Epiphone EJ-200SCE Review

Few acoustic guitars offer the power of a jumbo. And among jumbos, the Gibson SJ-200 is a legend. But if you're looking for a more affordable version the Epiphone EJ-200SCE just might be right for you. Today, we'll walk through some of its key features.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

Jumbo guitars are a mainstay when it comes to country and rock -- they've been played by the likes of Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, and Jimmy Page. They also sit surprisingly well in just about any mix. Here's what to consider before buying a jumbo:

Is the EJ-200SCE the right guitar for you? Let's take a look at some of its most important features to find out.

Tonewoods and Body Style

As a jumbo acoustic guitar, the EJ-200SCE brings a loud, bold voice to any song. And like many of the world's most legendary jumbos, it has maple back and sides. Maple is unmatched when it comes to projection, but there's more than that -- it imparts beautiful focus and clarity, especially compared to warmer woods like mahogany.

The top is solid spruce, a classic choice. Its sound is often referred to as being "sparkling." When paired with maple, it creates a tone that's both delicate and powerful -- perfect for playing leads of flatpicking a rhythm.

Playability and Sound Quality

The larger jumbo body can be a little cumbersome for some players. But the EJ-200SCE has some key playability features that make it easy to manage. The smooth Venetian cutaway gives you comfortable access to upper frets.

The neck profile is also worth mentioning -- it's a SlimTaper D profile neck. That means you get the classic feel of a D-profile neck, but it's tapered enough for fast playability. This video (below left) covers the wide variety of neck shapes and who they're most suitable for.

In terms of sound quality, though, the EJ-200SCE offers more than would be expected for the price. It's bright with a strong and focused fundamental, but there's enough in terms of harmonics and overtones to make it sound remarkably rich and full.

Flatpicking really highlights its powerful bass response, while strumming brings out its truly lovely sparkle. And when played as a lead guitar, its tone really cuts through without becoming overpowering. When you play it (or even listen to a demo), you'll see why so many guitarists have said it sounds remarkably close to the sound of a Gibson.

Electronics

When it comes to electronics, the EJ-200SCE stands out compared to other guitars in its price range. It has a Fishman Presys preamp with a convenient built-in tuner. The Presys is essentially an upgraded version of the Sonitone, as it offers far more tone-shaping possibilities.

The preamp has a three-band EQ, while many similarly-priced guitars have a two-band EQ or even no EQ at all. And of course, the volume knob comes in handy when you're plugged in.

One of the most valuable features of the preamp is the phase switch. A phase switch helps you control how two sets of soundwaves interact. When you're playing plugged in, soundwaves sometimes become out of phase. This leads to a thin sound that's underwhelming -- it robs you of your guitar's full sound. Engaging the phase switch stops the issue and makes your plugged-in sound especially rich.

Of course, the pickup is an undersaddle piezo. Many experienced guitarists will tell you that these pickups can have some issues -- namely, there's the piezo "quack" sound that you'll notice with some instruments. These pickups also sometimes produce uneven amplification, where one or more strings end up sounding louder than the others. Still, the pickup is higher quality than most more affordable Fishman pickups. This video demo lets you hear it for yourself.

Finish and Appointments

The finish on a guitar isn't (or probably shouldn't be) the deciding factor in a purchase decision. But especially if you're a performer, it makes a major difference in your appeal to your audience. Each of these guitars comes with a pickguard modeled in the style of a Gibson SJ-200 pickguard.

Some players have noted that this pickguard looks cheap in comparison, but it's easy enough to upgrade. Similarly, the nut and saddle are PVC, but they can be upgraded easily, too. This video shows you how to replace your guitar's nut.

The EJ-200SCE is an otherwise beautifully appointed instrument. Its tuners are top-notch Grover Rotomatics, and they're finished in gold for some extra sparkle. And like the original SJ-200, it has striking crown inlays on the fretboard. Its pau ferro mustache-style bridge also has beautiful inlays to match, but a simple rosette stops it from looking overly gaudy.

In terms of finishes, the SJ-200SCE offers you more choices than you might think. The Vintage Sunburst finish offers classic appeal, and even the neck is finished in sunburst. If you want the look of an aged acoustic, you may want to go for the rustic-looking Antique Natural.

And if you want a modern, darker aesthetic, the Black finish may be more your style. Ultimately, the EJ-200SCE has a beautiful tone and three beautiful finishes to match.

Also Read: Best Epiphone Guitar

Buying a guitar online poses one main challenge: you can't try it out before you buy. To make your decision a little easier, here are some Epiphone EJ-200SCE review snapshots we found:

This review helps assure guitarists who might be concerned that this guitar's affordability means its sound isn't ideal. Even though it's priced as a midrange guitar, the EJ-200SCE punches well above its weight when it comes to tone.

This realistic review points out the one relatively minor flaw in the guitar -- the pickguard. Thankfully, it's an easy fix -- the inexpensive pickguard can be removed if you'd like, and you can either replace it or just leave the guitar as-is.

This review offers high praise for the EJ-200SCE -- even though it's made by Gibson's budget brand, it still offers a sound that rivals that of a Gibson costing many times the price.