There are a few electric guitar shapes that are unquestionably benchmarks for describing body style. Obvious examples are the 'Les Paul' and 'SG' (Gibson), and the 'Stratocaster' and 'Telecaster' (Fender).

 

So successful have these body styles proved that they have spawned entire industries dedicated to manufacturing copies and clones, indeed Gibson and Fender themselves have got into the act and produce excellent copies of their own guitars under the brand names of Epiphone and Squier!

 

But do these copy guitars match up to their (invariably more expensive) big brothers?

 

I decided to put it to the test by pitting my very own Gibson SG Special against an equivalent Epiphone guitar, the G-310.

 

But before I go any further I should like to point out by way of an apology that I am a guitar owner and player with no knowledge of the technical detail much loved by nerds (anyone interested in knowing the precise width of the neck can find a wealth of this type of information in the manufactures sales catalogues).

 

So lets begin by looking at the all important price tag! Here we find the Epiphone costs about 1/3 of the Gibson for what looks like a comparable instrument. Indeed both guitars sport a pair of open humbuckers so on close inspection the biggest visual difference is that the Epiphone has a bolt on neck. But does this affect its playablity? 

Generations of Fender players would say it doesn't (most Fenders are fitted with a bolt on neck). Maybe the glued-in verses bolted-on neck argument can only be resolved by plugging the two guitars in and assessing if this affects the tone!

 

First up to the half-stack is the Gibson SG Special, no affects (bar a touch of reverb), amp volume low, almost no overdrive and tone set to mid. Guitar Volume and tone all on full. This is about as good a clean a sound as you can for any money and it improves with the volume rolled-off a little.

 

Next up is the Epiphone G-310 and I immediately notice it is lighter in weight, but will it prove a lightweight all round? Not so! Same amp and guitar settings and (for my money) it sounds just as good. It does have a slightly different 'voice' (maybe the pickups aren't as bright?) ,but I like it none the less.

 

End of round one and both guitars have come out fighting. The real 'proof of the pudding' of course is to crank the amp-up, add gain and give it some full on Angus Young.

 

Round two, and I'll start with the Gibson SG Special again. A few bars into 'whole lotta Rosie' and I know that Angus would approve, even fewer bars into the solo and I'm almost wetting my own school shorts!

 

Next up is the Epiphone G-310 again, hopefully for a bit of the same. However, this guitar starts howling like a banshee at this volume due to feedback! Having rolled off the volume - and adjusted the gain - I do manage to get a pleasing overall sound, but I have to admit the chords were not as crisp and the notes in the solo lacked clarity.