I dunno...maybe it's just me being a fanatic for guitars or I tend to read into things too much but to me every single guitar sings feels and plays different. And I own a bunch of em too. Own 20 and the majority of my arsenal is made up of les Paul's both Gibsons and Epiphones. Let's not kid ourselves. Epiphones will always be the easier choice for value and Gibson for brand recall and cult following. But to me...I've always found that every guitar has its own place and position and I love them all. So I don't compare. I just play em for what they're good at in their specific places. Very well made video. Finally one that hits the nail on the head.

At last a comparison that makes sense. And tells me exactly what you feel with each instead of telling me: "let me know in the comments which one you preferred". Cheers.

I have an Epiphone Plus Top Pro that Gibson gave me. Won it in a online contest several years ago. I changed out the pickups and replaced them with Seymour Duncan P-rails. So far sounds great. Looks great. Someday I maybe able to play great.

I have been playing guitar for about a year and when I started playing I picked up a Epiphone Les Paul 60’s Standard in bourbon burst because that was what I could afford recently after saving up for the last year I finally have enough money for a Gibson Les Paul 60’s Standard so I drove an hour to the closest Guitar Center and played 3 Gibson 60’s Les Paul Standard and realized there was absolutely no way I was going to give them $2,999 for a Gibson Guitar 🫤

Both of them look beautiful. As someone who likes to change pots and pickups, beat up the paint job and relic it, the Epiphone is very fun.

The Gibson sounds better but in no means does the epiphone sound bad I always say the gibson sounds phenomenal and the epiphone very good

Hi, that intro trick with the other guitars, got me, cleaver idea, so that we don't judge just for looks, and Epis are great and Gibson too, so play play play, whatever and however you can or will. take care.

I have both, in Bourbon Burst. I honestly play my Epiphone more than I play my Gibson and I don’t really feel any less satisfied. I will admit, Gibsons probably are better set up right out of the box and thus may play more comfortably, but there’s plenty of authentic Les Paul tone in the Epiphone. One day, they both will go to my daughter.

Kind of hard to tell if my ear is picking up a difference since you decided to pan each to a different ear. Brilliant.

Love this video! I have been watching so many videos, reading articles on line, etc. specifically around the Epiphone versus Gibson issue. I am a lefty, and a local shop has a left-handed Gibson Les Paul Standard 60's that is one of the best feeling guitars I have played (granted, most of my life the lefties I encounter have been less than impressive). The shop agreed to bring in the Epiphone version and I am looking forward to trying it out. I don't expect it to be the Gibson, but if it feels close to as comfy as the Gibson I will probably go with it. After a few decades off, I am resuming my journey as a beginner/intermediate player and I want a quality guitar that feels good and will inspire me to play. I understand the appeal of the Gibson in many ways, and know there are things about the Gibson I won't appreciate since I am just not that good of a musician. Thanks again for a great video and assessment of what is most important, no matter where we are on our guitar journey. :)

Both are great, Gibson/Epiphone has really upped their game. First, F.Y.I. the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson line also uses a Maple cap now, not a veneer. There are plenty of tear down videos on KZfaq that prove this. Second, The Gibson is better, but not $2000 plus better in my humble opinion. I own a Epiphone 60's Standard, which is awesome. But hey, if you want the Gibson, go for it and enjoy. Great video. ~Ken

Pick up, play, feel, listen, absorb, decide. The value placed in a name shouldn't factor into the choice as a player. If you are planning on selling at some point down the line then go Gibson, it will hold value or even appreciate but if you are looking for something to play, enjoy and possibly even customize/mod then go with what inspires you. I have a "laminated body" (plywood) LP copy that I always pick up whenever I want to jam, it feels great, resonates more than any of my other guitars (chambered) and sounds absolutely amazing with a set of Gibson 57 classics. It's worn in (from the 90's) and just inspires me to play. It literally checks all the boxes of what not to buy in a Les Paul according to couch experts, not "tonewood" though the neck is mahogany, chambered not solid, bolt on neck not set in, Tanglewood not Gibson, poly not nitro etc. I loved the feeling of it the moment I picked it up, it's tobacco burst caught my eye as well as the grain and it's a heavy monster (which I like). It sounded ok but didn't play too great before I leveled the frets, set the truss rod and replaced all the hardware/electronics. I have spent more on it than I probably should have but it's mine, I made it exactly the way I wanted it. It was the only guitar from my collection that I took with me when I moved country years ago and I still have it to this day. It isn't my best or most valuable guitar but it is my favorite. Don't miss out on the perfect guitar for you because you fell for other people's "wisdom". I always advocate for putting some work into your guitars, be it fret polishing, action setting or modding. Make it yours, make it unique and above all, enjoy it whether it cost $50 or $5k otherwise, what were you thinking buying it.

