We all remember the physical hurdles that came with our first guitars. High action, uneven frets, and big necks were no fun, but when that first chord or riff came through loud and clear it all seemed worth it. Epiphone’s Power Players line aims to all but eliminate the painful parts of those early memories.
The SG we reviewed (the Power Players line also includes a Les Paul shape) was finished in a striking Lava Red color and felt sleek and fast. The body is ¾ sized, so overall shape helps make the guitar feel more manageable in my hands. But a toy this is not. The SG really feels like a solid guitar—just smaller. The 22.73" scale length maintains string tension that feels right under the fingers. The dual humbuckers were full sounding, and right in line with other beginner guitars in this range. At higher-gain settings they do lose a little definition and punch, but overall, they are pretty solid.
The craftsmanship for a sub-$300 guitar can be hit or miss, but the Power Players delivers on the promise of a first guitar that encourages players instead of making practice a chore. Sure, our review guitar could have had a better setup. But it was good enough to suggest that the Power Players line could help make memories of impossible-to-play beginners guitars a thing of the past.
Shubb C8b Partial Capo for Drop-D Tuning - Brass
The C8 covers five of the six strings, leaving either the low E or high E string open, depending on how it's positioned.
- Standard setup: Placed on the 2nd fret while leaving the low E string open, it simulates Drop D-style sounds—except you're still in standard tuning (key of E). You get that big, droning bass feel without retuning.
- Reverse setup: Flipping the capo allows the high E string to ring, giving you shimmering drones and new melodic options across familiar chord shapes.
- A flexible tool that lets you simulate alternate tunings and create rich sonic textures—all while keeping your guitar in standard tuning.
Shubb C7b Partial Capo for DADGAD Tuning - Brass
The C7 covers three of the six strings—either D, G, and B or A, D, and G—depending on how it's flipped.
- Typical setup (D, G, B): Creates an open A chord shape at the 2nd fret without needing your fingers. This frees you up for new voicings and droning notes in the key of A.
- Reversed setup (A, D, G): Gets you close to a DADGAD-style tuning vibe, but still keeps you in standard tuning—great for modal, spacious textures often found in folk or cinematic guitar parts.
Use it alone or stack it with the C8 for wild, layered effects and truly out-of-the-box inspiration.
