Epiphone Guitar Reviews

Epiphone AJ-100CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Chrome Hardware, ~$169

The Epiphone AJ-100CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar brings the look and sound of the Advanced Jumbo to everyone. Guitar comes with standard AJ features such as a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. The AJ-100CE includes a cutaway body style and the Nanoflex pickup for electric amplification.NanoFlex pickup The term "Nanoflex" refers to its ultra thin (nano-like) profile and its flexibility that allows it to conform to any surface shape. This assures complete guitar-to-pickup-to-saddle contact. Unlike other undersaddle pickups, the Nanoflex design utilizes 7 highly-sensitive and ultraresponsive layers of sensor material to not only sense the vibrations of the strings but the vibrations of the guitar body as well. The Nanoflex is the first pickup to incorporate active amplification directly at the pickup. As a result, the signal does not pass through even a single millimeter of the wire and therefore, the signal quality is uncompromised.

Epiphone AJ-200SCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Chrome Hardware, ~$299

The Epiphone AJ-200SCE is one of the best values in the acoustic guitar industry. Since it's introduction in 1998 with the premiere of Epiphone's Advanced Jumbo acoustics, the AJ-200SCE has provided quality acoustic-electric ingredients for far less than you would expect to pay. Solid-top tone and AJ body shape The Epiphone AJ-200SCE guitar boasts a solid Spruce top that actually improves with age. Combined with a warm-sounding select Mahogany body, its Advanced Jumbo design provides brilliant highs and powerful bass without the typical mid-range "muddiness" associated with normal dreadnoughts. And, its generous and elegant Venetian cutaway enables you to access the Epiphone guitar's upper frets with ease. Premium electronics Updated with Epiphone's eSonic preamp and NanoFlex pickup system, the Epiphone AJ-200SCE guitar comes alive when plugged in. Made in cooperation with Shadow Germany, the eSonic preamp features a built-in, easy to use tuner. When engaged, the acoustic-electric guitar's output is automatically muted—with no "popping" noise—making the Epiphone guitar a perfect choice for stage use. You can even push in the "tuner" button and unplug the guitar without a loud "pop." Other controls on this state-of-the-art preamp include Master Volume, Bass, Treble, EQ Shape, Low Battery indicator and a Phase switch to help eliminate unwanted feedback. The preamp uses two 2032 lithium watch batteries that are not only lightweight, but provide significantly longer life than old-fashioned, heavy 9V batteries. Under the PR-5E's compensated saddle, is Shadow's proprietary NanoFlex, low-impedance pickup. Not a piezo, this unique flexible sensing material features integrated active electronics and picks up not only string vibration but also top and body vibrations as well for a truly acoustic tone without the harshness of piezos. Premium features Other features on the Epiphone AJ-200SCE guitar include 14:1 ratio tuners, Rosewood fingerboard, multi-bound body and inlaid soundhole rosette. As with most Epiphone acoustics, the AJ-200SCE also features Epiphone's famous "SlimTaper" neck profile for fast and easy fingering without fatigue. Peace of mind The AJ-200SCE acoustic-electric guitar comes with the Epiphone Lifetime Limited Warranty featuring Gibson 24/7/360 Customer Service and guarantees the Epiphone guitar against defects in materials or workmanship.

Epiphone PR5-E Acoustic-Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst, ~$329

