This is exactly the kind of review I was looking for. Every other one I've seen so far is just some guy showing off his guitar playing skills for 15 mins.
DevonReviewer I'm only just after noticing something. Just out of curiosity It looks like yours has a bone nut as opposed to a black plastic it one that the G400 Pro usually comes with. Did you have them change it out when you bought it or did it come with it?
the older models tend to have the black plastic nut the new ones have a white plastic nut. my 2014 models are better and more accurate repros than my 2006 model.
Probably the most intelligent, practical, and useful analysis of a guitar I ever saw. I just bought this guitar last night and after seeing this video this morning, I think I made the right choice. Thank you so much!
I have it, I'm selling it. Not because it's not good. It plays and sounds fantastic. Honest. But I never clicked on it. The long neck put me off.. Which is weird, because when I play it, I have fun, maybe due to the exceptionally good pickups, and easy-to-reach high frets. Guess it wasn't love....
I own this exact model and I’ve found it to be rock solid - especially considering the cost. I’ve really put it to the test and if there were any shortcomings - they’d have been revealed by this time. If you DO purchase this guitar, here are a few basic tips to help you truly enjoy it. Based on your experience, you CAN DIY, but most music shops offer a set-up service to: a). replace the ‘factory’ strings - who knows their age and what they’ve been through? Ask first, but restringing should include changing and properly stretching the strings. b). set the guitar action (string height) properly. Set the strings closer to the pickups without grazing the fretboard. Results vary but they can be dramatic. Look, even if you have to pay a Pro once? At least you can rest assured your guitar has been played, handled and inspected by an experienced pro. You’re buying service AND peace of mind!
Good review. I got back into playing several years back and picked up a standard g400 for $94 US. Cleaned it up restrung it and its been a really really great guitar.
I have the left handed version of this guitar, and I love it. I've had a few Gibson lefty SGs that just didn't play well. I finally found a left handed Gibson SG that I really like, but it cost me three times what my Epi G400 cost.
Yea I’m a lefty and I’ve been playing a squire Strat upside down since I started about 6 months back (strings also right handed) and i ordered this sg and it’s supposed to come tomorrow, I am overly excited 😂
I bought this same exact one , color also in 2020. It's a phenomenal guitar with no flaws , sounds great for metal and blue's. I have no regrets , but I noticed it seems to be discontinued. I haven't seen it available since , I paid around $600 with taxes. Great deal IMO!
I came here for the guitar video but i skimmed through your channel and saw the Doc's and Redwing videos so I think i'm going to sub and go through your library . My son and I both play Guitar,bass, and drums and we have a little family punk band , I also grew up wearing Redwing and Doc's in high school in the 90's (i'm 44) and my son currently wears Redwing Iron Rangers and Engineers and we both wear and collect Vans! I also wore G Shocks from about 1993-2017 and switched to a Casio Pathfinder for work but my son and I started Collecting Swatch Watches which I had also been wearing since the 80's. Now on the guitar I used to have a black SG 400 but not the pro and it was pretty good but I couldn't stand the neck dive so we sold it.
Thanks so very much for your review. By far yours is one of the best and the close up + the lighting really shows the guitar really well. I'm planning to get a "beginners" guitar & your review really helps me to pick one... the Epiphone SG Pro. All the best with your upcoming guitar lessons... TQ
This rig could last someone for years. Both the guitar and amp are fantastic values, sound good and are reliable. I’ve gigged with the Katana 50 for a year now. I’m thinking about getting this SG as I can’t play heavy guitars anymore because of my left shoulder hurting.
I recently bought the Epiphone SG G-400 Pro except mine is Alpine White.. I haven't tried the coil tapping yet as I am starting out learning from day one again.. I could play a bit but a mini stroke wiped my memory of that.. But I love it, I only have small hands & I find it so easy to grip the neck.. My only criticism of it, is that if you're playing it sat down it tends to dive down & get neck heavy.. Thank you for a great review of a brilliant guitar!!🤘😊🎸💙🏴🤘
it's not a beginner guitar. IT'S a whoever wants a nice guitar be it beginner or pro. And yes you can gig out with this guitar. Just like any other guitar. Stop calling it a beginners guitar.it is a professional guitar no different then the rest period.
All guitars with a decent setup can and will sound good with a good player. Likewise, I (as a beginner) could take the best SG Gibson makes or has ever made, and it will sound shit.
@@purpleheartscott8553 Don't be so hard on yourself my friend. We all got to start as beginners. Just keep at it. You will get better. The idea is to enjoy the guitar. Everything else will follow.Best to you.
Thanks for this. Good to hear a Devonian accent; I partly grew up in Plymouth, but when I journey to the UK these days, spend quite a bit of time in Exeter and its environs. I also got a chuckle ouf of you saying, "I've had it off. So to speak" at 6.38! I have the 'older' version of this Epi - the G400, which does not have the split-coil pickups (I think that Epiphone is actually saying "Coil-Tapping" when the pickups are, in fact Split-Coil. There is a wiring difference, and what you described are Split Coil). I love my G400, and am contemplating selling it and buying the SG G400 Pro because of the pickups. I have the same pickups in my excellent Epiphone ES335 Pro. I own three Epi's and have been extremely impressed with the sound, build quality and finishing on all except my Casino. The Casino's pick ups and body are great, but the neck could use some work, such as the nut being replaced. I would highly recommend this guitar.
Great review! I've been playing guitar for 16 years and Epiphone really makes amazing guitars. I myself don't have this particular guitar but I've played it and it's really nice. I do however own an Epiphone SG from the Custom Shop (a limited run) which I've had for 10 years and it's still really great. One could say that the only thing Epiphone skinned down with these guitars are the pickups. They aren't the best in my opinion, but that's an easy fix. This one you are reviewing here really has a nice finish to it!
I just got that amp today. Traded in my Fender Mustang to get it. Got a Epi SG g400 pro coming tomorrow. I'm an intermediate player and I can tell you that that amp is one of the best amps for the money.
