Jasmine 12 String Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

I bought this guitar online with high hopes, but got a seemingly used piece in which the knobs that tune the guitar were turning copperish, as if discoloured. Definitely got a used piece, despite paying full price for a BRAND NEW product. Very unacceptable practice by best buy. And on top of it, they expect me to go through the hassle of returning the product through shipping such a large item back to them and then get a new one. I bought this as a gift for someone, I don't have the time to keep returning and waiting for new pieces, which will probably also be used. Disappointed, never again. Even Amazon gives quality products.sonu

If you are older when you start playing the guitar, you might not make it to Eric Clapton levels of talent. That’s okay as he probably had one in utero. Sometimes I sit back in awe of him or Jimmy Page, and hear the notes and chords moving at a riveting speed. Both their hand eye coordination/hands, and mathematic abilities must be off the charts. They are the guitar heroes. Yet I’ve been quite happy with the Takamine Jasmine acoustic, which I bought for around $100. The sound quality for its price is impressive. A couple of friends of mine whom play in a band, believe it’s better than Yamahas that cost $50 to $100 more. I’ll trust their ears, as they have experience and talent. My neighbors are glad I got the acoustic, and with practice I’ve been learning some basic songs. It has been time consuming, frustrating, and yet so rewarding. Strings are easy to replace or tune on this, and it’s forgiving nature has helped with my self esteem. I won’t always hit the six strings as I’m supposed to, or mess up on the frets, but I’m pleased with the purchase of this.michael.r

For a lower end guitar, I’m overall impressed. You really aren’t going to get good quality without going a few hundred more, but for the beginner / someone who plays a little as a hobby, this is better than some of the cheaper priced ones. I have used for recording as background music, and taught students with this guitar. If you’re looking to spend under $150 on an acoustic this is your best bet.Loagz Beatz

This is my Long Term Review. I have had this guitar for a bit over two years now and can give a more complete picture of it. First, the good. This is a very well made guitar. Under the pros, you will notice I mentioned Good Construction. This is particularly important in a 12 string. The biggest issue with all 12's is that they tend to come apart very quickly. You will have bowing, warping, separation of glueing, etc. All this is because of the tremendous extra pressure 12's suffer. After 2+ years, this guitar is still solid as a rock, and I leave it strung all the time. So I would say construction and bracing are very good on this instrument. Along with this is the fact that it Stays In Tune. This is another major issue with all 12's. Again, that extra force tends to make them go out of tune quickly. This one holds tune very well, and that is important as tuning a 12 takes some time. As for sound, I would say Not too Bad overall, and Really Good for an budget level guitar. It is a little thin for my taste, but there are ways around that. First, throw on a set of decent strings. I prefer Martin Marquise on mine, but personal choice. Second, I like to play through an acoustic amp, and I put a Seymour Ducan Woody on mine. When adjusted correctly, I can get a really decent, full bass sound, lots of body and still keep a nice jangle expected from a 12. Will it sound like a Martin or Gibson, no, but it gives a really nice sound for such a low price. As for the negatives, very few. First, keep in mind when Epiphone says "Select Spruce Top," they really mean laminated, not solid. But I suppose there varying qualities of laminated woods as well, and this one is great – really good resonance and sustain. It could maybe do with a better set of tuners, but as said before, it holds tune exceptionally well. Overall, for the price, Epiphone makes a really nice and playable guitar. Now am just praying they come out with a Masterbilt version of it.kdw

This was a good value as a first guitar (with cutaway) for a beginner. Had some difficulty with pressure needed to form chords properly. Took back to GC to see if action needed adjustment. Recommendation was to leave it as is just change to a lighter set of strings. This made considerable difference until I was finally able to toughen up the fingertips after a couple of weeks. Getting better results and happy with purchase.D.S.

I have purchased this guitar about 6 weeks ago, and I am someone who likes to strum almost every day. Within the 6 weeks time frame after replacing the strings with proper bronze acoustics from Dadario, I started to feel and see the changes on the guitar. It is extremely prone to bending and warping on the neck. The Nut also feels very cheep so the strings are carving in a lot faster than they should. I have been modifying the height of the strings (this would be the 5th time in 6 weeks) to a point where my E string is pretty much contacting all frets…. If you are not familiar with readjusting the height of the strings in any shape or form, stay away from this guitar because you will have to throw it out by the second realignment (at a standard store a realignment will cost you around $70-80…)U Can