For almost 20 years, the Epiphone PR-5E acoustic-electric guitar has taken the stage with countless musicians. Designed by Epiphone in 1990, its distinctive body shape was patterned after Epiphone's classic 335 guitars such as the Sheraton and Casino. But instead of a double-cutaway, it features a unique, single "Florentine" or sharp cutaway. The result is a large lower bout providing excellent lows and solid mid-range with easy access to the upper frets on the neck. The premium select spruce top uses a hand-scalloped, proprietary X-bracing pattern. Combined with the slightly arched mahogany back and mahogany sides, the PR-5E provides a sweet tone that projects well even when unplugged. Its Mahogany neck with SlimTaper profile, makes the PR-5E very easy and comfortable to play without fatigue. Legendary Grover machine heads for tuning accuracy and stability with premium gold hardware and split-diamond, pearloid fingerboard inlays make the PR-5E an extraordinary value.Recently updated with Epiphone's eSonic preamp and Nanoflex pickup system, the PR-5E comes alive when plugged in. Made in cooperation with Shadow Germany, the eSonic preamp features a built-in, easy to use tuner. When engaged, the guitar's output is automatically muted—with no "popping" noise—making it a perfect choice for stage use. Other controls on this state-of-the-art preamp include master volume, bass, treble, EQ shape, low battery indicator and a phase switch to help eliminate unwanted feedback. The preamp uses two 2032 lithium watch batteries that are not only lightweight, but provide significantly longer life than heavy 9V batteries. Under the PR-5E's compensated saddle is Shadow's proprietary Nanoflex low-impedance pickup. Not a piezo, this unique flexible sensing material features integrated active electronics and picks up not only string vibration but also top and body vibrations as well for a truly acoustic tone without the harshness of piezos.

Epiphone EJ-200CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black, ~$449

The Epiphone EJ-200CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar is Epiphone's version of the Gibson classic, the guitar you've seen in the hands of everyone from Elvis to Emmylou. Jumbo maple body with a select spruce top, mustache bridge, gold hardware, and crown inlays on the fingerboard. Beautiful to behold, it has huge sound that you can easily amplify via the electronics. The eSonic2 preamp The eSonic2 preamp with built-in tuner features studio-quality fidelity, premiere dynamics, and greatly increased harmonic content, resulting in uncompromising acoustic guitar realism. The preamp is equipped with a very accurate chromatic tuner. When the tuner button is activated, the tuner, there will be no output signal from the guitar. The tuner button can also be used as a mute function. By activating the tuner, you can avoid the loud pops when plugging in.NanoFlex pickup The term "NanoFlex" refers to its ultra thin (nano-like) profile and its flexibility that allows it to conform to any surface shape. This assures complete guitar-to-pickup-to-saddle contact. Unlike other under-saddle pickups, the NanoFlex design utilizes 7 highly-sensitive and ultra-responsive layers of sensor material to not only sense the vibrations of the strings but the vibrations of the guitar body as well. The NanoFlex is the first pickup to incorporate active amplification directly at the pickup. As a result, the signal does not pass through even a single millimeter of the wire and therefore, the signal quality is uncompromised.

Epiphone Elvis Presley EJ-200E Jumbo Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural, ~$499

The Epiphone Elvis Presley EJ-200E is a jumbo acoustic-electric guitar released in cooperation and under license with Elvis Presley Enterprises. A faithful reproduction of Elvis' famous customized 1956 J-200 jumbo acoustic guitar, the Epiphone EJ-200E brings this guitar into the 21st century with the addition of Epiphone's eSonic preamp and pickup system. The EJ-200E is a perfect guitar for acoustic as well as live performance.Although Elvis owned several acoustic guitars, this particular one featuring his name inlaid down the fingerboard in mother-of-pearl is perhaps the one most often remembered. Add to that the unique space age pickguard design and you've got a one-of-a kind. Just like Elvis.The EJ-200E features Epiphone's jumbo body that because of its size provides greater volume with bigger bass response than typical dreadnoughts. The spruce top with the maple back and sides and a dove-tail, glued-in hard maple neck combine with the jumbo body to add just enough high-end response making the J-200 the choice of many famous performers since its original introduction of the jumbo back in 1939.Just like the J-200 guitar that Elvis owned and used, the EJ-200E has "ELVIS PRESLEY" with two stars inlaid in the rosewood fingerboard. Also unlike standard J-200s, this custom guitar was engraved with a space-age motif that typified the space-race generation and times of the early 1960's.The Elvis EJ-200E comes equipped with Epiphone's eSonic preamp with built-in chromatic tuner, bass, treble, and phase controls. Two small lithium 2015 batteries, that not only have a longer life than standard batteries but are also better for the environment, power the unit. The pickup, which is mounted under the saddle, is the NanoFlex low impedance pickup developed by Shadow Germany — a leader in acoustic amplification and pickups since 1970. Capturing not only string response but body vibrations, the NanoFlex, in combination with the eSonic preamp, offers accurate acoustic tone when plugged into an amplification system via it's standard 1/4" instrument output jack.The Elvis Presley signature EJ-200E comes with gold hardware, vintage Kluson tuners, and of course the historic "moustache" bridge carved out of Rosewood.

