BB King was so enamored with his ES-335, he affectionately named it Lucille. Its colossal body and f-holes are classic. The first semi-hollow guitar, it’s a mainstay amongst a plethora of genres. ES-335: Since 1958 the ES-335 has wowed guitarists and audiences alike.

Let’s talk about three of the most popular: Gibson guitars look cool! They’ve released some true icons with looks that have stood the test of time. Yes, it’d take a big drop or bang, but it’s something worth considering. A Gibson neck, on the other hand, is more susceptible to breakage. Epiphone uses a scarf joint to connect the neck to the headstock. When a high-grade Epiphone comes up against a low-grade Gibson-there’s a debate to be had.Īnd last, we need to talk about the great headstock debate. And with Epiphone releasing a Made in USA Collection-the lines are becoming blurred. The practices at Epiphones Chinese factories are improving all the time. But, Epiphones have craftsmanship that’s one of the best at the price point. They’re built to last.Ĭheaper Epiphones won’t have the same attention to detail. Buying a Gibson is an investment because of the quality of craftsmanship. Gibson has a huge reputation for the build quality of guitars. The sheer volume of stock makes quality control more difficult.Chinese factories use mass-production techniques to produce higher quantities of stock.Yet for more budget models, to keep prices low they’ll use cheaper tonewoods all together. Although they might be the same type of wood, the species will be different, and sourcing will take place close to the factory’s location. Mahogany and maple being a case in point. Epiphone uses similar tonewoods to Gibson.So, because they build Epiphone guitars in China. You can expect strict human quality control at the end too. Sanding, installing the pickups, and many more processes along the production line are all done by hand. The skilled workforce at Gibson handcraft guitars with accuracy. The sophisticated machinery in the Nashville factory ensures woodcutting is consistent.Then, the woods go through careful drying techniques to ensure the wood is durable. Gibson only uses the finest tonewoods to create their instruments.So what makes Gibson build quality the envy of the guitar world? Here are some contributing factors that make their guitars so special: True to form, as Gibsons are American-built you can anticipate premium craftsmanship. In general, American guitars sit at the top of the pile. Guitar build quality and the country of manufacture go hand in hand. What are the standout differences? Let’s look at important things to consider. So now you have a bit of background information on each brand.

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