“It’s built for powerchords that snarl and growl”: Epiphone Yungblud SG Junior review

Yungblud’s new Epiphone SG Junior signature guitar is based on the 1964 Gibson original he’s taken with him across the globe, and was created to give younger players access to classic looks and sounds.

It’s the kind of double-cut that makes a statement before you’ve even had the chance to strum a chord thanks to its single Dogear P-90 Pro bridge pickup, cream oval tuners and wraparound bridge.

The only other signature SG currently in production by Epiphone is the Tony Iommi model, which retails for nearly twice as much, so this latest addition to the range is definitely well priced for beginners working with smaller budgets.

It should come as no surprise Yungblud’s weapon of war is purpose-built for powerchords that snarl and growl – the P-90 pickup spanning the heft of a humbucker and the crispy bite typically associated with single-coils. It’s perfect for punk rock in that regard, covering anything from Green Day and Paramore to Fugazi and The Clash, while also being capable of a whole lot more.

You can dial in shimmering cleans, screaming blues tones or even go all the way to classic heavy metal thunder if you have an amp or pedal with enough gain on tap. Lacking a neck pickup, of course, you might struggle to dial in convincing jazz sounds, but then again, that’s a million miles away from what Yungblud is known for.

There is, however, a tone control for taming the brightness and a volume control to back down the output – very practical if you’re the kind of player who likes to set and forget, using one amp channel and then the guitar itself to vary the amount of gain and treble coming through.

Speaking of practicality, it’s an incredibly inviting instrument to play, arriving with low action and 10-gauge strings that feel more like Super Slinkys thanks to the wraparound bridge, which decreases string tension while also promoting sustain.

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As for other features, it’s nice to see touches of class coming via the off-white button tuners and vintage-style top hat knobs, giving this guitar a decent amount of character despite it being more minimalist in spirit.

Another big talking point is the hardshell case – rare for an Epiphone guitar at this price point – and even more so when you factor in the hot pink interior.

Players who can’t live without a neck pickup might not get on too well here, but if you’re a fan of Yungblud’s music, loud punk-rock or simply SG Juniors in general, this latest signature will almost certainly renew your lust for life.

Specs

• PRICE: $599/£549
• BODY: Mahogany
• NECK: Mahogany
• SCALE: 24.75” / 628mm
• FINGERBOARD: Laurel
• FRETS: 22
• PICKUPS: Epiphone Dogear P-90 Pro
• CONTROLS: Master Volume, Master Tone, CTS Potentiometers
• HARDWARE: Lightning Bar Wraparound Compensating bridge, Deluxe Vintage tuners, Black Top Hat with Nickel Reflector knobs
• FINISH: Classic White
• CONTACT: Epiphone