With the fully solid Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 AVS Aged Vintage Sunburst acoustic guitar in super jumbo construction, the traditional manufacturer Epiphone presents an extremely successful replica of the flat-top classic from the 1930s. The solid maple body with a Sitka spruce top produces a full and warm sound even with light touches, conveying distinct midrange and gentle treble frequencies. Bounded by multi-ply bindings and an elaborate center strip, the even grain of the top and the rough lines of the figured maple are showcased in a particularly aesthetic way. In addition, the two-piece maple neck with a mahogany slot and Rounded-C profile offers convenient playability across all 20 frets set into an Indian-Laurel fingerboard. Clean intonation throughout the 649mm scale length is provided by a compensated bridge inlay and 43mm wide bone nut. A signature J-200 moustache bridge and gold Epiphone deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, along with graduated mothe mother-of-pearl crown inlays and the generously decorated pickguard, give the instrument an original look, following the motto "Inspired by Gibson." In addition, the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 AVS Aged Vintage Sunburst features a Fishman Sonitone pickup system that can be individually adjusted via a control unit in the sound hole.
The craftsmanship is excellent, especially for this price range, with no visual blemishes at all. The setup was also perfectly playable right out of the box. The finish is very pretty. The only thing that tells this apart from much pricier guitars is the weight, which is not cumbersome but definitely heavier than most premium-guitars.
The acoustic sound is, in a word, amazing. Great clarity with a defined bottom end that is never muddy or overpowering. When played fingerstyle, it does have a tendency to sound a bit “stringy”, like most big body guitars, but still very useful, especially with a capo on. When played with a pick, it sound absolutely fantastic.
My only complaint in terms of sound is that it is surprisingly quiet for such a big guitar. If you often play without mic, be aware that you may need to play quite forcefully to make yourself heard. Strumming should be fine, but I have struggled to be heard when playing more subtle parts together with other guitarists.
The electronics are what they are. I replaced them with an L.R.Baggs anthem and, and this combination sounds the best out of all my guitars through a PA.
In conslusion, Epiphone is on a bit of a roll here. If sheer acoustic volume is not very important to you, I suggest you get your hands on this guitar before it is too late. This type of bang/buck deal don’t tend to last.