Head to head
Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special, Vintage Cherry vs ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic
The verdict
The Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special, Vintage Cherry and ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic are closely matched overall — 68 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special, Vintage Cherry wins on
- Lower price ($999 vs $1,699)
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Tony Iommi SG Special, Vintage Cherry | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 66 |
| Build | 65 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 66 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Tony Iommi SG Special, Vintage Cherry | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | 2 Piece Solid Mahogany | Alder |
| Neck wood | One Piece Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel; Cream Binding | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Epiphone P-90 PRO Soapbar / Epiphone PRO P-90 | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $999 | $1,699 |
| Accessories | Monkey Static Cling Sticker | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | SG | — |
| Body Styles | SG | — |
| Bridge | Adjustable Wraparound | Floyd Rose 1000SE |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone PRO P-90 | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) |
| Case | Epiphone Hardshell Case Included | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Control Covers | Black | — |
| Control Knobs | Black Witch Hat with Silver Insert | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS Potentiometers, Orange Drop Capacitors | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | Black w/ Desert Eagle Graphic |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Modern Epiphone logo in Mother of Pearl, Tony Iommi Signature Reproduction on Headstock Rear | — |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck | — |
| Model | EIGCTIMSCHNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone P-90 PRO Soapbar | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) |
| Nut | Graph Tech | Locking |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | Monkey SG Pickguard; 5-Ply | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel Plated Plastic | — |
| Pickup Selector | Switchcraft 3-way Toggle | — |
| Profile | Rounded Iommi C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 25.5" |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Upper Horn | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Black | — |
| Switchwasher | Black, No Text | — |
| Truss rod | 2-Way Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Single Ply Bell | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic with Contemporary Style Buttons | LTD |
| Case Included | — | Y |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | GL Original U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |