Epiphone Les Paul Vs Gibson Les Paul - What's The REAL Difference 

Everything about this video makes me think the Epi is a much better value. No one watching me play at a gig will be able to tell any difference between the two guitars. If I am the only one who knows, except maybe other guitar players who see the difference in the name on the headstock, I can't even begin to justify the price. I have an Epi LP, and it does everything a "real" LP does. And it leaves me money for other toys!

Why can’t the Epiphone be “good enough” for what it is? It’s not a Gibson but who cares?

Hah! The way it smells id really going to affect the sound. C'mon, guys & galls. Electric guitars are planks of wood and electronics....

Good comparison, and even better points about the two guitars. It’s up to the individual to decide what is “worth it”. I’m a big “bang for the buck” kind of guy, and I just like to noodle around. So in my case, if I want a little LP flavor in my collection, I’d probably get a nice Epiphone. Would I rather have a Gibson? Absolutely. But I’m much more likely to get an Epi and use the savings on something else. Good video!

Epiphones are made for playing while your gibson is a case queen nice idea I love ALL my Epiphones

Interesting comparison .. When I owned a music store in the early 2000's (and dealt Gibson) the Epiphones in many cases were better (objectively) than some of the custom shop stuff Gibson had us carry .. Component for component I'm not sure (didn't know the finite details as well back then) .. Fit and finish were noticeably much better on the Epis .. The sustain was superior .. Tone was very comperable .. It was a rough time to try and sell Gibson

One thing worth mentioning, is how much more difficult it is to finish a nitro lacquer guitar versus a poly. A nitro finish is way more difficult to work with when applying it, and handling the guitar immediately after. Nitro is thinner, and more apt to show underlying flaws in the wood versus a poly finish that tends to self-level and hide imperfections. Nitro is way more delicate immediately after it is cured as well. Doing it commercially at scale requires a lot more expense.

I just got my first Gibson LP after years and many Epiphones. Being honest, ive had some seriously great Epiphones but the Gibson is genuinely next level. It sounds, feels, looks and smells incredible.

Only thing I’ll disagree on is the headstock strength. The greater angle and grain direction on the Gibson does make it a little easier to break, but as you said, don’t drop it and you’ll be fine. I do love the nibs on my Gibson. I find a good compromise is my Epiphone 59. It has some good parts in it. Still no nibs though.

Gibson guitars are way better than Epiphone. Epiphone could at least make their guitars with the exact same body dimensions as their Gibson counterparts but with lesser grade wood would be more acceptable.

The elephant in the room that wasn't discussed... while there are differences, what difference do "the differences" actually make when it comes to playing and hearing. I'd say very, very little. Especially with regard to the wood, which you way over-emphasized. The varying sub-species of mahogany, maple, rosewood (or ebony) that are used are excellent woods and quite suitable for building a Les Paul with. You also avoided discussing the huge difference in labor rates between the USA and overseas. LABOR is the factor that accounts for MOST of the price difference between the Gibson and the Epiphone. Not the wood, not the screws, not the plastic, nor other materials used! Labor rates, employee benefits, etc. are the largest and the primary difference between the cost of these two brands. With regard to the electronics and pickups... the higher end Epiphones sound excellent. And once you run through your pedals and amp, whatever difference there may be in tone is essentially masked. And for about $250, one can easily swap in whatever hand-wired harness and USA-made pickups that one desires... which still keeps the cost of ownership for the Epiphone at a small fraction of the cost of a similarly configured Gibson. The higher-end Epiphones can match Gibsons in playability and tone - which is what many would say is what counts the most, especially when one considers the extreme price difference between the two. I have/have had had 6 Gibson Les Pauls (Standard, Classic, Studio, Special, and two Traditionals) and most recently, two Epiphone Les Paul Moderns. (The Epiphone LP Modern is an exceptional guitar. Ebony board, locking Grover tuners, nothing veneered, beautifully crafted.) All of these guitars are really nice, of course. They all play well and sound excellent. What differences there are don't really amount to much when it comes to playing and tone. I enjoy playing my Epi LP Moderns as much (possibly more than) my Gibson LP Traditional. And that's the REAL difference, that really counts. Unfortunately, aside from a cursory positive overall evaluation, most of your commentary on the Epiphone leaned toward derision, implying that the Epiphone is a much inferior instrument. It is not. At the end, you did say "What does it all mean? Nothing, really. They're just different." That I agree with. And would add that the differences don't amount to a significant difference in utility as an instrument, playability, nor tone. The cost difference is essentially due to labor and maintaining the prestige allure of the name "Gibson".

