I first stumbled upon the EJ-200 while searching for an affordably priced jumbo guitar.  My old Washburn had stuck by me for the better part of a decade, but after more than a few bumps and bruises and a series of road trips across country, it was time to look for an upgrade.  As it happens, I ended up making the right call.  Here are my notes on the Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar.

Features

This is a beautifully crafted guitar, particularly for the price.  The EJ-200 is every bit a super jumbo guitar; the top is spruce, and the body and neck are maple with a nice rosewood fingerboard, scale length 25.5”.  I had no problems with the factory settings and everything came out of the box looking and sounding fantastic.  The crown inlays on the fingerboard are a nice touch, and “mustache” bridge and ornately decorated pickguard give the instrument a really distinctive look.

Sound

I like to play a variety of styles, from Coldplay to classic blues, and all fronts the EJ-200 performed exceptionally.  The guitar has a bright and full sound that’s perfect for strumming and really shines when amplified.  It’s rumoured that Noel Gallagher used one of these while recording with Oasis, and after spending some time playing I can see why.  If you’re looking for a perfect replication of the Gibson J-200 (the model for this guitar and a favourite of Elvis Presley), you’re likely to be disappointed, but at a fraction of the price this is a fantastic sounding guitar.

Durability

I’ve been playing my EJ-200 for about two years now, and as of yet all signs point to it being a reliable guitar.  I have no reservations about taking it to open mics or the odd beach party, and everything has held up remarkable well so far (including the tuners, which tend to fall apart on budget range guitars).

Final impressions

I needed little selling about purchasing an Epiphone acoustic guitar – after all, all three Beatles guitarists used an Epiphone at one point or another – but the EJ-200 has exceeded my expectations.  It’s clear that the company cut no corners in crafting this instrument, and in terms of sheer playability and make, this might be the best acoustic guitar available for under £500.

Did you know?

Paul McCartney used an Epiphone acoustic guitar to perform “Yesterday” on the The Ed Sullivan Show.

-Jeff O.

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