Head to head
Epiphone J-45, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss vs Taylor Big Baby Taylor (BBT)
The verdict
The Epiphone J-45, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss comes out ahead overall — 72 to 63 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone J-45, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss wins on
- Better build (70 vs 61)
- Better playability (75 vs 64)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (75 vs 66)
Taylor Big Baby Taylor (BBT) wins on
- Lower price ($499 vs $749)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-45, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss | Big Baby Taylor (BBT) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 72 | 63 |
| Build | 70 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 75 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-45, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss | Big Baby Taylor (BBT) |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Taylor |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Layered Walnut |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany or Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Ebony or Eucalyptus (based on availability) |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 24.72" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Fishman Presys VT | No Electronics |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $749 | $499 |
| Back | Solid Mahogany | — |
| Binding | Top - 4-ply Ivory and Black; Back - 1-ply Ivory | — |
| Body Finish | Aged Gloss | — |
| Body shape | J-45 | — |
| Body Styles | Round Shoulder | — |
| Bracing | Quarter Sawn Spruce | — |
| Bridge | Reverse Belly, Laurel | West African Crelicam Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory | Black |
| Case | Optional | — |
| Controls | Fishman Presys VT Soundhole mounted Volume and Tone | No Electronics |
| End Of Board Width | 57.35mm / 2.26in | — |
| Finish | Nickel | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Dots | 4mm Dot Italian Acrylic |
| Fretboard radius | 305.0mm / 12.01in | — |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo with Modern Epiphone logo Silkscreened in Gold | — |
| Joint | Tapered Dovetail | — |
| Model | IGMTJ455AVSNH1 | — |
| Nut | Bone | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | — |
| Output Jack | Endpin Jack | — |
| Pickguard | Tortoise Shell, J-45 Shape | Tortoise |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys VT | — |
| Profile | Rounded C | — |
| Saddle Material | Bone | — |
| Scale length | 628.0mm / 24.72in | 25-1/2" |
| Side | Solid Mahogany | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - side of heel and endpin jack | — |
| String gauges | Gibson Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings .012, .016, .024w, .032, .042, .053 | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Torrefied Spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply, Bell | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | 3 on a plate with Ivory buttons and press in bushings | Die-Cast Chrome |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman Presys VT | — |
| Armrest | — | No |
| Back And Sides | — | Layered Walnut |
| Back Configuration | — | Layered, 2-Piece |
| Back Side Finish | — | Matte |
| Body Binding | — | None |
| Cutaway | — | Non-cutaway |
| Fretboard Binding | — | None |
| Neck Finish | — | Matte |
| Nut Saddle | — | Nubone Nut, Micarta Saddle |
| Orientation | — | Right Handed |
| Peghead Binding | — | None |
| Peghead Finish | — | Matte |
| Peghead Inlay | — | None |
| Peghead Type | — | Standard |
| Top Finish | — | Matte |
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