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  #1  
Old 07-20-2018, 09:31 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Default NGD - Used Epiphone EJ-200/N

I was in Hobart, Tasmania last week.
Small store selling 2nd hand musical equipment.
Several acoustic guitars hanging on a wall at the back of the store.
Asked the store owner if I could try the blonde Epiphone EJ-200.
He got it down for me.
1st strum ... it was in perfect tune and sounded .. good!
Surprisingly good.
Straight neck - plenty of saddle height - Grover rotomatics ( I've had good Grover roto's and I've had poor - these are the smoothest I've ever experienced )
Bought it for US$300 with a hardcase.



It has a white Planet Waves O Port soundhole enhancer fitted - don't know how it sounds without it but it's working/sounding fine so I'll leave it alone!

All over gloss finish is thick but very well done - my Alvarez ABT-60 baritone finish is nowhere near as good as this.

Nut is a little narrow but I cope OK.
Nut, saddle and pins are all plastic - I'll change these to bone over time.

It's not a Gibson SJ-200 and never will be but it's an impressive beast for the money.
Built 2012 in Indonesia according to the serial number
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1972 - Takamine D-70
2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone
2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo
2012 - Dan Dubowski#61
2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo
2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200
2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird
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Old 07-20-2018, 09:35 PM
Ten Ten is offline
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Nice find!
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:29 PM
donlyn donlyn is offline
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Hey Bruce, great find. Congratulations.

I had a similar experience nearly two years ago. I ran across a mistreated EJ200 for cheap. A '94 which had/has some wear, needed work (nut and saddle mostly), but sounded real good. Plus I bought a new Epiphone hardshell case for it. Total spent was in the same ballpark, just not all at once.

So this was an impulse buy; just happened to see it. Also has a V neck, but still quite comfortable. No electronics. No cutaway. Being laminate, I like to use it on real humid days. It seems to hold its sound quite well on such days. Currently strung with Elixir PB HD Lights. It's a keeper. As you stated, an impressive beast for the money. Yours looks overall in better shape than mine.

Also has a wider bridge with inlays both in front of and behind the bridge pins, like Gibson used to do on earlier J200s. And the truss rod cover reads "Gibson".

Don
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*The Heard:
85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo
99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo
06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo
14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra
05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert
09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo
16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC
16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO
21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo
22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo

Last edited by donlyn; 07-23-2018 at 05:20 PM.
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:34 PM
donlyn donlyn is offline
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Maybe you could name it the "Tasmanian Devil" and get the cartoon character on a sticker for the case?




Out of curiosity, what wood(s) used on the back and sides, and neck? Mine has a dark fretboard (rosewood?), and a blond, presumably maple, neck.

Don

.
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*The Heard:
85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo
99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo
06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo
14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra
05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert
09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo
16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC
16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO
21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo
22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo

Last edited by donlyn; 07-23-2018 at 05:19 PM.
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:38 PM
RussL30 RussL30 is offline
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Cool find! I’ve never seen a natural version without the cutaway. Looks so much better without it.
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:48 PM
vindibona1 vindibona1 is offline
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Nice... I almost bought one of those, but the circumstances weren't right. Congrats.
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Old 07-21-2018, 12:01 AM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donlyn View Post


Out of curiosity, what wood(s) used on the back and sides, and neck? Mine has a blond fretboard (maple?), and presumably, a maple neck. No cutaway.

Don

.
Good question Don, I'm thinking maple for the back and sides and I'm unsure for the neck - it's slightly darker than the back and sides but still looks too light for mahogany.



There are a couple of marks on the lower front and some strumming pick marks on the pick guard otherwise extremely clean.
The back of the neck is spotless.

Plenty of saddle showing!

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1972 - Takamine D-70
2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone
2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo
2012 - Dan Dubowski#61
2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo
2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200
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Old 07-21-2018, 12:45 AM
firstrebel firstrebel is offline
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There doesn't appear to be any fading on the pickguard which is nice, as they are mostly printed, unless it has been changed for a Gibson one.

Bob
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Old 07-21-2018, 01:23 AM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by firstrebel View Post
There doesn't appear to be any fading on the pickguard which is nice, as they are mostly printed, unless it has been changed for a Gibson one.

Bob
Yes, I noticed that myself.
I've seen some great looking guitars with nearly all that fancy pick guard design work worn off.
This has some pick marks but the design has stayed intact.
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Brucebubs

1972 - Takamine D-70
2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone
2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo
2012 - Dan Dubowski#61
2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo
2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200
2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird
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  #10  
Old 07-21-2018, 05:53 AM
Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles is offline
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Nice guitar! I had one for years, and I also owned a Gibson SJ-200 at the same time. The price difference was astronomical, but the difference in sound was not. The Epiphone is a good guitar, and now discontinued. I'm sorry that I sold the Epiphone...
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  #11  
Old 07-21-2018, 06:45 AM
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Jim Owen Jim Owen is offline
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Nice find, Bruce. Looks very well maintained. And I like that neck colour.
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  #12  
Old 07-21-2018, 08:24 AM
gmr gmr is offline
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I had the newer cutaway version for a few years. I got rid of it recently during a time when we were moving and I wanted to downsize my herd. Like Mr. Bojangles, I also have an SJ200. The EJ200sce was far closer to the Ginny than the price difference would suggest. Good find Sir. I wish Epiphone would return to the non-cutaway model with a soundhole mounted electronics package
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Old 07-21-2018, 08:27 AM
ClaptonWannabe2 ClaptonWannabe2 is offline
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Very nice.

I've spent $300 on a lot dumber things than a cool guitar and a cool case.

When it feels like stealing, that's when you have to buy.
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Old 07-21-2018, 09:13 AM
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Nice Bruce, congrats!
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Old 07-21-2018, 10:58 AM
The Growler The Growler is offline
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That looks like a score right there. Congratulations!

You do know it only has six strings, right?
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