Epiphone EJ-200

First of, remember, this is only an Epiphone. So I will rate it as such. Jumbo body, laminate. Some prefer the laminate over solid wood.This is a 2007 made in Indonesia. With that in mind, the score will not reflect it against guitars fron GIBSON.
No electronics, spruce lam top, maple lam back and sides. Gloss fininh, mine is sunburst. Inlays are plastic, but quite pretty. Rosewood fretboard, nice frets. No case. It has what I needed, so I'll give this part a 10. Not "tons" of features, but, again, it has what I was looking for.

I biught this because I needed a "kick - around" guitar. One I could take down the shore, or to the river and not worry about it getting screwed up. If I had to use it on stage as a back up, I would. I changed the nut and saddle fron the plastic to bone, which gave it more sustain. I am impressed with the sound, great lows and highs. I do like this guitar. For the price and fact that it is a kick around with very good tone. Plays real easy.

Factory set up was pretty good, although I did change it somewhat. It had no flaws. Action? not bad at all.

I believe if I were to use it on stage, it would do well. Finish seems like it will last, of course, time will tell.
I would use it as a back up guitar if needed. Seems to be depenable.

I have delt with Customer Support about my GIBSON, and since they are also support for Epiphone, I would give them a 10. They have always been the best support group I ever delt with.

I've been playing somewhere around 40 years. As for other gear, I'm not going to list everything because you would prolly skip over it. But, my "on Stage" equipment I will list:
Main guitar;Gibson J 160e
Back up guitar; 1980 Ibanez M340
Amp: 1975 Fender tube Champ
PA; some cheapie 4 channel
Guitar pick up for Iby: "georg L's"
If it were lost or stolen, I might buy another.But there are plenty of good cheap guitars out there.

Jumbo body 6-string... Copy of Gibson J-200. Same features as all the others listed here. Mine is in the Vintage Suburst finish which looks pretty cool with all the fancy stuff this guitar has. As far as feature go this guitar is loaded!!! I dock it 1 point for not being all solid wood.

Ok... I know Jumbo acoustic guitars. I only own and play Jumbos... I currently own 4 and have owned others over the years. I can give a very educated opinion of the guitar compared to other JUMBOS I OWN... not just a few I played in a store.

Sound is a relative thing. Overall I like the sound of this guitar but anyone who rates the sound over about a 7 is downright kidding themselves. But again, it depends on how your looking at this guitar. If your looking at it as a cheap ($400) jumbo than its a very good guitar for the money. Good sound, good volume, the highs are nice??? mids are clear??? and the bass is strong but not boomy. When comparing the EJ-200 to other guitar in its price range is definitely one I recommend.

However???. If your comparing this guitar to other jumbos out their and straight up comparing guitar to guitar without considering price than the EJ-200 quickly fades against other jumbos out there. The sound is not as clear or powerful as other jumbos out there. But that???s to be expected when comparing it to guitars with solid wood back and sides and higher quality bracing. In the end the EJ-200 is a cheap guitar that sounds very good for a cheap guitar. I think anyone would enjoy owning and playing one, and for the price why not!!! But don???t kid yourself into thinking that you can pay $400 for a guitar and have something that sounds like a $2000 guitar. Heck my $900 Guild sounds much better that this guitar.

Be careful here. I've been looking at buying an EJ-200 for a few years now and never found one I liked. Action was crappy, sound was horrible the guitar felt wrong for me. But then one day I walked into a guitar store and they had 2 hanging on the wall. I walked over and picked one up and the action was bad, fret buzz, bad sound. Then I picked up the second one and really liked it. Sound was good, action was good, all around it just felt good, so I bought it. Don't buy this guitar without playing it first... the quality varies. I give this one a good rating, but I've seen ones with really bad setups.

good

Never needed it

I currently own an Alvarez Jumbo 12-string, a Guild JF30 Jumbo 6-string, and a Washburn J565 Jumbo 6-string, and this Epiphone EJ-200. The EJ-200 was the cheapest of the 4 I own, and I can say it sounds the weakest of them all, but its the only one that doesn't have all solid wood. Overall I like the guitar and would buy another one if this one were stolen or something. I use the EJ-200 mainly as a practice guitar, sometimes bringing it to play in places I don???t want to risk something happening to my better guitars... like camping, shady gigs, big parties, etc. I mainly gig with my Guild and use the Washburn as a back up or alternate tuned guitar. And of course ones arsenal is not complete without a 12-string... and the Alvarez is great!! Overall I like my collection of guitars, and think for people who gig and record and play for fun this is a strong line up to have??? very good but not over the top. In the end, I give the EJ-200 a good rating, but mainly because of its price in comparison to it quality and sound.

ej200/vs maple all around, neck is at least 2 pieces,
rosewood board, nice top matched grain.

Finally they've started making necks that aren't shaped
for 4'8 women,
this has all the features listed below

doesn't sound like a 30 year old j200,
neither does a new Gibson or new Martin.
And lots of old ones are just so-so.

Not a booming bass, but it should open up with some banging,
and less bass might minimize feedback, if I add a pickup.

Lots of sparkle without being shrill; still has old strings.

I wrestled with this guitar for like two hours,,,
I thought, ah nice neck but something is not quite right... not heavy
I put a capo on the first fret and bang;
the high nut sabotage was gone, so it needs the nut shaved.
Otherwise it would have sold within days.

who knows, 70's Gibson's did all manner of molting;
frets, finish, binding, neck twists, bridge slingshot...

everything seems solid, not perfect... but for treefitty!?(350)

The finish seems like some poly which will likely stand up to
years of abuse, although it will constrict the sound and likely
how the sound matures. but I wanted an inexpensive guitar
to play out and let my friends play.

nope, hope I don't need to,
I hope,
I hope,
I hope,
I hope,
cus most warranty techs seem stiuuuuupid!
I sure wouldn't buy another Parker, they're too cool for school.
The service people can't be bothered to take the time
to discuss options,,,buy another they'll politely coo. !@$#!@#$@#$@#MOTHER!@#$!@#$!@#$!!!!!!

Too much stuff (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), long time, old!
Most likely we'll run out of wood before this guitar is valuable...

I've been shopping in many shops around Manhattan and considered spending 10x as much; I don't need another Martin.

didn't find a cool, big necked, light weight Guild or Gibson or Martin.

not for treefitty!? no case... I've got cases.

Pretty glossy finish, extra jumbo body, gold grover tuners. Made in Indonesia, hopefully by justly compensated adults. 20 Frets. Sturdy neck. No pickup.

Rich, rich sound. Sweet and bassy, but responsive to different pick gauge and picking location for differentiation of sound.

I tried several of these guitars at several locations and played 2 that were gorgeous and one that was a bit quiet for its size.

I can't say this is "bookmatched" as far as I understand it. Wood and finish look nice. It is an amazingly beautiful guitar for the money. I have not found any flaws in finish or playability after 2 weeks.

I don't know about any of these longevity issues, but it seems very solidly built.

I believe there is a warranty, but anticipate trusting a local guitar tech for anything but catastrophic defects.

Sunburst finish, gold Grover tuners, lots of quality binding work, J-200 style scratch plate, mustache bride w/compensated saddle, nice inlay work. The finish is flawless. Neck is fairly round and chunky. Nut and saddle are a little high for my style so it needed a setup. I believe the back and sides are laminated maple and the top is solid maple. Very nice-looking and playing guitar for the money.

Very full sounding acoustic that plays like a dream. I play many different styles and it works well for all. Nice boomy sound, a budget J-200 for sure. Good balance with nice highs and punchy lows. Finger-picks and strums well. I use Elixir lights and it really brings the sound alive.

Beautiful work. All it really needed was a setup. Saddle was taken down a little, neck tweaked, etc. Also I got a Fishman Martix II installed. Plays and sounds great. Excellent sound both plugged and unplugged. Easy to play as well. If your'e looking for a jumbo under $500 this is it. It's really shocking how nice it is for the money. Stays perfectly in tune. No glue spots, no binding issues, no finish glitches, nothing. A real looker.

It's well made and the finish is solid. Like any acoustic you can't throw it about. No worries. The factory strap button at the heel of the neck is solid. Nice touch. I play the thing for hours without it going out of tune.

Never had to bother.

No, it's not a Gibson J-200 but it wasn't 2 grand either. This is it! It's just amazing how good this guitar is for the money. Most of the boomy joy of a J-200 for a lot less. Even the tech who put in the Matrix II was a bit suprised how nice it is. Keep in mind that not many of them play this well off the rack. They have to be convinced a bit from a good guitar tech. Once done you're set.

Vintage Sunburst finish,Grover gold tuners,decorative pickguard. The finish is very well applied and looks and feels high quality. Nut and saddle are low quality plastic items, which I upgarded to bone. Guitar looks fabulous all round, which if I am honest is the real reason I was initially attracted to it when I purchased via mail order.

Sound was diappointing even after upgrading saddle and nut to bone, and changing strings to Elixirs.. As stated earlier, I purchased via mail order primarily because of the appearance and also the general good reviews that this model seems to have. I have owned and played other guitars in this catergory and find the Epiphone lacking in comparison (Washburn J28 SDL is far superior in all departments, check it out first if you are considering an Epiphone EJ 200).

Action was quite to my liking ( Low for a jumbo acoustic). Well set up by the supplier. I found the 1.68" nut a little too narrow.

No reliability issues. Didn't keep the guitar long enough!

Incredibly over rated in my opinion. Made the mistake of relying on user reviews to influence my decision to buy, which I won't do again.

EJ-200 in the "Vintage Sunburst" finish. Gover gold tuners. Maple body with "select" spruce top. Lots of eye candy, gold hardware, inlays, binding, the works. A really good looking guitar. Even for an expensive guitar this thing it loaded with with lots of good looking stuff. The finish is hard and thick and will most likely mean years of durability, but I don't think it helps the tone any. Over all a real looker!

