The Quick Answer
The Les Paul has a heavier, single cutaway body, compared to the SG which has a thin double cutaway body. The Les Paul sounds warmer and fuller than the SG which has a more pronounced mid-range. Both guitars have a 24.75″ scale length, 22 frets, fixed bridges and usually have humbuckers pickups.
Comparing Models
Before we jump into any more detail, I wanted to show you the features and specifications of both guitars so you can quickly identify the differences.
I’ve chosen the Gibson Les Paul Standard and Gibson SG Standard for comparison, and the Epiphone Standard versions of both models. Epiphone are owned by Gibson, so although they make much more affordable models, they are still “real” versions. There are other models in both Gibson and Epiphone’s ranges which have slightly different features, so I’ll highlight those later in this article.
Gibson Les Paul vs SG
| Feature | Gibson Les Paul | Gibson SG |
| Body Shape | Single Cutaway | Double Cutaway |
| Body Wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Maple Cap/ Top | Yes | No |
| Archtop | Yes | No |
| Pickups | Two Humbuckers | Two Humbuckers |
| Neck Shape | Rounded C | Rounded |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck Construction | Set-Neck | Set-Neck |
| Neck Stability | Fixed | Flexible |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fretboard Wood | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.75” | 24.75” |
| Bridge | Fixed | Fixed |
| Controls | 2 vol, 2 tone | 2 vol, 2 tone |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way | 3-way |
| Pickup Selector Location | Upper Horn | Lower Horn |
| Weight | 9 pounds (4.1 kg) | 6 pounds (2.7 kg) |
| Body Thickness | 2.38 (6 cm) | 1.34” (3.4 cm) |
Epiphone Les Paul vs SG
| Feature | Epiphone Les Paul Standard ‘60s | Epiphone SG Standard |
| Body Shape | Single Cutaway | Double Cutaway |
| Body Wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Maple Cap/ Top | Yes | No |
| Archtop | Yes | No |
| Pickups | Two Humbuckers | Two Humbuckers |
| Neck Shape | Rounded C | Rounded |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck Construction | Set-Neck | Set-Neck |
| Neck Stability | Fixed | Flexible |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fretboard Wood | Indian Laurel | Indian Laurel |
| Scale Length | 24.75” | 24.75” |
| Bridge | Fixed | Fixed |
| Controls | 2 vol, 2 tone | 2 vol, 2 tone |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way | 3-way |
| Pickup Selector Location | Upper Horn | Lower Horn |
| Weight | 8 pounds (3.6 kg) | 6.3 pounds (2.9 kg) |
| Body Thickness | 2” (5 cm) | 1.34” (3.4 cm) |
Tone Differences
Despite having a lot of similarities e.g. pickups, tone wood, scale length etc., the Les Paul and SG do sound different. It’s important to note that each model may sound slightly different, the main cause is due to the pickups, so if you’re ever comparing the tone of these two guitars, that’s something to look for to make sure you’re comparing like-for-like. However if you take the variables out of the equation, here’s the difference.
The Les Paul has a fuller and warmer sound with more bass and low-mid range frequency emphasis than the SG. The SG has more mid-range emphasis in comparison to the SG. The Les Paul is usually more resonant and has better sustain compared to the SG, due to the thicker body.
The differences are mainly caused by the following:
- The Les Paul has a much thicker body than the SG, giving it more sustain and resonance capabilities.
- The Les Paul has a maple cap which contributes to some of its brightness and almost “scooped” mid-range compared to the SG. The Les Paul still sounds fuller, due to it’s heavier body. The SG does not sound overly bright, as it has a mahogany body without a maple cap.
- Arguably, the Les Paul has the potential to sound a bit “muddy” due to the emphasis on the low-end frequencies, compared to the SG, although amp settings will play a huge factor in this.
Tonal Versatility
Both the SG and Les Paul are very versatile due to their controls, and humbucker pickups. They are often best suited to rock ‘n’ roll, but can play anything from metal to blues.
