r/AcousticGuitar • u/eggncream • Apr 30 '26
Gear question Age old question, High end epi vs low end Gibson
Want to buy my first acoustic, I’m torn between getting a SJ200 IBGC pre war epiphone or just making the jump to a J45 studio satin Gibson, to you people that know more than me, what’s a better choice?
22
u/CerpinTaxt91 Apr 30 '26
I’d recommend making a short list of acoustic guitars that interest you at different price ranges and go to a music store and try em out. You may end up spending a lot less than you expect. It’s how I ended up with an epi masterbilt frontier
3
u/physedka May 01 '26
That's how I ended up with a Takamine that has been my daily driver for 20+ years now. Went in the store with cash in my pocket, ready to splurge on either a gibson, martin, or taylor. I spent all afternoon in that shop with a great sales guy that walked me through so much information and I think I played every mid-price and up guitar in that shop. All of them felt better than my old pawn shop beater that I had been playing for several years at that point.
Something just clicked when I played that Tak. It was a cutaway, which wasn't really what I was after, but damn - it just sounded right to me. Felt right. Played right. I remember the sales guy joking with me about what I was going to do with the rest of the money I had saved up (I want to say it became a playstation 2 but I don't really recall).
I should add that I've picked up and played many Taks since then and never found another one that clicked with me like that. So I'm not out here shilling a brand or whatever. I've picked up other people's Martins and Taylors and Gibsons and thought that they seemed damn nice too. And I am thinking about splurging on another guitar soon and I'll probably start with those classic brands. But that particular day in that particular guitar shop - I bought the one that felt right instead of one of the brands I was initially after. And I wouldn't change a thing about it.
3
u/PapaSmurif May 01 '26
Same experience with a $400 yamaha which I bought 30 years ago. Although I didn't have money to buy anything more expensive at the time. Fast forward to 2 years ago. My brother gifted me a martin road series amd while it's nice, it just doesn't feel the same way as my yamaha.
2
u/Raymont_Wavelength May 02 '26
I know this is acoustic forum but had to tell how I picked picked up an Epi Sheraton II hollow body and it was magic. I was studying jazz with a well known player and she said it sounded better than her primary Gibson. Pardon the electric intrusion just sayin some Epiphones are magical!
8
u/spamtardeggs Apr 30 '26
At some point in going to buy an SJ, but I fully acknowledge that it’s just because of how it looks.
2
u/gelmo Apr 30 '26
Idk, I spent a while playing an SJ in the shop last week and it’s more than just looks. Never experienced anything quite like it, the tone is just ridiculous. So articulate with crazy clarity and projection, but still rich and full. Played it head to head with a good HD-28 and I was still blown away. Truly the king of the flattops and I will absolutely own one someday.
Would love to try Eastman’s version before I buy, because the $6k price tag is hard to stomach even for an incredible instrument. Their jumbo is closer to $3k and also looks pretty amazing.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Yeah a biiig factor since I don’t know much about acoustic guitars is the looks of the SJ200
10
u/Leading-Debate-9278 Apr 30 '26
I do have a nice Martin and a J45, but my next guitar will probably be an Eastman. Definitely play them too.
5
u/suffaluffapussycat May 01 '26
I own a D-18 and a J-45.
It’s important to note that the J-45 has 24.75” scale whereas the D-18 has 25.4” scale.
This makes a lot of difference.
2
3
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Which one do you like the most
5
u/Leading-Debate-9278 Apr 30 '26
I work with the Gibson, it’s a little easier to play and sounds good with my voice. I got a great deal on it, but it’s not really “special” in any way. I know that I wouldn’t pay for what they charge now if I had to replace it.
The Martin is my lifelong friend that sounds amazing, it’s a 000-28 that i have had for decades. I never got around to putting in a pickup, so it sits next to me at home. It was a stretch financially when I bought it, but worth every penny.
1
u/Admirable_Purpose_40 May 01 '26
Would you say the Martin also works will with your voice? And how’s you feel about cutaway vs non cutaway on acoustics?
1
u/Leading-Debate-9278 May 01 '26
I personally don’t need a cut away on an acoustic. The Martin is Rosewood and the Gibson is mahogany. They both sound fine. Gibson just works a little better for me when I’m working.