I look at this guitar 2 ways. Comparing it to other jumbos, and comparing it to other non-jumbos. Some jumbos, like the Gibson, are have a very boomy sound to them...the EJ-200 does not have that quality. But comparing it to other non-jumbo guitars I have it sound very good. Balanced with nice highs and decent lows. I both finger-pick and strum and its does both nicely. It can be very loud, but plays nice softly too. If you like that big boomy sound some jumbos have this guitar will probably disappoint you. But I really like the sound, and feel it suits my playing style well. Replacing the string really helped the sound too. The stock string are crap!! DR and Martin strings both sound great on this guitar.

Set-up was actually pretty good. I tried an EJ-200 in a shop a few years ago and it was set-up horribly... so bad I didn't even think about buying and EJ-200 after that. But I was in a store and saw one on the wall and siad "what the heck". I was totally suprised!! It sounded great and played nice, and was set up well. So good I bought it on the spot. Not to mention the fact that the gutair looks so good. Don't buy this guitar without playing it first. If you do buy it online or something make sure they have a good return policy in case you need to return it. If your lucky enough to get one that is set up nice and sounds good then go for it!! But I think they are kinda inconsistant for guitar to guitar.

Everything seems to be holding up nicely. The finish is boom-proof. I???ve banged it a few times and didn't even chip the finish. I would play this guitar anywhere with no fear of failure.

N/A. Never needed any.

I know...a 10...I must be crazy!! But when balancing price, value, quality, sound, and features.... this guitar is a 10. I had been thinking about buying an EJ-200 for many years. I tried a couple in stores and was never impressed with them at all and always passed up the EJ-200 in favor of other guitars. But one day I went into the store for some strings and a capo and saw this guitar hanging on the wall. It had been a few years since I picked one up so I thought I'd give it another chance. After about 7 minutes of fooling around with it I decided to buy it. I was totally impressed. I don't know if Epips quality has improved or if I just got lucky. Now it certainly ain't no Gibson J-200... but it does have a very nice sound all its own, and I like it. I currently own an Alvarez 12-string Jumbo, a Parkwood 6-string Dread, Fender Strat, and a Gibson 335. I???ve own a lot of guitars in my day, some good some not so good. But, the EJ-200 is here to stay. For the $$$, its a great deal!!! If you find a good one, buy it.

This is a follow up to my original submission made in December 2003. Since then I had a Fishman Matrix Natural II undersaddle transducer fitted. All other features remain "as was" in 2003.

The addition of the Fishman has made this guitar stage playable and therefore I would raise my features rating from 8 to a well-deserved...

When the transducer was fitted, my tech confirmed with me that the original action should be retained. The playability and acoustic sound remain as described in 2003 although I suspect that now the guitar has been well and truly broken-in it is probably easier to play now than it was a couple of years ago.

Having the Fishman means that I can work "acoustically" live and amplified. Using a compressor allows single note lines to be played in a duo context. The inherent acoustic sound is pretty faithfully reproduced by the Fishman/Boss CS-3 combination. The natural brightness and zing cuts through the electro-acoustic rhythm guitar. That said, when playing unamplified the EJ200 works well in a duo with its distinctive voice sitting comfortably in the acoustic mix.

Jon Haire - who fitted the Fishman - deserves much credit for tuning the break angles over the bridge to achieve a well-balanced electric output.

No further comments to add. The action is very fast and comfortable for an acoustic guitar. Finish is holding up well although it is normally kept in a hard shell case when not in use.

Regular use has eased up the frets and the initial grating sound when bending strings or applying vibrato has now gone. I would ratchet up my rating from 8 to...

Since the Fishman was fitted the Epi has been gigged a number of times. Not with my regular electric blues band I must add, but one-offs where the impression of playing acoustically is crucial.

Overall no problems. Sound-wise I am more than happy. Grovers do their job as one would expect. Regular string changes keep the sound live and vibrant.

I was quite "exuberant" in my original review. Time has done little to change my opinion. If anything the addition of the Fishman has made me even more positive about my EJ200.

Shame that there are still morons out there who see the engraved scratchplate and brand the EJ200 a "Country guitar" - Country as played by Townshend, Page, Neil Young etc etc?? Nothing better than hammering out Pinball or Cinnamon Girl on a good sounding Super Jumbo!

This is NOT the real thing BUT it is a very, very good budget alternative. And I do not mean "budget" in a perjorative sense either. Its RRP would make it a more than reasonable buy, the discounts available make it almost obscenely inexpensive [but not cheap]. Go on, treat yourself....

It's a big jumbo. No Cutaway. No pickups. Flat tops (acoustic only) aren't expected to have features so I'll give it a 10. It did have solid top (I believe) and laminated sides may be okay if the guitar is designed and built well. The woods were carefully selected but with no figuring (hey, it's only $350.00!).
What a finish! High gloss and perfectly applied. The nut felt like 1-11/16ths. The tuners worked well. Very ornate neck with a jazz-type of profile. I love it. Too bad for me; See below.

Initially, it sounded weak. A change to Martin strings really made a difference. I'm not an acoustic player but it sounded good to me. It doesn't really matter though as all three samples could not play fretted notes beyond the seventh fret without buzzing BADLY. See below.

First of all, it' simply hard to believe the fit and finish. Even the old jazz guys at the store were blown away. My three samples were all equally spectacular construction-wise and finish-wise. The cosmetics were unbelievable at this price (around $300). The problem, with all three samples, was the action which was not only frustrating (one played well after adjustment but would not hold the neck adjustment beyond five days) but also discouraging as none of the three could be made to not buzz. All were returned to Epiphone, one after another. None could actually be played! The lack of stability, causing the necks to change nearly daily(!)is a very bad sign. I am very disappointed as I always wanted a Gibson J200 but couldn't justify the purchase being primarily and electric performer. These were so beautiful (all were natural finish)--I fell in love but they broke my heart. DO NOT WASTE TIME LIKE I DID. I had to drive 100 miles each way for this fiasco, time after time.

I own a Korean Epiphone Emperor (around 10 years)and a Korean Sheraton II. Both are simply perfect. I actually had faith in Epiphone. As all three of my EJ200's were defective and one was fettled repeatedly by a top luthier at an authorized Epiphone dealer, to no avail (it constantly changed its adjustment and action, nearly daily), I recommend getting another product. Get this: even the cases were defective! All had bad latches, yet the defect was different on all three. Apparently, the acoustic division at Epiphone cares little for QC. Simply put, A DISGRACE. I paid for the fist EJ200 in early Sept '05 and it took until mid-Jan '06 to go through all three and finally give up. What a waste.

Epiphone was repeatedly notified about these issues. We begged for a unit hat was hand-picked considering what I'd been through. Yet, they repeatedly sent defective guitars! The dealer, however, was perfect. I actually felt bad for them. I got my money back and had to buy a nice Alvarez. I'm satisfied but still wish I had a WORKING EJ200. It's sexier.

I've been playing since 1964. I also taught guitar. I still practice over an hour every day and still play in clubs around town, nearly weekly.
To summarize, the Epiphone EJ200 is a beautiful but unstable design which is likely to cause you trouble. Notice how many reviews refer to needing a neck adjustment. How many of those adjstments held? I paid little heed and ended up driving around a thousand miles (this is not an exaggeration) over a four month period, going back and forth to the dealer, trying units that had been either adjusted or replaced. None were playable. How could Epiphone ship such a piece of crap?

2004 korean made, black finish jumbo.. IT IS FANTASTIC! I actually wanted the sunburst, but this one was half of, so. Yeah! It is great! I tried the gibson also, and yes, of course it is a bit better, but most of the extra money you pay for the real thing is in the gibson logo! Grovers are fantastic! Stays in tune for ever! And aas someone else pointed out, mr ashcroft uses it, as does both Courtney Taylor and Noel Gallagher..

The sound is amazing! I put a couple of good Martin 0.11 strings on it and it just hums! It is very crisp, but also very deep! Perfectly balanced sound! Also, the sustain is incredible!

The finish is flawless. If you like the the retro looks on it, get it! And many of you have pointed out that the action on the strings are high.. Mine is set very low, actually lower than I have it on my AFS 75. Ibanez archtop. Maybe epiphone have changed the factory setup, or I have just been lucky.. Don't know, but the action on mine is as good as it gets.

Almost breand new.. Don't know, but it seems reliable and well built.. Sturdy finish

Don't know..
BTW; 2800 NOK is about 400 USD.. Norway is pricey! This guitar is nearly 1000 bucks in norway!!!!

Been playing for 3 years.. Have an Ibanez AFS archtop, a traynor cs20 and a vox pathfinder amp.. I'm am a nostalgic! I really like retro looks, and sound! What can i say Not only whats on the inside counts, looks are also important! And this one is a looker!

2001 BLOND EJ200
MADE IN KOREA

MARTIN STRINGS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THE NICE DEEP SOUNDS YOU GET FROM THIS GUITAR ARE MIND BLOWING. HANDS DOWN. THE NICEST ACOUSTIC I'VE EVER PLAYED. I JUST USE A DEAN MARKLEY PICKUP AND RUN IT THROUGH A BOSS SE-50 HALF RACK ON HALL 2 SETTING, AND IT SOUNDS MAGICAL.

FACTORY SET, I BELIEVE. IT'S PERFECT.

BEEN PLAYING IT STEADY FOR 4 YEARS, AND ITS PERFECT.

