I’m Ben. Join me as I deep dive and compare electric and acoustic guitars, new and vintage synths, FX pedals and amps, synth modules and guitar pickups, and all sorts of other music related gear.
As someone who’s loved vintage Epiphones since they were new guitars, I love the idea of doing USA made Epiphone vintage reissues. That said, this one struck me as an odd choice. Not the Coronet per se, but the late 50s Coronet predates the key changes that made the model a lot cooler for most of us. I would have far rather they’d reissued a 60s version with the asymmetrical body and batwing headstock. I think, even at this price, that version would sell way better. I’d love to buy one to replace the one stolen back in the early 70s. The late 50s models may be historically significant, but the 60s models are the more attractive evolution of the design.
Nice in depth review (and, as you say, there’s currently very little out there on this model). I bought this model a month or two ago…so light, comfortable, good looking and great sounding…I play it ALL the time. Extremely fun guitar to just grab and play, and available at an attractive price.
Your demo videos are great. However, if you decide to try and change it up you could do a deep dive and then a sound demo and then link them. They say the magic length is 10 mins. As far as explanation and everything your channel is one of the best.
My guess as to what "made the Fender way" means, I think it means made using same kind of magnet and number of winds to try and replicate the pickup as close as possible.
My first impression is it looks like Fender and Ibanez collaborated. Overall, looks pretty cool, not a fan of the color am I, however, stylistically looks awesome.
I got my Session used last year for $500. No need to spend $1,400. Godin blows away Fendera and Gibson with their quality. Purchased first one in 1996 and have had 7 so far and still have 4. Best Regards and Best Wishes!
Agreed! Fantastic guitars. To date I’ve had 6, still have 4. Only got rid of the others because I didn’t utilize them as much as they deserved. A Multiac and a 5th Avenue.
Excellent comparison and info!!! While the Epi is quite a bargain the weight is getting a bit high and if I wanted a 25" scale guitar I'd be looking at a PRS. It's cool that the Epi has at least a somewhat proper P90 but that overwound Gibson humbuckerish abomination in the Gibson would definitely have to go, if I want a P90 guitar then I want a quality actual P90 pickup that sounds in the range of an actual 50s one. While it's mostly a looks thing the straight lightning bar bridge just doesn't cut it to my eye. A Junior should have that angled 50's flat bar bridge, it's just part of the cool factor of the guitar so that's another strike on the Epi.
I agree with everything you say! 100%! I just did a Deepdive review on the new Epiphone USA Coronet and forgot to mention that the bridge has the angle where as the Epiphone China model has a horizontal bridge! 🤦♂️ But you’re so right. Those aesthetic differences really change a look!
I know that it is “tempting” to refer to the pickups as mini humbuckers, but a true Firebird affectionado knows that Firebird pickups are “Firebird pickups”. While they look like mini humbuckers, they have a totally different sound. Perhaps you would call this nitpicking, but I believe that it is an important distinction. That said, thank you for a very fine assessment of this guitar.
Wow. Very thorough and balanced review. One thing that wasn’t specifically addressed was how well( or not) that it stays in tune. I have an S2 custom 24 and an SE CE 24 and they both suffer I think to stay in tune. They both have the same neck( wide thin) as the NF 3 and I’ve wondered if that is a contributory factor. Thanks.
Hi. Thanks for watching the video. I did not seem to suffer any tuneage problems. But as soon as I got the guitar I put my strings on it and set it up like I do. I always do the luthiers knot also when I string up. Hope that helps.
I love Gibsons and they are my overall favorite brand of guitar. The Les Paul Juniors are one of my favorite designs. My dad has an original 59 junior TV yellow. He bought that guitar and a fender super reverb for $300 in the early 60’s. Anyways my main thing I wanted to say is that people forget that the junior is an extremely minimal guitar that’s a student model design for pre teens and young teens who are just starting so they made them affordable. Somewhere along the line Gibson seemingly Has forgotten that and now slap a massive price tag on them and it’s only because it has that Gibson logo on the headstock. It’s an extremely cheap guitar to make and I’m gonna go ahead and say it.....they could sell that guitar for $400 and still make a big profit all the while keeping the essence of what they were originally made for. For example, look at what Fender is doing with the Squier Classic Vibe Series. I own a 51 P-bass from that series and it plays and sounds as good as any other Fender I own and have owned like American Deluxe Jazz Bass, sunburst American P-bass, my EB-O, my RIC 4001. So I know Gibson could do the same thing actually making the juniors a quality, American made, student model guitar. Either way I’m probably getting one of these even though people got them and are turning right around and selling them as used and all but double the price. The thing is that I love Blackberry Smoke and have followed them from the very beginning, and Charlie Starr is one of my most favorite guitarist if not my all time number one. He has really influenced my playing style with his classic southern rock techniques he uses. So this one time in my life ima bite the bullet and pay an absurd amount for a guitar LOL!!!! I also have my own company and we build custom order one off models of guitars and amps. It’s just my two brothers and myself and we love it. So I will probably build a replica of the walnut because I’m gonna buy the black one. Anyway this has been a long comment but i loves your video and keep up the good work!
