John Lennon J-160E - Advice Please

[WarlKicken]

Good Morning!

 

I've had a VINTAGE acoustic guitar, bought for me by my parents when I was seventeen (god it seems an age ago), for far too long now. I've had countless new strings on there but have never really found it that easy to play. The neck is big and the strings buzz regardless.

 

I think it's time to step up on an acoustic level!

 

I just purchased a my first ever Gibson, '60s Tribute LP (ebony), it might only be the entry level guitar but boy I am in love with it. I am thinking of upgrading my acoustic as well now but unfortunately a Gibson is far too expensive for my budget of about 400beans. I am massive fan of Lennon and really love the look of the Epiphone JL edition J-160E.

 

Can anyone shed any light on whether it's just it's nearly 400GBP purely because of the name "Lennon" being attached to it? Quite keen to stick with Gibson and get an Epi, is it worth it? These J-160Es any good etc etc?

 

Any feedback would be smashing.

 

Thanks,

WK

[Versatile]

Hi WK welcome to the forums...

 

The J-160e is one iconic guitar for Lennon/Beatles fans

 

In truth not a great electro-acoustic from comments left by owners of Gibson and Epi versions

 

So mainly for 'fans of badges' <_<

 

The quality of the Chinese Epi currently available is somewhat variable IMO...particularly regarding electrics...

 

My fastidious dealer and I lost patience trying to find a good one last year

 

Final verdict...looks great with a deep gloss sunburst finish...good to hang on the wall

 

I ended up with a cheaper close copy which has become my daily guitar...

 

V

 

 

PS I just re-read your post...Vintage do a great copy of the J-160e(not named as such)...which I have as mentioned above....

[WarlKicken]

Hi WK welcome to the forums...

 

The J-160e is one iconic guitar for Lennon/Beatles fans

 

In truth not a great electro-acoustic from comments left by owners of Gibson and Epi versions

 

So mainly for 'fans of badges' <_<

 

The quality of the Chinese Epi currently available is somewhat variable IMO...particularly regarding electrics...

 

My fastidious dealer and I lost patience trying to find a good one last year

 

Final verdict...looks great with a deep gloss sunburst finish...good to hang on the wall

 

I ended up with a cheaper close copy which has become my daily guitar...

 

V

 

 

PS I just re-read your post...Vintage do a great copy of the J-160e(not named as such)...which I have as mentioned above....

 

 

Cheers pal, many thanks for the information above. I always do this :D get my heart set on something and then look into it and it turns out it's "not that" great. In truth my Vintage was about 100beans and no more so anything would be better. It would be my daily strummer as well, I hang my Vintage and just pop it down when the time comes to smash out (on a daily basis) "Hide Your Love Away", much to the enjoyment of my house buddies(pah!), maybe I should start charging?!

 

I've seen the Vintage version but would be quite keen to stick to an Epiphone, I've had a Casino and Dot on the electric front and both tones were sensational. Maybe a Hummingbird or Dove?

 

Any suggests on a decent Epiphone acoustic IF this J-160e isn't that grand? Maybe I just man up and get a Gibson acoustic, I would love to but I just don't play enough to justify it really.

 

Many thanks again,

WK

[Dodger11]

Hi WK

 

I have the JL EJ160e and use it soely as an acoustic. I love its retro look and feel - very chunky neck although the longer scale was a bit hard to get used to. It has developed a lovely tone from playing and I have it stringed with elixirs at the minute.

 

I paid £250 for it used.

 

If you like the look of this guitar but want to pay a bit less I'd recommend an AJ220 in vintage sunburst - I used to own one and it cost around £100 at the time. for that price it was a great guitar - after I had played it for a couple of years it sounded amazing - like a guitar 5 or 10 times the price. i dropped it and busted the neck!

 

You might also want to check out the Masterbilt range if you can get your hands on one - the AJ500 is an all solid guitar which usually costs around the same as the JL model.

 

Good luck - there's nothing like shopping for a new guitar! let us know what you end up with

 

Dodger

[diverden]

I've had a EJ-160 JL for some time and find it to be a fine instrument.

I use it as it was meant to be played with electric strings, and plugged in.

You can, however get a decent acoustic sound with a good acoustic string.

[WarlKicken]

Ah, thanks guys!!