N/A

LIKE I SAID, HANDS DOWN THE NICEST GUITAR I'VE PLAYED. NICE DEEP AND RICH SOUND. IT'S THE ONLY ACOUSTIC I HAVE TO HAVE. IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR RICHARD ASHCROFT, ENOUGH SAID.

not sure what year, 21 frets, beautiful spruce top. I have the sunburst version. Fantastic binding round the neck, shaped at the bottom over the soundhole too, like the Joe Pass archtop. lovely crown inlays for the fret markers and the Gibson inlay 'flower' which gives it pure class. Has a moustache inlayed bridge too, gold grover tuners, gold strap locks which is a nice touch. Stunning

Has that Gibson sound, really loud and mellow,

action was a bit high, neck was straight etc, so removed the plastic bridge and sanded a couple of mm off. Now it's great. No flaws whatsoever. It's really made well in every area. Only thing I removed was the stenciled 'flowers' on the tortoise shell pickguard. A bit of nail varnish remover annd cotton wool and it got rid of it in 2 minutes. Looks a much grander serious guitar with out the frills of country sprayed on.

is great live, I have a dean markley sound hole pickup and it's beautifull. Finish seems very good to me, nice thick laquer, solid binding. Grover machine heads top rate. and stays in tune even going from hot to cold places. Best quitar i've had for staying in tune. and I have about 13!

never needed them

Been playing 18 years now! Blimey. Have lots of archtops, 2 gretsch, 2 gibsons,Levin, a fender US jaguar 64, plus a couple of custom teles, and an old blond hofner archtop that is to fragile to gig now but still great shape. Definately get another. Just wish it was set up better or had shims to remove to widen the choice of action. Also the 12's on it were huge cables, biggest 12's I've seen! 10's are much better personally for my style.

This guitar arrived at my front door yesterday and I haven't managed to stop looking at it...It looks that damned good.Made in Korea,and its a credit to the guitar builders there1

Its the black model with gold Grover tuners and acres of cream binding, really fancy scratch board..there are no factory electrics fitted,so I may or may not have one installed in due course.

It is the latest model,so now has a select spruce solid top as opposed to the laminate of the previous models

I really like the two button straps (also gold)...why dont all manufacturers do this?

I'm still breaking it in,but as far as I can tell it sounds fabulous...(I'll expand on this in the action fit&finish section)..real bell like bass and bright hi's...no buzzes on any part of the fretboard and bags of resonance. As I said,there are no electrics but if I do go down that rout,I'll put it through my '72 Fender Champ (see my review for that);I'm sure it'll sound fab.As this is a solid top,I'm sure it'll get better and better

This bits interesting...Firstly the good part:
The finish on this guitar is AMAZING!!..Whenever I get a new guitar my heart kind of sinks when I examine it..you know the usual varnish drips,stains on the fretboard etc....I've gone over this guitar microscopically and it is perfect...and I mean PERFECT and I couldn't be happier.
Now the bad part:
You could drive a truck under the strings as far as action goes!!..I've got hands like a builders and even I can barely hold chords down past the third fret (Like a previous reviewer said).The strings supplied with it could be used to suspend a bridge and even though I play several hours a day,I've still managed to shred my finger tips to ribbons!

I know these guitars are deliberately set high so the owner can get it set up for their tastes and thats what I'm doing...but not everyone has access to guitar workshops..and there are plenty of new strummers out there who dont know about these things.If you one of those I think you'd be despairing right now...well dont...a set up will only cost you around 25 quid.I really think that Epiphone should to a more user friendly set up at the factory,which is why I'm going to knock down their rating in this category.

Once the above is taken care of and when I get some lights put on it,I'm sure it will be fantastic.

This guitar seems pretty robust...but why oh why did I get the black one?..Ive been playing for over thirty years and I should have remembered about chips,knocks and scratches!!...I've just ordered a hard case which I think is definately a must;untill then I wont let anyone get within 30 feet of it! Well at this price I might get the natural colour as well..(I was going to get that anyway but the wife thought the black looked "prettier"..I have to be nice about this cos she just about tolerates my obsession with guitars..but grrrr! why did I listen to her!!)
Finish is perfect...no probs here

I have had a few Epi's over the years with no problems...I phoned their UK supplier the other day and they were helpfull,friendly and extremely courteous

Like I said,I've been playing for over thirty years..I've had dozens of different guitars during that time.My first guitar was a 1969 Hofner Galaxie (US spec) which I bought as a 12 year old in HongKong for a few quid (Ijust sold it on ebay as a project for #365!! kewl!)

Currently I've got a Danelectro 56U2,an Ozark resonator,a Martin D28,a Hohner acoustic bass,a Gibson studio and a couple of acoustics that aren't worth mentioning.I put all the electric stuff through my old Fender Champ at home.

I love this new guitar...and will love it even more once I get the action and string niggles sorted.I dont think I'd reccomend it to a small kid or a learner...its a big mother;but if you want to move up from your old dreadnaught, want to pose on stage,listen to the bell like sound or even admire its beauty...BUY IT!!

I definately wouldn't spend the extra #1,500 that its Gibson Daddy would cost me...even if I had it...which I dont!!...I think its a stunning guitar for the money

This is a brand new EJ200, made in Korea. I was impressed with the fact that it was inspected by Epiphone/Gibson here in the US. The similarity to the Gibson SJ200 was one of the factors in my decision to purchase this guitar. I had a Gibson Hummingbird that I bought new in 1963 and this one compares.

I play mostly country and the "Jumbo" sound really comes through. I replaced the strings with Gibson J-200 Ultra Lights and it brought the sound from a 9 to a 10. The sound compares to the Gibson Hummingbird I had which now sells for $3000 on eBay. I have been told that people who have compared the 2 cannot tell the difference between the EJ200 and a Gibson SJ200.

Guitar came in perfect condition.

This guitar is well made and is built to last.

No dealings with Epiphone as yet.

I have been playing for my own enjoyment for over 45 years. I have owned a Gibson Hummingbird and a Martin 000-1. I just purchased a Martin 000R and cannot wait to see how it compares to the EJ200. The floral on the EJ200 makes me think I am playing a $5000 SJ200. The fact that Epiphone is owned by Gibson was a factor in my purchasing the EJ200. If Gibson was not the parent company I doubt if I would have even looked at an Epiphone.

Made in Korea, this beautiful guitar is just that....a beaut! Laminated top, with a lovely blonde color all over. I really enjoy the colour, especially the back of the neck. Beautiful. It came with a Fishman Natural II pickup installed. *drool*

The sound is unlike any acoustic I've ever played. I have played a Martin, Taylor, Gibson, etc. etc... Nothing compares to this. It fills the room with lush sound. Very nice. Plugged into my Roland JC-77, it is amazing, especially with a little chorus, but just a clean signal is just as amazing. Tops.

Now, I bought this second hand, so it has been modded a little. The action is brilliant. Just right. No flaws at all. I Love Epiphones, and this one is simply gorgeous. All the hardware is top-notch, and solid. The Grover tuners have a little, little now...rust on them. like 'spotting', but that's no biggie.

I would defenitely use this without a backup, and I will. Ican totaly depend on this guitar, I know this to be fact. Everything is solid as a rock, and well made. Bravo!

I Love this guitar. The jumbo sound is just that...HUGE! It's amazing. The EJ-200 will be my main guitar for playing live, and recording for decades to come. I can't wait. If you have a chance to pick one of these beautiful guitars up, do not hesitate. Like I said before, a 'name' is not everything. Well, I simply Love Epiphones, so who am I saying that...but hey. The EJ-200 is one hell of a guitar. The best acoustic I've ever played, hands down. Get one...you'll see. If someone stole it, I'd hunt them down and beat them....then take my guitar back. HA!

My ej-200 was made in 2002, in Korea. I bought it in Bangkok, Thailand. I got it 4 months ago. No pick up, no cut away. It is a super jumbo guitar. The finish is natural. I, personally, don't like the headstock of Epiphone. But this is the except one. The headstock is glossy black with binding, the side and the back are natural. There is a crown logo at the front of the headstock. It is a beautiful headstock of Epiphone so I like it. The gold tuners are Grover, same as in Gibson Studio 1999. Crown inlay, moustage bridge, flowered pick guard and super jumbo size are striking, especially for me. The side and back of the body are glossy natural. It a beautiful super jumbo. It came in soft foamy package, in a hard paper box that's not good quality paper compared to the hard paper box of Ovation. There were 2 cards came with it. One was Epiphone logo and the other was an inspection card, I will discuss about inspection below. There was a hex key in a small plastic bag, .012 string set. There were some rusts on 4 th, 5th and 6 th strings. The strings were not tuned, they were loosed. This super jumbo was a new one in stock. It was not shown in the shop. There were another 2 ej-200s shown, One was natural and the other was little darker. If I can choose, I always choose the new one in stock, not the shown one.

The sound is good, but not as good as I expect. High is bright, mid is OK but low is not bloomy as I expect. Because it's laminated, not solid. The intonation was not good. After I changed the string ot Dean Markly .011 set, its intonation was a little better. I adjusted the truss rod and lowered the saddle. The intonation was better but sitll not good. It's higher in the high position, almost all the strings. Overall rating for sound is 7 but to my expectation it is 2.

First time I played my ej -200, it was very difficult to play note and chord. It's very hard to play barred chord at 7th fret or higher. I could not accept the set-up at the factory in Korea. In the inspection card that came with this ej -200, it was printed that the height of the 1st and 6th strings were 2 mm. But they were actually 5-6 mm. The height of the nut was OK. I adjusted the truss rod then lowered the saddle until I got 3 mm for 6th string and 2.5 mm for 1st string. It was easier to play. I think that J.W. LEE (The name in the inspection card) did not really set-up the instrument, just stamped 2 mm. and his name on the card. I agree with the lower opinion on the inspection by the 24 guy. The finish was good and beautiful. There were some small flaws on the body, might be from transpostation, but I still found it's beautiful. The overall rating for this category is 5, for the action is 1 and for the finish is 9.

It can be played live. But I have to play certain songs that I seldom play in the high position. Gold Grover tuners may be rusted in the future like I see in Gibson LP Studio 1999.

In Thailand, the dealer cannot help me. They cannot set-up. I have to do it myself.

30 years playing guitar. If you want to buy the ej-200, you have to try. If you cannot accept the set-up, don't buy it. Don't waste your time setting it up. I did not like the factory set-up of this ej-200. But I like its appearance. It's beautiful to my eyes. That's why I bought this one.

It's oustanding what the Koreans can do. Not a lot to add to what was said about the incredible quality over price ratio. It misses the 10 because of the plastic pieces. I wanted to try the new EJ-300S 5made in China), but it will take months or maybe years before it is effectively distributed in Europe. Mine is natural, I really prefer that to the (toasted) sunburst or black-Presley models.
No case, no gig-bag, no cable: normal for the price.

