Head to head
Epiphone Songmaker DR-212, 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 64 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Songmaker DR-212, Natural wins on
- Better value (74 vs 63)
- Lower price ($289 vs $3,199)
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 61)
- Better playability (75 vs 64)
Scorecard
| Metric | Songmaker DR-212, Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64 | 74 |
| Build | 61 | 91 |
| Playability | 64 | 75 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 74 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Songmaker DR-212, Natural | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | — | Rosewood |
| Strings | 12 | 6 |
| Frets | — | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | — | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $289 | $3,199 |
| Back | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Body shape | DR-212 | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder,Songwriter | Round Shoulder |
| Bridge | Pau Ferro | Traditional belly up |
| Case | Optional Acoustic AJ/Dreadnought Hard Case 940-EDREAD | Hardshell Case |
| Finish | Nickel | Nickel |
| Headstock | Epiphone Clipped Ear (12-string) | — |
| Joint | Dovetail; Glued-in | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | EA2TNACH1 | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | PVC | Bone |
| Nut width | 48.5mm / 1.91in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Pickguard | Imitation Tortoise with foil E | 50's, Tortoise |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - bottom and side of heel | — |
| String gauges | Plain Steel .010/.10, .014/.014, Phosphor Bronze Wound .023/.008(p), .030/.012(p), .039/.018(p), .047/.027(w) | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Select Spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White); with DR-212 in white | Black |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | Nickel |
| Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Accessories | — | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Binding | — | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Bracing | — | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge Pins | — | Tusq |
| Controls | — | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | — | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | — | 20 |
| Profile | — | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | — | Bone |
| Under Saddle Pickup | — | LR Baggs VTC |