Epiphone all the way!! I had a Gibson J-15 for a year (solid walnut back and sides) and really liked it but the G-45 just is lacking something sound wise when I played one a while back and just listening in to your demo to my ears. I agree the Gibson G-45 has a better setup straight from Gibson but I'll save the extra 300 pounds and put that toward a proper setup by a good Luther for the Epiphone or set it up myself and use the extra 300 pounds towards a good acoustic preamp.
Epi sounds fuller when strumming with better bass response, Gibson a bit clearer when fingerpicking. Not easy to say what guitar sounds better, it maybe a matter of taste.
Gibson sounds smaller and narrower in frequency range - which can be great if it sits in a specific area of the mix. But as a solo player I'd prefer the sound of the Epiphone.
I prefer the Epi. The walnut back & sides of the Gibson just changed something tonally that I'm not a fan of. The Epi sounded more like a traditional J45 imo and I'm sure as it ages that will prove more & more true. At this spec the Epi might as well even be a Gibson and to my ears sounded no different to any $1500+ acoustic, even tho it costs well under that. Not too sure how Ben is even prefering the G45 tonally unless he might just have bias to the big brother which tbf most people do. The previous Generation series Gibson did was much more superior imo. Wish they wouldn't have discontinued them.
For those curious about build quality on the Epiphone, Driftwood Guitars did a review and cut one in half. He is a luthier with a lot of experience and he was super impressed with the Epiphone and said it was decidedly better to the G Series Gibson's after having fully inspected both. Personally, I own both a Epiphone IBG J45 and a Epiphone IBG Hummingbird. They are phenomenal guitars. The Hummingbird is my favorite. It is extremely boomy, full, and rich, even more so than my Martin D21 and my Seagull Artist CW QII (which I love also). The value in the Epiphone IBG series is insane.
Awesome vid. No question for me: the Epi hand down. The Gibson just sounded like a toy in comparison. But BEN! Truly, you are a shadow of your former self, in all the very best ways. Remarkable transformation which must not have been easy at all. GOOD ON YOU! Cheers and thanks!
Different beasts.... the Gibson was not as full sounding, but I preferred it when Ben was finger picking.... there's an interesting and slightly scary video where Driftwood guitars cut the Gibson in half.... my money is on the Epiphone being built to a higher standard!
Gibson for strumming, Epiphone for finger style. Interesting that you thought the Gibson had more low mids. From what I heard on the recording the Epiphone was more boomy, whereas the Gibson had a voice in middle-to-upper midrange. Both have sounds that will definitely fulfil many a purpose.
The Epiphone has a much more pronounced bottom end that tended towards "woofy" when hit hard...the Gibson was more articulate in the low end but a mid too mid heavy...it's a toss-up as to which was "better" they're very different animals to be sure...
The « woofiness » of the Epiphone might mostly come from wider frequency range combined with the fact that the microphone is placed right in front of the sound hole (the Gibson having another « port » for air to go through might diminish that effect as well) I’m pretty sure that a test recording at the 12th fret would get rid of the « woofiness » :)
Personally, I'd go a Mahogany or Rosewood body over Walnut any day. I was listening to the Gibson and asking myself - whats missing? The highs are tinny and the low end is missing. I think the Epi still has a little more in it with a nice setup and strings.
Totally agree with this, The gibson sounded thin and tinny to me, every time he played it I was put off by the highs being too high. The epiphone is the kind of sound i prefer.
I own a Gibson and absolutely love it. That said, I’m hearing much more clarity in the Epiphone. The Gibson you’re playing lacks the good base tones I’m used to hearing from mine. Goes to show the label doesn’t mean everything
This is the kind of content I want! Just started the video. My prediction is that for the money the Epiphone will win. After listening to the full video I was also torn a bit. I think the Gibson sounds more mature, but it also seems a bit thin and tinny. It just doesn't have the big dreadnaught umph. The Epiphone sounds a bit tighter but I believe the Epiphone will age better and sound closer to a J45 one day. I would probably go for the Epi J45 since I already have a J45 standard. I would love a good Epiphone to take on road trips and to play around the fire. Great comparison! Thanks for doing these videos!
Worth mentioning that the previous version of the G45 was a better guitar with a pick-up, hard case and with no player port. I'd pick up one sooner than the newer G series with the player port.
Holy hell, the lows on that Epiphone... The Gibson sounds like a entry parlor compared to it in this aspect. But maybe from the player's perspective that hole provides enough sonic punch to keep it satisfying, and maybe Gibson plays better, and maybe you want a thinner sound. Acoustics are tricky... :D Thank you for the entertaining video though!
Epiphone for me, cause it has nice amount of highs and lows and I admire that sunburst finish, and electronics are a nice bonus to have. It sounds better for strumming and I am more of a heavy handed strummer and I like the ring of open chords the most . I do not like plain look of Gibson (it is nice, but natural finish is not for me) but it sounds better for fingerpicking cause it projects more and has accentuated midrange.