I swapped a cousin Electric Acoustic Fender that was about $300w/hard-shell case for him to buy me this Jasmine on special sale in 2012, for $99. "Ramona" went through me learning to play; my bf passed away 5 days after I got her on June 4, 2012, and he was impressed with her sound and he was 35 ahead of me playing guitar VERY well; so I grieved 4 years & just never put Ramona down. For the first 5 years she was played 5+ hours a day, she slept next to me in bed. I had already played piano so I taught myself my basic open chords then learned from friends along the way. I already ordered Gotoh locking tuners, a rosewood nut and saddle, strap lock set, yes it will fall off on stage as most do, and this one doesn't have the nut for a strap, you tie it around the neck area and in my opinion that's unnecessary strain on the neck. I use D'Addario custom light phosphorus bronze strings; I love the warm sound they add and I can get a month out of them, two if I'm not playing out. I even use a glass slide and tune to open D, hence the locking tuners. It comes stock with "pro-Line" tuners and sorry but those are cheaply made. My beloved Ramona stayed in tune with the pro-lines 18 months then they started breaking. I bought a set of hand-made lifetime guaranteed 5 wood picks because wood sounds better, to me. I bought a wood pin set too. I have a brass pin set on my more twangy sounding guitar. I wasn't able to get that perfect pitch out of every fret down the neck but you're not going to unless you spend some $! I hope to consider a Taylor. I finger-pick and I know the specs say thin neck but I disagree. I bought a Dean and a Yamaha; strings too close.I learned that fancy inlay along the neck screws up my dots. This will be my first time switching the rosewood nut and saddle but I'm confident it will sound even better. A little sanding and your $100 axe is $400 with not much time; just about $100 in parts.I did have to drill my tuner holes bigger last time but it went smooth.Amanita Bella Dreams

This S35 is a very nice guitar. Tuned right up, nice straight neck and easy to play. Strings are nice. Clean crisp sound. I like the looks of the matte finish. Thumbs up!!peaveyamps77

I play a takamjne g series and my girl needed a guitar so I got her a jasmine and I was pleasantly surprised to hear how good it sounded. I borrow it for lighter pretty parts in songsjo.bermu

I bought this guitar for my grandson to learn on. It has a wonderful sound. The value that I got was great. I believe he will love it. I personally have a 12 string Takamine that I purchased in the early 90's and I wouldn't trade it for the world. That's why I purchased the Jasmine because it is made by Takamine. Would certainly recommend it for any beginner…..Thank you!kimh421

I bought my JJ 12-string here in England in 2000, 16 years ago. It has given me nothing but pleasure ever since. It's a joy to play – much easier than a six-string in many respects – and its tone, playability and looks are much admired by other players. Mine is fitted with the DSP acoustic preamp which is great, but I gather its has had a few problems along the way and has been replaced. The guitar has been refretted and plays as well as the day I bought it. Some slight bellying when you get the light right, but you'd expect that. There's only one slight downside: the scratchplate will lift at the edges and come off in time. I replaced mine with a transparent scratchplate which is effective but doesn't have the charisma. I also bought, in 2007, the six-string equivalent. Again, a really great instrument – sadly, with the same scratchplate problem, so it wasn't a one-off. I love my 12-string. I have never regretted paying far more for this guitar than I had ever spend on an instrument before. It is worth every penny, and more. I cannot recommend it enough.goosebooer

I had a cheap 12 string guitar for about almost two years. I had been playing corridos during this time. However, I had played guitar for several years. Mainly rock and other stuff. Well, after I got it, I could play all the solos I couldn't really play clean. I guess the other guitar really was bad, or this one is great. Funny thing, I had a really good player tell me to not buy this model but the more expensive one. Well, I'm glad I decided to go with this one. This guitar sounds great and it's extremely easy to play. The guitar stays in tune fairly well for a 12 string guitar. The action is low. I haven't tried it the electronics aside from the tuner which works fairly well compared to my snark. I do have a Taylor and Martin guitar, and the tone on this guitar is pretty clean.Juan

This Guitar plays like a dream, sounds great no matter if it is plugged in or not, stays in tune and looks great. This is a great price for a guitar of this quality, but thanks to another dealers daily deal and Guitar Center's price matching, it was even better. I was able to get this out of layaway for $240 less. I am very happy with this guitar. I have not played in a band for a while, but getting back into practice and plan to start back with some solo acoustic gigs. Having this awesome new guitar is surely an inspiration to help me want to practice more.Kip

