Epiphone Nylon String Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

Im only playing a couple songs on acoustic with my band so I bought this to save wear and tear on my "good" acoustic. you can crank it up without fear of feedback. although it doesn't play or sound as good, its a fair trade off. it is what it is and it performs as I expect.kensoftail

It's a nice looking guitar, solidly built. Pros: Sounds fantastic plugged in, the finish work on the neck is decent for the price range and looks very classy in the gold and black with white binding. The headphone switch is great, wish it had a little built in reverb though. Cons: It only comes with one strap button in the back, you have to add another one to the uppermost curve by the neck if you want to play it standing up. Nobody is going to use one of those stupid acoustic straps that tie on the headstock with this guitar. The nut needs finish work, it comes very high and makes the strings go sharp when you try to play a G to a D. File the nut grooves down and it plays pretty good. It's a little on the heavy side even though it's a chambered body. The fret ends stick out and are sharp, you need t file those down yourself or you'll cut your hand up sliding down the neck. Personal preference, the neck is a bit thick, and I wish it wasn't a painted neck since it slows you down. All in all it's a pretty good deal for the price.rockingjon

Great sounding and playing guitar, I replaced the synthetic saddle for bone, original was to tapered on the high E new saddle took care of that. Buy the epiphone or roadrunner jumbo case, nothing else fits, make sure if the guitar comes straight from the factory you use a humidifier in your case for at least 6 months. Especially in colorado. Then if you leave it out without a humidifier that you dont have forcrd Heat or air conditioning vents close to the guitar. This guitar has great projection.Kenny

After purchasing this guitar from American Musical Supply, I was really nervous awaiting its arrival because this was actually my first time purchasing an instrument online. I’m used to going inside music shops and trying out different gear and playing guitars before I buy them so I know that what I’m taking home with me already feels comfortable and right in my hands. This guitar in particular, however, is not a style that is normally kept stocked in the stores for customers to test drive before they purchase. Similar models are available in stores near me but I think anyone who has ever wanted this particular model from Epiphone knows that they have heard and felt the beautiful sound that projects from this big guitar and I am here to tell you that my “leap of faith” online purchase was nothing more than a huge win in my book! This guitar looks, sounds and plays just as I expected it would with much more to offer once it’s actually in your hands! I’m personally a country/blues guy so this guitar definitely fits right up that alley in my opinion. It feels so solid in your hands and the tone is just plain awesome! The Jumbo body allows the sounds inside the guitar to reverberate through your body as it’s pressed against you before making its way through the sound hole where it flourishes into that awesome deep, thick sound. From the factory the guitar is set up beautifully and very playable right out of the box. Quality parts, quality wood and quality electronics as expected from Epiphone and very well executed in this model. Definitely worth every penny for the undecided guitarist but hey, don’t take just my word for it! Pick up this awesome guitar from Epiphone through these good folks here at American Musical and set yourself up with one of their payment plans if that interests you! It’s an awesome way to be able to get the gear you need and the gear you’ve been wanting without breaking the bank right on the spot! Excellent Job by Epiphone once again and an excellent job by American Musical for supplying it at an awesome price and providing sweet payment options for your customers and future consumers!Billy

I once owned a Gibson J15, that I bought from Guitar Center, and I loved it, but I always wanted a J200, I just could never afford one. Well, I ended up having to sell my J15 to pay rent one month, and I ended up having some extra money from it, and thought why not give the Epi a try? It's closer to the Guitar I always wanted anyways. I was blown away. It has all the high end stylings of a Gibson J200, maybe even more if you consider the built in tuner and cutaway features for about 3000$ less. Well, unfortunately I only owned it for about a week before my car broke down and I had to return my Epi to pay for the repairs. I've regretted it ever since. I would have rather donated blood 50 times than have returned that guitar. (Fortunately I just got my tax return and repurchased it, and it seems like it sounds even better than before). As I was saying, it stacks up against s Gibson guitar nicely, the shadow preamp isn't as nice as any LR Baggs system but it will certainly give you lots of usable sounds. I think this is the best guitar in the 500$ price range and I'm disappointed in Guitar Center for not carrying it in store. I'm a firm believer in the fact that having a guitar you like, you like the looks of, you like the feel of, will make you a better guitarist, and that's what this beautiful, fat boy jumbo acoustic has done for me. I actually like mine so much I decided to put some money into it for upgrades, and I haven't been disappointed. I stuck some Grover Keystone tuners on it in gold of course ( had them on my Epi Les Paul before and thought would look cool so I just swapped them), some Martin ebony bridge pins, and some D'Addario EXPs and this thing sounds unreal now. So, if you're reading this because you're unsure as to whether you should buy this guitar or not, yes, you should absolutely buy this guitar and never look back.Anonymous

