Epiphone J-45 Masterbilt 2020 - How Does it Sound?
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- The classic J-45 has been the choice of legendary musicians ever since it was first introduced in 1942. Known as The Workhorse, it is Gibson's most famous and most popular acoustic guitar model. Now Epiphone has released a new Inspired by Gibson™ J-45™ with all of the features players want, including all solid wood construction, a comfortable rounded C neck profile, 20 medium jumbo frets, the 60s style Kalamazoo headstock shape and a gorgeous Aged Vintage Sunburst finish. The Fishman® Sonicore under-saddle pickup and Sonitone preamp make this Workhorse stage-ready too. Optional hardshell or EpiLite™ case available separately.
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GUITAR SPECS:
Back & Side Wood: Solid Mahogany
Body Size: Slope Shoulder Dreadnought
Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
Nut Width: 1.69"
Neck Shape: Rounded C
Bracing Pattern: "X" Scalloped
Scale Length: 24.72"
Pickup: Fishman Sonicore
Tuners: 3 On a Plate
Case: Sold Separately
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You guys spent so much time selling Gibsons during this that it made me feel so very good about my Purchase of my Masterbilt(which i absolutely love).
Our lead guitarist has one & plays of these and loves it. He played both the Gibson J45 and J45 Masterbilt side by side. He just liked the sound of the Masterbilt a bit better. Regardless of Price/Brand.. ....if you like how an instrument plays/sounds/feels , then that's the best one for you .
Amen
I just left guitar center and OMG. I played the epi and as I almost bought the guitar I needed to go home and do some research. Wow that guitar played sooooo well. I truly believe that in my ears the epi j45 is a phenomenal guitar for the money. $750 is not bad at all!
I don’t care about how it stacks up against a Gibson, I came to see a review of the epiphone.
3:35, I disagree. Spending more does not always mean getting “better”. In many cases, sure, but there are times when diminishing returns does apply.
You can't deny it's not a good sounding guitar...it doesn't need to be just as good or better than the Gibson. What it needs to be is a good sounding guitar, good playing guitar, and built to last. A lot of players should be happy with that instrument.
I bought an Epi Masterbilt EF500, Rosewood/Cedar many years ago. It is a banjo killer. Very big sound. I will never sell it. 'Nuff said.
Wish I had kept mine...
I just got one of these and it’s a great guitar all around. Comparable in build quality/playability to the Gibson g45 but the epiphone sounds better, IMO.
these are genuinely impressive. i have the real thing these were modeled after, and i haven't played one in person. but, of the videos i've heard, they are genuinely awesome. i hope some kid gets one, just right and just writes music.
I have just small bone to pick with this video. I own the IBG J45. I also own a Martin HD28, which is sooo much more expensive and decently comparable (in price) to the Gibson J45. I do understand what the guys are saying....to a point. I love my Martin and will probably have it til I'm gone. That being said, I really started to look for a gibson that was more of a strummer. Then I really thought about what I was gonna do with that type guitar. I was gonna spend my summer afternoons/evenings in high heat/humidity outside on the deck with whatever guitar I was gonna get. That's when I decided that I would split the difference and go with the Epiphone IBG J45 over the the Gibson. I decided I did not want to have almost $6k invested in two acoustics and worry about taking either of them outside. I got the epiphone, put some elixrs on it, and replaced the bridge pins with a $10 set of Kokobola pins. That's it. The result is that I play this guitar more than my beloved HD28. It sounds amazing. I'm not worried about taking it outside bc of price. It's built, to me, very solidly. The all solid-wood construction is very noticeable. This epiphone is a secret weapon. To me, it trades punches very well with my martin. And I don't regret one second of owning it and am not worried about one single scratch or ding that it acquires. My opinion is that one is, depending upon situation or budget, either in the market for a $3k-plus guitar, or the everyday averaged-priced guitar. This is the averaged-priced guitar that will get you very similar results to the $3k plus.
Just played one of these, and it was fantastic. Held up quite well to the shop's Gibson J45.
Nice sounding guitar, that's one of the things all solid wood vs laminate provides... - I think Gibson realized if they want to compete with the likes of EASTMAN, they have to make better guitars at a better price point...
Many new lower-end guitars now come with the dreadnought architecture, which is game changer, raising the bar closer to higher-end guitars like Martin or Taylor. So now it comes down to a matter of personal tonal preference.
Great tone. Killer playing as always Quinton, thanks guys.
It never hurts to have a good mic in front of the sound hole on every video. Obviously you can’t replicate “feel” of a good guitar on uTube. The way good wood and quality build resonates through your rib cage is how you know you’re playing something truly special vs some cheap mass produced copy. A Toyota is similar to a Benz in that they both have four wheels and seats. Close the door once inside the cockpit it’s a whole different experience.
I could listen to you guys all day! Love the sharing of knowledge, the attention to detail and the passion.
