So I would like to update some information on these guitars. In the video I claimed the pickups in both guitars are the same. Well that was the info I was given by the online store I bought both guitars from. After reading the resistance in ohms, I found the PRO has much hotter pickups. So that is why the sound difference. I still have both these guitars and have not changed any parts on either guitar. Not that Im against changing a few parts out. But they both play and sound good enough as is right now.
I hope you can clear up some confusion on the Epiphone ES335 line? I'm looking on the zZounds webiste and they list the Epi ES 335, Inspired by Gibson model, with the small block inlays. They are also showing a ES335 with the dot inlays. Both appear to have the same pickups and look the same except for the inlays and different finishes? What is the difference between these two offerings since the "Inspired by Gibson" version is roughly $40.00 more?
I recently (July 2022) purchased an IG Epiphone ES335 and its frets were great. No sprout, no high frets, no rough frets. The fingerboard looks more rosewood than some and overall, the fit and finish are excellent. The pickups are very bright for humbuckers but that’s what I like. Overall I am very happy with the construction, setup, and tone of my IG ES335. I think that these less costly guitars may vary quite a bit in quality depending upon when and where they were made. Kind of a drag that your experience wasn’t more positive, but thanks for the honest review. I’d love to hear some sound samples comparing the two guitars in a future video.
Thanks for the honest review. I’m with you, got a 19 Epi 335 pro and just love it. Haven’t done a thing to it, strings, action, frets, were all very good. Bought from GC, second one though. Had to return one, push pull knob came right out of the guitar. Went back and he pulled one from the back still in the box. Happy camper, fit&finish are flawless as you said. My Epi dot studio is awsome too. Can’t say enough about Epiphone.
This video helped me decide on what Semi Hallow to purchase I got myself the Epiphone 335 custom pro Limited edition Raspberry burst color. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. Miles apart in playability and sound. Thanks you for making this. Even if it was only for me to find. This video was the video that brought my new baby home! Keep up the informative reviews. Nice to have a “Real Mans” perspective.
Thanks for your kind words. After playing both considerably I still like the older Pro model more. At the time of this video I was saying that both guitars had the same pickups with the exception of the Pro having 4 wire. I recently measured resistance on both guitars and both the Pro’s pickups are hotter than the IBG. No mention of this by Epiphone anywhere. Rock on!
Thank you for posting this video. I, too, have that exact ES 335 Pro that you have. I bought it from zZounds. I also have the Red Chuck Berry color ES 335 Pro that I bought from Guitar Center a year prior. I have many electrics, including a Gibson LP. And, the truth is that my 2 Pro's are my favorite electrics to play and will never part with either one of them. I always wondered if the IBG's were so much better than the Pro's and that if I were missing out on a much better made guitar...and now I feel much better knowing that I am not really.
Great review! I bought a used classic pro for 225usd a year back. Love it! I actually like the headstock better than the IBG. The finishing is Great and I love the way it plays and feels! I would love to try the IBG to see the differences. But I love my epiphone classic pro! Thanks man!
Thanks for making this video. I've been debating for a few days now to buy an epiphone limited edition 335 plus top Pro and after watching this I think I'm convinced that I am going to get it.
Thanks for checking this out. Im hard pressed right now finding time to put new strings on both these guitars to do a comparison video. Hope to post something over the weekend..
People tend to underestimate Epiphone. I used to be a Gibson cork sniffer… recently sold my Gibson because I only play my Epiphone Casino. Moral of the story: if it sounds good, feels good - it is good. Maybe better than good… the best.
Thanks for the review, much appreciated. I had a similar experience with the GI 335, I've got a 2010 model but loved the look of the GI, being a lot closer to the Gibson. I really was hoping it would be better but was really disappointed with the finish and the sound. The fret sprout was the worst I've come across. I think you could slice bread with that neck. I didn't know about the difference the Birchwood would make to the sound and I don't know if it was that or the Indian Laurel fretboard compared to the Rosewood on my 2010 model but it didn't have the same depth, warmth and clarity. I've been looking at buying a 339 pro which is how I came across your review. Glad I did as you've helped confirmed my choice. Keep up the good work. Cheers
@@Mountainrock70 I had similar bridge with wire in casino that rattled, the inspired by Gibson has “locked down” wire, I still notice rattle. Will probably get same gotoh tune o magic I got on epi casino. I don’t if it’s because there overwaxed but pickups a bit muddy better mids than highs will probably get Seth lover set. Thanks for posting your video. I like the size of these guitars more than anything lol.
Im right there with you on the pro being the better one. Bought a Sheraton pro ll & am very impressed. Not gona change a thing. Tuners great, pups great, neck great, feel even better than all my others. Will look for your comparison vid....... Thnx 😉
Epiphone don't have a custom shop! They just put that sticker on there to make you feel better about having Epiphone on the headstock instead of gibson,that being said,Epiphone make great guitars,i have 335 pro,sheriton 2,339 pro,and the bb king lucille all play brilliantly
I have both guitars too. Bought the Inspired by Gibson in red recently. It's a good guitar but you're right the es 335 pro is just a better guitar. In England the es335 pro was originally cheaper than the Epiphone dot, which cosmetically I never liked the look of ( no neck binding and the strange shaped pick guard). Definitely came to the same conclusion as you. Thanks for taking the time to do a comparison, very informative.
Adjusted for inflation, the 20 year old guitar was actually a bit more than the new one. Thx for the vid, I've been trying to decide between these myself
I'm with ya. I have an older Epiphone Sheraton II Pro, and it's the best set-up and best playing guitar I have ever had. Better than my Gibson LP Traditional even.
I have a Gibson Les Paul Special thats nice but I play the Epi a lot more! Many Epi’s are better than I thought they would be and Gibson not always as good as I hoped for… It’s a shame because Gibson has the upper hand with better select cuts of wood, slightly better pickups and top fret work. I often wonder what the heck goes on in these factories?
MR: love the vid, dudester we want that 4 string bass in the background! ha ha. Cheers! From mtw and 99 jam night jammers. 2013-2019. Los Angeles, Hollywood. Currently playing Epi L Pauls. Jackson. Rogue basses. Drums, too. Peavey Amps.
I have grown into liking my Pro. It took some setting up to get the best out of it. What was even better was it cost only £275 new in 2019. Very versatile, does Tele sound better than my Fender USA Tele, plus all the heavier & clean stuff without resorting to the coil splits. Hardly ever use them. Sounds great acousticaly when noodling o the couch.
I've got the 2013 Cherry Epiphone Custom Pro. At that time they were still putting genuine rosewood on the fret boards which is what I wanted (didn't like the other stuff.) These are excellent guitars. I put an Epiphone truss- rod cover on (all black with a white E) and vintage gold top hat volume/tone knobs. I agree about the sound of the pick-ups. I was going to replace them until I landed on some forums..the consensus was that the pickups are so good just keep them in there. They were right.