When shopping for a first guitar for your child (or yourself) it's confusing. The sales staff will usually direct you to the solid top Yamaha FG or FS series. Tone and quality wise, those are great guitars but they also come out of the box in need of a good setup to be playable up the neck. With the PRO-1 line, Epiphone has worked hard to deliver a reasonable factory setup on one of their most inexpensive models. I can not overstate the benefit this brings to the player! A few other things that stand out for this price range: We also get NuBone nut and saddle on all pro-1 models (this is the material Taylor and other top of the line builders use on their models). The NuBone nut makes a big difference in tone. Also it's a short scale which I think makes it easier to play, the neck is a slip D profile which makes it easy to get your hand around. Tuners at 18:1 ratio not 14:1, that's a first for a guitar in this price range and you get a humidifier and free lessons. If you play the least expensive PRO-1 model against anything in the budget acoustic room at Guitar Center (for those floor plans that separate budget from high end) you notice it's easier to play than anything else…. There is a solid-top version that comes with electronics if you must have a solid top, the truth is having a solid top is overrated on most budget guitars. All solid wood construction does sound different, but when you mix a solid top with the laminated back and sides, it's just hit and miss. If you stick with playing your first guitar won't be your last, and you're more likely to keep playing if you have an instrument that sounds good that is also very easy to play. For that the PRO-1 is your best bet right now.Jeremy

For the price this is a very nice sounding and playing guitar. I have owned higher end acoustic guitars in the past, and just needed something to do some occasional acoustic recording and playing when friends came by. It isn't quite up to the Takamine that I had (but it was also well over 10x the price of this one!), but it sounds great! I did swap out the strings, but that's to be expected. Overall, it is a good looking and nice playing/sounding guitar for a very, very reasonable price.Dave

Plays really well, and has a nice warm tone, and good volume and projection. Has binding around the edges and a Gibson style truss rod cover on the headstock. I don't like that stylized 'E' on the pickguard but I imagine the it will wear off over time. The neck feels really nice and plays well, has good action and smooth fret ends. The angled headstock keeps the guitar in tune well and looks nice too. The guitar sounds good plugged in, so if you're going to play gigs it works for that. I do wish that it had a built in EQ and volume, but it has none of that, just a peizo pickup and an output jack. I don't play plugged in very often so it's not a big factor for me. The output jack is built into the Strap pin, which I like, and there is a strap pin on the heel of the guitar neck. I definitely recommend this guitar, especially if you're on a budget, or want a guitar that you don't want to worry about getting beat up.SirJackalope

This is an inexpensive, decent-quality, full-size classical style of guitar that's aimed at getting more people to play guitar by addressing the more frequent complaints as to why they don't – hurt fingers from no callouses or too small hands or hand fatigue or arthritis or injuries, etc. Steel-string acoustic guitars require a level of hand and fingertip pain for a fair amount of time before any gains are noticed. That's probably why so many people become turned off to playing them. Epiphone shrewdly addressed that with this series of easy-to-play guitars. This is not a classical guitar that's designed for use by professional musicians, on stage or for learning serious classical styles but rather a full-size guitar that encourages more people to learn to play one or for guitarists to just have fun with sitting on the couch, songwriting, learning new songs, etc. And, given its low price, few if any tears might be shed should it one day get lost, stolen or damaged. The 1.75" width nut gives fingers – short, weak, thick or hurt – a bit more room to maneuver on the lower portion of the neck without the unwanted rubbing of adjacent strings and the lower tension strings it comes strung with make fretting clean sounds much easier without hard pressing, squeaks or buzz. This additional room is helpful for learning finger-picking, too. The two strap buttons, although not typical of a classical guitar, are a nice feature as they add greater flexibility for the guitarist as to how he or she prefers to play it. The sound is clean, I'd say very good, and although I'm surely no classical guitarist, this PRO-1 is what it is and what it was designed to be – an easy to hold, easy to play, affordable guitar that should encourage more people to play in spite of hand size, age, injury, physical limitations, etc. While there are many 3/4 size classical guitars out there that also offer easier playing, this Epiphone PRO-1 is a full size model that does the same at a great price.Old guy with a new guitar

When shopping for a first guitar for your child (or yourself) it's confusing. The sales staff will usually direct you to the solid top Yamaha FG or FS series. Tone and quality wise, those are great guitars but they also come out of the box in need of a good setup to be playable up the neck. With the PRO-1 line, Epiphone has worked hard to deliver a reasonable factory setup on one of their most inexpensive models. I can not overstate the benefit this brings to the player! A few other things that stand out for this price range: We also get NuBone nut and saddle on all pro-1 models (this is the material Taylor and other top of the line builders use on their models). The NuBone nut makes a big difference in tone. Also it's a short scale which I think makes it easier to play, the neck is a slip D profile which makes it easy to get your hand around. Tuners at 18:1 ratio not 14:1, that's a first for a guitar in this price range and you get a humidifier and free lessons. If you play the least expensive PRO-1 model against anything in the budget acoustic room at Guitar Center (for those floor plans that separate budget from high end) you notice it's easier to play than anything else…. There is a solid-top version that comes with electronics if you must have a solid top, the truth is having a solid top is overrated on most budget guitars. All solid wood construction does sound different, but when you mix a solid top with the laminated back and sides, it's just hit and miss. If you stick with playing your first guitar won't be your last, and you're more likely to keep playing if you have an instrument that sounds good that is also very easy to play. For that the PRO-1 is your best bet right now.Jeremy

