Gibson vs Epiphone Shootout - Hummingbirds & J200's

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👆 Acoustic Paradiso time again.

Mick and Pete take two of the most iconic Gibson acoustic guitars of all time and compare them to their Epiphone equivalents.

The microphones used in this video are both Neumann KM814, they are running into a Universal Audio Apollo 8p interface and into Logic Pro.

[bradchervel]

I was thinking damn that Epiphone sucks and then it hit the other mic and sounded 10 times better. Test FAIL!!

[erogeguy]

The way they talk, the way they look into each other's eyes when they play, the smiles on their faces... You can tell they're truly in love... It's beautiful...

[dominomorton]

i feel like there is too much awkward eye contact in this video

[TekkerzOOT]

One day I will have the Gibson Hummingbird, absolute beauty.

[daithespy]

That was an interesting comparison. I have been playing guitar for 48 years. As a teenager, I aspired to own a Gibson acoustic, and wanted one badly. There were no Gibsons in my local area, and I ended up buying a Guild D25, which turned out to be a much better guitar than any Gibson I've played since. I travel to the States every year, and have frequently bought guitars and brought them back to the UK, because they are much cheaper in the States than here. I always visit guitar shops in NJ and PA, and always take the opportunity to A-B Epis and Gibsons. Whether it's because the Gibsons are more frequently played in the shops, I don't know, but I have always preferred the cheaper Epiphones. They are much better set up, out of the box. They play in tune all the way up the fretboard. There is never any buzz, the action is always spot-on, and the neck is always in the sweet spot. I cannot say the same for the Gibsons, even though they cost 10 times the price. I will concede that the Gibsons have the potential to be better guitars, and will hold their value better. They are all-solid woods, and should be superior to the Epis. Out of the box, they just aren't. In the last decade, Gibson seems to have lost its way, and in my opinion, this is reflected in the lack of quality control that is apparent on the new guitars I have auditioned in the American guitar shops. I do now own a Gibson, a 1970's J-40, but I am in the process of replacing the top with Adirondack Spruce, and it is going to have Martin-type bracing, not the original, infamous, "double-X" pattern that's currently on it. My other guitars include a Martin 00028EC, a Martin 00016C GTE, two LX1Es, a Chinese Guild GAD JF-48, an original UK-made Pilgrim Mk1, and an Ibanez Artwood AC240OPN. I think I can live without a J200 or a Hummingbird. Good work though lads, please keep it up!

[RedFez]

There's not much between the J200s but the Hummingbirds are worlds apart.

[kimrunic]

The Gibson Hummingbird is a fantastic sounding guitar. That is THE acoustic sound IMO

[trollfiddler]

Both the Gibsons have warmer and fuller tones. Not a huge difference between the J200 types but the Epi Hummingbird is very tinny sounding.

[mrjimmcdaniels]

The best guitar is the one you enjoy playing and sounds good to your ear.

[ebbulk]

The Epi J200 sounds very good for the money but the Gibson Hummingbird is sonic gold!

[shadowsong]

its pretty obvious the difference. the gibsons aren't just warmer. they are more complex and subtle sounding. More balanced. The epi's are good guitars. the gibsons are great guitars. the difference is noticably more obvious with the humming bird.

[robertc]

i have Gibsons and Epiphones.. I luv the the tone that comes from both brands.. As for the silly comments below regarding eye contact-- when two players improvise, especially on acoustic guitars where both playing rhythm, eye contact is essential.

[ziggynumnums]

I have the Epi hummingbird, and I love it. It's not quite as warm as the big brother, but, man, it sounds and plays great. My best acoustic yet

[jasonriccoboni]

I know there were two different types of guitars played in this video, however I am going to comment on the difference between the J-200s, since this is the guitar that I am looking at purchasing. Without a doubt, even an individual without any musical background can hear the difference in sound between the Epiphone and Gibson. The Gibson's have a much richer sound from what I can hear in this video, and I feel that they both sound better than their counterparts...much better even. And the J-200s are not exactly 10 times as much considering that as of right now Epiphone only makes one version of the J-200 at a price point of $400(Natural Finish from Amazon), but Gibson makes a variety of J-200 style guitars ranging from Emmylou Harris' Version @ $3, 050 all the way up to the Quilt Vine Viper Blue for $6250. I guess however that the Epiphone and Gibson they are playing are priced at $400 and $4349 respectively, giving a 10-11 times as much price point. But the question for me is not which one, Epiphone or Gibson, sounds better. I would fully expect that a guitar which costs well into the thousands to sound and perform better than a guitar in the hundreds. Bigger cost equals better material and craftsmanship, and a guitar that is made in USA not Indonesia. So, If I made my living in music, and had thousands to spend on a guitar, then its not even a question...Gibson hands down all the way. Gibson has always been, and always will be a guitar that one aspires to for one reason or another. So the actual question should be, for the normal individual, do the Epiphone's sound good and are they a quality guitar for the price? From what I can hear and see in this video I believe the answer is yes. I have read if you have the Epiphone EJ-200SCE professionally set up, replace the strings, and replace both the Nut and Saddle with quality materials, you will have a guitar that sounds as well as looks great, and that will last a lifetime.

[dimesallen]

Brought a smile to my face just watching two people jamming about. Looked as if you where enjoying it!

[Melanatedaquarian]

Watched this and it helped me decide to buy the Vintage Hummingbird last year and I wanted to say thanks for making the comparison! The tone is undeniably better than an Epiphone, which don't get me wrong is pretty darn good at 10% the price, but nothing can compare to the sweet sound of a Gibson Hummingbird.

[santosx]

I've had an Epiphone Hummingbird for about 2 years now. I can't afford the $3k Gibson. I'm very happy with it, it has a very balanced tone (sounds great both plugged and unplugged), plays easy and I LOVE the neck (a nice chunky D shape). But of course the Gibson is better in every way. People get hung up on Gibson vs. Epiphone, and frankly many players are far too concerned about the name on the headstock. People see "Gibson" and make assumptions about the player, and many players are snobs about cheaper guitars.

And that's fine. To each his or her own. But it's absurd for anyone to denigrate a $300 guitar because it's magically not as good as the $3k Gibby.

[samhaskins]

Wow, what a difference, Gibson was so much fuller. The Epiphone sadly sounded like it was being listened to through a tin can. Thanks guys for illustrating the difference!

[MarlonKingShow]

The Depth and sound of the gibsons sounds amazing. I've played a Gibson J200 and can confirm the deep bass tones are lovely. Was secretly hoping the Epiphone was going to sound as good (think we all were).

[MrPinkStrat]

The Gibsons sound Twice as Good as the Epies...but not TEN TIMES as good