Head to head
Epiphone J-200 Studio EC, Vintage Natural vs Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 74 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, Vintage Natural wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (73 vs 63)
- Lower price ($549 vs $3,199)
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 66)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-200 Studio EC, Vintage Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 74 |
| Build | 66 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 73 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-200 Studio EC, Vintage Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Select Maple | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Hard Maple | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Pau Ferro | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $549 | $3,199 |
| Back | Select Maple | Mahogany |
| Binding | Headstock = 1-layer | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | Gloss | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-200 | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Super Jumbo | Round Shoulder |
| Bridge | Pau Ferro; Classic Moustache shape | Traditional belly up |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys™ with Volume control, Phase and Contour switches, and a built-in tuner with LED display | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Finish | Gold | Nickel |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Crown inlays | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| 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 | — |
| Joint | Glued-In, Set Neck | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | EEJ2VNGH1 | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | PVC | Bone |
| Nut width | 42.67mm / 1.68in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickguard | Imitation Tortoise with Iconic J-200™ Graphics | 50's, Tortoise |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys | — |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper D | Rounded |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| String gauges | .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .053 | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Solid Spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | 2-way; Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-Layer; (B/W); With EJ in Silkprint | Black |
| Tuners | Grover® Rotomatic®; 18:1 ratio | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs VTC |
| Accessories | — | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Bracing | — | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge Pins | — | Tusq |
| Case | — | Hardshell Case |
| Saddle Material | — | Bone |
| Side | — | Mahogany |
| Tuner Plating | — | Nickel |