Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Depends on the SD pickup. A lot of the PAF-types come with 2-conductor wiring as an option.

To completely threadjack my own thread. I was thinking about putting an antiquity humbucker in my strat. Do you know if those are 2 or 4 conductor?

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

to be honest just get whatever you think's best. theres probably no point forking out for a gibson if its going to be played in your bed room mainly.
i do play guitar for a living (more or less) and my 3 main guitars are a gibson lp special (d.c) stock p90's, a fender fat strat duncan loaded, and an epiphone sheraton duncan loaded, and you'll never guess which one sounds the best and gets used the most?
<------- that one

but its not built as well as my gibson, (ands its like a bottom of the range gibson) so even the worst gibsons are built better then the best epiphones

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I think that's your best approach. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

- Keith

I never buy a guitar unless i play it first....except the gibson sg, which was probably the worst guitar mistake I ever made. Don't get me wrong, its a great guitar, but I bought it with the OHHH ITS A GIBSON...PRETTY!!! mentality, and I've grown up since then to get off the brand association.

Quick story. I went to my best buy which just put in their music section and got that epiphone les paul I was talking about. the guy helping me said that he was going to go look in the back for a brand new one, and I said, is there any chance I can just buy this one? He said sure, and when he rang me up, he gave me a 10% discount since it was the "floor model". I said SCORE. I walked out of best buy with a plus top les paul for $400

 

[Grandturk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

but is it really worth $900 more to get a studio that i'm going to change a lot of the parts anyways?

I would never buy a Les Paul Studio either. Been down the "studio" path already in my life. I feel no need to go that way again. Same thing with those Les Paul's with the matte finish. Yikes.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

to be honest just get whatever you think's best. theres probably no point forking out for a gibson if its going to be played in your bed room mainly.
i do play guitar for a living (more or less) and my 3 main guitars are a gibson lp special (d.c) stock p90's, a fender fat strat duncan loaded, and an epiphone sheraton duncan loaded, and you'll never guess which one sounds the best and gets used the most?
<------- that one

but its not built as well as my gibson, (ands its like a bottom of the range gibson) so even the worst gibsons are built better then the best epiphones

Trust me, if I was in a band that had promise, the first thing I'd run out and buy is a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus in Iced Tea....ahhh my dream guitar.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

So I went to the shop and played both.

First was looks. They may not be the highest quality, but **** those epiphone les pauls looked nice. I usually don't like the heritage cherry ones, but I picked up a plain top HC and liked the look a lot.

You can definately tell the Gibson is better built. The volume and tone knobs were looser on the epiphones, and on one of the epiphones, the volume pot looked like a long shaft pot. I had to tune up the epiphones and retuned it a couple times. Idk if they were new strings or not, but I could tell the epiphone wasn't set-up well. The gibson in the store played like mine. Set up well, and already in tune and stayed in tune. The tuners on the epiphone I played seemed a little loose on the buttons, but that's fixable.

And now to playing. I was truly amazed at this epiphone. Like I thought, I just felt at home playing the neck. I think I like the thinner profile of the epiphone necks compared to the gibson. I like how the body of the lp is heavier than the neck compared to the sg's neck being heavier than the body. Eventhough this guitar wasn't really set-up i found it pretty comfortable. I was actually surprised by the sound of the pickups on the epi. I liked them more than the sg. Other factors can go into this such as the body weight, the lp having a top, and them being covered, but while i could get a good zeppelin tone, I could roll back and get a nice mellow bluesy tone. The sg's pickups are too dirty and gritty for my liking. I know I talked about the pots earlier saying they seemed looser, but the pots were more even on the lp than the sg. The LP provided even rollback and nice tone and sound all the way from 10 to 0. All the pots were this way. The Gibson in the store had to go to about 5 to make any difference and my sg at home has to go to 3 and from there, they are drastic changes.

So needless to say, I think I'll end up going the route of getting the epiphone and do extensive research and playing before I buy one I want.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I think I'll end up going the route of getting the epiphone and do extensive research and playing before I buy one I want.

These are the ones I'd get:

This one:

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=318&CollectionID=19

or this one:

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=319&CollectionID=6

HTH,

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

you know you could probably find a used gibson studio LP for around $900, and it would likely be cheaper if it's got swapped out pickups. just sayin: private:

 

[Moonsorrow]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

If i were you i would keep the Gibson SG. First of all its a Gibson and second,you can upgrade an Epi all you want but you will still have the crappy wood (or lack there of!) that they are made of...YIKES!!!

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

If i were you i would keep the Gibson SG. First of all its a Gibson and second,you can upgrade an Epi all you want but you will still have the crappy wood (or lack there of!) that they are made of...YIKES!!!