Here's my take on this. I love the Gibson sound, but in my experience, Gibson quality is inconsistent, certainly not up to snuff with the Martins, Taylors, Collings, etc of the world. I have owned 2 Gibsons over the years and they just didn't hold up well. Over time (5 - 10 years) they started failing structurally. (Just for the record, I own a lot of guitars and they are all very well taken care of. Both Gibsons were examined and treated by the best repair shops in the NYC area and the diagnosis was poor build quality). That said, I still love the sound Gibsons make. I'm just not willing to spend the $$ for a Gibson and take a chance that I will have the same problem. I bought the Epiphone J-45 and I am really impressed. It sounds like a Gibson and it cost 1/5 of what a Gibson J-45 costs. Based on my initial inspection, the build quality is good. We'll see how it holds up over time. In the meantime, this is a low-risk but perfectly acceptable Gibson substitute. I highly recommend it. And btw, Epiphone makes a killer hard shell case for this guitar (not included, but reasonably priced and very worth it).
I agree. I have 4 Epiphone Masterbilts (2013-2017). Each with an Epiphone hard shell case.
As I understand this isn't labelled as a masterbilt, I thought it was an 'inspired by gibson'. That being the case, I'd love to know how this compares to the previous version the AJ45 ME Masterbilt
I just took ownership/deliver of this guitar today. Interestingly enough I thought the same as you but the sku/label on the box says Masterbilt J-45
@@danhayden4254 that's interesting. I'd love to know the specific differences between the two guitars. I can't see anything that differentiates them other than the headstock
@@zaphodbeeblebrox9109 look at the specs at epiphone website. The only memorable thing i remeber is the neck, the masterbilt has a slim taper d profile and the inspired by has a c rounded shape as the gibsons. The fingerboard wood might also be different.
@@damekiyoshk5842 aj45me is also short scale though
@@zaphodbeeblebrox9109 difference is in neck shape if I'm not mistaken
i'm still waiting to hear about the guitars that are gonna be hatched from the Eastman/Bourgeois deal. any word on that, guys?
Thanks guys
I tried this in my local guitar shop. Side by side with the j15, j35 and the j45. I must admit I loved the epiphone a lot, a bit more than the j45 itself. Maybe because of the satin finish
Guys, there's another way at looking at this. If you've the cash, get yourself a good Gibson, Martin, or even boutique for best and enjoy one or two of these cheaper made guitars like this Epiphone for everyday, or taking out. Unlike the old days, quality, affordability and choice go hand in hand with guitars like this one. Ditto Faith Eastman etc...
And if you do anything like a lot of seasoned players do, you'll end up playing the more affordable ones much more while the posh guitars spend longer in the case.
This is what I wanted to seeeeee
It’s obviously going to be compared to the Gibson. But I wish it wasn’t. It is an amazing guitar in its own right and sounds amazing. I absolutely love mine
The epiphone sounds good actually pretty damn good played one today going to buy one
Never played one of these, but this one sounds pretty good. The higher priced acoustic guitars give you more responsiveness and probably almost always more depth, but recorded it is sometimes hard to hear that. The difference is most obvious, when you play them side by side as being said in the video.
absolutely
Same thing you said on your other videos…I have a hummingbird masterbilt that sonically on software had the same tonal performance as the Gibson hummingbird it was compared to side by side.
Where’s the comparison???
That Epiphone J-45 sounds OK. I wouldn't worry too much. Most of the early Beatle songs were written on expensive Gibson J-160Es made of laminate.
I used to enjoy your reviews not any more . I have gibson and epiphone and some of my Epiphones out do the gibsons
I dont understand how this sounds better than some 3500 dollar taylors...
I'm going to get came at with pitchforks for this but I've always thought Taylors were over priced.
@@williamcatalano1762 I think the majority of them sound very bad. But there are hidden gems. For example their 12 fret models sound warm and amazing. Combine that with a cedar top and you have a very nice guitar
@@matteo-nf1kv When I was way younger I always wanted a Martin because of Neil Young. I was hanging out with this girl and another guy she knew and he had a cheaper Taylor I asked him if I could play it and got excited because well it's a Taylor. All I had at the time was a cheapo 100 dollar Ebay special lol I was severely disappointed and my lust for a Taylor dropped that day and since. I got a Martin D-15M 10 years ago. Picked up a Taylor in the store to try it out before I bought the Martin and was disappointed again. I don't even try them out anymore. If I was to buy a high dollar acoustic again I'd probably go with a Martin again, Collings, or a Huss and Dalton.
@@matteo-nf1kv Gibson is good too, but I've never really wanted one badly for some reason.
@@williamcatalano1762 you have good taste. Next time you buy an acoustic though check out the 512ce 12 fret, or the 517 grand pacific. The two are very warm sounding guitars. As for the other taylors, they are dissappinting to me, specifically the 814 which I was referring to in my original post
Take out the sound deadening piezo under bridge pickup, swap the saddle for a higher bone saddle to compansate for the height loss from the piezo pickup. Swap the plastic bridge pins for brass ones. String up with Elixir phosphor bronze. The guitar will sound so much better!! I did this to my Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 sunburst.
Exactly what I do every time I pick up a new acoustic. Getting rid of the piezo is always a huge improvement in unplugged tone. I use Sunrise soundhole pickups, so no need for pesky piezos!
That sounded great. It would have competed against any random J45 off the rack in decades past. I’m sure Gibson is upping its game. The Guitar market as a whole is really stepping up quality and I only hope that appropriate tone-woods can sustain it. I agree with you Paul....except when it comes to one company, Eastman. You get twice or three times the value per dollar spent and you don’t lose too much on the used market.. Not a fair comparison as they are an outlier-a much smaller but diverse musical instrument company. I own only one but just about every guitar I’ve ever picked up has been impressive the past ten years.
