old mark Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I was looking for an acoustic/electric guitar to use for playing in public on occasion. I did NOT want to spend a ton of money on a guitar to take into bars, etc... Found several of the John Lennon 160e's for sale as used guitars - the one I bought seems to have had some scuffing from shipping - scratched pick guard and some "box wear" on the sides. Got a good deal on it. I will probably use Ernie Ball Nickel strings on it - 12's, I guess...have a few sets around. I'm primarily an electric guitar player, but need an instrument for occasional playing in open mic type things along with a few friends...this seemed like a good guitar for that use. Any thoughts/experience with these guitars? It's already shipped, so it's too late to suggest another guitar...and I kind of like the looks of them. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Pure nickel strings will definitely get you closer to the sound of the Beatles J-160E as they used it electrically (which means it'll sound like an electric guitar). Acoustically, it won't sound as rich. If you want it sound more like a traditional acoustic through the pickup (and especially without it), I've had good results with Gibson Masterbuilt Phosphor Bronze strings. The EJ-160E's P100 seems to respond well to those. Some people find the P100 finicky in regard to what composition strings work with it. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Thanks. It will be used about 50% as an acoustic, so that is a big help. The few I have heard seem to sound very good either way, and I like the materials. I have had other Epiphone guitars, but no primarily acoustic ones...looking forward to it. just ordered 4 sets of Mastertone Phospher Bronze 11's. Thanks again. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Thanks. It will be used about 50% as an acoustic, so that is a big help. The few I have heard seem to sound very good either way, and I like the materials. I have had other Epiphone guitars, but no primarily acoustic ones...looking forward to it. just ordered 4 sets of Mastertone Phospher Bronze 11's. Thanks again. mark 11's might be a tad light for an acoustic (they are considered Ultra Light). The EJ160E is already sort of slight sounding, and usually benefits from heavier gauge. If you can change your order, you might try a couple of packs of 12's (which are Lights by the way acoustic guitar strings are classified) and a couple of 11's, until you're sure which you prefer. Unless, of course, you already know! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 The 11's are what I wanted. I play primarily electric guitar, and I do a lot of 2 string bends and smears even on acoustic guitars. They do also make 10's...so I felt 11 would be a good choice. I appreciate the information on the Masterbuilt strings, but I am really more interested in OWNER's opinions of the guitar itself. I have read a lot of very good reviews on it. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 The guitar came a few hours ago. The "fault" which saved me $120 was that the pick guard is scratched...The guitar is VERY well made, beautiful to look at and to play - the neck is like an electric jazz guitar neck with one problem...the strings are just too high up by the body, and I will have to shave the saddle when the new strings get here, but other than that I am more than happy with this guitar. Great acoustic tone! Mellow, but it will ring if played a little hard with a pick, very responsive and a pleasure to play. I want to take the strings down just a little at the body end, probably 30 minutes work, change the strings - they are terrible, and feel a little rusty - and I did tighten the truss rod and check for loose screws. NO problems other than that. If you have a chance to play one, I really urge you to try it. I LOVE Epiphone hollowbody electrics....this is my first Epi acoustic, and I am VERY impressed with it. Checking my old standby Yamaha acoustic, I find the strings are nearly equally high as this Epiphone...The Epi sounds almost like a jazz guitar when I play without a pick, and it is responsive to picking closer or farther from the bridge. A very good guitar, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverden Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I've tried several brands of flat wounds and thought they really sucked. Flat, dead, and worthless if played acoustically. For electric strings I preferred Elixir Nickel wound. Recently , just experimenting, I put on a set of Elixir Nanowebs that I use on my AJ 500. They actually make the EJ160 sound good unplugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 I have been using DeArmond soundhole pickups for decades and magnetic pickups do read nickel strings better. The more metal moving over the poles the better so the heavier the string gauge the better off you are. Can't speak to the Epiphone version but I recently got my hands on a 1955 Gibson J-160E which retained the 19 frets and solid top of pre-55 guitars. Despite the solid wood top, the guitar still sounded somewhat anemic unplugged. I looked under the hood and found there was a massive piece of wood anchoring the P-90 pickup and another anchoring the adjustable bridge. Sounded great plugged in though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share Posted September 2, 2013 I put on a set of the Gibson Masterbuilt Premium Phpsophor Bronze 11's...Sounds very good unplugged, mellow and jazzy, which is what I wanted and still light enough to do 2 string bends. The plugged in sound is OK, but I have not really dialed the amp in right. I really like old US made Peavey solid state amps. I have a mid 1980's Peavey Studio Pro 40, which is a better jazz amp than anything else I have played, including a '60's Gibson amp. The manual for this amp lists several very good settings for clean jazz, blues and C&W . It also can be overdriven and saturated, which is comepletely wrong for this guitar, but that's the settings I have been using for my Elitist Casino and several Gibson SG's... BUT the basic sound is good...very much a mid '60's sort of sound. I really like this guitar. I KNOW the Gibson original must be better, but I am quite happy with this Epiphone...and still have about $5000 more money. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodger11 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 looks exactly like mine Mark I have Elixirs on mine and it sounds great acoustically and not bad plugged in (I only have a small practice amp). This guitar definitely has "the look" but if found it a bit difficult to get used to the longer scale neck. Dodger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 I really like this guitar a LOT the more I play it. It stays tuned very well, has a good, usable neck and is easy to play, and every time I take it out of its case, I am really pleased with how good it sounds...it keeps making me happy all over again, and I really love that in any guitar. If you are looking for a very good acoustic, I recommend you check several Epiphones. They have REALLY improved over the last years, and are a bargain! mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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