released. With the hardcase and Burstbuckers they're giving you all the specs at a mere fraction of the cost of a custom shop Gibson.
The fit and finish of Epiphones are usually good, though sometimes the frets aren't great. For a while now I've been deciding to give Chinese-made guitars a swerve though.
FWIW X struck me as better 'balanced' overall, Y seemed muddy in the bass and lacking clarity on top. That's on a pretty decent pair of noise cancelling Bose cans. That said - we really only had a glance at these . . . thanks. I guess it largely comes down to the pick-ups / wiring?
I mean they, (Guitar X and Y), both have some decent sounds but I would be shocked if the X is not the Gibson. To me, it has the more recognizable and usable tone. I mean, I would enjoy owning either, but Guitar X is by far the tone winner for me. Not sure which I would prefer playing. I like a Nitro finish but it is not absolutely necessary to me. Honestly, I would probably swap in CTS Pots 50's wiring, switchcraft parts and new pickups and be almost as happy with the Epiphone. My pocketbook would be happier too...
Do you really think Gibson who owns Epiphone would let them produce a knockoff guitar that is better. The hate people have for Gibson just makes them more money when people buy an inferior product. In the end Gibson still profits off the hate.
I had the epi , swapped the pu's for tonerider p 90 's , sounded great . liked the fat neck , but hated the color in the end , so i sold it at a big loss , so no , never again .
I’ve never owned a Gibson. And never will I’ve happily own many epiphones always been a reasonable guitar for a reasonable price . I’m hoping to get one of these always wanted a special as a Bob Marley fan
Yay! I got it right ! To be honest I wish the Gibson had the Epiphone neck pickup I like the that one position better on the Epiphone but overall the Gibson sounded better , that being said I own both Epiphone and Gibson guitars and would actually be down to personal taste for an individual for one and second if you really wanted the Gibson but couldn't afford it, Epiphone makes some killer guitars that sound and look very Gibson
On the tones: I thought I chose the Gibson hands down, but was surprised to learn my choice was actually the Epiphone. Crazy.
Same.
Me too, amazing.
To me it’s not all about the sound, because they can be very very similar. The feel of the guitar is what’s really inspiring to me. And feels leads to more Inspiring sounds.
@@dkarhu I have the Epiphone. It doesn't have a D shaped neck. It's a '59 Les Paul fat shape. It does have the thick finish though. Doesn't bother me.
Get a Gibson here:
🛒 Sweetwater sweetwater.sjv.io/rnADaG
🛒 Guitar Center guitar-center.pxf.io/LPV7ZL
🛒 Andertons bit.ly/3YPiCFm
🛒 Thomann bit.ly/ThomannGibson
🛒 Reverb reverb.grsm.io/landonbailey
Get the Epiphone Les Paul Special here
🛒 *Sweetwater* imp.i114863.net/jP7W6
🛒 *Guitar Center* guitar-center.pxf.io/JrxYKN
🛒 *Andertons* bit.ly/3XbZlwG
🛒 *Amazon* geni.us/EpiSpec
🛒 *Thomann* bit.ly/2HQzb1e
*Enter the giveaway* -- kingsumo.com/g/dd4jbh/landons-epiphone-les-paul-special-giveaway
Epiphone video: ua-cam.com/video/hVx0yYKqJr4/v-deo.html
Gibson video: ua-cam.com/video/iYu1K0IvkOs/v-deo.html
*Become a Patron for exclusive stuff!* www.patreon.com/landonbailey
*Timestamps:*
---------------------------------------------------------
0:00 - Coming up
0:10 - Intro and disclosure
1:20 - Blind tone challenge
6:20 - All the specs and features of both guitars
9:53 - headstock drop test?
10:38 - pros and cons and my thoughts
I own both. They are extremely close, but my Gibson feels more substantial weight-wise and is a nice resonate hunk of wood. The epiphone is lighter, but has a slightly thicker neck and doesn't get as sticky while playing. However, the Epiphone, although not a toy, does kind of feel like nice resonate plastic. The gibson is my favorite guitar I own, so It's been my number 1. But this epiphone is my backup and is reliable!
The Gibson bridge pickup had a much more clear and articulate tone under high gain, but clean it was tough to tell which was which.
My thoughts exactly.
I've got a 2003 Gibby LP "junior" Special. Bought it used with a repaired neck. Has a belly cut with normal bridge. Love it.
The tone is in the headstock!!!
