Sojing Acoustic Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

First of all, this is a gorgeous guitar. It looks just great. It has a big, rich sound even moreso than other larger bodied guitars I've seen. The tuner works great. I love playing it. A few minor issues. First, I find the action high, & the bridge is not adjustable. 2nd, the complaints others have offered about the fret edges being VERY rough are entirely true: you can practically leave your hand bloody, I'm sure, if you play long enough, just from being roughed up by the fret edges. I'll try filing them down & refinishing them, as some have suggested. Finally, you'll want to get rid of the strings & go with a lighter gauge, partly to alleviate the high action issue. I'd get this guitar again. I think it is a $500 – $600 guitar lurking for only a little more than half that price. But before recommending it to a friend, I'd point out these couple issues.DET

Poor quality control! Neck is a mess with all of the fret ends protruding and sharp. One fret is noticeably higher causing all kinds of issues. Inside edge of the sound hole is poorly finished and some of the ribs look rough, like they weren't sanded smooth. This one's going back!Bill

Good sound and feel, especially for the price. I honestly really enjoyed playing this guitar. However, it is quite disappointing that the craftsmanship was lacking, since I always took great care with handling it, and the bridge snapped in half. I was using it very often, so it may be best for beginners or for only periodic use.Nick

I bought this guitar because it was the cheapest acoustic in the store and I wasn't sure I'd stick with playing. I have had so much fun with it a year later I feel compelled to write a review! This guitar looks, feels, and sounds great, and mine rarely needs a tune-up despite regular use. Folks are saying the action is too high but I haven't noticed (and as a newbie maybe that's helped me build finger strength more quickly, who knows.) The only con I can think of is the sound is a tiny bit thin, but for a casual player like myself, that's no big issue. Anyway, I love this guitar and would absolutely recommend it for newbies/casual players. This is a great value instrument!Nomi

I have always had trouble with guitars. My hands are small and not very strong, so I've never had good luck trying to get good, consistent sound out of a guitar. It's just been too frustrating for me to continue. I also have a hard time feeling comfortable with the size and shape of most guitars I've tried. I've got limited funds to invest in an instrument and I wanted to make sure it was going to be an instrument that would let me play the things I wanted to play, and give me the range I was looking for. I've looked at banjos, classical guitars, and even junior guitars. But I always came back to the acoustic guitar in terms of sound and range. So when this guitar went on sale, I took the plunge and placed the order (after watching numerous video reviews, of course). I couldn't be happier! This is a gorgeous guitar that feels great, and it doesn't take much pressure at all to get a beautiful sound from it. It is wonderfully constructed. I had mine shipped to the store, which may have protected it. Either way, I didn't experience any of the construction issues I read in some of the other reviews, but also I was confident in the purchase guarantee of Guitar Center, and I knew I would have received a replacement if anything was wrong. It's definitely why I purchase through Guitar Center. Now I'm so excited about playing this guitar that I practice twice a day because it's so much fun and it sounds so great. As a new player, I simply couldn't be happier about this purchase. The onboard tuner makes it very easy to tune quickly. When I first tuned it, I used my Super Snark tuner to check the accuracy and they both matched exactly. I also purchased the Fender 20 watt amp and plugged it in. Wow! What a fun set-up! This is definitely a purchase I will treasure forever.Kristin

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

Very nice playing guitar, sits right next to my Gibson LP and my Fender Stratocaster!!!! Plug it in to my Marshal amp and it will play and sound just great . I do think this was well worth every penny spent!!!! Best Regards Stevestepeye-0

I have 6 Other Guitars and have been playing for a number of years. The build quality is Okay but One Thing about the construction is the Machine Head mounting location for the "D" String and the "G" String are situated in such a way that the Strings run really Close to the Adjacent String. The Sound is also Very Bright and Lacks Warmth in Tone even with the Tone Control all the way Down. Having said that it has a Good Action but the Fretboard was really Dry. Not a Bad guitar for the Money.Mark K.