What’s interesting about the SG, is that it has a “flexible” neck in comparison to the Les Paul. You can essentially push and pull the SG neck backwards and forwards slightly, to create a vibrato effect, similar to what you’d experience when using a tremolo arm on something like a Stratocaster, but far less dramatic. The neck on the Les Paul is a lot more rigid, so this isn’t really a possibility.
Here is a video comparing the tone of the Les Paul and SG using various amp settings and pedals back-to-back. I’ve set the video to start at the correct moment so you won’t need to scrub around for the right section.
Look and Feel
Although the tones of a Les Paul and SG are not dramatically different, the playability definitely is. Both guitars have a very different feel to them, and will feel a lot more comfortable to some players than others.
The SG is a much lighter guitar than the Les Paul and it is easier to access the upper frets on the SG compared to the Les Paul, due to its double cutaway design. However, the SG can be a bit “neck heavy”, causing it to tilt down more at the headstock than the Les Paul when playing stood up.
Main Differences:
- The strap-button on the SG is located on the back of the body, close to the neck of the guitar. On the Les Paul, the strap-button is located on the upper horn of the guitar on the side. This causes the Les Paul to tilt upwards slightly at the headstock when playing stood up, which makes it easier for a lot of players to handle.
- The strap-lock positioning, causes the SG to feel more offset towards the neck, when playing stood up, and even when sat down, it can feel like this depending on where the guitar is sitting on the leg. This suits players with long arms more, but may feel a bit more of a reach for shorter arms.
- The SG neck feels a lot of flexible than the Les Paul. The “built-in whammy bar” on the SG’s neck feels more bendy, compared to the rigid feel of the Les Paul.
- Both the Les Paul and SG usually have rounded C-shape necks, but the SG neck can feel a bit closer to a D-shape on some models. In terms of thickness, it really depends on the exact model in question, as some Les Paul’s have thicker and thinner necks in comparison.
- The SG has better upper fret access due to its double-cutaway design and the fact the neck and body join at the 22nd fret. The Les Paul has a single cutaway design which restricts upper fret access, as the upper horn meets the neck at the 16th fret, and the lower horn meets the neck at the 18th fret.
- The Les Paul is around 3 pounds (1.4 kg) heavier than the SG on average. This is due to the Les Paul’s body, which is nearly twice as thick as the SG.
Main Similarities:
- Set-neck construction.
- 22 fret neck and 24.75″ scale length.
- Similar tone woods, except the Les Paul also has a maple cap/ top.
- Fixed bridge.
- Two volume and two tone controls, and a 3-way pickup selector.
- 3+3 headstock configuration
Here is a diagram comparing the two guitars. The differences are in black text on the outside of the image, and the similarities are in green text in the centre.
In the market for a new guitar? I’ve written a complete buyer’s guide for electric guitars which takes you through all the things you need to consider and a step-by-step method to narrowing down your selection and choosing the best option. Here is a link to the article.
The Full Range
I wanted to take an in-depth look at both ranges of the SG and Les Paul by Epiphone and Gibson to show you what is currently on offer. I’ve made these tables comparing pretty much every model currently available for both guitar types, and the Guitar Center price at the time of writing.
Note that the mid-range and high-end tables don’t include the wood type or construction, as for every model in these price brackets, the body wood is mahogany and they all have set-necks. The tables are all ordered from the lowest to the highest price in each bracket.
Guitar Center are always the first place I look at when I’m interested in a new electric guitar because have a huge range of models for sale and always have some excellent deals on. Here’s a link to take you directly to Guitar Center’s electric guitar range so you can see all the offers available at the moment.