My style is N. Young, CCR, Stones, Who (sure you guess my age now). Acoustically, the guitar sound is fantastic. Real jumbo volume. Sounds better than my Takamine EN-10. The chords last forever with good heavy strings (.12). I have mounted the new Dean Markley's Tahoe to hook it to the Sherwood: the sound is plain, rich & balanced. There is no EQ, and it would be cool sometimes to add more brightness, but I still prefer passive pick-ups for the comfort of not having to replace the battery and keeping the primitive sound of the guitar. The TAHOE is quiet (not very loud). Only hums when facing the amp. Great great value for all of this !!

WOuld rank at 9.

I spent hours without finding a flaw. I guess the quality checks are very rigorous and the process quite optimized to produce splendors like this for the bucks.

I know Epi enough to know that it will age nicely, apart from the "gold" stuff which will grey up a bit. I think this would badly suffer if it falls.

Never dealt with Epi.

Been playing for 30 years. Would run to buy again if stolen. Would never consider the Gibson J200, as I simply don't deserve it. The Epi EJ-200 is in my category, I have more limits than the guitar.

And... the great thing is that it attracts me like a magnet, makes me play more and better. I wish it would not have the plastic pieces.

Go for it, if you can still find them. These guitars are little gems for standard people.

Jumbo body... nice, maple back and sides... not so nice, spruce top... nice, rosewood fretboard and bridge... not so nice. Im a very picky person when it comes to acoustics, but im poor and i needed an acoustic, the EJ fit the bill perfect. My idea of the perfect acoustic is the martin D-35 only in a jumbo form. im also told that ebony resonates and sounds better than rosewood fretboards/bridges.

it sounds... okay... it was set up very well though, i was surprised when a guitar made in korea didnt buzz

like i said before this guitar had a surprisingly perfec set up, very comfortable. no flaws, but i have the sunburst finish so it gets finger prints easily but thats not a big deal

it hasnt broken yet, its pretty solid.

havn't delt with them, didnt need to

good guitar for the money

This is a Korean-made laminate top jumbo acoustic with spruce top, maple back and sides, rosewood fretboard, and black finish. It has crown inlays on the fretboard and bar inlays on the bridge (which is shaped after the Gibson moustache bridges). The tuners are very nice gold Grovers, and there is a strap button on the heel. I'm only giving it an eight because of the lack of a solid top.

If I hadn't known it was a laminate top before I played it, I never would have guessed. It has a beautiful, rich, full sound with nice clear highs and strong bass. I was very surprised. It's also very responsive. It can be loud and powerful or soft and subtle.

I play mostly country music, and the tone is great for that. I do everything from heavy strumming to flatpicking to fingerpicking, and it always sounds great.

There were no obvious finish flaws. All the inlays look good. The neck did not need adjusting even after shipping.

But the saddle was cut low under the high E, leading to a good deal of fret buzz. Rather than shim it up, I replaced the plastic saddle with bone, which eliminated the buzz and improved the tone.

Be aware that the factory set-up on this guitar had as low of an action as you can get on an acoustic. If you like something a little higher, you'll need to do some adjusting.

I haven't played this one at a gig yet, but I would. I never play without a back-up, though. Even with a $5,000 Taylor, I'd bring a back-up. It looks pretty durable and reliable, but I haven't had the chance to test that theory.

I haven't dealt with Epiphone on this at all.

I've been playing guitar for a little over a year. I also have a Norman acoustic, Ibanez AW20 acoustic, and a Squier Telecaster. I've been wanting a Gibson super jumbo for a while now, but I know I won't be able to afford it for another year or two. So I bought this as sort of a stop-gap until I can get a Gibson. But this guitar has really surprised me, and I'm very pleased with it. If it were lost or stolen, I would definitely look into getting another, although I would also look into the EJ-300s which has a solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides.

I plan to replace the nut and bridge pins with bone next, and I anticipate that will also improve the sound. I also recommend Elixir strings. I will also be putting in electronics soon, although I haven't decided what.

I know this guitar is a laminate, but I highly recommend giving it a try before writing it off. I guarantee you'll be impressed.

Korean-made natural finish EJ200. Spruce top with maple back and rims. Bound rosewood neck with crown inlays. Large old-style Epiphone headstock is scarf-jointed onto the neck. Two piece heel. Gold Grover machineheads. Moustache bridge with compensated saddle. Neck has a very obvioius Gibson feel. Nice touch are the two gold plated strap buttons on the heel and end block.

It's a physically big acoustic guitar. The sound is bright and rich nwith surprisingly good sustain. The trebles are bright and the bottom end has a pleasing ring to it. This must be due to the combination of the body dimensions and the use of maple for the back and rims. I wanted a J200 because Townshend used one to such impressive effect. A genuine Gibson was an absolute non-starter but the Epi impressed when I played a couple at a trade show. It is a great strumming guitar which responds well to the intensity of pick-hitting-strings. I wanted the J200 sound and I reckon I have it now.

The EJ200 felt absolutely right from the outset. Action is fraction higher than my Les Pauls. Gold Grovers do exactly waht one would expect. Finish is fine with no obvious spills, runs or mass-production blemishes. The headstock scarf joint and the two-piece heel are obvious as the timbers are of differing colours, but let's not forget this is a budget instrument, not a Montana job at 10x the cost!

The compensated saddle seems fine and there are no quibbles with intonation. No obvious problems with the guitar.

Too early to say as I have only had it two weeks. The fact I am publicly commenting so quickly suggests this has been a good purchase. This guitar inspires confidence. With a hard case on order she hasn't been gigged yet, but no doubt it's only a matter of time before she makes her debut. I would use this guitar for acoustic sets without hesitation.

Only time will tell how she ages. Just because it is a budget model does not mean it will not mature - my Vega 845 (D28 replica) certainly did.

I have wanted a J200 for aeons. Thanks to Epiphone I have one. Nearly thirty years playing electric and acoustic. My other acoustic guitar is a Dutch Vega 845, modelled on its then-parent company's Martin D28. Spruce and rosewood body. The sound of the EJ200 is bigger and more resonant than the Vega. Each has its own voice and feel. But the Super Jumbo has the aura of "pick me up and play". A great guitar at a ridiculous price. Shop around though; the RRP in the UK is in excess of #400. At that price it would be a pretty good buy. What I paid verges on charity from the retailer. The only problem is it is such a big bugger to store.

The more I play it the more I like it. Its sound, its apparent build quality and its almost stupid cost makes for one very appealing and useful acoustic guitar. No hesitation in recommending it. I know Pete Townshend and Neil Young use the real thing, but for the fiscally-challenged amateur this really is a great route to 'that' Super Jumbo sound. Great work Epiphone!

E um viol?o feito de madeira laminada nas laterais e tampo solido.
Muito boniti ao olhar, tem um excelente acabamento. Destaques para o formato do braco em "v" e para a ponte/cavalete, em forma de bigode.
Uma obra de arte.

N?o ha nada no mercado similar a este produto.
E muito inferior a um Gibson J200, mas e muito mais barato.
E muito melhor do que os Takamines, Ibanez e Washburns, na mesma faixa de preco. E muito semelhante aos Taylor e Martins mais baratos, mas tem um visual simplesmente impressionante. Na faixa dos US$400,00 n?o ha nada melhor no mercado mundial.

A de sempre, cordas um pouco velhas e ac?o um pouco alta, nada que um luthier n?o possa remediar. Da pra tocar umas 5 horas seguidas com esse viol?o.

Acho que vai ser uma das melhores aquisic?es acusticas da minha vida.

Sem opini?o, pois sem qualquer contato. Sem problemas.

Toco viol?o por mais de 10 anos e este foi um dos melhores instrumentos que passaram pelas minha m?os.

It was made in Oct. 02, Korea. 20 frets, Grover type tuners


* Gold hardware
* 25.5" scale
* 1.68" nut width
* Set maple neck
* Body, neck, and headstock binding
* Rosewood fingerboard with crown inlays
* Maple jumbo body with select spruce top


Nice 6 band Shadow eq...XLR & 1/4 inch jack output...(What for?, Mean really?)


READ THIS REVIEW...IT HAS A TWIST ENDING!



Submitted by Evan at 02/06/2003 09:17

This is the problem with this otherwise PERFECT guitar. For a jumbo that dares to physically copy the hallowed Gibson J-200 this is nothing short of a complete letdown. The finish and look of this guitar is beautiful...the craftmanship is terriffic. I hope Korea continues to make great guitars and great prices...not nuclear bombs.


Anyway, the sound (unplugged) is thin and tinny. The set-up sucked and I suspect the intonation was off. I would have gotten it set-up, but I was concerned the return policy would be null and void after I altered it. God forbid anything got scratched during the process, I'd be stuck. It's lifeless unplugged sound was such a downer, I was hoping this would be my baby for a while, but I had to face facts.


I know, I know...it's electric/acoustic...that's why you bought it. Well, yeah, but I want it to jam unplugged too sometimes. For the money I feel I should. I own a Mitchell (Samick) MJ-150 jumbo and it rocks...it was $100.00. So value and sound is important to me, not name. Maybe it would have sounded better after a bone nut and bridge and a great set-up and intonation adjustment...but by then the return policy would have been shot.


Yes, I did return this after playing it for a month. The pickup (with both XLR & 1/4 inch outputs) seemed very responsive and the 6-band EQ was accurate. However, it did tend to be either too bassy or too trebely.


I wonder if the cutaway (only on the electric/acoustic version CE) has something to do with it. The full-size are not cutaway and are much cheaper. Maybe someone should get that and put in aftermarket pickups...I don't really like doing that. It's like putting in an aftermarket sunroof to a car. It's gonna leak sooner or later.


I have since replaced it with a Yamaha CJX12S. It's not as flashy looking by any stretch of the imagination, but it's unplugged sound is bold and rich and it has a great Yamaha pickup (ribbon) included. It's a limited run...

