"Opting for the ever-popular 60s SlimTaper neck profile, this guitar is a dream to play": Epiphone SG Standard review

This devilishly pointy six-string may live in the shadow of its overachieving, flame-topped big brother, but the humble SG has actually been responsible for some of the most iconic electric guitar sounds in rock'n'roll history. And while you may not think it, this Solid Guitar is actually Gibson's most popular model, and by quite some margin, we might add – take that, Les Paul!

Famed for its lightweight construction, near-perfect fret access, and charming good looks, the SG brings a unique level of playability to the table, along with its own sonic identity, especially compared to its single-cut brethren.

Now, while a Gibson SG isn't the most expensive USA-made guitar on the market, it will still easily set you back four figures these days, putting it out of reach for many. So, if you fancy following in the footsteps of AC/DC axe-man and the world's oldest school pupil, Angus Young, the Godfather of modern metal, Tony Iommi, or contemporary blues icon Gary Clark Jr., but don't want to spend a fortune, this Epiphone guitar is for you.

This model comes in three finishes: Cherry, Ebony, and an exclusive Pelham Blue available only directly from Epiphone. As you’d expect, it follows the standard SG formula with a mahogany body, mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard.

The neck, with its SlimTaper C profile and 12” radius fretboard, is equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid trapezoid inlays. Up top, it has Grover Rotomatic tuners and a Graph Tech nut and at the other end, an adjustable Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge.

Okay, so there’s not a lot going on with this guitar, but a good SG is a simple beast, and all told, it’s probably just the right amount of guitar for its rather modest $599 price tag. But how does it hold up in practice? Well, let’s find out.

Specifications

• Price: $599/£499/€589
• Made: China
• Type: Six-string electric guitar
• Body: SG
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard material/radius: Rosewood, 12” radius
• Scale length: 24.75”/628mm
• Nut: Graphtech
• Frets: 22
• Hardware: Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic, vintage-style tuners
• Electrics: Epiphone ProBucker 3
• Weight: 6.3lb
• Options: N/A
• Left-handed options: Yes
• Finishes: Cherry, Ebony, Pelham Blue
• Case: None
• Contact: Epiphone

Build

Build rating: ★★★★★

While this SG comes in three color options, I'm not disappointed to see the classic Cherry option here. Truth be told, I’ve always loved the SG. I own two Gibson SGs, and this is the color, in my opinion. I just think that the sleek crimson hue and high-gloss finish complement the SG's beveled edges and countless contours nicely, and this Epiphone is no exception.

Completing the look are the famous "bat-wing pickguard", trapezoid inlays, vintage-style Epiphone deluxe tuners, and of course, the revised Epiphone headstock. Together, these elements make a gorgeous-looking guitar that is more than the sum of its parts.

Okay, so while this finish may not be nitrocellulose like its big brother, it still has a rather impressive shine, giving this budget-friendly instrument an expensive look. It has been well applied too. There are no nicks or dings to speak of, and all the edges look clean and precise.

I’m happy to report the machine heads feel robust and turn smoothly, and the guitar holds its tuning well. The nut slots are well cut, and the overall fit and finish is excellent. Not much to complain about at all.

This is a well-made and tidily built guitar for not a lot of cash – what more do you need?

Playability

Playability rating: ★★★★½

That brings me to playability. Opting for the ever-popular 60s SlimTaper neck profile, this guitar is a dream to play. The neck is thin, although perhaps some may find it a little wider than the name suggests. For me, it's the perfect balance, not too thin and not too narrow. As an avid Gibson collector, it’s my home base. Now, while it feels nothing like my SG Standard, it's a dead ringer for my Gibson '61 Special reissue, and that’s genuinely pretty impressive, considering the massive price difference.

My review example came ready to go straight out of the box. It was well set up with a low-to-medium action, measuring around 1.50mm on the low E, and, more importantly, zero fret issues. I’ve been critical of Epiphone in the past for its lack of attention to detail in fretwork, but I had no issues with this model.

The frets were properly seated, dressed, and well polished. The result is a guitar that is intensely playable and lightweight too!

If I had one gripe, it's that the model is slightly neck-heavy. This is a common complaint for almost all SG-style guitars, and this one isn't the worst I've seen, but it is worth mentioning.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★

Okay, so we've established that this Epiphone SG Standard delivers on looks and playability, but that's only part of the equation – how does it sound? Loaded with Epiphone ProBucker 3 humbuckers and CTS pots, this guitar delivers all the filthy mid-range you demand from an SG. The low end is tight and controlled, making this Epiphone sound pretty well balanced and focused.

For testing, and for the demo video below, I’m plugging into the fabulous Neural DSP Quad Cortex amp modeler. For the clean sounds, I used our favorite US DLX Normal setting paired with a 112 US DLX SC64 cabinet model and a touch of room reverb for some depth. For the dirty sounds, I kept the same US DLX model, but paired it with a Tube Screamer-style overdrive up front.

The pickups do lack a little of the high-end sparkle you'd normally expect on an SG-style guitar. I’m not saying this guitar sounds overly dark or muddy, mind you, just that we can't help but notice the lack of high-frequency sheen found on a set of Gibson 57 Classics or the 498T, for example. This becomes especially apparent when I compare it to my own Gibson SG Standard.

Admittedly, this is a minor qualm, and a slight adjustment of the presence control on your amplifier would quickly fix it. To be fair, this Epiphone is well under half the price of a Gibson, so it's impressive that it gets this close to the USA model for a fraction of the cost.

Overall, this guitar delivers on tone for its price, sounding equally good playing meaty, down-tuned riffage as it does soft, delicate clean parts, and everything in between.

Verdict

The SG is an icon of rock guitar for a reason. Not only is it highly playable and fantastic-sounding – it's drop-dead gorgeous. While this wallet-friendly version may miss the high-end sheen of its big brother, Epiphone proves you don't need to spend big money to get a big sound!

It’s a given that at this price, it's a great beginner electric guitar, but you only need to play it to see it's far more than that.

This guitar is beautifully finished, expertly crafted, and a must-have for players looking for an SG on a budget. On that note, if anyone needs me, I'll be fumbling my way through the entirety of Back In Black.

Also try

Gibson SG Standard '61
$1,999 | £1,699 | €1,899

Coming from Gibson's aptly named Original Collection, the SG Standard '61 comes in a few slight variations. Now, while you have the choice of either the Maestro Vibrola or Sideways Vibrola, I've decided to showcase the Tune-O-Matic version, as I believe it will appeal to the vast majority of players.

Read more: Gibson SG Standard ’61 review

Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom '64 SG
$1,299 | £999 | €1,150

This is a premium Epiphone that, thanks to the open book headstock, is as close as you'll be able to get to a genuine Gibson SG for a small portion of the price. Not only that, it’s styled after one of the most desirable SGs of them all, with a Maestro Vibrola and a half-sized 61-style pickguard to boot.

Epiphone Futura SG Custom
$849 | £699 | €790

Looking for something a little more modern? Well, this is the SG for you. With a color-shifting finish, all-new pickups, and versatile electronic features like coil splitting and phase switching, this is a contemporary take on the SG.

Hands-on demos

Guitar World

Dagan Wilkin

The 2026 Epiphone SG Standard! - The Coolest Guitar Under £500! - YouTube

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