5 Best Epiphone Guitars

Epiphone Guitars Buyer’s Guide

Things to consider when buying:

• Consider the tonewoods: Despite being cheaper alternatives to full-priced Gibson models, Epiphone guitars are often constructed using high-quality materials. If you want a resonant tone, look for a guitar with a mahogany body. Ebony fingerboards will increase your sustain, while Indian laurel promotes fast, technical playing. 
• Think about P-90 pickups: The classic Gibson tone, which is largely based on the early Les Paul, is a result of P-90 pickups. Some Epiphone guitars use modern P-90s to provide the articulation of single-coils, with a thicker tone. 
• Consider the body type: Epiphone guitars range from solidbody classics like the SG or the Les Paul to hollowbody axes like the 335. You’ll need to decide which of these body styles best suits your unique way of playing guitar.  
• Decide which neck profile you need: The neck profile of an electric guitar is often overlooked, but this is an important aspect. Thin “C” profile necks are easier to wrap your hand around than thicker “D” profile necks, and these two types are commonly used for Epiphone guitars. 

Epiphone Guitars – Overview

Epiphone is one of the longest-standing instrument manufacturers still in business today. The company was acquired by Gibson in 1957 and has historically been used as an outlet for affordable Gibson guitars, much like the relationship between Fender and Squier. 

There are three different categories that Epiphone guitars fall into. First of all, you have the budget copies of high-end Gibson models, like the Les Paul or SG. Then there are Epiphone guitars that are very similar to Gibson models but are released with different names. 

The final category of Epiphone guitars is those that are exclusive to the brand, like the Sheraton, Casino, or Riviera. 

Tonewoods & Build Quality

One of the things that separate Epiphone from the majority of affordable guitar manufacturers, in my opinion, is its commitment to using high-quality tonewoods and materials. 

It’s common for budget guitar brands to compromise on build quality to keep costs to a minimum, but many of Epiphone’s guitars share the same tonewood combinations as the full-priced Gibson models like the Epiphone SG Modern.

Mahogany is a staple wood used for many Epiphone guitar bodies, even on some of the most affordable models. This tonewood is great for increasing the resonance and warmth of Epiphone electric guitars. 

Maple is commonly used by Epiphone for the guitar necks, and the fingerboards are often made from high-quality alternatives to rosewood, such as pau ferro, Indian laurel, or ebony. 

Another thing that impresses me about Epiphone guitars is their overall build quality, especially on models like the 335, ‘59 Les Paul, or SG copies. 

Although these guitars don’t have the same expensive hardware and components that you’d find on high-end Gibson offerings, they’re still built to last, and they look like they should cost significantly more than they do!

Epiphone’s Pickups

The majority of the Epiphone electric guitars featured in this guide use pickups that are based on the ones used in the original Gibson models. Epiphone, like Gibson, manufactures a wide range of pickups.

You may have noticed that the P-90 pickups are featured heavily on these Epiphone guitars. This is because many people associate the Gibson tone with these pickups, and ultimately a lot of Epiphone’s fan base comes from the affiliation with Gibson. 

Generally speaking, the more expensive the Epiphone guitar is, the better quality pickups it will have installed on it. Some of the high-end Epiphone axes have Gibson-designed pickups installed, such as the limited-edition Les Paul copies.

The Epiphone BurstBucker pickups are commonly used humbucking pickups, while many of the guitars have soap bar-style P90s, which provide the single-coil definition with the thickness of a humbucker. 

Choosing The Right Model for Your Playing Style

When considering which Epiphone guitar is best suited to your needs, it’s highly important to consider the bigger picture rather than focusing just on one aspect. 

When I first started as a guitarist, I often fell into the trap of being drawn in by the way an instrument looked, rather than considering the way it felt when I played it, or its tonal qualities. 

Indeed, aesthetics is an important aspect that should be taken into consideration when making your decision, but no matter how good the Epiphone guitar looks, if its physical and sonic qualities don’t match your playing style, you’ll be left frustrated. 

If you’re a lead guitarist who likes to play fast, it may be a good idea to choose a solid-body Epiphone guitar that has a thin neck profile and single-coil pickups such as the Epiphone Casino Archtop Hollowbody Electric Guitar and Epiphone Les Paul Special Electric Guitar.

Alternatively, if you predominantly play chords and rhythm guitar, and you need a more resonant, chunky tone, you should probably opt for a hollowbody instrument with humbucking pickups installed. 

Amps, Pedals & Epiphone Guitar Combinations

Whenever you purchase a new guitar, whether it is made by Epiphone, Fender, or a local guitar maker, it’s incredibly important to consider how it will interact with the existing gear in your rig. 

The pickups installed on an electric guitar will create a different sound when combined with your amplifier and pedals, as will the tonewoods used to construct it, and the other components like the bridge. 

Conclusion

Although Epiphone is often in the shadow of Gibson, this manufacturer produces some excellent guitars, as we’ve evidenced in this guide. If you choose one as your next axe, you won’t be disappointed by the tone and playability they offer.