The price difference is justifiable for the build: the wood, finish, hardware, brand and details, not the tone.
If you're just for the tone, get the Epiphone, the comparison showed no difference for me, at least through UA-cam in my computer.
The feel of the Gibson is so much better for me, the neck is more comfortable and I just love that TV yellow finish where you can see the wood grain through.
The Epi just didn't get this finish right, it looks and feels a lot cheaper.
🎸👍
I’ve owned both, the epiphone is not far off the Gibson for sure but there is definitely a quality feel with the Gibson fretboard that the epiphone didn’t seem to have
like what exactly?
Bull ship that Epiphone fretboard wood is just as good as the Gibson if not better
Every piece of wood is different. Some laurel is higher quality than some rosewood, pau, etc. If it sounds good and your happy that's all that matters. To poo poo other people's choices is childish.
@@matthewearl9824 I think the epiphones use a different wood (more porous) for fretboard and the fretwork is pretty bad, the frets are grainy and rough.
@@barrysimpson6872 not poo pooing, just relaying my experience from owning both guitars
Like a bunch of other people here, I thought Y sounded better. I was surprised to find that Y was the Epiphone. Just as an aside, I spent a few hours today finally setting up my Harley Benton SC Special in TV Yellow with two P90's and I am blown away by the quality of this specific instrument. Tone, playability, and the fingerboard looks like rich dark ebony. If I told you how much they cost you wouldn't believe me.
I bought the Harley Benton version as a B-stock and it came with a botched nut, had not been fixed by Thomann. I installed a TUSQ nut and got 50 bucks back, payed 150(swiss francs) for the guitar and some more for the nut and a set of vintage locking tuners. I like the unbound fretboard way better than on the Gibson/Epi versions. I sold a guitar to a guy who brought along his 6000.- Gibson Les Paul for some comparisons. He wouldn't put down the Harley Benton and was blown away by the playability, sound and quality. I just can't get my head around the 1799.- for the Gibson, take away the neck pup and put on a famous name and they are 2199.-...WTF? Anyways, in the mean time, i have discovered Strats and have a superb MIM Roadhouse Deluxe which i can't put down, it feels like an extension of my body, rather than just a piece of wood with strings and inspires my playing on a whole other level....🎸🤘🎸
@@gearViewmirror great stuff. Congrats. I also wanted to mention that I installed the new String Butler version for guitars with the vintage tuners. This new one is actually a replacement for the truss rod cover. This is the next day so the new strings got acclimated, and I can do insane bends all over the guitar and it stays perfectly in tune. Prior to the String Butler the guitar out of the box did not have the severe string bend making it go out of tune like many of my other Gibson style guitars with the typical bent back headstock, and splayed out side to side tuners. I also put 8.5 Ernie Ball nickel strings on it. It flies and sounds great. I have over 20 guitars in my collection, and this one recently has been my go-to guitar and the only one I have played now going on weeks. To those who don't know, the Harley Benton SC is an exact duplicate to the Gibson single cut mahogany slab body in TV Yellow with two P90's.
I would love to see what you think of a Gibson ES-335 vs the Epiphone version.
I own both. I’m team Epiphone. Hey and I’m an Ex Gibson Montana employee
I just recently picked up the Epiphone "SG classic". It has the same pickup and wiring as the the LP special here, and has that Pete Townsend early Who kind of vibe to it. Can't go wrong with either guitar here, but when you have limited funds, it doesn't matter what the headstock says. As long as it sounds, and plays great is what matters. Great video, keep up the good work.
Hey, what is the SG’s neck like? I have couple of 1960’s Gibson P90s looking for an SG!
@Papa Dopp it's about the same size as the Gibson SG neck, but it isn't as round. It is a pretty nice guitar.
@@GrebigOutdoors Cool! Many thanks, man.
I’ve been digging a lot of the Epiphone stuff lately. Seems like a smart choice to have rethought their design philosophy. Definitely makes me wonder if I can keep it to only one.. Been eyeing this, SG w/P90s, SG Muse, and the Flying V they recently released. 😂 too many to convince my wife of.
👍🎸😆
I got the Gibson SG, and recommend getting the Epiphone SG. Was a bit disappointed with the Gibson and at that price point it’s not the best feeling.
