Head to head
Epiphone J-45 EC, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss vs Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
The verdict
The Epiphone J-45 EC, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss and Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst are closely matched overall — 72 to 73 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone J-45 EC, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (75 vs 62)
- Lower price ($799 vs $5,699)
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 70)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-45 EC, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 72 | 73 |
| Build | 70 | 91 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 75 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-45 EC, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 2-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 24.72" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $799 | $5,699 |
| Back | Solid Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| Binding | Top - 4-ply Ivory and Black; Back - 1-ply Ivory | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back |
| Body Finish | Aged Gloss | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-45 | SJ-200 |
| Body Styles | Round Shoulder | Super Jumbo |
| Bracing | Quarter Sawn Spruce | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Bridge | Reverse Belly, Laurel | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory | TUSQ |
| Case | Optional | Gibson Hardshell |
| Controls | Fishman Presys II with Volume, Bass and Treble controls, Phase Switch, 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 | Nickel | Gold |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Dots | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns |
| Fretboard radius | 305.0mm / 12.01in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo with Silkscreen Epiphone Modern Script Logo in Gold | — |
| Joint | Tapered Dovetail | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | IGMTJ45CAVSNH1 | MCJB20TB |
| Nut | Bone | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Output Jack | End pin Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack |
| Pickguard | Tortoise Shell Tear Drop, Epoxy Style | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys II | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Profile | Rounded C | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 628.0mm / 24.72in | 647.7mm / 25.5in |
| Side | Solid Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - end pin jack and back of heel | Gold |
| String gauges | Gibson Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings .012, .016, .024w, .032, .042, .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Bell | 2-ply Bell, Black and White |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | Gold |
| Tuners | 3 on a plate: Ivory buttons, press in bushings | Grover Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman Sonicore | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown |
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