That's what I thought when I got it. I was like OH SWEET A GIBSON., but after that initial OHH AHH, i realized it wasn't anything special. It's a great guitar, but I don't think it's anywhere near worth the Gibson title like the standard Les Paul.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I'd rather have a real SG than a fake Les Paul. You can upgrade an Epiphone 'til the cows come home, and it'll never be a Gibson. Take it from someone who's owned three and still plays them. They're great values, but there are reasons why people pay more for a Gibson. They might be hit-or-miss, but when they hit, they really hit.

This is almost exactly what i was gonna say.

Epiphones and Gibsons are in two different classes man. Hit-or-miss in Epiphone world means either the switch works or doesn't, either the knobs fall off or don't, either the jack's wired in or not...

Hit or miss with Gibson means whether it came out of the box sounding and playing awesome with perfect finish, or whether it came out of the box with some small finish flaws in need of a setup...but it sounds and plays awesome once you set it up.

With Epiphone you get a guitar with crap electronics made from either mahogany or alder in either China or Korea as quickly as possible with cost effectiveness in mind.

With Gibson you get a guitar made from real mahogany with quality electronics in America by the same 26 guys that build every single Gibson guitar that comes out of the Gibson USA factory.

I mean, thinking realistically, the Gibson company owns both brands. One is intentionally cheap, the other is intentionally nice. Spend your money however you want.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Hit or miss with Gibson means whether it came out of the box sounding and playing awesome with perfect finish, or whether it came out of the box with some small finish flaws in need of a setup...but it sounds and plays awesome once you set it up.

That's what I used to think until I got my sg. I have to roll the volume knob to 3 to get any volume difference, and it's pretty much the same on all of them. My switch is not better than the epiphones. Pickups are all a matter of taste so you can't say gibson's sound better. I'm not wanting to constantly bash Gibson, but that's been my experience with my sg, and I know i'm not alone with others and their lower end gibsons. Plenty of studios are hit or miss too. If i was going to pay 1300 for a guitar, I wouldn't expect a hit or miss quality guitar.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

The sweep on our tone pot is not an indicator of quality of said part. Longevity is.

Electronics on epiphones are typically replaced before the guitar has been owned and played for a year...

Pickup quality too man. I would be interested to know what amp you had plugged an Epi then a Gibson into and found the Epi to sound better because in my experience, Epiphone pickups are normally extremely dark with no clarity to the tone...

Anyway man, I would spend a lot more time trying out Gibsons versus Epiphones before making this decision because I know a lot of cats who used to be fooled by the multiply plastic-wrapped imitation too but in the end it's your money and you can waste it on whatever you want.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

The sweep on our tone pot is not an indicator of quality of said part. Longevity is.

Electronics on epiphones are typically replaced before the guitar has been owned and played for a year...

Pickup quality too man. I would be interested to know what amp you had plugged an Epi then a Gibson into and found the Epi to sound better because in my experience, Epiphone pickups are normally extremely dark with no clarity to the tone...

Anyway man, I would spend a lot more time trying out Gibsons versus Epiphones before making this decision because I know a lot of cats who used to be fooled by the multiply plastic-wrapped imitation too but in the end it's your money and you can waste it on whatever you want.

So you are saying that it doesnt matter how a pot performs, as long as it lasts a lifetime its a good one? that doesn't make any sense. And in about a year, all the electronics would be switched to switchcraft and cts pots anyway, so I wouldn't have to worry about that.
Like I said, IMO, the pickups are mostly taste. I loved them through a Fender superchamp XD, Fender Blues Junior, and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I just think the stock gibsons on the sg are too dirty sounding.
What a lot of people are doing thats annoying is comparing the $500 epiphone to a $2000 gibson. Never will the epiphone match up with it. If you look at the "hit" epiphone's, its a great guitar for $500.
The sg is a hell of a guitar for $700, but i've found through experience that it's just not my style. I like the weight, the neck, and the overall feel of the les paul better than the sg. In the end, we buy what we want because we know what we want. You may want to buy a guitar just because it says gibson and I may get a "lesser" guitar because I like the look, feel, and sound of it. I honestly could care less what the guitar is made out of as long as it plays the way I want it to.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

You could go the other clone Les Paul roots like JHS Vintage series, Tokai, Burns etc. But if you had to go Gibson owned then listen to the advice above. I think I prefer SG's personally (just played an Epi today ... and want one).

