It’s actually refreshing to see a guitar being reviewed that’s less than $3000 or more. A pat on the back for showing one at the bottom of the price spectrum!
This guitar was originally marketed as the Epiphone AJ220S. Under the leadership of JC Gibson decided to what I feel is exploiting the J-45 branding, putting it on several guitars. This model was an Epiphone design. The headstock, the pickguard, the rosette all say Epiphone. It's a long scale not a short scale... I'm very annoyed this gets J-45 branding at all... Because in spirit it's specs just don't line up.
Yes indeed, and Iv'e played a Gibson J45,( very Martin-like, a STUNNING sound ) But not so with the Epiphone, it was only average, Definitely not the equal to the Gibson 😮😮😮
@@susanroycroft89 The Epiphone AJ220s / aka Epiphone J-45 Studio is not a bad entry level guitar. In this price range, my recommendation to players / parents is the Yamaha FG800... Under the new leadership Epiphone has started building a few J-45 models that deserve the "J-45" name, the Inspired By Gibson J-45 ($749) and Inspired By Gibson Slash signature edition ($799) are stage worthy instruments that manage to actually sound like the real thing for a fraction of the cost, giving up mostly just aesthetic things.... I think my biggest gripe with Gibson is putting "J-45" name on a long scale guitar on a model that has a distinct Epiphone pickguard, rosette and headstock... Epiphone has built a $200 short scale slope with a 60's style Gibson J-45 pickguard, they sold as a holiday exclusive through one of the big box music store retailers, it's the model they should have main standard part of their line up.... No one really cares about the entry level of the market, though.
My first slope shouldered guitar was an AJ220s. I bought it for £119 (which is probably less than $100 now). I could have been lucky with mine, but I thought it was the best sounding acoustic I'd ever played at the time. It's long gone now, replaced by Gibsons, Martins and Eastmans, but it did make me fall in love with slope shoulders.
@@mickymillersson4376 Here's a video Epiphone put up 11 years ago when they brought this model to market as the AJ220s. th-cam.com/video/3JjDqmbm2qE/w-d-xo.html
Sounds good. It took me YEARS to find the right sound and neck shape. I found that in a J-45 Banner BUT I then had to find something for my younger grandson. Thanks Quinton and Chad!
great honest review! agree with another comment, if you are just spending under 500 get a yamaha or eastman. if you can spring more though the "inspired by gibson" line of epis will get you 90% of the way there.
I’ve tried the Epiphone studio version. I don’t like they call it a J45, since it’s no where near it. Even at $300, I think there are better options. I’ve played $300 Yamaha, Alvarez, and for a little more money, an Eastman, that sounded and to me, played better. But that is my opinion. I like the Epiphone Masterbuilt or Inspired by Gibson guitars but obviously they are more than double this price. Thank you for an honest video. Good stuff.
Cool to see Quintin playing an instrument I would normally purchase due to Epiphones being on the cheapest priced solid top I can afford. I think these instruments all come with Plastic nuts and bone saddles. Once you change up the plastic parts including the bridge pins it's gonna sound much better. Not great but for the value towards a practicing guitarist it's a perfect instrument for a not so serious musician. I just don't like the fretboards that come with these studios. If you're like me you appreciate a dark fretboard. I wanna buy an older used one. Especially and older L-OO
They failed to mention that it does have the dreadnought architecture. It terms of tone, I listened to several videos that were recorded with high quality mics comparing the Gibson to the Epiphone, and the Gibson had slightly better mid to lower tones, but the difference was negligible in comparison.
This guitar would compare most directly to the Yamaha FG820 in the 800 series. That's where the comparison would end. Yamaha has a pretty good idea how to make a $300 guitar sound good. It would have a much warmer tone & project much louder than this particular model.
I personally would never buy a 'Studio' version of any instrument as they usually have a thinner body to help reduce feedback (hence the Studio moniker I guess). I don't mind the fact that they're often plainer but soundwise they don't have enough depth, character and quality IMO.
damning with faint praise: "it's not terrible". a ringing endorsement, it's not. cue the Eastman. Also, please lose the mando on the demos b/c it masks the featured guitar.
These inexpensive Epiphones do not have the depth and sustain for flatpicking, but because they have an old clunky "mono" sound they are best suited for fingerstyle blues, rags, and old time country.
It’s actually refreshing to see a guitar being reviewed that’s less than $3000 or more. A pat on the back for showing one at the bottom of the price spectrum!
Well said
This guitar was originally marketed as the Epiphone AJ220S. Under the leadership of JC Gibson decided to what I feel is exploiting the J-45 branding, putting it on several guitars. This model was an Epiphone design. The headstock, the pickguard, the rosette all say Epiphone. It's a long scale not a short scale... I'm very annoyed this gets J-45 branding at all... Because in spirit it's specs just don't line up.
