meanstreak Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 I was thinking about buying a new EJ-200, but the Epi website says they are out of production!? Anyone know what's up with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuitarPlayer Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Sadly from what I read it's true but there are quite a few on eBay and so forth. I think you can still get them at MF or some other online music shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennj Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I was thinking about buying a new EJ-200, but the Epi website says they are out of production!? Anyone know what's up with that? Â I was told by a UK dealer the EJ200 was out of production from the end of 2011 but the EJ200CE is still in production. It's difficult to see why Epiphone have done this. I ordered the EJ200CE instead and I'm more than happy with the guitar I've just received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiAlan Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 While I personally can not confirm this, I have been told by a fellow Epi Enthusiast, who says he got this info from a dealer....says. that Epiphone has temporarily stopped production of most of their acoustics to make changes on most of the models which have laminated tops...saying that all future Epi EJ-200 guitars, along with many other models, will come standard with solid top sitka spruce, to ensure better sound, and to compete with the competition, most of which now have solid tops on most of their models, even the lower priced models. Ironically, I just bought a new Epi AJ220SCE which DOES have a solid top, and is ironically NOT presently out of production!Some models will be dropped, and others will be changed or altered, this includes electric solid bodies as well. It is rumored that Epi is waiting out for all the old laminated top guitars to sell off before, introducing the new solid top Epi's, so that they don't lose on the old stock of laminated top, which they fear will not sell if they know that in short order, all new Epi solid tops will be out, for virtually the same price. No one need tell you that no matter the acoustic guitar model or price, solid tops sound, and sell better because the tone is so much better. If your buying a remaining laminated Epi---you just may want to wait, to see what goes down here. It would be s shame to buy a laminated top EJ-200 when you may be soon able to get a solid top. It is believed that a few Epi models will still be manufactured with laminated tops = code word.. (Select Spruce)(Yuk) for those who WANT that for stability, such as camping trips, or out door gigging when Laminated tops are much more durable in cold or damp outdoor weather. Epiphone will not likely reveal this "secret" anytime soon until the present nationwide stock of select spruce laminated tops have been pawned off to unsuspecting customers. This would explain the secret of why so many Epi's have almost over night, gone out of production. Who knows? Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strumbert Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 While I personally can not confirm this, I have been told by a fellow Epi Enthusiast, who says he got this info from a dealer....says. that Epiphone has temporarily stopped production of most of their acoustics to make changes on most of the models which have laminated tops...saying that all future Epi EJ-200 guitars, along with many other models, will come standard with solid top sitka spruce, to ensure better sound, and to compete with the competition, most of which now have solid tops on most of their models, even the lower priced models. Ironically, I just bought a new Epi AJ220SCE which DOES have a solid top, and is ironically NOT presently out of production!Some models will be dropped, and others will be changed or altered, this includes electric solid bodies as well. It is rumored that Epi is waiting out for all the old laminated top guitars to sell off before, introducing the new solid top Epi's, so that they don't lose on the old stock of laminated top, which they fear will not sell if they know that in short order, all new Epi solid tops will be out, for virtually the same price. No one need tell you that no matter the acoustic guitar model or price, solid tops sound, and sell better because the tone is so much better. If your buying a remaining laminated Epi---you just may want to wait, to see what goes down here. It would be s shame to buy a laminated top EJ-200 when you may be soon able to get a solid top. It is believed that a few Epi models will still be manufactured with laminated tops = code word.. (Select Spruce)(Yuk) for those who WANT that for stability, such as camping trips, or out door gigging when Laminated tops are much more durable in cold or damp outdoor weather. Epiphone will not likely reveal this "secret" anytime soon until the present nationwide stock of select spruce laminated tops have been pawned off to unsuspecting customers. This would explain the secret of why so many Epi's have almost over night, gone out of production. Who knows? Good luck! Â Why all the masterbilts out of production? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiAlan Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Good point Pete and Strumbert....This is quite a mystery. Something secret must be going on since Epi has not announced its closing...simply an unexplained massive list of out of production models. It's sad that people like us who buy their products and made them rich, are kept out of the loop. Makes me distrust them very much. I've never heard of such actions by other guitar makers. If they are closing they say so, it they are moving production lines they say so, if they are ending products they say so...not this..."Out of Production non-sense." with no further explanation apparently to keep us low life in our trailer parks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuitarPlayer Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The now discontinued EJ-200 already had 'solid spruce' tops......  and most of the discontinued electrics come back as 'PRO' models   From what I understand the EJ-200 never had a solid top. It was always laminate. Contrary to what Musician's Friend advertises. Even on the Epiphone website it advertises the EJ-200 Artist as having a "select maple" top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuitarPlayer Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic/EJ-200.aspx  there has been more than one thread here about EJ200 with solid tops - with pics  Cool, I was also unsure if they were solid or laminate. Thanks for the info.  