Comments are crazy. Everything said was true, or I agree. I like my Epiphones, but they don't really compare to my Gibsons. The feel is very different. Cheers

DTT, great video, I learned a lot. I would love to see a Fender US vs Fender Mexico comparison. Fender’s near-shoring approach with their Mexican plant is interesting, and I’m curious to see how similar/ different a Player Series is from a Pro II or Elite series

Someone, please explain to my stupid little brain, wom a metal string oscillating over wound coils, is affected by the wood that the strings are anchored to. Not how expensive the wood is, ....; how it makes an elecric guitar that is amplified, sound better?

"Better" wood? Better screws? Better pickup surrounds? Binding edges? Surely, these things will help me become a better player.

Great comparison vid, and I love your working class ethic take on which guitar may be "better". By the time most rock and blues players' guitar signals run through several pedals, whatever real differences in the two guitars would probably be moot anyway.

I find that the only point in these types of videos is for Gibson snobs to look down on Epiphone owners. This is coming from someone who owns 2 Gibson les paul standards & and an SG standard.

That was a good, comprehensive comparison. Everyone that I know who wants an SG or Les Paul, really want a Gibson, but not everyone can justify the cost of one over an Epiphone. I have both. In general, the Gibson's feel better, but don't necessarily sound better--some do, some don't. In my case, the sound differences can be overcome by adjusting the knobs on the guitar, amp or pedals. Rock on with whatever you choose, folks.

So basically ... get a better, proper bridge (TonePros or other), pickups to your liking (Duncan Custom bridge / Jazz neck or other favorites), electronics how you want them and a good pro setup and you're good with the Epiphone and still spent far, far less and have a helluva a guitar. Really good breakdown here and appreciate the time and effort (especially liked that you took them apart and really inspected it all). Thanks for this!

And here in lies the difference between things made in the US vs. China. Quality of materials! On the surface the Chinese say it's the same thing but it's not. For example, the purity of the metals refined in China is always less than the strict quality specs set by the S.A.E. But at the end of the day, I own 2 Gibson Les Paul's but no Epi's. However, I do own and Gibson 335 and an Epiphone 335. They are set up virtually identical and to be honest it is difficult to tell one from the other if you close your eyes. Epi has also done a great job of copying the 57 PAF's for their version and again it is difficult to hear any difference between the 2 guitars. I have and old Epi Casino that was made in the 80's in Korea. I have played that guitar for all that time with no issues whatsoever. Bang for the buck, buy an Epi. You can always upgrade the electronics if you need to for not very much. I think Dylan has everything you need for sale on his website.

At the moment I have an Epiphone and a Gibson SG Standard. The Epiphone is an SG Special with P90s from the current "Inspired by Gibson"-line. I've owned a couple of these as Gibsons before, but the Epiphone sounds and plays better. Maybe I was just lucky to find a good one, but this goes to show that you never can tell and sometimes the final product is better than the sum of its parts.