Hello and thank's for sharing your experience. I received mine today and this guitar is a beauty. The setup was not very well made for my "fingers" but that's fine. I've found that this guitar is very light (compare to my heavy Gibson Lespaul). The sound is brighter and sharper too, not so round. It's a very well made guitar at first glance. Time will say if this is just a feeling or reality.
The weak spots include the nut and pick-ups. But I have one and enjoy it surprisingly more for push pull clean and less for crunch. Mine sounds much more strat than Les Paul.
This is a really great guitar for a beginner. Before I bought mine, I'd only ever owned a cheap sub-£100 acoustic and I wanted to get into electric playing. I wanted something cheap with good quality hardware and nice styling, and I think the Epiphone SG was the perfect choice for me. I think the quality of the humbuckers really sets it apart from similar-priced guitars, and the nature of the SG makes it so versatile for discovering a particular style that you want to get into. The fretwork and overall finish is also really solid (although I'm far from an expert). Really informative review, especially with the notes on wood joints. I hadn't even noticed the scarf joint on the neck and I've been playing mine for nearly a year!
I'm thinking about upgrading to this guitar from my affinity Telecaster. Had the tele for about 5 months as my first guitar but I went and played one of these SGs and it just feels more like my kind of style. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for explaining they have the option of single coil pick up as I have never heard of that before. So is this the difference between an SG G-400 and an SG G-4OO Pro? Or is there more to it than that?
G-400 has metal Grover 'Kidney Bean' tuners. The Pro has Epiphone Deluxe Vintage style ('Tulip/Kluson') tuners. The vintage style might be less weight (less neck dive).
Great review of the guitar and quality. It shows just what you can get for money. Clearly - put it up against a Gibson of the same spec and you do get a warmer sound - that's what you pay for. But really. AMAZING!!
Very proud of you for picking up an SG as a "beginner".. because most people out there would just go for strats. Very Good Purchase my friend. If you plan on buying another guitar I'd go for the Epiphone Les Paul Plus Top Pro. Humbuckers are exactly like the ones your SG has. Coiltap n all. Only difference is that it's a Les Paul and the Grover Tuners. Good Luck with your progress! I support you! Great Boss Amp as well btw!
I've wanted the Limited Edition 1966 G-400 in red for approximately 10 years now. I was just a kid when I saw School of Rock and that's probably why I started playing guitar. Don't know if I should pull the trigger right now lol.
id like to see/hear you play the guitar reviews usually contain playing as well so we get a better idea how something not only sounds but also feels in the hands of the person reviewing it same for the amp lets here what you got, i play left handed and right handed and i do still suck righty but i rule on lefty but i still give it my best so i can failry review a guitar etc. we dont expect acdc or ratt etc but we all iam sure would like a players prespective beginner or not ,. other wise nice review over all i have 2 sgs one standard and i just bought a pro standard g400 2013 model that has epiphone 57 classics will be nice to see how they hold up against my gibson les paul with its gibson 57 classics
Paul Gibson Not at all, playing wise I just like picking up a few choice riffs for my own gratification and relaxation, lots of new toys to play with too. What were you drinking? I got a Laphroaig QA Cask for Christmas.. havent opened it yet but only available at duty free apparently..
I have this same model and I hooked up my little Spectrum 9 volt battery amp to it. Let me tell you, the sound that came out of that little amp blew me away. I think those Alnico pickups make a big difference. I can play AC/DC riffs and get the same overdriven sound. Thanks for the review.🎸👍
In Australia, this retails for $799 Aus. The bloke at the music shop done me an awesome deal and marked it down to $540 Aus. Couldn't refuse, fantastic guitar.
It is absolute beauty this Epiphone. I’ll try to find this exactly model but I can’t find it anywhere. I live in Sweden. Anyway thank you for the review.
Jodix Try Zzounds , i live in the US but got this 2 days ago , maybe they'll ship to Sweden. By the way paid $456 with tax and free shipping. It shipped in one day. I have this same exact one and love it! Good luck!!!!
David Weier yes they're much lighter than the LP, if your used to a LP they're slightly different in feel and balance because the body shape makes the neck feel longer but for the Gibson sound they're spot on and you can get quite a low action on the SG dunno why but you just can. more midrangey than a LP.
You made some great choices. I personally own the '66 model of the g400 pro and it's quite a bit of guitar for the money and a quality build and in general it's quite the workhorse as far as the sounds you can get from it especially with the coil taps. The amp is a fantastic choice as well, very few other amps can compete at the $300 or less budget range. I have a Peavey Vypyr VIP 40w modeling amp and while it's great at what it does I would have chosen the Boss Katana 50 if it was available.
I am new to guitar so will this only make a metal/rock or roll sound ?I want that sound but I also want more of a softer rock/country/pop sound can I get that with this guitar?
You know what kind of guitar it is how it sounds this shows you everything about the guitar and that's a good thing because I'm looking to upgrade to the ultimate guitar is eat Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro it's expensive, but it's a good sounding guitar.
DevonReviewer. Now, did you have to set the action up or down and work on the saddles and the truss rod when you had gotten it? because on other videos, they say that you will have to do a bit of setting it up....
I like G400pro very much ... they are so much fun to play, nice sounding with stock pickups and coil splt there is really good ... on les paul type guitars split coils are not that good, because, they still sound too much boomy for strat/tele type "emulation" ...