That’s a shame you can always buy a cheap but good chinese acoustic guitar they are pretty good starts from 70$ I brought one costed me 130$ looks and plays good Kaysen k c7 41
@@CurrieNerd I respectfully disagree, saying no to a any guitar is like closing potential doors. I would atleast try one at a music store. Acoustic puts me in another state of mind I wouldn't normally be in if I was playing my eletric. Something about the simplistiy of just picking up and playing with only "acoustic" sounds will spark ideas if your stuck in a rut. It's not an "easy" thing to play well, but If it's not your cup of tea, then don't buy it. But they are so affordable and decent enough sub $200 acoustics that will be just fine!
I bought G45 studio (without 'player port') over a year ago, I sent it back, went to the guitar shop and bought Epi Hummingbird IbG and I'm happy. Apart from tiny tone (however I do appreciate brightness of higher tones) Gibson G45 was just cheap guitar for huge money. When I grabbed it was just not right, cheap fingerboard, no binding, ugly headstock. Now I have piece of art guitar, highest Epi (apart from US Epis) and I'm hEpi :)
The Gibson has a clarity and mid-focused sound that works well enough for finger picking but the Epiphone was all about those 'cowboy chords'. For my needs and preferences I'd have the Epi. Bonus... it looks nicer, too. Bonus #2... the Epiphone has a pickup.
The Epiphone sounded fuller and warm, and looks amazing with the burst. The Gibson sounded a bit tinnier although could cut through in a mix better. But the Gibson looks very cheap imo for the amount of money you pay for it.
I played the Epi for a couple months. It doesn't sound the same in this video as when you're actually playing it. It sounds good in many respects but for me it was missing projection. It sounded a bit soft. I like a stronger woody sound for acoustics. The D-28 is my go to guitar. I don't expect lesser guitars to sound the same but I like crisp articulate qualities in any all wood acoustic.
Pull back the shot so you can see the dB meter! Those of us who play in acoustic/no amplification settings could benefit from a realistic if imperfect loudness number.
Gibson sounded better imo. Kind of like new strings vs old strings. Both sounded good though. Best sounding guitar I have is my guild f40 jumbo. I also have a Taylor 614ce, martin d35, epiphone master built, seagull cedar got, and a takamini. Looking to get a Gibson SJ 200 but not sure if I want the studio or the standard. Which would you prefer?
I agree, the Gibson sounds better to my ear. The 300 price difference over 30 years of playing is negligible so that's the one I would buy. Tone and clarity are everything with an acoustic.
I heard a bit more of a warm bass bottom end on the Epi, but more articulation from the Gibson. So if I were going for a cowboy chord strumming machine, I’d grab the Epi; but if I were more into articulate picking styles, I ‘d go Gibson
The thick finish, rosewood vs ebony and classic vs Grover tuners make the Epiphone a much darker guitar. In this video, that makes the G45 seem a little thin or bright. But I can tell you, I've played both and in the room, you aren't going to pick the epi. A little EQ and explanation would go a long way to make this a better video comparison. The Generation series guitars are really amazing.
For me, if I'm playing solo in an entirely acoustic situation it's the Gibson by a country mile. If there's somebody behind me hitting cymbals it's the Epi. Depends what you're going to do with it.
Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I would compare the Gibson to coffee the way I have it, black with no sugar. The Epiphone was like coffee with cream and sugar. My vote goes to the Epiphone. What I would like to hear is the comparison between the Epiphone IBG J-45 and the Epiphone Standard.
Personal preference for what sort of tone you like. Both are decent. Frankly, I'd keep looking for something else that would probably sound better to me around the same price range or lower.
I like the Gibson G45 just a small bit more. I listened "blind" and the G45 has a very slight tonal advange in 'Finger Picking' style. Strumming is nearly identical in tone. My very first 'good' guitar was a Brand New 1964 Gibson J45 (in 1964) so I may have a slight prejudice. For the price difference (USD 400) I would choose the Epiphone.
Imo the Epiphone sounded better. Not sure if that extra sound hole on the top of the Gibby had anything to do with it. My guess is with a better setup , the Gibson would and could potentially sound better than the Epiphone, never thought I’d say this but there you have it. Excellent comparison and video, your playing ability tho could make a firefly sound amazing (no offense to Firefly fans out there, don’t get salty). Rock on dude 🤘
I've got to come down on the side of the Epi. It's got a nice level of scratch to it but I find the Gibson a bit too scratchy. The epi is a bit warmer too. I know which one I'd go for. That's only judging on sound though.
Did they both have the same strings installed? If those are the horrid stock Epiphone strings, it would explain the thinner sound. The Epiphone still sounded decent though!
Great demo, the EPI is great value and a great sounding guitar but for me the tonal clarity of the Gibson won me over. Most evident on the strumming rather than the picking.
I thought the Gibson sounded better when he Played the blues but the Epiphone sounded better on the other demonstrations. I have an epiphone guitar on layaway the same model he demonstrated and this comparison makes me feel good about having it on layaway. For my money the epiphone plays well enough to do anything of the things I would do on a Gibson for a lot less money.
