Head to head
Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst vs Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst and Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst are closely matched overall — 74 to 73 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Lower price ($2,399 vs $5,699)
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 74 | 73 |
| Build | 91 | 91 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 63 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 2-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | — | 20 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $2,399 | $5,699 |
| Back | Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| Binding | Single-ply top and back | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back |
| Body Finish | Thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-45 | SJ-200 |
| Bridge | Rectangle rosewood | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | TUSQ |
| Case | Century Series tweed hardshell case | Gibson Hardshell |
| Finish | Nickel | Gold |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of pearl dot | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns |
| Fretboard radius | 12 in. | 304.8 mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Joint | Dovetail, 12th fret | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Model | OCRS4C12VS | MCJB20TB |
| Nut | Bone | TUSQ |
| Pickguard | L-00 style | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots |
| Profile | SlimTaper 12-Fret | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 628.7mm / 24.75in | 647.7mm / 25.5in |
| Side | Mahogany | AAA Flame Maple |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Sitka spruce | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Tuners | 3 on a plate with cream buttons | Grover Rotomatic |
| Body Styles | — | Super Jumbo |
| Bracing | — | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Controls | — | Soundhole Mounted Volume, Mix Control (mixes between internal mic and under-saddle piezo pickup), Phase Inversion Switch, Battery Check, Mic Level Control |
| Fret Count | — | 20 |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown |
| Nut width | — | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Endpin Jack |
| Preamp | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Strap Buttons | — | Gold |
| Truss rod | — | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | 2-ply Bell, Black and White |
| Tuner Plating | — | Gold |
| Under Saddle Pickup | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
More J-45 Century 12-Fret, Vintage Sunburst comparisons
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