I love this guitar. It's such a joy to play and the tones are wonderful. The acoustic alone sounds fantastic, but the electric feature works awesome and the built in tuner is great! I am also impressed that the guitar came with two batteries, one of which was already installed. I am thankful to have my new guitar. To get the quality of a Fender guitar at this affordable price is a great way for me to get serious with my playing while I enjoy learning on it.michapicar

There are hundreds of reviews on this guitar, of course some good and some bad. The good reviews (4-5 stars) far out number the rest. Although I’ve read some really, really bad ones. I suppose every guitar maker churns out a turd on occasion when mass producing affordable beginner (read inexpensive) guitars.
I can only tell you about my particular guitar.
It is fantastic, it’s beautiful, sounds amazing (plugged in and acoustic), plays amazingly well, stays in tune, the tuners are smooth and work as you would expect on a much more expensive guitar. The neck is perfect, the action is great (Martin MA540 Authentic Acoustic Light strings 0.054-0.012). I haven’t a single complaint I can’t say whether the quality has gone up or down in the last few years. Mine is an earlier production model about 10 years old. They’re relatively common , You can find a nice used one locally in most cities for under $150. That way you can play and give it a thorough inspection before you buy it. Check your local Guitar Center, try it, return it if you don’t like it, my bet is you will love it.Larry Daniels

I usually don't leave negative reviews. This guitar is beautiful, it sounds amazing. However, I just can't believe that guitar center would let this be shipped. The neck seems fine but every fret divider is razor sharp. It's so uncomfortable that I have quit playing it. Living in a small town it's very expensive to return stuff, so I guess it will just sit for now. To guitar centers credit, I have shopped there for many years and never been disappointed. But gee guys, why wouldn't you be checking this stuff? If I picked it off your wall I would never buy it unless you fixed it for me. Sorry but this sucksJohn

Tried out two of these at the local store looking for a first guitar for my son. Both sounded pretty good for the price point, but both had problems with the neck and really terrible frets. Terrible like not safe for children or unsuspecting adults – they both had sharp edges sticking out the whole length of the neck. Between that, some minor string buzz, a crazy high 9th fret on one, and iffy intonation on the other, it just didn't seem worth getting either of them. What's the point of getting a low priced guitar if you have to spend $100+ getting it worked over to make it playable? I suspect that the neck binding makes it difficult for the factory to really get the frets properly dressed and still pass cosmetic inspection. It may be I just had the bad luck to find the two worst examples of this model in the same store, but I suggest you move up notch in price range and you will be happier with what you get.triple.ratrider

I bought this guitar about 7 years ago and haven't played anything that I like better. It tunes easy, plays good with very low strings, and holds tune for weeks. I play the crap out of it and rarely have to tune it with Elixir strings. I play two or three gigs a month and have only had trouble with the DSP electronics. They are great when it comes to features, but they shot themselves in the foot when they converted the 9 volt system to two AAs. They last about 6 hours and crap out (Energizer, Duracell, rechargeable, doesn't matter). Also, when using a Boss pedal tuner in line, the pedal tuner has trouble picking up the output and refuses to ever pick up the drop D tuning on the low E string. May be the guitar, may be the tuner. I also have the matching JJ signature 12 string that is an exact copy of the 6 string. I love this guitar as well. If you order it, don't order the DSP. You'll love the guitar, but hate the electronics.4x4Dually

I'm an average guitarist with a pleasing quiver of guitars that always seem to interest guitarists much better than myself. This Takamine is no exception. I love the thing. It just rings. I got it like 15 years ago through a friend who had a Takamine connection. Ridiculous discount. To this day, my guitarist friends drool over it. Anyway, this is a beautiful instrument.GemTones

