Epiphone Masterbilt Hummingbird VS Gibson Hummingbird

Rabs · March 2021

chrisj1602 · March 2021

I’ve got the Epiphone Masterbilt “Inspired by Gibson” J45, it’s a really nice guitar, I’m well impressed.

BGG · March 2021

chrisj1602 said:

I’ve got the Epiphone Masterbilt “Inspired by Gibson” J45, it’s a really nice guitar, I’m well impressed.

I’ve been tempted for one of those myself. I realise it’s nowhere near the sound of a J45 but they seem to be great value and sounding.

chrisj1602 · March 2021

BGG said:

chrisj1602 said:

I’ve got the Epiphone Masterbilt “Inspired by Gibson” J45, it’s a really nice guitar, I’m well impressed.

I’ve been tempted for one of those myself. I realise it’s nowhere near the sound of a J45 but they seem to be great value and sounding.

It might not sound exactly like a Gibson but it’s in the ball park, it’s the same solid woods and construction.

Snags · March 2021

My problem with all these kinds of things (and it is my problem) is that I can never get away from the fact that the lower-cost brand version is, at the end of the day, not the "real thing". Especially with acoustics where you can hear it in the depth and warmth of the sound.

So if I wanted to get in the ballpark, I'd always be more inclined to get something that sounds good and is "kinda right" (and the Epiphone does) but was another brand and not obviously trying to ape a more expensive option. Something that would stand on its own merits without constantly needing a direct comparison that it's never going to win, once you take the value for money aspect away. Which almost certainly says a lot about my psychology and capitulation to brand, marketing and snobbishness, but ... it's a thing.

Bizarrely I don't have the same issue with Fender and Squier when it comes to electrics; almost to the reverse, where I can't see the point in dropping the money on a Fender because a Squier is more than good enough. So maybe it's just down to acoustics, and liking really nice sounding acoustics but not having the funds to buy lots of them

chrisj1602 · March 2021

I’ve never played a Gibson J45 so maybe that’s why I’m so happy with my Epiphone!

This is mine, thought the photo is from the Peach website...

Snags · March 2021

A mate has an Epi hummingbird (I think) and it's really nice. It's purely a psychological tick for me that runs "This is really nice, but it's not the thing it's trying to make you think it is". It's weird. If it was just an acoustic made by Epiphone that didn't stylistically nod at a big brother, I'd take it at face value.

Like I said, it's my problem

sev112 · March 2021

I’ve got an Epiphone EJ200CE.
Blimey is it a good guitar. For finger picking it is like a piano, which is the sound I love from an acoustic, and then if you strum it hard with a plectrum it really really vibrates and sounds.

New something like £370. Very good value imho

If I ever decide to move up I’d certainly look at the masterbilt ones.

Chuffola · March 2021

I have the older Epiphone Masterbilt AJ45 - a fine guitar too. Might not sound exactly like a J45 but it’s a great sound either way. Great build quality too. I love it, even with Epiphone on the headstock

pmg · March 2021

My mate has an epi hummingbird. It’s sounds nice for the price point but nowhere near my hummingbird

Creed_Clicks · March 2021

A Gibson hummingbird was one of the nicest guitars I have played. The neck especially was very comfortable

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Epiphone Masterbilt Hummingbird VS Gibson Hummingbird

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