Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Review

Great Guitar and Great Service

As always, big thanks to my sales engineer, Riley Koenemann, he is great to work with and provides great service! The guitar arrived sooner than expected and was very well packed. Thank you, Riley! I've had this for a few months. It's my second Epiphone/Gibson Custom Shop guitar collaboration. I have the '59 Les Paul, which I love, and I enjoy this one just as much. I hope there… read more are more collaboration models to come. Overall, the guitar feels like a definite step up from the Epiphone SG Standard '61. The neck feels a little more rounded and C-shape, which I like, whereas the SG Standard '61 feels D-shape to me. The pickups sound fantastic! They're what probably really make this guitar truly special. It's light and well balanced, not terribly neck-heavy. I really like the 'aged' finish; feels great on the neck. The tuners feel and look like high quality, and I haven't had any tuning issues to this point. The case feels solid and looks nice. Two side notes: 1) It'd be cool if there was a COA like Epiphone does with some of their artist signature models; and 2) It'd be awesome if Sweetwater did an exclusive color. In my research of this guitar and the Epi '59 Les Paul, I often find debate whether to spend a few hundred dollars more and buy the Gibson Tribute version. Or, a used one for possibly a similar price. Unfortunately, I can't give my opinion on that because I've never played a Gibson Tribute Les Paul or SG. I can offer this: I happened to buy a Gibson Mod Shop SG Standard '61 the same week my Epiphone arrived. It has the same neck pickup and a '57 in the bridge (it's the bright yellow one in the Mod Shop history). I can say without hyperbole the guitars are on par with each other. Don't get me wrong, the Gibson is an awesome guitar, but unless you really love Gibson branding or want something more collectible, the Gibson is not worth the extra $. Bottom line – this Epiphone SG is awesome! I am restraining myself from buying the cherry finish one, too.

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Nice guitar

I own this great guitar. Have nothing bad to say about it. It is an American SG assembled it CHINA, or close. The white looks great with the black headstock and pick guard and it sounds nasty. A good deal! Nice case too.

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Great addition

This is a great SG. The quality of build is certainly a step up from less pricey Epiphones and has Gibson pickups and controls. The case is a nice addition as well, seems sturdy and a touch nicer than the standard Epiphone hard shell case. For the extra $ over buying the Epiphone standard and hard shell case it is worth every penny. Sounds great. The setup was good, didn't have… read more to adjust intonation or bridge height. The aged gloss feel is very smooth and easy to slide up and down the neck. Good buy for sure! Pickup sounds are nice and clean up well rolled back but cranked up are very hot!

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