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

I play locally for hire as a solo acoustic guitar / vocalist. My primary guitar is a Martin GPCP Aura. I purchased the Martin SC 13E in hopes of finding a guitar with better action and playability. My first reaction to the 13E was really nice and it did play with less effort / strength than my GPCP. The first issue I noticed was string buzz on the 1st and 2nd strings. It wasn't awful but noticeable. I played the guitar that weekend at two shows. I was still noticing the buzz. So, I started the set-up investigation. The neck relief, the slight bow forward that a guitar neck needs, looked really good, maybe could use a bit more to help with the string buzz. This is an easy truss rod adjustment; however, I didn't change the truss rod setting. The next thing I looked at was the distance of the string height, above the 12th fret. My thought was I would try to lower this slightly if I decided to keep the guitar. The next weekend I got the guitar out at home before getting ready for my show that evening, to run through a new song I was planning to do at hat nights show. I took the SC13E out of the bag and the 1st and 2nd strings were touching the guitar at the 20th fret. I thought the saddle had somehow pushed down lower into the bridge…. I exchanged that guitar for another SC1E. GC person was easy to work with and got the exchange handled quickly. About 3-4 days I had my second SC13E in my hands. It also had the same string buzz, even though the neck relief and action looked good. I played a couple of shows with this guitar and then I started noticing the buzz getting worse. If you are still reading, the reward is at hand. lol I have decided that the problem with this guitar, and probably the other guitar, is the neck angle is off. I will explain why I think it is off and explain how you can check your guitar. I have watched hundreds of youtube videos trying to learn how to set-up and care for my instruments. I have watched neck adjustment videos put out by fender, for their strat guitars, because I wanted to know how to adjust my Acoustasonic Strat. But what I am getting ready to sell you, I have discovered on my own and may not be accurate, but here it goes. If I put a capo, or hold the strings down with my hand. on the 12th fret, there is a space between the strings and the frets above the 12th fret. A pretty wide gap at the 20th fret. On the SC13E the strings are almost touching and the 1st string is touching. Wa La I believe that neck angle is off. I think it was off on both guitars. So check yours before missing your return date. If you check your guitar and it has this problem, don't totally freak out. The SC13E has an adjustable neck angle, so it can be made perfect. If you find what I described above, I suggest contacting Martin Guitar and GC. Another thing to be aware of, the three Martin guitars I have owned had the nut groves cut too narrow. I took my GPCP to an excellent luthier. He filed the width and depth to correct specifications and filed down my frets (I had two that where high) Both of the SC13E guitars needed to have the nuts filed. If you are trying to tune your guitar by making a very slight turn to get it just right and the string doesn't increase pitch and then jumps to a sharp pitch, the string is probably pinching in the nut grove. Both SC13E's were boogers to tune for that reason. One of them broke the B string while tuning up from dropping the pitch. I am returning my second SC13E tomorrow and I think I am going to give it a rest for awhile. Maybe look for something different. FYI: I love my Martin GPCP Aura, unfortunately they discontinued that model. The sound I get from the Fishman Aura electronics is the best I have heard. PS: part of the reason the SC13E plays easier is they use a lighter gauge string. I put a set of the MA535T Martin Lifespan strings on mt GPCP and even with the truss rod loose, the strings don't pull on the neck hard enough to give me the neck relief that is needed. The SC13E is a beautiful guitar to look at and the electronics onboard sound very nice. I learned, I'm not a big fan of having the controls inside the sound hole. A little awkward to get to while strumming and the phase reverse switch is way back from the opening. If you like using the hole covers to fight feedback, I'm pretty sure you would be out of luck. I think this price range of acoustic guitar should come with a hard case. I gave this guitar a 2 rating because it has potential BUT i do think both of these guitars suffered from poor quality control. My luthier could have made both of these guitars sing beautifully but I refuse to buy a new guitar and send it for repairs, even if the repairs are set-up issues. A new guitar on the north side of a thousand dollars should show up playing without string buzzing and the strings close enough to the neck that you hand doesn't feel like you just hung from the monkey bars during an entire recess.Dale

This is a beautiful instrument with a stunning full acoustic sound despite the deep cut away and relatively small body size. The amazing design allows for unlimited access to the upper frets and the whole instrument feels very comfortable to play. I wanted an acoustic guitar with the accessibility of an electric and this new design from C.F.Martin delivers that in droves without ever loosing it's acoustic personality and sound. I own a super jumbo acoustic made by another company but the SC13e makes it sound dull and lifeless even before it is plugged in. The SC13e has that familiar Martin sound which is full and beautiful. The fishman pickup will then allow that sound to be delivered to anywhere from a gig in a noisy pub to full stadium if required. What a stunning instrument!Reviewed by Kenny's Music custom