Epiphone SG Pro was my first New guitar. You have a leg up. That Katana!!!I hated my SG because I had a Peavey modeler that was a POS. Not to mention i always dialed the gain too high. wish i had kept the SG now that i know better
Nice review, nice guitar! Epiphones are great values for the money, true workhorses. Everything you go over is pretty standard for import guitars. The advantage you have on this over other import electrics with this one are the independent coil taps on the pickups. I have a Schecter S 1 Elite as a SG style stand in. It's a bit beefer than SGs. Gibson guitars cost much more and how much more on the price point is debatable. Are the pickups better????Ehhhh...really yes if you prefer them. These Probuckers have their fans. You can always drop in Gibson pickups on Epiphones for a really great gigging guitar. Since you are in the UK I would recommend some Bareknuckle pickups. Also Gibson SGs tend to be two pieces of wood depending on year and model. Yes SGs typically are a bit neck heavy and do a neck dive. Some are worse than others on this so just expect that going in on getting a SG regardless of brand. I used to have a Samick Artist SG style guitar that was every bit as much fun as my Gibson SG...I miss that guitar. The choices made are great here...great amp, great guitar. My preference is for a leather strap and Dunlop straplocks. I would also recommend a setup on any import guitar...thats a big part of cost cutting. Usually a $2k guitar will feel and play better because the factory took more time on all the little things. Can a $350 guitar compare? With a good setup you can narrow the gap. One last thing on the SG guitars, I wouldn't recommend going thicker than 10 guage strings on here. Going to 11 gauge or higher will most likely result in the polyester finish cracking at the heal joint. That really brings down the value if you look to sell it later.
I have a G400 Pro. When I first got it I was underwhelmed really. Looked into it more and found that the reason I was not loving it was because the fingerboard had extreme amounts of fret buzzing choking the notes and preventing notes from ringing true and sustaining. I had to do a load of fret levelling on this guitar as almost all the lower frets from 7 on-wards needed attention. This is really not good enough for the price you pay for Epiphone which is high end of budget guitar range. In my opinion both Vintage and Yamaha offer so much better. On my Vintage VS6 I had only to level 1 fret to achieve perfection whereas on the Epi it was at least 7 of the frets were out and by a mile which prevented obtaining a reasonably low action. Pick ups are ok on the Epi but nothing special and you may want to replace that as well. So all in all the price is building up and getting near to the cost of a Gibson SG special especially if you cannot do the work for yourself and need a guitar tech to do it for you. All in all then it is clear where Epiphone are making the savings and compromises and this is in the labour intensive tasks like fret levelling. They are chucking out a poor product made cheaply without care and attention where the action is set high to mask out the compromises that they have made and lack of care and attention to detail. Beginners may not notice this but a more intermediate player would. Buy a G 400 or G 400 Pro but expect to do a lot of work to make it a truly playable and pleasurable experience. having said all that I now do like the G 400 Pro because it plays properly like it should have of before it left the factory. I have had Epiphones before and all have suffered quality control issues. I would recommend either Vintage or Yamaha as better options for budget guitars.
My Epiphone SG G-400 PRO is supposed to arrive in 2 days. Going out of my mind waiting 😂. Ordered through Thomann. I decided on the Vox VT40X amp with VFS5 foot controller, I was going to order that through gear4music because they seemed to have the best deal but because of all the bad reviews I've seen of their service and the fact that they just flat out ignored my inquiries about the nearly €400 worth of items I wished to purchase from them I'll spend my money elsewhere even though it will cost me a good bit more. I don't want to have to wait 2 or 3 months for my order to arrive. Anyone working on a time machine I will gladly invest in your project if it will get my guitar yesterday 😂
DevonReviewer thanks. I have to say so far my experience with Thomann has been very positive. Gear4Music even got back to me about the amp and were very helpful. I think the problem that most of the people giving bad reviews had for both companies was with their customer service when something went wrong. Fingers crossed I'll be lucky and not have to deal with any returns.
Should'v added that is the slight difference in sound worth the price difference? I don't think so. Check out the LP high ends from Epiphone, the ES335 / 339 just amazing!
The only thing that would make me consider the Gibson is the "big" name, and also the later resale value... did you check out the Andertons video "most expensive epiphone SG vs cheapest gibson SG" quite interesting... although they are salesmen!
Both ironic and fitting that you would match this model up with that Katana amplifier, since another UA-cam user with a collection of professional-grade guitars has recently posted a video with the same matchup. Although in actuality, the guitar belonged to his son. It’s been nearly 3 years since you uploaded this review. Have you found that you play frequently again? Have you gotten other guitars? I don’t have this model, but I would consider one if I was in the market for another economy axe.
Hi, Honestly I was in between getting a Gibson Standard SG 2018 (it says is a 2018 but in reality is a 2017) and also Gibson have a 2019 version as well. On the other hand there is the Epiphone SG G-400 and I noticed that there is another Epiphone SG 1961, I’m I right? Anyways, so I need your advice between all of this guitars and what is the better one to get since I only need it to play for fun at home. I will also appreciate if you can suggest to me what kind of an amp you think is great to go with any of this guitars please. I look forward to hear your guys comments. Thanks a lot!!
I've got a Gibson SG with P90's, and I'll be honest, it's really not that much better than the 1981 Westbury I bought for £135. If I wanted a semi, I'd definitely go for an Epiphone Casino. More money doesn't necessarily equate to more fun, and the most fun I have is on my 100 quid Harley Benton Tele copy!
the ķluson type tuners are better on the sg as the grovers tend to make the balance neck heavy e with the sg being such a light guitar. i think the veneers look really nice too. I have a 61 sg special with p90s it's a awesome guitar.
I just ordered an SG G400 Pro. I had the choice of an older model (with Grove Tuners); but I suspected they might contribute more to neck dive. I have 14:1 Grover's on an Epi Les Paul Standard, they hold tuning incredible well (with 3 step bends); hope the Kluson type on the SG Pro as as good!
Not a fan of the headstocks on the Epiphones and Gibsons, tuning problems with the G and D strings, and not to mentiom when the guitar falls backwards, there's a likely chance it'll break; because it's angled and all... But, then again, it is an SG, so it's awesome by nature. I've played Epiphones and Gibsons before - only the Les Paul models. An SG has to be worth getting. Good for you, mate. 👍
Tuning stability is a problem, albeit a fairly minor one for me as I just play at home and dont gig. I am tempted to invest in a graphite (or maybe brass / ti) nut and some locking tuners... I think that would largely resolve the problem?
