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Zzzzzz...


olie

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Sure is quiet on this thread,boys and girls.People selling off their Ep's - moving to other brands.The hoopla re. the AJ45 strangely not continuing.Was it really the satin finish?.Guess we need some more GAS to get things rolling.Let's see what autumn presents.

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I've been a member of this forum for a while, but haven't posted yet. This snooze topic seemed like a good place to start. I am considering an Epiphone EJ 200SCE. Like the looks of it. I bought one of the EJ 200's recently with the all laminate build. Bought it for a beater to keep at the office where there is not much consistency in the relative humidity. Got it and was really surprised by the big sound it had. I was expecting the laminate to muffle the sound somewhat, but discovered it is more than a beater. Still keep it in the office but play it when I get a break and I love the big sound, solid bass of the guitar.

 

Now, for the next question. The EJ 200SCE has solid top and electronics. Don't really need the amped sound, so was wondering what to expect of the sound as a straight acoustic. Do not have access to a shop that handles Epiphones so it would be an online purchase. Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

Steve

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Yea it is pretty quiet in here. The whole forum has been quiet lately.

I thought there would be more Epiphone droids in here but turns out Im apparently one of the few Casino droids.

I was super impressed with my recent Casino acquisition but very surprised to see it still is a well kept secret in the guitar world despite the fact that the best live guitar act in the world is Gary Clark with his Casino. The guitar world must be dying out.

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Hi Steve,

 

I have a non cutaway all acoustic EJ 200, as well as the newer SCE model. I always choose the newer SCE version over the older one for simply banging around.

 

It's got a full bodied sound that can quite loud if you put a bit of effort into it. I figure you're already aware of the jumbo's size, the cutaway is vety comfortable and if you're used to the old one, you'll feel comfortable with it immediately.

 

Mine came with a good set up out of the box so all I needed to do was acclimate it and play the heck out of it.

 

If the question is would I recommend one? Yes, but with caveat. It's a really good guitar but at another $200.00 bucks is the Epiphone DR500mce which superior in every way. For me at least the EJ200 is used in more rustic situations, while I save the others for more urbane environments.

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Hi Steve,

 

I have a non cutaway all acoustic EJ 200, as well as the newer SCE model. I always choose the newer SCE version over the older one for simply banging around.

 

It's got a full bodied sound that can quite loud if you put a bit of effort into it. I figure you're already aware of the jumbo's size, the cutaway is vety comfortable and if you're used to the old one, you'll feel comfortable with it immediately.

 

Mine came with a good set up out of the box so all I needed to do was acclimate it and play the heck out of it.

 

If the question is would I recommend one? Yes, but with caveat. It's a really good guitar but at another $200.00 bucks is the Epiphone DR500mce which superior in every way. For me at least the EJ200 is used in more rustic situations, while I save the others for more urbane environments.

I agree, fromnabulax.Have both those guitars and would have to say that as the EJ200 is really nice amplified, the DR500mce is way better as an acoustic-the solid woods all around does that.The 200's neck seems to play more like an electric axe so it's easier for lead stuff up the neck, but for the sheer sound quality acoustically the 500 is in a different league.Nice to see the Board stirring into life, people!

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Thanks, Fromnabulax. Your take on the two tells me a lot. Unfortunately it does nothing to assuage my GAS for the 200SCE. You have affirmed what I suspected would be the case. As good as the 200 acoustic is, the solid top SCE makes a positive difference.

 

Olie, thanks for you input, as well. I have a Masterbilt AJ500M and it is one of the best guitars I have. While I have a number of guitars at a higher price point, it holds its own with the best of them. I no longer describe it as a good guitar "in its price range." I just say it is a really good guitar. Period. To me the AJ and dread sizes are not as comfortable as the Jumbo - for some reason. And I just went on the government dole this year (Medicare), so I am old enough to want "comfort," especially if it doesn't lose too much of the tone, sound, and especially the bass.

 

Would love to hear either of you respond to this, as well as love to read comments from others on their evaluation of the 200SCE.