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

I really liked this little guitar, BUT…I read the reviews and decided to buy in-store so I could play the guitar before buying, and I'm SO glad I did. I went into my local Guitar Center and played THREE of these Martin LX1E guitars, including one that had been specially unboxed so I could try it after two others failed my examination. All three guitars had a very pronounced buzz in the frets. It was not that noticeable when I played them acoustically, but the buzz was very noticeable when I plugged them in to an amp. I even tested the amp with other guitars, to make sure it wasn't the amp. It wasn't. Its a great little guitar, great tone and very playable, BUT my advice would be not to buy this one on-line. Play it first. Play up and down the whole fretboard, and plug it into an amplifier and play again. I have been playing for more than fifty years and have never experienced playing three brand new Martins that were simply not up to snuff. Weird!Tele Playr

The guitar itself can have five stars. Nothing wrong with it. The problem I have is that it is not the old LX1E lefty that Martin used to make and I used to own. It is advertised incorrectly here as containing the Fishman I-sys electronics that contained a volume, base/treble controls and a phasing button for feedback. It also no longer contains the tuner. This is basically the LX1 Little Martin with a Sonitone pickup under the bridge and tone/volume control in the sound hole, which I despise. I prefer the old version where the tuner and controls were on top side (as shown in the picture variety). This needs to be updated!!! I now have no tuner on this guitar when I fully expected one. I would recommend the Little Martin guitar but it needs to be advertised correctly.Jules

I bought this guitar for my son so he can have a smaller guitar to lug around in school. We were surprised when we received the product that the pickup that was installed is a Sonitone pickup instead of what's advertised – an Isys T preamp. The Isys preamp has a tuner, phase and tone control whereas the Sonitone is built into the sound hole and only has the volume and tone control. I brought this up with customer support saying I only wanted the product that I thought we were buying. I received excuses and a repeated offer to return the guitar. We chose to keep it because we need it and like the Martin sound. However MF does not stand up to what they advertise and could not provide a reasonable explanation why the product was switched. Even as I write this review, the description still says it has the Isys pickup. Good luck to future buyers and know that you are buying a different product.Pasigenyo

If you are looking for a high quality acoustic/electric guitar that is affordable this is your guitar. Amazingly clean / crisp natural sound with available onboard effects. Quality pickups,very responsive. Not to mention absolutely beautiful. Big thumbs UP!!!!Mike

When I'm sitting at home, my go to guitar is my Martin 000-28. If that guitar is not in my hands then I have my gn75ce in my lap. This guitar was playable and set up well right out of the box. Good enough that it's not worth the money to take to luthier to have it dialed in. I don't use the electronics on this guitar so I can't comment on that. As far as everything else , this is a well-constructed durable mid-range priced guitar. I'm quite pleased that I purchased it. it makes a wonderful addition my collection. It's a beautiful looking axe. I would highly recommend this guitar to anybody just starting to learn how to play or somebody wanting to add to their collection without spending thousands of dollars.Matthew Topp

Second Red Takamine. Had the first one over twenty years. I play simi pro and it never let me down. This one feels just the same, great color, tuners, neck and sound. You can't go wrong if you are playing out in public. Great price from AMC as always.F. Crothers

For the money, I couldn't find a better acoustic guitar (A new one anyways). I've owned many high end Martins, but I wanted something that was easy to travel with and I wouldn't worry about if it got scratched/dented. Out of the box the action and intonation were very close to perfect. I adjusted the truss rod myself to fit my playing preference, and the intonation was so close I doubt anyone will notice when playing further up the neck. The building materials are not great, but once again, "for the money"… My only con is they don't have a hard shell case for this particular model. The included soft shell case is still convenient, but I kind of wish they'd make a HSC like they did for the dreadnaught model.Garrett G.