Nice. I have a Epi Les Paul 1960 Tribute Plus that has the rosewood board before the switch. I prefer the rosewood but the other woods Im finding good qualities to them. Soon mahogany and rosewood will be a thing of the past.
@@Mountainrock70 I am hoping that this will not happen...I think the way to go is to look at who is consuming the largest amount of these woods..furniture producers etc. Leave the smaller consumers alone. Look at the amount of regular wood being used for general construction! A well planned "reforestation" program is being used for these requirements.
I hate to admit it, but it seems the largest producers are guitar makers. There’s hardy any quality furniture made now. Its either particle board or rubber wood these days. I could be wrong?
Thanks for sharing. Did you say one was 20 years old? Having worked at Warwick in the past, I learned from the productionmanager who claimed that about 60% of the tone comes from the neck. A solid body that is. Who knows? From Drums I know that Birch drums sound a little snappier and louder than maple. Pao Ferro is also called Bolivian rose wood even though it is not a true rosewood. It is also called Morado in South amerika. I built a classical guitar in 2005. The back was Pao Ferro. Was a great guitar. In short good and solid wood.
I had made an error. The Pro model is from 2019 and the Inspired by Gibson model is late 2020. Yeah the pro model has a slightly thinner profile. Thanks for commenting!
I think pau ferro seems smoother and tighter grain then other rosewoods. I've never had an issue with pau ferro boards. Fender uses it a lot on their fingerboards. Player and Vintera series.
I bought my ES 335 Pro in 2012 so it had Rosewood fingerboard. I went ahead right away and upgraded the hardware and electronics along with Gibson 57 Classics. bone Nut. PIO Caps .022, Era correct Pickguard ( Short with correct Bracket). I also changed the Puckup Ring Screws to Black and Reflector knobs and a Epiphone hard case. Gibson (Kluson type) Tuners. It’s a great guitar but I recently bought the Epiphone 1959 Les Paul in Southern Fade and polished up the finish with Carnauba Wax. It’s a Fantastic Guitar.
I have a 2014 Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute Plus. Its basically your Epi 59, but with a 60’s neck with rosewood board and parallel/ series pickup switching. Its every bit as good as my Gibsons. It just does not have nitro finish. Sounds like you’re 335 pro is a keeper!
My Pro sounds great and plays great. Seems to get better with age..? Played acoustically, it just rings and sustains better than any other 335 in the past stable 😎👍
I think that the pro line was in some ways a trial run of the Inspired line. I bought my 2019 Pro in early 2020 at a very good sale price. Later I find out that they were probably clearing out inventory for the release of the IBG line. Mine had a couple issues, but I loved it enough to work through them. It had a high fret that had to be leveled and a poorly made output jack that couldn't be tightened sufficiently that I replaced with a Switchcraft. I've also darkened the fretboard with water based black ink so that it looks much more like true rosewood. As a personal preference I also replaced the stock tuners with Kluson Revolution Series 19:1 for the higher gear ratio. Now the only thing the IBG guitars have over the Pro's in my opinion is the headstock shape, but the hourglass traditional Epiphone style has grown on me. Now it is my favorite guitar I've ever owned.
I tried a couple times, but couldn’t get a good comparison recording with a iPhone. Both guitars sounded the same to me. Im hoping for my daughter to take over recording and editing for me soon.
In the last year I've gotten a Bonamassa "Lazarus" LP, Epiphone '61 SG and more recently an Epiphone LP special - all have laurel fingerboards and I don't mind them one bit - I think too many guitarists fixate on rosewood and act as though it actually matters. It doesn't. All have also had excellent fret work. I've had to take off a few fret edge corners on the SG, but none of them have high frets, dead spots or any other issues. All three of them benefitted tremendously from lowering the pickups. I would suggest that anyone try that before deciding the pickups aren't to their liking.
For me Laurel is fine but it usually is quite scratchy and super dry when the guitar comes right out of the box. I oil and buff mine out within days of getting a new guitar. My Gibson Special has the greatest rosewood board tho. I bet the Bonamassa LP is awesome!
I just bought a IG Epi ES335, so I wanted it to come out on top, too. I'm very happy with it, though it does seriously need a setup and some fretwork. I'm wondering about the pickups or electronics in mine, though. Is it normal for the gain to drop significantly when switching to the bridge position? Sup dat? I thought this was a great review, all in all!
Very cool. I have an old Epjphone Dot Natural and a more recent "Inspired by...." in raspberry teaburst. Both beautiful. I like the new headstock on the newer one but tbh the older guitar plays and sounds better
A change of tooling for the new headstock and a slight drop in quality in other areas to make up for it? Is that how they roll???? Im starting to think that.
Isn't it neck profiles different on this models? Does PRO model has Slim taper neck and Inspired by Gibson has Round C neck, so I wonder if it's true? Thank you for the review.
I like the lighter burst on the Pro. Not so much the block inlays. I got the Epi 339 when it first came out, in a black burst very similar to that 'inspired by 335'. But I really didn't like it. Not the burst (too dark), not the neck (too thick), not the balance (neck-heavy), not the finish (a lot of sloppiness). Well it was cheap.. I sold it quickly and then got an older (but still new from the shop) Samick 335-like model. Of course Samick is where a lot of Epi's (like 2 other Epi's I own) come from. That is a fine guitar. Tho it has a reddish to yellow burst that I don't particularly like.
I've the Pro and being 2016 at GC it still had the nice dark rosewood board... ...although I had to file/touch-up fret ends on mine. Where on the planet are you located? But I'm commenting 'cause I dug your style of review, so thanx and Cheerios (but not the cereal)
They are both great guitars. I personally like the Epiphone by Gibson, I think it is more look like the traditional ES 335. I do not need a split coil on a 335. Both are excellent. It is a matter of taste.
I've just bought a 2014 Pro from my son, and it definitely has that "Gibson feel" about it. The only thing that bothers me is the chromeware on the pick ups and tail piece is getting tarnished very quickly. It's only 8 years old...but it looks more like 20 years of tarnish. Guess a previous owner had very acidic sweat or something.
I have a Epi CS 335 pro as well as two MIK Sheratons and a Gibson 335 Dot and a Gibson 339. The new Inspired by Gibson i would say was created in response to critiques over the years about the Epi headstock being too large. I can relate to the criticisms since i own the Epis and the Gibsons. I quite agree that the Gibson headstock is a bit better aesthetically. Also especially in the Sheratons neck dive due to the larger headstock might bother some people. Nevertheless the Epi 335 CS Pro is really good and comes close to the Gibson 335. Sheratons are also an excellent choice. As i see it the decision to go Inspired by Gibson or ES 335 Pro mostly has to do with the headstock design preference. That is what a buyer should really evaluate.
I myself will take sound over everything, but I understand what you are saying. Ive never understood the neck dive dilemma so many people have. When I play guitar I got a hold of it lol Rock On!