Regardless, it’s a fantastic time to buy a new guitar. I only wish they could figure out affordable point to point wired amps just for the simple fact of landfill space-the amount of consumer electronics I go through in a year is frightening. I started in the 80’s with awful guitars, toothpick necks, high action, no intonation and yet I stuck with it until i found one that was playable. Many guitars over a 500$ price point play pretty darn good these days. It rewards me far more than any dollar amount I’ve ever spent. So glad you exist Musicvilla!
Informal poll: Epiphone Masterbilt J45 or Gibson G45 Studio?
(Edit) I chose the G45 Studio because once you figure in (or out) the cost of the included hard case, it lands within $200 of the Epiphone J45. So the real question is, "If you can't spend $2,000 or $3,000 on a guitar, do you buy the Asian built guitar with all the bells and whistles or the more basic American built guitar?"
I'll toss an opinion into the hat. If you're asking which of these gets you closer to the J-45 Standard my opinion is that it's a toss up and that both these options get you to a great intermediate guitar, but neither sound much like a USA built J-45. There are some real compromises being made on this new Masterbuilt/inspired By lineup as has always been the case with the Masterbuilt guitars. They are all solid wood, yes. However the finish is not as nice, the tuners are not as nice. The overall approach to construction/craftsmanship/quality assurance on the line isn't as good since they are building more of them on the line. Gibson could setup an Epiphone factory in the US and they would likely still cut these same corners, the assembly line is just setup to process more guitars and do a bit more through automated processes. It doesn't matter which country your factory is in, if you crank up the output, the quality just isn't going to be as good. You don't have a real hide glue neck joint on these (they aren't advertising that, anyway), inlays are not real mother of pearl, you don't get a hard case or even a gig bag, either.... The only big plus with this new Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 is that the aesthetics are on the money. It captures the 60s era J-45 vibe much better than any Epiphone since the Japanese built Epiphone Elite models from the late 90s/early 2000s and you get solid Sitka Spruce top on solid Mahagony back and sides..... The G45 is built in the same factory as Gibson's USA flagship models. Wood is conditioned to their same strict standards in the USA warehouse (it makes a difference), pro grade tuners, you have real inlays. Albeit basic inlay work, at least they are real. Finish is a high end Nitro finish, same Gibson uses on their flagship models and you get a case. Objectively the G45 Studio is a higher quality guitar and better value and also G45 studio isn't a J-45 Clone. It's a G45, it's got a more a shallow body depth than a J-45 and the Walnut gives it it's own tone. It's respectably it's own model and honestly the same with the Gibson J-45 Studio. If you're looking for the J-45 tone, that tone is distinctly mid-range focused with a "drop-in-the-bucket" thump sound on the low E. If you want that distinct J-45 sound, you need to buy a J-45 Standard or one of the 50's, 60's Gibson Original J-45 or J-50 models. That's where you'll find THAT TONE. Really no where else. If your budget is under $2k the J-15 is probably the closest to it since with the J-15 you're getting the full body depth/J-45 Standard mold. The J-15 is basically a J-45 Standard Walnut with a few cost saving things like the cheaper neck, etc...
@@rmzzz76 Good comment, respect. I'd go for the G45. I was surprised how good they sound. It had a softer tone than I expected but really well balanced. A warm tone. I could easily imagine Paul Simon playing this guitar. And James Taylor. It's an ideal songwriters guitar.
I have the Epiphone J45 and I think it is an excellent guitar, but my question is if the 2 guitars weigh the same, because the Epiphone is very heavy, I don't have how to compare, since I don't have the Gibson, could you clarify this doubt. And if all solid body guitars are that heavy?
What’s the difference between these and the inspired by Gibson range?
Can you please do the frontier?
Allot of great guitars coming from overseas...some sound like your playing in a bucket, some sound exceptional...the Eastman's are probably the finest even comparing both in tone, volume and craftsmanship to even some boutique offerings at 3 or 4 times the price.
I keep looking for a guitar with good intonation (proper pitch alignment) and so far every guitar
I have seen played (and that has been hundreds) has out of tune notes (sharp and flat) up and down the fret board. If any of you guitarists know of a guitar made and is actually playable that don't cost a fortune let me know! Kenn
J.P. Cormier disagrees. He was astounded by the IBG Epiphones he got online and said he had never heard a Gibson to match them. Epiphone has improved and is made by master luthiers in Indonesia with work supervised by Epiphone. Epiphone started as a better guitar than Gibson, but Gibson bought them out and made them second-tier. Now they are back.
So what you’re saying is ‘Masterbuilt’ is misleading
Mine has the old pickup system , worst there ever was but the guitar is wonderful . I've owned and played Gibson and I prefer the Epiphone . Do a segment on removing the preamp from it .
If I was playing guitar as a main source of income or had loads of spending cash. Why not get a Gibson. But for me playing a weekend country dances and basic jamming with friends. I go Epi.
Just one thing guys, gibsons are way way expensive than epiphone. They can be 10 times expensive than epiphone but are they 10 times better too? I don't think so. You guys were talking about how gibson can outperform these epiphones, I say give an epiphone to BB king and a gibson to some random player, we ll see who outperforms who. Instrument is just a medium, talent is what counts.
Nice
I am diggin' Paul 's hair , What products you use mate ?