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

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Well Steve, if this is any help here's the full review I posted at the Sweetwater site last April 2014 recently after the purchase if my EJ200sce. This would also be before my purchase of the Masterbilt DR500mce:

 

I bought this made in Indonesia Epiphone some two months ago now and have held off writing a review until I could really get the feel of it. Cutting directly to chase, I am truly amazed that any guitar I could buy at this price could be of such a high caliber.

Honestly.

I have 44 years experience playing, over 40 of those professionally.

I have played every style from light lounge jazz, to gutbucket blues, to grinding punk rock, to polite traditional folk, country and bluegrass.

I have owned at one time or another dozens of acoustic (both steel string and nylon), Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanez, Taylor, Cordoba, and several other brands.

The Epi EJ 200 stands apart as the single finest acoustic in its price range I have ever owned.

On opening the shipping container I was struck by its beautiful appearance. The sunburst was applied perfectly, there was no globbing or streaking in the finish anywhere, there are no stray glue marks, the guitar looked as perfect as any high end guitar I have ever owned.

Pulling it out of its box I was struck by the sheer heft of the instrument. I was expecting a fairly flimsy and light instrument, but this felt truly solid.

The familiar mustache bridge looked great as did the crown inlays up and down the neck and headstock.

Honestly it seemed that the only aesthetic flaw for me was the cheesy fake J200 pickguard, but 10 minutes with my wife's hair dryer and it was gone leaving a thoroughly gorgeous glassy and uniform finish.

I can't speak directly to Epiphone's factory set up, but what I got from Sweetwater was a truly perfect set up. I have made no adjustments to what came out of the box except for the pickguard removal and swapping over for a set of .013 strings. The factory .012 set is just too light for me.

Now I won't lie and say that the tone of the guitar is better than many other guitars I own, or have owned, but it certainly is the best I've heard for any guitar at this price point I have owned. It's got a great even balance across all 6 strings with a sweet high end and a good healthy low end growl.

I use it for strumming, flatpicking, Travis picking as well as bare fingerpicking. It took a couple of days to build up a bit heavier callouses on my right hand, but now it's just fine.

The action is low enough for easy fretting, and just high enough for slide work (bottleneck or brass) as well.

The electronics are very good. In fact I prefer the electronics on the Epi to the factory installed Fishman gear on the Gibson J200 by far. They are very well balanced with a heaping helping of low end tone and none of the tinniness I hear in so many other acoustic/electrics.

Just for fun I enjoy running the dual outputs through two separate amps, each with different tone and effects settings to enjoy a truly wild stereo effect.

I originally bought this guitar for a lot of outdoor and rustic gigging I do in fairly intense and unpredictable weather that I don't care to subject my finer instruments to. I have no doubt the Epiphone is up to the task.

In fact this has become my go to sofa guitar as well.

The bottom line? Not only is this the very finest Epiphone acoustic I haver played, it easily matches and outplays several other guitars costing quite a bit more.

I will say however that the Epiphone case I bought with the guitar is just so-so. It's not very well constructed and the latches only barely match up for easy closure. Maybe I ought to have sent it back, but I would recommend spending a few extra dollars for a well built TKL case instead.

Thanks to Sweetwater and Jim Cooper for a nice deal on a very nice guitar.

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I have an acquaintance with the EJ-200sce. I have never played it but it is very pretty (the blonde one) and he raves about it.

 

I have the sunburst DR-500mce. It is amazing. It is not a Gibson or a Martin but it is warm and woody and the sustain goes on forever.

 

Just my 2c.

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I have a Masterbilt AJ500M and it is one of the best guitars I have....

 

Oh, well there you go. [thumbup] It sounds like you just like the looks of that EJ, and the price, and you don't need it to be a Masterbilt acoustically. I certainly have more than a couple guitars in that category. B) (However, they all have electronics, like the EJ you're gassing over.)