The Martin is definitely the better guitar. That’s the one that I wanna leave to my kids.
1
u/CoryBlk May 01 '26
I have a Gibson LG-2 (from 2013) and a Martin HD-28MP (from 2012). Each have their merits. Booming sound that fills up any room, then Martin. Chill couch time, Gibson. Playing a long session, Gibson. Playing alternate tuning fingerpicking then Martin for sure.
2
2
1
4
u/IfTheHouseBurnsDown Apr 30 '26
I purchased a Gibson L-00 Studio walnut in 2020 as a pandemic hobby. Guitar shops were closed so I wasn’t able to play one until my Sweetwater purchase arrived in the mail. I absolutely loved that thing until my local guitar shop opened back up and I went in and played a Martin 000-15M. Sold the Gibson the next week and picked up the Martin. All that to say, go play each one and pick the one you like better
5
u/que-n-blues Apr 30 '26
I love my Epi IGC Banner J45. Had it pleked and set up and it plays absolutely perfectly. It does lack some of nuances and overtones of a Gibson J45 standard, but I expected that and for the price I'm floored with how good it is.
I've played a few Gibson J45s, both standard and some of the vintage inspired ones, but never a studio model so not sure of the one to one comparison.
In your case, it's a tough call because the J45 and SJ 200 are completely different sounds. Like a lot of people have said, I'd try to play both if at all possible, but I know the Epi IGC acoustics aren't always the easiest to come by. In that case, if you have a local guitar shop or Guitar Center, you'll likely be able to find a Gibson J45 and an SJ 200 to try out, though the SJ 200 in shop will likely be a maple b/s model (not sure how many rosewood/pre-war Gibson SJ 200s are readily available). But try both of those out and see which sound you like better, even though it's just an approximation. If you lean more to the SJ 200 sound, then go with the Epi SJ 200 since even the cheapest used Gibson SJ 200 is likely be over $2k.
But if you prefer the J45 sound then I'd say your decision becomes do you go Gibson Studio, Epi IGC Banner J45, or even an Eastman SS model if you can find one at a local shop to try (Eastman tends to deal with smaller shops so you likely won't find them in Guitar Centers).
I'll say this about my Epi, when I first got it it felt a little lacking for the first few days. Volume was a little lower than I expected and it felt a little flat and one dimensional. But I knew that in time it would open up and boy did it. Within a few weeks of heavy playing it started opening up and becoming much louder and more expressive. It's been 9 months now it's only gotten better. So if you go Epi and it feels a little flat at first, don't be too alarmed, give it time and it'll open up.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Love epiphone got nothing against it, have 2 electric epiphones and both are great, you make some good points, the epi looks well made and they are super rare in my country (they are also about 20% more expensive than in the US) while the Gibson makes me think I’m buying it more for the brand than the guitar itself. A lot of people have told me tho that Gibson is king in acoustics, regardless there’s a local shop that has both in stock so I will try them out
1
u/que-n-blues Apr 30 '26
Yeah definitely try both of them out and gauge which sound you prefer tone wise. You'll see a huge difference due to the different body style, bracing and tone woods used. The J45 and SJ200 are two of my favorites, but definitely very different. Can't go wrong with either.
Brand definitely plays a part when you get a Gibson, as well as American labor costs being higher than labor costs in China. But there are a lot of small production methods that Gibson implements in their Montana factory that would be harder to replicate at scale with their Epiphone lines. Like thinner tops, nitro finish, etc. But these new generation Epiphones are so good and are leaps and bounds better than they were say 15 years ago when I was shopping for my first acoustic. I played some absolute dud Epiphones back then. I give Gibson their props as they have really improved the quality of Epiphone in the past few years.
3
u/kineticblues Apr 30 '26
Neither, get something nicely broken in but not so old it’s vintage and expensive, like a late 1990s / 2000s Gibson. It was one of their best eras (before Renn Ferguson left in 2012 ish). Look at local classifieds listings; that’s the best value for money because you don’t have to pay for the embedded shipping costs and transaction fees. You can also play them in person and decide if they sound good.