Epiphone Performer SE Mini-Jumbo Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Gold Hardware, ~$499

The Performer SE is a single cutaway jumbo acoustic guitar from Epiphone with the state-of-the-art electronic eSonic2 preamp system featuring stereo output from two unique pickups, the NanoMag and the NanoFlex, providing amazing acoustic tone. The maple body and solid spruce top contribute to this guitar's warm, sustaining voice and its drop-dead gorgeous looks. Whether delivering powerful strumming or precise fingerpicking, this guitar lives up to its name with the ability to provide tone that's at once intimate and bold.

Epiphone EJ-160E John Lennon Acoustic-Electric Vintage Cherry Sunburst, ~$599

The Epiphone EJ-160E John Lennon Acoustic-Electric is a limited-edition signature model of the guitar John Lennon used to change the face of rock. From warm, natural-sounding acoustic tones to high-output acoustic-electric punches, this guitar delivers rich, vintage sounds at any level. Features a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, single-coil pickup at the neck, and volume and tone controls. Comes in vintage cherry sunburst finish.

Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural, ~$599

The Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE guitar combines traditional construction methods and features with premium all-solid tone woods to bring you a new-vintage electric guitar with deep, rich lows, shimmering highs, and just the right amount of mids. While many other guitars in this price class use pressed backs, spliced neck joints, and even artificial wood backs and sides, you can be assured that this Epiphone guitar holds true to its all-solid wood promise. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, hand-scalloped Sitka spruce braces, mahogany kerfing, a 25-1/2"-scale rosewood fingerboard, and a rosewood bridge. Players looking for vintage tone and vibe will appreciate the handcrafted dovetail neck joint and hide-glue construction. The Epiphone DR-500MCE guitar has a solid mahogany back and sides, as well as a 20-fret, hand-shaped mahogany neck that joins the body at the 14th fret, which is adorned with carefully cut, split-diamond pearl fretboard inlays. As with all Masterbilts, the Epiphone electric guitar features a vintage-style offset headstock with a stickpin inlay.While the Epiphone DR-500MCE sounds great unplugged, it really comes alive when plugged in—thanks to the eSonic2 preamp system. Made in cooperation with Shadow Germany, the eSonic2 preamp features a built-in, easy-to-use tuner. When engaged, the Epiphone guitar's output is automatically muted—with no popping noise—making it a perfect choice for stage use. You can even push in the tuner button and unplug the guitar without a loud pop. Other controls on this state-of-the-art preamp include Master Volume, NanoFlex Tone, NanoMag Tone, Stereo Blend, Low Battery indicator, and a Phase switch to help eliminate unwanted feedback. The preamp uses two 2032 lithium watch batteries that are not only lightweight, but provide significantly longer life than old-fashioned, heavy 9V batteries. Under the bone saddle is Shadow's proprietary NanoFlex, a low-impedance pickup. Not a piezo, this unique flexible sensing material features integrated active electronics into the Epiphone electric guitar that not only pick up string vibration, but also top and body vibrations for a truly acoustic tone without the harshness of piezos. Complimenting the NanoFlex is the revolutionary NanoMag pickup mounted at the harmonic-rich, end of the fingerboard. Exclusively from Shadow, the NanoMag features 3 Samarian-Cobalt magnets and an integrated active circuit to capture all the highs and lows, including a wide range of harmonics. With your choice of either a 1/4" mono output blending both pickups, or a 1/4" stereo output splitting the two pickups, the Epiphone Masterbilt guitar pickup gives you incredible flexibility and the opportunity to create the perfect acoustic tone live. Other features on the Epiphone Masterbilt acoustic electric guitar include quality vintage-style Grover Sta-Tite 16:1 ratio machine heads; bone nut and saddle; imitation tortoise pickguard; nickel hardware