Can the Epiphone Banner J-45 Compete with the Gibson Version? 

It’s disheartening to see big name guitar brands price their guitars out of reach of the average enthusiast. Particularly as many big brands are largely machine built anyway. That is why it is refreshing to see brands such as Epiphone step up their efforts to build an improved guitar. Even so one question has always plagued me though.. Why not make an excellent guitar more affordable?

I’ve got the epiphone and it’s really loud… beautiful sound.. resonation is very good !!

Please do the j200 version

For those who can’t afford the true J45, those Epiphones are a nice guitar for the money. I have the Inspired by Gibson version and after a couple of years it’s aged nicely. Thank you for your videos

The side by side comparison showed how far apart they are in sound. However, they did put the lipstick on pretty good...

Comments are so funny if that epiphone said gibson on the headstock the comments would say different

I own two masterbilt Epis (Texan and Excellente) and both are incredible guitars for me. I went to my local store and tested the Banner J-45...because I really obsessed to own a J-45. Thought this would be the perfect match...but i left the store without it. Is is a beauty, it is build very well...everything is nice handcrafted...but 1300 € for a china build one ...i can't do it. After 10 minutes of play there were much fingerprints on the semigloss surface and what i really don't like is the script on the banner "Inspired by Gibson". Would better like the Elitest with a Gibson printed Trussrod cover and the banner could be printed with ornaments or something else. Nice guitar but not for me especially the craftsmanship of my excellente is a class of its own. Nothing beats this. The banner 1942...for 1.000 maybe, for 1300 no...

“Sometimes if there’s too much finish I feel sticky” A that’s what she said! Am I right guys?……guys?…..that’s what..cause the thing.

Hope a EPI LG-2 is next!

Imagine a world where this guitar comes in a 12 fret to the body version.

not even close! like the epi alot but the gibson....wow

The all-solid Sitka Spruce top on Mahogany back & sides Epiphone Inspired By Gibson J-45 is a real winner at the $749 price point. I own one and I own a 2001 Gibson J-45 and I play the Epiphone more, mine is a 2019 model and it's the first Epiphone acoustic I've ever experienced "breaking in". Amazing guitar. For the money the Slash version is around $799 (that was a sale price, I think normally around $999) and you get Grover tuners, a hard case and an LR Baggs pickup and it's just the best value for an Epiphone. I'm not so sold on the "banner" version here, I do love the Gibson J-45 banner. That's a dream guitar, I just don't think they did a great job capturing all the little elements that go into that. I believe the Gibson version is all hide glue construction, too.

The epi is a good guitar and the Gibson is magic...

He didn't play the Gibson at the end so we could hear the difference between the Banner Epiphone and the Banner Gibson?

The back on the Gibson is really killer. I dig that.

I love the Gibson. The Epiphone is good, but if I were to buy one or the other I'd have to go with the Gibby even at the higher cost.

Just an opinion but buy the Gibson to record with at the studio, buy the Epiphone with less low end for live use with that pickup. Another opinion, the low end will get lost in a band mix. Conclusions, but a Martin 😂

I own a Gibson J-45 Banner, torrified red Spruce top, so no question what I prefer. For my grandson who wanted this, we got him a Guild DS 240 Memoir Vintage Sunburst (also from Music Villa) so he could learn a few things about owning a guitar. The sound is different, but so is the price. I like this comparison. Thanks, Quinton and Paul.

I have a 1953 j45 that needs a little work I'm willing to sell it was my grandpa guitar he past away and I got the guitar

I wonder what Jose Felliciano or Stevie Wonder would make of these guitars by comparison…? 🤷🏼‍♂️. Neither can see the marketing….

What a great Review!❤

Out here.. I could tell virtually no difference between the 2 guitars. And I really want one now. (And Quinton King looked like he was having good fun making it sing. As always)

The Gibson definitely blows up the epiphone away🤩

Epiphone 'burst doesn't cut it.

"only a Gibson Good enough{but an Epiphone ain't bad !} .

congrats for the awesome fingerdemo!!

Any info of strings in comparison of Epiphone and Gibson? And please which is weight comparison

I think moving the IBG Epiphone line from Indonesia to China was a big mistake and it shows in the sound and quality. I own a 2001 Gibson J50 and an Epiphone Master built J45 which was made in Indonesia. While there was a noticeable difference between the two in sound and quality build, the Epiphone held its own against my Gibson. I just don't understand when you have a good thing going, why mess with it. I know, money. Well Epiphone nor Gibson need more of that at today's price points. My Gibson was bought new for $1400.00 and My Master Built was $550.00 new at Guitar Center. The last run of the Gibson J50 was a 50s reissue and sold for $3500.00 in 2019, and the Master Built went up from 550 to 799 In just a few years. The new IBG Epiphone 42 Banner is miles away in the sound quality and that is very disappointing. The 749.00 version made in Indonesia blows it away. Sad times for Epiphone.

Gibson sunburst is sweet...Epi looks like one of those photo jobs.

I think they both sound equally great but different

That sounds great

For the love of god, high pass filter your mics, you're going to blow my speakers one of these days🤣. Love everything you do!

Do you know anything about the tuners on the epi banner? Been trying to find info Thanks

Outstanding! Epiphones are Great..

bon- ner j45

Very nice

These are amazing. Ignore all the snobs in the comments haha

2:24 3:28 3:58 3:48

Anyone from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🙂

The Gibson was richer, more bottom end and had more depth compared to the Epiphone. It was pretty obvious!

So the price differense is clear that Gibson is $3700 MORE so all the comments about the Gibson being better....I sure hope so

My opinion is that there is a detail is that the Epiphone guitar has a piezo electric pickup that reduces volume and loudness, like any acoustic guitar.

SJ200 PLEAAAAAAAAASE!

Epi sounded muted.

2:53 epi ❤3:28 gib❤❤ 3:58epi❤ 5:25epi❤ Give me 1k likes plz🤗🤗

I understand the marketing angle. But Made in China?that’s a no way for me. Go ahead and buy em’ folks, I’ll save up for the Gibson. Besides Epiphone (Purchased by Gibson in 1957) never made a banner acoustic……Ever🎶

Tonal depth. That's the difference.

I'm in the UK I don't know what the us price is but I think it's horrible they're making the guitars people want over seas not us made and charging prices where I'm not far off getting a j45 studio madness

A comparison of the Epiphone vs a std. Gibson J-45 would also have been interesting

Great comparison, but the Gibson blew the Epi away.

It's a great little guitar for the price, but it doesn't compare to Gibson Banner reissue. I wish Gibson would stop diluting the Banner headstock to sell product. They did it with the J-35 reissue ten years ago, and they made some incredible J-35s, but the Banner is supposed to be special and placing it on an Epiphone is just a marketing ploy to make money.

Nice guitar… too bad they didn’t copy the Gibson version’s big neck profile. Missed opportunity, Epiphone.

Both are great but for my money it’s the Epiphone

Epiphone sounded and looked embarrasing next to the gibson. "Inspired by gibson" my ass

"For a price point.." lol. Kill me with that. Just say cheaper.

"bah-ner 45"...proper word pronunciation not a needed quality for a good picker. Let the fingers do the talking :)

Not even close to the Gibson and at that price, you are better off with something used

Why you guys talk too much 😐first demo Second talk😅

Dont sounds like Martin so its not a guitar 🤣🤣