Great Video that did change it up from other G vs E comparisons; just what I needed, ergh or perhaps needed 6 months ago. I have two Gibson SG's from my late brother. Absolutely great guitars, and learned how to play on them, and pretty much can't stand most other scale lengths or radius's as a result. However, I always wanted a Les Paul...they just always spoke to me. Earlier this year, I had the itch and was mulling it over. At first, I wanted to build a kit LP from scratch, since I'm a very handy type person and love hands on projects. Then I said, well I don't want my first Les Paul to be crappy if it were my first build job. Then I convinced myself, I'll get a used, Epi LP, and change out all the hardware and have some kind of a decked out Les Paul. So I found a used, Epi Les Paul (22' Trad Pro IV) locally at a phenomenal price in mint condition (shipping plastic still on pickguard). I proceeded to replace the tuners, bridge, tail piece, input jack, bridge pickup. Love the guitar, except I've had issues with buzzing below the 12th fret on the low strings. Finally ordered a bunch of fret leveling/dressing tools through Stew Mac last week and am going to attempt to see if I have a fret level problem. I'm probably in about $750 in total, not counting tools. So essentially new standard Epi Price Range, but with custom hardware. I've spent so much time trying to put in a good setup on this thing like my Gibson SG's, that I've contemplated ripping out all my upgrades and trading the Epi on a Gibson. Since the chase never ends, I still envision myself getting a Gibson Les Paul soon. Honestly, probably not worth it to even trade the Epi in on it. Two things: You can't change the wood that came with your guitar and having to refret a guitar is not an easy or cheap job for the vast majority. Question: Where do you stop on the Gibson train though? Tribute, Studio, Traditional, Standard, Custom shop, etc, etc?

Does epiphone drill holes in their LPs for weight relief?

You are Gibson guys ,just too much credit to Gibson , all I care does sounds good, and think about it, prices are too far apart

Great insight into what's really involved. My second guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul (first was a Squier) and it was great and really served a purpose. Until I got a Gibson! Of course the real deal is something special and knowing those small differences makes you appreciate the Gibson that much more.

"Don't drop your guitar, and the headstock will stay on". "I don't know if you know this." 😂😂😂

Haven't we gotten past the myth of the wood species having any noticeable difference in the tone?

The Gibson costs 5 times more so if it wasn't a better guitar then there would be something seriously wrong with the Guitar World and guitar players. You need to get your facts straight before you shoot anymore videos. I find it really annoying people like you banging on about quality of woods and appointments. Appointments can easily be upgraded for not a lot of extra money. What is far more important (the elephant in the room) to end price is other factors you hardly mention. One of the main drivers of costs, is the location of the country of production, specifically the labour costs of that country and the environmental policies and procedures manufacturers have to abided by in that country. These factors have a huge impact on cost, long before you even start making a guitar. If the Epiphone was made in the USA for example because of these factors even if it had exactly the same specs it would be twice the price compared to a Chinese made Epiphone. Also a massive part of what you pay is related to brand history (and for the privilege of playing the same guitar that famous Rock stars have played ) and the fact that Gibson came up with the original design with the help of Les Paul. These factors have a massive impact on end price before a single tree has been felled. Guitar manufacturers generally source local wood btw even guitars made in the USA as in most cases it doesn't make economical sense to ship similar woods half way around the world to make them in your particular factory. Also you fail to mention a guitar players ability in the mix, a great player on the Epiphone would piss all over a Gibson owner who could only play cowboy chords!

I sold my Gibson LP about 10 years ago. I recently bought an Epiphone LP to install Seymore Duncan P-rails. I was shocked in how well the Epiphone sounded and felt in stock configuration. Yes, the electronics, build, and the parts on my Gibson were superior, but the Epiphone was sufficiently put together for my level of playing. Years ago you had to spend some money to ensure a good guitar experience, but I think that has greatly changed over the last 20 plus years as you can buy a fun enjoyable instrument for much less.

After watching the whole video I can see how the Gibson is more expensively made but not how it is better. Harder screws don't matter, they are not to be tightened hard anyway (pick-ups rings won't fall off) and Gibson branded pots are still just 500K pots. Orange capacitors make no difference, only the value matters. So Gibson sells to people who value cost, who feel safer or flattered when they buy something more expensive. It is the whole "hand made" fallacy - that doesn't mean better. Gibson is built up to a price: one that must be higher to create perceived value in its target group. And that is why they also own Epiphone: so they can sell to both types of people: country AND western.