I thought that they were advertised as having "Select spruce" tops? I must admit that the EJ-200's I have tried didn't really overwhelm me. They are nice looking guitars though. I was always under the impression that the EJ-300 had the solid spruce top. Are the EJ-200 Artist series also solid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuitarPlayer Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/84752-ej200-ce-solid-top/ Â http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/78281-epiphone-ej200ce/ Â so it looks like the specs were changed from laminate to solid top. Darn if I'd known that I'd have bought a new one.... I know someone who has an older model EJ-200 and it sure did not sound like a solid topped guitar to me. I need to go see if I can find a more recent one to try out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanstreak Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 Ya the reason I was thinking about getting one now is because they started making them with solid tops again in the last couple of years. Of course, musicians friend says it's a select spruce top lol. I would rather not buy one without the solid top so I guess I'll just wait an see about these new models you guys are mentioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiAlan Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 From what I understand the EJ-200 never had a solid top. It was always laminate. Contrary to what Musician's Friend advertises. Even on the Epiphone website it advertises the EJ-200 Artist as having a "select maple" top. EJ=200 guitars do NOT have a solid top. The Epi web site is lying. Nothing I hate worse than being lied to by a company who takes my money. MF does NOT carry solid tops nor does GuitarCenter. They are LAMINATED. Boycott Epiphone till they becom honest again. If they can't be honest with customers, they may as well shut down. No one will miss them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strumbert Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 EJ=200 guitars do NOT have a solid top. The Epi web site is lying. Nothing I hate worse than being lied to by a company who takes my money. MF does NOT carry solid tops nor does GuitarCenter. They are LAMINATED. Boycott Epiphone till they becom honest again. If they can't be honest with customers, they may as well shut down. No one will miss them. Where are you located Alan? I have 3 you can inspect for yourself. I'm near Philly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wootpow Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 EJ=200 guitars do NOT have a solid top. The Epi web site is lying. Nothing I hate worse than being lied to by a company who takes my money. MF does NOT carry solid tops nor does GuitarCenter. They are LAMINATED. Boycott Epiphone till they becom honest again. If they can't be honest with customers, they may as well shut down. No one will miss them. My EJ-200 do have a solid top 100% sure. Hope this helps 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 EJ=200 guitars do NOT have a solid top. The Epi web site is lying. Nothing I hate worse than being lied to by a company who takes my money. MF does NOT carry solid tops nor does GuitarCenter. They are LAMINATED. Boycott Epiphone till they becom honest again. If they can't be honest with customers, they may as well shut down. No one will miss them. Â Laminate tops from Epiphone have been called "select" spruce, maple whatever for years now. I know recent EJ200CE's have solid tops and they sound great. There are different versions of the EJ200 guitar available so this could be where your confusion stems from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 EJ=200 guitars do NOT have a solid top. The Epi web site is lying. Nothing I hate worse than being lied to by a company who takes my money. MF does NOT carry solid tops nor does GuitarCenter. They are LAMINATED. Boycott Epiphone till they becom honest again. If they can't be honest with customers, they may as well shut down. No one will miss them. Â The EJ200 & EJ200CE production changed over to solid tops from 'select spruce' aka laminate around August 2011 however the EJ200 Artist series models continued with laminate tops. Â Any guitar shop which has stock manufactured before this date will indeed have laminate bodied versions so it would not be at surprising if your local MF & Guitar Centre were still carrying them - let's face it SJ's aren't the fastest moving guitar line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiAlan Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 From what I understand the EJ-200 never had a solid top. It was always laminate. Contrary to what Musician's Friend advertises. Even on the Epiphone website it advertises the EJ-200 Artist as having a "select maple" top. Correct. And just because the Epi site says it is solid does not mean it is. I have checked Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, Zsounds, and many other major retailers...NONE of them claim a solid top..and ALL of them claim select laminated spruce top. Epi may be able to lie to you, but majore retailers can NOT lie, as they would be liable for law suit since they are advertising and selling the product. The Epi site advertises its falsly stated solid tops..but the site itself does not SELL the guitars. This allows them to lie to the public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Correct. And just because the Epi site says it is solid does not mean it is. I have checked Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, Zsounds, and many other major retailers...NONE of them claim a solid top..and ALL of them claim select laminated spruce top. Epi may be able to lie to you, but majore retailers can NOT lie, as they would be liable for law suit since they are advertising and selling the product. The Epi site advertises its falsly stated solid tops..but the site itself does not SELL the guitars. This allows them to lie to the public. Â I've seen and played Wootpow's nice example of a 2011 Epiphone EJ200CE guitar in person many times, the guitar has a solid top... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strumbert Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 From MF product review. Skip everything but the last paragraph if you want. Â Â Â http://community.musiciansfriend.com/docs/DOC-1847 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wootpow Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I've seen and played Wootpow's nice example of a 2011 Epiphone EJ200CE guitar in person many times, the guitar has a solid top... Â Do I know you :lol: Thanks their Morkolo Maybe we haven't worked around wood long enough :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garboon Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I bought an EJ-200 CE a few months back - made in Korea. Â Solid-Top, grover machines, plays great, I've yet to even change the strings (lazy me). Â While I would love a real j-200, I don't think the price justifies the difference, if I want to spend that kind of Money I'll go get Taylor or a custom built. Â Seems there are several different versions of the EJ - I went a played it and liked it so I bought it. Â My last acoustic was an ovation celebrity(camping guitar) and this is a big step up, I'll tell you that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex1717 Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 I just purchased a 1994 korean and looks like a solid top ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 I bought a used 2001 Korean made EJ-200 (Samick factory) a couple of years ago.She's a non-cutaway non electric with a natural finish and she sounds HUGE and certainly gives her Gibson counterpart a run for the money.I have been considering putting electronics into her but she sounds so incredible played acoustically that I just can't get around to electrifying her.My EJ-200 was in near mint condition when I bought her for $400 Cdn. and I have kept her in the same condition ever since,if you can find a good used EJ-200 either with or without electronics,you can't go wrong-especially if it's an early 2000's non-cutaway Korean made Samick factory model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.