@@Mountainrock70 i agree with you. I do not think for the Epi 335s there is any neck dive issue anyway. For Sheratons it could be if you are standing on stage for a couple of hours but maybe not if you are are savvy guitarist. I also suspect however that the larger headstock improves tone of the guitar which may be a factor in your assessment. There are so many other factors like the amp and if you use a pedal. In my case the PUPs are Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and Switchcraft wiring. It is a Iced Tea Burst and a really nice guitar frankly.
I have the inspired by Gibson in the same burst but my fret work was great ....I also have the Casino which is my main guitar...the Casino I put a bone nut on and the 335 I lowered the bridge and mine is flawless...it's heavier than the Casino but the Casino is the best acoustic sounding electric I've ever owned...best unplugged sound. too. I played half a dozen of the 335s and got the best of the bunch...they always need setups though...always. So do Gibsons though.
Even if a guitar is set up at a factory or by a luthier someone takes it to, it might not be how someone else likes it. Setup out of the box I never consider when judging a guitar. A Casino I will get at some point!
I have that same guitar (Custom shop) but mine was purchased about 2016 new. I had a Gibson SC and Gibson Les Paul and I wanted a Gibson 335 but I didn’t want to pay the price for it. So I went with the Epiphone. Mine has the large E on the pick guard but that looks like the only difference. I love this guitar. It has become my favorite guitar play. Acoustically it is superior! Electrically I like the coil split now that i have them. I like to play in the middle setting, roll the volume off the neck pickup a bit, split the bridge pickup coil and slightly roll back the tone. Dialed in to a really cool sound with a touch of overdrive. I did remove the pick guard because I like to get under the string really far with my right hand with my pinky when I anchor. If I could keep only one guitar this would be it. Now I wouldn’t trade it for the Gibson. Most versatile guitar I own. Then my telecaster would be next.
I have the 335 inspired and It didn't have any problems. Being a guitar tech I always go thru my guitars and set them up, treat the fret boards roll the edges and in this case I replaced the pickups with Classic 57 alnico 2. Sounds like a Gibson to me. I also have a 2000 Epiphone 335 dot with the larger frets and neck is beefy but I don't care for it as much. However, my favorite guitar is a Yamaha SA2000 made in the late 70's and thru the early 80's made in Japan, mine is 1981. I prefer that to my Gibson ES335 1978. So many guitars so little time... lol
Those Yamaha SA2000’s from the 70’s are killer! Yeah, I iron out all my guitars. This IBG needs Gibson pickups next. I just installed a Gibson Burst Bucker Pro in a Epiphone IBG 50’s LP. What a difference. The 335 is next..
it would be nice to have a video comparing the sound of both. The pro neck is a bit flatter right? i tryed the new one and it was very chunky for what i'm used to.
Yes the pro neck is normal width for a 335 but thinner more like a SG neck. I plan to do a playing comparison video soon. My videos will be edited and improved from this point. Thanks for watching!
You didn't explain why you liked the neck profile better on the pro. This is the most important part of any guitar as it is not easy to change the neck. Was it slimmer? More rounded, larger etc? Cheers 👍
The reason why I didn’t describe the necks is because I really hadn’t put much thought into them or really analyzed the profiles. I just pick guitars up and play them lol But now that you mentioned this. The pro does have a thinner lower profile, but its the same width it seems. This is strange really, because I normally like chunky 50’s necks. The feel of wider frets on the pro is also part of why I like the feel of the neck. I have big hands, so you might take that into consideration.
Last week i was looking to Buy an es 335 style guitar, i was looking for an used sire h7, but it was impossible to find one around $500, so i find an es 335 pro Cherry from 2014, with upgrades : cts 500k pots, switch and Jack from switchcraft, and matsumoko pickups (japanese from the 80's), and a case, all for $550 so pretty good deal. The only thing i'm not convinced is the nut, it seems kind of plastic. But everything is just awesome
My Pro has a plastic nut, but it did not need any tweaks to stay in tune. So it still resides on my guitar. The IBG came with a tusk type nut that needed a little filing to stay in tune. Sounds like you found a good guitar with those upgrades.
Imo the Gibson style headstock makes their les paul miles better but the big ol' bell looks great on the semi-hollow style. All my metal buddies had a chuckle when i plugged in my Dot but it is one of the meanest sounding ghitars i have ever heard! (When it wants to be... she can still play mustang sally with my dad's boomer band)
I have been using Klean Strip Boiled Linseed Oil for decades now. I started out using raw linseed in the early 80’s, but now its not easy to find. I think boiled is more manageable, because raw takes longer before you can play the guitar after using. That’s how I remember it at least.
I swapped my bridge for a Benedetto bridge & tail piece on mine cauz ive never really anderstood the logic of having 2 holes filled by 2 studs into wich are 2 screws holding a metal bridge. I mean it is not the optimum sound transfer solution to get the top to resonate. Too many places to get some slack in between each component, the studs in the holes are loose, the screws in the studs are loose, the bridge on the screws is loose, the saddles on that bridge are looses. With the Benedetto bridge, their is more surface touching the top then just 2 screws, the sound transfer is better and their are less places to cumulate some loose, in my mind, loose equal a lost of sustain.
Hmmmm….Just purchased new Epiphone ES-335-IG Gold Top (the whole thing is gold with white binding) and mine has coil splitting pots. Ricky from IBM, Ret
FYI. Inflation adjusted you actually paid more for the 2000 model. $729.10 in 2021 (purchasing power) is equivalent to $469 in 2000. That’s why I buy Bitcoin… to keep my purchasing power. 😉
I dig the comparison, so I just subbed! Pleased to make your acquaintance Mountain! I'm an Epiphone fan! My favorite guitar is my Casino, as far as hollow bodied guitars go, it's awesome and really versatile! My favorite single cut is an Epiphone LP Jr I just love this guitar, the neck is awesome, and I play this all day every day!!! Take care brother/ Jack ~'()'~ Canada
Who knows what goes on over there. I just measured the resistance of these pickups. The Pro lead pickup was 8.1 while the IBG 7.6. The neck pickup was a little hotter with the Pro also.
The neck profiles are totally different. The inspired by is a 50s profile. The other is a thinner 60s with a flatter back. I have both. You got this wrong.
I thought Epiphone brought out the ES-335 Pro in 2012. You said 2000. 22 years ago? I don't think so. I too have a cherry red Pro which is a 2012. Rosewood fingerboard.
The Wilkinson tuners look awful though. The Inspired by looks far better IMHO except for the poly finish, there is too much of it and it looks plasticky.
I've had my pro for a few years now -natural - 6 and change canadian 🇨🇦 - Gibson who?my Epi can't be beat - push pull pots = many tones - probuckers are fine pups - big headstock? Big deal its different not clipped and fits the guit just fine - all the other little things just don't add up to 4-5K upcharge for Made In USA (sorry neighbours) - keep yer pro I'm gonna 😎 Peace
In US I paid $469 new a couple years ago. I recently measured pickup resistance on both guitars and the pro has hotter pickups. I play both guitars, but always find I have put the IBG down and picked up the Pro lol The great thing about the Pro is you can get great country tones with the coil splitting. I find it to be a very versatile guitar for what I do. I’m keeping both however. Thanks for commenting!