I own a epiphone 2008 std les paul. Ive upfraded to seymour duncans aph2 and a jobesy blues harness .it sounds as good as the pauls ive played ..also my 335 is a Hohner W ken armstrong pickups .it sounds great ..if i could id buy a 3500 Gibson 335 ..but to me its well enough

I played a $2000 Gibson at Guitar center. Played a $600 Epi.....the sound was better, faster neck, weighed the same....so I bought the better one...the Epi standard plastic top pro....

There are videos when Gibson Les Pauls are stripped to be refinished. The nitro finish is peeled off. I'm not saying that it's the same as poly, but i question just how much effect the nitro has on resonance. I've owned both Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls. I can't say there was a definitive difference regarding resonance. With electric guitars in particular, hardware, pedals, and amp have more to do with tone than the finish.

This one is pretty easy for me since I have an ,86 model custom have to go with the Gibson

Gibson is a premium item that you buy if you want to. If you just need a Les Paul to play, epiphone or even cheaper will do just fine and will sound just as good especially if you change pickups. If in addition you can do minor work on frets and cut the nut slots better the playability will be similar or even better than that of a Gibson stock. I have both and both are just fine for what they are. One big difference that is not discussed as much is that Gibsons tend to be played less often than Epis because it is not a guitar you just leave lying around (and also because the standard is much heavier). Another thing to consider is that if at some point you decide to sell them the money that the Epi has cost you is much more comparable to that of the Gibson despite their initial costs as Gibsons retain their value much better.

I would add there is a difference in sound between Epiphone and the Gibson, but it is not THAT much of a difference. If you are gigging with the guitar you will not notice a difference I don't think. But when you are in the studio recording, I think you will notice a difference.

I paid 160 for my epi with a 40 dollar strap.i like my epi....nobody ever bought a record cause of the guitar....its all about the music on the record

You can tell the difference in the bridge the nut everything about a guitar having played an Epiphone for I can tell it's like you say if you play both you can tell

Pretty sure the newer Epis have a real maple cap on top, then a veneer on top of that.

Just a friendly tip. It's near impossible to compare two sounds that similar, when you pan them differently. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of the video.

I have two Epi’s, an SG and a Les Paul and I love em both. It’s all in the players hands and their soul, I’ve seen very bad players, playing top-of-the-line guitars, and I’ve seen amazing players playing cheap guitars.

Okay, nice comparison, but I hear more "Clarity" and less "muddy" on the Gibson Les Paul. Is Gibson worth much more? I say probably not.

As a humble advice try both with chromatic tuner on every fret if you are (or wanna be) a studio musician planning to play on recordings. epi will surely give you the sound and the feel if you re a local pub gigger or homey player but surely gibson will beg for more. just consider how often you change your strings and the answer will get you there.

Everything bar the smell is a bit subjective. And no, it doesn't necessarilly has better fretwork or resonance, which in its own evaluation is not always a good thing in electric amplified sound.

I recently bought an SG off the marketplace just to rest my Les Paul the SG made in the USA is a 2004 model with a lot less wear and tear it was like between 6 to 800$ but to me it's worth every penny

Gibson brighter, but a turn of the knobs can fix that. I love the smell of my Gibson!

I love my Epi. No need for a $2800.00 boat anchor

So it's a MODIFIED Gibson vs STOCK Epiphone? Not really a comparison!

I concur fully you won a sub awesome review

Nice video man, I think I will go for the Epiphone, I like Gibson but I don’t have the money, so I think whit Epiphone I’ll be alright

That Black Beauty sounds better than any of them

It's about what and how much you care about the guitar thing. if the guitar is a tool for making music and will make you become a monster on the stage, Epiphone will work. but if you are a collectioner and the guitar is a luxury furniture at your home, just pay 4 times more to Gibson!!

I own a Epi Humming bird - If I could afford the Gibson I would have that. I have a rule that I never spend more than $300.00 on any guitar - I buy used.. but I also am starting to gig... there is a difference - So I'll buy a Gibson soon and or a Fender American made.

Greetings from 🇪🇸, sub number 200!!👌

As for me... Being the major burn out I am, I have completely lost track of which guitar is which half way through your video... Unfortunately. So in the end, to me... It does not matter anymore...

Nice comparison and beautiful guitars. I have both Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul's, I only keep great guitars and send back or sell the ones that don't do it for me. May it be an Epiphone or Gibson that I play each day, it doesn't matter I have a great time with all of my guitars. My 2014 Gibson Les Paul Signature has more of an angle on the headstock and sounds better acoustically I think because of this than my Epiphones and I also believe this translates to the overall tone coming from the amp. I also believe in the Nitro Finish allowing the guitar wood to breath better which also soaks in more over time contributing to the overall harmonic sound from your guitar. This tone difference is not huge for the most part and the majority of people will never know the difference when they hear you play. My Epiphone Les Paul's are fantastic, they look, feel and sound great. I know exactly how you feel with your Gibson. There is always something special about a Gibson Les Paul in your hands when you find the right one, it's hard to not enjoy that special bond as well as the joy you feel coming through you and the guitar when playing .

I have both too. The Gibson does look better. Playability, there is nothing in it. I like the sounds of the Classic 57s in the 1960 Tribute Epiphone to the Burstbuckers in the 50s Standard Gibson. So?

