I just picked up a 2003 "Gibson AJ" from my local CL today...Serial indicates (AE) Qingdoa factory...from what I can find,that factory opened in Oct. 2002 but didnt' start shipping instruments until early (Feb./March) 2003 so my J-45 copy is a VERY early example of this factories capabilities...and I thought it was interesting that back in 2002 this factory was "labeled" Gibson...NOT Epiphone:)Might be why this AJ-200 has Gibson AJ on the truss rod cover...at any rate,this guitar plays and sounds really farking great...the previous owner has installed a Fishman stacked humbucker and real volume and tone controls to mimic the famous John Lennon J-160 Acoustic/Electric...I freakin' LOVE this guitar...the solid spruce top is just old enough that it is really starting to sing...another 10 years and will be superb IMHO...to summarize...I would say this factory is very,very capable!!!
