Originally Posted by: slittle_92

is a low end gibson better than a mid/high-ish tier epiphone.

[p]I think in this context you are better off playing specific guitars than just picking the name. I know you will find some individual guitars from either category that sound & feel better to your ears & hands than others in that same exact category!

If at all possible, I encourage you to play a few of each through a Katana.

Gibson's use the same types of wood, but higher quality pieces & better electronics than their counterpart Epiphones. But I'm not sure there are significant differences between the lower end models. And even if there are, there is still no substitute for how a specific guitar feels in your hands.

There are plenty of articles & vids on the web that address this issue, often with some surprising results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGTvjbbVl-o

Bottom line: try before you buy! :) Hope that helps!