Head to head
Gibson SJ-200 Standard 3-Piece Back, Merlot Burst vs Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
The verdict
The Gibson SJ-200 Standard 3-Piece Back, Merlot Burst and Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst are closely matched overall — 73 to 73 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson SJ-200 Standard 3-Piece Back, Merlot Burst wins on
No standout advantage.
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
- Lower price ($5,699 vs $7,699)
Scorecard
| Metric | SJ-200 Standard 3-Piece Back, Merlot Burst | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73 | 73 |
| Build | 91 | 91 |
| Playability | 72 | 72 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 62 | 62 |
Full specifications
| Spec | SJ-200 Standard 3-Piece Back, Merlot Burst | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | Rosewood with AAA Flame Maple Center Strip | Maple |
| Neck wood | 2-piece Maple | 2-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 1" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs VTC | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $7,699 | $5,699 |
| Back | Rosewood with AAA Flame Maple Center Strip | AAA Flame Maple |
| Binding | Multi-ply | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | SJ-200 | SJ-200 |
| Body Styles | Jumbo | Super Jumbo |
| Bracing | J-200 | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing |
| Bridge | Four Bar SJ-200 Moustache; Ebony | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | Bone | TUSQ |
| Case | Hardshell | Gibson Hardshell |
| Controls | Volume and Tone | Soundhole Mounted Volume, Mix Control (mixes between internal mic and under-saddle piezo pickup), Phase Inversion Switch, Battery Check, Mic Level Control |
| Fretboard inlay | Abalone Crowns | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns |
| Fretboard radius | 12.0mm / 0.47in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson Logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown |
| Model | DTCJB20MBPSL1106 | MCJB20TB |
| Nut | Bone | TUSQ |
| Nut width | 1.73mm / 0.07in | 43.82mm / 1.73in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack |
| Profile | Round | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | TUSQ |
| Scale length | 25.5mm / 1.0in | 647.7mm / 25.5in |
| Side | Rosewood | AAA Flame Maple |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| Top wood | Sitka spruce | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Gold |
| Tuners | Grover Imperial | Grover Rotomatic |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs VTC | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Finish | — | Gold |
| Joint | — | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue |
| Pickguard | — | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots |
| Preamp | — | LR Baggs Anthem |
| Strap Buttons | — | Gold |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | 2-ply Bell, Black and White |
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