Yes indeed, and Iv'e played a Gibson J45,( very Martin-like, a STUNNING sound ) But not so with the Epiphone, it was only average, Definitely not the equal to the Gibson 😮😮😮
@@susanroycroft89 The Epiphone AJ220s / aka Epiphone J-45 Studio is not a bad entry level guitar. In this price range, my recommendation to players / parents is the Yamaha FG800... Under the new leadership Epiphone has started building a few J-45 models that deserve the "J-45" name, the Inspired By Gibson J-45 ($749) and Inspired By Gibson Slash signature edition ($799) are stage worthy instruments that manage to actually sound like the real thing for a fraction of the cost, giving up mostly just aesthetic things.... I think my biggest gripe with Gibson is putting "J-45" name on a long scale guitar on a model that has a distinct Epiphone pickguard, rosette and headstock... Epiphone has built a $200 short scale slope with a 60's style Gibson J-45 pickguard, they sold as a holiday exclusive through one of the big box music store retailers, it's the model they should have main standard part of their line up.... No one really cares about the entry level of the market, though.
My first slope shouldered guitar was an AJ220s. I bought it for £119 (which is probably less than $100 now). I could have been lucky with mine, but I thought it was the best sounding acoustic I'd ever played at the time. It's long gone now, replaced by Gibsons, Martins and Eastmans, but it did make me fall in love with slope shoulders.
@@mickymillersson4376 Here's a video Epiphone put up 11 years ago when they brought this model to market as the AJ220s.
th-cam.com/video/3JjDqmbm2qE/w-d-xo.html
I have one with the AJ-220 "E" logo but inside it says J-45 Studio... Bought this month!
"It has a sound"....that described it perfectly.
Sounds good. It took me YEARS to find the right sound and neck shape. I found that in a J-45 Banner BUT I then had to find something for my younger grandson. Thanks Quinton and Chad!
Nice honest review! Love the jam with the mandolin. Sound great together...thanks!
Nice to see Chad on the channel. He was very helpful when I bought my guitar.
Chad and Quinton sound great together!!
great honest review! agree with another comment, if you are just spending under 500 get a yamaha or eastman. if you can spring more though the "inspired by gibson" line of epis will get you 90% of the way there.
Lovely playing lads, happy paddy's day from ireland 🇮🇪
I'll call lovely tune "the law of of diminishing returns" 😉
Love the honesty. Great honest review.
I’ve tried the Epiphone studio version. I don’t like they call it a J45, since it’s no where near it. Even at $300, I think there are better options. I’ve played $300 Yamaha, Alvarez, and for a little more money, an Eastman, that sounded and to me, played better. But that is my opinion. I like the Epiphone Masterbuilt or Inspired by Gibson guitars but obviously they are more than double this price.
Thank you for an honest video. Good stuff.
Yeah that’s because it originally was an AJ-220s that got rebranded but the guitar itself is the same.
I had an Epiphone AJ-200 ? Back in the day. This isn't bad.
Cool to see Quintin playing an instrument I would normally purchase due to Epiphones being on the cheapest priced solid top I can afford. I think these instruments all come with Plastic nuts and bone saddles. Once you change up the plastic parts including the bridge pins it's gonna sound much better. Not great but for the value towards a practicing guitarist it's a perfect instrument for a not so serious musician. I just don't like the fretboards that come with these studios. If you're like me you appreciate a dark fretboard. I wanna buy an older used one. Especially and older L-OO
Can’t hear the guitar worth a crap because that little guitar is blocking the sound.
Nice jam, guys!
Cool! Billings! Closer to Saskatchewan
They failed to mention that it does have the dreadnought architecture. It terms of tone, I listened to several videos that were recorded with high quality mics comparing the Gibson to the Epiphone, and the Gibson had slightly better mid to lower tones, but the difference was negligible in comparison.
All instruments can sound good. All instruments can sound bad. There are a lot of factors that play into this.
I guess all Epiphone jumbos are long scale as opposed to the J45..
I would like to hear this guitars compared to an 800 series Yamaha.
The Yamaha will sound much better
This guitar would compare most directly to the Yamaha FG820 in the 800 series. That's where the comparison would end. Yamaha has a pretty good idea how to make a $300 guitar sound good. It would have a much warmer tone & project much louder than this particular model.
For 3 hundos , sounds excellent
Money better spend on an Eastman guitar
I personally would never buy a 'Studio' version of any instrument as they usually have a thinner body to help reduce feedback (hence the Studio moniker I guess). I don't mind the fact that they're often plainer but soundwise they don't have enough depth, character and quality IMO.
We're all going down to Dixieland- Steve Earle
Can't even hear it with that damn mandolin...
What mandolin is he playing?
gibson f-5 maybe? i liked it, helped me focus on the guitar. like smelling coffee grounds when smelling different colognes
It looks like a Gilchrist mandolin. Made by Stephen Gilchrist in Australia.
What you don't get is any tone out of that thing. I'd spend the 300 bucks on a FG 830
PAUL who??
A recent teardown by a well known channel concluded this guitar is v poorly built
I realize this is an Epi, but can we please dispense with the Mando on your videos?
i'd rather have a yammie fg800 for 200 bucks
Over the waves
They always gotta put that stupid looking double rosette on their cheaper guitars! I hate that
damning with faint praise: "it's not terrible". a ringing endorsement, it's not. cue the Eastman. Also, please lose the mando on the demos b/c it masks the featured guitar.
These inexpensive Epiphones do not have the depth and sustain for flatpicking, but because they have an old clunky "mono" sound they are best suited for fingerstyle blues, rags, and old time country.