I think the epi's sound every bit as good as the Gibson. They don't sound the same and that's okay because the sound they have is amazing at any price point. There might be a little bit of bias here. My friend has a Gibson j45 and my Epiphone masterbuilt IBG sounds better in my opinion. I had it professionally set up and it's an amazing guitar it's my go-to. I also have the masterbui 3:01 lt excellente and that's even a step up from this. Epiphone is killing it
The car comparison isn’t a good analogy as the higher level brand doesn’t also make the lesser brand to spec. . Epiphone has the right to copy the specs of Gibson so there is the chance that the Epiphone can be very close to quality of the Gibson. Especially with the price differential. A good player makes them sound so similar. The pickup systems sound different though.
I was considering a Gibson J45 a few years back. Played it and then grabbed an Epiphone Masterbilt out of curiosity... I left the store with the Epiphone. The Gibson sounded boring. I'm all for handcrafted and American built but at the end of the day, a guitar that costs 4-5x has to validate that price tag in sound and feel.
Could not have said it better myself
Not to mention that epi will sound better with age
I have an Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ45ME (made in China) and a Gibson Acoustic '50s J45 Original. I love them both-- in some ways, l love the Masterbuilt more than the Gibson. I also own an Epiphone Frontier (Indonesia) and a Gibson Hummingbird Vintage and I love both of them too, but in some ways, I prefer the Frontier. Love for a guitar has no relationship to price or where it came from. Love is hard to set metrics to :)
Someone with more knowledge than me please answer this... over time how would the Epiphone J-45 in this video compare to a Gibson J-45 of the same age. If you compared them ten years later would there be a bigger difference? I thought this particular Epiphone sounded really nice. I can buy whatever I want (within some reason) but I've "got some age on me" so the ten years down the road might be pushing it! LOL
I don't know the specs of each guitar, but I imagine the biggest difference in terms of ageing would probably be down to the finish... For example a nitrocellulose finish will likely age quicker than polyurethane as it is generally thinner, easier to mark and is less sealing against the elements...
A cheaper guitar is more likely to have a polyurethane finish. I know Gibson's electrics generally have nitro finishes, while their Epiphone equivalents have poly finishes.
Got one of these recently on a trade and wanted to share some first hand thoughts. Also own a Gibson J-45 built in early 2000s. I also recently played the Slash edition of this Inspired by Gibson, Epiphone J-45 and found it to sound a lot closer to the modern Gibson J-45 Standard. The key difference being the TUSQ nut and saddle on the Slash version of this Epiphone J-45 vs the traditional Bone nut and saddle on the standard inspired by Gibson Epiphone J-45. The USA Gibson J-45 has a TUSQ nut and saddle. You also get Grover rotomatics on the Slash edition and the same LR Baggs VTC pickup Gibson puts in the USA built J-45.... They don't mention in this review, but the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson is quite a bit heavier. Looking at websites that show the exact weight of the guitars in their inventory, consistently the Epiphone J-45 Inspired by model is about 1 pound heavier than its Gibson J-45 counterpart. That weight is coming from the wood. Even though the solid woods are the same (Sitka and Mahogany) it cost money to let the wood sit in a controlled environment for 8-24 months and slowly loose that moisture, but that helps make it a bit lighter and harder and does impact tone. Gibson conditions their exotic woods better than Epiphone does, I'm sure it's a cost thing.... Another thing, this Epiphone J-45 is based on the late 1950s J-45. We have the 3 on a plate Kluson like tuners, real bone nut and saddle and the late 50's to mid 60's style pick-guard. The handful of real J-45's and J-50's I've played from the 1960s also had that "built like a tank" feel to them and sounded a bit thinner on 1st and 2nd string than the modern J-45. An excellent guitar to compare this Inspired by J-45 to would be the current Gibson J-45 50's model from the original collection as that model also has a bone nut and saddle. That's your apple's to apple's comparison! Make it happen Music Villa, give us a round two!
For me, I honestly I would take this Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 or even the Masterbuilt Epiphone AJ45ME (which is also a short scale, all-solid slope shoulder J-45 copy at a bit lower price) over the USA built Generation's G45 guitars. If I were buying one new I'd get the Slash signature Epiphone J-45, for $250 more you're getting an Epiphone hard case ($120), Full size Grover Rotomatic tuners ($60), LR Baggs Element VTC pickup ($160) and TUSQ nut and saddle ($20). Plugged-in I'd dare say you can not hear a difference in the Slash Epiphone J-45 vs a modern Gibson J-45 Standard... Not a Slash fan? No problem, they include a plain black truss rod cover in the case you can swap out for the stock one with his signature Slash artwork engraved.
TY for your wealth of information. I'm about to follow your Slash Epi suggestion to A TEE. Wanted to ask if the upgrade from Epi J45 to the Epi Slash inspired is definitely worthwhile?
@@Faraz9564 You have to feel comfortable doing a bit of work yourself. UA-cam videos can help. But you can order the black TUSQ nut, TUSQ saddle and TUSQ bridge pens from GraphTek or Music Villa might be an authorized retailer. Since their video led you down this path consider giving them the business. The bone nut that comes stock is lightly glued in, you can find videos on how to remove it, it isn't hard. Keep your stock nut and saddle and experiment. It's about $30 in TUSQ parts and you can easily go back next string change if you don't like the sound...Just don't glue the TUSQ nut in until you are sure you like it. The string tension keeps it in place, I actually don't have the nut glued in on several acoustics.
