Epiphone EJ-200 Super Jumbo Acoustic Guitar, Natural

Want a big, beautiful jumbo guitar for not a whole lot of money? Want a quality fit and finish that rivals much more expensive instruments? Want a strong neck that feels just like that Gibson neck we all know and love? You could do much worse than the EJ-200. I am 100% satisfied with those aspects of the guitar.

However...

If you are hoping for the warm, deep, make your own mother cry volume and tone that you would get from the (ten times) more expensive Gibson J-200, then this is not your guitar. Play the two one after the other, and then you'll hear why the Gibson costs more than a used Hyundai and the Epiphone costs less than taking a family of four to an NFL game.

Still, I like the guitar. No plans to trade or sell it. And swapping the original strings for a set of Elixers or Dean Markley Blue Steels helps with the lower tones a bit. Just don't expect to rattle any windows.

The Amazon product description is WRONG: the EJ-200 does NOT have a pickup installed - it is entirely acoustic. If you want a pickup installed, see model EJ-200CE.

This is nice guitar, suitable for beginners or hobbyists. The body feels large and substantial, and its distinctive design will draw lots of attention. The neck and body are maple, the top is select spruce, fingerboard is rosewood crown. In the natural finish, the spruce top has a slightly yellow tint compared with the maple back, sides and neck, but it is not unattractive. If you've seem natural maple kitchen cabinets, that's the color. The hardware is a brassy gold. I am unsure if the delicate design on the pick guard might wear off.

Playability seems okay (caveat: I am accustomed to a 12-string.) The sound is bold, loud, and booming rather than sweet. Great choice for situations when you need volume from an unamplified guitar - seems like a guitar a cowboy might play while sitting around a...Read more