0:00 - Unboxing and first impressions 3:58 - First impressions 6:20 - Tone Test (clean picked) 7:30 - Tone Test (overdriven) 8:15 - Tone Test (distorted) 9:08 - Tone Test (clean, strummed) 10:02 - Final impressions
I just got one and I love it. I got lucky with mine, the set up is great. Just lowered the bridge a smidge and all is good. Great review and AMAZING hat bro.
im battling with myself whether to pick this up or not. I have acoustic guitars so this will be my first electric, so i dont want to go crazy with spending $ in case i hate it. I saw some reviews where the buzz from the amp was really loud. How do you find you like the guitar?
@@lukki7ster I dig it. But i am a tech and have the skils and knowhow to work around its "personality". Like my comment said, ingot lucky. I have see others get one that is absolutely trash where others get one that is fine. Most need a basic set up and are not playable out of the box.
I appreciate your honest review on this guitar. I am considering this or a Les Paul special ii with twin humbuckers. I am still learning about electric guitars, and trying to decide on humbucker vs single coils. Alot of guitar enthusiasts tend to talk smack about this guitar so its nice to see an objective review
Just ordered this guitar colour Vintage Burst. I plan to upgrade the lot for playability and tone. It wil get here in 3 days ...so Satherday this weekend
The guitars great (I'm an intermediate level player, and I'm using this as my daily driver) but please, oh please, get it on any color other than yellow, to me it makes it look like a toy, but other than that, it's pretty good
Ok for anyone doing some research and investigation before pulling the trigger: I did the same and most reviews are very poor and/or made by people who have absolutely no idea what they're doing and rely on guitar techs to restring their guitar or install unnecessary "replacements". This guitars, like most well made epiphone entry-level models, need nothing more than fresh strings and a good setup. But it goes beyond just slapping strings on. Lot's of noobs complain about how the tuners suck, and how quick they were to replace them. Some already had the replacements before the guitar! If you string up using the locking method, demonstrated by Gary Brawer (look him up), you can enjoy the most budget guitars without having to replace a thing (as long as they are well built guitars, like Epiphones are). With the locking method of stringing, lubricating the nut with a pencil, and properly stretching the strings, I can keep it perfectly in tune, no slipping at the tuner or buzzing or problems with the nut. Everything works as it should. The wraparound bridge, another common hasty replacement, works perfectly as well. I use 9-42 D'Addario strings and play blues, jazz, classic rock and alternative rock and the pickups will play any of these genres well. The pickups, which you can adjust (modders rarely do this, but they are quick to throw in replacements which they still do not adjust smh) sound great and remind me of a telecaster tone, although sometimes it sounds like p90s. Bottom line: get one and enjoy it for what it is. If you are a modder, at least spend time with it before throwing unnecessary components that will take time and money away when you can be enjoying this. If you have some decent amps, tube or not, or modeling amps, you will find many great tones with this cheap but killer axe. I got the satin finish and it is a resonant joy to play.
Thanks for your incisive and well researched commentary. I agree on the tuners to the extent that you're playing them at home. They'll do fine. My experience with working guitars has been that these tuners (I use the locking technique you mention) don't stand up the the rigours of live work very well. They're also not that precise which is where you'll see benefits with better tuners. After a while these covered tuners get 'floppy', difficult to tune and prone to fall out of tune. But your commentary is excellent and very useful
@@kevinboor3560 Thanks, I'll make sure to check back and confirm if these tuners ever get floppy. I doubt it though, as I also doubt reports of the bridge being soft like butter to the point that the strings create burs that snap strings..... I think this is a bunch of baloney. The pickups sound good enough, everything is good enough for a bedroom musician with a amp modeler - you can get any tones out of these/Special VE models. Gonna gig? Ok, then you can upgrade to be on the safe side. Otherwise it's plain and simply good enough.
@@socialdef3 that's of course your right. I speak as a working musician for the last 35 years. There are many opinions about many things out there and they're often based on personal experience which is not necessarily a good peer review
Yes anything is possible. I haven't done it myself on an Epiphone but have on other guitars. The important first step is to understand the neck pockets measurements
I bought this guitar in Sunburst and it was a piece of sh%&+t, I tried tuning it and after two strums it went out of tune. If you want a good beginner guitar, get the Fender Squire, it is a much better guitar for the value. This guitar needs a lot of redesigning and a new manufacture like yesterday. Do Not Buy This Guitar. Sorry Epiphone/Gibson I love you, but not this guitar, get it out of your line up like now!