This guitar is good for the money. Neck straight. All workmanship is precise. Light and not overly heavy from clear coat gunk. Neck is short but wide. Strings that came on it went in trash in 5 min. Use Lixrs on these small guitars. Nuff said…Not too small like Martin mini where you fight it not to be a uke and it really is. Quality is near perfect. Case is the good one like the minis. Doesnt feel like a GS mini which feels too small. This guitar feels good but smaller that normal. Set up fine out of box (which is more than I can say for the USA models). Ready to play. I will prob change out stock pickup for DTar syemour duncan wavelength solo later. Not that the stock pickup is bad; just like seymour better for acoustic under saddle "non-quack" pickup. If you know how to use an eq then dnot need that extra tone button anyway, plus fihsman is kind of not great stuff. After about 10yrs needed something better. Buy one before Martin decides not to make them anymore…Kokbloock

There is truly nothing I can say negative about this guitar. Sounds great, looks great, feels great. I've owned and collected many guitars, some with a price point much more than this, and I am very please and surprised to say that this guitar is on par if not even slightly BETTER than some of the more expensive guitars I own! If you're thinking about getting this guitar, DO IT! You won't be disappointed! ….the only thing I would change about this product is that I wish it came with a hardshell case. I did end up ordering a Martin 345 Dreadnought Hardshell Guitar Case and it fits like a glove. The soft case it comes with is just ok.Vanessa

I bought this guitar a few weeks ago and I am in love. I was actually looking to buy a D-16 or a Gibson J-45 and found this hanging up on the wall in my store. Took this down and loved the sound as soon as I strummed it. It has that beautiful rosewood tone and the deep sound of a full size dreadnought. Since this guitar is exclusive to Guitar Center, and it's family brands it is not featured on the Martin website (i was skeptical about this at first). But I can personally say that it is just as good if not better than any of the standard Martins and the specs don't lie. Also it is manufactured in the U.S.A in Nazareth, PA. I highly recommend you try this guitar if you are able to.Michael

This is my 4th Martin Dreadnought. I have had a Custom D (Mu Friend Martin), a D-28, a D-16 Adirondack, and this one. They have all been great but there was always something missing. For example, the D-28 was a joy to play and sounded great but lacked deep end rumble and punch. (I have since come to appreciate that is part of the appeal to many, and a product mostly of the bracing). The D-16 Adirondack had plenty of low end rumble, and it was stunning to look at, but for some reason it seemed to lack mid-range punchiness, and the high notes were kind of meh. I gave my Custom D to my son to take to college and was without any Martin Dread. I was playing just a Gibson J-45 which is a dream to me, but it also lacks mid-range punchiness and I was convinced it would get lost in a bluegrass jam circle setting. Then I discovered this rosewood Martin, which to me looks like a D-28 but with HD-28 style bracing. I suspected that it would deliver the what was missing from all my other Martins, and it has totally confirmed by suspicions. It's a joy to play, and it is beautiful to look at. The rosewood is so dark and stunning that you don't even really notice that it has a Satin finish. It delivers the low end rumble, in a somewhat more refined way than the Adirondack. The mid-range and high notes are all stunning. There is a bell like quality to anything played on the b and high e strings. The fretwork is flawless. Every guitar I have ever owned has had a least one place on the fretboard that I haven't really liked. I can't find it on this guitar. It just seems like a really well conceived and executed guitar from Martin, and you can't beat the price.Penalty Box

I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now, and I have owned several great guitars. I generally prefer Martin guitars (an HD-28 vintage series is my current "favorite" guitar), but I also have plenty of experience with Taylor, Takamine, Larrivee… guitars. I was recently in the market for a good guitar that wasn't too terribly expensive so that when I left it on stage, or allowed others to borrow it on stage I wouldn't worry about it like I do with my Martin. I've always wanted a Gibson, but in the past I've always found their sound lacking, and because of that I always purchased different guitars (often Martin or Taylor). Long story short, after playing a lot of Gibson, Martin and Taylor guitars at my local music store, this is the one I came home with and I couldn't be happier. This guitar is incredibly versatile! I play primarily country, southern gospel, contemporary christian, and a little bluegrass, but no matter what I use this guitar for it never disappoints me. Compared to my HD-28 I would say the J15 is more balanced, but it still provides plenty of bass for rhythm, and a very warm sound overall. The J15 is not as responsive as my HD-28, but every guitar is different, and this one definitely has its place. My only complaint is with tuning. When I initially bought this guitar it was VERY hard to get tuned, and it wouldn't stay in tune well at all. After a few months of playing this guitar, it now stays in tune very well once you get it dialed in, but I still find it harder to tune than other quality guitars that I have owned in the past. I may change out the tuners down the road, but they do work which is why I didn't deduct for this… It just takes a little more time to tune than normal which is a bit annoying when you are on stage. Nonetheless this is a GREAT guitar! This guitar has become my go-to, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. If you are looking for a great guitar under $2500… this is it! Well done Gibson.Slim Jim