@@rmzzz76 Thank you for your prompt reply. It's so refreshing to get a learned opinion on the new batch of the Gibs J-45s. Everyone has advised me to look for an older model, but the abundance of ebay listings out of Japan look a bit sketchy.
Immense respect to the Montana guys defending their home product in the video. Reminiscent of the 90's Detroit when one would get behind the wheel of a Japanese car at one's own great peril.
I'm leaning toward a new, savagely sexy red Epiphone Slash J-45 & praise Odin for the differential I get to save.
@@Faraz9564 Since you have a strong interest in this model you might want to check out my UA-cam channel. I did a review and talk about Epiphone's new directi0on in general... Also slight correction. It's GraphTech not GraphTek for the company making and selling the TUSQ parts
Tengo la epiphone j45 Slash. He tenido Larrivee, Gibson, pero nunca una j45 original. Crees que está la Epiphone J45 Slash tan cerca de la Gibson J45? Tú qué has podido tocar ambas, me podrías decir? Muchas gracias.
TBH, I'm more interested in how it smells.
Smells like rice farts
Is this “masterbilt” the same as/part of he new “Inspired By Gibson” line?
No they've had the 'Masterbilt' line for a couple of years AFAIK. The 'Inspired by Gibson' is quite recent.
Yes 100% certain it is the new 2020 Inspred By line. The aesthetics that you see on this one down to the headstock and orange sticker in the sound hole are new. The Inspired By Gibson line is part of the. Masterbuilt series
I’m pretty certain they are different. I have a Gibson Hummingbird, and just bought an Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier (made in Indonesia, solid maple back and sides). I agree wholeheartedly with Paul and Quentin, that there are so many factors when purchasing a guitar. I love both for different reasons. Each of my guitars tend to serve a different purpose. To my ears, I prefer Masterbilts over the Inspired by lineup, since they seem to be more their own thing, rather than Gibsons with lesser grade materials.
I don't know why Epiphone is not listing these under "Masterbuilt" on their website, but the new J-200, Hummingbird (video went up last week for Acoustic letter) and this new J-45 are certainly part of the Inspired By series... These guitars shown in videos are identical to these (have a look here)
www.epiphone.com/Guitars/Collection/Inspired-by-Gibson-Acoustic
and if you look at what Epiphone is classifying as Masterbuilt they are here www.epiphone.com/Guitars/Collection/masterbilt/Epiphone
The "Inspired By Gibson" lineup are Asian built, all solid wood just like Masterbuilt. It would make no sense for duplicate guitars to exist under both the Masterbuilt group and "Inspired By Gibson" group... Music Villa needs to clarify this it seems, but I've heard the Inspired By Gibson lineup are built in the same factory as Masterbuilt guitars so that's probably where the confusion comes in, outside the new for 2020/2021 Inspired by Gibson models, there is no Masterbuilt Hummingbird and no Masterbuilt J-45 (there is a Masterbuilt AJ45ME but that has been around for years and is not the same guitar in this video).
Glad that’s settled.
You guys need to stop with the "good for the money" narrative. These Epiphones are good. Period.
It's so obvious that you're Gibson apologists that it's really hard to take you seriously sometimes. Especially when this video was made, Gibson was in a total mess, and you still couldn't give the Epiphone division the props they truly deserved then and continue to deserve now.
Gibson on the headstock doesn't automatically mean it's good. Give us some damn honesty.
My experience with a side by side with last years Epiphone AJ45ME vs a Gibson J45 true vintage was that the Gibson was lighter, richer and had more bass. Better but not 2.5K better. That said, it still had plastic bridge pins. All Gibson guitars really should come with, excellent bone and real wood or bone pin combinations. As well as the best LR Baggs pickup money can buy. I'm gonna take a masterbilt and have my luthier, replace the plastic pins and put some superior bone on for the nut and saddle and sand some weight off the scalloped braces, maybe that'll make up the difference. 🤷♂️
AJ45 has a bone nut , I replaced mine with tusk because none sounds quacky
@@lawrencerasmus I like tusq, that's whats on my Taylor 714. Sounds fantastic IMO. Bone is obviously not as consistent, sound wise. You can get better select bone that sounds better then the factory stuff.
the epiphone is a half inch thinner that the Gibson J-45... I think they were too afraid to make an exact copy. So, no true comparison is really possible side by side. Regardless, I got one and the bass surpasses my D-35 easily, and with great low end sustain that I have only heard in a D-35. Sadly have never been able to play a Gibson.
Wouldn't shock me if 1/10 of these are better than 1/10 Gibsons.
play at 1.5 speed when they talk
Play at 2x speed when they play
At the end of the day as I have learned the hard way you if the guitar isn’t a good fit or speak to your soul you will not like it and you will constantly find reasons to not play it .
Not everyone can afford a 5,000 dollar guitar I can’t tell a difference between it and a Gibson it sounds the same
That pick-guard though. Why?!
I wish they would change the headstock to the gibson open book . The way they just aren't very appealing.
Check the headstock on this close up. They are now closer to the gibson headstock, not like they are on the epi cheaper models which I agree looks horrendous
I always say, who's behind the guitar that makes a big difference also, I have a friend of mine, he'll take a cheap guitar and make it sound like a very expensive guitar.
why not do a video to talk about epiphone Mb j200???