I have to give you my honest opinion should you want the best of the epic phones truly and you don’t mind putting new pick ups in it and you really want to get the right sound by yourself one of the Epitone B.B. King models get the fret redone it’s going to have the same neck profile as custom shops or any other ES 335 that epic phone makes They all are the same. At least you get a true Ebony board which is more ES 335 historically correct otherwise truly spend a few more dollars if you can’t afford the American version and get yourself an Eastman I have many students and they have all had great success with the Eastman T4 86 and the T4 84 another perfect example of a well-made guitar, great attributes and if you go for at least a 486 or 484 model, Duncan pick ups are at least as good as Gibson but truly boutique boutique pick ups are the best choice and you can build on the guitar overtime because honestly those zones need a lot more than pick ups a lot more the Eastman not so much but even buying the normal American Gibson which everybody thinks is the dream doesn’t play out either I’ve got four of them and for my students their epic phones which have been upgraded and repaired appropriately so that they are truly playable and usable at a pro level stay in tune better than my high-grade custom shop ES 335 ES 356 is fantastic. However the tuners are in line correctly on that guitar. No 335. I’ve ever played in 40 years has stayed in tune appropriately not one I’ve ever tried. I’ve had to fix or repair all of them to get them to do it correctly at least Eastman has that worked out. If you’re that much of a traditionalist I can tell you the guitar I play the most is my heritage, their version of the custom shop lightly aged dirty lemon burst less than four grand you can buy them all day long and they are 10 times the guitar the 335 is and you can certainly put Tops in any of them I would recommend lust for tone or throwback depending on your price range and certainly they are plenty others out there to get Tops from those aren’t even hand wound Tops and those $4000 guitars are even the $8000 B.B. King Signature I know because I have one on the wall that I put true Lucille pick ups in Blippi. It’s not just a matter of comparing these two models you open up a whole book of worms here I don’t think any other of your viewers seem to notice that but nobody has to be stuck with a bad guitar. There’s so many options out there. Thank you for the great demo. However, my students did refer me to it and I just thought I would throw in my two cents whether it was welcome or not, but I do hope you take what I said as the truth I am only speaking from experience And I hope that it benefits you as much as it does the kids I work with thanks Epic phone has no custom shop and I spell it that way purposely by the way also, those just are set up in the Gibson factory. I’ve actually toured and seen where they were being set up after receiving the shipment and then being shipped back out, so the frats are touched up Much less. There is very little difference if any also best wishes to you and just so you know, although I don’t care for it power Pharaoh is exactly what Stevie Ray Vaughan would play, and he would only play that interesting fact, simple men require simple tools, and when he sobered up, he realized how good Maple was and how good nine gauge strings were to. 9:12
I say which guitar is which several times in the video bro??? Both are China. Epiphone is not making guitars in Korea now, only China, Indonesia and USA. They come with crummy bench strings (10’s) like most new guitars.
No sir, the pickups are not the same. The “Inspired by. . .” Is outfitted with those horrible Epiphone Classic Alnicos. The ES-335 Pro houses Epiphone “ProBuckers”. The latter sound a lot more like a PAF.
Epiphone seems to switch parts around year to year. My Pro the pickups sound closer to the Gibson PAF pickups in my Les Paul. With my IBG I really have to fine tune my amp to get the tone Im happy with. The Pro I find forgiving, sounding good in a number of amp settings. One day I’ll change to Gibson pickups in the IBG.
I didn't know Epiphone had a custom shop. Where is it? Indonesia? With 6 you get egg roll. Then there's that old style headstock...oy vey! Vey ist mer!
Clearly, this is an honest assessment. He WANTED the inspired by Gibson to be better, but . . .
So I would like to update some information on these guitars. In the video I claimed the pickups in both guitars are the same. Well that was the info I was given by the online store I bought both guitars from. After reading the resistance in ohms, I found the PRO has much hotter pickups. So that is why the sound difference. I still have both these guitars and have not changed any parts on either guitar. Not that Im against changing a few parts out. But they both play and sound good enough as is right now.
I hope you can clear up some confusion on the Epiphone ES335 line? I'm looking on the zZounds webiste and they list the Epi ES 335, Inspired by Gibson model, with the small block inlays. They are also showing a ES335 with the dot inlays. Both appear to have the same pickups and look the same except for the inlays and different finishes? What is the difference between these two offerings since the "Inspired by Gibson" version is roughly $40.00 more?
I recently (July 2022) purchased an IG Epiphone ES335 and its frets were great. No sprout, no high frets, no rough frets. The fingerboard looks more rosewood than some and overall, the fit and finish are excellent. The pickups are very bright for humbuckers but that’s what I like. Overall I am very happy with the construction, setup, and tone of my IG ES335. I think that these less costly guitars may vary quite a bit in quality depending upon when and where they were made. Kind of a drag that your experience wasn’t more positive, but thanks for the honest review. I’d love to hear some sound samples comparing the two guitars in a future video.
Thanks for the honest review. I’m with you, got a 19 Epi 335 pro and just love it. Haven’t done a thing to it, strings, action, frets, were all very good. Bought from GC, second one though. Had to return one, push pull knob came right out of the guitar. Went back and he pulled one from the back still in the box. Happy camper, fit&finish are flawless as you said. My Epi dot studio is awsome too. Can’t say enough about Epiphone.
This video helped me decide on what Semi Hallow to purchase
I got myself the Epiphone 335 custom pro Limited edition Raspberry burst color.
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. Miles apart in playability and sound.
Thanks you for making this. Even if it was only for me to find. This video was the video that brought my new baby home! Keep up the informative reviews. Nice to have a “Real Mans” perspective.
Thanks for your kind words. After playing both considerably I still like the older Pro model more. At the time of this video I was saying that both guitars had the same pickups with the exception of the Pro having 4 wire. I recently measured resistance on both guitars and both the Pro’s pickups are hotter than the IBG. No mention of this by Epiphone anywhere. Rock on!
Great video, keep them coming, thanks!
Thank you for posting this video. I, too, have that exact ES 335 Pro that you have. I bought it from zZounds. I also have the Red Chuck Berry color ES 335 Pro that I bought from Guitar Center a year prior. I have many electrics, including a Gibson LP. And, the truth is that my 2 Pro's are my favorite electrics to play and will never part with either one of them. I always wondered if the IBG's were so much better than the Pro's and that if I were missing out on a much better made guitar...and now I feel much better knowing that I am not really.
Really nice review, dude. Thanks for sharing the info.
Thanks for your insight. Truly enjoined this. Thanks
Pretty informative and the honest assessments are pretty self evident.
Great review! I bought a used classic pro for 225usd a year back. Love it! I actually like the headstock better than the IBG. The finishing is Great and I love the way it plays and feels! I would love to try the IBG to see the differences. But I love my epiphone classic pro! Thanks man!
