There are many types of Gibson pickups, and not all Gibsons use Gibson pickups. Quite a few Gibsons use SD or EMG pickups. Gibson itself is more famous for its 490, 1957, and 1959 pickups.

Several of EPI’s vintage pianos priced between 3500 and 4000 use Gibson’s original 50 series pickups. EPI’s Joe Perry signature model uses Gibson’s original 480 and 490 pickups. EPI's slash signature series uses SD's slash signature alico II pro pickups, and EPI's Tommy SG also uses Tommy signature Gibson original pickups. EPI's ZAKK series also uses EMG's HZ passive pickup. The latest Marcos Henderson also uses EMG's 81 85 active pickup set. If I remember correctly, there is an SG, priced at around 2800, which also uses EMG's 81,85 pickup set.

As a sub-brand of Gibson, EPI's Gibson, SD or EMG pickups are all original, so there will be no problems, and some high-end models cost between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan, and there is no difference between them and Gibson's. The price gap is so huge. It turns out that a foreigner made an audio-visual video on YouTube. I think if you close your eyes and listen, more than 80% of people can't guess which one is Gibson and which one is EPI. Of course, replacing the ordinary EPI with a better pickup can also greatly improve the sound quality and timbre.

Of course, there are obvious differences in the workmanship of pianos. Except for some signature or vintage EPIs, most EPIs use short tenon joints, and the wood is not as strong as Gibson's, so the richness and sustain of the sound may not be the same. There is a certain gap between them and Gibson.

Of course, Gibson also has low-end models, which can be found on the Gibson website. Some models may not be sold in China, but in Europe and the United States, the price of low-end Gibson models is even cheaper and faster than the high-end EPI models. half. Even in China, you can buy Gibsons for less than 10,000 yuan, but most of them are special series without veneers, and some even use short tenon joints.

The most classic speakers that are compatible with the Gibson LP series are the JCM series from Mashao. Of course, if you want to play metal, mesa is also a good choice.

There is also an LS. The sound will be obviously different if the EPI is replaced with a Gibson pickup. If you haven’t played it before, you can give it a try. The sound difference between the new retro series and the general EPI is very obvious. In addition, LP STD is still available and has definitely not been discontinued. You can also check the price and even order on Gibson's official website.