For the price this is a very nice sounding and playing guitar. I have owned higher end acoustic guitars in the past, and just needed something to do some occasional acoustic recording and playing when friends came by. It isn't quite up to the Takamine that I had (but it was also well over 10x the price of this one!), but it sounds great! I did swap out the strings, but that's to be expected. Overall, it is a good looking and nice playing/sounding guitar for a very, very reasonable price.Dave

I play solo gigs three nights per week in the spring/summer/fall in a small Colorado mountain town. Guitar, harmonica, and vocals through two matching Fishman Loudbox Artist amps. I bought my first Epiphone EJ200 in ebony in 2014 thinking that in the event it didn't play well, it would look fantastic on the wall. I took it along with my Gibson Super Jumbo 200 to the next Friday's gig. I got halfway through with the Gibson, and decided to try the new ebony Epiphone EJ200. I was astounded. I have since used the ebony, "Black Dog" for 95% of my performances since. "Oh, I thought it was a Gibson. It's only an Epiphone."—"Right. The Gibson is in the gig bag. It's my backup." I have since purchased two more Epiphone EJ200s. I saw this 12 string offered last week asd a "limited edition" and ordered it immediately. I have owned an Ovation Custom Legend 12 string for over fifteen years, gorgeous and gig worthy, and well as a Rickenbacker 360 12 string for two decades which is also a dandy. I have had two 30 minute sessions both unplugged and plugged in with this new Epiphone EJ 200 12 string, and like the original ebony 6 string, "Black Dog", this new EJ200 12 is astounding. It is visibly gorgeous. Ir frets more easily and more naturally than some of my 6 string guitars. (I own 15—"tools" that pay for themselves) And the sound both unplugged and plugged in is angelic, or at least remarkable. I think I've found another "Oh, I thought it was a Gibson" incredible instrument by Epiphone. I've been performing gigs for about three decades now. It would have been nice to have owned this baby years ago. Thank you Epiphone, and thank you Guitar Center for getting this thing where it belongs, strapped around my neck and in my hands. Wonderful guitar!!!!Daniel B

Sound: The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 seems to compliment my voice the best out the ones I've mentioned. Don't get me wront this Gibson G-45 Studio is a very sweet sounding acoustic. I replaced the sonitone p/u with a Dimarzio[sic] Dark Angel and it seems to have warm up the sound, a bit more mellow. I really love the way the Sonitone sounds in the J-200 and will be keeping it like it is. I may make a big upgrade for a new chorus pedal though, I am sure I will. Features: The J-200 with Sonitone system is pretty easy to use. I have plenty of different pedals, a lot of different chorus pedals. Right now I think I will splurge with something a little more expensive. My most expensive chorus pedal right now is the Boss pedal and I have had quite a while. This J-200 sounds great with just a touch of reverb. I really like all of these Epi's. But the most recent one really has my undivided attention. Ease of Use: It is very playable. The set up could not be better. I'm sure I wil tinker with it some, by that I mean try a few different pedal etc. This J-200 does not need to be tinkered with too much. As a matter fact it a very solid axe. Quality: It will last a life time, but I still want the Vintage Sunburst versionas soon as it is available. Value: Most definetly and then some. Manufacturer Support: I have not had to reach them. The Wow Factor: I can make good music with out it, but I'd just a soon stick with this one. Thank you I love this guitar! I'm hooked. Overall: I own the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 in the Antique Natural and it is one of the finest guitars In my collection. Which includes 3 EJ-200 acoustic-electrics, 3 EJ-160E acoustic-electrics and a Gibson G-45 Studio. I would rate them all 5 stars. I own several other acoustic -electrics as well, but plan on sell ing them and going for Epiphone Inspired by Gibson all the way around. I'm hooked. These guitars are top notch. Hard to beat the price and quality craftmanship.Michael

Let me start by saying I really like this guitar! I have a lot of acoustics including Martin, Taylor and Gibsons. I wanted a J-200 copy after making a mistake and selling my EPI J-200 Elite many years ago. The Masterbilt J-200 is nowhere close to the Elite series sound or quality and it's not a Gibson. I received the Masterbilt J-200 this week and did a complete set up including reshaping and lowering the bone saddle and adjusting the bow out of the neck with the truss rod. (easy to do). I also treated the neck with a concoction of Guitar Honey and Minwax mahogany to seal and treat the neck. I took off the 12 – 53 strings (wimpy sounding) and put on 12.5 – 55 Martin SP strings which made a huge improvement in loudness and tone. The overall workmanship is good and minimum flaws noticed. Observations: Heavy guitar (just like my other Epi Masterbilts) They plane the wood down only so thin to add strength and rigidity but it does NOT vibrate like a quality guitar. The spruce top is just too darn thick. The top measures .160" thick. many of my guitars are .120" – .125" thick. The X bracing on this guitar is huge in comparison to other Jumbos I have and that adds a lot of weight to the guitar. This also keeps the top from vibrating effectively. The "Gloss" finish advertised is really more of a "satin" and not a nice high gloss. I have used paste wax and buffed the top twice to improve the gloss finish. I wish Epiphone would not use this satin finish. I am not a fan. The frets are nice and the guitar appears to have been Pleked! They are very consistent down the neck and allowing for a nice low action without fretting out. Electronics sound fine and do a nice job. Overall this is a nice guitar and a real step up from the EJ-200 laminated guitar. As a solid wood guitar in in this price range I would say it is a good buy. It is fun to play with nice tone and OK volume. If Epiphone would plane the top, sides and back wood a bit thinner it would improve,Monte

This 79 buck guitar was the biggest surprise ever! I really didn't expect much, and was having second thoughts after I placed the order. I bought the sunburst version on a SDOTD as a total impulse buy. I have several expensive acoustics, and I don't need a cheap guitar. But I have to say, this is a really nice instrument. The fit and finish is above average, with relatively smooth fret ends and a huge sound. The tuners, however inexpensive, work as intended and stay in tune. The sunburst finish is lovely, with only one small thumbnail scratch. The neck joint is well done, and the neck has a comfortable full feeling. Epiphone has improved the "E" symbol on the pickguard, it is made into the plastic, and not glued on and wanting to fall off like on the older Epiphones. The rosette appears to be painted on, but it looks good regardless. The bridge (rosewood) is solidly attached to the top, with no lifting or gaps. The body has a white plastic binding front and back that is well executed. The rosewood fretboard is attractive with nice grain. And the sound! This guitar has a huge, loud sound for a laminate guitar. Tomorrow I plan to replace the original strings with some quality mediums, which can only make it sound even better. One odd feature is a false truss rod cover, held in place with three wood screws. There is nothing under it! The access to the truss rod is inside the sound hole. I did have to remove some glue from around the truss rod adjusting nut inside the guitar. Quite frankly, the quality and sound of the Epiphone just blows me away! If I had to sell all of my other acoustics and only keep this one, I would be content. It's that good!JimmyJ

Bought without trying it out because I had seen a photo and decided I would like to try it but was out of stock for many months. Then it became available for $79 off and I jumped. – It came well packaged and in perfect condition. 'Played as well as it looked and it looks even better than the photos show it. The finish is as deep and glossy as any I have seen, and even the fretboard is bound. It seemed a tad bass shy at first but over the last few weeks has bloomed and now sounds beautifully balanced with tight well defined tones throughout the octaves and plenty of shimmer up high. 'Have not plugged in yet but it projects well without amplification and should be just fine for a small stage like a church or coffee house. I highly recommend this guitar to any enthusiast.Steven

I went to the GC in Palm Desert CA with a five-hundred dollar budget for a new acoustic/electric. There were three guitars that I had to play, but I was open to checking out others. I didn't see the Hummingbird in the room so I asked the clerk to check for me … he found one. Before he got back with the Epiphone, I had a chance to play the Guild and a Fender that were on my list, as well as a few that were not. The Fender was winning … until the clerk showed up with the Epiphone. The craftsmanship/fit and finish, the feel of the neck/action, the sound projection/tone … Everything about the guitar was perfect for me! I could not be happier!John

Epiphone really built a solid performer, especially for a workhorse studio guitar. It is also performs very well unplugged or plugged in for those small to medium gigs. Should be a staple for any song writing guitar player. Unbelievable value for a guitar of this quality. This is my third one (gave first two over time as gifts to my son and a good guitar playing friend).koby1947

This is a wonderful guitar, especially at this price point! I got a really good deal from Musician's Friend. I expected a great guitar (I have several Epiphone acoustics and electrics, and am very happy with the quality of the Epiphone brand) and I was not disappointed. Great finish, great sound, especially through an amp. I especially love the on-board pickup/electronics- what a great sound! After changing strings to Earthwood .10s, the string height and action were just great- no adjustments needed. The workmanship was flawless, and the finish was beautiful. I already had a case that I had purchased for a PR4e, but a quality hardshell case is still available for a remarkably cheap price.. All in all, a quality guitar at a great price.huston

Great for the price. It is a good idea to change the strings right away though. The guitar is playable from the get go however I did some adjustment on the rod to make it perfect. Its design allow for easy reach of the highest notes close to the body and the tuners and the electronics are good enough for a beginner to intermediate player. It comes with an entry level amp that outputs strong and high volume it is small but powerful enough for practicing indoors. All in all a great package for the money. I got this jewel from SamAsh for my daughter and cannot be happier. Hope this comments help you on your decision to buy. Cheers, JB from Coconut Creek.JESUS

This is a great guitar! I would honestly recommend it to relatively anyone. It has a great feel to it that would be exceptional for young players, but also has a good sound that's great for those more experienced. Anytime I let someone play this guitar, they ask so many questions because they love it so much. They're always super surprised to learn the price. Definitely worth the purchase if you're thinking about it.Brittany Colvin

