Head to head
Epiphone USA Texan, Antique Natural vs Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 80 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone USA Texan, Antique Natural wins on
No standout advantage.
Gibson J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (96 vs 70)
- Better value (77 vs 58)
- Lower price ($1,999 vs $2,849)
Scorecard
| Metric | USA Texan, Antique Natural | J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 80 |
| Build | 70 | 96 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 58 | 77 |
Full specifications
| Spec | USA Texan, Antique Natural | J-45 Special, Satin Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Solid Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Utile |
| Fretboard | Indian Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs™ VTC | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $2,849 | $1,999 |
| Accessories | Gibson™ Strings | — |
| Back | Solid Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| Binding | Multi-ply top, single-ply back | Single-ply Cream, Top and Back |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | Texan | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Jumbo | Round Shoulder |
| Bracing | Traditional hand-scalloped X bracing | Traditional Scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge | Indian Rosewood | Traditional Belly Up; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ® | TUSQ |
| Case | Case included | Premium Soft Shell |
| Controls | Volume and Tone controls | Soundhole Mounted Volume |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother-of-pearl single Parallelogram | Mother-of-Pearl Dot |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock | 60s Dovewing | — |
| Joint | Compound dovetail neck joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | OCRSETAN | MCRS45SPCVS |
| Nut | Bone | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 43.82mm / 1.73in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Pickguard | Authentic Celluloid Pickguard | Teardrop; Tortoise |
| Profile | Rounded D | SlimTaper |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Solid Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| String gauges | .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Solid Spruce | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Truss Rod Cover | Epiphone Bullet | 2-ply Black |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | Nickel |
| Tuners | Grover® Cream Button | Grover Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs™ VTC | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Gibson Logo in Gold Silkscreen |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Endpin |
| Preamp | — | LR Baggs Element Bronze |
| Truss rod | — | Adjustable |