Head to head
Gibson J-160E Original, Vintage Sunburst vs Taylor T5z Custom Koa
The verdict
The Gibson J-160E Original, Vintage Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 78 to 60 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson J-160E Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (96 vs 61)
- Better playability (75 vs 67)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (68 vs 51)
Taylor T5z Custom Koa wins on
- Lower price ($3,799 vs $3,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-160E Original, Vintage Sunburst | T5z Custom Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 60 |
| Build | 96 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 67 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 68 | 51 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-160E Original, Vintage Sunburst | T5z Custom Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Taylor |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Shamel Ash |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Sapele |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.88" |
| Pickups | — | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,999 | $3,799 |
| Back | Mahogany | — |
| Binding | Multi-ply Top, Single-ply Back and Fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | — |
| Body shape | J-160 | — |
| Body Styles | Round Shoulder | — |
| Bracing | Traditional Scalloped X-bracing | — |
| Bridge | Belly-up, Rosewood | Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | Ebony |
| Case | Hardshell | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold Top Hat with Silver Reflector | — |
| Controls | Top-Mounted Master Volume and Tone | — |
| Fingerboard Pickup | J-160E P-90 | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Trapezoid | Faux Pearl / Silver Spires |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson Logo and Crown in Mother of Pearl | — |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body; Hot Hide Glue | — |
| Model | OCRS16VS | — |
| Nut | Bone | — |
| Nut width | 43.82mm / 1.73in | — |
| Output Jack | Side-Mounted 1/4" | — |
| Pickguard | Tortoise J-160E | None |
| Profile | SlimTaper | — |
| Saddle Material | Bone | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 24-7/8" |
| Side | Mahogany | — |
| Strap Buttons | Cream Endpin | — |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Hawaiian Koa |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Black Bell | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh Keystone | Taylor Gold |
| Armrest | — | No |
| Back And Sides | — | Shamel Ash |
| Back Configuration | — | 2-piece No Wedge |
| Back Side Finish | — | Gloss |
| Body Binding | — | White |
| Fretboard Binding | — | Black |
| Neck Finish | — | Gloss |
| Nut Saddle | — | Bone |
| Orientation | — | Right Handed |
| Peghead Binding | — | None |
| Peghead Finish | — | Gloss |
| Peghead Inlay | — | None |
| Peghead Type | — | Standard T5z |
| Top Finish | — | Gloss |
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