And some beginners spend lots of time researching and looking at lots of videos on UA-cam, BEFORE making the decision to buy their first guitar. So they can be prttey well-informed, even before getting their hands on a guitar for the first time. Sure, it may be an exception, but it happens. (talking from experience here) 😊
I agree with you on tremolos. All you get with them is an ugly bridge that is difficult to clean with a useless hole or equally useless arm because they only hold tune after use on guitars that are out of my price range. If you are a wannabe or genuine shredder you will naturally disagree, everyone else just doesn't need them.
Yes it's just a damn great guitar, which has no disadvantages whatsoever!! It's even better than the original. You can do everything on this guitar. I know because I have one. 😉
I'm a beginner, and right now I have a stratocaster. I am going to buy this guitar really soon (inspired by Angus Young). Do you recommend this guitar??
@janis vogel No I am seeking 'advice'. You can 'advise' me or counsel me as to a course of action, that may or may not be good ADVICE. advice noun noun: advice; plural noun: advices 1. guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action. "my advice is to see your doctor" OR "my advice to you would be know what you're talking about when correcting people"
@janis vogel This may help you. To get around verb confusion, you can think of “please advise” as a shortcut for “please advise [me].” ... Advice is a noun, meaning “suggestions for what to do,” and advise is a verb meaning “to give advice.” Hope you now see why I said.. "Any advice people?" Well? Do you Janis? (See I should have spelled that as "Janice" lol)
GMaction Honestly I don’t think you could go wrong with either one of them. They both play and sound good. I would say it comes down to personal preference as to what shape you like better
I played today with this Epiphone through a Fender Princeton Reverb 68 Silverface with the volume cranked up to 5. This combo kicks asses. I couldn't believe the sound that was coming out of it. I personally own the 65 Blackface Princeton Reverb because i mostly use Telecasters. But for this particular guitar i would go with the Silverface. In fact i am thinking to buy the silverface and stack them :)
Fender Super Champ XD (15w) works very well for home use (Hybrid Solid State/Tube Amplifier). Channel 2, Voice 9 (Marshall stack) ideal for heavy rock sound. Voice 14 (Fender Metal Head) is a monster. Lots of other good choices; Voice 8 (early Marshall), Voice 7 (Vox), Voice 3 (heavily overdriven Fender Tweed)...plus the clean channel and on board effects (Reverb/Delay etc...).
This is exactly the kind of review I was looking for. Every other one I've seen so far is just some guy showing off his guitar playing skills for 15 mins.
Thanks! I just wanted to do the review "my way"... also I dont have any skills to show off!
DevonReviewer me too :D
DevonReviewer I'm only just after noticing something. Just out of curiosity It looks like yours has a bone nut as opposed to a black plastic it one that the G400 Pro usually comes with. Did you have them change it out when you bought it or did it come with it?
the older models tend to have the black plastic nut the new ones have a white plastic nut.
my 2014 models are better and more accurate repros than my 2006 model.
thank you
Probably the most intelligent, practical, and useful analysis of a guitar I ever saw. I just bought this guitar last night and after seeing this video this morning, I think I made the right choice. Thank you so much!
Any updates on your thoughts on the guitar?
Any updates? Still like the this gtar?
I have it, I'm selling it. Not because it's not good. It plays and sounds fantastic. Honest. But I never clicked on it. The long neck put me off.. Which is weird, because when I play it, I have fun, maybe due to the exceptionally good pickups, and easy-to-reach high frets. Guess it wasn't love....
Duckman531 VERY CORRECT CHOICE bro. Proud of ya!
I've been eyeing both this guitar, and this amp... And I come across this video. Mind blown. I'm sold on both. It's a sign.
“If I flip it over... *Ad plays*”
SpanishDandy It happened to me too😁
I own this exact model and I’ve found it to be rock solid - especially considering the cost. I’ve really put it to the test and if there were any shortcomings - they’d have been revealed by this time. If you DO purchase this guitar, here are a few basic tips to help you truly enjoy it. Based on your experience, you CAN DIY, but most music shops offer a set-up service to: a). replace the ‘factory’ strings - who knows their age and what they’ve been through? Ask first, but restringing should include changing and properly stretching the strings. b). set the guitar action (string height) properly. Set the strings closer to the pickups without grazing the fretboard. Results vary but they can be dramatic. Look, even if you have to pay a Pro once? At least you can rest assured your guitar has been played, handled and inspected by an experienced pro. You’re buying service AND peace of mind!
WOW one of the best reviews ive ever seen of a guitar. Ive seen a tonne of them and you win hands down. You should just do guitars AWESOME.
Good review. I got back into playing several years back and picked up a standard g400 for $94 US. Cleaned it up restrung it and its been a really really great guitar.
I have the left handed version of this guitar, and I love it. I've had a few Gibson lefty SGs that just didn't play well. I finally found a left handed Gibson SG that I really like, but it cost me three times what my Epi G400 cost.
Awesome, I have a lefthanded one too and I never had such a great guitar before!! It's just perfect.
Yea I’m a lefty and I’ve been playing a squire Strat upside down since I started about 6 months back (strings also right handed) and i ordered this sg and it’s supposed to come tomorrow, I am overly excited 😂
I bought this same exact one , color also in 2020. It's a phenomenal guitar with no flaws , sounds great for metal and blue's. I have no regrets , but I noticed it seems to be discontinued. I haven't seen it available since , I paid around $600 with taxes. Great deal IMO!
you should review that boss katana amp
RPGeniu5 one word, its great done hahah
I came here for the guitar video but i skimmed through your channel and saw the Doc's and Redwing videos so I think i'm going to sub and go through your library . My son and I both play Guitar,bass, and drums and we have a little family punk band , I also grew up wearing Redwing and Doc's in high school in the 90's (i'm 44) and my son currently wears Redwing Iron Rangers and Engineers and we both wear and collect Vans! I also wore G Shocks from about 1993-2017 and switched to a Casio Pathfinder for work but my son and I started Collecting Swatch Watches which I had also been wearing since the 80's. Now on the guitar I used to have a black SG 400 but not the pro and it was pretty good but I couldn't stand the neck dive so we sold it.