The style and vibe of this guitar coulden't suit me better, the black finish (though a little warped in a section or two) was thick and durable. The pickguard with it's J-200 design style was gorgeous. The neck has a cool "dip" at the bottom, check out a picture somwhere. A lot of attention and detail went into the crafting of this guitar. Gorgeous mustache bridge. Nicely inlaid tuning head. A really classy and unforgettable guitar.


Set-up blew (really low) and I think the intonation was off.
Too bad it sounds wimpy.

As stated, the finish was durable. This would be a workhorse...if the sound didn't suck. They added an extra strap button...cool.

Musicians Friend was cool about the return (they haven't gotten it yet) but they are paying the feight back to them. Not for nothing, but I have a fleeting susplicion this was a used guitar anyway. There was no plastic on the pickguard when Irecieved it and there was a small scratch near the headstock (could have been rom the factory).


They didn't want to pay for the return saying they only do that when merchandise is, "defective". After explaining to them that in my book anything that I can't comfortably play IS defective they agreed to pay for the shipping. COOL!


Maybe I'm paranoid, but it's just a vibe I get. Otherwise, I've been pretty lucky with the company. All Epiphones come with a Lifetime warranty.

As I said, although this is a beautiful guitar to look at, it's sound is absolutely puny and thin. I know, I know, I know...you'll buy it anyway because there isn't anything on the market like it at this price.

Don't bullshit yourself...you'll fall out of love with it once the initial excitement and pizazz of this guitars' looks wear off a little. If you want a loud ass jumbo (and I suppose you do if you're considering this guitar) save your pennies and buy the real Gibson J-200...that warm bass can't be duplicated (unfortuantely). It's so distinctive. Otherwise, try out other things...I really like my Yamaha CJX12S...check it out. It's even a little cheaper.

I'm all for adjusting things to get them to sound the way you want, after all that's what being an original musician is all about, but the starting point has to be better than this. You'll be sorry having to live with it's limited projection and totally shitty bass. No boom, no life, no vitality. That sucks.

This guitar is a laminate spruce top with (assumedly laminated) maple sides and back. Mine is Vintage Sunburst finish (beautiful) and comes with gold Grover tuners. Neck I believe to be mahogany with rosewood fretboard. Jumbo body style. Wish it had solid wood construction, but that can't be expected for the price. Abalone and mother of pearl headstock, fretboard, and "mustache" bridge inlays. White binding on body, neck and headstock. Very impressive looking.

I play mostly classic rock and modern, classically inspired rock. This means Oasis, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Neil Young, The Wallflowers, The Verve, The Who, etc... mostly British rock. One of the deciding factors in the purchase of this guitar is that Noel Gallagher of Oasis uses (or did use) one extensively for both recording and stage work. I liked the sound it gave and decided to replace my Epiphone PR-350CE with it. I couldn't be more impressed. Where the 350CE was muddled and undistinct, the EJ-200 is clear, bright, and full. This guitar's jumbo body style and maple side and back provide a clean, bright tone that also sounds very full and provides ample bass. This guitar is perfect for strumming along to a solo vocal or providing rhythm to a full band performance. I can say without much hesitation that this has got to be the best sounding guitar in the $500 and under catagory. Even without solid construction, the guitar simply sounds beautiful.

The setup on this guitar was not quite great but I've yet to get it remedied. The action is wonderfully low, but this causes some buzzing on two of the lower strings. Not severe, but enough to be mildly annoying. I will try to get this fixed under warranty. At the same time I will probably also have a complete professional tuneup and have a bone nut and saddle fitted to replace the stock plastic items. The finish quality on this guitar was very good to excellent with no major or even minor flaws, but a couple teeny-tiny ones (the trim stripe on the back was alligned just a tad to the right and finish on the edge of the sound hole could have been a bit better.

I have owned Epiphone guitars in the past and structurally they have all been quite durable and I expect no less from this one. It seems very solidly put together. I would not expect to need a backup at a gig. Also, as stated before, Noel Gallagher uses this model as a mainstay when recording and touring. I doubt he would do this (especially touring) if it was not reliable.

Lifetime limited warranty but haven't been able to use it yet.

I've been playing for about 7 years now and have owned various guitars ranging from Stratocaster and Les Paul knockoffs to Epiphone Casinos, PR-350CE, 255-EA, Les Paul Standard, Harmony Monterey... I was worried that this guitar would not fulfill my expectations having never played one myself before buying it online. I really could not be happier with it though and plan to keep it for a long, long time. This guitar would be replaced if stolen because I love it's style, tone, and playability. I truly feel that it is the best guitar in it's pricerange. It's not a Guild, but for $700 less, it comes close enough. Great value.

The label is gone and EJ-200 is hand written inside the cavity. I have no idea when this was made, or what it's made of, but it's been around a while. I got it on eBay (like everything else) and had to have it refretted up to the 8th fret, due to the grooves from excessive (or years of) capo use, and the rest of the frets recrowned (filed, dressed or whatever you call it.) Gold tuners are okay, but not real solid. Thick plastic nut and bridge. V-shaped neck.

I bought this guitar for big booming western swing and bluegrass style play. Sound is full, thanks to the big body, but not the big booming sound I hoped for. The wood used in the body construction seems pretty thin. Looking into the body cavity, I can even see light through a few places on the edge binding when holding the guitar up to a light source. Maybe thin wood is good for sound, but overall I just think it's too thin and and the guitar too lightweight.

I added a Dean Markley Sweet Spot pickup which is excessively bright, and doesn't really help me get what I want from the guitar. I can say that fingerpicking dynamics are amazingly detailed.

My guitar was heavlily used so I had it completely setup and refretted. This one is the standard suburst finish, and looks really nice - if you're into that western countrified look!

The neck is V-shaped, not round. I have no idea if they're all like this or not. This the first of that neck type I've ever played and I dig it.

The big mustache bridge is solid - not carved out like a real Gibson jumbo - with perloid bridge inlays that are not appealing to me.

Overall, I really like this guitar, and play it more than any other I own: about an hour every day. If it had the total sound I had hoped for, I'd never put it down.

As mentioned in the "Sound" section, this guitar's wood is on the light (i.e. thin) side for my tastes. Could be a problem if dropped or hit hard.

This is a good guitar: The sound is good, the looks are good, the construction is good. It simply doens't have the GREAT presence and projection of a "real" Gibson super jumbo. Of course it doesn't have the price either! I say: a good guitar for the money.

2003, fresh from Music 123. Laminated, select spruce top. Natural gorgeous maple finish. Super jumbo. Grover tuners!A beautiful guitar.Bone nut & saddle

I play all kinds of music, 42 years now.I will either mic this on stage and or install a B-Band piezo and maybe even a P-90, 20% underwound in the soundhole. It has a very nice classic sound like the old Beatle records.

I could not believe the setup! It was perfect. No buzz , perfect intonation, I always bring my new instruments to My favorite guitar shop, Renson Guitars in Studio City, California but this guitar is perfect as is.I do not know what they can do to make it better.

I believe this guitar to be sound however I will need time to see. I do know that I have the E-160E Lennon and it is holding up well, however you better get a humifier! and use it.

I have had no experience dealing with Epiphone.

I would definitely get another if it were stolen. I love the beauty, how easy it plays, and that classic gibson accoustic tone. I also own a Taylor 614CE and the Epi holds it's own. I find myself grinning when I think of what I paid!

This a 2002 model, in ebony (it was in stock--I wanted natural--but there's a waiting list for those. Imagine that: for a Korean made acoustic. Gold tuners (that work!) Beautifully inlaid fret board and headstock, cool looking "mustache bridge--with gorgeous inlay work).

It came with no electronics, but more about that later.

This jumbo monster is laminated maple w/ rosewood fret board, so it's bright. I ordered the HSC case for the jumbo. At this price, why not?

Holy crap. I read the reviews before I bought, but I'm always skeptical about using the ears of others as a yardstick of how I might feel about a particular sound and its source. That being, I was not disappointed. I bought it as a stay-at-home, songwriting guitar, but with the few inexpensive modifications I did (got electric in my blood), it's going to its first gig this afternoon. Here's why:

Kicked around the idea of somehow wanting to amplify the EJ-200. I looked at all the options from Fishman, et. al., and read a few reviews on the Dean Markley "Sweet Spot" piezo. Strictly passive, under-bridge, not even a volume control. Popped 'er in, and plugged the jumbo into my Roland JC-77. Holy crap! I have never, ever heard a guitar, pick-up, amp combination (with just reverb and chorus, mind you) that swirls around the room and just drenches you in guitar. It is the most amazing live acoustic sound I've ever heard--and it's all analog.

Acoustically (which is what this supposed to be about--sorry, I'm just floored by the amplified version), this guitar is bright and full. I know it lacks some bottom end, but it is all maple, and the hard-woods have a tendency to brightness. All in all, I like the tone. It's great for flat-picking, and I've even pulled off some decent finger-picking. The guitar mellows out when it's strings are not being strummed or picked with a plectrum. You lose volume, but I think that the jumbo body helps increase the decay time, so it rings just enough. Most of the sound seems to come from the top, not out of the sound hole. Perhaps that's the reason that it sounds so good with an under-bridge pick-up. For a laminated top, it responds wonderfully; as close to an archtop as one can get, from my experience (think Howard Roberts).

It came from Musician's Friend and they use their generic set-up before shipping. One size does not fit all, so some personal adjustments were needed. Other than that, I was very pleased with entire package, from case to guitar. Not a high-dollar item, but it looks and sounds like it cost as much as the Gibson version. I had a Blues King Electro that didn't sound this good. This thing plays like butter, too. Typical Gibson neck and action. No buzzes. Nicely done.

Well, I'm using it live today. I sit and play, so the danger of lopping off the head-stock by hitting the ceiling fan while table-top-dancing is reduced. It's one of those dipped Korean guitars, and from experience, I know they're everything but stupid-proof. Run it over with you van, and it's gonna bust. Keep it in a decent LOCKING guitar stand, put it back in its case--and don't do a Lizzie Grubman on it, and everything should be Jake. It's a big bastard though, so be careful swinging it around.