Guys, I get that you’ve found it tricky to answer some questions over the phone; but what happened to the review of this guitar? What happened to your video editing? I tuned in and all I got was a vague rambling answer for someone else’s question. I get it, the Gibby is 2K more expensive so one ought to weight things out accordingly. But where is the review of the Epiphone and where is the sound comparison with the Gibson? It must have been a cold day in Bozeman when you put out this review because it’s like 5 minutes of brain freeze. I usually trust your reviews here, but this guitar deserves a do over. Thanks.
The main difference, outside of top thickness and finish thickness, is nitro-cellulose vs. poly, and that American guitar factories have more more expensive labor than Asian factories; hence more expensive cost to the consumer.
Say what you will about butt massagers gents, I never knew that was such a big variable!
There’s certainly a lot of hype, and perhaps too much in regard to the name in the headstock.
It's also very much down to quality of materials, wood thicknesses/properties and most importantly, bracing. A lot of cheaper guitars are more heavily braced, and their tops are thicker, so they don't vibrate and push sound like their USA built counterparts. Don't get me wrong, this J45 sounds great, but there is definitely some strong justification for a price hike for the Gibson version.
Only a Gibson is good enough.
What is the replacement battery?
never played this guitar in person, but just hearing you strum it, it sounds wonderful. it has that high end sound.
what string brand and gauge were on the guitar during the recording?!
it was probably the stock strings. I'm curious to hear a set of light Martin Retro Monels on one of these... love those strings.
@@williamcatalano1762 Give the Daddario nickel bronze strings a try too. On my Guild D20 I added Blisstime natural bone pins and the NB 12-53 set and it rings with a Martin bass with the classic Guild mids.
@@tomformanek3312 I've been curious to try those but it's hard for me to part ways with my Martin Retro lights haha maybe one day.
@@williamcatalano1762 It really comes down to your taste and if the instrument is a good match. Hated the monel on a Martin DSS-17. For me the NB had more life without adding color. Just suggesting. If you have your tone you are way ahead of many of us.
@@tomformanek3312 I like the Martin retros on all my acoustics except my Martin D-15M. It's like 12 years old now and I felt like the retros mellowed it out way too much so I went back to Martin Lifespan PB's. Love them on my new Gibson L-00 Rosewood though.
My top price for a gig guitar is $2K ish.... my current go to cost $1,600. I am not going to bring a $5K J200 or $4K Hummingbird into a roomful of liquored up people. The J45, although less expensive, is still more money than I want to expose to someone pounding down beers and shots of Cuervo Gold. I don’t buy guitars that I am afraid to take out of the living room, because I don’t really care how the guitar sounds to me,(I have heard myself play for 50 years... LOL). I only care how it sounds to an audience, plugged into the board. I am confident that if you took the Epiphone J45, and installed an Anthem, that it would sound great through a PA, and be right at $1,000! From my perspective, there are working guitars for working musicians, and there are “living room” guitars for the well to do collector.
That’s exactly what I did. I got the Epi J45 and installed an Anthem SL and it sounds great plugged in onstage. It also looks and plays great. Unless someone comes close and looks at the headstock, they will think it’s a Gibson.
@@jackbandel thanks for that Jack! I have wanted a J200 ever since hearing Pete Townsend play “Behind Blue Eyes” on one. So, the Epiphone with an Anthem should do the trick! Sadly, can’t buy the J200 without the crappy Sonitone pickup, so have to pay an extra $100 for unusable electronics...
How much money ?
These "Inspired by Gibson" guitars, seem to have the same build and quality as Epiphone's Masterbilt collection, maybe even the same materials, is this fair to say? Seems as though these are basically Masterbilts created to looks like some of Gibsons most iconic models. I've even seen some call these guitars by the Masterbilt name...Masterbilt J-45, Masterbilt Hummingbird etc... Also, if I am correct, these are not the first guitars inspired by Gibson, just the first to be called "Inspired by Gibson", right? For quite some time now, Epiphone has had the J-200 Studio, J-45 Studio, Hummingbird Studio, and Dove Studio in their line up. So, what's the difference here? I'd imagine just better materials maybe? Built to the same standards their Masterbilt collection is built to?
Answered my own question as far as Masterbilt vs "Inspired By". You can clearly see inside each sound hole, these guitars are labeled as Masterbilt Humming Bird, Masterbilt J-45 etc... So, these are extensions of their Masterbilt line.
I played the J45 cutaway at music store today-that was all they had of the Masterbilt inspired line- and I have to say, it wasn't bad! I liked it, possible should have bought it but I don't like cutaways. I would liken it to the difference between an Epiphone masterbilt Dr500M and say a Martin D18 in that it doesn't have the same fullness of tone but it does sound like one.
I have trouble believing a guitar can sound better than that.
So funny the obvious bias for Gibson. Gibsons are great no doubt. But if you’re gonna make a video about any instrument just point out the good and bad of that instrument. This isn’t a comparison video yet you’re comparing it to the supposed holy grail lol. I’ve gigged with a 2012 Epiphone EJ 200 that I bought used for $200 for the last ten years and it’s my favorite. I’ve probably made $20,000 with that guitar. Plus I sound the same on it as I do on a $3,000 Gibson. These days especially, with a decent PA with good EQ you can make just about any guitar sound great. Thanks for the video. I’m going Masterbilt.