Thanks so very much for your review. By far yours is one of the best and the close up + the lighting really shows the guitar really well. I'm planning to get a "beginners" guitar & your review really helps me to pick one... the Epiphone SG Pro. All the best with your upcoming guitar lessons... TQ
Wow thanks, that's very kind, I did hope to provide some close up details so I am glad that this helped.
Bought this model yesterday as my first guitar. Never played before (trumpeter for 50 years). Looking forward to this. Great video.
This rig could last someone for years. Both the guitar and amp are fantastic values, sound good and are reliable. I’ve gigged with the Katana 50 for a year now. I’m thinking about getting this SG as I can’t play heavy guitars anymore because of my left shoulder hurting.
The scarf neck joint is not only less expensive, but it also makes the neck joint a lot more durable against breakage.
I recently bought the Epiphone SG G-400 Pro except mine is Alpine White.. I haven't tried the coil tapping yet as I am starting out learning from day one again.. I could play a bit but a mini stroke wiped my memory of that.. But I love it, I only have small hands & I find it so easy to grip the neck.. My only criticism of it, is that if you're playing it sat down it tends to dive down & get neck heavy.. Thank you for a great review of a brilliant guitar!!🤘😊🎸💙🏴🤘
A broad, course leather strap helps. Some folk put the strap pin on the upper horn.
it's not a beginner guitar. IT'S a whoever wants a nice guitar be it beginner or pro. And yes you can gig out with this guitar. Just like any other guitar. Stop calling it a beginners guitar.it is a professional guitar no different then the rest period.
its only beginner in price. man I love mine so much
Daniel Hartman is a BEGINNER :) lol
If you want a real guitar go Vintage vs6
All guitars with a decent setup can and will sound good with a good player. Likewise, I (as a beginner) could take the best SG Gibson makes or has ever made, and it will sound shit.
@@purpleheartscott8553 Don't be so hard on yourself my friend. We all got to start as beginners. Just keep at it. You will get better. The idea is to enjoy the guitar. Everything else will follow.Best to you.
Daniel Hartman thanks mate. I’ve been practicing lots lately and slowly but surely, I’m improving.
Thanks 🙏
I am buying one of these this weekend. Thanks for the video!
My friend had one of these and it was excellent sounding apart from the G and D going out of tune but he solved that with a string butler device
It just needs a proper nut
I bought the exact same setup with the Katana 50. Love it. I'm also getting back to playing. Spot on.
Thanks for this. Good to hear a Devonian accent; I partly grew up in Plymouth, but when I journey to the UK these days, spend quite a bit of time in Exeter and its environs. I also got a chuckle ouf of you saying, "I've had it off. So to speak" at 6.38!
I have the 'older' version of this Epi - the G400, which does not have the split-coil pickups (I think that Epiphone is actually saying "Coil-Tapping" when the pickups are, in fact Split-Coil. There is a wiring difference, and what you described are Split Coil).
I love my G400, and am contemplating selling it and buying the SG G400 Pro because of the pickups. I have the same pickups in my excellent Epiphone ES335 Pro.
I own three Epi's and have been extremely impressed with the sound, build quality and finishing on all except my Casino. The Casino's pick ups and body are great, but the neck could use some work, such as the nut being replaced.
I would highly recommend this guitar.
Have a Happy journey back down the road of music, nice looking guitar.
Great review!
I've been playing guitar for 16 years and Epiphone really makes amazing guitars.
I myself don't have this particular guitar but I've played it and it's really nice. I do however own an Epiphone SG from the Custom Shop (a limited run) which I've had for 10 years and it's still really great.
One could say that the only thing Epiphone skinned down with these guitars are the pickups. They aren't the best in my opinion, but that's an easy fix.
This one you are reviewing here really has a nice finish to it!
Satanist meeting. Awesome!!!
I just got that amp today. Traded in my Fender Mustang to get it. Got a Epi SG g400 pro coming tomorrow. I'm an intermediate player and I can tell you that that amp is one of the best amps for the money.
Hello and thank's for sharing your experience. I received mine today and this guitar is a beauty. The setup was not very well made for my "fingers" but that's fine. I've found that this guitar is very light (compare to my heavy Gibson Lespaul). The sound is brighter and sharper too, not so round. It's a very well made guitar at first glance. Time will say if this is just a feeling or reality.
The weak spots include the nut and pick-ups. But I have one and enjoy it surprisingly more for push pull clean and less for crunch. Mine sounds much more strat than Les Paul.
This is a really great guitar for a beginner. Before I bought mine, I'd only ever owned a cheap sub-£100 acoustic and I wanted to get into electric playing. I wanted something cheap with good quality hardware and nice styling, and I think the Epiphone SG was the perfect choice for me. I think the quality of the humbuckers really sets it apart from similar-priced guitars, and the nature of the SG makes it so versatile for discovering a particular style that you want to get into. The fretwork and overall finish is also really solid (although I'm far from an expert). Really informative review, especially with the notes on wood joints. I hadn't even noticed the scarf joint on the neck and I've been playing mine for nearly a year!
I'm thinking about upgrading to this guitar from my affinity Telecaster. Had the tele for about 5 months as my first guitar but I went and played one of these SGs and it just feels more like my kind of style. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for explaining they have the option of single coil pick up as I have never heard of that before. So is this the difference between an SG G-400 and an SG G-4OO Pro? Or is there more to it than that?
Stephen Luke I do believe that the SG G-400 pro can coil split while the SG G-400 cannot coil split
G-400 has metal Grover 'Kidney Bean' tuners. The Pro has Epiphone Deluxe Vintage style ('Tulip/Kluson') tuners. The vintage style might be less weight (less neck dive).