Never needed. Lifetime (limited) warranty. Who's lifetime?

Been playing professionally (and unprofessionally sometimes) for over 35 years. Solo and ensemble work. My sound is very important to me. People hire me because they love my "sound," and expect to hear it when I plug in. I am, by no means, a provincial when it comes to instruments. I audition and purchase both domestic and imported gear, and--for the buck--the imports offer the best bargain. I support the American economy in other way--I don't feel I have any other responsibility to waste my hard-earned dollars on big-dollar American brands when an import of much lesser cost and almost equivalant quality. It's almost a moot point with many musicians. I see lots of Ibanez, Epiphone, and now even Jay Turser (the next Ibanez / Tokai collector's item, I believe. Awesome guitars and laughably low prices).

The only thing I wish this guitar had was nothing. I wanted to keep it simple, and it turned out better than anything I could imagine. A lot of that is in the JC-77, but I played my staple guitar--an Ibanez AE-30, through it, and though its Fishman system sounds great through the JC-77, the Sweet Spot, EJ-200, JC-77 combination just melts you.

Finally the Epiphone Ej200 arrived. I ordered it on January 7 and it showed up on May 7 - so there is a backlog for this guitar. As you have read in other reviews this is a copy of the Gibson J200. Since no one has given a history lesson on what the EJ200 is based on - here goes what I know.

Back around 1937 Gibson and Epiphone were competitors - and both manufacturers were starting to get serious about making flat-top guitars - at this time archtops were more common. So Epiphone made a very large flat-top at 16 inches. Gibson - not to be outdone made a flat top called the SJ or super jumbo SJ200 at 17 inches - so Gibson could call thier guitar the King of the Flat-tops. Back before WW2 Gibson was using Rosewood - after WW2 they went to maple. The neck on the Gibson sj200 or j200 is based on the L5 which was their best archtop jazz guitar of the time.

So the irony is that gibson now owns epiphone - first SJ200 was specifically built by Gibson to beat Epiphone - things go full circle given enough time. The neck on the epihone ej200 is moderately narrow and does play fast if you want to set it up this way - almost like a jazz guitar. The sides and back are laminate maple and the top is laminate spruce. I have the natural finish and this wood is very pretty with lots of nice yellow binding on the on the body and neck.

Some people may not like the all the decoration on this guitar - but I think it is very pretty - it is a country guitar based on a gibson design going back to 1937 and then re-issued in 1957. Lots of inlay on the rosewood fretboard, a rosewood bridge, gold plated Gotoh tuners - of medium quality. For the money $450 from zzounds with a decent hard case - I give this guitar a 10.

For a laminate guitar - the sound of the ej200 is amazing. I have played at two parties and everyone was asking me - what kind of kind of guitar is this? I never thought a laminate could sound this good -those Koreans must shave the wood pretty thin and use some kind of glue that transmits sound vibrations. Odd though the sound comes almost directly out of the sound hole? More so than my guild guitars.

When I first got the ej200 it needed some help - the action was too low and it buzzed. Also, the only cheap thing I didn't like was the plastic nut and saddle. So I payed a good guitar repair guy to make a new nut and saddle out of bone. The Sadle was tough - it is a compenstated sadle which means it has to be cut with angles for each string to get the intonation correct.

So for $120 I had the nut and sadle replaced and also had the guitar set up for medium level strumming with no buzz. The sound with the these two new parts will blow away many guitars that cost a whole lot of money. Set up was not cheap - but worth it if you want really good sound - also made it brighter, louder and bass is stronger.

The is the brightest guitar I have ever played - the highs resonate and literally sing. The bass is not boomy. The other thing I have to get used to is the volume this guitar can put out - it is loud if you want to be. Before the new nut and saddle I would give the sound a 7 - but with the new bone nut and saddle and professional set up this baby sings!

As I stated the factory set up was not too good. Also - replace the nut and saddle - either with bone (Water buffalo) or use that good synthetic plastic. The Sadle will be a pain in the neck to replace - it is almost 1/4 in thick - so Rob - my guitar fixer - glued two pieces of bone together and then cut the angles on the sadle to get the intonation correct. The Intonation is perfect. Really good - so the Koreans must have set the neck up right - the fretwork is decent.

All the wood on the guitar is perfect - no flaws on the finish - the fretboard looks very nice. So fit and finish are good - especially for the price. I have not put a pick up on this guitar - when I am playing for money I use my Guild D40 with LR Baggs - double barrel. Compare this to Fishman - see what you think?

I am only giving this category a 7 becuase I really think you need to replace the nut and saddle - then you will have a guitar that is a 10

The ej200 might just get on stage - it has a lot of showbiz in the looks and we'll see where we go with it.

I have only played this guitar at two parties so far. It stays in tune with no problem. The good side of laminate construction is that they are do not expand and contract as much as solid wood. The tuners are medium quality - not as good as my guild - but good enough for the money. This guitar is well made and will last - when you look inside - the construction is very neat - no sloopy glue or mistakes - I looked inside. Has two nice strap buttons - one on the bottom of the neck and one on the bottom of the guitar - solid.

A word of advice - when you are working - always have a backup guitar - strings can break. Shit Happens - and it happened to me once in front of a lot of people - so always have a backup.

I don't know about the customer support - I can say zzounds was very good about letting me know about the delays. There is a warranty - but I doubt I will need it. This is a well made laminate guitar.

I have been playing guitar a long time and bought the ej200 for fun. Studied classical, jazz, swing as a kid - had an old italian guy with lots of music degrees teach me how to play the guitar. Started playing at age 8 and now am 48. That's a long time - but with guitar you can always learn more.

If it were lost or stolen I would be very pissed. This instrument is fun to play - I would buy another - and then have to wait 5 months and then fix it up to play like it should.

I have two classical guitars - a guild Mark 3 - solid rosewood - nice classical sound. A Guild d40 - and a guild F212 - 12 string. The guilds have better base and better tuners and they are solid wood. The also cost about a $1,000 - street price and retail around $1,500.

So if you are tight on money and need a good jumbo or you want a less expensive guitar for parties etc. the epiphone is a nice guitar. Believe me - I wouldn't have spent this much time telling you about this guitar - unless I thought it was something very special for the price - just give it a new nut and saddle and this big guitar sings!

Made in Korea, 2002. Has Epiphone Gotoh tuners, and is really beautiful. Just standard features for an acoustic guitar, but somewhat strange that the back and sides are made of maple. Natural finish.

Very rich, full, thick sound. Bassy, but not so overpowering that you can't hear the treble strings. This is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played.

Factory set up was very nice, I'm going to leave it this way I think. Low action, almost like an electric, with no buzzing. I don't see any flaws at all on this guitar, such a nice finish. The only thing I saw that probably wouldn't even be considered a flaw, just sloppiness, would an extension of a crayon mark under the tag visible through the soundhole, probably marked to identify the piece or something. But that doesn't bother me.

This guitar seems very sturdy, and heavy. The hardware seems tough, the finish also seems like it could take quite a bit before even scratching. The strap buttons seem solid, even one mounted on the heel so you don't have to buy one and install it there. I would depend on this guitar easily, under normal use. I wouldn't recommend taking a sledge hammer to it, however. I would use it without a backup probably.

The only bad thing with this guitar is I ordered it in December 2001. It is now May 2002. Epiphone was backordered when we ordered it. It was worth the wait though. I originally ordered a vintage sunburst finish, but it was going to be a while longer for that. So I had them change it to a Natural finish. I think these things are rare.

I've been playing for 2 years, I own various other guitars, including an Epiphone Les Paul (very nice as well). If it were stolen, I would buy another one just the same. I just hope the wait won't be as long. I compared it to one of its Gibson counterparts, the J-150 I think, and don't think I can tell a difference. I chose this one because of the price, why pay $1000 more for something that's nearly exactly the same? I plan on installing a pickup in it at some point. This is a great guitar! Buy one if you have a chance.

Mine was made in Korea. I never even removed the stickers. I bought it in Germany in '97, but I'm not sure when it was made; the Epiphone web site doesn't have information on the serial number. I was looking for an affordable jumbo worth playing, and the EJ200 was pretty much the only guitar in that class. Initially I would have preferred a solid top over the laminated one, but the guitar impresses me even so. Mine is natural colored, and the maple Body and neck are a joy to look at. The ornaments are, well, an aquired taste. Personally I would have preferred a copy of the less flashy Gibson SJ100. The one thing that I like better in the Epiphone copy than in the Gibson original is the hedstock. The brigde design is unique and works well. The stock tuners have never given me reason to even think about them, they just work well in an unobtrusive way.
I really like this guitar. That said, the overabundance of ornaments is the reason I give the EJ200 a only a 7 in this category. It's really a matter of personal taste though.

That soud is just impressive! I find it very clear and precice, the dynamic range is enormous, and it doesn't emphazise the bass as much as I had initially expected. It also has a very long sustain. After nearly five years the sound is still changing, improving actually. Figuring out what to do with that big sound took some trial and error. I play fingerstyle guitar with a repertoire ranging from delta blues to celtic instrumentals. I'm a reluctant singer, so the immediate problem was that this guitar was often too loud for my singing, and I have had to adapt my playing a bit. I found the EJ200 most useful for instrumental pieces with complex harmonies, especially slower tunes where I can show off the long sustain.
There is some, but not very much room for improvement in this category so it gets a 9.

The action was very questionable when I first bought it, and it took me some time to get it right. Something is to be said for the factory setup though: If you're playing slide in open tunings, it's really good and I used it as a template for the setup of my dobro. For an all purpose guitar the factory setting has ridiculously high action, and havin .12 strings on it doesn't help. I lowered the action by tightening the trussrod to the limit (and then some) without any altearations on the bridge or nut. The resulting low action makes for a good multi purpose guitar that I still can play good slide on. The strings should be .11 Everything else worked right away. I didn't find any major flaws when the guitar was new, but I wasn't too particular about them, because I expected the guitar to be my travelling /party/ messy gig guitar.
A great guitar, but only if you do the homework. That's why it gets seven points in that category.

