Epiphone EJ 200 Acoustic Guitar Review – Best Budget Buy
Classic or Acoustic guitar? It is the fundamental question every beginner has before buying one. Well, the discussion will be extended once we start, but the final thought is that no matter what the two look like or deliver concerning sound, it is an entirely personal choice and need that matters.
I landed on an Epiphone EJ 200 review in my expedition to find the one. This guitar has an impressive clean sound, and I am totally in love with it.
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Epiphone EJ 200 review
The Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic Guitar is the best for all beginners looking for an acoustic guitar with a small budget. Although the looks are not fancy, the terrible sound it produces is the best in class and will make people its fan. It has been a year owning the same, and I honestly agree with what they say as King of the Flat Tops.
The guitar was initially introduced in 1937, and since then, there has been no looking back. The J-200 had set high standards for the others to be matched since then. The legacy of the Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic guitar for over 70 years, being the king of flat tops, is due to the 100 percent tone quality adherence that they supply to all music lovers.
The Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic guitars are the most popular acoustic guitars with excellent command of rhythm and complex tones. Gibson has produced the Epiphone Guitars since 1957. While some guitar enthusiasts highly recommend the Gibson version of the J-200 Guitars, nobody can nullify that Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic Guitar is the first guitar vital for learners, hobbyists, and musicians.
Though, I realize the uncertainty of deciding upon the best guitar by reading long reviews. But please remember that this will be fruitful in selecting the best guitar to learn, compose, and practice. The below expedition will help all beginners and professionals to decide whether the Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic guitar will be your best friend.
Instrument Identification of the Epiphone EJ 200
Epiphone EJ-200 Artist acoustic guitar is the most fundamental, budget-friendly, and jumbo-style instrument to start with an acoustic guitar. It is a six-string acoustic guitar featuring a laminated maple body and a top-quality spruce top. The specific gold hardware and a set maple neck with a crown inlay on the rosewood fingerboard make this guitar sensational. This acoustic guitar offers almost all the features of the Gibson J-200 Guitar at a fraction of its cost. It has been one of the most famous acoustic guitars in the world since its advent.
Many great rhythm guitarists and singers of the last century were associated with and used the Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar as their original instrument on stages and recordings. Guitar Players like Bob Dylan, Don Everly, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons, Buddy Holly, Pete Townshend, and Robbie Robertson are some names allied with Epiphone EJ-200 artist acoustic guitar. The concerned budget sibling of Gibson has delivered a hit for many acoustic lovers who want the quality sound but may not afford it or want to pay for a Gibson or Martin.
The guitar is wisely priced for budget-concerned customers looking for something best to be a learner’s guitar. This guitar is a better approach regarding sound quality one expects while recording, composing, and learning and is quite robust for the same. Moreover, its perfect professional finesse, sound, and looks will take you to the musical era of the 80s.
Epiphone EJ 200 Review: Product Description
After trying many acoustic guitars over the years, I landed on Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar for its beautiful sound. I play soft rock, country music, and others, depending on the mood. And the perfectly balanced sound of the Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar left me speechless, and I fell in love with this.
Talking about its looks, this guitar has a solid built, natural finish with a glossy black headstock. The beautiful headstock from Epiphone has a crown logo on it. The Gold tuners are similar to that of Gibson Studio 1999. The crown inlay, flowered pickguard, Moustache Bridge, and jumbo size are the most striking features of the Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar. The inlays on the fretboard and bridge are made of mother of pearl, adding elegance to the guitar. The pickguard is gorgeous and leaves no heads unturned. I am a proud owner of an Epiphone Les Paul and now an EJ-200 acoustic guitar, too, trust me. I couldt be happier.
