I own the Excellente and love it. Got mine from the 1st run when they came out and it still took forever to be delivered. Was well worth the wait though.
The Excellente sounds a bit brighter to me, but not too bright. The Guild has a shade more of a bass tone. They both sound golden to my ears. Great, and I mean a great upload, my friend. Oh my goodness, what a difference your setup made, brother man 👍 Love those cowboy boots 🤣
I was a bit surprised at how good the Epiphone sounded. With that said, The Guild is a lot more guitar and sounds a lot richer, fuller and deeper to me. I don't own either guitar but would be proud to.
Very nice video. I would be very happy with either guitar too. The Exellente has an exceptional sound for a guitar that's just over $1,100.00. And the Guild, I just love Guild guitars. I'll never be able to afford a D55 but one can dream..lol. Both I and Randy, of Randy's Rhythm have made reviews of the guitars that Epiphone are putting out in they're "Inspired by Gibson" line and their Masterbilt line and can confirm that those guitars are outstanding. I just reviewed the Masterbuilt Texan and compared it to my 65 Texan. And again, they hit a home run with it. Sorry for the long comment. Thanks for the very good video.
Hi Hayes, thanks so much for the feedback! I really appreciate it. This Excellente still blows me away. I’ve also been ‘inspired’ by the IBG line, having bought and reviewed the hummingbird, j-45, and J-200. Unfortunately, Gibson has now closed the Indonesia factory, and has moved this all to China. So I’m glad we got ours when we did. Thanks again, and I’m on my way over to your channel now! 🙏🎸😎
@HayesTech I wanted my IBG J200 to be great, but it just wasn’t. But that’s not an indictment of all of them. I think yours sounds better for example I’m thinking of trying one again
My Epiphone AJ-500 RNS, also a rosewood Masterbilt guitar, is extremely stable as well. Looks like it's a rosewood trait, since my all-solid sapele is a bit more capricious when it comes to weather. Ridiculously, my MOST capricious guitar is a solid-top Epiphone EJ-200, while being built as a TANK. I mean, COME ON! It already has a top crack, and it opened up a tiniest bit even after being glued and cleated. This is outrageous, but I still love her. I don't like your aspect ratio, but the audio demo parts are SO MUCH better now! Great job, Paul. Guild sounds like a piano, a great instrument. A bit dry and tight, but its tone has so much character! Epiphone sounds the same but I'd say ~15% less in every regard. A bit harsh and not as 3D, yet still VERY good sound. Considering the price difference, Epiphone is a gem!
I have the 2 Indonesian Masterbilt reissues the Excellente & Frontier, and the 2 inspired by Gibson Epiphone Humingbirds, the 6 and 12 which are also made by Sammick in the same factory in Indonesia. The guitars I have were all produced between July and Sept 2020 in the early phases of the initial production run. My experience has always been to get the first guitars or early guitars from any production run as at that point the brand is still building up a reputation for any series of new guitars, so tend to spend more time and effort on getting production and finishing just right. IMHO the Epi Inspired by and Masterbilt reissues are some of the the best acoustic guitars in the sub $1000 guitars price point, currently on the market. Worth bearing in mind that when I purchased the Excellente in late 2020 it was a sub $1000 guitar but now its up to $1300 and rising, says everything you need to know about the demand for and popularity of the guitar.
@Edward1312 great to hear because mine will be here Saturday! I'm a bit nervous because I hate ordering online but I've heard nothing but positive things about the Excellente!
The Epiphone had a deeper sound, but the Guild had the hallmark sweet sound I have only found in a Guild. Okay, I may be bias, my favorite guitar is a Guild.
Both guitars sound nice. The Guild has a wider tonal range compared to the Epiphone guitar. I can see the reasons why. The Epiphone has a thick scratch plate, which slightly reduces vibration on one side, resulting in a brighter, tighter tone. Another reason could be that the braces on the Guild may be hand-voiced or perhaps scalloped. The Epiphone has a slightly longer distance from the saddle to the bridge pins, which reduces the break angle, hence less energy is absorbed by the top. I think it's a design choice, since ovangkol has a very low end, scooped midrange, and brighter high end. To make it sound more even, you have to adjust the distance to the bridge pins from the saddle. Overall, it's a nice video. If I had the money, I would go for the Guild. If I didn't have the money, I might hand-scalp Epiphone's heavy braces with a thumb chisel.
The Excellente looks a lot bigger than the Guild. I love videos that compare different guitars....or just videos the demonstrate the sound of guitars that we don't get to hear often. Thanks for posting. I love that Epiphone, but they both sound really nice.
