Epiphone Joe Bonamassa '63 SG Custom 🎸 Deep Dive Review 🎸 Is it Really Worth £1500?

Not even the high price of owning an Epiphone 'Artiste' signature guitar these days could put me off getting the new JB '63 SG Custom. It's a lovely thing but is it really worth the premium paid above the standard 'inspired by Gibson' range? Join us for a deep dive and let's find out! 🎸

Time stamps:

00:00 coming up this week
01:19 of course I got one!
03:49 holding a really expensive Epiphone
06:10 the case & the COA
06:57 it's a lovely thing
08:35 it's going to be a sellout
10:20 some specs etc
10:57 neck profile & measurements
11:30 tuners & hardware
15:38 what does it weigh?
16:04 out of the box setup
17:37 fingerboard & frets
19:44 let's look at the horns
21:48 my criticism is all about the price
22:59 pickup readings & settings
25:25 under the hood
28:42 some wonky screws
29:37 this is what it sounds like unplugged
30:02 the Princeton blew up
31:34 so today's rig is...
33:39 this is what it sounds like plugged in
36:32 let's play something
38:15 everyone's copying Joe
40:10 how do they justify these prices?
42:45 so is it worth £1500?
46:17 why I feel strongly about this
49:40 I love it anyway
51:47 play out jam

Signal Chain Info:
TC Polytune
Boss DD3 / Boss RC5 Looper
Amps: Marshall Studio 2525H & AVT 112
Mics AKG C414 & SM57
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 into Protools

I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Some things I do know and some things I don't know but think I know and sometimes I say things that are not entirely correct. Once I have said things it's too late to correct them so please check any 'so called facts' with an adult, google, wikipedia, or someone else that knows.

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#epiphone #sgcustom #guitaraddict #theguitaristas #guitarist #guitarporn #joebonamassa

[pieve]

"It's a lovely thing until you think of its cost" . Perfect. Colin, just love your channel.

[davidharding]

Thanks Colin. This is a really valuable review because there is a development in the Epiphone and affordable guitar space. This transition beyond affordable. I’m a big Epi fan and (in part thanks to you Colin) I’ve bought more than 10 in the past 3 yrs. But the prices are escalating out of this world with this and some other models. I think they’re testing the market to see how much they can just lift the price on all Epiphone models over time.

[jefft]

Independent reviews like yours are invaluable in those days of paid promotion. Thanks a lot! And yes this model is obviously overpriced.

[chasbee]

Told you some months ago I had the Gibson itch. Finally scratched it a while back and bought a '61 SG with side trem brand new for a similar price - which is lower than average retail, I grant you. I saw it as a great deal and am thrilled with it in every way! Point is, I was happy to get the Gibson for such a price and it feels great every time I play it. Had I payed that for the Epiphone, I would just be angry every time I looked at it!

[pinkiewerewolf]

Colin, at around the 48 minute mark I think you hit the nail on the head. I agree that Epiphone began receiving accolades on their guitars and now believe that they can justify the higher prices.
I also agree that if someone is a Joe Bonamassa fan the price isn't going to stop them from acquiring this guitar. It sounds marvelous in your hands and through the Marshall Jubilee, which would be another justification for buying the guitar. We're all chasing those tones in our heads.

I'm loving "Chip" the Les Paul Jr through the 68' Twin Reverb. Being my first upscale (for me) tube amp I decided to keep the guitar simple until I get things dialed in.
Last week I donated my Squire Jaguar back to the shop I bought it from. They were tickled and gave me a load of pasta and candy. Just wouldn't let me leave the shop without something. Crazy guys.

[chicagoblues]

Agree with you whole heartedly. It' a nice guitar but they are price gouging you at that price. I bought a new Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 which has a hard case, AAA flame maple veneer, graph tech nut, grover locking tuners and push pull volume which actually sound fairly decent and a out of phase tone pull. These are going for $899 US dollars and feel it's a decent price point.

