The SG Guitar Challenge - Top of the Line Epiphone vs Budget Gibson 

Rob: "We'll just have a little clean tone" *CRUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNCH*

i can make any guitar sound like a 20$ guitar

"Most teenage boys love shooting out in general"

"clean tone" in Chappersese translates to "blues dirt"

You should bring the "Without breaking the bank" series back, but this time make it for styles rather than specific artists. "Metal rig without breaking the bank", "Jazz rig without breaking the bank", and so on. There's people who play in bands of specific styles, and having an idea on what to look for their next upgrade would be great!

I think signatures/special editions shouldn't be included. For the extra $100 I'd probably just get the Gibson. But the G400 Pro for $399 makes it a much different debate.

You should only use 1 amp and no pedals to compare

as an SG owner I gotta say that Epi is not only great sounding but it looks so damn good

There's only one logical conclusion: The black one is Sabbath, the red one ACDC... obviously.

You should do a metal rig with like Bluesy/Jazz gear vs a Metal rig with Bluesy/Jazzy guitars

Definitely should have done the G400 Pro instead of Iommi sig model.

Imo Gibson SG's are some of the nicest looking guitars

Cheapest elk sausage vs most expensive elk sausage

"sober"

The Tony Iommi SG is awesome! I think the most important fact are his pickups. I own a SG special from Gibson. First with 490T-, than with 498T-pickups and I wasn't happy with the sound. Now I own a Tony Iommi pickup.... I should make a video and compare these pickups. :)

Not a really fair comparison if you're using a signature guitar, you should have used an epiphone sg 400.

"clean tone"

I'd buy the Epiphone and use the $100 savings to buy a Micu pedal, after all, its the Micu that really gives you that signature sound

You guys give me so much info on these two guitars. Thank you so much. I did buy the Epiphone SG Pro Limited in black. I love it show much. Thank you for love of the instrument that is the guitar. Keep up the great videos and love of guitars! Many thanks for California!

That Gibson SG has such a beautiful finish on it. I love the red grain.

Nice vid guys. How about a cheap valve amp vs an expensive solid state.

I always feel that comparison videos need both guitars going through identical amps and pedals with the same settings. That way we see where the true tone lies under the same circumstances. It's all good swapping guitars but why not do it side by side instead of switching over? Love these videos though!

you lads are literally the best in the RU-vid guitar scene. great info, funny as hell and last but not least you play the shit out of these guitars. nice one mates. Thank you

Rob's face at 12:17, the look of utmost shock at the two screw method and that simultaneous head shift was pretty sick

Why would you not use the same amp and pedals in a demonstration? Play it with no pedals or effects first as well.

"Can I have a clean tone?" - Switches to fizzy crunch

Three screws are used because in order to save money they route a continuous channel down the neck for the truss rod to be embedded. They do not leave a piece of wood separating the truss rod route from the truss rod nut which is desirable in order to stabilize the Gibson neck. Gibson does this and Epiphone does not...so there is no wood for the bottom Gibson style screw on the cover to be screwed into. Epiphone has to use three screws (two at the bottom to be able to screw into the neck. By sidestepping the open space left by Epiphone.

Gibson SG 15:30 Vs Epiphone SG 6:38

THEY USED THE MIKU!! My life is complete

you should do the epiphone explorer vs Gibson explorer

Please vlog more! Telling stories and stuff are always great to listen to!!

I'll take the red one thank you! Saving up for this! Love it!

I think Signature guitars should be excluded from ALL THESE COMPARISON videos, regardless of brand/type/style etc:

Guys please do standard American fender vs standard Mexican fender

I don't know if these videos are getting more informative, but they are becoming increasingly entertaining :)

I like that the guitars are balanced on different sides of the left and right. I happen to have two different sounding IEMs due to different fittings in my ear. Many others may experience the same effects even with something as simple as slightly more hearing damage on one side.

Best Jazz lounge tone with Active EMG equipped guitar VS Best Metal tone with a vintage archtop guitar.

I lost it with the piano when they were doing the Vulcan hand sign 😂

Great stuff lads , and review on classic player jazz masters

Good video guys... Love jamming along

I hate my fucking job!

i love my epiphone SG! thanks for this video, im loving it more!

15:00 - Hammer to Fall

Great video like always! keep it up

Love these videos guys! Most affordable US made PRS vs most expensive SE would be awesome.

