Head to head
Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente, Antique Natural Aged vs Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 80 to 69 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Masterbilt Excellente, Antique Natural Aged wins on
- Lower price ($1,299 vs $1,999)
Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (96 vs 70)
- Better value (77 vs 67)
Scorecard
| Metric | Masterbilt Excellente, Antique Natural Aged | J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 80 |
| Build | 70 | 96 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 67 | 77 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Masterbilt Excellente, Antique Natural Aged | J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Solid Ovangkol | Solid Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Maple with 5 piece Walnut and Maple center stripe | Utile |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.31" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Presys VT™ | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,299 | $1,999 |
| Back | Solid Ovangkol | Solid Mahogany |
| Binding | Ivory and Black 6-ply (top) and 4-ply (back) | Single-ply Cream, Top and Back |
| Body Finish | Aged Gloss | Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | Excellente | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder | Round Shoulder |
| Bridge | Ebony; Excellente shape with pearl dot inlays | Traditional Belly Up; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory with black center dot | TUSQ |
| Case | Optional Acoustic AJ/Dreadnought Hard Case 940-EDREAD; Dread/AJ Acoustic EpiLite™ Case 940-EDREADHG | Premium Soft Shell |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys VT™ soundhole mounted Volume and Tone | Soundhole Mounted Volume |
| Finish | Gold | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Excellente Clouds, 15th fret Block | Mother-of-Pearl Dot |
| Fretboard radius | 305.0mm / 12.01in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | Excellente Dovewing (custom) | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Large mother of pearl Excellente block with Cloud extensions | Gibson Logo in Gold Silkscreen |
| Joint | Tapered Dovetail | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | EMTEANAGH1 | MCRS45SPCVS |
| Nut | Bone | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack | 1/4" Endpin |
| Pickguard | Historic Excellente | Teardrop; Tortoise |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys VT™ | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Profile | C | SlimTaper |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 643.0mm / 25.31in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Solid Ovangkol | Solid Mahogany |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - bottom and side of heel | — |
| String gauges | Gibson™ Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings .012, .016, .024w, .032 .042, .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Nickel |
| Tuners | Gold Vintage Waffleback tuners with metal buttons | Grover Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman® Presys VT™ | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Bracing | — | Traditional Scalloped X-bracing |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | 2-ply Black |
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