SG/Epiphone

[hsherman]

well bascially ive been playing for 6 months, want an upgrade on my yamaha pacifica, and want an sg

but i dont wanna pay the money for a gibson so -

is there a major difference between gibsons and epiphones, and if so is it worth saving up for a gibson instead buying an epiphone?

thanks

[FennRx]

big difference IMO. i have NEVER played an Epi that I liked as much as its Gibson counterpart. I would save up and buy new/used Gibson SG Special.

 

If you buy the Epi, I think you will quickly start wondering if you should have saved up for the real deal. But I also suggest PLAYING both first and then make your decision. But I am a Gibson man, through and through.

[led floyd9]

Yes, there is a major difference between Gibsons and Epiphones. The materials. The materials in my Gibson are so much better than my Epiphone's materials. Some Epiphones are very nice, but you'll have to be VERY lucky to find one. Basically, you will not regret saving up for the Gibson instead of just settling with the Epiphone. Also, if you save up for the Gibson, it will take you longer to buy, then you will have more experience playing, and once you finally get the money to buy a Gibson, you will apprieciate it even more. It took me over 2 years to save up for mine but I cherish it. I've only played my Epiphone once since I bought my Gibson (I've had my Gibson for a little over 3 months now).

[Tim Plains]

I love Gibson.

 

You should also post this question in the Epiphone part of the forum, if you haven't already. Almost everybody here will tell you Gibson...and with good reason!

[deelaz]

go for gibson only, trust me you will double your effort in saving money to buy another gibson after you spend your money for epiphone, if you buy the epiphone dont ever try the gibson, cause you will live your life in regretness, why spend less money for something that wont pay you back, spend more money to double the satisfaction, buy gibson, for sure..

[flyingarmadillo]

Gibson, - look for one of the "faded" models. Same great sound, if you can do without the shiny paint.

[Guitarhero15]

Honestly I hear little difference. I own a Gibson Custom Shop Tony Iommi SG and an Epiphone Tony Iommi G-400 SG that have the same pickups and I hear almost no difference. Yea there is a cosmetic difference between these 2 particular Guitars but really there isn't much of a difference cosmetically and even sound wise between most Gibsons and Epiphones. Turn the lights out and you'll never know the difference. Call me crazy but I prefer the Alnico Vs in the Epiphones compared to the Alnico 490s in the Gibsons but they sound great in my Gibson les paul.

[ALIEN8]

IMO you can find EPI's that sound great, and some that sound worse than "the most annoying sound in the world" that Jim Carrey makes in dumb and dumber. I just hope you are patient and can try each guitar on the same amp.

 

Changing out the pickups in an EPI is an option too... I did that, and it sounds great.

 

I bought an SG and it sounds better than most guitars on the market, or that I have ever run into - no bs (everyone says that theirs is the best, but really this one is... I had guys in the store telling me not to buy it because of BS reasons, only because they heard it go... it makes crappy amps sound great, and most of my buddies don't want to play it because it is irreplaceable). I paid 1G for it, and I don't regret spending the money at all. I just had to spend 3G's on an LP to get a better sound!

 

IMO save up, look for a low priced GIBSON SG used or new (around 1G), do your homework about the guitar itself, and what options you like etc. then use your ears... It's not hard to find a fantastic sounding GIBSON, but it is to find an EPI. You will notice a difference the more and more you play both brands...

[Space Pup]

I've owned an Epiphone Les Paul and an Epiphone SG. They are nice guitars in there own right but plain and simple, they are not Gibson's . If you find an Epiphone you like, buy it but buy it because you like the Epiphone. Don't buy an Epiphone thinkning it will replace a Gibson. It's not fair to you or the guitar.

[T50]

I've owned an Epiphone Les Paul and an Epiphone SG. They are nice guitars in there own right but plain and simple' date=' they are not Gibson's . If you find an Epiphone you like, buy it but buy it because you like the Epiphone. Don't buy an Epiphone thinkning it will replace a Gibson. It's not fair to you or the guitar.[/quote']

Well put=d>

[ken361]

Honestly I hear little difference. I own a Gibson Custom Shop Tony Iommi SG and an Epiphone Tony Iommi G-400 SG that have the same pickups and I hear almost no difference. Yea there is a cosmetic difference between these 2 particular Guitars but really there isn't much of a difference cosmetically and even sound wise between most Gibsons and Epiphones. Turn the lights out and you'll never know the difference. Call me crazy but I prefer the Alnico Vs in the Epiphones compared to the Alnico 490s in the Gibsons but they sound great in my Gibson les paul.

I 2nd that my iommi rocks!

[FennRx]

I dont know so much about the SGs, but there IS a definite difference with the LPs. The feel and the sound. And I dont understand why some people pay 4 or 500 bucks for an Epi guitar and then pay ~$220 for Gibson Classic 57s plus tech fees to swap. Why not just buy the lower end Gibson? It's (usually) a better guitar and it will hold its value much better should you decide to sell it.

[AS90]

I have had a few Epis over the years, I have a G400 which is being stripped and refinished in silver with mean 90s. They are great guitars, especially the newer G400s, they are a million miles away from Gibsons though. You can make an Epi sound very similar to a Gibson but its not just about the sound, its about the feel, the smell, the build quality, the case etc. As said above, if you like the SG buy an SG, a G400 will not replace it.

[guitar_randy]

well bascially ive been playing for 6 months' date=' want an upgrade on my yamaha pacifica, and want an sg

but i dont wanna pay the money for a gibson so -

is there a major difference between gibsons and epiphones, and if so is it worth saving up for a gibson instead buying an epiphone?

thanks[/quote']

 

I agree ,big difference,especially in the elctronics

[hsherman]

cool, thanks for all your help, i think im swaying towards a gibson now :)