I just bought one in alpine wait from a small shop. Can't wait!
I got this for 150 used. I beat the crap out of it and its solid. You'll want to pick it up constantly. That's the best thing I can say. Good for fuzz
Great review of the guitar and quality. It shows just what you can get for money. Clearly - put it up against a Gibson of the same spec and you do get a warmer sound - that's what you pay for. But really. AMAZING!!
Very proud of you for picking up an SG as a "beginner".. because most people out there would just go for strats. Very Good Purchase my friend. If you plan on buying another guitar I'd go for the Epiphone Les Paul Plus Top Pro. Humbuckers are exactly like the ones your SG has. Coiltap n all. Only difference is that it's a Les Paul and the Grover Tuners. Good Luck with your progress! I support you! Great Boss Amp as well btw!
I've wanted the Limited Edition 1966 G-400 in red for approximately 10 years now. I was just a kid when I saw School of Rock and that's probably why I started playing guitar. Don't know if I should pull the trigger right now lol.
id like to see/hear you play the guitar reviews usually contain playing as well so we get a better idea how something not only sounds but also feels in the hands of the person reviewing it same for the amp lets here what you got, i play left handed and right handed and i do still suck righty but i rule on lefty but i still give it my best so i can failry review a guitar etc. we dont expect acdc or ratt etc but we all iam sure would like a players prespective beginner or not ,. other wise nice review over all i have 2 sgs one standard and i just bought a pro standard g400 2013 model that has epiphone 57 classics will be nice to see how they hold up against my gibson les paul with its gibson 57 classics
Great review thanks. Your style of assessment is always very technical and appreciated but I hope your playing is more from the soul ;)
Mangled chords and forgotten scales is where I am at!
Cool, I hope you didn't take my comment as negative. I was a little drunk which involved a nice single malt.
Paul Gibson Not at all, playing wise I just like picking up a few choice riffs for my own gratification and relaxation, lots of new toys to play with too. What were you drinking? I got a Laphroaig QA Cask for Christmas.. havent opened it yet but only available at duty free apparently..
It is Jura Tastival, it's a gift from my son and a bit too expensive. Enjoy the guitar.
Paul Gibson Looks like an interesting tipple!
I have this same model and I hooked up my little Spectrum 9 volt battery amp to it. Let me tell you, the sound that came out of that little amp blew me away. I think those Alnico pickups make a big difference. I can play AC/DC riffs and get the same overdriven sound. Thanks for the review.🎸👍
In Australia, this retails for $799 Aus. The bloke at the music shop done me an awesome deal and marked it down to $540 Aus. Couldn't refuse, fantastic guitar.
Sounds like a great deal
Cheers mate, and thanks for a great review on it. Nice and straight forward.
Great combo, excellent choice for a guitar and amp,are you still playing? now that it's been awhile since this video,
Awesome bud! 20 years for me also 2 weeks back and doing ok.... have fun bc I am 🍻
It is absolute beauty this Epiphone. I’ll try to find this exactly model but I can’t find it anywhere. I live in Sweden. Anyway thank you for the review.
Jodix Try Zzounds , i live in the US but got this 2 days ago , maybe they'll ship to Sweden. By the way paid $456 with tax and free shipping. It shipped in one day. I have this same exact one and love it! Good luck!!!!
Got many expansive guitars, yet this one is my favored by far. Best $ 359 I have ever spend on any guitar.
Edi Gabrieli do you have a Les Paul? I have one, love it, but was looking for something that's not as heavy/bulky. Just want your opinion on the 2.
David Weier yes they're much lighter than the LP, if your used to a LP they're slightly different in feel and balance because the body shape makes the neck feel longer but for the Gibson sound they're spot on and you can get quite a low action on the SG dunno why but you just can. more midrangey than a LP.
Excellent choices! I own both of these pieces myself. Great share!
Wow great review man. You really know how to review a guitar. Very detailed, very well explained. Thanks for the great job.
You made some great choices. I personally own the '66 model of the g400 pro and it's quite a bit of guitar for the money and a quality build and in general it's quite the workhorse as far as the sounds you can get from it especially with the coil taps. The amp is a fantastic choice as well, very few other amps can compete at the $300 or less budget range. I have a Peavey Vypyr VIP 40w modeling amp and while it's great at what it does I would have chosen the Boss Katana 50 if it was available.
I am new to guitar so will this only make a metal/rock or roll sound ?I want that sound but I also want more of a softer rock/country/pop sound can I get that with this guitar?
It looks like Epiphone is a better choice these days. Nice video. Like your Seiko. I have the same strap on my Seiko SKX007.
Just got the G400 pro 1966 edition. Its sick as hell!
You know what kind of guitar it is how it sounds this shows you everything about the guitar and that's a good thing because I'm looking to upgrade to the ultimate guitar is eat Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro it's expensive, but it's a good sounding guitar.
Thank you for this review, it feels like a real world review from a normal person. What's that watch you are wearing?
Beautiful guitar and a really excellent review! You answered every question I had! You are an excellent speaker, btw.
Thank you!
Beautiful guitar. Hope the learning is going well!
Nice Seiko SKX007!
How high is the fret action?
Will the action cause any problem during fast improvisations?
I have the Epiphone SG Special Worn Vintage Cherry version
so it looks similiar
that's a top quality looking sg400. I am thinking of buying one...
Thanks! Really great guitar, enjoying it a lot!
DevonReviewer. Now, did you have to set the action up or down and work on the saddles and the truss rod when you had gotten it? because on other videos, they say that you will have to do a bit of setting it up....
I like the guitar! I was thinking about buying one next
I'm gonna buy it soon. Very excited!
BFTime do you have it yet
Still reminds me of an old Hondo II SG I owned
only difference being the Epiphone isn't a noticeably laminated body
I like G400pro very much ... they are so much fun to play, nice sounding with stock pickups and coil splt there is really good ... on les paul type guitars split coils are not that good, because, they still sound too much boomy for strat/tele type "emulation" ...