Agreed, the "inspired by series" have swayed me toward buying a handful of LP axes
I bought the $400 P90 Epiphone SG and it's such a great guitar! Always wanted a LPJ but don't need one now. The SG came with pretty much perfect frets, didn't need to do any fretwork, didn't have to do anything to the nut, just put on new strings and play it. Epiphone and Squier are making the best $400 guitars ever!
I can't justify the price difference 😮
Hmmm… I guess Gibson justifies the price. OTOH, as a potential buyer, I’m really trying to RATIONALIZE the Gibson price
X vs Y:
- neck - 1:30 vs 1:54
- middle - 2:18 vs 2:57
- bridge - 3:36 vs 4:28
The Epi sounded way bigger and more complex with the medium/high gain. I legit prefer that pickup.
Isn't the headstock angle different on the 2 guitars. Usually, my understanding is that Gibson uses a 17 degree angle vs 14 for Epiphone (which is supposedly less likely to break if you actually did that drop test).
I had a 92 Gibson LP standard for over 10 years. I had a bunch of issues with it. I just got this epiphone. It is such a better guitar than my standard. This thing is amazing.
Mild preference for X, seemed to have a smidge more clarity.
But post unveiling, I think I'd take Y, save $1300 and maybe one day upgrade the pups.
Thank you Sweetwater for slowly giving everyone a free guitar 🎉😂
Got it right but can’t hear a $1,350 difference.
Yeah same here. I feel like most of the difference sounded like it came from ease and comfortably of play...seemed like there was slightly less sloppy playing on the Gibson. And a touch more clarity from the pups and separation of the notes.
But the ease of play thing can probably be corrected with a solid setup.
Exactly
Thank you Sweetwater for choosing an awesome youtuber and making this giveaway possible!
$449 vs $1,799. Hate those Epiphone headstocks, though. Wish Gibson did the same as Fender and used the same headstock shape for all their brands.
I have a recent Epiphone SG and don't really notice a difference. Then again, I'm a Fender guy and rarely even close to a Gibson.
Agree about the headstock. I have the Gibson and epiphone versions. I don’t notice the epiphone headstock when playing, but I notice when I see it’s reflection and it throws me off haha. Could look much worse though.
i got the epi, just because i wanted a dual p90 in my collection, and why not a special in tv yellow with a big fat neck right? it was also a pleasant surprise to find out that epi's tv yellow is the same as fender's butterscotch blonde. ...so i put those 2 next to each other :)
The differences are: meranti instead of mahogany for the body and neck, Indian laurel instead of rosewood for the fingerboard, and lower-quality tuners. The pickups might be slightly better on the Gibson-though you'd need an excellent amp to really notice. The finish on the Epiphone is stiffer. In the end, the Gibson has more mids, while the Epiphone sounds more "modern" in the sense that the frequencies are more balanced, but it may come across as duller. I've got the epi and it's just what i need.
I got it right. Gibson just sounds fuller and yet less muddy.
Oh by the way, i just bought a Epiphone LP Special "Mustard Yellow" like the one you played and what i can say is the finish overall is pretty good looking but the frets are rough, the action high a bit and the thickness where the head meets the neck is thinner(fragile) than a Gibson. This guitar sounds good to my ears.😉
Les Paul style guitars from Epiphone and Gibson are prone to breaking where the neck meets the headstock because the headstock is angled backwards instead of straight, and they do that without using a scarf joint or volute which makes that point fairly fragile if you add to that the routing for the trussrod access, that in some cases they might dig a bit too much into the wood. Fender/Squier guitars have straight headstock in most models and sometimes make use of scarf joints so they are less likely to break, also maple is harder than mahogany.
The moral of this story is that you need to wear more Epiphone t-shirts around the house so your wife recognizes the name.
i think this is the one case where id rather have the gibson than the epiphone, purely because of the finish though. i actually like the epi headstock and pickups more but i cant get past that flat mustard look without the grain
I recently purchased one of these epiphone specials and it sounds killer.
I'm really glad that Epiphone doesn't do the lightning bar bridge on the lefty. I prefer the angled smooth bridge.
I guessed correctly about 3 seconds into the Y sample. Having said that, I own the Epiphone. They are amazing guitars for the money. I switched out the pickups for Fishman Greg Koch P90s, just because it is such an inexpensive guitar and great to mod. I thought the original pickups sounded great and definitely did not need to be changed, but I also like the Gregs.
Got this one right. I actually love my Epiphone Les Paul Special. Changed pickups, bridge and tuners, but easily my favorite playing/sounding guitar.
