Dodger11

Neil Young's Martins have runout and sound better than most other guitars. I have a few natural coloured guitars that have exactly the same and I actually think it looks really cool. My IB J45 is the same too. If it sounds great it's a keeper!

These look a big step up from the last "Inspired By" line. I got a very good deal on a J45 from that range and it's a brilliant guitar. The J45 in the new range looks amazing too.

some info on the series here: epiphone-wiki.org/EpiWiki2/index/PR-Series.html#PR-350M

My IBG J45 sounded dull and lifeless too until I replaced the strings with Elixir 80/20 which really opened up the sound. It sounds great now - I didn't do anything else - just the string change. I can't put it down now plus it has the look as well!

Cougar - looks like you added another pickup (LR Baggs?) from the sound hole. I have been meaning to for ages although i Have other guitars for gigging.

It's an EJ160e John Lennon signature model. I have the original model with - funny enough - Lennon's signature in gold on the top .

Aye I think increasing the volume would definitely drain the power. I had my volume at maximum but it's too brash so keep it about 3/4 up for a clear signal. It's a pity there's no warning light factored into the battery in some way. I'll probably change battery every time I change strings (I get about 4-5 months from elixirs) as it's not my main gigging guitar. Don't know what strings were on it originally but I found it really opened up with 80/20 bronze

Like most other people I'm frustrated that there's a battery bag inside the guitar. This is far from ideal if the battery goes during a gig. As far as the actual pickup goes I find it pretty good - easy enough to get a decent sound. I play in noisy bars so no-one is really judging whether your guitar sounds amazing. I hand built a guitar under the guidance of a great luthier and put the same pickup into that. I'm finding the IBG J45 hard to put down - it just suits the voice so well.

Haven't been on here in ages given I rarely play my EJ160e these days. Just picked up a used IBG J45 for £300 and it's a brilliant guitar! Really comfortable to play, sounds great and perfect to sing with - just like a J45 should be. Epiphone seems to have got these IBG guitars so right.

I bought the Behringer pedal and it improves the volume a lot but it still sounds a bit like a semi acoustic electric guitar - like a Casino maybe. I have a fishman sonitone pickup that a fine Epi forum member very kindly sent me; still considering having that installed. It has the 2 dials in the soundhole and goes through the end strap pin hole so pretty non-evasive and I can keep the old pickup installed too.

Nice amps - I found mine was fine through an electric practice amp (probably because it's a passive pickup) but not so great through a mixer and active speaker setup. Is your strung with electric or acoustic strings? Mine has pure acoustic which is probably another factor.

Hey Rev what are you plugging into? I have one of the older John Lennon signature models and the pickup doesn't sound very good - weak and not very loud - considering either installing a new pickup or a Behringer AD121 pedal between the guitar and mixer.

I have one of the original EJ160es with the signature too and it's a great guitar but the pickup apparently reacts better to electric strings. I have never tried this as I've only played it acoustically. Have tried it through a PA (straight into the mixer) and it sounded better through an electric amp because of the mag pickup. I find it sounds better (to my ear) with 11s although think it's set up for 12s.