What’s the difference between SG 400 and SG standard 61? Also I didn’t find SG400 on epiphone website
Thank you for the video, it was very helpful :)
Epiphone SG Pro was my first New guitar. You have a leg up. That Katana!!!I hated my SG because I had a Peavey modeler that was a POS. Not to mention i always dialed the gain too high. wish i had kept the SG now that i know better
Nice vid.. would fitting a full scratchplate to this model devalue the item?
Nice review, nice guitar! Epiphones are great values for the money, true workhorses. Everything you go over is pretty standard for import guitars. The advantage you have on this over other import electrics with this one are the independent coil taps on the pickups. I have a Schecter S 1 Elite as a SG style stand in. It's a bit beefer than SGs.
Gibson guitars cost much more and how much more on the price point is debatable. Are the pickups better????Ehhhh...really yes if you prefer them. These Probuckers have their fans. You can always drop in Gibson pickups on Epiphones for a really great gigging guitar. Since you are in the UK I would recommend some Bareknuckle pickups. Also Gibson SGs tend to be two pieces of wood depending on year and model.
Yes SGs typically are a bit neck heavy and do a neck dive. Some are worse than others on this so just expect that going in on getting a SG regardless of brand. I used to have a Samick Artist SG style guitar that was every bit as much fun as my Gibson SG...I miss that guitar.
The choices made are great here...great amp, great guitar. My preference is for a leather strap and Dunlop straplocks. I would also recommend a setup on any import guitar...thats a big part of cost cutting. Usually a $2k guitar will feel and play better because the factory took more time on all the little things. Can a $350 guitar compare? With a good setup you can narrow the gap.
One last thing on the SG guitars, I wouldn't recommend going thicker than 10 guage strings on here. Going to 11 gauge or higher will most likely result in the polyester finish cracking at the heal joint. That really brings down the value if you look to sell it later.
I have a G400 Pro. When I first got it I was underwhelmed really. Looked into it more and found that the reason I was not loving it was because the fingerboard had extreme amounts of fret buzzing choking the notes and preventing notes from ringing true and sustaining. I had to do a load of fret levelling on this guitar as almost all the lower frets from 7 on-wards needed attention. This is really not good enough for the price you pay for Epiphone which is high end of budget guitar range. In my opinion both Vintage and Yamaha offer so much better. On my Vintage VS6 I had only to level 1 fret to achieve perfection whereas on the Epi it was at least 7 of the frets were out and by a mile which prevented obtaining a reasonably low action. Pick ups are ok on the Epi but nothing special and you may want to replace that as well. So all in all the price is building up and getting near to the cost of a Gibson SG special especially if you cannot do the work for yourself and need a guitar tech to do it for you. All in all then it is clear where Epiphone are making the savings and compromises and this is in the labour intensive tasks like fret levelling. They are chucking out a poor product made cheaply without care and attention where the action is set high to mask out the compromises that they have made and lack of care and attention to detail. Beginners may not notice this but a more intermediate player would. Buy a G 400 or G 400 Pro but expect to do a lot of work to make it a truly playable and pleasurable experience. having said all that I now do like the G 400 Pro because it plays properly like it should have of before it left the factory. I have had Epiphones before and all have suffered quality control issues. I would recommend either Vintage or Yamaha as better options for budget guitars.
My Epiphone SG G-400 PRO is supposed to arrive in 2 days. Going out of my mind waiting 😂. Ordered through Thomann. I decided on the Vox VT40X amp with VFS5 foot controller, I was going to order that through gear4music because they seemed to have the best deal but because of all the bad reviews I've seen of their service and the fact that they just flat out ignored my inquiries about the nearly €400 worth of items I wished to purchase from them I'll spend my money elsewhere even though it will cost me a good bit more. I don't want to have to wait 2 or 3 months for my order to arrive. Anyone working on a time machine I will gladly invest in your project if it will get my guitar yesterday 😂
Just had my first order from Thomann, very good prices and service. Enjoy your new SG!
DevonReviewer thanks. I have to say so far my experience with Thomann has been very positive. Gear4Music even got back to me about the amp and were very helpful. I think the problem that most of the people giving bad reviews had for both companies was with their customer service when something went wrong. Fingers crossed I'll be lucky and not have to deal with any returns.
Should'v added that is the slight difference in sound worth the price difference? I don't think so. Check out the LP high ends from Epiphone, the ES335 / 339 just amazing!
The only thing that would make me consider the Gibson is the "big" name, and also the later resale value... did you check out the Andertons video "most expensive epiphone SG vs cheapest gibson SG" quite interesting... although they are salesmen!
Good looking guitar!
Always liked the SG style, and the fit and finish is excellent for the price!
Both ironic and fitting that you would match this model up with that Katana amplifier, since another UA-cam user with a collection of professional-grade guitars has recently posted a video with the same matchup. Although in actuality, the guitar belonged to his son.
It’s been nearly 3 years since you uploaded this review. Have you found that you play frequently again? Have you gotten other guitars?
I don’t have this model, but I would consider one if I was in the market for another economy axe.
Fabulous review.
Hi,
Honestly I was in between getting a Gibson Standard SG 2018 (it says is a 2018 but in reality is a 2017) and also Gibson have a 2019 version as well. On the other hand there is the Epiphone SG G-400 and I noticed that there is another Epiphone SG 1961, I’m I right? Anyways, so I need your advice between all of this guitars and what is the better one to get since I only need it to play for fun at home. I will also appreciate if you can suggest to me what kind of an amp you think is great to go with any of this guitars please.
I look forward to hear your guys comments.
Thanks a lot!!
I've got a Gibson SG with P90's, and I'll be honest, it's really not that much better than the 1981 Westbury I bought for £135. If I wanted a semi, I'd definitely go for an Epiphone Casino. More money doesn't necessarily equate to more fun, and the most fun I have is on my 100 quid Harley Benton Tele copy!