If you're looking for the best acoustics, best pre amp, best build quality and everything you look for in a guitar this is the one. The acoustics are the best i've heard in any 12 string and would purchase this guitar over and over again. This is a very good guitar for all your uses. Very comfortable and has great resonation.This is my favorite guitar in my collection.alex

I typically play steel string acoustics. I wanted a quality nylon string guitar without the wide flat neck of a standard classical guitar. This is it. Extremely well made with quality woods (no laminates) that has a great sound (both amplified and unplugged). It does not have a large body and projection is somewhat limited when playing unplugged but has incredible sound both amplified and not amplified. Can be played quietly when everyone else has gone to sleep, or can flood the house with music if they're awake. The action and intonation on this guitar was fabulous right out of the box and I didn't have to make any setup adjustments. This is an awesome guitar and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nylon string acoustic.John

In 1981 I had three guitars, two of them acoustics, and one of those was an Ovation Country Artist–a nylon-string guitar with a 14 fret, comparatively narrow neck. It was my first good guitar, but when I left for grad school, I kept only a Martin OO-18, and sold the Ovation. In the 30 years since, I have been trying to find a replacement, I tried various Ibanez and Yamaha guitars, but they didn't have what it took. Then, a couple of months ago, needing a brain break, I left work and took myself to the acoustic room at Sam Ash. There was another guy in there playing, so I looked for a quiet instrument, and took this one down off the wall. Immediately, I knew that it was special. The clarity of the tone, and the richness of the bass, it was all there. The other guy liked the sound too, and soon we were jamming and telling stories. Both of us tried other neoclassical guitars, and agreed that this one was best. I loved the guitar at first note, but when I looked at the price tag, I knew I could never own it. So I bought (online) a similar guitar, but it lacked the feel and sound of this one. My wife heard me playing, asked what I thought about the similar guitar I'd bought, and I explained that it wasn't the same. Then she told me to buy this one. So I did, And I have been playing it daily since then. The OO-18 is still with me and still gets some time, but right now my fingers itch to play and hear this one. Did it replace my long-gone Country Artist? Not exactly–this Takamine is significantly superiod to the Country Artist in all respects. Even if I don't play it plugged in 🙂Andy M_S

I bought this guitar online with high hopes, but got a seemingly used piece in which the knobs that tune the guitar were turning copperish, as if discoloured. Definitely got a used piece, despite paying full price for a BRAND NEW product. Very unacceptable practice by best buy. And on top of it, they expect me to go through the hassle of returning the product through shipping such a large item back to them and then get a new one. I bought this as a gift for someone, I don't have the time to keep returning and waiting for new pieces, which will probably also be used. Disappointed, never again. Even Amazon gives quality products.sonu

If you are older when you start playing the guitar, you might not make it to Eric Clapton levels of talent. That’s okay as he probably had one in utero. Sometimes I sit back in awe of him or Jimmy Page, and hear the notes and chords moving at a riveting speed. Both their hand eye coordination/hands, and mathematic abilities must be off the charts. They are the guitar heroes. Yet I’ve been quite happy with the Takamine Jasmine acoustic, which I bought for around $100. The sound quality for its price is impressive. A couple of friends of mine whom play in a band, believe it’s better than Yamahas that cost $50 to $100 more. I’ll trust their ears, as they have experience and talent. My neighbors are glad I got the acoustic, and with practice I’ve been learning some basic songs. It has been time consuming, frustrating, and yet so rewarding. Strings are easy to replace or tune on this, and it’s forgiving nature has helped with my self esteem. I won’t always hit the six strings as I’m supposed to, or mess up on the frets, but I’m pleased with the purchase of this.michael.r

For a lower end guitar, I’m overall impressed. You really aren’t going to get good quality without going a few hundred more, but for the beginner / someone who plays a little as a hobby, this is better than some of the cheaper priced ones. I have used for recording as background music, and taught students with this guitar. If you’re looking to spend under $150 on an acoustic this is your best bet.Loagz Beatz