 

One thing I got from all that delicious information though...is that the neck is chunky? I don't have the biggest hands in the world :D

 

Is the neck really thick...

[zombywoof]

Lennon's J-160E had a ladder braced laminate top, adjustable bridge, single coil P-90 pickup, and 24.75" scale. The Epi JL J-160E has none of these things. So it ain't gonna sound like an early 1960s Gibson J-160E unplugged or plugged in. The good news is with its solid X braced top, it has to sound better played unplugged than the 1960s Gibson.

[zombywoof]

Ah, thanks guys!!

 

One thing I got from all that delicious information though...is that the neck is chunky? I don't have the biggest hands in the world :D

 

Is the neck really thick...

 

Gibson necks in the 1960s were skinny as all get out. While I may be wrong, I believe the Epi version does have the 1960s slim taper neck.

[WarlKicken]

Gibson necks in the 1960s were skinny as all get out. While I may be wrong, I believe the Epi version does have the 1960s slim taper neck.

 

This would be cool if has the '60s taper neck. My Gibson 60's tribute does and it's sexy as all hell to play (when it has six strings that is!!). I am pretty much made up in my mind that I would like one, the next hard thing is going to be getting one. My usual retailer is clean out. Seriously, do I really have to wait until May 1st!! What's all this waiting malarky about...

 

I apologise for my inferior guitar knowledge but when you chaps speak of electric strings, do you mean putting actual electric guitar strings on it? I have Elixir acoustic nanowebs on my current acoustic axe, would these suffice?

[Dodger11]

This would be cool if has the '60s taper neck. My Gibson 60's tribute does and it's sexy as all hell to play (when it has six strings that is!!). I am pretty much made up in my mind that I would like one, the next hard thing is going to be getting one. My usual retailer is clean out. Seriously, do I really have to wait until May 1st!! What's all this waiting malarky about...

 

I apologise for my inferior guitar knowledge but when you chaps speak of electric strings, do you mean putting actual electric guitar strings on it? I have Elixir acoustic nanowebs on my current acoustic axe, would these suffice?

 

if you're plugging it in you'll need electric strings (that you would string an electric guitar with) although some users use hybrid strings that work both ways. It depends what you want to use it for - if you want an acoustic to play at gigs then tis guitar wouldn't be a great choice. If you want a guitar to replicate the Beatles sound on a budget then this guitar plugged in with electric strings comes close. Personally I use it unplugged and love the sound and playability. But if you can try an AJ220 or AJ200 locally you might be pleasantly surprised for bang for buck - especially if it's just for playing around the house. the VSB in these models is lovely as well and the newer models have a nice sanded neck that is very comfortable to play.

[WarlKicken]

if you're plugging it in you'll need electric strings (that you would string an electric guitar with) although some users use hybrid strings that work both ways. It depends what you want to use it for - if you want an acoustic to play at gigs then tis guitar wouldn't be a great choice. If you want a guitar to replicate the Beatles sound on a budget then this guitar plugged in with electric strings comes close. Personally I use it unplugged and love the sound and playability. But if you can try an AJ220 or AJ200 locally you might be pleasantly surprised for bang for buck - especially if it's just for playing around the house. the VSB in these models is lovely as well and the newer models have a nice sanded neck that is very comfortable to play.

 

Cool, many thanks for that. If I was to pick up an EJ-160e it would be for strumming around the house, maybe plugging in every now and then etc. You know the drill ;-) No gigging or anything. I think the guitar would suit my needs. Cheers for the info on strings, I did not know you could stick electric strings on an acoustic!! :D Stupid, stupid me!

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Cool, many thanks for that. If I was to pick up an EJ-160e it would be for strumming around the house, maybe plugging in every now and then etc. You know the drill ;-) No gigging or anything. I think the guitar would suit my needs. Cheers for the info on strings, I did not know you could stick electric strings on an acoustic!! :D Stupid, stupid me!

 

 

If you never plan on plugging in the guitar than it's not necessary for you to use nickle wound strings (for electric). Regular bronze or phosphor bronze stings will sound fine. If you do plan on plugging it in than I would suggest you get nickle wound strings with a "wound" G string like acoustic guitar strings.