So you love it after you made the changes yes? If you changed pickups, bridge and tuners then it's not really an Epiphone Les Paul Special anymore is it. Not trying to be a troll but just factual.
@@astrogerard2022 it's still an Epiphone, just with a heart transplant. Bought it on a whim because I'd never had a guitar with P90s. Did a setup and loved the neck. Ended up making some quality of life improvements (locking tuners are just faster string changes) and some other swaps for fun. Stock pickups weren't bad, bridge has adjustable intonation and more adjustment options. I've got American Gibson and Fender guitars. Also have an Epiphone and Made in Mexico Fenders. This one has just ended up being one of the best overall for feel, looks and sound, despite costing less (even with upgrades) than most of my other guitars.
@@thseed7 I know what you mean. I bought an Epi 2020 modern and love it. The Pro Buckers sound like burst buckers (I compared it in a shop one day) and it has an extra bitey sound when all the way up on the guitar, similar to a P90 but not as much. The neck plays great and the lighter body weight is good as well. It is currently with a luthier for a proper set up, that is how much I like it. Try one if you haven't yet.
Use the proximity effect with reverb for the ultimate vocal announcement.
This would be excellent next to my Epi les paul special II. I have the AFD addition in yellow, match made in heaven. Though I honestly would love to really feel the difference between the two with more than 5 minutes to do it.
Hey Landon! Not been on here for a while... Your content has really gone up a few levels but, remained as entertaining as always!! One quick point that I always find useful when measuring the neck on a guitar is the width at the 12th fret. It could be quite a deep C at the 12th but if the neck it not wide at the 12th then it can feel slimmer than you'd expect from just the caliper readings. Cheers 👍
Hey, thanks!
My guess listening back on my iPhone is the X sounds more single coil open than the Y. The Y guitar sounds almost like a humbucker, more powerful than the X guitar.
So I say X is the Gibson and Y is the epiphone.
I think Y sounds Richer and deeper than X. My guess is the Gibson is Y. Hard call, I love P90's though. I really need a P90 guitar. Thanks for the video.
Thanks, a good comparison. I took your advice and tried different sauces. My fingers got sticky but I did prefer the BBQ. i have the Epi version and your test agreed with my feeling that the Epi P-90s have a thicker sound. My biggest issue is the finish on the Ep - it's a virtually opaque Mustard, not TV Yellow. I expect Gibson/Epiphone decided to do that as another point of difference.
It's cheaper and quicker to just douse it with paint than to be careful.
I'm wondering if you swap out the pickups AND the wiring in the Epiphone, how close it would sound to the Gibby...
Love your videos. Original and humorous. Thanks for making them. Question. P-90s are notoriously noisy. How did you tame that for the recording?
I don't use a lot of gain, other than that nothing special.
I’d like to see a shootout between a Squier CV Jazzmaster and a Fender Vintera Jazzmaster modified for example!
this is the closest thing I have to that ua-cam.com/video/Lc2iKUJtiEU/v-deo.html
Great video! The difference in sound from both guitars sitting here listening to you play was minimal, so I didn't want to guess. I'm sure after playing both guitars most guitarist will know which one's the Epiphone.
I did get the tone test correct, but it was tough. The high-gain bridge-pickup tone kind of confused me a bit. I had picked them correctly on the first two tests, but then on the third, I almost switched my guess. They're *very* close. But you can still tell them apart.
Question is, is it worth 3X the price to get a *tiny* bit better sound, and a nitro-cellulose finish? For me? No. I plan to buy the Epiphone in a couple of months. Worst case, I'll get some better pickups for ~$150 and *still* be *way* ahead of the game.
I actually slightly preferred Y. But both sound really good. It would be down to neck feel for me. 🤘
I have the Epiphone and it’s an awesome guitar. My only complaint is the wrap around bridge just will not intimate the G and B string. I switched to a Wilkinson bridge with an adjustable saddle for G and B . Fixed. I’ve also got Gibson’s and with a few exceptions the Epiphones are very nice and are a better value for the price. If that finish on the neck bothers you carefully sand it off. You can always rewire Gibson style.
Got it wrong. Epiphone wins in my ears.
Drop them. Makes good content fixing them 😊
Both cool guitars.
i don't know how many giveaways i have missed but I'M NOT MISSING THIS ONE, I can't keep ignoring what could be mineeeee
Just as visual difference: Gibson have a slant bridge post position(lower strings are closer to the nut). The body is one piece mahogany(but sometimes 2 pieces) and the neck is 1 pièce mahogany with NO scarf joint at the head. In general, Gibson use superior quality woods but some Gibson have QC issues(most of them esthetic issues hopefully...). Sound wise it doesn't show much.