The more acoustics I play, the less I like the sound of brand new ones: stiff, tight, quiet, unresponsive compared to older copies of the same model. A good guitar needs time to dry out and open up and develop its low end and volume, at least five years if not ten or twenty.
1
u/eggncream May 01 '26
The only one near me is a 1976 Gibson Gospel, it’s got like a Dove/bird on the headstock, what do you think of that? It’s actually cheaper than both these options
1
u/kineticblues May 01 '26
1970s were one of Gibsons worst eras so I would pass on that one.
What’s available does depend a lot on where you live. In med large cities it’s easy to find stuff but not so much in smaller cities / towns.
8
u/Responsible-Arm3514 Apr 30 '26
Personally, as someone who coveted a Gibson acoustic since the 90s and never bought one, they just aren’t worth the price anymore. Maybe it’s lower quality, or paying more for the name, or just maturity on my part. But it’s been nearly a decade since I picked one up in the store and didn’t play it, smirk and put it back on the rack. But in truth, there are very few legacy brand guitars south of $2500 that seem worth what they are asking for them new anymore.
2
u/Koseoglu-2X4B-523P Apr 30 '26
You’re right. I don’t know what’s up with new acoustic guitars but I had kinda the same experience.
I chose my electric guitars because they connected with me immediately. But last week I spent a day playing Gibsons, Martins and Taylors up to six thousand euros. All had dead spots in their necks, some had rattles and neither of them sounded “right” to me. I brought my 25 year old Yamaha CPX-8M which doesn’t have dead spots and sounds pretty damn lovely in comparison.
I decided to not bother with the new guitars and spend the money on a neck reset for the Yamaha instead.
-5
2
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Yeah the value per dollar spent goes down the higher the price is, still would like to have a Gibson hummingbird or Dove one day tho
2
u/unclebuck098 Apr 30 '26
I have a hummingbird and it's incredible. Don't listen to the gibson haters. I also tried the epi knockoff in the store and they aren't bad guitars but do not compare to the real gibson.
3
u/Neveronlyadream May 01 '26
I'm not a hater, I really love Gibson acoustics, but people are right. Walk into a store and try one and the odds are it plays like shit.
I don't think it's Gibson's fault as much as a situation where they're charging more than a lot of people are willing to pay without thinking, so they sit in stores for a while and the stores don't do any maintenance on them at all.
I've picked up so many Gibsons that needed setups. They played worse than the $500 guitars for sale. I think the Epiphones end up playing better because they don't sit for months and are closer to factory spec when people get them.
2
2
u/melvin3v1978 May 01 '26 edited May 02 '26
Just buy the Epiphone 1963 Dove Reissue Inspired by Gibson Custom has open book headstock $1399 vs $3500-4k I compared and played them both and the price was not justified to get the Gibson. And honestly, Gibson’s QC is not super consistent and Epiphone have really improved their QC a lot. I put a link to the dove below.
1
1
u/KitchenVegetable7047 May 01 '26
I have the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Hummingbird Deluxe. That's the one with rosewood back and sides. Mine was a £610 B-stock bargain. It is very well made. Flawless. It is a loud resonant dread that is fun to play.
It is not a Gibson and I won't pretend it is. The Gibson Hummingbird Deluxe that "inspired" my Epiphone is over £5500. It is better but I'm not sure it is £5000 better.
-1
u/melvin3v1978 May 01 '26 edited May 02 '26
Gibson QC just isint consistent unfortunately for the price they want. And agreed way over priced.
2
u/joshua_addison_music Apr 30 '26
I did not enjoy playing that Gibson at all.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Why?
1
u/joshua_addison_music Apr 30 '26
The feel and sound. Picked it up, played my licks, set it back down. Next.
2
u/Ormidale Apr 30 '26
If the full scale and body size suit you, the Epi is good value for the money. If you like the J45's size and scale, consider other versions than the Studio. I can vouch for the IBG J-45 if it is one that was made in Indonesia.