[Red 333]

If you want the electric guitar-like performance that the P-100 lends the EJ-160, then there is little other choice. If you want the amplified sound of your guitar to sound like an acoustic, the Texan is a better choice. In my opinion (and I have an EJ-160E), the Texan is also a better purely acoustic guitar, as its essentially a Masterbilt AJ-500M with laminated (not solid) sides and different cosmetics.

 

Of course, preference in tone is personal, so audition as many guitars as you can, if you have the ability to do so. In my experience, the EJ-160E is thinner sounding than the Texan/AJ-500M. I don't mean to suggest is sounds bad or unpleasant in any way, it just has somewhat less heft and warmth.

 

If it were my decision, and I was buying based on acoustic performance, I would choose the Texan (or a Masterbilt AJ-500M). If I were buying because I needed an electro-acoustic, I would buy the Texan (or the Masterbilt AJ-500ME). If I wanted an acoustic guitar that also doubled as a kind of electric guitar, I would choose the EJ-160E.

 

Red 333

[Dodger11]

Red has (again) posted the perfect response (I never thought of the EJ160e as a Masterbilt with laminate sides but that's spot on!).

It such a personal thing though - both the Texan and EJ160e are such iconic guitars. I got my EJ160e at a great price and bought it for the "look" as much as the sound. I'm not a big Beatles fan but I love Lennon. I've played a few Masterbilts and Texans and I think my EJ sounds better but then it has been "played in" and I'm always a bit suspicious about how a guitar sounds in the shop (how long the strings have been on the guitar etc).

 

Guitars are such strange beasts - I've played loads of the same models and sometimes you just get lucky with all the elements that go into making a good sound (and of course there's the player as well - a great player will make a £70 guitar sound amazing!). But the only advice is to play as many as possible and make your choice. If you're ordering online you'll just have to follow your heart (instead of your ears!)!

[RaysEpiphone]

I agree with Red too, try a bunch out before you buy. I liked the Lennon model to but the one at the store I was at had a blemish so I got the Texan FT-79. About the same price and felt practically the same in my hand's. The P90 pick-up was a cool little add on but cool wasn't enough to make the deal.

[milod]

AJ220 works nicely and is quite attractive.

 

I guess I've gotta mess some with one I just got "mail order" 'cuz it buzzes out entirely at the 10th fret. Dunno if a truss rod adjustment will help enough, although for root positions and up to 7th fret barres, it's fine.

 

So... For the cash it's quite nice regardless, especially if you're a strummer 'stedda a fingerpicker expecting to get up to the 12th-14th fret. As a strummer, it's beyond "ok" and runs into the "awfully nice."

 

Frankly the better one in ways for me was a nice PR5e that's not much for strumming at a bluegrass jam, but works especially nicely for the fingerpickin' electrified and likely would do well for gypsyish stuff too.

 

The Florentine cutaway and body size makes it feel almost like the 175 that I otherwise consider beyond excellent. You do play it more like an acoustic than an electric and with a bit higher action, though.

 

As a strummer AE, that AJ220 is nice for the dollar. I'm not at all sure it's ever gonna be "my" guitar even if otherwise set up perfectly but...

 

Oh - RE Masterbilt aj-500me. Nice playing overall. Sounds decent. Feels decent. About the same shape as the AJ220 except it ain't a cutaway. Not sure I'll ever go back to figuring the big-body guitars are "mine" although at times that's what I need...

 

m

[zombywoof]

If you never plan on plugging in the guitar than it's not necessary for you to use nickle wound strings (for electric).

 

Even if you plug in, I would stay away from electric strings and stick with a set of acoustic nickel round wounds Alot of the fat sound we want from an acoustic comes from not only the guage but the thickness of the string core. Electric strings are wound on thinner cores than acoustic strings. You couple this with the generally lighter guage of electric and what you end up with is alot of top end brightness but no meat on the bone.

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Even if you plug in, I would stay away from electric strings and stick with a set of acoustic nickel round wounds Alot of the fat sound we want from an acoustic comes from not only the guage but the thickness of the string core. Electric strings are wound on thinner cores than acoustic strings. You couple this with the generally lighter guage of electric and what you end up with is alot of top end brightness but no meat on the bone.

 

This would probably be the best option!

[MikeC]

Good Morning!