Surprised to see that the Epi has a long neck tenon, which is a premium spec over the Gibson. Long neck tenons are only found in Gibson's custom shop historic reissues. But thats the only redeeming factor, everything else is as you say, the Gibson has the superior construction.

Nice video bro! The guitar world is full of such marketing BS and has been for so long people keep falling for it. So much of it is nonsense, but their nonsense makes money.

Superb breakdown. I own both and like Epis very much but LOVE my Gibson.

Very good comparison. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard that I purchased this year and have it set up to my liking. I also have a Gibson Les Paul Tribute that is the budget Gibson but its plays and sounds better. I have no need for the Gibson Standard at 3K so happy with my Epiphone. I can keep it out on the stand and grab when I feel like playing. I grab my Gibson when I go out to jam. Nice job breaking down both guitars.

Car companies create luxury brands that cost more, but guitar companies are so greedy and self-absorbed they have to create companies that cost less, just so people can own one! It shows exactly where their heads are.

The amount of work you put into this video is insane. Thank you very much for this deep dive!

I’ve spent the last few years on this journey myself trying to figure out what’s best. The channels were so saturated with everyone talking up the guitars you couldn’t get a good sense of what was legit and what wasn’t. I like this video a lot and the points you touch on.

Nice job Dylan...thanks!!!! The Epiphone should do the trick for 97% of the bedroom players....

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Special that came in a $200 kit. It is the only guitar I own that was set up and playable out of the box. Never been to a tech and still has the factory strings.

The reason the Epiphone has a pretty back is they use mahogany veneers for the back as well. If you compare the back grain to the sides of the guitar they do not line up. This is common practice at this price point across multiple brands. Not entirely a negative just something to be aware of.

I care a lot more about the quality of the piece of wood than the specific species. When Novo manages to make great guitars out of pine I think the body being the very specific species of mahogany doesn't really matter that much. That said, I would appreciate them listing the species correctly so that the consumer can make an educated decision according to their own preferences.

I just got a epiphone les Paul custom; wish I could afford a Gibson or even be good enough to play one. But I am enjoying Heavy Betty 😁 second video I’ve seen and I dig what you got going; will be watching more. Thanks!

The Epiphone's headstock will have a scarf joint so that's why it doesn't break as often. With a one-piece neck there's going to be tons of grain runout which is definitely weaker, but arguably more aesthetically pleasing. A one-piece neck also requires a lot more wood in comparison to an import guitar's scarf joint and heel stack (which the Epiphone also has).

Can't tell you how many times my old Gibson LP Custom has fallen on stage/offstage (on concrete bar floors) and headstock is still intact. And that's the 70's shovel. Not sure where this headstock break stuff is coming from.

so the point being is what? The Epiphone Les Paul is designed for that loser musician with low talent Vs the professional minded that have won a few Grammy's thanks dude..

Talking about two very popular guitars, yes for sure that brings in the viewers. Some people will do anything to be noticed. - Peter age 73

Sorry.. 10 minutes in and I couldn't.. Oh.. Never mind lol

great film brother! i could get a epi les paul and a epi sg for the price of 1 gibson and still have some left over haha! being epiphone is owned by gibson youre still getting a gibson in a sense.... bet that "greeny" LP project is gonna be sweeet! dont forget to put that mag in backwards on the neck pup lol!

I have 2 Gibson Les Pauls , and I have 2 Epiphone guitars ( a firebird , and an explorer ) and I think they are all well built and sound just fine. If you want to do a real test , dont use effects just play dry and you will hear the true sound of the guitar. Different guitars react differently to effects.

Nice video, I understand the quality differences between both. I am an at home sub par player. So I get Epiphone guitars. I can get a Les Paul or two, maybe a Firebird, SG, Explorer and such. I can get more sounds and diversity for a ton less. And im good. And I have zero delusions of what Im playing. I can upgrade parts if I want.

For the prices here in Australia Gibsons are almost unaffordable for the average working guitar player. Almost $6,000 for that slash Gibson vs $1,000 for that Epiphone standard. The Epiphone’s have come a long way in quality and I don’t feel I’m missing out with my $800 Epiphone classic as it’s best Epiphone & Les Paul I’ve owned so far out of 7 Epiphone’s I’ve owned over my 20 years of playing guitar.