Played the Epiphone J-45 the other day at Guitar Center. First thing you notice is how poor the machine heads are. The tuning was a nightmare. Also yes super thick pick guard, very strange. But overall the guitar is complete trash in my opinion. Even at $749
its not a Masterbilt series. its the "inspired by gibson" series
Круто звучит👍👍👍
There were no concrete reasons given as to why the American made hand built is better than the overseas mass produced. Only a reference to better materials used but what materials are better? Is it a higher grade of spruce top? Who makes that distinction? I would presume the same glues and very similar braces are used. And without any specific distinction I have a hard time justifying the American made at it’s price.
Here is the answer to your question. The USA built J-45 Standard (solid Sitka top, solid Mahogany back and sides) has these advantages
* Pro grade Grover brand tuners.
* High quality Nitro finish
* Pro grade LR Baggs pickup system
* Gibson body depth is just a bit deeper and is still based on the original J-45/J-50 mold Gibson has been using since 1942
* Nut width is 1.72" just a bit wider than the Epiphone 1.69 (yes, you can feel it)
* Gibson's wood warehouse in Montana conditions the wood to very strict standards for months, even years in some cases
* Gibson uses animal glues in parts on their construction process
* Binding process is by hand, rosette is made by hand (historically its a decal on the Asian built Epiphones, even Masterbuilts)
* Fret dressing overall better on the USA line. Overall more time is just given to attention to detail
* Inlays are real mother of pearl, placed by hand
* Truss rod is different
* You get a hard case with the J-45.
So you have a lot of cosmetic things, but the body depth being a bit different, the nut width being a bit different, the finish being a bit different and the way the wood is sourced and conditioned being a bit different all add up to some big tonal differences as I'm sure you'll hear when Acoustic Letter post their video comparing the USA built J-45 to this new Epiphone J-45.
@@rmzzz76 Thanks for that info on the woods. I did not know they were so specific in their process. To me it all adds up to not being worth the money that they ask but that’s just me. And I do prefer the full Gibson sound but so much is lost in a live setting through a pickup that is rather have the epiphone in that scenario. I wouldn’t mind it getting a few bumps and bruises too. Once again thanks for all that!
@@falcongunner33 If you get one of the new all-solid Epiphone's I'd ditch that Fishman Sonitone they put in these stock. It's really not a good pickup. There's a reason you find these in sub $400 guitars all the time... Fishman makes some great pickups, one of the best pickup vendors... just not the Sonitone line.... LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SE is a good choice for replacement as would be K&K Pure Mini (passive not active, run it into a quality preamp). I agree in a full band mix on stage with pickups the natural sound of the acoustic matters less, but that's where all the other qualities of a pro grade instrument kick in... I remember the first time I got a used Gibson acoustic and was dreading having to work on it and I was amazed how easy it was to maintain, it's little things like precision of the truss rod adjustment (the truss rod turns like butter), the hide glue neck joint makes the dreaded neck reset operation something that can be done without destroying the guitar, the tuners, nut, saddle... everything on a J-45 is really easy to find OEM parts for when you're in need of repairs... So there is that as well, but you can take a stock Epiphone and upgrade it in many ways and will come out spending a lot less.... FWIW I think the Masterbuilt AJ45ME, although a bit of an eyesore to look at sounds a lot closer to the Gibson J-45 than this new Inspired By Gibson model... I wish Acoustic Letter/Music Villa would put the new Epiphone J-45 up against the Masterbuilt Epiphone AJ45ME, I think you'd hear it. AJ45ME is probably on its way out in 2021, though.
@@rmzzz76 yeah I’ve played the AJ45ME. Definitely a nice one. My main guitars for gigs are a Martin 000X1 with a fishmann sonitone and a Taylor 714ce with the old prefix system. Both work well as just “the acoustic sound” but also sound great without amplification. I’m still waiting for these new epiphones to become available at my local shop but when they do I expect to be buying at least one of them based on videos I’ve seen so far, they’re great guitars. I do think they’re being undersold by the UA-cam guys.
Hey, I just bought this exact guitar. You guys think I should swap out the pick up, huh? I sing and play guitar for my local Church, so it’s not being used for professional circumstances or for traveling or anything like that. Any advice, information would be greatly appreciated! 👍
But, but, but... Come on guys commit! 😀
Horse crap. I’m a 30+ year pro guitarist. There’s not enough difference between the Epiphone j45 and the Gibson j45 to make any of the remarks you guys make. And yes, the Epiphone aj45 is an amazing guitar built actually better in a few ways than the Gibson. I’ve owned many and performed with both and I prefer the Epiphone aj45 and EF500 and DR500 to most ANY Gibson acoustic, Taylor, or Martin that I’ve ever owned or played. There are slight variations in specs but all the Epiphone guitars I’ve listed are built like the gibsons of old…X bracing, the glue used etc. There are variations in the finish and the electronics. But install a Baggs pickup and that’s that’s…IF …you feel it’s necessary. Gibson charges entirely too much for their instruments and the quality has drastically decreased. I’m a patriot of my country but I’ll take the Epiphone any day of the week. On a side note, the 60’s Tribute Plus Les Paul by Epiphone is also possibly the best electric solid body guitar I’ve ever owned out of about 40 guitars. Sorry guys. I know you’re pulling for the local Gibson plant but you couldn’t be more incorrect
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Again, we know it's not a Gibson....Review the guitar and leave the rest out!!