This guitar will withstand a lot of abuse, in fact sometimes I think it's armoured. My roommate's enterprising cat once dropped my espresso machine on it (thanks, Oskar...) and all the damage that resulted was a minor scatch in the top. It's still the guitar I would play around animals and children and on parties. I've also used it on live gigs several times, and it's absolutely reliable.
As mentioned above over time the sound got better but nothing else faded or wore out, except the tuners that have picked up some superficial corrosion. I think this guitar will last a long, long time.
Gets ten points in this category but really deserves eleven.

I never even tried.

This guitar was mmeant to be the backup for my cherished '91 Yairi DY52 and Regal resonator guitar, to be played in places I wouldn't want to take te other two. Properly set up it exceeds all my expectations and finds it's place as the guitar of choice for large number of pieces. Strangely even with a lower action and the same strings bending is harder on the Epiphone than on the Yairi. The Jumbo body is a mixed blessing, because while it gives great sound, the position of my right arm (I play sitting down) takes some getting used to especially after playing the Yairi for a while.
When playing live, I amplify my guitars through a regular boom microphone, no pickups. Works well for all my guitars but best for the EJ200. I'm still looking for a hard shell case with backpack type straps like I have for my Yairi. That would make life much easier, after all the thing is fairly heavy. If I were to loose this guitar, I would most likely buy it again, although I might have a close look at a Gibson SJ100.
With some misgivings about the ornaments and the fuss setting up the action, the overall rating is still 9.

Laminate top. Black. Beautiful pickguard and inlays. No pickup though. Beautiful finish on the guitar, slightly splodgey stain job on the fretboard but it took me a week to notice and the punter's aren't gonna know are they? Only gave it a 9 coz no pickup and no cutaway. It's also got a really large radius on the neck which I didn't like at first but I've come to really love it. This is a beautiful guitar!

I bought it second hand and it hadn't really been looked after. It needed a bit of work on the neck and the saddle but nothing major. All the sorts of things you'd change anyway if you bought it straight from the factory. It has a beautifully warm sound. I'm going to buy a clip on pick up for it and pre-amp. Something that will compensate though for the tone and bring out the highs a little more. But acoustically, its an absolutley beautiful starting point! I'm using it mainly for accoustic rock and contemporary Christian music at the moment and it suits that perfectly. Also could do country very well on this guitar. Jumbo body size gives it a great tone unlike all this smaller bodied accoustics like ibanez keep putting out!

I'm not too sure what the action was like when this guitar was new. I bought it second hand, but you'd rarely find a guitar with perfect action right off the shelf. I had the guys in the shop raise the action for me a bit and put some shimmy under the saddle too to keep the strings from buzzing on the fret board but I think these were problems created by the previous owner, not the factory coz all the other reviews here say that new, the ej-200 has a very high action. The fit is fantastic and the finish... well, is not that fantastic on the fret board, a little splodgey, but it took me a week to notice and it's not bad enough that I'm going to do anything about it so it still gets a 10.

This guitar is a tank! Someone go drop one of these on Bin Laden and he'll know it!!! The tuners are fantastic, I can put it in the case for a day and it will still be in tune the next day unlike my other guitars. I'd use it without a backup defineately. Its a fantastic guitar, very roadworthy.

Well I've never had to deal with them but the store I bought it from was great. Fixed up the action and everything for me and didn't charge a cent for labour.

I've been playing for about 5 years and the jumbo's my first decent guitar that I wouldn't be embarrased to gig with. It has a fantastic sound and if it were stolen I think I'd probably cry. It has the most incredible tone and the neck is a joy to play. I compared it with a lot of guitars, a lot of them 3 times the price of the epiphone but only a 1/4 of the sound. Its a great guitar!

Lots of cool cosmetic features. Deluxe inlays, etc.
No factory electronics but they usually don't sound that good anyway.
Very well made

I've always loved the sound of the Gibson Jumbos but the price was out of my range since I only play acoustic occasionally. I saw this at Guitar Center and dug it. I was able to do a side by side comparison with the Gibson J200. There was suprisingly little difference in tone. The Gibson had a touch more low end but the Epiphone had a little more high end clarity. The Gibsons construction was better-flamed maple - solid sides instead of laminated but the sound of the Epiphone was VERY close to the Gibson and cost $2000 less!!!

The setup off the rack is very good, especially for a $375 guitar. I almost always have to tweak a guitar when I first get it but this one was fine right away. The action is low (better than most of the Martins and Taylors I played at the store!) The frets and fingerboard are very well dressed. The finish is clear, glossy and flawless.
This really is a great value for the $$$.

It's still pretty new but it seems like it should hold up very well. I have worked as a guitar tech for several local musicians (some now have gold records) and have built several custom solidbody guitars so I know my way around and this Epiphone is built quite solid.

Haven't had to call on this Epiphone but have called in the past about Gibson products and they were very helpful

I can't believe this guitar was so inexpensive. I would deffinately try to replace it. even if I had unlimited funds I would actually choose this over most of the guitars I tried that were in the $1000 range

This is Epiphone's version of the classic Gibson J(SJ)-200.
I would love to own the real thing someday, but I came across this and got a good deal on it (new)and have used it as my main acoustic for live gigs for nearly five years now. I believe these were made in Korea.
I had a Martin gold line transducer and bone nut and saddle installed right off the bat. The finish is very nice and even. The grain is also eye-catching. Nothing about it looks second rate and it should age nicely. The neck is fairly fast for an acoustic and is almost too easy to play, compared to some of the others I have. I belive the top is spruce and the sides and back are maple. It is a laminate, but I've been told this is more stable for live situations.

In the living room or mic'd in the studio it sounds very good, esp the highs and mids. In live situations a good sound man can really make it come to life from highs to lows. Solo onstage it can have a very full sound; as rhythm with a band is can be dialed in for what I seen called "the sound of a really good ride cymbal". That is kind of odd, but accurate. Maybe it's the spruce top, but this thing sounds pretty vibrant, even when you play darker stuff like drop D tunings.

In live settings I have also run the signal to an A/B box with one signal going to the DI and the other to my amp rig (Tube Driver/Tremodillo/Crystal Chorus/Echoplex (sometimes Proctavia) into my amp. Stomping on this at certain points really accents the mood of a song like howling into a canyon at the end of the world. Just be sure not to overdo it. You cry wolf and it's not as effective.

Frets needed to be dressed a little, new nut and saddle; set the action. Pickup added. Nothing unexpected.
Grain throughout, esp back, is very eye-catching.

I have been playing this out and in the studio for five years and it's been pretty durable. Broken strings and new batteries is all the maintenance I've done. Initially thought it would be more delicate due to the light weight, but it is light and tough. A few dings of my own doing, but only minor cosmetic stuff. I did splurge and buy a high quality hardshell case right away. Can anyone explain the concept of a gig bag to me?
PT Barnum was right. I love my guitar so much I'm gonna protect it with a nylon bag -- come on.

N/A

Other acoustics include '65 Epiphone Caballero (B-25 style), Ibanez version of J-200 (prob lawsuit era), Washburn, other mid 70s Epiphone 6 & 12s with bolt necks (these are surprisingly cool -- try the smaller body ones), dobro.

Lost or stolen, I would definitely keep this in mind - depending on my financial situation. I have written enough songs on it to know it has a very cool personality. Recording it has been very easy.

The love affair with these things is the body shape and the sound -there is a true aesthetic quality to the J-200 style. I'll stop short of comparing it to a good woman.

I played an old Gibson J-200 and an even older Epiphone Texan in stores and they sounded like angels singing. Both were far beyond my budget -- the Epiphone is my reality. If one turns up cheap and youare in the market, give it a try.

Mine was made in 2000, in Korea. Spruce top with maple back and sides, finished in Natural. Rosewood retboard. The finish is a beautiful high-gloss with no flaws that I could find. The grain of the various woods is very nice, although not quite as eye-catching as the flame on the real Gibson SJ-200s. The body is a "Super Jumbo" acoustic with split back. The neck and body are multiple bound, and there is extensive inlay work on the fretboard. The tailpiece is an Epiphone version of the Gibson "moustache" bridge that has inlays where the outside holes are on the Gibson. The tuners are Gotoh gold/chrome plated

The sound of this Jumbo acoustic is one of the best off-the-rack guitars I've ever played. I played several Gibson jumbos before buying the Epiphone, and the sound of the Epiphone compares favorably with the much more expensive Gibson that it is a copy of. My wife said she "couldn't tell the difference." It is strong and resonant, with rich full bass, and bright treble, and responds well to variations in attack.

My guitar came with 12s and the action is not as low as it could be. It doesn't buzz at any fret, and the frets are nicely polished. Overall the finish work is excellent. I own about 30-some guitars, several of which are Epiphones, and the EJ-200 is far and away the best finished Epi I own.

This guitar feels sturdy and inspires confidence. The hardware, tuners and the like are high-quality. The finish better than any other acoustic that I own, including Yamaha, Fender, Epiphone, Rogue, and Washburn. It has one feature that is really nice -- two strap buttons, one at the heel of the neck, with nice felt pads. As for whether I would use it without a backup - when they make strings that don't break, I'll consider ever playing anything without a backup!

Have had no occasion to need factory support, but the local Epi dealers are great guys, so I don't predict any problems.

I have been playing for over 30 years (yikes, how did I get so old?) I own too much gear to list, but a short version would include 16 tracks of ADAT decks, ProMix 01, 30+ guitars - including a bunch of Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, SGs, Ric 340-12 string, Sheraton, Zephyr Blues Deluxe, Wildkat, MM-50 Epi mandolin, acoustic 6&12 strings, keyboards, etc, etc... You can check out my setup and sample some of my tunes at http://home1.gte.net/wlburn. If my EJ-200 were lost or stolen, I just hope I could find another one (they're pretty hard to find!) So far, it's my favorite "sit-around-and-strum" guitar. I love the way it "feels" and the sound is very conducive to long sessions of jammin'. The only thing I could say I don't like about it is it has so much bass that it is hard to record, but I have several smaller-bodied guitars to use for acoustic tracks. This guitar works great for un-amplified live performance. I can't believe it's possible to get a guitar that looks this nice, has this quality of construction, and sounds so good for so little money.