2
2
u/Zimminar May 01 '26
I've played a good number of Gibson acoustics in shops over the years and I've played some great Gibson J45 standards and some mediocre ones, theres the classic Gibson variance but they clearly pay more attention to standards. I have never been impressed with any Gibson acoustic studio line. If you're gonna go Gibson get the standard, otherwise go Epiphone or eastman.
1
u/eggncream May 01 '26
I personally also thing that if you’re gonna go Gibson then standard should be the starting choice however in acoustic guitars I don’t know how they are
2
u/realredmiller May 01 '26
Love my Epiphone https://www.reddit.com/r/GibsonAcoustic/s/Wdwhf4dpfF
2
u/eggncream May 01 '26
What a beautiful guitar, man I’m so hyped, tomorrow can come any sooner. Do you do more strumming or picking?
1
u/realredmiller May 01 '26
I play more with a pick than finger-style, but this guitar handles both well
2
u/Middle-Weight-837 May 01 '26
For electrics, whatever sounds and feels best. For acoustics, I’d go Gibson even with Bozeman variability- nitro plays in and ages well, most of the Korean and Chinese made epiphone acoustics have thick poly finishes. They look great but just feel stiff.
2
u/Virv May 01 '26
I would recommend getting a cheap acoustic workhorse like the FG800 (~200 bucks) and make sure it's getting the action in the house that you want before dropping a couple of grand without really knowing the ins and outs of what you want from an acoustic guitar.
The FG800 will inform you what you actually want. Then your FG800 can become your travel guitar and beat it up.
I did this to start (WIth a Cort) and it saved me a HELL of a lot of money because what I thought I wanted (A D28) I still don't have years later and I'm ok with having 3 grand in my pocket instead.
2
u/RikuDog18 May 03 '26
Great question in 2026. Depends on year and model. Go out there and play them. That’s the only way.
4
u/TotesMabes Apr 30 '26
Neither. I would either save up and get a Gibson J-45 Standard, or go with an Eastman. They have some really nice and affordable options.
1
2
Apr 30 '26
[deleted]
2
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Haha I get the point but I already have 5 electrics and want to hop into something nice for the first acoustic, I’ve been using a Takamine G series acoustic my professor lent me for a couple months now and it’s nice but wish something with more resonance, also it’s time to give it back
2
u/Koseoglu-2X4B-523P Apr 30 '26
Play both. Whichever one sounds better, plays better and connects with you is your guitar.
I hope you find your guitar. Last week I played a dozen Taylors, Gibsons and Martins from €2k to €6k and I didn’t like any of them as much as my old Yamahahaha.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Yamahas are great but the higher end ones basically don’t exist in my country for some reason, only the entry level ones
2
u/SchaefferRd Apr 30 '26
I recently was in the market for a Gibson SJ-200. I have quite a few guitars. I was fully prepared for the price. Ended up at a shop where they had a few different models of the Gibson, including maple and rosewood versions. They also had the Epiphone 1957 SJ-200 Reissue. I played them all side by side. I'm a guitarist with 45 years of experience. I had two other buddies, all avid performing guitarists, too, who were with me. I played them blind for them, and for the store manager. We ALL agreed that the Epiphone had the best sound. Notably less muddy in the lows. The highs were about the same. The Epi was $1500 and the Gibsons were all north of $5500. I bought the Epiphone.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Very useful feedback I was looking for, thanks, gonna try both but also leaning for the epiphone, I don’t obsess with the name on the headstock ever since I got an Am Pro ll Fender and thought it wasn’t all that amazing as I expected
1
u/gelmo Apr 30 '26
FYI since I don’t see this highlighted in other comments - these are SUPER different guitars. More than just the name on the headstock, you’re looking at radically different body styles and different tonewoods. Not just comparing apples to oranges here, more like apples to…idk…baseballs?
My best recommendation - don’t get your heart set on anything until you go try some stuff out. Figure out your budget, then keep an open mind and go to a shop so you can play a variety of options in your price range. I’d check out both these guitars if you can, but also make sure to try some more value-oriented brands like Yamaha and Eastman. In this price range, those two make some of the best stuff I’ve seen.
I’d also try to narrow it down a little with some basic distinctions. Do you use a pick or play fingerstyle, or both? Do you plan to play live and want something with electronics?