To Gibson's credit; they finally got the head stock problem solved when they bought Steinberger. LMAO!!!

I traded 3 guitars and some cash for a Gibson Les Paul Standard. I have to say I am in love with this thing. It plays so well (the other guitars did too) but has some magic to it that the others didn't have. The binding on the frets looks so cool and the smell is so great. Both guitars are great, just need to search for the one that sparks the most joy for you.

My first les paul copy was a 80s samick that even had the fret nibs that only the much higher end Tokais had in a review back in the day. Wish I never got rid of that one.

There is a difference on the headstock sturdiness. Since Epiphone has a scarf joint, the grain at the weak spot is better aligned, thus stronger.

It's all based on what guitar are you going to love and whether it will speak to you. For business purposes, it makes a lot of sense why a Gibson costs more than an Epiphone. Is that cost important to you or not. I have had 8 Epiphones and I'm down to one left. I was thinking on impulse mostly during that time we couldn't go out and check them out in a store. Fast forward to today with the 7 Epiphones now sold, traded, and with some other maneuvering I got a Gibson Custom Shop R8, Gibson ES-345, Gibson Les Paul Special, and a custom-made Fender Strat. To me, everything is in the feel and sound. I can pick up the guitars I own and do exactly what I want them to do. That does cost a lot more money but the end result is that you will play them a lot more. If I loved what the Epiphones did for me, I would have kept them all, end result is what will make you happy. When people criticize about cost? play them side by side, and you will feel the difference in the quality. The wood, parts, and craftsmanship are different. It took me a lot of time to get exactly what I wanted.

I appreciate the comparison but it does feel that you're 'dissing' the Epiphone for being built in China and bigging up Gibson as American. At the end of the day Epiphone are American, as they're a subsidiary of Gibson. I now four Gibsons and a couple of Martins which are beautiful guitars; I also own three Eastmans that are built in China and are probably of a higher standard than my Gibsons.

I guess the concerning part is, even though Gibson uses better components in every instance, there is a disproportionate premium charged for those components. At some point, a hefty premium is being charged for just the name (which is totally fine). Just don't complain at time of checkout if you don't agree with it.

I've had an Epiphone Classic LP for about a year or so. I found it to be a very good guitar for price (I've gigged with it). A week ago I bought a 23 Gibson Classic LP. They are similar but the difference is much more than you would expect in a good way. Thanks Dylan for the comparison.

I change for Seymour Duncan Jazz and JB on my Epi and it becomes a killer tone beast ! Install all CTS parts and Switchcraft input and toggle as well. I kept the very good Grover tuners .Tone wood ??? Who cares? As long as you get fun to play it !

24:40 - actually the headstock angle as well as the neck angle (where it mounts to the body) are both different between Epiphone and Gibson.

I like this type of comparison. As you said at the end, they’re made for different people and purposes and the Epiphone is still a great guitar. Appreciate your viewpoint.

You said the horns are the same and different. So now i am confused and never was before 😅

Great video, awesome breakdown of the major and meaningful differences between the two guitars. Very useful info

Diffs?? Pups, Wood the two major to me

„The real difference is where they are made…“ are you 100% sure that an American worker is 2 to 4 times better than a Mexican, Indonesian or even Chinese? „Handcrafted“….made with routers…. And then the tone wood topic…. We are dealing with ELECTRIC Guitars, not semi and not full acoustic. You Wood nerds do only have anecdotal „facts“ whereas the normal sensible human relies on real facts and repeatable experiments. Someone with dozens of years of experience can’t deny that neither

I really thought this video was going to be another rehash-comparison but it was one of the most interesting and informative comparisons I've seen.