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

i've always loved les pauls. I used to have a epi les paul with the hot rodded humbucker set and my fender strat, but i needed money and sold the les paul. I got some money, and missed the good ole humbuckers, so i picked up a gibson sg faded. I've had it for a little while and i find myself missing the les paul sound and sustain. I toyed around with the idea of selling the sg, and using the extra money to upgrade an epiphone les paul. I soon found out that i wouldn't get enough for the sg, and would basically be traded my sg for a new les paul and not have enough left over to do any real mods.

So my question is, what should i do? I like les pauls better, but getting around 400 something back which is just enough for a epi standard just sounds wrong to my brand-associating mind.

Saving a little more for a studio and then also having to mod that doesn't sound too great unless there is a significant upgrade from the studio to the epiphone.

To give you an idea, i was wanting to completely change the wiring, pots, and switches, and change the pickups

pm

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

That's what I used to think until I got my sg. I have to roll the volume knob to 3 to get any volume difference, and it's pretty much the same on all of them. My switch is not better than the epiphones. Pickups are all a matter of taste so you can't say gibson's sound better. I'm not wanting to constantly bash Gibson, but that's been my experience with my sg, and I know i'm not alone with others and their lower end gibsons. Plenty of studios are hit or miss too. If i was going to pay 1300 for a guitar, I wouldn't expect a hit or miss quality guitar.

+1. Faded SG's are not a model Gibson puts a lot of effort into, and they have a marginal reputation on this forum for overall quality & tone. An SG Std vs an Epi LP, there's no discussion. But a Faded...

Every Gibson PU I own I've changed the magnets in to get better tones (I have 5 of their PU models), and their pairing of the 498T/490R with stock magnets is beyond bizarre. For the company that invented HB's, they've been outdone by many aftermarket manufacturers.

Too many people get all dreamy-eyed when they see a name on a headstock, and fall into a trance as they get out their credit card. Hey, I'd push Gibsons too if I was making commission selling them.

 

[kherman]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I would sell the SG outright instead of trying to trade it.
Do craigs list or Ebay.

Then I would look for a used Epiphone Elitist.
Made in Japan.
Not to be confused with MIK/MIC Epiphones.

If not the Epi Elitist, then I would look on Ebay or at some of the Japan music store websites for a MIJ
Edwards (by ESP)
Burny (Fernandes)
Orville
Greco
Tokai
Epiphone Japan (will have correct open book headstock)

Another thought is a Carvin CS3 or CS4.

And if your budget is truelly tight, then as mentioned Agile by www.rondomusic.com or Xaviere by Guitar Fetish http://store.guitarfetish.com/
Better specs than the MIK/MIC Epis, IMHO. Better reputation too.
Plus, then you may not need to sell your SG. Jut pick up one of those two out right.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I play in a band and play out with Epiphone Les Pauls...... I have no problem doing so. Both EPI Pauls I own have exceeded my expectation once modded and set up. I would have applied the same mods to a Gibson, so I don't mind investing some more $$. I can't see the quality difference between the EPI and Gibson being worth the price difference and you here that argument from a lot of EPI players..... I will literally laugh laugh any Gibson snob all the way to the bank. I think they are fine guitars but the price increases over the years have NOT been proportional to the price of materials and workmanship. I also own 4 American made Fenders including one custom shop.... which I didn't mind spending the money because they were good values.

The issue I take with buying a g lp is that I just don't see myself paying that much for guitar when I just play because I like to. I'm not in a band and don't plan to make a living off of playing guitar. I'm a college student and find it hard to save money as it is, but saving up to buy a nice guitar just doesn't work out when i'm going to change things about it.

I know it sounds like i just posted this question and just turned down all input, which I'm not. I just hate to pay 1300 for a guitar.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I have had to spray both my toggles with contact cleaner, so you may have a point. But so what.....??? I could just as easily changed them out if necessary. Electronics are probably the easiest thing to correct on a guitar.

I have some minor concerns about longevity of construction on one of my EPI's but only because I like it so much, and know when the frets are worn and need replacement, it might not be worth servicing costs to have the work done, not to mention I doubt any luthier would take it seriously enough to put his finest effort into it... even if I paid him to do so..

The sweep on our tone pot is not an indicator of quality of said part. Longevity is.

Electronics on epiphones are typically replaced before the guitar has been owned and played for a year...

Pickup quality too man. I would be interested to know what amp you had plugged an Epi then a Gibson into and found the Epi to sound better because in my experience, Epiphone pickups are normally extremely dark with no clarity to the tone...

Anyway man, I would spend a lot more time trying out Gibsons versus Epiphones before making this decision because I know a lot of cats who used to be fooled by the multiply plastic-wrapped imitation too but in the end it's your money and you can waste it on whatever you want.