This guy seems like he's only good at (or cares about) selling high-priced models. The deal is: if you have only owned
It is kind of comical that more than half this video is basically a diss of the guitar that is to be reviewed here. Tossing in that line about a butt massager into a review of an Epiphone guitar i"m sure was a real thrill for the fine folks at Epiphone.
I have a great idea, why don't you fellows send me one of those guitars, I will play it for a few months, make some videos, upload them to UA-cam, and see where we go from there, as far as me purchasing the guitar, and you would make a visually impaired individual very happy at least for a few months. Also, you are welcome to send me one of those Gibson j45, just for comparison of course.
To say that Gibson is handcrafted is like saying that my Ford ranger is built in the usa....erm... assembled in the USA.
Serioulsy though, the Ephiphone J45 masterbuiilt is an all solid construction and rhe neck a fitted to the body using a thraditonal dovetail joint. For the money the Ephipone does everything one would expect of the Gibson at a snip of the price... more than 2000 less in fact. The only downside is hte electronics which are pretrty dire ... if one intends to go electro acuostic then just rIp the sonicore out and ifit an LR Baggs Anhem or suchlike. The finish isn't up with the nitro cellulose finish of the Gibson either but who cares if it does the job !! If one can offord the hight price tag of the Giboson then go for it but seriously, I'd prefer to save my cash and put itowards another hight end guitar such as a Lowden
accoutrement
Never would've guessed that second "e" . . . :)
@@quintonking9960 - would you recommend this Epiphone J45 now that you played it?
Hi Billy - The one in the video needed some additional setup. To my knowledge, we pulled it right out of the box, and so I struggled with tuning/intonation. It has a good tone and playability, but I'd need to know if the tuning/intonation issue was fixable. Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer here - short answer is a strong maybe, provided that there was an opportunity to play a few of them and then pick the best one. Thanks for watching!
@@quintonking9960 - Thank you for the follow up and the videos - very informative! Happy New Year!
Take a look at any blue rodeo performance and see what guitars their playing.. Mostly Epiphone their whole career, every album, every hit.. humm..
It's about the player and performance sir's.. Gibson is great but most players cue on a good set up, properly stretched strings etc..not the wood or construction. Geez jack white made a billion bucks on a plastic airline from Sears. This why new players are discouraged until they spend 5k then quit. And yes I own a 1993 j-45 but proudly play my aj-220 far more w less stress.
In my country, a Gibson 45 cost 30.000R$... and the standard salary is 1.200R$...
An epiphone j45 Cost 7.000.
Certainly least worst option
Quinten as always great playing. Try less talk and more playing. Stating the obvious over and over is not necessary. We all know an epi don’t sound like a collings. We do know the master built line sounds damned good for a price players can afford.
Gibson J-45 Review While Holding an Epiphone J-45* 😅
all solid woods,, this is a mekka to scallop yaself,, sand the top.. this guitar will age as all solid woods.. this can easely be as good as a gibson,, in fact,,maybe better if ya ups are good. on a gibson you wouldnt dare do it,, I did it with my eastman om.. aaa sitka and if you dont know eastman,,check em out.. chinese handcrafted 1600 dollar guitar.. my sound better than my friends martin ..by faar... he is considering do it to his martin.. but eastman sound as good as a martin out of the box really.... cause ,, built exaxtly as a martin,, even the triagal headshit on the back of the neck.. thinner top..... yes,, but it had to be done some fretwork on to .. my eastman is a martin killer now;)
Stop with all the Gibson upsell already, this is supposed to be a review of the Epiphone masterbilt J45, really annoying and disappointing guys.
Why get a guy to talk about these Epiphone guitars that cannot correctly talk about these Epiphone guitars? Erm. You know? Uh...
You guys could save yourselves a lot of time and awkwardness by just cutting through all the bull and just tell it like it is. The inspired by Gibsons are nice middle of the road guitars but they are not "Gibsons", if you want a Gibson your gonna have to spend double or triple the money to get one. Don't expect a mid range guitar to sound like the ones they are inspired by because they won't. Now, with that being said, if all you can afford is $800, then buy one of these Epiphone inspired by Gibson versions and enjoy it!
I get so tired of this channel saying great sound.... for the money.
It's just a great sounding guitar. A/B against a Gibson j-45 yesterday. Came home with the epiphone because it sounded more like a vintage j45 than the new j45.
So just stop dogging on guitars bc you are snobs.
Oh and I went there to buy a used collings and the collings was firewood
Handcrafted, American made, blablabla, the Gibson's I held the last few years that were shit are countless, pick yor guitars by hand and buy what fits you, American, Asian, European made, doesn't matter, a good guitar is a good guitar, I never payed for a name.
Sorry but more expensive doesn't make anything magicaly better. Get real!
Had you rather have something that sounds like something or the something that it sounds like? Save your money until you can buy the one you really want or you will never really know. It's really worth it or spend $400 at a time trying to find that one that's sounds close but not a gibson or martin. It might sound like it but it just ain't it. I've done it. Wasted a bunch of money on sounds like guitar.