It's interesting isn't it. I gave a similar review of the Kramer VT211S. Absolute POS for me. And yet others have stated it was an excellent guitar out of the box and gave really good reasons. I think the lesson learned for me is to return anything that's not up to snuff and ask for a new one. Especially with these lower end guitars. I love Squier too. They seem to get the QC a bit more right. Anyway as mentioned perhaps I got lucky on this one but the tuners are indeed crap and I had to change them.
@@kevinboor3560 It is interesting, I was so disappointed. I went through a lot of guitars in this price range and still stand behind the Squire for quality consistency, it just feels and plays really well for the money.
I do like Squiers. At this price range and with epiphones you may be right. The last one I had before this was a special II and that was long before I was taking a technical interest in guitars. I just needed a les paul type sound for a project and I was frankly disappointed. I'm going to throw it out there that Harley Benton are making great guitars at this price point. Like a squier they might need a bit of a setup but they're pretty good out of the box. Pups tend to need changing unless you've got one with Roswells in but they're amazing modding platforms. Anyway I just ordered some lipsticks for this one. Will post another vid once I get them and they're in there
I have the Black Sl... The tone is fabulous, In fact everything about it is fabulous, it stays in tune for long... There is a little bit of fret buzz on the lower e-string on one of the frets but that is it. I totally love mine and I am using it for studio work.
0:00 - Unboxing and first impressions
3:58 - First impressions
6:20 - Tone Test (clean picked)
7:30 - Tone Test (overdriven)
8:15 - Tone Test (distorted)
9:08 - Tone Test (clean, strummed)
10:02 - Final impressions
I just got one and I love it. I got lucky with mine, the set up is great. Just lowered the bridge a smidge and all is good. Great review and AMAZING hat bro.
im battling with myself whether to pick this up or not. I have acoustic guitars so this will be my first electric, so i dont want to go crazy with spending $ in case i hate it. I saw some reviews where the buzz from the amp was really loud. How do you find you like the guitar?
@@lukki7ster I dig it. But i am a tech and have the skils and knowhow to work around its "personality". Like my comment said, ingot lucky. I have see others get one that is absolutely trash where others get one that is fine. Most need a basic set up and are not playable out of the box.
I hear you. Can't help thinking that with a set up they'd all be good
I just bought this in the Natural Sun Yellow. Love it.
Glad you do. Seems there have been some quality control issues on this guitar but when they get it right it's awesome
@@kevinboor3560 Interesting, may I ask what kind of quality control issues you are aware of?
@@kevinboor3560 Also if you know of any fixes, I appreciate it.
Great sound! What tipe of amp you have?
I appreciate your honest review on this guitar. I am considering this or a Les Paul special ii with twin humbuckers. I am still learning about electric guitars, and trying to decide on humbucker vs single coils. Alot of guitar enthusiasts tend to talk smack about this guitar so its nice to see an objective review
As I've heard a few times this guitar would normally need a set up once you have it. I think with that ifs going to be a nice guitar
Just ordered this guitar colour Vintage Burst. I plan to upgrade the lot for playability and tone. It wil get here in 3 days ...so Satherday this weekend
That is incredible packaging, you should see the way guitars are shipped from Amazon in the US.
These guys really seem to care about the guitars they ship
The guitars great (I'm an intermediate level player, and I'm using this as my daily driver) but please, oh please, get it on any color other than yellow, to me it makes it look like a toy, but other than that, it's pretty good
Lol. I hear you...I like the yellow but I can see where you're coming from
I agree. I got the cherry sunburst and damn it looks fine
Ok for anyone doing some research and investigation before pulling the trigger: I did the same and most reviews are very poor and/or made by people who have absolutely no idea what they're doing and rely on guitar techs to restring their guitar or install unnecessary "replacements".
This guitars, like most well made epiphone entry-level models, need nothing more than fresh strings and a good setup.