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Cougar, that AJ 500M is a "fluke buy." About a year ago I went into my nearest guitar store. The salesmen know me there because I usually kill some time between appointments there when I am in that neighboring city. He reached up on the wall and grabbed the guitar and told me the boss had said this guitar has been around too long and he wanted it gone. Said "Don't worry about the price on the tag. If you want it I will sell it to you for $375." I looked it over and it wasn't a second or refurbished guitar. They just wanted it out of there since they didn't even carry Epi's anymore. I walked out with it and a gig bag for about $400 including tax. About what the Jumbo costs that I am looking at. I don't figure I will ever get another deal like that and don't really have any expectations that it will be close to the Masterbilt. I do want it to be different so I can appreciate the guitar for what it is and it is not the Masterbilt. Like I said, I really find the Jumbo style more comfortable to play than the Dread or Slope shoulder dread (like my AJ 500M).

 

You guys are doing what I hoped you would do - fuel the GAS! Thanks for the reply, Cougar.

 

Steve

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I have the older EJ-200, no cutaway no electronic. Had nut and saddle changed over to bone, and a good set up done on it. Great guitar, rings out with really good mid-range. Not as good a base range surprisingly as my AJ-45, or my AJ-500. I really like it though. I have the black one. The only thing I don't care for is the gold tuners, and strap buttons. I would much rather have the chrome. I like Cat Stevens, and so this guitar is great for playing a lot of his stuff.

This is one of the best forums around, and I am glad to be a part of it.

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Cat Stevens - mmmmmmmmmm some beautiful songs. There were some cracking singer songwriters in the 70s. We who were born just after WW2 really had some fabulous music. What memories as we enter our own 7th decade. You kids out there just dont know what you missed.

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Cat Stevens - mmmmmmmmmm some beautiful songs. There were some cracking singer songwriters in the 70s. We who were born just after WW2 really had some fabulous music. What memories as we enter our own 7th decade. You kids out there just dont know what you missed.

I'm just entering my sixth decade, do I still qualify as a kid? Please [-o<.

 

Obviously there was no music worth speaking of before I arrived and, in all likelihood, there will be none after I've gone [biggrin]

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IMHO I find the AJ500M to be way over rated in this forum.

 

Is it a great guitar? Sure. But so is the EJ-200SCE.

 

They are different for different uses, and we could all debate the solid back and sides vs laminate back and sides till the cows come home.

 

Remember... Gibson started using laminated mahogany sides on most of their acoustic guitars around 1952 or 1953. These were three-ply, and all plies were Honduran mahogany.

In addition, there were laminated Brazilian RW bodies in the late-1960's. Many of them with maple plies visible on the inside of the guitar.

 

Anyway, I find the EJ-200 much more comfortable to play than the AJ-45ME or the AJ500M, and being maple, really has the ability to really cut thru the mix.

 

So go try one! fromnabulax pretty much nailed it with that review.

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IMHO I find the AJ500M to be way over rated in this forum.

 

Anyway, I find the EJ-200 much more comfortable to play than the AJ-45ME or the AJ500M, and being maple, really has the ability to really cut thru the mix.

 

 

I would go AJ-45ME, AJ500 then - well I just can't get my arm round a jumbo anymore - they're just too big and make my shoulder ache. (N.B. see above re entering 7th decade!!)

 

P.S. What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo?

 

 

One is very heavy and the other is a little lighter [laugh]

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They are different for different uses, and we could all debate the solid back and sides vs laminate back and sides till the cows come home.

 

I've got a trans black Epi Performer ME that's all laminate, and somehow the vibes coming out of this baby really resonate. I figure somebody who didn't have a suite of Masterbilts would be totally satisfied with this guitar. I expect the Gibbie J45/35s have bigger and better low and mid range tones than the 'bilts... if I was to compare them, which I haven't. It's all a matter of relativity!

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Cliff n Dodger, Hello. No news? Interesting things happening? Things you need to get off your chests?

 

Just had a killer gig with my old punk rock band, the Huntingtons (we're back together intermittently), in Baltimore, MD this past weekend.

 

I begin recording my solo record on September 12th (using my most excellent Recording King RAJ-122 for that). I still am not experiencing a desire to test out or buy other acoustic guitars.

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