Gibson Guitars- Are They That Different?

In today's video, Paul Drew from The Studio Rats is seeing if Gibson guitars actually are that different.
Each of these guitars a Gibson 335, a Gibson Les Paul and a Gibson SG are very different on the outside but how different do they actually sound. I go through the complete specs of these guitars and and play examples on each guitar to see how different they really are.

Link to Thomann range of Gibson Europe

Link to Sweetwater

The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[dutchguitarist]

Just tell your wife they are very different.

[chiricm]

I’ve got all three too. Playing alone, sometimes the SG is too thin and bitey. But in a band mix, it’s magical. Cuts like a knife.

[yotamyoffe]

This is why when I buy a guitar/test a guitar I only play clean. You can't hear much difference with humbucker in distortion. With a few eq you can get to same Sound. Clean is something else. But not only the sound is what differentiates guitars, but also the feeling, the hardware, the logo, etc., etc

[BarnyardNewton]

Played totally clean you can hear the difference. As soon as you add distortion the differences are masked. You’ve got the overdrive on throughout in this comparison video. I get it…. You’re a rock guy.

[raytorvalds]

Great demonstration. They sounded fairly similar through Youtube, but I could still detect some differences.
I think I liked the 335 the best, but all in all, can't go wrong with any of them. They all sounded great.

[kennyblackbird]

Man that Vibrola vibrato is the best!! I slapped a short trem version onto my Epiphone Lucille.

[rfpho]

You can still hear the difference over YouTube! Highlights a bit why I always want a Les Paul but find them a bit muffled - prefer the 335 sound.

[KRAZEEIZATION]

They all sound fantastic here.

Just bought a new SG Standard in teal green. It looks, feels and sounds fantastic. I’ve a 2010 LP Studio and a 2023 LP junior. I love them all.

[steveo]

They all sound and look awesome. The thing with a 335 is if you play notes quietly the note blooms.its a thing of beauty!. You don't get that with a Les Paul or an SG. The lp sounds more chunky than the sg. Great video especially since they have the same pickups

[caster]

I have all 3 but prefer the 335 overall. So versatile. I haven’t found a situation it hasn’t been suitable for live. Took my SG into the studio recently and now I’m hooked on that all over again. Clean, with both pickups selected, it’s unbeatable. Great video and massive congrats on no stupid guitar faces while playing.

[WithCarePlz]

If you play with heavy distortion or digital they all sound the same lol. If you play them into a small/medium tube amp clean or at edge of breakup- that’s when the differences come out.
Also when you put a slightly microphonic pickup in all of them that’s also when differences come out.
But when you’re playing with a super distorted tone they all sound like a super distorted tone.
Also- it’s worth noting that I am an improviser and all 3 guitars lead my playing in different directions. An SG makes me get a bit more shreddy. A les paul will generally make me more dramatic, and a 335 will make me play more vocally.
I will agree you are 100% right about the strat player needing an SG. It’s like a lighter thinner more premium feeling strat. If strat guys struggled to get the feel for gibsons in the past- try an SG and make yourself play one for a week and then you’ll bond with an SG more than you thought possible.
The ‘different’ Gibson is a reverse neck-thru Firebird. It sounds like a strat and tele combined but with an extra testicle. And if you’re tall enough to reach the first fret on a Firebird comfortably- nothing else feels like a 🐦‍🔥

[Johnjingleheimerschmidtt]

What’s the difference? The SG is feather light, has a thin neck (almost certainly), and it sounds super thin playing acoustically on your couch. You get GREAT access to the upper frets.

The LP is the heaviest of the 3, it sounds pretty rich acoustically and the neck is potentially thicker.

The 335 sounds amazing acoustically on your couch and typically has a nice wide fretboard.

Differences in guitars don’t always boil down to recorded sound. Other aspects are vital to people to do this with love on a daily basis. 🤘

[billbob]

I mean it does kinda make sense, at least between the Les Paul and SG. The SG was designed to BE a Les Paul and was sold as one for a short bit. I believe the original body-style was also discontinued at the same time. It makes sense it should sound basically the same.

Also, a benefit of the SG trem is the SG was originally balanced with one. Many SGs suffer from neck dive without it. This can be fixed by using lighter/plastic tuning knobs. You can also add some weight to the bottom end by adding some weights to the electronics cavity or buying some stainless Volume/Tone Knobs off Etsy.

[stevep]

Great video thanks. I'm a long-term Tele player, but always liked to have an alternative sound to the Tele for some material I have played over the years. I've used various SGs (prefer P90s), a few 335s and a few Les Pauls. Recently bought a lovely Les Paul Standard for a good price second-hand, and it plays nicely, but would have got another 335 had I the extra $$. 😀

[mrcarloselche]

I love the CB’s . They sound great on all three models

[schaerfentiefe]

I would say the differences in tone in these demonstrations would be more pronounced with *less distortion* or even with a sound at the edge of breakup.

[imantisocial]

the sg being thinner really only applies to the clean stuff.
I think generally SG are a bit "faster" than the other two, in terms of attack, once you get the gain going though.

[KelsterVonShredster]

I love all three, owned all three. But when I pick up my Les Paul it always reminds me who is really the boss lol.

[MuseumsBloke]

They all sound great through your rig and via YT, so the question probably comes down to feel and looks … So, Paul … any chance of a loan of all three so I can make my own comparisons 😁😁😁

[vriendelijkegroet]

The SG trem is a must have!, especially the Sideways. Not only it looks good, but it put just enough weight to counter neck dive. I always hated the looks of the SG, but I think its the Gibson for the 'F' player, it is a turbo Tele.