Epiphone has belonged to Gibson since 1957 and today builds Gibson's classic designs, mostly in Asia, at a fraction of the price. Gibson builds its own guitars in the USA. We matched five models that both brands sell at Thomann and compared the prices in October 2026: the Gibson costs between 2.7 and 4.9 times as much as its Epiphone counterpart.
Five pairs, side by side
| Model | Epiphone | Gibson | Gibson costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hummingbird (Standard / Special) | $773 | $2,080 | 2.7× |
| SG Standard | $608 | $1,833 | 3.0× |
| Les Paul Standard 50s | $742 | $2,435 | 3.3× |
| ES-335 | $764 | $3,262 | 4.3× |
| J-45 (Studio / Special) | $387 | $1,912 | 4.9× |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026, for one finish of each model.
Across the whole catalog the gap is similar: the median Epiphone electric costs $865, the median Gibson $3,825. Both brands cut prices slightly since mid-August, Epiphone by 1.2% and Gibson by 0.9% on average, as our brand study found.
What the extra money buys
- Where and how it's built: Gibsons come from the company's US factories, with more hand work.
- Materials and finish: better-selected woods and the thin finishes Gibson is known for.
- Pickups and electronics: Gibson's own pickups and pots, where Epiphone uses its own versions.
- Resale value: a Gibson usually holds its value much better.
What it doesn't buy is a guitar that's easier to play. A well set-up Epiphone plays very well, and many players upgrade its pickups instead of buying the Gibson.
The Les Paul pair
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s WCS, $740
The Les Paul shape and sound with a mahogany body and maple top. #9 of 251 single cut guitars.
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s DT TB, $2,431
The real thing from Gibson USA, in a finish limited to 500 per color. One of the highest-ranked single-cuts in our index: #1 of 251 single cut guitars.
The SG pair
Epiphone SG Standard EB IBG, $607
The SG's thin double-cutaway body and two humbuckers at a beginner-friendly price. #49 of 144 double cut guitars.
Gibson SG Standard TV Yellow, $1,830
The least expensive way into a USA Gibson on this list. #8 of 144 double cut guitars.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Epiphone if it's your first serious guitar, if you'll modify it, or if you play out and don't want to worry. Buy the Gibson if you know you love the model, want it for decades and care about resale.
Questions
Is Epiphone as good as Gibson?
In playability, a good Epiphone comes close. In materials, finish and resale value, Gibson is clearly above.
Is Epiphone owned by Gibson?
Yes, since 1957.
Why is Gibson so expensive?
US manufacturing, more hand work, selected woods and the brand itself. The Epiphone versions copy the designs at about a third of the price.
How we measured. We matched five models sold by both brands at Thomann on October 18, 2026, taking one comparable version of each, and compared the prices converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Catalog medians cover every Epiphone (144) and Gibson (315) electric guitar in stock. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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