The guitar performs and works as advertised. It's not a bad guitar by any means but it's a guitar that lives way past it's price range either. If you want a really nice D'ANGELICO acoustic then get something from the Excel line. But this is bottom of the premier line. This does the job for a early guitar, the neck is easy to play with low action to match. Put some warm strings on it. I recommend an 85/15 string and let it warm up and break in. It's a basic acoustic electric. It does what it says it will do. Nothing more or nothing less. I got it on an overstock sale but I'd buy it again at full price but maybe not the buttercream. The black or natural wood finish look the best. The buttercream is like they wanted the color of spruce with no grain. It's different for sure. If you're wanting something really nice save your money. If you want a decent backup not starter guitar this should fit the bill. My four star rating is with the full asking price in mind. If you get it on sale it's five star for the price.Nick

i wrote a review early on with my first impressions. 3 months on it it still sounds great – it's been my sofa guitar and I've played it a great deal. The tone has mellowed a bit with use. Neck is still exactly where I set it and the whole guitar feels nicely solid. The big surprise is that this thing sounds FANTASTIC through a PA. It's balanced, it's dynamic, it has none of the harsh quackiness you usually get with low end piezo systems. You can hit it HARD without overdriving the pre. It can get nice and loud without feeding back and the onboard tuner is super handy. The first time I played it in public I was basically mobbed by other guitarists wanting to know where I got it. And this isn't even their high end pickup system. Remarkable.Stu

Ordered this on a SDOTD and will say right up front that it's a really NICE guitar, especially for the $$$. I was needing a smaller guitar w/ electronics for small venues, not needing to invest a bunch of money and after reading decent reviews I said "why not?". After opening the box things got off to a rocky start – – 1st string was broken, and also noticed the neck was really bowed from a loose truss rod, but since I do my own setups on new guitars these was fairly easy to remedy. So was the excessively dry fingerboard and bridge, which I rubbed with 0000 steel wool and lemon oil. But, two of the faux mother-of-pearl position markers were sticking up on one end (loose) and that got me to thinking maybe this was a bad idea. I almost boxed it up and sent it back, but since it was so nice otherwise I decided to super glue them back and overlook it. Otherwise, a beauty of a guitar, and after it was all set up this thing really sang. Unplugged, it's fairly unimpressive, but with a decent tone and plenty of harmonics. The fingerboard turned out to play wonderfully, low nice action with smooth frets and I love the thin profile and fairly narrow width of the neck, the shining point of this guitar. Tuners were OK, and the BONE saddle and nut were fine after I lowered the action a bit. The sound of this guitar is amazing plugged in, and the D'Angelico branded electronics are outstanding. Plugged in it sounds equal to anything I've ever heard, and I heard and played a few in my 60 years of performing. Mine does not have a phase switch as is listed, so take note of that one point. The really great thing that I love about the electronics – – the input jack & battery are on the rear bottom side instead of through the normal end pin jack, a major convenience that is not listed, so this makes up for any other minor cons of the guitar. I do a lot of finger-picking and it capos well, too. A keeper!Fiddle & Guitar Man

I've been looking for a particular sound from an acoustic to replace my Ibanez. I went into to the GC to get strings for my other axes and try out a white Tele they had. Tele wasn't quite what I was looking for so I went into the accoustic room and this just stood out and I had to tryit. I was sold after one strum of Dm-A-G. That was the sound I wanted. Mids somewhere between a J45 and a Taylor. Highs have just the right amount of brilliance without stealing the show. Exactly what I was looking for. It has a bone nut and saddle so this thing rings out so well. The only thing I can think of negative is the Epiphone Deluxe tuners feel cheap. I'm just going to order some Gibson Deluxe's, other than that this is a beaut!JR

This guitar is beautiful. I've played many guitars, but none are more pretty than this. I have the Cherry Burst, wow! The fretboard material is Laural Wood. It plays nicely with bended notes, nice and firm. This guitar has good "weight." It is one of the heavier acoustics I've played. I like that too, it feels like great quality. Mine is not made in China. It was manufactured in Indonesia. These Asian manufacturers are doing a great job and I like it that mine is from Indonesia, too. There is good balance in sound from string to string, too. It's nice that it came with a sound hole cover, but such a nice (and fairly pricey) guitar should come with a gig bag or case.Boomer

Overall: Ok let me first say that I have been playing guitar since 1964. I have so many guitars since then I can't even remember them.In my experience Epiphone guitars have always been a solid platform for someone who is first starting and novice and intermediate level players.After reading about these " Inspired By Gibson" series Masterbilt guitars I thought I'd give one a try to see how close to a real Hummingbird it is.It caught me off guard. The fit and finish is outstanding. The playability was absolutely perfect out of the box.The original 1960's Headstock makes it look really nice. Not that deeply scalloped extended swelled at the top one usually find on an Epiphone. Nice touch Epiphone !The tulip Keystone vintage tuners are excellent. Smooth and tight. Fret work was amazing for a guitar in this price point as well as getting a guitar with beautiful solid mahogany and Sitka spruce that is finished in an accurate vintage toner. The real Mother of Pearl inlays are a really nice touch.At this price point getting an instrument with a one piece mahogany neck with no seperate heel is almost unheard of. I am tempted to say this Epiphone is so close to the Gibson model it amazed me that Gibson would allow Epiphone to produce something this close to their high dollar Hummingbird.In conclusion…. BUY IT !! You will not be sorry. zZounds is the best out there for sales, service and amazing one day delivery.Ed

