Epiphone AJ-45SE

Made in 1999, got a short blues scale: 24.75". Authorized by Gibson.
Classic slope shouldered stage guitar done in a Vintage Sunburst that has a clear gloss finish. The grain of the Burled Mahogany sides are nearly a golden irridescent in light. The back is a laminate, that is bookmatched. The top is solid sitka spruce. Electrics are Epiphone Piezo Epi-six with an anti-feedback feature along with a sub-bass and bright feature on the graphic equalizer sliders, along with treble, mid, and bass sliders. The rosewood fretboard is a rich chocolate brown that is very even in grain. Short radius, not sure how short.
Unusual green tuners that suppose to be vintage, not sure what weird green has to do with vintage keys. Mahogany neck that ends in a large standard headstock with a decal Epiphone name (I guess they had to cut costs somewhere. The finish is like a high polished Piano Finish.
This box is built like a tank. I replaced the end pin and looked at the construction on the bottom of the sides. Its got to be over a 1/4" thick. As sturdy built a guitar that I have ever played. I have played a Gibson J45, both mahogany and rosewood. I haven't played the Gibson J160E, but I have heard them on countless Beatle recordings.
I would say that as far as comparisons, my epiphone probably is more close in sound to the J160E. Amazingly, my brother has an Epiphone AJ15E, and it is more like the Gibson J45 mahogany than any other guitar I have ever played, and its only 200 bucks, and electric. There was no neck pin, so I had a dealer install a nice one, and now I can play it without having to put a string behind the nut to stand up to play.

I have recorded on this box. It takes a lot of paying attention to where your pick and fingers are so you don't have a muddy mix of notes. If you can concentrate, you are rewarded with an almost maple like brightness, and if you time your string releases, you can make this box moan with emotional sounds for ripping blues. Unplugged and recording is not very precise. I have to EQ the bass out. Plugged in I can modulate the bass as much as I want. I lie to you not, I have plugged this thing into a Line6 112 Spyder II amp, on the clean channel, and you can get a Clapton glassy bell note Straocaster sound out of it.

I had to set the action a little higher by shimming the saddle, with a piece of a thin plastic. Before, it buzzed on the 11th fret. I wish they had put a bone saddle on this thing. Oh well, they aren't that much, I just need a professional guitar man to set it up. It's OK like it is for now. The finish as I have testified, is nearly flawless. The inside of the soundhole has a small area where the finish didn't quite get there. Other than that, it is flawless. It is a work of art. It is rather a deep body, so you have to position it carefully so you can get to the fretboard properly. No wonder Harrison and Lennon played this kind of guitar high on their chest. Any lower would have meant slower chord changes, that would not have been as meticulous. Can't imagine those guys not being meticulous. The neck is very thick, though nicely tapered for a vintage sunburst baseball bat.

This sunburst body will last many lifetimes. It is built like a tank. I am not exaggerating.

not tried it

Been playing since 1964
I bought this guitar as a turn around on what I had been playing for the last 30 years, which was 65 Hofner acoustic archtop. I bought an Ovation after this guitar. The Ovation is a lot friendler to play and has a great sound. Still, if you want to capture a vintage British beat that can rip through a rhythm and blues song or do a soft bright note ballad, this guitar is uniquely gifted for that music This is a rare guitar. I have never seen an Epiphone AJ45 SE-VS anywhere else for sale used or new. They no longer make them either.