Entry-Level and Affordable Models (under $500)
| Guitar | Body Wood | Pickups | Construction | Neck Shape | Price |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special I | Basswood | 700T/ 650R Humbuckers | Bolt-On | D-shape | $170 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 | Basswood | P-90R/ P90T | Bolt-On | SlimTaper D | $170 |
| Epiphone SG Special Satin E1 | Poplar | 700T/ 650R Humbuckers | Bolt-On | 60s SlimTaper D | $180 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special II Plus Top | Mahogany | 700T/ 650R Humbuckers | Bolt-On | SlimTaper D | $230 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1 | Mahogany | Zebra Coil Ceramic Humbuckers | Bolt-On | 60s SlimTaper | $250 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Junior | Mahogany | Dog Ear Pro P90 | Set-Neck | Vintage 50s | $380 |
| Epiphone SG Classic Worn P90’s | Mahogany | Soap Bar Pro P90 | Set-Neck | 60s SlimTaper | $380 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special | Mahogany | Soap Bar Pro P90 | Set-Neck | Vintage 50s | $400 |
| Epiphone SG Special P-90 | Mahogany | Soap Bar Pro P90 | Set-Neck | 60s SlimTaper | $400 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn | Mahogany | Proprietary Humbucker | Set-Neck | SlimTaper | $450 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pro IV | Mahogany | Proprietary Humbucker | Set-Neck | SlimTaper C | $450 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Studio | Mahogany | Proprietary Humbucker | Set-Neck | SlimTaper | $450 |
| Epiphone SG Traditional Pro | Mahogany | Proprietary Humbucker | Set-Neck | SlimTaper | $450 |
| Epiphone SG Standard | Mahogany | Alnico Classic PRO | Set-Neck | 60s SlimTaper | $450 |
| Epiphone SG Standard 60s | Mahogany | ProBucker-2/ Pro-Bucker-3 | Set-Neck | SlimTaper | $450 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Classic | Mahogany | Alnico Classic PRO | Set-Neck | 60s SlimTaper | $500 |
Mid-Range Guitars ($500-$1200)
| Guitar | Pickups | Neck Shape | Price |
| Epiphone SG Modern | ProBucker-2/ ProBucker-3 | Asymmetrical SlimTaper | $550 |
| Epiphone SG Custom | Alnico Classic PRO | SlimTaper | $580 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s | ProBucker-2/ Pro-Bucker-3 | 60s Slim Taper C | $600 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s | Proprietary Humbucker | Rounded C | $600 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Modern | Proprietary Humbucker | Asymmetric Slim | $650 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Custom | ProBucker-2/ Pro-Bucker-3 | Slim Taper | $680 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pro-III | ’57 Classic Zebra/ Super ’57 Zebra | 60S SlimTaper | $700 |
| Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard | Proprietary Humbucker | Rounded C | $800 |
| Epiphone SG Prophecy | Fishman Humbucker | Asymmetric | $900 |
| Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard | Proprietary Humbucker | C-shape | $900 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy | Fishman Humbucker | Asymmetric | $900 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker | Proprietary Humbucker | Rounded | $1000 |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 | Proprietary P90 | Rounded | $1000 |
| Gibson SG Tribute | 490R/ 490T | Rounded | $1100 |
| Gibson Les Paul Tribute | 490R/ 490T | Rounded | $1200 |
| Gibson Les Paul Special P-90 | P-90 | 50s Rounded | $1200 |
High-End Guitars (over $1200)
| Guitar | Pickups | Neck | Price |
| Gibson SG Junior P90 | P-90 | SlimTaper | $1400 |
| Gibson Les Paul Studio | 490R/ 498T | SlimTaper | $1500 |
| Gibson Les Paul Junior | P90 | 50s Vintage | $1500 |
| Gibson SG Special | P-90 | SlimTaper | $1500 |
| Gibson SG Standard | 490R/ 490T | Rounded | $1500 |
| Gibson Les Paul Special | P-90 | 50s Vintage | $1600 |
| Gibson SG Standard ‘61 | BurstBucker 61R/ 61T | SlimTaper | $1800 |
| Gibson Les Paul Classic | BurstBucker 61R/ 61T | SlimTaper | $2000 |
| Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V | Proprietary Humbucker | Asymmetric | $2000 |
| Gibson SG Modern | BurstBucker Pro | SlimTaper Asymmetric | $2000 |
| Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s | BurstBucker 1/2 | 50s Vintage | $2500 |
| Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s | BurstBucker 61R/ 61T | SlimTaper | $2500 |
| Gibson Les Paul Deluxe 70s | Proprietary Humbucker | Rounded C | $2500 |
| Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V | Vintage alnico V | Asymmetric | $2800 |
| Gibson Les Paul Modern | BurstBucker Pro | SlimTaper Asymmetric | $2800 |
| Gibson Slash Les Paul Standard | SlashBucker Pro | 50s Vintage | $3000 |
Design Comparisons
Let’s take a look at the classic designs of the SG and Les Paul, so we can pin-point some more similarities and differences, and how this affects the tone, appearance and feel of the guitars.