Bought mine in October '14, play her every day. I had about $1500 to spend on a new acoustic, and the J15 was by far the most guitar at this price point. Plus, I wanted a short scale with a wider and fatter fingerboard/neck. Plusses: Plays like a dream, intonation spot on, booming bass, beautiful woods and finish. Love the round shoulder body. Minuses: Sounded tinny at first, especially compared to a comparable Martin. However, in 2 1/2 years and lots of playing, the woods have mellowed and the tone is rich and balanced, not to mention LOUD! I replaced the cheapo plastic bridge pins with Tusq pins and noticed a difference in tone right away. I don't like piezo pickups in general, and the Baggs Element pu had lower output from both the E strings. Replaced it with a Baggs Lyric mic pu. The mini Grovers work fine, but I had a set of full size 18:1 Rotomatics, so I put them on.blargo49

Have owned this guitar for over 9 months. Extremely pleased with this guitar! Mine had no cosmetic issues. In fact it's beautiful. As far as the smell of the wood and lacquer, love it. I played this guitar before I purchased it so no surprises. I have average sized hands with thick fingers. The neck is very smooth and easy to play. The sound is full and articulate. I have played this guitar live every week since I have purchased it. Nothing but compliments on the sound and tone of this guitar. Highly recommend. Great guitar for the money. Pick guards and etched truss rod covers make absolutely no difference to me. How it plays and sounds does. Good job Gibson.Brad

This is another addition to my earlier post I still like the guitar as I mentioned before but when I just now went to record using the pickup system I was not pleased. At least to my ears it sounds like a very low end piezo under the bridge like the earliest kinds in the 80's buzzy and thick lacking in any of the subtle sounds I get playing it acoustically.Petros

This case is great! The quality is really good, super protective, deep front pocket fits everything youd need and more! Really happy with it. Straps are comfortable, zipper seems super sturdy and looks like it will last a while!stratant1

Up front I like brighter sounding acoustics (and electrics) and this model Martin was a real revelation. It feels like an electric neck to me so easy to play and the workmanship is outstanding. I was a little thrown by the bolt in neck but I get it now, it allows for owner adjustments (though I would still take it to a luthier) but what floored me was how singing this guitar is all the way up, even chords up at the 12+ frets sound full and loud. This is a pretty darn loud guitar. It has a nice deep penetrating low end but not a fat low end like a more traditional expensive Martins it has bite but a very appealing musical bite. (Think P90 as opposed to Humbuckers) (I'm speaking only played acoustic have not plugged it in yet) again I like it because it sings with a great sustain but not too much low end which can be difficult to record and sing against. Notes just seem to push tone out I was able to push this guitar until it seemed like the strings were rubber bands but it never quit it just kept the tone clear and ringing. Love the design of the bouts feels great to have on your lap. It sounded great flat picked finger picked nail picked strummed hammered pulled nothing did not sound excellent to my ears. I also tried a Taylor 214 CE K which I thought sounded great on videos but wow it sounded choked in many ways and chords that barked out and shouted on the Martin sounded muffled and pretty weak on the Taylor. That's when I decided this Martin was it. (In some ways this guitar sounds like a 12 string because of the bell like clarity and definition just what I was looking for).Petros

I play for Personal pleasure and sometimes jam with friends. But he epiphone dove pro is amazingly versatile and is a solid guitar for many modes of use whether its recording, jamming, performing etc. The sound is strong, it stays in tune and the design is beautiful! The only con I would convey is that the electric control knob is tucked on the underside of the resonating chamber making it hard to access. Other than this minor inconvenience the guitar is top in its class for the price you pay. This guitar sells on the low end but plays and looks like you paid a thousand bucks for it! I would highly recommend it!C.J.

White, shiny, smooth…and did I mention white? It's so beautiful I hardly ever play it but when I do it plays well. Wish I'd asked for one in the box though. I bought the display one and missed out on the box candy, like the big Epiphone poster. Now I am sad.Terry

I am somewhat of an "American Made" brat when it comes to buying guitars and never really found an Epiphone that felt good to play untilI I picked up this Dove. It was properly set up with very low action, no fret buzz, and a comfortable neck. I was surprised how well it played although I do find the voicing to be a bit dull compared to my Taylors or Martin. On the other hand when I plugged it in, I heard a whole new rich sound coming out and knew the Dove was a keeper. I wanted a guitar that I wouldn't worry about beating up traveling, could properly amp, and sounded good without a big price tag attached to it. I think you are getting more than the price tag indicates, but maybe I just got lucky with this one! I'd like to see Epiphone start sending guitars home with their owners minimally with a gig bag or lower the amount of the hard case that can be purchased separately. Overall, I am happy with my purchase and would recommend this guitar.Dove Pro8

It's a beautiful guitar that has a wonderful, rich tone. Right out of the box, it required no setup, just tuning. Love the Fishman electronics as well. It sounds great in any setting. I'd put it up against Mid-level Martins and Taylors all day long. In short, a great guitar at an affordable price.gman1967

I've been playing guitar for 12 years and this is definitely the most rich, beautiful sounding guitar I've played in a long time. Not to mention it's equally as beautiful on the outside, I mean look at it. I was hesitant to buy it because it only had a few reviews on multiple different sights and about 1/3 of those were negative, but I have no regrets. If you're thinking about buying this, just do it! Definitely the best guitar I've ever purchased.Shawn shawn

I’ve been playing a Taylor 310 for 25 years and was looking for something smaller and lighter to transport. Having read a lot of reviews and listened to the videos I thought I would try the GS Mini Koa and see what all the fuzz was about. This guitar sounds amazing! The Koa gives it a depth AND sparkle that you don’t expect from a small guitar. I keep asking myself does it lack depth compared to my dreadnought, technically it does but actually I don’t miss it because the sound is so full. The volume too is quite exceptional, I tend to strum a lot with a pick and don’t mind digging in hard….. this guitar just sings under those circumstances. It get’s louder and louder without noticeably going out of tune. At the other end there is such clarity and sustain that quiet finger picking also sounds great. You can easily hear a single note melody within a chord. Are there any downsides? Well if you have big hands then the reduced neck length may feel too cramped…. For me this is actually more comfortable than a full size neck but you wouldn’t want it any smaller. In summary I’m blown away, just amazing.David

Wow… what a stunner! Opening the case for the first time was quite an experience. This is a seriously beautiful guitar with beautiful craftsmanship. As a beginner with small hands (even for a lady) I have found acoustic guitars in the past to be very uncomfortable to play, the size of the body, the width of the neck, the high action, and after struggling with a Lorenzo Flame Series for the past year I decided enough was enough, electrics aren't almost impossible to play so why should I have to struggle with acoustic? I did some research and everything was pointing me towards the Taylor GS Mini-E series. Holding this guitar in my hands for the first time felt like a revelation. It felt like Taylor had made a guitar specifically for me – wearing a strap the body fits easily under my arm and my fingers just know exactly where they're meant to go. The sound of the guitar is rich and vibrant with a bright top tone – quite a feat in a parlour size guitar. After watching reviews it seems that this is due to the Koa body. The guitar also comes with soft, well-padded case that feels like it'll protect well from bumps and bruises whilst travelling. It has some nice shoulder straps so it feels like you're wearing a large (but light!) backpack. The best thing about this guitar though is that it's such a joy to hold and play that I can't put it down; my playing ability has increased so much in the past few weeks since buying it. As a beginner I absolutely recommend this guitar as an introduction to acoustic guitars. If you're a beginner and you've been playing an electric for while but want to get into playing acoustic, try out a Taylor GS Mini-e – it might be the one for you.Laura K.

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 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