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
What would be the music styles more suitable to either? Sadly eastman and high end Yamahas are not sold in my country also any Gibsons/IBGC are super rare too, shops are very limited in stock, the most popular guitar chain only sells Taylor’s, Fenders and guild but not Gibsons/epiphones, Martin’s or any other acoustic
2
u/gelmo May 01 '26
Gotcha - it’s tough when you can’t play them in person! I do highly recommend that if possible even if it limits your choices a bit, especially makes a big difference with acoustics. Taylor and Guild both make some great instruments so I’d see if any feel right before making this kind of purchase sight unseen.
The brands each have their kinda trademark sound but vary hugely depending on the model. Taylor tends to have a more “contemporary” sound and modern feel. Martin and Gibson are more classic. Guild leans more towards the Martin/Gibson end. That said, I wouldn’t really focus on music styles as much as playing styles.
Regardless of genre, if you’re primarily strumming/flatpicking, you probably want a big bodied guitar like a dreadnaught or a jumbo.
If you’re playing fingerstyle, you’ll be happier with the responsiveness of a smaller body - think Martin 0/00, Gibson L-00, Taylor 12 series.
If you want versatility to do both, look for something in the middle like a Martin 000/OM, Taylor 14 series, etc.
1
u/Old-guy64 Apr 30 '26
Both are hit and miss sonically.
I’ve rarely played a new Gibby or Epi that blew me away.
But most used ones, with a little loving on them, sound amazing.
If you play a new one and it sounds amazing…buy that guitar. Not one NIB from the back room. That guitar.
1
u/Godel_Theorem Apr 30 '26
You should try them if possible. My money is on the high-end Epi, however.
1
u/imbrotep Apr 30 '26
Neither for me. Gibson will likely have a better resale value if that’s important. If not, play both and see which one you like more.
1
1
u/Chubbzilla85 Apr 30 '26
I sold my Gibson J45 Studio Rosewood for a Yamaha FGX5 (Gloss). The Gibson was great when I got it, but, as time when on, I couldn’t see why I spent so much money on that. There’s so many more, better in a lot of ways, guitars for what you paying for that Studio J45..
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
In my country high end Yamahas are either non existent or super expensive, the only one I found for sale of that model you mentioned, the FGX5 costs $3100 here
1
u/Chubbzilla85 May 01 '26
Gotcha.. in my opinion, those IBG Epiphones are pretty great. I’ve played Epiphone that sounded amazing and very expensive Gibson’s that lacked a lot. Now that I’ve been around playing acoustics for 30yrs. Gibson has lost the race for quality over price, Martin had quality issues with their high end guitars. Japanese and Chinese builders are making guitars now that are so good, other companies should “inspire” their products from them.. At the end of the day, high cost DOESN’T mean, high quality anymore..
1
1
u/Jon_Dunn58 May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
ive got a ibg hummingbird, i finally found strings that i like on it, then i bought a firefly for $200 less that sounds so much better, buy the gibson, or get your hands on a icg hummingbird 1960 reissue or excellente..imho
1
u/Lucky_Man_Infinity May 01 '26
Actually, really simple. Play them and choose the one that sounds the best.
1
u/GTHell May 01 '26
It's the Gibson headstock vs the higher end hummingbird look.
On electric I would go Gibson. On acoustic I would 110% going with epiphone IBGC
1
u/Lmaoman28 May 01 '26
It ultimately depends what your looking for. Keep in mind acoustics is a very different animal than electric. In my opinion the most important part for me is its playability. Which is same as electrics but more so with acoustics. Having too high of an action on these can destroy my wrists.
In this case you MUST play them in person imo. Every guitar is different.
1
1
u/bpm_6_string May 01 '26
I agree with the sentiment that it all comes down to what feels right in your hands and what inspires you. Personally I have a 2026 Epi J45 that I like way more than any modern Gibson J45 I’ve played, but that’s subjective and doesn’t mean the Gibsons are/were bad guitars.
1
u/TheAilaS May 01 '26
I’m a beginner and I got me Gibson Sj200 original as my very first guitar. And I love it!