It would have been really interesting to compare the Gibson SG against the Epi G-400, since these are more similar than the guitars presented here. Gotta say, the Iommi SG looks killer!

Notwithstanding the dill and sausage detour, I enjoyed the video. I own a Faded SG very similar to the one used, and I was happy to see it tested in this way. 7 seconds of sustain on the Gibson versus 3.5 seconds on the Epiphone was the most telling moment for me. The extended comparison on the D chord was also interesting -- clearly, the pickups on the Gibson were brighter and had more chime than those on the Epiphone (although both had Gibson pickups). One problem I have with my Faded SG, which I don't with my SG Standard, is significant neck dive. It would have been useful, I think, to have considered that issue when comparing the 2 guitars in this video. Nice video, though. I always enjoy them, even with the dill and sausage.

There's something about a Gibson SG Special that just makes it so appealing, I personally like it more than the SG Standard. I have an Epiphone G-310 and G400 Pro and the are incredible guitars!

Rory, great editing! as always.

I really like the part where you compared the sound of one chord. It's easier to find out the differences!!

Just purchased this Epiphone. Thanks for the review! My reasoning was i would of been looking at a used gibson in my range and would of likely wanted to change the pickups.. And i usually take all my guitars to a tech and get a tuneup.. May go with some locking tuners and knob upgrade.. Oh, and also like the strap and jack location on the Epi. Can't wait to receive!

One of my favs. Thanks guys

I had never heard the term "dearest" until I started to watch your channel, I'm from America

At this price: Gibson: Sound and feel. Epiphone: Looks.

Cheers guys for this one. I loved the gib when played through Robs rig. Hey how about using same efxs peds but different amps just for beter sounding measure.

Nice video as usual!

this show is like top gear for guitars, I love it

cheapest chapman vs the most expensive chapman

The SG special sounds so good!

I own the Iommi SG from Epi and it's the best SG out there IMHO. I particularly like the Iommi humbuckers, the small pickguard, the 24 frets, the edge mounted output jack, the non-Pleked graphite nut, and the horn mounted strap button. The only complaint I had out of the box was the fact that the tops of the frets were rough, as if a step were missed during building. I cleaned them up myself and haven't looked back. My SG needs have been filled.

The Iommi SG is pretty much a G400 with a set of Gibson Iommi pups. I own both a black G400 Pro and a Gibson SG Special and the Gibson has deeper cuts and bevels, true to the classic SG shape and the G400 doesn't. It honestly feels more like a cross between a SG and a Tele. The Gibson SG needed a new nut and some fret work before it was a great playing guitar, while the G400 Pro was great out of the box. The G400 just doesn't feel as high quality. It's thicker and bulkier than the Gibson, but yet it's lighter in weight, which makes me question the grade or type of mahogany hidden under the black paint. Gibson wins for feel and quality. Tone is subjective to whatever pickups are in it. The stock Gibson 490s are way brighter than an Iommi set, which are dark and brooding on purpose.

real difference is when you come to sell em ...you'll get close to your money back with the gibbo ....just for the headstock

I lived over in the UK for a while, and "dear" is one of those things I picked up. When it slips out, I get funny looks and have to explain myself.

16:42 you should do a specific comparison with how dark or bright-sounding each guitar is like that. I actually found that helpful lol

Most expensive Toothbrush vs Cheapest Pedal.

Tony mostly uses his Jaydee SG's handmade by Jaydee Custom Guitars in Birmingham. The Gibson pickups are replicas of the ones Jaydee hand wires for him. They are a bit darker than your standard humbuckers and are pretty hot at somewhere around 24k.

you two have the best chemistry !!!!

As noodling does tell a good tale of the quality of a guitar, so does rhythm playing. I would like to hear more rhythm tests.

Without a doubt Gibson

The Captain ripping on some Sabbath, now THAT's "dear" in the US!

I subbed because of this video, rock on

Great humorous Video! I have a 2017 SG 400 with stock pups and it is Phat! I call it "The Carnival"

I've gotta do a shout out for those Iommi humbuckers. As far as modern sounding pickups go, they're everything I've ever wanted in a humbucker. Classic sound, I'd either go Gibson 57 or Duncan antiquities.

Derek Trucks plays his SG clean :) no pedals just a loud ass amp and a guitar!

The man/woman that does the editing on these movies is a pure genious :)

I have a Gibson SG Faded 2016 and it kicks ass. Love it :)

Miku is my favorite guest character on the show.

