Head to head
Epiphone USA Chris Stapleton Frontier, Frontier Burst vs Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 74 to 63 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone USA Chris Stapleton Frontier, Frontier Burst wins on
No standout advantage.
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 65)
- Better value (63 vs 54)
- Lower price ($3,199 vs $4,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | USA Chris Stapleton Frontier, Frontier Burst | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 63 | 74 |
| Build | 65 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 54 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | USA Chris Stapleton Frontier, Frontier Burst | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | AA Figured Maple | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Indian Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | L.R. Baggs VTC | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $4,999 | $3,199 |
| Accessories | Certificate of Authenticity | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Back | AA Figured Maple | Mahogany |
| Binding | Multi-ply Top and Back, Single-ply Fretboard | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | Frontier | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Square Shoulder | Round Shoulder |
| Bracing | Traditional Hand Scalloped X-bracing | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge | Traditional Belly Up, Indian Rosewood | Traditional belly up |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | Tusq |
| Case | Custom Hardshell Case with Pink Interior and Tooled Exterior | Hardshell Case |
| Controls | Soundhole Mounted Volume and Tone | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Slotted Rectangle | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | 1962 Epiphone Small Peghead | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Mother of Pearl 1962 Epiphone Logo and Beehive | — |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | AMSSSFFB | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Nut width | 43.82mm / 1.73in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack | — |
| Pickguard | Dual Tortoise, Engraved with Frontier Lariat & Cactus Graphics | 50's, Tortoise |
| Preamp | L.R. Baggs VTC | — |
| Profile | Rounded C | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | Bone |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | AA Figured Maple | Mahogany |
| Strap Buttons | Cream - in Case | — |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-Screw White/Black Bullet | Black |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Nickel |
| Tuners | Gotoh Keystone | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Under Saddle Pickup | L.R. Baggs VTC | LR Baggs VTC |
| Finish | — | Nickel |
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