 

I've had a VINTAGE acoustic guitar, bought for me by my parents when I was seventeen (god it seems an age ago), for far too long now. I've had countless new strings on there but have never really found it that easy to play. The neck is big and the strings buzz regardless.

 

I think it's time to step up on an acoustic level!

 

I just purchased a my first ever Gibson, '60s Tribute LP (ebony), it might only be the entry level guitar but boy I am in love with it. I am thinking of upgrading my acoustic as well now but unfortunately a Gibson is far too expensive for my budget of about 400beans. I am massive fan of Lennon and really love the look of the Epiphone JL edition J-160E.

 

Can anyone shed any light on whether it's just it's nearly 400GBP purely because of the name "Lennon" being attached to it? Quite keen to stick with Gibson and get an Epi, is it worth it? These J-160Es any good etc etc?

 

Any feedback would be smashing.

 

Thanks,

WK

 

Hi,

 

A lot of enjoyment from guitars, both acoustic and electric, is if you like the look of them, in other words, do you look at it and go 'yeh, i like that'. Sorry to be a bit 'esotoric' or whatever the term is :-), But I have a few acoustics, one of them is a beautiful sounding guitar, but it's my Lennon EJ160E that warms my heart, it looks good, sounds good, and because I'm a 'Beatles' fan, it makes me feel good. The price is not bad, mine is very well finished, 3 yrs old, got it set up and it sound nice to me. No, it isn't a Gibson, but then again, I'm 'hobby' player. If you want a reasonable price acoustic, take a look at the Epi video promo at the moment and the AJ220S I think? I played one the other week and went 'who' thats' not bad for a $200 -300 guitar.

 

Anyway, wish you luck, check out my v.recent posts on the 'EJ160E on the Way' forum post, which gives you some factual info about the current Lennon EJ160E model in terms of strings and the pickup.

 

All the best, Mike

[WarlKicken]

Hi,

 

A lot of enjoyment from guitars, both acoustic and electric, is if you like the look of them, in other words, do you look at it and go 'yeh, i like that'. Sorry to be a bit 'esotoric' or whatever the term is :-), But I have a few acoustics, one of them is a beautiful sounding guitar, but it's my Lennon EJ160E that warms my heart, it looks good, sounds good, and because I'm a 'Beatles' fan, it makes me feel good. The price is not bad, mine is very well finished, 3 yrs old, got it set up and it sound nice to me. No, it isn't a Gibson, but then again, I'm 'hobby' player. If you want a reasonable price acoustic, take a look at the Epi video promo at the moment and the AJ220S I think? I played one the other week and went 'who' thats' not bad for a $200 -300 guitar.

 

Anyway, wish you luck, check out my v.recent posts on the 'EJ160E on the Way' forum post, which gives you some factual info about the current Lennon EJ160E model in terms of strings and the pickup.

 

All the best, Mike

 

What a brilliant reply, cheers Mike. I think it's like this; I can post asking advice but the mere notion of having a replica of something that Lennon played "warms my heart" I've seen them in shops and wanted one for about 5yrs. They are lovely to look at and it sounds like we're in the same boat with regards to playing, I play in my room to a crowd the exists only in my brainbox!

 

Cheers pal, enlightening mail!!

WK

[Gibsonguy1689]

I had a gibson j160 and I liked it but like others are saying as far as a good electro-acoustic; not so great. It's sounds good on some beatles records like "I feel fine" but that's a really specific sound. I eventually traded my 160 for a newer electric/acoustic Southern Jumbo, and man that was guitar. Too each his own however, good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[milod]

I guess I'm gonna show my age here.

 

Back in the '60s I had a cupla archtops I electrified with a mag pickup - but kept using acoustic strings on. A friend today uses a Gibbie from the early 1950s that has a mag pickup on it.

 

Y'know, I never had any problems and neither does he. I still have a mag pickup on my acoustic 12-string. No problems there either.

 

I think in ways that some concerns about this sorta stuff has to do with expectations more than anything. I never expected things to sound as if I'd miked the darned guitars.

 

But I messed with the controls on the amp in the old days and on the PA nowadays and ... no problem. Playability, IMHO, remains "it" for a guitar.

 

As I said, if you expect it to sound like a high end mike, regardless of the strings you use, you'll likely be disappointed. I guess I'd still use a round core steel string if possible, but regardless, I'd not worry so much.

 

m