Thanks for making this video. I've been debating for a few days now to buy an epiphone limited edition 335 plus top Pro and after watching this I think I'm convinced that I am going to get it.
Thanks for checking this out. Im hard pressed right now finding time to put new strings on both these guitars to do a comparison video. Hope to post something over the weekend..
@@Mountainrock70 Awesome. I'll keep an eye out. Thanks.
People tend to underestimate Epiphone. I used to be a Gibson cork sniffer… recently sold my Gibson because I only play my Epiphone Casino. Moral of the story: if it sounds good, feels good - it is good. Maybe better than good… the best.
Great review ! I subscribed to your channel ! Really enjoy you video ! Thanks !
Excellent review I am looking at getting an es 335pro thanks
Thanks for the review, much appreciated. I had a similar experience with the GI 335, I've got a 2010 model but loved the look of the GI, being a lot closer to the Gibson. I really was hoping it would be better but was really disappointed with the finish and the sound. The fret sprout was the worst I've come across. I think you could slice bread with that neck. I didn't know about the difference the Birchwood would make to the sound and I don't know if it was that or the Indian Laurel fretboard compared to the Rosewood on my 2010 model but it didn't have the same depth, warmth and clarity. I've been looking at buying a 339 pro which is how I came across your review. Glad I did as you've helped confirmed my choice. Keep up the good work. Cheers
At 9:00 I said layers of birchwood on “back and sides” I meant back and top. Then I go on to say I bought the pro in January of 2000, I meant 2020..
No biggie your review is excellent. What is different in bridges?
@@warrengreig5556 bridges appear the same.
@@Mountainrock70 I had similar bridge with wire in casino that rattled, the inspired by Gibson has “locked down” wire, I still notice rattle. Will probably get same gotoh tune o magic I got on epi casino. I don’t if it’s because there overwaxed but pickups a bit muddy better mids than highs will probably get Seth lover set. Thanks for posting your video. I like the size of these guitars more than anything lol.
@@warrengreig5556 over the years Ive been able to tweak the springs so it never rattles again.
I love the original headstock and the rosewood fretboard on the Epiphone guitars.
Well done. Thanks for the video
Very informative. I'm thinking of getting the es335 inspired.
I don’t think you can go wrong. I play both of these guitars a lot. The pro I keep in drop D tuning much of the time.
Thanks man. Great video
Im right there with you on the pro being the better one. Bought a Sheraton pro ll & am very impressed. Not gona change a thing. Tuners great, pups great, neck great, feel even better than all my others. Will look for your comparison vid.......
Thnx 😉
great review!
Epiphone don't have a custom shop! They just put that sticker on there to make you feel better about having Epiphone on the headstock instead of gibson,that being said,Epiphone make great guitars,i have 335 pro,sheriton 2,339 pro,and the bb king lucille all play brilliantly
So what you have is 5 great guitars you’re real happy with for the price of roughly 1 Gibson 335. Rock on!
I have both guitars too. Bought the Inspired by Gibson in red recently. It's a good guitar but you're right the es 335 pro is just a better guitar. In England the es335 pro was originally cheaper than the Epiphone dot, which cosmetically I never liked the look of ( no neck binding and the strange shaped pick guard). Definitely came to the same conclusion as you. Thanks for taking the time to do a comparison, very informative.
Adjusted for inflation, the 20 year old guitar was actually a bit more than the new one. Thx for the vid, I've been trying to decide between these myself
I meant to say 2020.
I'm with ya. I have an older Epiphone Sheraton II Pro, and it's the best set-up and best playing guitar I have ever had. Better than my Gibson LP Traditional even.
I have a Gibson Les Paul Special thats nice but I play the Epi a lot more! Many Epi’s are better than I thought they would be and Gibson not always as good as I hoped for… It’s a shame because Gibson has the upper hand with better select cuts of wood, slightly better pickups and top fret work. I often wonder what the heck goes on in these factories?
MR: love the vid, dudester we want that 4 string bass in the background! ha ha. Cheers! From mtw and 99 jam night jammers.
2013-2019. Los Angeles, Hollywood. Currently playing Epi L Pauls. Jackson. Rogue basses. Drums, too. Peavey Amps.
Excellent, excellent, excellent video. Thank you, Mountain Rock :)
Thank you!
Great vid!
I have grown into liking my Pro. It took some setting up to get the best out of it. What was even better was it cost only £275 new in 2019. Very versatile, does Tele sound better than my Fender USA Tele, plus all the heavier & clean stuff without resorting to the coil splits. Hardly ever use them. Sounds great acousticaly when noodling o the couch.
I don’t split coils much, but there’s some thin twangy sounds to be had once in a while.
Thx for your gread comparasion :-)
Great review. Look wise I like the inspired by Gibson better, sometimes a combinations of things makes a guitar sound better than another.
It turns out, the Pro has hotter pickups.
super helpful! thanks!!!
Interesting vid wish I'd seen it b4 I bought my inspired by Gibson, however used to have an epi les Paul with split coils and wasnt very keen on the.
I don’t use the coil splitting either.
Check out the old Epi Dot studios too, they are “custom shop” too. They are their own thing but I love mine.
I've got the 2013 Cherry Epiphone Custom Pro. At that time they were still putting genuine rosewood on the fret boards which is what I wanted (didn't like the other stuff.) These are excellent guitars. I put an Epiphone truss- rod cover on (all black with a white E) and vintage gold top hat volume/tone knobs. I agree about the sound of the pick-ups. I was going to replace them until I landed on some forums..the consensus was that the pickups are so good just keep them in there. They were right.
Nice. I have a Epi Les Paul 1960 Tribute Plus that has the rosewood board before the switch. I prefer the rosewood but the other woods Im finding good qualities to them. Soon mahogany and rosewood will be a thing of the past.
@@Mountainrock70 I am hoping that this will not happen...I think the way to go is to look at who is consuming the largest amount of these woods..furniture producers etc. Leave the smaller consumers alone. Look at the amount of regular wood being used for general construction! A well planned "reforestation" program is being used for these requirements.
I hate to admit it, but it seems the largest producers are guitar makers. There’s hardy any quality furniture made now. Its either particle board or rubber wood these days. I could be wrong?
Thanks for sharing. Did you say one was 20 years old? Having worked at Warwick in the past, I learned from the productionmanager who claimed that about 60% of the tone comes from the neck. A solid body that is. Who knows? From Drums I know that Birch drums sound a little snappier and louder than maple. Pao Ferro is also called Bolivian rose wood even though it is not a true rosewood. It is also called Morado in South amerika. I built a classical guitar in 2005. The back was Pao Ferro. Was a great guitar. In short good and solid wood.
I had made an error. The Pro model is from 2019 and the Inspired by Gibson model is late 2020. Yeah the pro model has a slightly thinner profile. Thanks for commenting!
I love the small squares on the neck. And I love the colour on the Pro. IMO, the best colour possible! And I had have them both. I love the PRO!