Body
Both the SG and Les Paul have mahogany bodies. However, the Les Paul’s body is almost twice as thick as the SG, and it also has a maple cap/ top, unlike the SG. Another huge difference, is that the Les Paul has a single cutaway design, and the SG has a double cutaway design which assists upper fret access.
Neck
You will have seen in the tables above, the different Les Paul and SG models have different neck profiles. You can definitely find thin and thick necks on both guitar types. As a general rule, SG guitars have a slimmer neck profile, and although still considered C-shape, they lean slightly towards a D-shape. Les Paul’s usually have a more rounded C-shape by comparison.
Pickups
On pretty much every Les Paul and SG model, you’ll find passive humbucker or P90 pickups made by either Epiphone or Gibson. Humbuckers are the most common, and provide that warm and full tone, whilst P90 pickups sound a bit brighter and thinner. It is rare to find pickups by any other brands on these guitars, but the most notable example is the Epiphone Prophecy version of the SG and Les Paul, which have Fishman humbuckers instead of Epiphone ones.
Although some guitars have humbucker or P90 pickups, they aren’t all the same. They have different voicing and outputs, so it’s something to look out for when choosing a guitar. You can see the different types in the tables above.
Controls
Both the SG and Les Paul have the same controls. They each have two pickups, so feature a 3-way pickup selector allowing you to active each pickup in isolation, or both together. They also have independent tone and volume controls for each pickup. The only difference, is that the pickup selector is located on the upper horn on the Les Paul, and the lower horn on the SG.
It’s a personal preference, but I prefer the SG’s pickup selector location, as I often knock the Les Paul one out of place when strumming. However, like I said, you may find the Les Paul one miles better and more accessible when playing.
Check out these articles you learn more about the controls on each guitar:
Which Should You Choose?
So this brings us to the ultimate question, which is better, a Les Paul or an SG. Look on any guitar forum and you’ll see this debate raging on, and it’s because there’s really no clear answer. You need to think about the following questions to make the right decision:
- Which models in my budget?
- Which guitar feels most comfortable for my playing style?
- Which guitar’s tone suits the styles of music I want to play?
- Which guitar looks best to me?
To me, I’d always associate the Les Paul more with rhythm playing due to its warm and full tone with plenty of low-mids, whereas the SG seems more suited to lead playing, due to it’s pronounced mid-range which cuts through the mix more, and the improved upper fret access.
In terms of playability, I prefer the SG, however the looks don’t really do it for me, so I wouldn’t jump to them in the store. Les Paul’s on the other hand look great to me, and I like using them for rhythm, so the limited upper fret access doesn’t bother me. For me personally, I prefer the Les Paul, but there’s plenty that an SG would be better for.
The best thing to do, is to figure out which models are in your price range (you can use the tables above to help with this), and try them in your local guitar store if at all possible. That way, you’ll know 100% that you’re making the right decision for you.
For Beginners?
Both the Les Paul and SG are suitable for beginners. The entry-level models have slim necks, and are very affordable. The mai difference, is that the Les Paul usually comes in more colours and a lot of new players like that a lot of famous players use Les Pauls, making them a popular choice for beginners.
I’ve written a complete buyer’s guide for electric guitars which takes you through all the things you need to consider and a step-by-step method to narrowing down your selection and choosing the best option. Here is a link to the article.
Here are some more articles you might find useful: