Head to head
Epiphone J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive vs Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
The verdict
The Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst comes out ahead overall — 73 to 67 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive wins on
- Better value (76 vs 62)
- Lower price ($299 vs $5,699)
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 61)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 67 | 73 |
| Build | 61 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 76 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Layered Mahogany | Maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 2-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 19 | 20 |
| Scale | 22.68" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $299 | $5,699 |
| Accessories | Three Guitar Picks | — |
| Back | Layered Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| Binding | 4-ply Top, Single-ply Back | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back |
| Body Finish | Gloss | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-45 | SJ-200 |
| Body Styles | Small Body | Super Jumbo |
| Bridge | Reverse Belly; Laurel | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | White Plastic with Black Dot | TUSQ |
| Case | Gig Bag | Gibson Hardshell |
| Finish | Nickel | Gold |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Dot | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 19 | 20 |
| Headstock | 7/8 Scale Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone Logo in Silver Silkscreen | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | ES1PPJ45PENH1 | MCJB20TB |
| Nut | Molded White | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Pickguard | Tear Drop; Tortoise | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots |
| Profile | C | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Compensated White | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 576.0mm / 22.68in | 647.7mm / 25.5in |
| Side | Layered Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Side of Heel | Gold |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Layered Spruce | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | 3-ply Bell | 2-ply Bell, Black and White |
| Tuners | Mini Die-Cast | Grover Rotomatic |
| Bracing | — | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Controls | — | Soundhole Mounted Volume, Mix Control (mixes between internal mic and under-saddle piezo pickup), Phase Inversion Switch, Battery Check, Mic Level Control |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Endpin Jack |
| Preamp | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Tuner Plating | — | Gold |
| Under Saddle Pickup | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
More J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive comparisons
- J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive vs J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
- J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive vs 1960 Hummingbird Reissue, Heavy Aged, Washed Cherry Sunburst
- J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive vs J-45 EC Studio, Vintage Sunburst
- J-45 Express, Pelham Blue, Exclusive vs J-200, Aged Vintage Sunburst Gloss