Gibson uses genuine mahogany which is more expensive and tonally rich. Genuine mahogany provides a much warmer tone that retains a lot of clarity, which is why it is such as sought after wood for luthiers. Epiphone on the other hand use cheaper kinds of mahogany such as luan and sapele.
Although both are technically types of mahogany, they are cheaper and lack the same clarity and sonic richness of genuine mahogany. Some of the cheaper Epiphone models even use alder and basswood, which are significantly less expensive and sound very different from mahogany. As well as this, the maple top on Epiphones tend to be much thinner than on Gibson Les Pauls.
This once again means that Gibson has a more nuanced and clear tone with more sustain. Gibson use very high quality hardware on their instruments. They most commonly use Gibson Deluxe tuning heads, which are considered to be very durable and hold tuning very well. These once again provide excellent tuning stability and make it easy to adjust the action of the guitar.
The tailpieces are similarly high quality, made from inert metals such as nickel and are designed to last for decades. Epiphone Les Pauls have very similar hardware, but of a lesser quality. Epiphone electronics and wiring also tends to be of a lower quality than a Gibson, with crackling pots and wiring malfunctions tending to happen after a much shorter time than with Gibsons.
However, these kind of problems are relatively rare and very easy and cheap to have repaired. That said, Epiphone hardware is still of a high quality, especially for the price. Gibson pickups tend to be burstbuckers or similar , which are some of the best pickups in the world.
Not only are they designed and built in the USA, but they are renowned for their excellent tone and responsiveness. Some Gibson humbuckers alone will cost more than an entire Epiphone Les Paul, which shows how much some guitarists love their sound.
Epiphone, on the other hand, are more mass-produced, relying on modern manufacturing techniques to ensure a more consistent product. By the nature of making an instrument by hand, you're going to naturally have more differences in the way they are finished, the profile of the neck and even how the sunburst is applied.
Next up is the differences in the materials used. For the most part, Gibson uses the highest quality hand-selected tonewoods.
This guitar features a one or two-piece mahogany back, AAA book-matched flame maple top, and the classic holly headstock veneer, with mother of pearl Gibson Logo. Epiphone uses slightly lesser quality woods, and you can find bodies made from multiple pieces.
The tops also differ and are normally made from a thinner veneer, giving the illusion of a carved top. That's not to say Epiphones are in any way inferior. It's completely standard practice for most guitars at this price point. To be honest, many players can't even tell the difference between a veneer and a full maple cap.
Okay, let's talk finish. This has to be one of the most significant differences between the two brands and the one factor that is a sure giveaway when comparing the two in a blind taste test. Gibson guitars use nitrocellulose lacquer. This is a finish they have used since the 50s and is a signature element of a Gibson guitar.
Not only does it make your guitar smell like vanilla - seriously, sniff the next Gibson you see, although best to ask permission first - it also allows your guitar to "breathe", aiding in the instrument's resonance. As a finish, it is very playable. As the lacquer is thinner, it wears over time, resulting in a very comfortable played in feel.
With that said, it can have its issues, such as reacting to rubber stands and cracking when exposed to extreme changes in temperature. As you'd expect, a finish like this doesn't come cheap, and therefore Epiphone opts for a polyurethane lacquer. This is an extremely hardwearing finish that isn't affected by the elements, like nitro and is far easier to apply to the guitar making it quicker to finish the instrument.
So, with all these differences in construction, how does this affect the tone? To be honest, that's a nearly impossible question to answer. While it's true Gibson uses handwound pickups - for the most part - and Epiphone opts for the more mass-produced option, it's just not practical to compare the two.
There are so many options on offer from both companies. Whether you are seeking the spikey tone of a P, the high output of modern humbuckers, or the retro tone of the legendary PAF, you'll find it among the offerings from both brands. The list of notable guitar legends to have dawned this single-cut beauty is about a mile long; at this point, it would be quicker to list the guitarists who haven't used a Gibson Les Paul.
Epiphone have had their fair share of iconic players over the years as well, and in recent years have added to that roster with a collection of very well-received signature Les Pauls from the likes of Trivium frontman and riff master Matt Heafy, The Spaceman Tommy Thayer of Kiss, and up and coming blues powerhouse Jared James Nichols. Many more are following suit. Both Gibson and Epiphone split their vast catalogue into two separate categories - Original and Modern - and with Epiphone switching gears in to the Inspired by Gibson collection, you can now find an Epiphone equivalent to almost every Gibson Les Paul.
For the vintage enthusiast, you'll want to look at the Original collection. This is where you'll find guitars based on the heritage instruments of the past. There are no mod-cons here, just straight up retro-inspired Les Pauls. It has become a recognized quality guitar by many and is now widely used, and that is quite understandable. The LP has a pretty thick neck and I find it harder to play. As mentioned it is much heavier than the Tele too. I love a thinner neck and even the overall feel of the Tele is better to me.
That being said the LP does have a much fuller sound and is better for many types of music. The result is a warm, bassy sound perfect for jazz guitar. When the tone is left on 10 or above 6, the sound gets too tinny and bright for a traditional jazz sound.
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