Epiphone SG Modern Figured Purple Burst

Epiphone SG Modern Figured Purple Burst review

The Epiphone SG Modern Figured Purple Burst brings a familiar SG-style mahogany body together with a maple top, an ebony fingerboard, and a set of switching options aimed at players who want more than one humbucker sound. Listed at 579, it includes a premium gig bag. The model has been available since March 2024.

Its defining visual detail is the Purple Burst finish. One buyer who commented on the guitar disliked the color and ordered the instrument in another finish instead. That is a matter of taste, but it is worth considering before buying: the distinctive finish is a central part of this model's appeal, and it will not suit every setup or player.

Body, neck, and playing dimensions

The body and neck are mahogany, with a maple top. Epiphone pairs those woods with an ebony fingerboard and trapezoid inlays. The combination gives the guitar a clearly specified, contrasting look, while the 24 frets provide access across two full octaves on each string. The medium-jumbo fret size is listed as standard for this model.

The scale length is 629 mm, or 24.75 inches. That is a familiar shorter scale for electric guitar players, and the model's asymmetrical Slim Taper neck profile is designed with a shaped, slim feel rather than a uniform rounded carve. Neck comfort is personal, so players who prefer a fuller, more symmetrical profile should try one in person if possible.

A Graph Tech nut is fitted at the headstock. The supplied specifications do not give details about the nut width, neck radius, or fret finish, so those are points to check directly if they matter to your fit preferences. The available measurements do, however, establish the core playing layout: mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, 24 medium-jumbo frets, and a 24.75-inch scale.

Pickups and controls

The pickup system consists of two ProBucker humbuckers. The controls include separate volume and tone knobs for each pickup, plus a three-way selector. This gives the usual bridge, neck, and combined pickup choices, with dedicated level and tone adjustment for each pickup.

Coil splitting adds another set of sounds by changing the humbuckers' operation. A phase switch is also specified for the bridge pickup. These options broaden the guitar's tonal range beyond a straightforward two-humbucker arrangement, although the listed information does not describe the exact switching behavior or the resulting output level. Players who rely on a particular split or phase sound should check the control layout before purchase.

The combination of two humbuckers and additional switching makes the SG Modern Figured more adaptable on paper than a basic HH guitar with a selector and standard knobs alone. It still retains a direct control scheme, with four knobs and one three-way switch rather than a more involved control panel.

Bridge, tremolo, and included bag

Epiphone fits a LockTone ABR bridge. There is no tremolo, so players looking for a vibrato arm or pitch-bending bridge will need a different model. The fixed bridge keeps the hardware arrangement straightforward, and the specifications identify no additional tailpiece details that would justify claims about tuning performance or sustain.

A premium gig bag is included, while a hard case is not. That distinction matters for buyers budgeting for transport or storage. The bag gives the guitar an included carrying option, but anyone who needs the protection of a hard case should account for that separately.

Value and verdict

One owner's comment raises a practical value question: why spend nearly four times as much on a Gibson? That comparison reflects the buyer's view rather than a direct price or specification comparison, but it captures the appeal of this Epiphone. The listed price is 579, and the instrument brings a figured-finish SG design, a maple top, ebony fingerboard, two ProBucker humbuckers, coil splitting, and a gig bag.

The Purple Burst finish is the clearest potential deal-breaker, especially for anyone who already knows they prefer a different color. Beyond appearance, the main buying decision comes down to the neck profile, the usefulness of the extra pickup switching, and whether a gig bag meets your needs. On the published specifications, the Epiphone SG Modern Figured Purple Burst offers a well-equipped fixed-bridge layout with traditional two-humbucker controls and added tonal options. Try the neck and inspect the finish in person if those are decisive factors.