I saved up to get a Gibson LP and a good Marshall half stack. When it came time to pick out the guitar. I didn't like how any of them felt. After a couple days and a bunch of stores, nothing stood out to me. I gave up and started looking at amps and asked my friend to grab me a guitar. He didn't know the difference and grabbed an Epi LP. I seriously fell in love with it. If upgraded the tuners, because I liked the Gibson green more and upgraded the electronics and had it set up by a trusted local luthier and I've never looked back. I still play other guitars sometimes, but nothing I can say I've fallen in love with the same way.

Thanx Dylan, that's the correct way of goin' with a comparison.! I brought a SX LP AUD $469 R & D in Australia & built in China. I've fitted Gibson NOS 1959 "Pearly Gates" pickup's ZZ Top.

The screws were far too soft (and eventually bent) on my Epiphone LP bridge. I replaced it with a Gotoh Nashville bridge. The increased depth of the Nashville gave the added benefit of making intonation a lot easier. I also had to replace the output jack socket (for a Pure Tone) after 12 years (which is normal, so no complaints). Finally, I cured a dead g string by replacing the plastic nut with a bone nut The string was dead from birth. If I had been a more experienced player I would have sent the guitar back.

I just got the USA Gibson LP Greeny a few weeks ago and I could not be happier. The quality and build of it is amazing and this video makes me even more convinced I made the right decision. Thanks!

Two more differences are that the pickup rings on Epiphones (and any import guitar) are wider than the Gibsons, and the truss rod access channel has some wood behind the nut on the Gibson which allows for attachment with only one center screw versus one on each side on the Epi. And I don't know what those Epiphone pickups are, but I have a Custom with Probuckers and they are great for a PAF inspired, do-it-all kind of sound. They're keepers as far as I'm concerned.

I just bought a 2017 EPI les Paul custom pro . Used For 275 bucks . Always been a Tele fender guy .. I’m am absolutely amazed at the tone options and craftsmanship ! And the most important thing ! It’s a blast to play ! A lot of bang and bling for my hard earned money! Don’t get me wrong I’d love to own a Gibson! It just isn’t in my budget. I still drive a 1996 GMC ! And love it

This is going to sound sacrilegious. My first quality ax was a 1971 Gibson SG deluxe. I still have it. A few years ago, I purchased an Epi LP 1960 Tribute. Granted, it was Epi’s top of the line: Gibson USA ‘57 pickups, Grover locking tuners, CTS and Switchcraft bits. It plays just as well as my SG. Tonally, it is more refined. It’s absolutely brilliant on a clean channel, but still has the growl when pushed. Last year I bought a Gibson LP 60s standard, just because I had always wanted one. Is it better than the Epi? Yes, a little in terms of hardware and nitro finish, but it’s also 3X the cost. If I were to record both, you wouldn’t be able to tell which is which. So, is Epi ‘just as good’? I would say value for money wise, it’s actually better. For 1/3 the price I have 90-95% of the real deal.

All power to Gibson owners; if that's what you like, then cool, go for it. Personally, I just wanted an LP to play at home, the odd open-mic and small pub gig. My Epiphone LP Plus Top Pro does everything I need it to do; it sounds great and I'm not terrified of it getting broken or stolen as I could easily replace it. I have a family and get little time away from working long hours. I just couldn't justify the considerable expense of Gibson. I have no doubt that a Gibson is a better quality guitar. You get what you pay for, and it's the same with vehicles. I don't drive a Porsche because the car I already have does the job I need it to do more than adequately. I'm thankful to Epiphone for producing great guitars for the money and in my price range. Each to their own. Horses for courses. Live and let live. That's what it's all about.