A bought the Epiphone PR-4E LE in vintage sunburst for a good price as the SDOTD. I have been playing for over 40 years semi professionally and I own a number of higher end acoustics but I wanted to purchase a "beater" that I could break out at a party and not have to worry about one of my intoxicated friends bumping or scratching it. This guitar seemed to fit the bill. The reason I gave it three stars is that although the fit and finish seemed very good, this is supposedly a student level/beginners guitar and the action that it arrived with would be difficult and frustrating for anyone to learn on. I do my own luthier work and I had to spend about two hours to cut the nut, take some relief off of the neck and shave the bridge down to get it to play well. I do not know if my experience with this acoustic is an exception but at this price point I doubt it. With that said it is a nice beginner guitar with a nice build quality, it sounds surprisingly full and rich and if yours arrive like mine I would strongly suggest taking it to your local trusted luthier and spend the extra cash to have it set up properly and have the action lowered. Now mine plays wonderfully and is fun to play. If I didn't have to do all the work to get it playing properly I would have easily given this guitar 4 stars but at this price point I kind of expected thatG-Man

Overall: So I know this isn’t zZounds fault, it’s epiphones. But I got the guitar originally, not setup had someHorrible buzz vibration that was not normal even for a non setup guitar. Cracking at the nut, micro dents in the body at the saddle. But it had the e sonic 2 shadow pickup system which was absolutely stellar. Sent it in for a return and received a much better condition guitar but with fishman pickup system. Epiphone is now outfitting these guitars with the bare bones basic ass fishing presys system. It’s not even the presys + which is 200 dollars. This pickup is like 60 bucks. I have previous recordings with my e sonic and have tried to emulate it with this presys and it just doesn’t compare. Great guitar but the downgrade in pickup grinds my gears. My advice is to buy the e sonic 2 system or presys + system and swap them out. You’ll then have a much better sound and recording quality when plugged in. zZounds was great on the return process however. Will continue to be a customer.Joshua

I had my eye on this since I got my first Epi, a Les Paul, a year ago. Just came today, apparently mine was mfg'd in Indonesia (some of the reviews mentioned made in China). The setup is great, nice low action but no buzzing on the fretboard anywhere. Stays nicely in tune (again it came earlier today but no issues so far!), and sounds great both unplugged and plugged into my Fender Acoustisonic amp. The fit and finish is quite remarkable for an instrument at this price point. The guitar is so much prettier in "person" than in the picture on the website or in the magazine. It's just….so nice and the wood is warm and rich looking, with nice tight grainy details as well. I am very happy with this purchase, only regret is having waited to do so! Been playing since 1973, so I guess that's 47 years if that helps 😉Rick

Beautiful guitar, plays great, and sounds perfect. The electronics are good. The finish is flawless, but mine isn't much of a burst, more of a solid tabacco. The frets are a gold color, not silver like the rest. I just love it. New strings and it was ready to go.Bill

When shopping for a first guitar for your child (or yourself) it's confusing. The sales staff will usually direct you to the solid top Yamaha FG or FS series. Tone and quality wise, those are great guitars but they also come out of the box in need of a good setup to be playable up the neck. With the PRO-1 line, Epiphone has worked hard to deliver a reasonable factory setup on one of their most inexpensive models. I can not overstate the benefit this brings to the player! A few other things that stand out for this price range: We also get NuBone nut and saddle on all pro-1 models (this is the material Taylor and other top of the line builders use on their models). The NuBone nut makes a big difference in tone. Also it's a short scale which I think makes it easier to play, the neck is a slip D profile which makes it easy to get your hand around. Tuners at 18:1 ratio not 14:1, that's a first for a guitar in this price range and you get a humidifier and free lessons. If you play the least expensive PRO-1 model against anything in the budget acoustic room at Guitar Center (for those floor plans that separate budget from high end) you notice it's easier to play than anything else…. There is a solid-top version that comes with electronics if you must have a solid top, the truth is having a solid top is overrated on most budget guitars. All solid wood construction does sound different, but when you mix a solid top with the laminated back and sides, it's just hit and miss. If you stick with playing your first guitar won't be your last, and you're more likely to keep playing if you have an instrument that sounds good that is also very easy to play. For that the PRO-1 is your best bet right now.Jeremy

For the price this is a very nice sounding and playing guitar. I have owned higher end acoustic guitars in the past, and just needed something to do some occasional acoustic recording and playing when friends came by. It isn't quite up to the Takamine that I had (but it was also well over 10x the price of this one!), but it sounds great! I did swap out the strings, but that's to be expected. Overall, it is a good looking and nice playing/sounding guitar for a very, very reasonable price.Dave

Epiphone really built a solid performer, especially for a workhorse studio guitar. It is also performs very well unplugged or plugged in for those small to medium gigs. Should be a staple for any song writing guitar player. Unbelievable value for a guitar of this quality. This is my third one (gave first two over time as gifts to my son and a good guitar playing friend).koby1947

This is a wonderful guitar, especially at this price point! I got a really good deal from Musician's Friend. I expected a great guitar (I have several Epiphone acoustics and electrics, and am very happy with the quality of the Epiphone brand) and I was not disappointed. Great finish, great sound, especially through an amp. I especially love the on-board pickup/electronics- what a great sound! After changing strings to Earthwood .10s, the string height and action were just great- no adjustments needed. The workmanship was flawless, and the finish was beautiful. I already had a case that I had purchased for a PR4e, but a quality hardshell case is still available for a remarkably cheap price.. All in all, a quality guitar at a great price.huston

This is an inexpensive, decent-quality, full-size classical style of guitar that's aimed at getting more people to play guitar by addressing the more frequent complaints as to why they don't – hurt fingers from no callouses or too small hands or hand fatigue or arthritis or injuries, etc. Steel-string acoustic guitars require a level of hand and fingertip pain for a fair amount of time before any gains are noticed. That's probably why so many people become turned off to playing them. Epiphone shrewdly addressed that with this series of easy-to-play guitars. This is not a classical guitar that's designed for use by professional musicians, on stage or for learning serious classical styles but rather a full-size guitar that encourages more people to learn to play one or for guitarists to just have fun with sitting on the couch, songwriting, learning new songs, etc. And, given its low price, few if any tears might be shed should it one day get lost, stolen or damaged. The 1.75" width nut gives fingers – short, weak, thick or hurt – a bit more room to maneuver on the lower portion of the neck without the unwanted rubbing of adjacent strings and the lower tension strings it comes strung with make fretting clean sounds much easier without hard pressing, squeaks or buzz. This additional room is helpful for learning finger-picking, too. The two strap buttons, although not typical of a classical guitar, are a nice feature as they add greater flexibility for the guitarist as to how he or she prefers to play it. The sound is clean, I'd say very good, and although I'm surely no classical guitarist, this PRO-1 is what it is and what it was designed to be – an easy to hold, easy to play, affordable guitar that should encourage more people to play in spite of hand size, age, injury, physical limitations, etc. While there are many 3/4 size classical guitars out there that also offer easier playing, this Epiphone PRO-1 is a full size model that does the same at a great price.Old guy with a new guitar

When shopping for a first guitar for your child (or yourself) it's confusing. The sales staff will usually direct you to the solid top Yamaha FG or FS series. Tone and quality wise, those are great guitars but they also come out of the box in need of a good setup to be playable up the neck. With the PRO-1 line, Epiphone has worked hard to deliver a reasonable factory setup on one of their most inexpensive models. I can not overstate the benefit this brings to the player! A few other things that stand out for this price range: We also get NuBone nut and saddle on all pro-1 models (this is the material Taylor and other top of the line builders use on their models). The NuBone nut makes a big difference in tone. Also it's a short scale which I think makes it easier to play, the neck is a slip D profile which makes it easy to get your hand around. Tuners at 18:1 ratio not 14:1, that's a first for a guitar in this price range and you get a humidifier and free lessons. If you play the least expensive PRO-1 model against anything in the budget acoustic room at Guitar Center (for those floor plans that separate budget from high end) you notice it's easier to play than anything else…. There is a solid-top version that comes with electronics if you must have a solid top, the truth is having a solid top is overrated on most budget guitars. All solid wood construction does sound different, but when you mix a solid top with the laminated back and sides, it's just hit and miss. If you stick with playing your first guitar won't be your last, and you're more likely to keep playing if you have an instrument that sounds good that is also very easy to play. For that the PRO-1 is your best bet right now.Jeremy

For the price this is a very nice sounding and playing guitar. I have owned higher end acoustic guitars in the past, and just needed something to do some occasional acoustic recording and playing when friends came by. It isn't quite up to the Takamine that I had (but it was also well over 10x the price of this one!), but it sounds great! I did swap out the strings, but that's to be expected. Overall, it is a good looking and nice playing/sounding guitar for a very, very reasonable price.Dave

This is an inexpensive, decent-quality, full-size classical style of guitar that's aimed at getting more people to play guitar by addressing the more frequent complaints as to why they don't – hurt fingers from no callouses or too small hands or hand fatigue or arthritis or injuries, etc. Steel-string acoustic guitars require a level of hand and fingertip pain for a fair amount of time before any gains are noticed. That's probably why so many people become turned off to playing them. Epiphone shrewdly addressed that with this series of easy-to-play guitars. This is not a classical guitar that's designed for use by professional musicians, on stage or for learning serious classical styles but rather a full-size guitar that encourages more people to learn to play one or for guitarists to just have fun with sitting on the couch, songwriting, learning new songs, etc. And, given its low price, few if any tears might be shed should it one day get lost, stolen or damaged. The 1.75" width nut gives fingers – short, weak, thick or hurt – a bit more room to maneuver on the lower portion of the neck without the unwanted rubbing of adjacent strings and the lower tension strings it comes strung with make fretting clean sounds much easier without hard pressing, squeaks or buzz. This additional room is helpful for learning finger-picking, too. The two strap buttons, although not typical of a classical guitar, are a nice feature as they add greater flexibility for the guitarist as to how he or she prefers to play it. The sound is clean, I'd say very good, and although I'm surely no classical guitarist, this PRO-1 is what it is and what it was designed to be – an easy to hold, easy to play, affordable guitar that should encourage more people to play in spite of hand size, age, injury, physical limitations, etc. While there are many 3/4 size classical guitars out there that also offer easier playing, this Epiphone PRO-1 is a full size model that does the same at a great price.Old guy with a new guitar