I sometimes think why have both? But I still cant part with the IBG.
Cool video I am a big fan of Epiphone I have a Joe Bonamassa I put alot of work into it to make it sound good.
I think pau ferro seems smoother and tighter grain then other rosewoods. I've never had an issue with pau ferro boards. Fender uses it a lot on their fingerboards. Player and Vintera series.
I bought my ES 335 Pro in 2012 so it had Rosewood fingerboard. I went ahead right away and upgraded the hardware and electronics along with Gibson 57 Classics. bone Nut. PIO Caps .022, Era correct Pickguard ( Short with correct Bracket). I also changed the Puckup Ring Screws to Black and Reflector knobs and a Epiphone hard case. Gibson (Kluson type) Tuners. It’s a great guitar but I recently bought the Epiphone 1959 Les Paul in Southern Fade and polished up the finish with Carnauba Wax. It’s a Fantastic Guitar.
I have a 2014 Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute Plus. Its basically your Epi 59, but with a 60’s neck with rosewood board and parallel/ series pickup switching. Its every bit as good as my Gibsons. It just does not have nitro finish. Sounds like you’re 335 pro is a keeper!
My Pro sounds great and plays great.
Seems to get better with age..?
Played acoustically, it just rings and sustains better than any other 335 in the past stable 😎👍
I think that the pro line was in some ways a trial run of the Inspired line. I bought my 2019 Pro in early 2020 at a very good sale price. Later I find out that they were probably clearing out inventory for the release of the IBG line. Mine had a couple issues, but I loved it enough to work through them. It had a high fret that had to be leveled and a poorly made output jack that couldn't be tightened sufficiently that I replaced with a Switchcraft. I've also darkened the fretboard with water based black ink so that it looks much more like true rosewood. As a personal preference I also replaced the stock tuners with Kluson Revolution Series 19:1 for the higher gear ratio. Now the only thing the IBG guitars have over the Pro's in my opinion is the headstock shape, but the hourglass traditional Epiphone style has grown on me. Now it is my favorite guitar I've ever owned.
30 years from now the big bell might be what they all are looking for?
So, did you ever do that second video you spoke of doing on this? I just subscribed. I like your style.
I tried a couple times, but couldn’t get a good comparison recording with a iPhone. Both guitars sounded the same to me. Im hoping for my daughter to take over recording and editing for me soon.
In the last year I've gotten a Bonamassa "Lazarus" LP, Epiphone '61 SG and more recently an Epiphone LP special - all have laurel fingerboards and I don't mind them one bit - I think too many guitarists fixate on rosewood and act as though it actually matters. It doesn't. All have also had excellent fret work. I've had to take off a few fret edge corners on the SG, but none of them have high frets, dead spots or any other issues.
All three of them benefitted tremendously from lowering the pickups. I would suggest that anyone try that before deciding the pickups aren't to their liking.
For me Laurel is fine but it usually is quite scratchy and super dry when the guitar comes right out of the box. I oil and buff mine out within days of getting a new guitar. My Gibson Special has the greatest rosewood board tho. I bet the Bonamassa LP is awesome!
I just bought a IG Epi ES335, so I wanted it to come out on top, too. I'm very happy with it, though it does seriously need a setup and some fretwork. I'm wondering about the pickups or electronics in mine, though. Is it normal for the gain to drop significantly when switching to the bridge position? Sup dat? I thought this was a great review, all in all!
I have higher gain on the bridge pickup. It’s possible they installed the bridge and neck pickups in reverse.
I have 7.7 ohms resistance bridge and 7.4 ohms neck. Hope this helps.
Both pickguard are correct for a Gibson 335, the Pro is just 50s style, while the ISG is 60s style
Very cool. I have an old Epjphone Dot Natural and a more recent "Inspired by...." in raspberry teaburst. Both beautiful. I like the new headstock on the newer one but tbh the older guitar plays and sounds better
A change of tooling for the new headstock and a slight drop in quality in other areas to make up for it? Is that how they roll???? Im starting to think that.
Thank you !
Isn't it neck profiles different on this models? Does PRO model has Slim taper neck and Inspired by Gibson has Round C neck, so I wonder if it's true? Thank you for the review.
I like the lighter burst on the Pro. Not so much the block inlays.
I got the Epi 339 when it first came out, in a black burst very similar to that 'inspired by 335'. But I really didn't like it. Not the burst (too dark), not the neck (too thick), not the balance (neck-heavy), not the finish (a lot of sloppiness). Well it was cheap.. I sold it quickly and then got an older (but still new from the shop) Samick 335-like model. Of course Samick is where a lot of Epi's (like 2 other Epi's I own) come from. That is a fine guitar. Tho it has a reddish to yellow burst that I don't particularly like.
I've the Pro and being 2016 at GC it still had the nice dark rosewood board...
...although I had to file/touch-up fret ends on mine. Where on the planet are you located?
But I'm commenting 'cause I dug your style of review, so thanx and Cheerios (but not the cereal)
Im in the USA Chihuahuan Desert. I have several older Epiphones with rosewood boards. Those were the days.
They are both great guitars. I personally like the Epiphone by Gibson, I think it is more look like the traditional ES 335. I do not need a split coil on a 335. Both are excellent. It is a matter of taste.
Review the latest Epiphone Lucille, bro.
I've just bought a 2014 Pro from my son, and it definitely has that "Gibson feel" about it.
The only thing that bothers me is the chromeware on the pick ups and tail piece is getting tarnished very quickly.
It's only 8 years old...but it looks more like 20 years of tarnish.
Guess a previous owner had very acidic sweat or something.
Mine seems to have normal wear. Ive had guitars with hardware that did that though.
I have a Epi CS 335 pro as well as two MIK Sheratons and a Gibson 335 Dot and a Gibson 339. The new Inspired by Gibson i would say was created in response to critiques over the years about the Epi headstock being too large. I can relate to the criticisms since i own the Epis and the Gibsons. I quite agree that the Gibson headstock is a bit better aesthetically. Also especially in the Sheratons neck dive due to the larger headstock might bother some people. Nevertheless the Epi 335 CS Pro is really good and comes close to the Gibson 335. Sheratons are also an excellent choice. As i see it the decision to go Inspired by Gibson or ES 335 Pro mostly has to do with the headstock design preference. That is what a buyer should really evaluate.
I myself will take sound over everything, but I understand what you are saying. Ive never understood the neck dive dilemma so many people have. When I play guitar I got a hold of it lol Rock On!
@@Mountainrock70 i agree with you. I do not think for the Epi 335s there is any neck dive issue anyway. For Sheratons it could be if you are standing on stage for a couple of hours but maybe not if you are are savvy guitarist. I also suspect however that the larger headstock improves tone of the guitar which may be a factor in your assessment. There are so many other factors like the amp and if you use a pedal. In my case the PUPs are Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and Switchcraft wiring. It is a Iced Tea Burst and a really nice guitar frankly.
How do you rate the Epiphone Sheraton II Compared to a Gibson es335 I have owned both 1972 Gibson a2004 Sheraton II and I liked the Sheraton II BETTER
My 335 pro has a rosewood fretboard, very dark, they changed it somewhere during the production run.
Yes, rosewood was used on everything, even their cheapest bolt on LP type guitars…
I’ve got a rosewood fretboard too, iced tea pro. Maybe from 2016ish?
I have the inspired by Gibson in the same burst but my fret work was great ....I also have the Casino which is my main guitar...the Casino I put a bone nut on and the 335 I lowered the bridge and mine is flawless...it's heavier than the Casino but the Casino is the best acoustic sounding electric I've ever owned...best unplugged sound. too. I played half a dozen of the 335s and got the best of the bunch...they always need setups though...always. So do Gibsons though.
Even if a guitar is set up at a factory or by a luthier someone takes it to, it might not be how someone else likes it. Setup out of the box I never consider when judging a guitar. A Casino I will get at some point!
I have that same guitar (Custom shop) but mine was purchased about 2016 new. I had a Gibson SC and Gibson Les Paul and I wanted a Gibson 335 but I didn’t want to pay the price for it. So I went with the Epiphone. Mine has the large E on the pick guard but that looks like the only difference. I love this guitar. It has become my favorite guitar play. Acoustically it is superior! Electrically I like the coil split now that i have them. I like to play in the middle setting, roll the volume off the neck pickup a bit, split the bridge pickup coil and slightly roll back the tone. Dialed in to a really cool sound with a touch of overdrive. I did remove the pick guard because I like to get under the string really far with my right hand with my pinky when I anchor. If I could keep only one guitar this would be it. Now I wouldn’t trade it for the Gibson. Most versatile guitar I own. Then my telecaster would be next.
I removed the E from the pick guard.
The Epiphone E is just a decal. Two seconds to remove.
Thanks.
I have the 335 inspired and It didn't have any problems. Being a guitar tech I always go thru my guitars and set them up, treat the fret boards roll the edges and in this case I replaced the pickups with Classic 57 alnico 2. Sounds like a Gibson to me. I also have a 2000 Epiphone 335 dot with the larger frets and neck is beefy but I don't care for it as much. However, my favorite guitar is a Yamaha SA2000 made in the late 70's and thru the early 80's made in Japan, mine is 1981. I prefer that to my Gibson ES335 1978. So many guitars so little time... lol
Those Yamaha SA2000’s from the 70’s are killer! Yeah, I iron out all my guitars. This IBG needs Gibson pickups next. I just installed a Gibson Burst Bucker Pro in a Epiphone IBG 50’s LP. What a difference. The 335 is next..
it would be nice to have a video comparing the sound of both. The pro neck is a bit flatter right? i tryed the new one and it was very chunky for what i'm used to.
Yes the pro neck is normal width for a 335 but thinner more like a SG neck. I plan to do a playing comparison video soon. My videos will be edited and improved from this point. Thanks for watching!
@@Mountainrock70 nice, just subscribed to watch it!
You didn't explain why you liked the neck profile better on the pro. This is the most important part of any guitar as it is not easy to change the neck. Was it slimmer? More rounded, larger etc?
Cheers 👍
The reason why I didn’t describe the necks is because I really hadn’t put much thought into them or really analyzed the profiles. I just pick guitars up and play them lol But now that you mentioned this. The pro does have a thinner lower profile, but its the same width it seems. This is strange really, because I normally like chunky 50’s necks. The feel of wider frets on the pro is also part of why I like the feel of the neck. I have big hands, so you might take that into consideration.
I'm sold on Eastman guitars. Looking for a high quality 335 style guitar and theirs fit the bill. If I'm going to by a import,why not the best ?
Yeah they are hand built as I understand but the price of their 335 knock off I imagine is around 2k.
Last week i was looking to Buy an es 335 style guitar, i was looking for an used sire h7, but it was impossible to find one around $500, so i find an es 335 pro Cherry from 2014, with upgrades : cts 500k pots, switch and Jack from switchcraft, and matsumoko pickups (japanese from the 80's), and a case, all for $550 so pretty good deal.
The only thing i'm not convinced is the nut, it seems kind of plastic. But everything is just awesome
My Pro has a plastic nut, but it did not need any tweaks to stay in tune. So it still resides on my guitar. The IBG came with a tusk type nut that needed a little filing to stay in tune. Sounds like you found a good guitar with those upgrades.
@@Mountainrock70 yeah she plays like a charm too, quite a Beauty Indeed!
Imo the Gibson style headstock makes their les paul miles better but the big ol' bell looks great on the semi-hollow style. All my metal buddies had a chuckle when i plugged in my Dot but it is one of the meanest sounding ghitars i have ever heard! (When it wants to be... she can still play mustang sally with my dad's boomer band)
I agree on how tough a 335 can sound. You can play just about anything on one.
One question. Do you use raw or boiled linseed oil on the fretboards.
I have been using Klean Strip Boiled Linseed Oil for decades now. I started out using raw linseed in the early 80’s, but now its not easy to find. I think boiled is more manageable, because raw takes longer before you can play the guitar after using. That’s how I remember it at least.
My 335 IG does have split coil pots.
Once upon a time I played an Epi Elitist ES335. If I didn't see the name on the headstock I would have sworn it was a Gibson.
man this reminded me of the epiphone pro models that i’d played in the past and they were all pretty great
I swapped my bridge for a Benedetto bridge & tail piece on mine cauz ive never really anderstood the logic of having 2 holes filled by 2 studs into wich are 2 screws holding a metal bridge. I mean it is not the optimum sound transfer solution to get the top to resonate. Too many places to get some slack in between each component, the studs in the holes are loose, the screws in the studs are loose, the bridge on the screws is loose, the saddles on that bridge are looses. With the Benedetto bridge, their is more surface touching the top then just 2 screws, the sound transfer is better and their are less places to cumulate some loose, in my mind, loose equal a lost of sustain.
I want this gutair
I had the same sold the pro still have the inspired but man the fret job was crazy awful I put a lot of time on it
The fret work on most of the Epiphones today really separates them from Gibson. For the low price things had to give somewhere.
I love my cherry red pro ,
Pau Ferro sounds closer to maple than to rosewood, where Indian Laurel is much closer to Rosewood.
Hmmmm….Just purchased new Epiphone ES-335-IG Gold Top (the whole thing is gold with white binding)
and mine has coil splitting pots.
Ricky from IBM, Ret
I have not seen them in gold yet? Does it have dot inlays?
@@Mountainrock70 yes
FYI. Inflation adjusted you actually paid more for the 2000 model. $729.10 in 2021 (purchasing power) is equivalent to $469 in 2000. That’s why I buy Bitcoin… to keep my purchasing power. 😉
I understand what your saying. But I messed up in saying 2000. I meant 2020.
I dig the comparison, so I just subbed!
Pleased to make your acquaintance Mountain!