I know so many people who have both Custom or Standard Gibsons and as well Epi Custom, almost everyone say that for the price of 1 to 1.2k you get an Guitar thats often equal good as the USA Made.. Even a lot of Guitar Shop owners and Salemen i talked to say that the new "Inspired by Gibson" Epiphones of 1,2k €/$ have better wood quality and better feel on neck while playing than the 2,600€/$ Gibson Standard 50s / 60s and even a lot of peiople prefer the tone of Epis over the Gibsons. The newer Gibsons Standards Necks feels like old Epiphone Standard necks lel

Dylan. Its your delivery.....which I f#cking love....got heads popping all over this comms section. The Epis are great we both know it. I love mine. We also know there is no "real comparison " to my Gibsons. They're just not....Its the way they feel. Gibsons just feel better. Respond better. So much more sensitive to the touch. EPIS feel like they cost, awesome. Best buck bang 4sure. We have great choices...A+ vid. 27:18

Screws pots wood etc aren't worth it for me. Labor costs in Tennessee are super cheap so that helps Gibson's profit. Gibson's board is definitely gonna take your money and pretend it cost thousands more to build than an Epiphone if that's what one would like to believe😂

Gibson owns the guitar factory where Epiphone is made. Its located near Korean border in Qingdao China. Chinese CCP ( Communist) management pays its workers an avg of 75 cents per hour. Why I only buy American made Gibson is because giving money that produces far more profit for Communist oligarchs that absolutely do not follow and International labor, environmental agreements and will cut every corner possible to maximise profits. Buy American. Support US labor. And do not feed the Chinese Communist Party. Note: Leaving a Chinese made guitar exposed to sunlight will likely cause plastic parts to warp. These use lots of plastic from old bottles and other items , ground down a re melted causing weaker products. This recycling is also evident in many other Chinese products such as toys, Windex bottles and cleaning tools.

I just ordered an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50’s. I have a relatively unused set of Gibson 57 Classic pickups that were taken out of a Gibson Les Paul Standard (early 2000’s). Pickups are complete with original wiring, screws, springs that I plan to install into the Epiphone. Will I have any retrofitting issues or problems doing this? Love the tone of the 57 Classics.

After working on many guitars I've owned over the years the wood quality on the Epiphone versus the Gibson is a no comparison. The chinese-made junk is made with crappy young porous wood of whatever they can find. I've had multiple different styles from Epiphone, anytime I have to do work it's insanely easy to just strip a screw hole out because the wood is so garbage. You don't even have to torque the screws down. A lot of times I'll preemptively plug the hole with an oak dowel like for the strap buttons and then drill it out and tap it because I know it's going to pull out eventually. Now on my Gibson, not one issue at all the wood is very dense high quality and I've never had a problem working on my guitar or anyone else's guitar with the screw holes wood just basically crumbling apart. That's just my experience me that other people have different experiences. I wish I just bought Gibson from the beginning. I learned my lesson the hard way.

The sound is night and day. You can always upgrade the pickups in the Epi but, unfortunatly, like ol' Reverend Johnathan Swift said way back in 1801... You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

A well done comparison video. Would be cool if you could do a Tokai or Edwards too.

You can get an epiphone and rewire it, get new pots, pickups, graphtech nut, (which honestly I'm far more comfortable doing that to an epi instead of an expensive gibson) It's going to be a really nice guitar to gig around and experiment different wirings, pickups, etc... and don't over worry about its safety.

Huge difference. The Gibson sounds extremely better to me. And I didn't look at the brand when the comparison started at the begining.

Gibson is the Louis Vuitton of the guitar world.

Wow is that "mahogany" back a veneer? Incredible figuring.

I have a Epiphone Korina 59 V. When I got it I changed the nut to a bone nut and got a pro set up. The guitar is amazing. Sounds incredible and I love playing it. I tried a 6000 usd Gibson Korina V at Andertons. Honestly couldn't see a huge difference in quality. The only big difference is the Korina is laminated on the Epiphone. But that's something you only notice when looking carefully. For reference, I have a USA Strat, a Japanese Joe Satriani Ibanez and a German Warwick bass. So it's not like I don't have premium instruments. And I love all of them (the warwick is by far the best build quality of the lot). But I can tell you, the Epiphone isn't out classed by the others in terms of sound and playability. They are all just great!

You know you’ve made it in the guitar industry when you have “a wood guy” 😅. Awesome video, very informative!