There likely would not be much of a comparison.. the woods used are different, not 100% sure but l believe the originals were Brazilian Rosewood and possibly Adirondack tops.
Owing to the magical midrangy Ovangkol I much prefer the Epi. So ethereal and holds my interest forever. More dynamics and nuance...Just one drummer's opinion!
The Guild had a much more pronounced lower-end, and bit tighter sound than the Epiphone. The Epiphone was alot brighter sound, and seemed to have much more sustain. Over-all, I'd take the Epiphone. Now I'm assuming strings are similar, with no drastic differences.
5:23 7:58 Its suprising to me how close they sound.. The d55 seem to sound a bit deeper but considering its the deepest sounding guitar out there, the Excellente is very good.
They both sound fine. I am surprised how good the Epiphone sounds! It takes a few years for a guitar to really open up, as we all know. They will both keep sounding even better. My CA made Guild D-40 Traditional took about 4 years to begin to open up. My D-20 opened up a bit quicker. Just from the YT videos I have heard, some very new D-55's sound pretty open (enough bass & midrange present), and others don't.
GREAT FIGHT!! I love the Excellente bro!! Got my a few months back Masterbuilt, awesome, awesome guitar!! But heavy, but I like em like that!! ") Jack ~'()'~
I'm sort of prejudice maybe 🤔 since I just bought the Excellente. Both sound great. It boils down to personal preference I think. Still, you couldn't go wrong with either. 😊
The Epi sounds great, but the Guild sounded better to my ear. However, for the price difference the Guild wasn’t $3000 better. I have an Epi 12 string inspired by Gibson Hummingbird and it’s a wonderful guitar, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, just incredible quality and workmanship for the $$. I also have a Guild f-250 made in Asia, it is a joy to play, sounds great too!
I orefer the sund of the Épiphone ,my choise ,i got few guitars ,il like better my Martin 00015 M mahiogany than the other one Thank's for that report Sir Guy,
howdy paul! what a cool story that you brought to us, thanks for sharing these personal story with us! i sadly do not understand enough about guitarss to follow along what you were explaining here, but i still appreciate the work that went into your video. the research for all these informations must cost so much time. you have such a good talking voice and it is so easy to follow your voice along trough the video and your explanations.
I didn’t know Epiphone recently closed the Indonesian factory and moved to china that is a bit concerning because will the quality be as good ? , I believe the Epiphone excellente has real mother of pearl inlays but will the Chinese factory change those specs to plastic.
Yes, we’re all a bit disappointed, and the few reports I’ve heard are that the quality isn’t as good. But until I play one, I don’t want to indict them
I found and bought the Excellente before few weeks and a i find its sound amazing. It is much better than your Excellente. When you play i can hear a some buzz, which i dont have in my Excellente. I guess that the frets on yours need some work. Maybe also to increase a bit the distance between the neck and the strings. This makes the Guild to sound much better. Do a good setup and you will have an even much better Excellente :-)
Hi Paul, How long did have the Epi Excellente before you did this video? I'm wondering if it had time to open up or if it was just new at the time... Great video! I once had a beautiful Guild D55 and I wish I still did. I can no longer afford to buy another one, so I ordered a mint made in Indonesia Epi Excellente. It is still in transit and I am hoping it sounds as good as I've heard from so many others. How hard would it be to remove that pick guard, (if I ever decide to do that)? Thanks, again.
Hey there, thanks for the great feedback. So, I actually don’t think I’ve played the Epi enough for it to have reached its full potential yet. But it does seem to sound a little bit better each time I play it. I’m so glad you’ve found one, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do mine. Well, I’ve only removed a few pickguards in my days, and I use a hair dryer to slowly melt the glue, and a plastic spatula to slowly pry it off. The key word here is slow. But honestly, I love the look of that pickguard so much, I wouldn’t dream of removing it, sound be damned 😆 Thanks again, and best of luck with yours. Hope you get it soon!
I have an Epi Excellente and many other guitars, many high end models of Collings, Gibson, Martin, Eastman. For the money, the Excellente is a great guitar and very unique looking. It's not THE BEST sounding guitar I have and is a bit trebly (aka lacking some bass), probably due to it being over built (heavy), BUT it's sound is it's own and still has a place in my stable.
@paulgeorgia8013 Thanks, Paul I will check it out. I have always loved the Westerly, RI builds from the mid 90's and earlier, I have 2 1980 Guilds; D35 & D312, loved em both!!