I'm an Epiphone fan! My favorite guitar is my Casino, as far as hollow bodied guitars go, it's awesome and really versatile!
My favorite single cut is an Epiphone LP Jr I just love this guitar, the neck is awesome, and I play this all day every day!!!
Take care brother/
Jack ~'()'~
Canada
What’s up Snake! My next guitar I’m getting a Epi Rivera. Im not sure which guitar is my favorite. I love too many of my guitars.
Weird I have both too (gig spare) and feel the total opposite. The pro feels like a copy of the Inspired by. The pickups have much better clarity.
Who knows what goes on over there. I just measured the resistance of these pickups. The Pro lead pickup was 8.1 while the IBG 7.6. The neck pickup was a little hotter with the Pro also.
The neck profiles are totally different. The inspired by is a 50s profile. The other is a thinner 60s with a flatter back. I have both. You got this wrong.
My IBG does not have a 50 profile at all. Nothing like any of my Gibsons with 50 necks.
I thought Epiphone brought out the ES-335 Pro in 2012. You said 2000. 22 years ago? I don't think so. I too have a cherry red Pro which is a 2012. Rosewood fingerboard.
Yeah I meant to say 2020.
Both guitars are very cool IMO. Kinda weird the difference in the pickguards. I'm glad they did away with that odd shaped one and that hideous E.
The E picks off no problem as if they knew nobody would want it!
Good thing the newer models have the newer style headstock. That old headstock was ugly enough for me to not buy any of those!
So; the Inspired by Gibson model has flaws? Sounds about right 🙂.
Not as bad as those 1970’s Gibsons though. Those were a joke!
The Wilkinson tuners look awful though. The Inspired by looks far better IMHO except for the poly finish, there is too much of it and it looks plasticky.
I dig that green tint to be honest.
I've had my pro for a few years now -natural - 6 and change canadian 🇨🇦 - Gibson who?my Epi can't be beat - push pull pots = many tones - probuckers are fine pups - big headstock? Big deal its different not clipped and fits the guit just fine - all the other little things just don't add up to 4-5K upcharge for Made In USA (sorry neighbours) - keep yer pro I'm gonna 😎 Peace
In US I paid $469 new a couple years ago. I recently measured pickup resistance on both guitars and the pro has hotter pickups. I play both guitars, but always find I have put the IBG down and picked up the Pro lol The great thing about the Pro is you can get great country tones with the coil splitting. I find it to be a very versatile guitar for what I do. I’m keeping both however. Thanks for commenting!
😎💕😘
I have to give you my honest opinion should you want the best of the epic phones truly and you don’t mind putting new pick ups in it and you really want to get the right sound by yourself one of the Epitone B.B. King models get the fret redone it’s going to have the same neck profile as custom shops or any other ES 335 that epic phone makes They all are the same. At least you get a true Ebony board which is more ES 335 historically correct otherwise truly spend a few more dollars if you can’t afford the American version and get yourself an Eastman I have many students and they have all had great success with the Eastman T4 86 and the T4 84 another perfect example of a well-made guitar, great attributes and if you go for at least a 486 or 484 model, Duncan pick ups are at least as good as Gibson but truly boutique boutique pick ups are the best choice and you can build on the guitar overtime because honestly those zones need a lot more than pick ups a lot more the Eastman not so much but even buying the normal American Gibson which everybody thinks is the dream doesn’t play out either I’ve got four of them and for my students their epic phones which have been upgraded and repaired appropriately so that they are truly playable and usable at a pro level stay in tune better than my high-grade custom shop ES 335 ES 356 is fantastic. However the tuners are in line correctly on that guitar. No 335. I’ve ever played in 40 years has stayed in tune appropriately not one I’ve ever tried. I’ve had to fix or repair all of them to get them to do it correctly at least Eastman has that worked out. If you’re that much of a traditionalist I can tell you the guitar I play the most is my heritage, their version of the custom shop lightly aged dirty lemon burst less than four grand you can buy them all day long and they are 10 times the guitar the 335 is and you can certainly put Tops in any of them I would recommend lust for tone or throwback depending on your price range and certainly they are plenty others out there to get Tops from those aren’t even hand wound Tops and those $4000 guitars are even the $8000 B.B. King Signature I know because I have one on the wall that I put true Lucille pick ups in Blippi. It’s not just a matter of comparing these two models you open up a whole book of worms here I don’t think any other of your viewers seem to notice that but nobody has to be stuck with a bad guitar. There’s so many options out there. Thank you for the great demo. However, my students did refer me to it and I just thought I would throw in my two cents whether it was welcome or not, but I do hope you take what I said as the truth I am only speaking from experience And I hope that it benefits you as much as it does the kids I work with thanks Epic phone has no custom shop and I spell it that way purposely by the way also, those just are set up in the Gibson factory. I’ve actually toured and seen where they were being set up after receiving the shipment and then being shipped back out, so the frats are touched up Much less. There is very little difference if any also best wishes to you and just so you know, although I don’t care for it power Pharaoh is exactly what Stevie Ray Vaughan would play, and he would only play that interesting fact, simple men require simple tools, and when he sobered up, he realized how good Maple was and how good nine gauge strings were to.
9:12
Indian Laurel......stört irgendwie!ansonsten niceone!
Which one is which😂 it’s made in China y or Korea ( y what strings brand y gauges):?
I say which guitar is which several times in the video bro??? Both are China. Epiphone is not making guitars in Korea now, only China, Indonesia and USA. They come with crummy bench strings (10’s) like most new guitars.
Dude it's not wood, it's plywood suitable for fish boxes only LOL
Plywood is what Gibson ES335’s are built with! It certainly worked out well.
No sir, the pickups are not the same. The “Inspired by. . .” Is outfitted with those horrible Epiphone Classic Alnicos. The ES-335 Pro houses Epiphone “ProBuckers”. The latter sound a lot more like a PAF.
Is the other way 'round
@@antonioelle4894 No, what I said is correct. Look up the specs for yourself, friend. I had a 2016/17 es335 pro - Pro Buckers. ;)
@@reviewersrevival5408 me too. Mine Is from 2018, has got alnico Classic
Epiphone seems to switch parts around year to year. My Pro the pickups sound closer to the Gibson PAF pickups in my Les Paul. With my IBG I really have to fine tune my amp to get the tone Im happy with. The Pro I find forgiving, sounding good in a number of amp settings. One day I’ll change to Gibson pickups in the IBG.
So basically you get a worse product, but they added the name ''Gibson'' to it.. that actually makes sense.
Lol now that you mention it.
I bet that you only play the Am pentatonic so that’s your main argument judging guitars . Stfu and go practice
@@daniellinares3607 I play A pentatonic as well.
Try adding some aniline dye flakes to the linseed oil.
I didn't know Epiphone had a custom shop. Where is it? Indonesia? With 6 you get egg roll. Then there's that old style headstock...oy vey! Vey ist mer!
The custom shop is a fairytale of Epiphone. Maybe a higher level of QC at best I hope. In this case quite possibly.