I could’ve sworn that Y was the Gibson. I like Y so much more. I might end up going for the Epiphone.
I have Gibsons and I have Epiphones. The Epiphones are great for the price, and I like the "new" headstock way better than the clipped wing one. I'd love a TV Yellow Special, and considered the Epiphone, but I prefer the color and visible grain on the Gibson. I wish Epi's TV Yellow looked more like Gibson's. As of this moment, I'll wait for a used Gibson to show up for sale. If not, I'll probably go with the Epi.
Gibson string separation more defined imho, sound wasn't different enough to justify price. BUT Like prs s.e. v core models, your buying time or lastability? build reliability, hopefully? Resale value clearly a factor.. for now. Playability and feel aren't always subjective & the main difference. Materials, future availablity of, particularly with mahogany or threat to species & luthier build costs? PlEK machines etc can of worms opening in near future lol
I got it wrong, which is cool because I just picked up the Epiphone for $300. Diggin it.
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Okay. For real. What you were missing was a delay or slapback echo on "Comparison".
Both sounded great (actually I couldn't really tell which was which) - they both really nice. Looks-wise I like the Gibson more, but to be honest I'd be happy with either.
Watching on my TV I thought the Epiphone sounded better, but I don’t play guitar through my TV. I’ve own/owned both Gibson and Epiphone LP, SG, and ES guitars. Epiphone Riviera P93 was a fantastic guitar, but overall Gibson are much better and holding them in my hands I’d buy one Gibson over four Epiphone. However, I have been tempted to buy this model to have a nice guitar with P90s again while I save up for a gold top.
For whatever reason, the Gibson sounds cleaner and tighter. That could just be a pickup upgrade on the Epiphone.
Probably the headstock! 😆
The Gibson is more expensive due to the quality of the Mahogany, rosewood, Gibson pickups, hard shell case, nitro finish and Country of origin. Not to mention resale value. That being said I’ve got Gibson’s and two Epi’s!
Nothing beats the real thing ! I love my old Gibson . It took a life time for me to get my Gibson!
Never played the Gibson model, but the Epiphone model I played reminded me of my Gibson SG Classic with P90s in terms of sound and the way the neck felt. It’s really an excellent guitar, especially for the price. Total bang for your buck.
Yep!
I got it right, X had better string separation. Now, does it matter? Not really, I don't even like Gibson pups (Wolfetone pickups for me), so I'd rather get the Epi and upgrade the pups.
I played the Gibson version the other day. I was not blown away, I was expecting something special (no pun intended, I swear).
I admit that I’m superficial. Looks are very important to me. I much prefer Gibson headstock. Timeless. Is it worth the price? I own about 15 guitars and not one has P90’s. What to do?
I guessed correctly, but the high gain recordings really made me think...I preferred the Gibson clean and mid gain, but that Epiphone really did the thing on the high gain...Epi may be the way to go!
My guesses for "GUESS: WHICH GUITAR IS X & Y"
1. X
2. Y
3. X
4. Y
5. X
6. Y
..... Pretty sure I nailed it!
Nice to FINALLY see ya smile! lol
🙃
My experience with Epiphone is that they lack finishing the fretwork and fret material is sometimes a lesser quality. Buddy of mine had a n Epi Joe Bonamassa LP the fretwork was horrendous. Had gouges and were not polished at all. Those may have been made in China?
I am someone who can afford the gibson (and own several), but ended up proudly going with the epiphone in this case.
To me, the color (though not as authentic) looks better on the epiphone. The bridge design is better on the epiphone. And it’s literally 1/4 of the cost.
The little compromises being made on the epiphone were no issue to me whatsoever. It plays and feels incredible and I never want to put it down once I play it.
I’ve gotten over the whole country of origin thing. I know epiphone specs aren’t the same as gibson, but in an electric guitar I find it far less important than an acoustic
Got it right, I thought X sounded rounder and more pleasing;)
I honestly got it right, but I wouldn't want either of them. I'm not a Gibson fan, I'm a Strat man. Although, I would like to have an Explorer. I love that shape.
I found one of these Epiphones used but mint, for 340€ only and I am soooo impressed! It rings acoustically but I find the pickups a little dark and lacking definition. The finish is plasticky also...