As soon as I heard the Gibson it was no comparison. The Gibson all the way, much more resonant, audible, highs and mids, more usable I'd say. I can imagine the Epiphone being good for reggae rhythm though cause it would be less present. At the same time the Epiphone does have more bass.
Very interesting. Different top woods and that "Player Port" on the Gibson makes this comparison decidedly apples v oranges. That said, despite me typically _not_ liking mahogany tops, I far preferred the Epiphone for strumming those big chords.For fingerpicking, I began leaning more towards the mid-forward articulation in the Gibson. I think the lack of lows in the Gibson is largely due to the Player Port. It's a very, very different guitar. The _REAL_ question is build quality. Fingerboard rolling and all that goes into playability can make a low-end Gibson less than an easy decision. Disclaimer: I own both a Gibson Les Paul Tribute and a Les Paul Tribute Special P-90. Comfort of fingerboard rolling and the evenness of neck carve differ noticeably from higher-end Les Pauls. My evaluation of sound and playability on acoustics is based on my 2001 Martin DR.
I’m rather surprised by the comments. The Gibson sounded world of order better to my ear. It was clear and articulate without the tinny sound of strings slapping frets like the Epi. Just my opinion though.
No guts to the Epiphone - very hollow / scooped. Much preferred the Gibson although not necessarily loving it. Much fuller, especially in the mid range. During the finger picking section, bass notes really had nothing on the Epiphone - quite flabby, but the Gibson projected nicely. Have just spent a long time trying to record a guitar that sounded like that Epi - bit of a nightmare to get that tone right, especially in a mix
I pretty much agree. The Gibson sounds better to me; lighter and less woofy. For the money though, the Epi is still a nice guitar. I would be happy with either.
How does the walnut age over time? Are there comparable walnut guitars that are 5, 10, 20 years old that one can listen to for context. The Gibson sounded ‘green’, but I wonder how time might season it?
I think the Epiphone with the chords was a bit rounder. But when Ben was doing blues the Gibson cut through a bit more. I wouldn't say its 300 quid different though
I had always been a Gibson guy. While my 1963 LGO which I bought new was being rebuilt (cheap plastic bridge replaced with Brazilian rosewood) I bought a new Gibson J45. I really liked it so when Epi IBG J45 came out I bought one as my "campfire" guitar. The Gibson was no better than the Epi so I sold the Gibson and bought a Bougeois D Vintage which is the finest guitar that I have ever played. Check out Driftwood Guitar's reviews of the Epi J45 and Gibson G45. They cut them in half to see how they are built. The Epi is very well crafted, the Gibson is a piece of junk!
The Epiphone Slash J45 sounds better than the IBG J45 and is very close to the same price as the G45. The Slash model also has a hardshell case and the LR Baggs pickup on it, which I think sounds better than the Fishman.
The Gibson sounded brighter to me, really clean. The Epiphone did sound good, but slightly flatter/dull in comparison. All relative though, both great guitars.
For the most part, the Epiphone held it's own with the Gibson..UNTIL you got to the Blues playing and the Gibson was smoking HOT on that and so was the playing! Nice video! The Gibson sure is the ugliest Gibson I've ever seen, and I think they've quit making that model.
Ben was better sounding than both of those guitars. So so good. Love hearing. The Epiphone is prettier, the Gibson sounded a bit better. The trick is playing like Ben.
I feel like that epic outro music was from the editor because the video was under 10 minutes! Doesn’t happen all that often here! But I actually usually appreciate the Andertons banter and personality.
Prefer the Epi. The Gibson sounds more harsh/jangly/rattley/buzzy/metallic/thin and is a bit of a more in your face mid-forward sound without as much bass. The Standard J-45 sounds a little better than the Epi, but only a little. I don't think the Gibson J-45 is better. And I hate the sound port, and finish. It sounds and looks like a cheaper guitar. I don't think Gibson are doing much for their main brand, cheapening it so much like that. It's a bit like the very cheap laminate back and side 1k Martins or Taylors, better to skip them mostly. Epiphone, Yamaha FS/FG, or Furch are a better choice at this price bracket. And at the same time, they're taking a risk letting the Epi Inspired by Gibson J-45 getting within punching distance of a standard Gibson J-45. But, for us players on a budget, I'd be happy to buy an Epi J-45. And I think I'll do just that. And yeah, as you say, spend a little more on a hardcase, and a great professional setup after market on the Epiphone, maybe upgrade the pups to an L.R. Baggs ...
funny is when i use headphone to listen i prefer epiphone sound little bit fuller, gibson little bit clear, but when i use speaker repeat the video and listen again , epiphone still sound fuller, bigger, but gibson sounds little bit more mid range , high still clear, but not too bright, and sightly warmer when i use headphone to listen, then i prefer gibson, mean you need to try the guitar and listen in person ,trust your own ears ,see which one you like.
The Epiphone is tremendous value for money. And truthfully it would be the only guitar you would ever need. Sadly it wouldn’t be the only guitar you’d ever want.