Wow. I woulda thought those iommi pickups would have been a bit brighter considering who they're made for

Not sure Chappers understands "clean tone". It sounded just a little less distorted than usual.

I have a 2012 Epi sg g400 '66 reissue and it is a gorgeous guitar. The way the wood and finish is it looks like 1 solid body, you cannot tell where the wood joins are. The pickups are lacking and of course the headstock is what it is but Swap the pups, give the fretboard a little love and the guitar is near perfect

Shouldn't have picked a signature.....

Hrm... I wonder how fair this is. The Tony Iommi signature SG has original Gibson pickups. I think the Epiphone G400 Pro would be a fairer fully fledged Epiphone pick for a Gibson VS Epiphone battle.

The pickups in that particular Epi. are more like EMG'S so its like comparing apples to oranges, you guy's should have used the Epi. SG400 pro with it's classic pickups, that would have been more of a fair comparison in my opinion.

love these guys

I honestly feel the Gibson had the better sound. The tones, sustain and look is better to me. I've owned a G400 epiphone and it's a good guitar, but it doesn't sound like a gibson.

"This is the worst video we've done all day" haha Man , Lee cracks me up ! Captain you rule !

16:22 that run was so clean, holy cow!

I absolutely adore how chappers pronounce "Mjölner", that's real quality content for ya

using so many pedals completely destroyed any tone comparison. never mind one very custom guitar. which obviously had a distinct sound. they seem to search for the worst tone they can get on the cheapest guitars they review. not that these videos are serious comparisons, but it's annoying hearing complete fizz every video.

Only drunk people need to tell others they are sober.

1:43 dick dale - misirlou 2:10 Black sabbath paranoid 3:02 Black sabbath- iron man

The guy who edits these vids has a lot of fun

Gents, please stop using all those pedals when demonstrating guitars it would be nice to hear the clean and drive from the amp to better judge the guitar, if you must use pedals use them for your jams.

Lunch time drinking? Very funny video, guys.

Hey there! Watch your videos a lot. Good stuff! How about this: A cheap OD pedal and an expensive one, and a cheap and expensive amp, and all the possible combinations? Which is the best sounding combo ?

Facial hair is on point, Rob. Looking appropriately rocker front man guitar wizard guy.

This is not an accurate test. Anyone can tell you that paint color has an immense impact on tone. I mean seriously, the iommi sig sounds so much brighter as all the light is being absorbed into the guitar. Not only that, but how could u guys not realize that one has a smaller pickguard than the other? The added plywood enhances the bass frequency response as their is more total wood as well as enhancing the sustain. Anyone who can't hear these differences or claims that they make no difference are clearly trolls. Pay no heed to them.

"We're sober" Lol, no you're not.

I wanted to buy one of these Gibson SG Standard '61 Maestro Vibrola in Vintage Cherry for a while. I went down to my local Guitar center here in Las Vegas and they had one in stock. I held it, the neck is outstanding the fret work is wonderful, the wood grain and color were so beautiful. I tuned it up and played a few cords and check the tuning, for sure it was out of tune. I fooled around trying to keep it in tune for three hours and became totally discouraged because this guitar was beautiful. So I did the only reasonable thing, I said to the salesman I am going to flip this Guitar Center pick, "blank side it stays here written side I buy it". It landed on written side so home with me it went, and boy am I glad it did. The next day I set out to find out why it wouldn't stay in tune and I discovered why, (fixed it) and now it's hard to knock it out of tune. First the tuning keys were loose and the screws holding the tuners on were striped from the factory, so i fixed that. Second the angle on the Vibrola is wrong from the factory, you need to tweak the angle and shim the Vibrola slightly, the E-string should not be touching the trem bar while in the resting position. Now i polish the frets and did a complete set up. This guitar now when using the Vibrola as intended will stay in tune wonderfully. This guitar is a great guitar and if you take the time and put in the work to set it up properly, YOU WILL LOVE THIS GUITAR! I think that from the factory they just assemble the parts and are done, not realizing or having the time that it needs to make this fine guitar function together as a whole instrument. Glad I took the time and made the purchase. This is an amazing Gibson Guitar after the corrections are made. I Have no connection with Gibson and I am not a professional Luthier, so if i can fix it this guitar is fixable. Thank you

I just picked up a mint condition Epiphone SG Pro 400 for $75 and it’s freaking awesome. At $400 retail new, it’s a lot of guitar for the price. At $75, it might be my best deal ever.