Cheers. Nice guitar and nice 007 too. 🎸⌚
the ķluson type tuners are better on the sg as the grovers tend to make the balance neck heavy e with the sg being such a light guitar. i think the veneers look really nice too. I have a 61 sg special with p90s it's a awesome guitar.
I just ordered an SG G400 Pro. I had the choice of an older model (with Grove Tuners); but I suspected they might contribute more to neck dive. I have 14:1 Grover's on an Epi Les Paul Standard, they hold tuning incredible well (with 3 step bends); hope the Kluson type on the SG Pro as as good!
Do you still have this guitar, and are you still happy with it?
i have this guitar with boss katana mk2 50w.. sound is amaizing
Excellent, thank you
Is a 1997 one of these worth £230 with a hard case?
Not a fan of the headstocks on the Epiphones and Gibsons, tuning problems with the G and D strings, and not to mentiom when the guitar falls backwards, there's a likely chance it'll break; because it's angled and all...
But, then again, it is an SG, so it's awesome by nature. I've played Epiphones and Gibsons before - only the Les Paul models. An SG has to be worth getting. Good for you, mate. 👍
Tuning stability is a problem, albeit a fairly minor one for me as I just play at home and dont gig. I am tempted to invest in a graphite (or maybe brass / ti) nut and some locking tuners... I think that would largely resolve the problem?
He seems to know a good bit for a “beginner”
Daniel Martin he said he hasn’t played in years
Yeah
And some beginners spend lots of time researching and looking at lots of videos on UA-cam, BEFORE making the decision to buy their first guitar. So they can be prttey well-informed, even before getting their hands on a guitar for the first time. Sure, it may be an exception, but it happens. (talking from experience here) 😊
@@kvnvdh Thats legit me, im looking to buy my first electric guitar on the weekends and I already know alot of information.
@@bucketeer7087 Good luck mate.
Are you already set on a specific one, or still undecided? 😊
Hi ,I lke your video and aI want bay this guitar.I m not A beginer but I play 7 years a acustic guitar.
Are the pickups microphonic? Most cheap pickups suffer from this fault.
Damn $299!! I paid $456 with tax , it went up that much in 3 years , that's nuts!
My pickups do not have any writing, I'm worried I have a fake one. How can I check the model out based on the serial number?
Neither do mine?
Those are stickers
That are removed after purchase I believe
My epiphone les Paul came with them
You recommend this guitar? I play for almost 2 years and i want to buy a new guitar...
I agree with you on tremolos. All you get with them is an ugly bridge that is difficult to clean with a useless hole or equally useless arm because they only hold tune after use on guitars that are out of my price range. If you are a wannabe or genuine shredder you will naturally disagree, everyone else just doesn't need them.
Do you still have it ?
Yes it's just a damn great guitar, which has no disadvantages whatsoever!! It's even better than the original. You can do everything on this guitar. I know because I have one. 😉
I'm a beginner, and right now I have a stratocaster. I am going to buy this guitar really soon (inspired by Angus Young). Do you recommend this guitar??
@@eirik3938 actually I think he did.
A Cherry Red SG! Tony McPhee of the Groundhogs even called one of their albums Cherry Red.
Just bought on Sept 11
whats make it Beginners guitar ?
This is not a review it is a description.
Mansons Exeter is my local store as well 🤣 small world
But can you get a really good heavy metal sound with it?
If Tony Iommy used an SG you are ready to go. Also Max Cavalera from soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy used SG's from the Sepultura days.
I own one and its a frankenstein. Tones you can get out of it is amazing. So yes...but best for big fuzz metal tone
Deaftones use a gibson sg they have killer tones
Its either this or the Vintage Vs6v?
Any advice people?
@janis vogel
No I am seeking 'advice'.
You can 'advise' me or counsel me as to a course of action, that may or may not be good ADVICE.
advice
noun
noun: advice; plural noun: advices
1.
guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.
"my advice is to see your doctor"
OR
"my advice to you would be know what you're talking about when correcting people"
@janis vogel
This may help you.
To get around verb confusion, you can think of “please advise” as a shortcut for “please advise [me].” ... Advice is a noun, meaning “suggestions for what to do,” and advise is a verb meaning “to give advice.”
Hope you now see why I said..
"Any advice people?"
Well? Do you Janis? (See I should have spelled that as "Janice" lol)
This guy sounds almost exactly like Guthrie Govan
Does this guitar have neckdive
yes it does. I love this guitar, but in the beggining it was very annoying to play stand up. Now im used to neckdive and its not really an issue.
It would have been quite nice to have heard the guitar.. Yes, it does look lovely.
There’s quite a lot of reviews of this guitar in which the reviewer plays the guitar but doesn’t say much about it.
this guitar or PRS SE standart 24 ?
GMaction Honestly I don’t think you could go wrong with either one of them. They both play and sound good. I would say it comes down to personal preference as to what shape you like better
Which amp is the perfect for this epiphone sg ?
GuitarHero 355 Marshall stack for beginners? no good for home use unless your house is detached.
The boss Katana he has
I played today with this Epiphone through a Fender Princeton Reverb 68 Silverface with the volume cranked up to 5. This combo kicks asses. I couldn't believe the sound that was coming out of it. I personally own the 65 Blackface Princeton Reverb because i mostly use Telecasters. But for this particular guitar i would go with the Silverface. In fact i am thinking to buy the silverface and stack them :)
Fender Super Champ XD (15w) works very well for home use (Hybrid Solid State/Tube Amplifier). Channel 2, Voice 9 (Marshall stack) ideal for heavy rock sound. Voice 14 (Fender Metal Head) is a monster. Lots of other good choices; Voice 8 (early Marshall), Voice 7 (Vox), Voice 3 (heavily overdriven Fender Tweed)...plus the clean channel and on board effects (Reverb/Delay etc...).