New Epiphone inspired by Gibson j200 thoughts?

richoguitar · #1 12-24-2020, 10:33 AM

Has anyone seen or played the new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson j200.

I have an Epiphone ej200sce cutaway and am contemplating selling it to buy one of these. Any thoughts?

Goat Mick · #2 12-24-2020, 10:36 AM

I haven't played one but they do look like a great buy. All solid wood and Gibson design specs. It's been tempting me too along with the J-45 copy.

ribsareyummy · #3 12-24-2020, 11:30 AM

Seems like there are a couple more YouTube videos with the J-200 since the initial release videos, at least. I haven't watched them, though, so I'm not sure if they're any good.

Brucebubs · #4 12-24-2020, 02:13 PM

The upgrades on the new 'Inspired by Gibson' Epiphone EJ-200 all sound excellent.

Solid woods - bone nut & saddle - keystone tuners - soundhole controls for the pick-up - aged varnish - re-designed headstock.

I have a 2012 EJ-200 and new 2020 SJ-200 - you can see them against the new Epiphone.

richoguitar · #5 12-24-2020, 02:30 PM

Wow! You got the real thing. Both are beautiful. I’ll bet you notice the difference in sound between these two? FYI, I am very new to this forum and I have tried to post a photo but it won’t let me. Any pointers or how I can get help on the forum?

Hiro · #6 12-24-2020, 02:31 PM

This from a Townes Van Zandt site regarding the subject guitar:

"Townes' guitar: circa 1977-1983
Epiphone EJ200 (jumbo) or similar (late '70s/early '80s per pics)

According to Steve Earle: 'Townes hated this guitar so much that he shot it full of holes.' (3/11/77 Townes observed playing this guitar by ND)"

Anyway, Townes would later own a spruce over maple Gibson J-200 which he loved like a favorite son.

Brucebubs · #7 12-24-2020, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richoguitar

Wow! You got the real thing. Both are beautiful. I’ll bet you notice the difference in sound between these two? FYI, I am very new to this forum and I have tried to post a photo but it won’t let me. Any pointers or how I can get help on the forum?

Welcome to the AGF - here's information on how to post pictures https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=511949

I really like my EJ-200 but the Gibson SJ-200 is a different guitar.
The Epiphone needs a firm hand to bring out some bottom end where the Gibson has it there even with a gentle touch.

The new EJ-200 still has a rather narrow 1.69" nut - the Gibson is a more comfortable 1.72"

Hiro · #8 12-24-2020, 03:23 PM

Thank you Bruce. I appreciate your comments on the value of both of these guitars and the distinctions that you make are informative and insightful. Merry Christmas.

lowrider · #9 12-24-2020, 03:34 PM

Yes, I don't understand why the stayed with 1.69 instead of 1.72. But then again, there's so much that Gibson does that I just don't understand.

Brucebubs · #10 12-24-2020, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowrider

Yes, I don't understand why the stayed with 1.69 instead of 1.72. But then again, there's so much that Gibson does that I just don't understand.

Actually my older 2012 EJ-200 lists the nut at 1.68" and the new 'Inspired by Gibson' EJ-200's list at 1.69" - either way, it's tight.

Worth noting too is the Epiphones don't come with a hard case but try and get one if you can - like the guitars, the Epiphone jumbo case is good value too.

nightchef · #11 12-24-2020, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiro

This from a Townes Van Zandt site regarding the subject guitar:

"Townes' guitar: circa 1977-1983
Epiphone EJ200 (jumbo) or similar (late '70s/early '80s per pics)

According to Steve Earle: 'Townes hated this guitar so much that he shot it full of holes.' (3/11/77 Townes observed playing this guitar by ND)"

Anyway, Townes would later own a spruce over maple Gibson J-200 which he loved like a favorite son.

Not the same guitar, though. The “inspired by” guitars are new and supposedly a lot closer to Gibson specs.

That said, the videos I’ve seen haven’t been encouraging. The IBG Epis sound a bit clangy and one-dimensional to me. Whatever it is that’s different about the way the two lines are made, it seems to matter (i.e., it’s not just geography).

Brucebubs · #12 12-24-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightchef

That said, the videos I’ve seen haven’t been encouraging. The IBG Epis sound a bit clangy and one-dimensional to me. Whatever it is that’s different about the way the two lines are made, it seems to matter (i.e., it’s not just geography).

I agree but I'd really like to throw a set of bone bridge pins and round-core DR Sunbeam lights on one of the new EJ-200's and see if it makes the same noticeable step up it did on my older model EJ-200.

caimi · #13 09-24-2021, 08:07 AM

I have had the new Epiphone IBG EJ-200 for two weeks now and so far am very happy with it. It is generally brighter and not as loud as a Gibson SJ-200 I have owned in the past. But just like other new maple bodied guitars I have owned in the past, I expect it will lose some of that brightness and gain some volume as it ages and open up.

Build quality, while not immaculate, is very, very good. By comparison, I have owned or played Gibson acoustics, which retailed for significantly more, with build quality that has obvious flaws. I'm not referring to construction flaws in either. Just a bit of sloppiness which is more forgiveable in a $900 guitar than it is in a $4000 guitar.

I prefer a 1-3/4 neck at the nut and this guitar is narrower but with a little more attention to what I am doing, it is not a big hindrance.

Overall, if I had $4600 laying around I probably would have bought the GIbson. But I think I got more guitar for the money by buying the Epiphone.

BoneDigger · #14 09-24-2021, 10:52 AM

I own the new IBG J200 and I actually like it quite a lot. It's one of my favorites. I wish the nut was wider but the tone, playability, fit, and finish, are all great!

Brucebubs · #15 09-24-2021, 06:48 PM

Funny thing happened after this thread first started - as the owner of an older laminate Epiphone EJ-200 and a new Gibson SJ-200 I was curious about how the new solid woods IBG J-200 compared and if they narrowed the tone gap between my 2 guitars.

The more clips of the new IBG Epiphone range I listened to the more I was drawn to the mahogany Hummingbird.

Negotiated a great deal including hard case with 'The Acoustic Center' in Melbourne and they did a superb set up job too - it is a brilliant guitar, way more responsive than my old EJ-200 ... makes me want to try a Gibson version one day!

Here they are all together.