PricePaid: 390 EUR (New)
Purchased From: N/A
Model Year: 2005Features: [8]
The Epiphone EJ200 is basically their version of the Gibson SJ200. It's a jumbo acoustic with real acoustic balls.
Maple back and sides with a spruce top. The fingerboard is Rosewood with crown inlays. Sounds: [9]
Well the EJ200 is certainly loud. I guess saying loud and mellow would just about sum it up.
I have since added a bone saddle. As with these things you always need to sand them down I took it to the level of the original (Plastic) saddle and then down a little more. The result is a nice low action with a sound that is even crisper. Those plastic saddles are really cheap and don't give many acoustics a chance to show their true potential. Sadly in all my years of playing I'd not done this mod to any of my Acoustics. I've since ordered a set of bone pins for this and also a new saddle and pins for my Martin.
Whatever acoustic guitar you play a bone saddle is really worth it - give it a try.
Action, Fit & Finish: [9]
Not sure if the store did anything but it played really well.
Action was pretty good but lowered it by bringing down the saddle (see comments above about the bone replacement). I am sure with most acoustics they could benefit from sanding down the saddle a little to bring the action down as most manufacturers will set things a little high to suit all preferences. However, this does mean you either have the confidence to do it yourself or you'll have to pay someone to do it (unless the shop is nice enough to give it a good setup before you leave with it)
The finish is of a high quality and I really can't see any faults.
Reliability & Durability: [9]
Seems quite durable - of course being an acoustic a certain degree of care is needed anyway.
Stays in tune really well. I have a Epiphine Dot and that doesn't hold as well as this does.
In the climate I live in I often finds the gold can tarnish on my guitars. This has no signs of any problems appearing. Overall Rating: [10]
I own quite a few high end guitars and I've wanted a Gibson SJ200 for quite a while now. However, getting permission from the wife for the next big purchase is always a task! When I saw the Epiphone EJ200 I knew this was just the compromise that was needed.
It seems every time I go into a music shop I get a nice surprise about the great quality that is being turned out by the so called budget guitars. The certainly are getting it right in the far east. In fact I also bought a Squire Tele Custom on the same trip to the store as I couldn't believe how good both were and couldn't make up my mind which to get.
I've rated this a 10. Not because no other guitar could be better but because you really couldn't get better value for money at this price - outstanding!
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EJ-200