I've had this twice and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the portion of prawns it held. The curry is very mild and heavily capsicum-based so one must like this. For me its too bland but it still provides a quick ready curry base that I can tweak with a little extra ginger, garlic, coriander etc. Also I do not heat it up in the oven , and prefer a shortcut on the hob because I don't much like the idea of eating food from a highly heated plastic container (carcinogens and all that), and the prawns still hold up well. Goes beautifully with a quick home-made mint & coriander chutney on the side which elevates the flavours.Didit

Sound: The GJ2CE has the full bodied, chiming ring, you would expect from a 12-string, (unpluged). But, the minute you plug in, the GJ2CE explodes into full voice, rich full lows, solid mids, and full shimmering ringing highs. The sound is extremely sensitive to your picking attack, from subtle, to booming in your face, and everything in between. The sound quality is that of a guitar 3 to 4 times the price. Features: There really isn't anything superfluous, feature wise, on the GJ2CE. It is well and efficiently designed. The spruce and flame maple used in construction are, not only beautiful, but a great choice of tone wood. All of which, contribute to its gorgeous appearance and sound. Ease of Use: Getting great sound was easy as, unboxing, tuning and playing it. I cannot describe the feeling, when I plugged it in. Everything I expect from a 12-string, was there and so much more. Quality: The GJ2CE's build is flawless. This will turn heads. I look forward to unleashing its voice on stage. Value: The GJ2CE is more than worth its price. It is a solid value, a true bargain. Manufacturer Support: Have not needed to consult Takamine. The Wow Factor: The GJ2CE is a beautiful guitar. But its sound is what I love. There is something about an acoustic 12-string that simply stirs my soul. Overall: The GJ2CE is a surprise… right from the get go. Fit and finish is flawless, the sound is everything you could want and more. Setup is spot on. It plays like butter. It's my first Takamine, and I can say it will not be my last.Mikki

I've had this twice and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the portion of prawns it held. The curry is very mild and heavily capsicum-based so one must like this. For me its too bland but it still provides a quick ready curry base that I can tweak with a little extra ginger, garlic, coriander etc. Also I do not heat it up in the oven , and prefer a shortcut on the hob because I don't much like the idea of eating food from a highly heated plastic container (carcinogens and all that), and the prawns still hold up well. Goes beautifully with a quick home-made mint & coriander chutney on the side which elevates the flavours.Didit

Sound: The GJ2CE has the full bodied, chiming ring, you would expect from a 12-string, (unpluged). But, the minute you plug in, the GJ2CE explodes into full voice, rich full lows, solid mids, and full shimmering ringing highs. The sound is extremely sensitive to your picking attack, from subtle, to booming in your face, and everything in between. The sound quality is that of a guitar 3 to 4 times the price. Features: There really isn't anything superfluous, feature wise, on the GJ2CE. It is well and efficiently designed. The spruce and flame maple used in construction are, not only beautiful, but a great choice of tone wood. All of which, contribute to its gorgeous appearance and sound. Ease of Use: Getting great sound was easy as, unboxing, tuning and playing it. I cannot describe the feeling, when I plugged it in. Everything I expect from a 12-string, was there and so much more. Quality: The GJ2CE's build is flawless. This will turn heads. I look forward to unleashing its voice on stage. Value: The GJ2CE is more than worth its price. It is a solid value, a true bargain. Manufacturer Support: Have not needed to consult Takamine. The Wow Factor: The GJ2CE is a beautiful guitar. But its sound is what I love. There is something about an acoustic 12-string that simply stirs my soul. Overall: The GJ2CE is a surprise… right from the get go. Fit and finish is flawless, the sound is everything you could want and more. Setup is spot on. It plays like butter. It's my first Takamine, and I can say it will not be my last.Mikki