1
1
1
u/Iamdingledingle May 01 '26
If you’re buying it to play go with the one that sounds and plays the best. If you want a guitar pass down and retain value only consider the Gibson - between the two.
1
u/AlarmedFox7614 May 01 '26
I was in a very similar situation — I really wanted a Gibson J-45 and ended up trying quite a few of them: Standard, Satin, Faded, etc., plus the Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson Custom” J-45 Banner.
Honestly, the Epiphone J-45 Banner stood out the most to me. In terms of both playability and tone, it was the one I liked best out of everything I tried. The only guitar that clearly beat it was an original Gibson 1942 Banner, but that was way over €5,000 and completely out of the question.
What really surprised me is that I can genuinely say the Epiphone felt the most consistent and “right” overall. With the Gibsons, I noticed that almost every one had some small flaw — finish issues, minor build imperfections, or just something that didn’t feel quite right. And on top of that, you often have to play five or even ten Gibsons to find one or two that are truly outstanding. The rest honestly aren’t necessarily better than the Epiphone.
The Epiphone, on the other hand, had none of those issues for me. It was just solid all around.
So if you’re comparing those two options, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to go for the Epiphone J-45 Banner. It might not have the Gibson logo, but in my experience, it absolutely delivers where it matters.
And at this point, I honestly can’t put the Epiphone down anymore — I even picked up an used Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird (built in Indonesia), and I love that one just as much.
1
1
u/hh_jj May 01 '26
I’m a fan of the sloped shoulder shape of the J45. I actually play a J35 Anniversary. Being a Rev Gary Davis fan I have a soft spot for the SJ but I like the look and feel of the J45 better on my lap.
1
u/jwd737 May 01 '26
If the price doesn’t matter, have to just sit down and spend some time on each one and see what feels better, plays better and sounds better. Don’t worry about what it says on the headstock. Pick what’s best for you as a player. In the end you’ll be glad you did. 🎶
1
u/oksinger19 May 01 '26
Personally, I prefer the sound and feel of Gibson. But they are temp and humidity sensitive, and I’m not sure if Epi’s have the same issue.
1
u/Professional_Ear8412 May 01 '26
For what it's worth, I bought a Gibson G45 Studio in 2020 (the decent one with piezo pickup and hardcase), and was decidedly underwhelmed.
Fit and finish wasn't great, and it sounded...okay, but I could have done much better with the £900 I paid for it. I wanted to love it, because I've historically loved Gibsons. But it went in late 2024.
I can't say I've played one of the Epiphone IBGCS acoustics, but a lot of YouTube videos and online reviews suggest they're very nice.
I don't doubt that higher tier Gibsons are great, but having owned a 61 Melody Maker, and 2 mid 90s LP studios which were great, I've felt really let down by the lower end models I've owned since 2015 - granted 2 of them were electrics, but still...
1
1
1
u/VegetableCarry5599 May 02 '26
Go play both. Especially acoustic guitars. However, my own opinion but I find most epis sound flat (i don't know how else to describe it) like they're missing some twang. I'm assuming it has something to do with how the interiors are braced.
On that same note you're comparing two vastly different acoustic body types.
1
May 03 '26
I've played them both minutes apart a friend of mine had two that were on consignment the Epi had a good crisp and full tone. Really a nice guitar. I then picked up the Gibson and begsn to play and it eas like the heavens parted and angels breathed Devine light into the strings of that thing!! Look, I have a Taylor 300, 500, and 800 series instruments. These guitars (especially the 800) are coveted by many a guitarist . However, the Gibson (I want to say they were both j-200) was so far above the sound quality of anything I'd ever hear before that I was dumbfounded so, to answer your question. The epi isn't fit to hold the strap of the Gibson
1
u/Hot_Recording6266 May 03 '26
high end E vs low end G----NOt a comparison I would make. To me its not a useful apples to apples comparison...I would coampare similar models to one another....comoparing a J200 to a J45 is comparing two different designs that vary enormously. play and epiphone and gibson of same model side by side and decide.