Both guitars are fine instruments ! They both offer the player great sounds and I like each. I prefer the Guild though. It is brighter sounding and resonate's a touch longer to my ears. I also like the Guild because is made here in the USA. That being said, if I was on a budget, I would buy the Epiphone without reservation because they sound amazing. Thank you for having this review ! I want to trade up my Martin 1998 DM for a Martin D-35, HD 35, Gibson J-45, Gibson Hummingbird, Guild D-20 Mohogany, Guild D-40 Traditional, or a Guild D-55 ? I am taking my time and in no hurry. In WI. it is challenging to find a new Guild D-55 to play in a shop. The Guild's I have played do sound amazing. Thank's again for the great review !
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful You’re right, in today’s environment, it’s really tough to find a guitar shop which will have showroom models for you to try, unless you live near a major city And you’ve certainly identified some great choices! Each of them has a unique beauty, which is why I’ve wound up buying most of them lol. Best of luck in your journey, and let me know how it’s going.
@paulgeorgia8013 Thank you ! There are so many wonderful choices. I will let you know what I find next. Those Martin 000-15- SM and 000-15-M all Mahogany are excellent sounding Guitars also which I am looking at. In WI. they are $1999.99 each. Both fine instruments, I think l might lean toward the SM ? Like you mentioned there are subtle differences even between the same models in sound and playability. Selecting a great playing and sounding guitar has been a fun journey because I am learning along the way. Thank you much !!
I was all ready to love the Epiphone and then that rich balsey canon D55 came on. Guild all the way. I think someone there had lunch with a Martin and mated.
Yes, this D55 has a sound all its own. I’m surprised Rich Robinson sold it to me. There’s some video of him playing it on the Jimmy Kimmel show in 2010. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G_ZZIzk-JnQ.htmlsi=XfT1H9mwNLCwiLGg
I own an Excellente.. l really thought both were about the same price..that in mind l expected to like the sound of the Excellente better.. but the Guild immediately projected sound better.. it has a beautiful tone, the Epi however was a more evenly balanced tone, ld say the chime of the Guild has a bit more of over all character.. but when you consider the extreme price difference it's shocking really... I would have expected a far better tone for that much money! For even money ld go with the Guild if l liked the playability but it's NOT even money! BTW... l notice the pick gaurd on the Guild looks like most high end gaurds being small and thin.. take the huge, 3mm thick gum rubber, tone killing gaurd off 5he Excellente and you will be SHOCKED at how much difference there is!! Why ANY guitar would come with this rediculous huge thing on it is beyond me but mine is GONE! I don't miss it at all! It's the VERY best upgrade you can do with your Excellente and it won't cost you a cent!!! It is the sound board of the guitar..which is why Taylor, Martin and other fine guitars use very small thin gaurds.. it's really a no brainer. Great vid!! Thank you for doing it.. as far as the tone many are saying the Epi is brighter...do you have the same brand and gauge strings on both? Were they both put on about the same time? Could be a few reasons for this...
Hi James, Thanks for tor the great feedback I agree, the pickguard could be holding back some resonance. I just got an Epi J-45, and the first thing I did was pull that 1” thick Guard. Made a huge difference I used new Martin Lights on these, and all my reviews. I’d love to get your opinion on my Jumbo Shootout Episode 2 if you have time!
The guild to me sounds louder and allot more in your face , dare I say it does sound better , but taking into account the price difference the Epiphone is not far behind and better bang for buck.
@@paulgeorgia8013 thank you for your reply , great channel and I enjoyed the comparison, I am looking at buying the Epiphone excellente , but I was wondering if you have any concerns production has moved to china
@Guitar387 I would recommend, in the strongest terms, to find a used one made in Indonesia. Actually, I’m not sure they’re even making the Excellente in China.
To me the Epiphone sounded like Nancy Wilson's touring Ovation Adamas, at least at the beginning. By comparison the Guild just blew it away overall, IMO.
@@paulgeorgia8013 I have heard other reviews of the Excellente and I was impressed, so maybe it was just the way it got compressed during the recording and posting to RU-vid.
@@paulgeorgia8013 A asked bcs my excellente lacks in volumne compared with my other guitars. Here it seems as loud as D-55. The biggest difference is the more pronounced bottom end in D-55 and a bit glassier heights in Excellente (which are a characteristic of Ovangkol). I do prefer the D-55 in the recording, but I am a huge Guild fan.
I hate these kind of shootout vids. Putting a tux on a turd doesnt hide the cheap smell. I collect real Gibson for many reasons. its much more than just the look.