When shopping for a first guitar for your child (or yourself) it's confusing. The sales staff will usually direct you to the solid top Yamaha FG or FS series. Tone and quality wise, those are great guitars but they also come out of the box in need of a good setup to be playable up the neck. With the PRO-1 line, Epiphone has worked hard to deliver a reasonable factory setup on one of their most inexpensive models. I can not overstate the benefit this brings to the player! A few other things that stand out for this price range: We also get NuBone nut and saddle on all pro-1 models (this is the material Taylor and other top of the line builders use on their models). The NuBone nut makes a big difference in tone. Also it's a short scale which I think makes it easier to play, the neck is a slip D profile which makes it easy to get your hand around. Tuners at 18:1 ratio not 14:1, that's a first for a guitar in this price range and you get a humidifier and free lessons. If you play the least expensive PRO-1 model against anything in the budget acoustic room at Guitar Center (for those floor plans that separate budget from high end) you notice it's easier to play than anything else…. There is a solid-top version that comes with electronics if you must have a solid top, the truth is having a solid top is overrated on most budget guitars. All solid wood construction does sound different, but when you mix a solid top with the laminated back and sides, it's just hit and miss. If you stick with playing your first guitar won't be your last, and you're more likely to keep playing if you have an instrument that sounds good that is also very easy to play. For that the PRO-1 is your best bet right now.Jeremy

For the price this is a very nice sounding and playing guitar. I have owned higher end acoustic guitars in the past, and just needed something to do some occasional acoustic recording and playing when friends came by. It isn't quite up to the Takamine that I had (but it was also well over 10x the price of this one!), but it sounds great! I did swap out the strings, but that's to be expected. Overall, it is a good looking and nice playing/sounding guitar for a very, very reasonable price.Dave

I've been playing around with guitars for several decades. In the early days I was forced into buying used gear but that changed. And when I bought myself an Epiphone J-160E. It's a versatile guitar that can be played as acoustic if you put acoustic strings on it. And electric if you use electric guitar strings. Pyramid Medium gauge is the best. I also bought a Gibson EJ-160. These guitars resemble each other. But it stops there. Both guitars sound amazing and the different voices blend well while recording.PC54

Recently ordered a new EJ-160E from MF as an "open box" item. Placed the order on the 20th of the month and it was waiting on my doorstep on the 25th. I've only this guitar in my hands for 24-hours, but I am a very happy camper! I should mention that I've owned a John Lennon Signature Ltd. Edition EJ-160E ever since 2007. That John Lennon is a beautiful guitar and has a few decorative niceties which have been dropped on this current model. To Epiphone's credit, however, they have corrected the single biggest flaw of my 2007 John Lennon model, and that was the longer 25.5" scale. This new model has the same 24.75" scale as the "high end" Gibson J-160E. This correction alone makes this current model a better Beatles tribute guitar than the signature John Lennon. And for me, this difference in comfort and playability means that my 2007 model will soon be hanging on the consignment wall at my local guitar shop. Aside from the cosmetic differences, this current guitar also has X-bracing rather than cross-bracing, but the two guitars sound pretty much identical to me. I don't currently own an amp, so I can't judge how they compare when plugged in.Dave G.

Received this guitar today and after having spent a few hours with it I do like the guitar quite a bit. However, it did have a couple of issues I had to address: 1) The factory strings suck – replace them right away. Made a world of difference 2) The G tuning machine on the guitar I received was not screwed in all the way. Easy fix but should have never gone out like that 3) Truss rod was too tight and was causing some fret buzz, a quick adjustment corrected this completely. I have had no tuning issues (holding tune very well) and no intonation issues at all. The pickup does have a low output, however this is due to the fact that it is an electric guitar pickup and not designed to be used with the type of acoustic strings we have today. I did run it through the compressor pedal on my rig and it brought the volume up considerably, but a preamp may be the way to go if you want to use it plugged in and sharing an amp/rig with other guitars. The tone is decent, not amazing but very enjoyable (Again, putting decent quality strings on it made a huge difference). It plays quite easily and the scale length is very comfortable. The 3-tone vintage sunburst is much more subdued than pictured, but I think it looks a lot better than the stock photos show. The "E" emblem on the pickguard came off with the plastic wrap which was fine with me because I was going to remove it anyways. All in all, if you like The Beatles or just need something unique, it's a very good guitar for the money.PSDoherty85

I play solo gigs three nights per week in the spring/summer/fall in a small Colorado mountain town. Guitar, harmonica, and vocals through two matching Fishman Loudbox Artist amps. I bought my first Epiphone EJ200 in ebony in 2014 thinking that in the event it didn't play well, it would look fantastic on the wall. I took it along with my Gibson Super Jumbo 200 to the next Friday's gig. I got halfway through with the Gibson, and decided to try the new ebony Epiphone EJ200. I was astounded. I have since used the ebony, "Black Dog" for 95% of my performances since. "Oh, I thought it was a Gibson. It's only an Epiphone."—"Right. The Gibson is in the gig bag. It's my backup." I have since purchased two more Epiphone EJ200s. I saw this 12 string offered last week asd a "limited edition" and ordered it immediately. I have owned an Ovation Custom Legend 12 string for over fifteen years, gorgeous and gig worthy, and well as a Rickenbacker 360 12 string for two decades which is also a dandy. I have had two 30 minute sessions both unplugged and plugged in with this new Epiphone EJ 200 12 string, and like the original ebony 6 string, "Black Dog", this new EJ200 12 is astounding. It is visibly gorgeous. Ir frets more easily and more naturally than some of my 6 string guitars. (I own 15—"tools" that pay for themselves) And the sound both unplugged and plugged in is angelic, or at least remarkable. I think I've found another "Oh, I thought it was a Gibson" incredible instrument by Epiphone. I've been performing gigs for about three decades now. It would have been nice to have owned this baby years ago. Thank you Epiphone, and thank you Guitar Center for getting this thing where it belongs, strapped around my neck and in my hands. Wonderful guitar!!!!Daniel B

