Head to head
Epiphone J-200 Studio EC, Black vs Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
The verdict
The Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst comes out ahead overall — 73 to 69 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone J-200 Studio EC, Black wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (73 vs 62)
- Lower price ($549 vs $5,699)
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 66)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-200 Studio EC, Black | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 73 |
| Build | 66 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 73 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-200 Studio EC, Black | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Select Maple | Maple |
| Neck wood | Hard Maple | 2-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Pau Ferro | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $549 | $5,699 |
| Back | Select Maple | AAA Flame Maple |
| Binding | Headstock = 1-layer | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back |
| Body Finish | Gloss | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-200 | SJ-200 |
| Body Styles | Super Jumbo | Super Jumbo |
| Bridge | Pau Ferro; Classic Moustache shape | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys™ with Volume control, Phase and Contour switches, and a built-in tuner with LED display | Soundhole Mounted Volume, Mix Control (mixes between internal mic and under-saddle piezo pickup), Phase Inversion Switch, Battery Check, Mic Level Control |
| Finish | Gold | Gold |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Crown inlays | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Modern Epiphone script logo in Mother of Pearl, Gibson™ Crown inlay in Mother of Pearl | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown |
| Joint | Glued-In, Set Neck | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | EEJ2BKGH1 | MCJB20TB |
| Nut | PVC | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 42.67mm / 1.68in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | 1/4" Endpin Jack |
| Pickguard | Imitation Tortoise with Iconic J-200™ Graphics | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper D | Rounded |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 647.7mm / 25.5in |
| String gauges | .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Solid Spruce | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | 2-way; Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-Layer; (B/W); With EJ in Silkprint | 2-ply Bell, Black and White |
| Tuners | Grover® Rotomatic®; 18:1 ratio | Grover Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Bracing | — | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Bridge Pins | — | TUSQ |
| Case | — | Gibson Hardshell |
| Saddle Material | — | TUSQ |
| Side | — | AAA Flame Maple |
| Strap Buttons | — | Gold |
| Tuner Plating | — | Gold |