I have, and have had, several Gibsons and Epiphones. All the Epis I've owned have been very good guitars, and certainly giggable. My favourite Epi right now is their Firebird; it's a really well made guitar, with good hardware and very decent pickups. For my purposes, as I guitar I only play occasionally, it wouldn't make sense to pay 3-4 times the price for a Gibson version. For a Les Paul or 335, which I play more often, it's worth it to me to go all out and have the Gibson Custom Shop reissue versions. Are those worth ten times the cost of their Epiphone versions? For me, yes, but honestly, that's more about the pleasure of owning those pieces than any intrinsic quality.

The different fit of how the screwdrivers fit into the screws is related to the Epiphone screws are not Philips, they are JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) which look like Philips but have different angles to the slots. Much Asian produced products use JIS screws.

1st off, great playing! Love the nerd out quality of the detail! I've got both Epi and Gibson. Bought the Epi 1st, frankly because of price, it's an LP Standard, but after a few years I just wanted "the real deal" so buckled down and bought the Gibson. Still play both and glad to have them both. The Gibson is a 50's neck which is nice and fat. Think the Epi is a 60s because its quite flat.

Been playing and living Epiphone for decades . I love the brand for that they do, most don't know they were around before Gibson . Les Paul created the log in the epiphone plant . Epiphones are blue collar man's guitars , and that aight a bas thing at all. The fucking roar and play amazing. Dunno why the brand can't be what it is. I was almost disappointed when the inspired by Gibson line came out ....then I saw the guitars ! Damn ! Hell yes ...😅

You can't rely on how many pieces the Epiphone body has by looking straight on the back as it has a veneer on it, gotta have to look at the endgrain

The real difference is quality. I can't even intonate my Epiphone because I ran out of room on the saddle. The stupid tone switch is so fucked up I can blow on it and it pops back to center. The little screws get stripped if you take them out more than once and now I have a loose tuner peg. My Gibson, on the other hand, is flawless through and through and it plays like a dream. Not to mention it sounds better (a lot better). Epiphones are good guitars for their price range, but there is no comparison to the "real" thing. We're talking two completely seperate animals and you get exactly what you pay for. End of discussion. (You don't have to buy some crazy $15K custom relic signature model. Just buy a basic used cherry sunburst standard for less than $2K. It'll be the best guitar you own)

Too bad Gibson screwed up again by omitting a historically correct LONG NECK TENON, something EPI didn't forget. As fir sound, this axe sounds BETTER through my vintage Plexi 100 than ANY GIBSON I've compared it to. The woods Gibson uses is NOT the same woods they used years ago, and it's nothing special either! Smarten up!

Living in Australia they are both overpriced but at least Gibson is good quality at all levels, unless you really know what your looking at Epiphone will suck you in and take your hard earned for rubbish.

the way a guitar sounds is the least important factor in a comparison like this. The way it feels/plays is panicle, followed by build quality. In that respect, the Japanese Domestic Epiphone LPS 80, built in the late 90s - early 2000s, is FAR and AWAY a better built instrument than the current offerings from either Gibson or Epiphone. Try one if you don't know.

I dipped my toe in the LP Pool by starting with an Epiphone which I upgraded various parts (including pups) etc. Somehow, I never 'gelled' with it - never really liked the more "D" shaped neck profile for one thing. The Axcess neck joint got me interested in the Gibson HP models. I now own a 2016 Studio HP and a 2018 Standard HP2. Both bought used and 'minty'. Despite the reported QC issues, both are flawless. The Standard is a bit brighter tonewise than I expected but the Studio is incredible. Best £800 (including the huge Aluminium case..) I ever spent on a guitar. Even the G-Force tuners are great (once you calibrate them and opt for 'one string at a time' tuning). I'm no Gibson fanboy (Ibanez Jems are my thang...) but Gibson's are worth every penny

You really think anyone gives a crap about the differences if they actually play out every night? All the hardware on the gibson IS NOT MADE IN THE US! Try China pal. Same with the tuners, knobs, ect. For less than 1/8 th the over priced Gibby, anyone can put the best electronics & hardware on the Epi. Anyone who thinks their 'special' because they got suckered by Gibson is a fool.