My guitar was made in Korea in either '99 or 2000. It has 20 frets, and a solid, book-matched Englemann spruce top. At least it looks like an Englemann grain. The sides and back are a laminate with a natural finished maple veneer showing on the outside. The entire laminate may be layers of maple, but it's hard to tell. The neck is a solid piece of maple, and very pretty. The instrument is finished in a high-gloss polyurethane that looks like glass. I expect it to wear like iron.
The body style is a "jumbo." This Epiphone is a Gibson-authorized replica of the Gibson SJ-200 you've seen Emmy Lou Harris play. In fact, Pete Townsend is roaring away on the $4,000 Gibson version on the cover of the September 2000 Guitar Player magazine. My replica has the trademark "moustache" bridge, and a nicely compensated cast plastic bridge saddle. The tuners are locking "gold" Gotoh tuners.
The neck is one of the more interesting features of this guitar. Like most set-neck flat tops, it has a compound profile so that, up near the headstock, it's flatter and thinner from front to back of the neck. At the other end, near the body, it grows thicker as it curves down into the heel where the glued joint attaches to the body. What's distinctive in the EJ-200 neck is the profile over the middle of the neck, where you actually play the guitar. It's got a "V" profile, much like some 50s Stratocasters, with very little "shoulder" to get in the way of short fingers or a thumb curling around the edges of the fret board. I have small hands, so this is a big plus for me.
The neck is also fairly narrow for such a big guitar; 1.68" at the nut. This makes it easy (for me) to playwith minimal problems switching between my electric (a new Gibson ES-446s) and the EJ-200. If you play in a finger picking style, the neck may actually be too narrow, since the narrow nut puts the strings fairly close together. I'm a student of rock, R&B, folk, and country flat picking styles, so this neck is just fine for me.
I bought it with an Epiphone deluxe hard case, an Allen key for the truss rod, and a bunch of picks. Standard "extras," I supppose. The EJ-200 has one otherneat feature I've not seen on other acoustic guitars. It comes from the factory with two strap buttons so you don't have to pay someone to drill the neck and mount a second button. Also, each strap button is cushioned with a felt washer between the base of the button and the beautiful finish on the guitar's body. What a nice touch. I had my guitar tech make and install felt washers on my electric too. It's a great idea if, like me, you plan to keep your guitars for a long time and want to keep them pretty.

I like thesound of this guitar. It's as balanced and resonant as you can get in a laminate guitar. And much better than I expected. I traded my old ('67) Guild F-212 and some cash for this EJ-200.
The Guild as a solid wood guitar with an Englemann spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It was also beat up. Cracked back seam. Cracked top. Loose top bracing. Needed a new bridge and saddle. I could have taken better care of it. At any rate, a solid wood guitar, especially one that's 33 years old, is bound to have better balance and resonance to its tone than a new plywood guitar, and my Guild did. In fact,even beat up it rang like a piano. But time, the tide, a family, two dogs, and a mortgage can eat away at your willingness to hassle with 12 strings, know shat I mean? And, the Epiphone fills up a room, righs as long as you letg it after a good strum, and sounds just great too. Nice balance, good volume. In short, it works just fine for me.

Three words describe the factory-set action on this guitar. "High and Hard." It had a set of strings on it that must have been at least .o12s. The string tension was amazing. We're talking big game cross-bow pull weights here. Coupled with a nut that was as hight as an elephant's eye, and a saddle that needed a severe shave, it was nearly impossible to play anything except the most rudimentary chords on the top three frets. I paid $32 for a pro set up including a set of D'Adarrio .010s (bronze woound acoustic extra light strings) and the problem is solved. The action is now very easy; alsomst like an electric guitar.
I recommend a professional set up for any new guitar, electric or acoustic. Before you develop cramps in your fretting hand, or a bad case of post-purchase depression over your new baby's playability problems, let a pro optimize your new axe. The factory doesn't do this; in fact, they leave 'em hight and hard on purpose. They expect you to have someone who knows what they're doing adjust the guitar to fit your own techniques and preferences. so, they leave in plenty of extra space and material to allow for adjustment. Precision Guitar, here in Phoenix, does a great professional job of a set up, quickly and cheaply. They filed the nut, lowered the saddle, adjusted the truss rod, and put on the extra light strings. NOw the EJ-200 is a pleasure to play, as nay new guitar should be, right? An the solution to the problem action only cost $32.
As for fit and finish, with two exeptions both are very nice. This guitar is a real beauty. Even my lovely and forgiving wife, who thinks I spend too much on my hobby, remarked about what a pretty thing this guitar is. In fact, other non-guitarists say the same thing as soon as the case is opened.
There's just yards of this pretty yellowed-ivory colored binding everywhere on this guitar. The body edges, top and bottom. The neck. the head stock. The stuff is everywhere and it makes me feel like a rich guitar ace just to pick up and play a guitar that's this pretty.
That being said, let me point out two flaws. Neither is a big deal. First, the carved "moustache" bridge was a mess when I got the guitar new, but only in a cosmetic sense. It was well installed and properly positioned so, as I said, the guitar now plays beautifully.
But, there was a scratch on the bridge that must have beeen a production mark. It wasn't big. I didn't even notice it until I looked at the photos I took to show my brother and to send to my insurance agent.
Also, the bridge is stained to a dark mahogany color, but the stain had been applied unevenly. Parts of the bridge were definitely ugly. I mean, they were "Oops! Somebody didn't do their job on this part of the production line" UGLY.
I fixed both of these things myself. I bought a permanent markerwith a fine point in a dark brown color and touched up the scratch and the thin areas of the stain until it looked like it should. The fatory's errors are now invisible, and that's all I require. I used to work as a commercial artist, so I know that fixing or covering your blunders is part of the "art" of the artist. I don't care if there's been a mistake. But I don't want to have to look at it. Especially at these prices.
The second flaw is, in retrospect, probably not a flaw at all. Some things get done better on more expensive instruments than they do on mass produced economy models like the EJ-200. I know a man, John Reuter of the Robert-Venn School of Luthiery, who make custom acoustic guitars by hand here in Phoenix. I've seen his mother of pearl and abalone inlays up close. They have a fit that is breathtaking. It looks like you couldn't really get the inlaid material in there because there seems to be no clearance around the edges. Now, there has to be clearance, right? And the illusion of seamless fit is achieved with se

Will it withstand live playing? Yes, I think so. I was in a band in college. We played "out" 3 or 4 times a week. Ever hear of Might Yasha and the Pearls? We once opened for Jay Walker and the Pedestrians. Never heard of either one, eh? Actually, I didn't think you had. And it's just as well.
But I have played live in front of rowdy drunks and, yes, this guitar would cut it. One thin you can say for laminates; they're strongerthan thin layers of solid wood. The construction and hardware of this guitar could take it. Yes, I can depend on it for anything I need it to do. If I still played for money I'd useit on a gig without a backup.

They treated me right the one time I needed them. I was an easy problem and they were pleasant, courteeous, and helpful. The local warranty service is done by the shop that did my initial basic set up. I like them, and they do very good work. I expect no problems in the support area.
The warranty is a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser against defects in materials and workmanship. It's well documented and easy to understand. Read it. And keep it for future reference.

I'm very, very happy with this guitar. I've been playing for 32 years, and I give this guitar a 9 for what it is. It's not one of Joh Reuter's hand made Koa beauties. Nor will I ever own one of those. But when I went out to shop for this guitar, I thought I was going to have to spend $1,000 to be happy. I played a lot of Instruments in the $1,000-2,000 MSRP range that weren't as sweet as this Epiphone. I played severeal that were sweeter, of course. In general, thought, if they sounded betterthey weren't decorated at all. Now for that kind of money, I can't make myself buy Mar & Pa Kettle's guitar no mattter how good it wounds and no matterwho says it's a "fine instrument." I wand some visual buzz when I open my case. Too many years playing flashy electrics,I suppose.
Other gear? I own an electric 6-string ( a new Gibson ES-446s), a Fender Deluxe Reverb '65 reissue, and a POD 2.0.
What do I wish I'd asked before I bought this guitar? A good question, counselor. I wish I'd asked "Have yougot one this pretty with a shorter scale length?" The EJ-200 has a 25" scale. This puts the first few frets quite far apart for Mr. Stubby Fingeres here. But I can live with it. My fingers have been short since the day I was born, and I've played a lot of long scale guitars. I'm going to keep this one for a long time, and I plan to give it to my daughter orher husband when the time comes.
A word about time. Keep your acoustic guitar humidified, and keep it in a hard case. It makes them last. If you live in Sattle, Miami, or New Orleans this may not be an issue. Here on the Arizona desert it is very important. The tonal balance and volume of the EJ-200 greatly improved on a daily basis for the first two weeks after I got it home and put a humidifier in the sound hole.
Would I buy another? Probably. Though I'd have to give the Epiphone version fo the Hummingbird a try. It's a dreadnought, and I don't like that sound as well. But it has a shorter scale length and is nearly as pretty.
What do I love about it? The combinaation of good looks, playability, and low price. Hate about it? Nothing.
I compared this guitar to a new Guild JF-65 that lists for $2300 and sells for about $1200. It was just beautiful, but it sounded like someone had put a large damp sock in it. Surprising, considering the price. On the low end, I considered a Fender SJ-65 that lists for $800 and sells for about $500. It wasn't as pretty, nor as sweet sounding, and "boo" to the dark binding. I also played numerous Martins, Gibsons, Taylors and L'Arrivees. Too expensive for what you get, I figure. The EJ-200 is the one for me.
One final word. Shop for your next acoustic guitar for at least 6months. go out and play the dealer's inventory. It's fun. If you find one you like, especially if it's being kept in a humidified room, go back and play it again in about 3 days. The difference is very instructional. And, if you have my needs, habits, and budget you can get all the acoustic guitar you'll need or want for $500 or less.