I haven’t used the Tonex One, but that has some cool features. Like Stereo Out for example. I like that all the features are readily accessible on the Tank G and there isn’t *much menu diving or a computer interface needed, but the Tonex One does look like it could be pretty cool! Cheers!
Thanks for taking the pick guard off and showing underneath. I wish you had shown more of the guitar underneath the pick guard. I am interested to see how the body is routed and if the cavity is coated with conductive paint or tape. I really like this one and it will probably be my first prs. The bridge has less of that thin springy sound of a strat. But the neck still has some of that strat like tone, but different. Seems like it would be a good guitar for someone that prefers a strat but wants some different tones. Especially that bridge with its p90 like tone for classic rock. Nice playing!
Thanks for checking out the video. I would disagree. If you look up a 50s lifton case, the Epiphone is pretty spot on. Maybe this link will work for example: www.guitarscanada.com/threads/50s-gibson-lifton-les-paul-case.277572/ Additionally, you can buy a set of Greeny pickups from Gibson for $300 now, which is a pretty good deal! Thanks again!
BTW Murphy Lab model is 20K. Gibson USA model is 3200. Apparently they all have same pickups. That set of pickups is more than 600 bucks. 1500 for the Epiphone sounds much. Though Gibson USA is not much more than faded model with those pickups. Epiphone has long tenon and 3200 bucks guitar doesn’t have it. Sure veneer flame maple is cheaper than a slab of flamed maple. Also poly vs nitro. But it seems they all share same pickups. I do not think 1500 is crazy price for this Epiphone.
Some Gibson’s came from the factory in out of phase setup. Some with the P90 pickups were coming apparently in out of the phase setup per design. Some were just mistake. Though some people have had access to Greeny original and even its pickups. If I am not wrong Matt Glissen from Monty knows tons about it and makes great replica pickups. Apparently Greeny neck pickup was broken. It was rewound with different type of wire and out of the phase issue was created then. Peter Green liked it and kept it as it is. Out of the phase thing is not that self canceling as people think and just by rolling off one volume knob a bit it is sounding way more as in phase middle position.
Gibson all the way. It’s an investment. When you buy an Epi you’re really just buying a budget version of the real deal. Go for the best. It’s a guitar for life.
I own the 2018 BJA Signature LP Jr in Sonic Blue, one of the best guitars I ever owned. The back story of it with the 57 Classic is because Hans, Billie Joe's guitar tech stated that he tries to select 57 Classic as his humbucker pickup for all guitars except Blue. The case that came with the guitar is the TKL Canadian made brown case with scooped top, which is a bit more prefered(and pricier) than the current case made in Costa Rica. Another thing worth to mention is the time-stamp, where LPJ is *NOT* a Les Paul Jr. LPJ was one of the cheapest models Gibson offered, in satin finish, no maple top, no binding, 2 humbuckers without covers.
Thank you for the information. I have updated the time stamps. Glad to hear you like the guitar. I’d love to play one someday! 57 Classics are such a great pickup!
Awesome video. I’m planning to get a es 339 blueberry finish, looks decent. Aside from the main part of the video, what’s the writings name (font) of the sections like “The Hardware” for example?
Hi, thank you for checking out the video. Unfortunately, those video sections are on an external drive now and I don’t have access to specifics. I can tell you though that it’s a stock Apple font that was available in Final Cut Pro. Hope that helps!
What an excellent evaluation and review of this PRS SE NF3. I'm a huge PRS player and own several now, so I was looking to see reviews on the new kid on the block. I thought you did an excellent presentation from start to finish and then the tone demo was also excellent. Play wasn't overdone to show off you guitar ability, but to show the tonal quality of the pickups in the different positions and at lower volume. Thank you for posting the video. Became a new subscriber to you as a result. Looking forward to more excellent reviews.
Any mixed feelings between the Theodore and Satan's Guitar is best resolved by buying both models!🙂 My son has both and says the Theodore is so smooth that it almost plays itself.
For the clean part of the song perhaps the Classic 59's was the best, but, for the dirty part, the Seymour Duncans made it sing! So, what's the takeaway, from that test ... hmmm ... ahhh, yes, you don't need a Les Paul guitar🤣.
Had mine a couple days now. Got the wine red. Sweetwater lets you choose from a few, and I picked the darkest finish. Looks great. Took it to rehearsal and that was the first time I'd plugged it in. I left my Standard at home to see what the Modern Studio could do. In terms of overall quality, it isn't up to the Standard, but-this thing has SWEET tones! I'm diggin' it!
I have 10 guitars. Half gibson half fender. But theres one prs se. Its an amazing in between guitar. Its one I take on stage often. I love the scale length because its like the goldielocks just right scale between the two other brands