The below-specified features and specifications will give you an extended detail of the Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar:
Features:
- Classic King of the Flat Tops
- Select a Spruce top with Maple back and sides
- Premium die-cast machine heads
Specifications:
1. | Body | : | Maple |
2. | Body Type | : | Jumbo |
3. | Top | : | Select Spruce |
4. | Neck | : | Select Maple |
5. | Neck Shape | : | 1960s slim taper |
6. | Back and Sides | : | Maple |
7. | Scale | : | 25.5 inches |
8. | Frets | : | 20, medium |
9. | Fingerboard | : | Rosewood |
10 | Fingerboard Inlay | : | Dotted inlay |
11 | Truss Rod | : | Two way adjustable |
12 | Nut Width | : | 1.68 inches |
13 | Pickguard | : | Tortoise shell style |
14 | Bridge | : | Rosewood with synthetic bone saddle |
15 | Machine Heads | : | Premium Die-cast 14:1 |
16 | Available Colors | : | Ebony, Natural, Vintage Sunburst |
17 | Weight | : | 8.8 pounds |
18 | Strings | : | DAddario® 12, 16, 25, 34, 41, 53 |
19 | Dimensions | : | 43.3×19.7×11.8 inches |
Body and Neck
The Epiphone EJ-200 artist acoustic guitar has a wide rounded cutaway and 20 nicely finished frets on a 25.5 inches scale neck with a Rosewood fretboard. The natural finish on the spruce top, maple sides, and back body with the mother-of-pearl inlays is an added beauty to the guitar. Moreover, the neatly triple binding on the body, neck, and headstock is gorgeous.
It also has Gibson Mustache Bridge, Gold Grover tuners to keep in tune, and a Shadow preamp connected to a NanoMag pickup under the bridge, which enables the guitar to crank through any acoustic amp with power. The preamp has the master volume, the proper tone for every pickup, an inbuilt tuner, and a fader slide to adjust the pickups to experience the best acoustic sound.
Sound
The sound quality of the guitar makes people go for this guitar. I usually play soft rock and folk, and this guitar suit everyone. The tone is massive, with a nice balance. Its rich sound suits the alternative rock styles I prefer. The guitar sounds the best in class and beats some expensive brands. I am not exaggerating. It would help if you heard this to believe this.
The Epiphone EJ-200 artist acoustic guitar is clear, bright, and complete. The jumbo body style and maple side with back provide a clean and brilliant tone that provides perfect sound and plenty of basses. This brilliant guitar is just what I have wanted for so long. And after buying this, my craving for acoustic is fulfilled for sure.
Action, Fit, and Finish
I have played this guitar for a year now and can say that the feel, looks, the sound of this guitar would have cost double the price if from any other brand. The action is low but high enough to afford a gorgeous tone and playability. The frets are just perfect without any noise. The pickguards have beautiful vine and flower designs on the tortoise shell. The bridge is also nicely carved and is a perfect fit. The only issue is off sometimes buzzing when I combine the pickups, but that can be easily fixed.
Durability and Reliability
The guitar is best whether you are composing, practicing, or performing. The body of the Epiphone EJ-200 artist acoustic guitar is big and heavy but is also solid and sturdy. No matter how clumsy your performance is, it will be there forever. Mine is a year old and has insignificant scratches, despite many camping nights. I am sure; you can trust the guitar completely for high-grade performances.
- Read Also: Yamaha FD01s Acoustic Guitar Ultimate Review
Personal impression
This guitar is a Dream come authentic experience for every music lover. And getting the same below $500 is the best one can ask for. However, even when the cost of the EJ-200 is lesser than competitors, the company has made no compromise regarding sound and hardware.
My passion for good guitars has allowed me to try many branded ones, but this one is perfect for the cost, dependability, and sound. The price at which the Epiphone is gifting unique specifications is remarkable. It is my favorite when I need to play alone or with friends. Here are some of the pros and cons I have listed below to simplify the reason for my love of this guitar.
Epiphone EJ 200 Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- The total vintage look and carved design with professional appearance are fantastic.
- The rosewood fingerboard is smooth enough to prevent fingers from hurting.
- This perfect rhythm guitar goes well with all styles of music.
- The perfect sound from a guitar will make you its admirer instantly.
- This sturdy guitar is best for all beginners to stay with you till you succeed as a professional.
- Last and best is the price proposed by Epiphone, which is just a fraction of the price of Gibson.
Cons
- I did not find much, but my only concern is the buzz created by combining pickups.
- Also, no case is provided, and you must pay extra to buy the same.
The final verdict
The guitar is must buy for all beginners and guitarists with a love of acoustic. It works like a charm with its sound and looks. I can keep playing it for hours. It is a brilliant match for all kinds of music styles. I have played a few different acoustics, from 800 Martin to Fender acoustics, and they trusted me on this. The EJ-200 stands up well to most. Although the 800 Martin has a bit better quality, the price for EJ-200 is available is worth it.
Whether you are concerned about looks, finesse, or more profound sound quality, this guitar delivers what it promises. I will highly recommend this to everyone.
With all the research and personal experience, I will give Epiphone EJ-200 Acoustic Guitar 4.5 out of 5 stars.