Sound: The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 seems to compliment my voice the best out the ones I've mentioned. Don't get me wront this Gibson G-45 Studio is a very sweet sounding acoustic. I replaced the sonitone p/u with a Dimarzio[sic] Dark Angel and it seems to have warm up the sound, a bit more mellow. I really love the way the Sonitone sounds in the J-200 and will be keeping it like it is. I may make a big upgrade for a new chorus pedal though, I am sure I will. Features: The J-200 with Sonitone system is pretty easy to use. I have plenty of different pedals, a lot of different chorus pedals. Right now I think I will splurge with something a little more expensive. My most expensive chorus pedal right now is the Boss pedal and I have had quite a while. This J-200 sounds great with just a touch of reverb. I really like all of these Epi's. But the most recent one really has my undivided attention. Ease of Use: It is very playable. The set up could not be better. I'm sure I wil tinker with it some, by that I mean try a few different pedal etc. This J-200 does not need to be tinkered with too much. As a matter fact it a very solid axe. Quality: It will last a life time, but I still want the Vintage Sunburst versionas soon as it is available. Value: Most definetly and then some. Manufacturer Support: I have not had to reach them. The Wow Factor: I can make good music with out it, but I'd just a soon stick with this one. Thank you I love this guitar! I'm hooked. Overall: I own the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 in the Antique Natural and it is one of the finest guitars In my collection. Which includes 3 EJ-200 acoustic-electrics, 3 EJ-160E acoustic-electrics and a Gibson G-45 Studio. I would rate them all 5 stars. I own several other acoustic -electrics as well, but plan on sell ing them and going for Epiphone Inspired by Gibson all the way around. I'm hooked. These guitars are top notch. Hard to beat the price and quality craftmanship.Michael

Let me start by saying I really like this guitar! I have a lot of acoustics including Martin, Taylor and Gibsons. I wanted a J-200 copy after making a mistake and selling my EPI J-200 Elite many years ago. The Masterbilt J-200 is nowhere close to the Elite series sound or quality and it's not a Gibson. I received the Masterbilt J-200 this week and did a complete set up including reshaping and lowering the bone saddle and adjusting the bow out of the neck with the truss rod. (easy to do). I also treated the neck with a concoction of Guitar Honey and Minwax mahogany to seal and treat the neck. I took off the 12 – 53 strings (wimpy sounding) and put on 12.5 – 55 Martin SP strings which made a huge improvement in loudness and tone. The overall workmanship is good and minimum flaws noticed. Observations: Heavy guitar (just like my other Epi Masterbilts) They plane the wood down only so thin to add strength and rigidity but it does NOT vibrate like a quality guitar. The spruce top is just too darn thick. The top measures .160" thick. many of my guitars are .120" – .125" thick. The X bracing on this guitar is huge in comparison to other Jumbos I have and that adds a lot of weight to the guitar. This also keeps the top from vibrating effectively. The "Gloss" finish advertised is really more of a "satin" and not a nice high gloss. I have used paste wax and buffed the top twice to improve the gloss finish. I wish Epiphone would not use this satin finish. I am not a fan. The frets are nice and the guitar appears to have been Pleked! They are very consistent down the neck and allowing for a nice low action without fretting out. Electronics sound fine and do a nice job. Overall this is a nice guitar and a real step up from the EJ-200 laminated guitar. As a solid wood guitar in in this price range I would say it is a good buy. It is fun to play with nice tone and OK volume. If Epiphone would plane the top, sides and back wood a bit thinner it would improve,Monte

Overall: I ordered this from Sweetwater back on May 4th and was supposed to get delivery mid-June to only find out (after trying to contact them for weeks) at best it may be August when I get this guitar. I cancel my order last night and reordered at 5 pm from zZounds and it was on my doorstep the next morning at 11am. Truly amazing. This this is an absolutely beautiful looking guitar with amazing tones with the maple construction. This is a steal at this price.John

So disappointed in this model. Having owned several "Masterbuilts", I was expecting the same level of craftsmanship that I've enjoyed from Epi over the years. I purchased 2 of these from MF and both were sent back. The first one had issues with the pick guard being loose and high frets. The second had terrible fret dressing and the nut and saddle were too high and the neck was warped. I really love the "rope n cactus" and hope that maybe I'll stumble across a good one someday.James

I lost my finger a few years back in an accident at work and hadn't played since then so decided to get back into it and try again a friend recommended this guitar as he plays professionally this I an excellent guitar and excellent quality Highly recommendjamie b.