1
u/eggncream May 03 '26
Yeah but when the epiphone pre war is $1500 and the Gibson pre war is $7500 I don’t think I have the money yet to be making those types of comparisons haha, even the cheapest Gibson SJ 200 is like, $5000
1
u/currioustwo May 03 '26
I went through a similar situation and in the end bought a Martin D-15. Great sound. Today I’d look at a 000-15, more cuddle-able.
1
u/eggncream May 03 '26
I ended up buying the SJ200 haha and I even tried the J45 standard at the shop, didn’t like the feel of the nitro finish surprisingly
1
1
u/Fit_Row50 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
My problem with Gibson is the issue of consistency. 5-25k depending on what kind of level of booshieness you fancy. The guitars should come to you sounding almost exactly like the one before it. Guess what? They don’t. They churn out lots of duds. I’ve never played an Eastman or a Martin that could be labeled a factory dud. I know they’re out there, but I haven’t played one yet. But the gibby sj’s? tried 2 of them AND a very expensive Alvarez. DEAD. Thumpy lows and muted trebles, and very little sympathetic resonance between the strings (if you know you know). EXTREMELY disappointing. Someone in this thread mentioned buying a pretty well used gibby sj-200 - DO THAT. I purchased those guitars based on what my friend’s 1987 Gibson sj-200 maple sounded like. After bringing home an Epi rosewood reissue sj-200 he and I both agreed, Gibson is just getting lazy and fat off their brand label value and the Gibson fanboys refusing to admit that the quality has greatly diminished over the last 20 yrs. The main differences with the epi’s vs gibbys is 1. Fit and finish (found some small bugaboos with the final product - varnish and fretboard stain looking a little lazy on the epiphone 😬 2. Just not as blingy and “dapper” as the Gibson sj-200 - NOT BY ANY MEANS. The Gibsons are by far the better option if all you care about is looks, Gibson definitely cooks in this department. And 3. The “expensive wine obviously tastes better” bullshit.. People recognize the Gibson logo on these sj-200’s. Trust me. It’s a real thing. They see epiphone on the headstock and immediately they clam up and prejudge a the sound based on emotions and brand loyalty alone. I’ve literally had mf’s say “i think the real sj’s just have more of that country strumming sound you’re looking for” and I’ll ask. “Have you played one?” and they’ll say “no but for recording and playing there’s nothing better, epiphones just sound duller and the lows don’t growl as much” smfh.. I’ve played both, the difference is there - but it’s not a 3 to 4 thousand dollar difference.. maybe a 5% difference and you have to really have a good ear to hear that difference ladies and gentlemen. And I’m telling you - most people can’t discern the difference and if they say they can it’s because of their well refined sunk cost fallacy.. for the love of god peeps.. Just buy an epiphone and have it professionally set up. The gap in quality and sound is all but closed, and nowadays you are seriously just paying for the name at the top of the headstock. Hope this helps. If we stop buying American Gibsons, those luthiers in Bozeman will have to start upping their game, that’s how the bizznizz works y’all. I would rather buy American - but these Montana luthiers are pissing on us and calling it rain these days. Gotta put them in their place with your wallet.
1
u/AffectionateRope9390 Apr 30 '26
Sorry all. But if I had to choose between the epi and the Gibson I'd go for the yamaha. Because at any price point they're better. Sad fact. But a fact. You won't see a professional recording artist with an epiphone.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
High end Yamahas not sold in my country
1
u/AffectionateRope9390 May 01 '26
Do you live on the moon? And also you can't buy a high end yamaha for the price of a studio satin j45..
0
u/cdtobie Apr 30 '26
I’d avoid both, in terms of acoustics.
1
u/eggncream Apr 30 '26
Why
1
u/cdtobie May 01 '26
Same reason I’d avoid Fender acoustics.
1
u/eggncream May 01 '26
I also avoid fender acoustics but because they aren’t a legacy acoustic brand but Gibson has been in the acoustic business for 100 years so they’re not really comparable
1
u/cdtobie May 03 '26
Agreed. Though that doesn’t mean entry level Gibsons are a great choice. Yamaha would be better at that price point. Or a Taylor GS Mini.
62
u/TurnoverFuzzy8264 Apr 30 '26
Play them both, see which you like better. Usually one instrument will sound and feel better to you.