But it goes beyond just slapping strings on. Lot's of noobs complain about how the tuners suck, and how quick they were to replace them. Some already had the replacements before the guitar!
If you string up using the locking method, demonstrated by Gary Brawer (look him up), you can enjoy the most budget guitars without having to replace a thing (as long as they are well built guitars, like Epiphones are).
With the locking method of stringing, lubricating the nut with a pencil, and properly stretching the strings, I can keep it perfectly in tune, no slipping at the tuner or buzzing or problems with the nut. Everything works as it should. The wraparound bridge, another common hasty replacement, works perfectly as well. I use 9-42 D'Addario strings and play blues, jazz, classic rock and alternative rock and the pickups will play any of these genres well. The pickups, which you can adjust (modders rarely do this, but they are quick to throw in replacements which they still do not adjust smh) sound great and remind me of a telecaster tone, although sometimes it sounds like p90s.
Bottom line: get one and enjoy it for what it is. If you are a modder, at least spend time with it before throwing unnecessary components that will take time and money away when you can be enjoying this. If you have some decent amps, tube or not, or modeling amps, you will find many great tones with this cheap but killer axe. I got the satin finish and it is a resonant joy to play.
Thanks for your incisive and well researched commentary. I agree on the tuners to the extent that you're playing them at home. They'll do fine. My experience with working guitars has been that these tuners (I use the locking technique you mention) don't stand up the the rigours of live work very well. They're also not that precise which is where you'll see benefits with better tuners. After a while these covered tuners get 'floppy', difficult to tune and prone to fall out of tune. But your commentary is excellent and very useful
@@kevinboor3560 Thanks, I'll make sure to check back and confirm if these tuners ever get floppy. I doubt it though, as I also doubt reports of the bridge being soft like butter to the point that the strings create burs that snap strings..... I think this is a bunch of baloney. The pickups sound good enough, everything is good enough for a bedroom musician with a amp modeler - you can get any tones out of these/Special VE models.
Gonna gig? Ok, then you can upgrade to be on the safe side. Otherwise it's plain and simply good enough.
@@socialdef3 that's of course your right. I speak as a working musician for the last 35 years. There are many opinions about many things out there and they're often based on personal experience which is not necessarily a good peer review
lol looks like more spent on package .which a goodthing .looks awesome
I really love this guitar
Is it possible to change the neck?
Yes anything is possible. I haven't done it myself on an Epiphone but have on other guitars. The important first step is to understand the neck pockets measurements
And same scale length unless you want to move the bridge posts around
ohhh that lady is a beuty
I bought this guitar in Sunburst and it was a piece of sh%&+t, I tried tuning it and after two strums it went out of tune. If you want a good beginner guitar, get the Fender Squire, it is a much better guitar for the value. This guitar needs a lot of redesigning and a new manufacture like yesterday. Do Not Buy This Guitar. Sorry Epiphone/Gibson I love you, but not this guitar, get it out of your line up like now!
It's interesting isn't it. I gave a similar review of the Kramer VT211S. Absolute POS for me. And yet others have stated it was an excellent guitar out of the box and gave really good reasons. I think the lesson learned for me is to return anything that's not up to snuff and ask for a new one. Especially with these lower end guitars. I love Squier too. They seem to get the QC a bit more right. Anyway as mentioned perhaps I got lucky on this one but the tuners are indeed crap and I had to change them.
@@kevinboor3560 It is interesting, I was so disappointed. I went through a lot of guitars in this price range and still stand behind the Squire for quality consistency, it just feels and plays really well for the money.
I do like Squiers. At this price range and with epiphones you may be right. The last one I had before this was a special II and that was long before I was taking a technical interest in guitars. I just needed a les paul type sound for a project and I was frankly disappointed. I'm going to throw it out there that Harley Benton are making great guitars at this price point. Like a squier they might need a bit of a setup but they're pretty good out of the box. Pups tend to need changing unless you've got one with Roswells in but they're amazing modding platforms. Anyway I just ordered some lipsticks for this one. Will post another vid once I get them and they're in there
I have the Black Sl... The tone is fabulous, In fact everything about it is fabulous, it stays in tune for long... There is a little bit of fret buzz on the lower e-string on one of the frets but that is it. I totally love mine and I am using it for studio work.