Is that a good price?
@@landonbailey Yes it is! They are sold for 480€ in Europe so 340 is a good deal for a mint one, yes. 😏
Always liked Gibson SG so I bought a Epiphone SG Special Cherry finish, cost way less than a Gibson but worth the money, I like it alot. 👍
Very nice!
Epi should add more colours for the special! 🙂
Huh i recall the older video where you compared the epiphone special to the jr.
This is a very controversial comment, but I like the Epiphone headstock.
The tones recorded over UA-cam are worth 50bucks??? lol You are hilarious.
Was the winner announced?
yes on the Community tab
Eh? I live in the NCR and have a epipi LP Special with one volume and tone, the lower, lighter end version. It's a beast on its own. I'd be curious.....
On the tones I picked the Gibson by a small margin. It just seemed a little cleaner and brighter. That said, put them both in a mix and I highly doubt you hear a difference. Watching this and several other comparisons has convinced me to go with the Epiphone.
I got it right but they were extremely close. I do like the Gibson color better, it’s more traditional to the original models. I own two Epi Les Pauls but would opt for the more expensive Gibson.
I have the Epi, and I don't think the neck is for every, it's a real chonker (I love it).
That aside, it's just a stunning instrument
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Happy Easter ! Great sounding guitar thank you for the video!
Many thanks!
I have an older epi love it it’s like 10 yrs old it sounds great
Thanks LB and SW
There appeared to have been two different guitars. It all matters so much.
I like the Gibson's neck PU sound but Epiphone's distorted bridge PU 😓
Got it right. But they are similar. Gibson has more clarity or note separation. I love your video. Funny and informative!
Great comparison. They sound VERY close to me.
At the end of the day, 98% of your audience does not care about the name on your headstock. I've used $100 guitars and $1500 guitars. Most people don't notice or care. Use whatever gear gets the job done. It's about the player, NOT the gear. Good video. I'm opting for the Epiphone.
The LP junior is one model I urge people to consider the Epiphone for. The differences are negligible compared to the Gibson. If your interested in a bare bones model like this the advantages of the Gibby just aren't there. Same for the new korina 58's Epiphone just released. With the hardcase and Burstbuckers they're giving you all the specs at a mere fraction of the cost of a custom shop Gibson.
The fit and finish of Epiphones are usually good, though sometimes the frets aren't great. For a while now I've been deciding to give Chinese-made guitars a swerve though.
FWIW X struck me as better 'balanced' overall, Y seemed muddy in the bass and lacking clarity on top. That's on a pretty decent pair of noise cancelling Bose cans. That said - we really only had a glance at these . . . thanks. I guess it largely comes down to the pick-ups / wiring?
I mean they, (Guitar X and Y), both have some decent sounds but I would be shocked if the X is not the Gibson. To me, it has the more recognizable and usable tone. I mean, I would enjoy owning either, but Guitar X is by far the tone winner for me. Not sure which I would prefer playing. I like a Nitro finish but it is not absolutely necessary to me. Honestly, I would probably swap in CTS Pots 50's wiring, switchcraft parts and new pickups and be almost as happy with the Epiphone. My pocketbook would be happier too...
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Do you really think Gibson who owns Epiphone would let them produce a knockoff guitar that is better. The hate people have for Gibson just makes them more money when people buy an inferior product. In the end Gibson still profits off the hate.
I had the epi , swapped the pu's for tonerider p 90 's , sounded great . liked the fat neck , but hated the color in the end , so i sold it at a big loss , so no , never again .
I’ve never owned a Gibson. And never will I’ve happily own many epiphones always been a reasonable guitar for a reasonable price . I’m hoping to get one of these always wanted a special as a Bob Marley fan
If I hadn't payed attention to the screen I wouldn't have noticed the change from X to Y at times.
I liked the Gibson, I felt it had a slightly crisper sound.That being said I would definitely consider an Epiphone, and change the pickups.
I love the Limblifter t-shirt on the King Sumo page!
Vicious by them is a great song!
great band!
Yay! I got it right !
To be honest I wish the Gibson had the Epiphone neck pickup I like the that one position better on the Epiphone but overall the Gibson sounded better , that being said I own both Epiphone and Gibson guitars and would actually be down to personal taste for an individual for one and second if you really wanted the Gibson but couldn't afford it, Epiphone makes some killer guitars that sound and look very Gibson