[GaryKatz]

My used SG Special, waaay back in '64, was my first gigging guitar 🎸. I paid $125 for it. Amazing axe. This Epi is non-amazing, except for the absurd pricing. This greedy move seems like the beginning of a disturbing trend. I wonder how and why Bonamassa signed off on this one. Good assessment, Colin. 😮Gary

[OliverAmberg]

I'm probably sounding like an old record but... for this price I would love to see a nitro finish and no crooked screws. The look (besides the headstock) is great and the sound is sweet. Thanks for the review Colin!

[aaronhiggs]

This guitar is a $999 USD guitar, MAX. Its beautiful, but not worth the price. Ib think epiphone needs to be humbled on price again. At that price you can get a great gibson used and have a few dollars in your pocket for a beer and lunch. Cheers Colin! Great vid yet again. Thank you for bringing a voice of the blue collar player!

[victorbeebe]

The other Joe Bonamasa Epiphone I bought were under $1, 000. Once they started going over $1, 000, I stayed away. I kind of wanted a 335

[toxictwinzz]

Most honest man reviewing guitars. Cheers from the states.

[Yannplaysguitar]

I really wonder if the fact that Cesar Gueikian became CEO instead of James Curleigh is not a key cause of the price increases. I think curleigh's strategy was to make Gibson guitars available to the larger number by making all the classic models affordable with the original series. I loves the fact that they did that and I believe many of us started liking Gibson again because of this. Epiphone was for lower budgets but with great products. Gibson original collections was for "middle class" people and the custom shop for the rich ones. This all made a lot of sense to me. Each one of us had the possibility to have their classic dream Gibson models one way or another. It feels to me now that we are a bit returning in the Henry Juszkiewicz era with out of reach (weird) standard models with QC flaws, outrageously expensive artist models (that I am not sure anyone really wants for that kind of money) and the fact that they are making Epiphone the equivalent in price of Gibson guitars from 2019 to 2021 is plain crazy to me. I do not think that Gibson will be very popular over the next years with the trajectory they take.

[Remsterdam]

Great review again! I think the Epi versions of the 59 LP and the 61 SG were great value and contained substantial upgrades. But this price jump on every signature model without those upgrades are milking the customer, no matter if it’s Joe or Slash or Noel or Adam or Greeny. I chose Gibson for the LP and SG Juniors and Tributes and chose Epiphone for the LP and SG Special P90s, the 59/61 Standards and the Customs and all recent reviews just confirm me that i can be satisfied with those choices.

[paulallas]

$1500 for this Epi is a crock. I got the white LTD version 15 years ago and ripped out the crappy bridge and electrics. Replaced with Gibson BB Pro pups, CTS 500K pots, straplocks and a beautiful roller tunamatic. All up, with mods, still cost way less than $1500, not British Pounds Sterling. It still rocks and sounds as good, if not better than my Gibby '61 SG Maestro.

[garycordwell]

Totally agree about the pricing Colin, not too sure what Epiphone are up to. I've got an Epi 61 SG, £699 and it has Gibson Burstbuckers. Also a Gibson SG Special, purchased this year for considerable less than this Epi. I was looking forward to the Epiphone version of the Greeny but I dread to think how much it'll cost.

[hellodrjeckyl]

Thanks for not being a shill and giving an honest review. This is a f'n cool guitar at an unreasonable price. At the begin opening when you said, well it's a really expensive Epiphone, that summed it up perfectly.

[davidstephens]

Great review! I’m on the fence but I already own several JB models and they are all really great guitars. Highly recommend the ES-335 model from last year. All premium parts and really sounds like a proper 335. Part of the price increase can be explained because of worldwide inflation. Everything costs so much more now and manufacturing in China is not as cheap as it used to be. Several companies are exploring more manufacturing in Vietnam and Indonesia to keep the costs down. Thanks Colin!

[chiefkikyerass]

Bro..I religiously follow 30 youtube guitar channels...and You sir..have become my go to favorite...Your taste in playing style matches mine..and your gear reviews are thr best..Thanks Professor..no BS reviews

[allanmcdonald]

I've paid this sort of money for the Japanese made Epiphones (80's Matsumoku or Elite Sheratons / Rivieras). Amazing guitars.

[robertparks]

Bought my first SG today and I honestly believe it's the guitar I was born to play. I love it. Thanks for all the myth busting about them. What an amazing guitar.