Head to head
Epiphone PRO-1, Natural vs Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 74 to 69 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone PRO-1, Natural wins on
- Better value (79 vs 63)
- Lower price ($169 vs $3,199)
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 65)
Scorecard
| Metric | PRO-1, Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 74 |
| Build | 65 | 91 |
| Playability | 75 | 75 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 79 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PRO-1, Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Select Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Okoume | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Granadillo | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 24.72" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | — | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $169 | $3,199 |
| Body shape | PRO-1 | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder | Round Shoulder |
| Bracing | Custom PRO-Prietary™ Bracing | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge | Granadillo | Traditional belly up |
| Bridge Pins | Black PVC | Tusq |
| Finish | Nickel | Nickel |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Early 1960s era Epiphone badge | — |
| Joint | Glued in | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | EAPRNACH1 | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | Graph Tech NuBone | Bone |
| Nut width | 42.67mm / 1.68in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Pickguard | Black, Scratchless | 50's, Tortoise |
| Profile | EZ-Profile C | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | GraphTech NuBone; Compensated | Bone |
| Scale length | 628.0mm / 24.72in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| String gauges | Epiphone Ultra-Light (.009-.047) | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Select Spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | 2-way Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bullet (white) | Black |
| Tuners | 18:1 ratio Epiphone Deluxe | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Accessories | — | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Back | — | Mahogany |
| Binding | — | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Case | — | Hardshell Case |
| Controls | — | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Side | — | Mahogany |
| Tuner Plating | — | Nickel |
| Under Saddle Pickup | — | LR Baggs VTC |