Epiphones are great guitars. Don't care what people think!!!

Epiphone sounds better, cause I have one, and i dont have a gib

An LP style is a LP no matter where they are made but the sound is a different story.

The Gibson iced tea is beautiful and I want to have one on my wall. But that it, it’s eye candy. LP is not for me but god they are beautiful. But for playing I’ll take my lighter SG which has better access to the higher (lower?) frets. The iced tea finish tho 😍

The 2021 Epiphone Custom Koa Les Paul over this Gibson all day long..

The minute the pickups on the Gibson were changed to Seymour Duncans, this comparison was null and void, in my opinion.

It depends on a lot of variables. What is your budget? Is $3k comfortably in your budget for a new guitar? If so, try as many Gibson's as you can before buying one because they vary significantly in quality, sound, playability, etc. A bad Gibson is just a money pit and a good one is worth the investment if you can afford it. If your budget tops out at $1k, Epiphone makes quality instruments. Often for what the sales tax of their Gibson counterparts cost, especially from the Custom Shop. A flame veneer is nowhere near as pretty as a flame maple cap, although Gibson does allow for some really ugly caps to be used... The rosewood on the fingerboard isn't as nice, but not bad either. The craftsmanship isn't perfect, but neither is Gibson... Epiphone is probably more consistent in their quality. I would be much more hesitant to order a Gibson sight unseen than an Epiphone. Pickups are not great, but easy enough to swap out.

Did you just play that Mountain riff?? Sounds great. I have been struggling for weeks with this exact same delima.. Every breakdown of the EPIPHONE 60s Inspired by Gibson video I've watched has came to the same conclusion. Which is that it's a fine instrument and much more affordable.. I ended up buying Gibson LP Studio and an waiting on it's arrival..But I like you may purchase the EPIPHONE as well.

would have liked to hear one solo LOL

Can't believe how big the difference is. I have a comparison video between my Vintage Gibson and a modern Epiphone and the difference is very subtile. Did you really used the same recording and amp settings for both guitars?

I have the same 60s standard epiphone And I love it it’s my baby lol!!

If you have 800 bucks, you can get a really good epiphone, and buy gibson/seymour duncan pickups and it will sound just as good as a 2.5k-3k gibson. Putting Seth lovers in a 600 dollar epiphone was a huge difference. But I still want a gibson. An epiphone will never ever be a gibson, hell, even gibson in 2022 isn't the old gibson, but for 800 bucks, you cant really go wrong in my opinion. As long as you like the way it feels. However, there is 2 things I cant stand about my epiphone, the pickup selector switch isn't as firm as a gibson, it feels cheap, and the output jack sucks, and when I mean sucks I mean i had to get a new one after 6 months and even a new one sucks because the way they did it was a hexagon screw that keeps it in and its very loose and if you try to tighten it you will actually twist the output jack along with it and break it. Gibsons output jacks are tremendously better in quality and reliability.

i have both. the only thing that matters to a real player is does it sound good , play good, set up good, and sound good , controling feedback at stage volume. simple does it work. i owned a L strat sounded great, played like a pig so it was not a good guitar in my eyes.

They sound essentially the same. Unless you have a large droopy moustache and drink a lot of whisky who cares...

Hi great review 🔝the value for money is better for epiphone but gibson wins for the sound 🎯 great channel i subscribed 👍🤗👋

every proper guitar will sound great thru good spearker and amp

I guess you're playing a doubleheader and that's the last baseball reference I will use ,I promise.

in my opinion epiphone is a great quality starter guitar! but if were being honest about a comparison lets be honest aha. Gibson will always win.

Gibson sounds better, but the epi ain't no joke either

Never in my life ,cool,I got 5 of each

Slash save Gibson with a fake handmade Gibson.....Epiphone are way better now ....just change pickups and save your money

The only thing that bugs me constantly is that the horn on the epi is like SLIGHTLY smaller and idk it makes me feel strange even tho irl there's no difference between them

as always gibson has more bite. and authentic sound. youre never gunna like what you hear from an epiphone if you listen to guitarists from the 70s that used gibsons

Wow that really IS a $2,000 difference!!! Said nobody ever 😂

I DON'T BELEIVE A EFFEN THING YOU SAY!!! PERIOD!

People buy what their favorite guitarists plays, if page was playing an epi everyone would want an epi.Look at that ugly terrible sounding Hofner bass, if it wasn't for McCartney playing one few would even know the company exists.

The one you can afford duh

Gibson's do not hold their value.

In response to recent world events, we should all be boycotting China products. Therefore, goodbye Epiphone.

Its not only the electronics in the guitar its the sound that it is coming out. Amp settings and so forth. I have a Montaya Les Paul Lawsuit and i trim my tone on my amp and sounds way betterthan any Gibson i own. Please!!.So these shootouts with sound dont mean shit to me. Who cares i have Ibanez HH strats that i can make sound even like a Gibson on steroids are you kidding me? What joke!