Gibson Vs Epiphone

psyx · 2012-03-29T09:13:21+00:00

So I'm looking to buy an SG or LP... I dropped by my looking store and the salesman made me a good deal on a Gibson SG standard for ~R8K, which is a good price but still a bit out of my budget. So now I'm looking at the Epi SG G400's, which seem decent enough and retail for around R3500... Now , I know the Gibson is better, but is it twice as good as the Epiphone? and what if I pop in P90's into the Epi? Wont that make it almost just as good?

Psean

se7ent7 wrote
With the Gibsons the fine things, like better wood cuts, hardware materials and finish (nitro or satin) do add up and will make you a better player as you learn to appreciate and use the nuances.

This post generally makes sense but the point about a better finish making you a better player has me a bit confused. I may be taking one piece of a long post out of context though; appologies if I am. I do understand how "using the nuances" of a better guitar can make you a better player; I guess you're talking about a better guitar having better dynamics or being less forgiving and can see how this can benefit one's playing, but the finish? While it may make a difference to the tone, I really don't see how it can make a difference substantial enough to really affect your progress as a player.

se7ent7

The finish is part of those naunces ?

Ok, out of the aspects I've mentioned the finish might be the biggest stretch I admit.

But think about this - the finish has an effect on feel (of the neck for instance), and tone (lets not get into the nitro vs poly vs unfinished debate, and assume that could be true). Now it's a small thing, but as part of the sum-of-better-parts, it may contribute to your picking up the guitar more, liking it's tone and feel more, and thus playing it more.

And playing it more will (for most) make them a better player.

Psean

Okay, cool. As a factor contributing to the whole, I can see how that's a possibility. Finishes do affect the feel and tone and I'd definitely play a guitar that feels and sounds better more than one that doesn't, and more playing should lead to better playing. I just think it's a bit of a stretch to say it will make you a better player.

But back to the Epi/Gibson story ?...

DonovanB

I can see the deal with finish making you better. If you love the guitar a lot, and you think it's awesome, you might just play it more.

more playing =more practice=better player.

It's a bit lateral but works for me?

se7ent7

Thanks Donovan ?

I must say it's probably more applicable to acoustics. Barring the unbraced back, I think the satin finish is one of the biggest reasons I think the tone of my Taylor 110 is slightly better than that of my (albeit greenish) 310. It definately makes me want to play it more and lends itself to quicker aging.

Maybe we should start a new thread? ?

Psean

I don't buy this argument completely. I understand the better finish > guitar feels awesome > you play it more reasoning but I really think it's pushing it a bit to say it will make you play better. More motivated maybe, but one could also, for whatever reason, absolutely love a guitar with a not so great finish, or just love playing guitar so much that you're motivated to play and practice consistently on anything that's playable.

Oh, and this doesn't mean I'm not in favour of good quality guitars or that I think the quality of finish shouldn't be a factor to consider when deciding between guitars? I just can't see it having a substantial effect on your playing.

deefstes

killafo wroteIf you can't hear the difference then stick with the Epi (not trying to be rude or condesending in that remark).

Generally, I'd agree with you but there is much more that sets guitars apart than how they sound. One might be more comfortable to play, another might be too heavy, another might be too light, another might have a colour that you like better, another might have a finish that you like better, another might have a decal on the headstock that you like better, another might have better sustain, another might have better tuning stability. The list goes on.

I'm just saying that some people are willing to fork out extra money for things that are unrelated to how the guitar sounds. I'm one of them.

singemonkey

The finish has to be really, really thick to have any chance of affecting the tone. Even then it's pretty debateable - but some swear that theirs has improved after stripping a quarter inch of poly.

SG Standards, Fadeds, and Specials (the two P90 ones?), are some of the guitars I consider pretty good value from Gibson. I'd choose the SG Classic Faded. An attractive, P90 SG with the late '60s body/neck-join if I was looking to own a Gibson at a reasonable price and went for an SG (although I think the Flying V faded is Gibson's best value guitar bar none). http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/SG-Classic-Faded.aspx

If finish is an issue, that's in the Faded's favour, since the finish on them is very thin. Otherwise they're pretty similar. Both Standards and Specials/Fadeds now have three piece bodies. I don't know about the latest batch of Epi SGs, but the older ones I've played have really felt like beginner's guitars.

Oh. This is also interesting - an Epi with the early '60s body shape (deep bevels in the cutaways). Never seen that before. Pretty cool. And a wrap tail too. One of these babies with a set of tonerider P90s (which are top notch pickups) would be pretty good...

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Epiphone/Ltd-Ed-50th-Anniversary-1961-SG-Special.aspx

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