I wanted a regular size Taylor 12 string to add to my collection. Most of today's higher end Taylor 12 strings are little with a short necks. David (on line support at Sam Ash) suggested i try the 254ce. He said he had played it personally and it was a great guitar. I'm glad I listened. Right out of the box it played smooth and easy and had a great sound. It won't even need to be "set up" like many of my guitars, it's fine just as it is. Sometimes you don't need to spend a lot to get a great playing guitar.Rackon23

The 254ce 12-string is a well put together, nicely done instrument. Nobody in the business does their necks as nicely. This is my 4th acoustic 12 – 2 Fenders, a Villager, and a Shenandoah accompanied me to Vietnam (one for each tour), the third a high-end Guild. I like this one best. These days, I play for my own enjoyment, the guitar will be played at home, exclusively. This is my second Taylor, the other a 210e DLX. I use a Fender Acoustasonic 40.Mr DPR

This guitar has a warm bright tone easy action and is beautiful in design. This guitar is easily a favorite to me as it allows me to speak even when Im not sure what to say. Its design makes ecen an unseasoned guitarist sound like a pro. You definately will not regret purchasing this axe.tarquill61

I needed a low action 12 string acoustic guitar that wasn't the size of a battleship. Something I could practice on at home without annoying half the neighborhood. An 'acoustic' guitar that would give me stonkloads of volume plugged in but with absolutely zero feed back even when I'm standing right in front of the monitor. It also had to sound like an acoustic guitar at any volume level. Turns out that's exactly what I got. Easy…..now I need to get a case…turns out not so easy here in the UK. Why don't dealers buy in the correct case when they order the guitar? Or is this just an ESP thing? Anyway, when a guitar is this good it is not so easy to get annoyed.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I’ve owned a EF381SC-LH since the early 90s. My being left handed had a lot to do with my decision to purchase it, as up to that point it was the only 12 string I’d ever seen in person, never mind Getting to play one. I was able to tune it by ear and it plays as easily as an electric guitar, so buying it was a no brainer. But over the years I’ve come to appreciated it more for it’s acoustic and amplified tone. It sounds great plugged into my guitar amp, it doesn’t need to go through a PA. It takes the dry New England fall/winter less than 20% humidity while never protruding a fret or needing a truss rod adjustment. I do use two Dampits less than diligently. This 12 string Is one of the best values in the guitar universe, if you have ever wanted one this is the one to get.Stan

I use this guitar as a requinto. (Mexican Guitar) It's just beautiful. I'm at a loss of words with this one the beautiful Gloss Black Finish and the mahogany Takamine logo and Fret markers are just flawless. I would purchase this guitar time after time if i had the money. Oh, and not to mention the electronic pickup that comes factory with it. It just sounds beautiful, super rich, and just cannot compete with the G Series Pickup.IsaiRequinto

This guitar was sold as "blemished." I haven't found any blemishes on the guitar. When it arrived it still had the plastic scratch guard on the pickguard, and the strings were still stretching the way brand new strings do. I tried the lower range Takamine 12 string, the GD 30CE, and wasn't happy with the feel of the the neck, string height, or the over all sound of the guitar. So I ordered this one. I know this range of Takamine guitars well because I own an EF 341SC. So far, this guitar has delighted me at every turn. I've not yet played the guitar through a PA system, but plugged into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface and recording it sounds great: well balanced and rich. The same if not better recording off of a live mic. The neck feels good, the string height is perfect.Ron

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

The Luna Heartsong 12 string is a comfortable guitar to play. I'm replacing a Ovation 12 from 1974 that I bought new and enjoyed for many years but the neck finally gave up. The Luna body size is smaller than a dreadnaught but fits nicely in your lap. It has really nice upper and middle range but the lower range is a little weak unless you plug it up through an amp and boost it. Then it sounds much like the folk guitars of the 60's. I tuned it up to standard tune and the neck had a slight bend at the 7th fret and the action was high by the time you got up to the 12th fret. So I tuned it down a full step and it straightened right out and the action went back down to a good level for a 12 string. Just capo it up and you get good normal sound and action level. The wood is good throughout and the craftsmanship is more than adequate for the cost of the instrument. The volume is good for a smaller guitar body. It won't overpower a D-28 but I really didn't expect that. The sustain is good and harmonics chime nicely. In summary, it's a great guitar for the money I paid. I also have a Luna Vista Eagle and really enjoy the sound of Luna's. They won't put Martin out of business, but the impact on the bank account is proportionally less. I am a 50+ year picker and used to play in bands and at church, but now it's just around the house for fun and therapy. I'm happy with the value I got for the amount of money I paid.Warren