Mod an Epiphone or Buy A Gibson Les paul for metal?
Gibson vs. Epiphone, a tale as old as time! Or at least this article takes it a bit of a different direction. I won’t be comparing the stock Probuckers; instead I’ll be using a fresh set of Seymour Duncans in my Les Paul Custom!
In addition to this, I’ll also be walking through if it’s worth it to buy a cheaper Epiphone guitar to mod to your hearts content, OR buy spend the extra money for the iconic Gibson name and heritage. Watch the video below for a sound comparison.
The Epiphone:
I’ve always LOVED the look of Les Paul Customs, but haven’t been the biggest fan of the Gibson 490/498 series pickups. Due to this, I’ve never been able to justify the, frankly absurd, sped of the real Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Enter the Epiphone “Inspired By Gibson” line in 2020. This upgraded many aspects of the existing Epiphone guitar line for still a significantly lower price than the actual Gibson model.
Note that the model I’m using is the kalamazoo headstock version, and NOT the one with the Gibson open-book. To me, it wasn't worth the extra price. It would also, once again, pair me with the Gibson 490/498 series pickups that I’m lukewarm on. This gave me the extra room in the budget to treat myself to a Seymour Duncan Nazgul & Sentient set!
Why mod:
This is where the article gets very subjective, because it comes down to three things.
What’s the sound you’re going for?
Does Gibson currently carry what you want? (Used market can get a little nuts)
How much are you willing to spend?
For me, I wanted a pickup that was going to be extremely tight and articulate, but wanted to retain the historic charm of the Les Paul Custom. This made the Epiphone an absolute no-brainer in my book.
Why Buy A Gibson:
In my opinion, there’s a few good reason’s to buy a Gibsons that the Epiphone will never give you:
Correct Gibson neck profile (Epiphone is more of a modern wide C to D shape)
Gibson pickups included in the build
Nitro over a poly finish
Re-sale value of the Gibson name on the headstock
Conclusion:
Overall, Epiphone guitars are built very well, and the “higher-end” models include significantly better components than in the past. If you’re someone like me, that wants the vintage vibe and has a specific pickup in-mind; then Epiphone won’t steer you wrong.
However, if you’re looking specifically for an authentic Gibson experience (neck profile, pickups, heritage, re-sale value, etc.)… Then the Epiphone might not fully fulfill what you’re looking for.
It ultimately depends on the vibe and the sound you’re looking for! I’d say to go visit a local guitar store, or a Guitar Center to see how both feel to you. Then price out your mods if you go that direction. 🙂
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