Head to head
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier, Iced Tea Aged Gloss vs Gibson G-45, Natural
The verdict
The Gibson G-45, Natural comes out ahead overall — 75 to 69 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier, Iced Tea Aged Gloss wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Lower price ($899 vs $1,199)
Gibson G-45, Natural wins on
- Better build (91 vs 70)
- Better value (72 vs 67)
Scorecard
| Metric | Masterbilt Frontier, Iced Tea Aged Gloss | G-45, Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 75 |
| Build | 70 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 67 | 72 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Masterbilt Frontier, Iced Tea Aged Gloss | G-45, Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Solid Maple | Walnut |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Utile |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.51" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman® Presys VT™ | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $899 | $1,199 |
| Back | Solid Maple | Walnut |
| Binding | Multi-ply | — |
| Body Finish | Aged Gloss | Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | Frontier | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder | Round Shoulder |
| Bridge | Laurel | Rectangular, Closed Slot, Striped Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory with Black Dot | Black |
| Case | Optional Acoustic AJ/Dreadnought Hard Case 940-EDREAD; Dread/AJ Acoustic EpiLite™ Case 940-EDREADHG | Gig Bag |
| Controls | Fishman® Presys VT™ Soundhole mounted Volume and Tone | — |
| Finish | Gold | Chrome |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Split Block Rectangles | Acrylic Dot |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 406.4mm / 16.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Joint | Dovetail; Glued-in, 14th fret | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | EMTFITAGH1 | MCRSG5AN |
| Nut | Graph Tech® NuBone® | TUSQ |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Heavy-Duty Epiphone | — |
| Pickguard | Historic Frontier | Black |
| Preamp | Fishman Presys VT | — |
| Profile | C | Advanced Response |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 648.0mm / 25.51in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Solid Maple | Walnut |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - bottom and side of heel | 2 |
| 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 | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-Ply Bullet, Elongated E | Walnut Laminate |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Chrome |
| Tuners | Gold, Keystone Buttons | Grover Mini Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | Fishman® Presys VT™ | — |
| Bracing | — | Traditional Scalloped X-bracing |
| Nut width | — | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
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