Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone J45 is an all-solid wood acoustic guitar that aims to deliver a vintage vibe and classic Gibson sound at an affordable price. With its square-shoulder dreadnought body shape and traditional appearance, this Epiphone model echoes the legendary Gibson J-45 round-shoulder dreadnought that became an acoustic icon in the 1960s.

While the Epiphone J45 may lack some of the fancy appointments and collectability of a vintage Gibson, it brings many of the same desirable qualities - an all-solid wood body with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, a slim mahogany neck for comfort, and a tone that promises warm, balanced sound. This is an attractive, well-built acoustic that seems ideal for a wide range of playing styles and genres.

Appearance

The Epiphone AJ-220S has a traditional dreadnought body shape with a vintage sunburst finish. This is a classically styled acoustic guitar, featuring a solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides.

The aged vintage sunburst finish gives the guitar a worn, vintage look. It has an all-mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. There are 20 medium frets and dot inlays on the fingerboard.

Overall the AJ-220S has a very traditional and appealing dreadnought aesthetic. The combination of the spruce and mahogany woods along with the vintage sunburst finish results in a handsome, vintage-inspired acoustic guitar.

Another popular acoustic guitar with a similar traditional dreadnought design is the Fender CC-60S. This all-mahogany acoustic guitar features a solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing for optimal resonance and sustain. It has a smooth natural finish that accentuates the wood grain patterns.

The Fender CC-60S dreadnought body produces a balanced, warm tone with plenty of bass, midrange punch and clear treble notes. The body shape allows for comfortable playing whether seated or standing. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate intricate fingerstyle techniques.

With its traditional dreadnought silhouette, the Fender CC-60S delivers an authentic acoustic guitar experience. The all-mahogany construction provides a lush, mellow tone. The smooth natural finish allows the wood's inherent beauty to shine through. Overall, the CC-60S offers great playability, sound and aesthetics at an affordable price point.

While the Epiphone AJ-220S and Fender CC-60S have their own unique specifications and features, they share a common traditional dreadnought acoustic guitar shape. This timeless design offers comfortable ergonomics, balanced tone and plenty of projection. For guitarists seeking a classic, resonant acoustic, the dreadnought body style is a perfect choice.

Tonewood that Produces a Warm, Balanced Tone

The Epiphone AJ-220S features select tonewoods that provide excellent sound quality for a guitar in this price range. The top is made from laminated spruce, which is a common and reliable choice known for its balanced tone. Spruce provides a nice dynamic range, responding well to both soft and hard playing.

The back and sides are constructed from mahogany, which adds warmth and sweetness to the overall tone. Mahogany is a popular choice for acoustic guitars, offering a well-rounded sound across the tonal spectrum. The combination of spruce and mahogany produces a guitar with nice harmonic complexity that handles various styles of playing.

While the tonewoods may not be as premium as more expensive models, the AJ-220S upholds Epiphone's commitment to providing quality materials and construction. The strategic use of spruce and mahogany makes this an intermediate-level guitar that sounds better than its affordable price tag may suggest. When looking for an acoustic guitar that provides great value, the Epiphone AJ-220S is an excellent option to consider. The all-mahogany body produces a warm, balanced tone that belies its budget-friendly price point.

For those seeking a quality acoustic guitar without breaking the bank, check out the Fender 970331322. This dreadnought guitar features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The combination provides excellent resonance and sustain. The slim neck profile with smooth satin finish makes playing for long periods comfortable. While it lacks some bells and whistles of more expensive models, the Fender 970331322 delivers impressive sound and playability.

When evaluating acoustic guitars, the tonewoods used are one of the most important factors. Spruce is a common choice for the top wood thanks to its balanced and dynamic tone. For the back and sides, mahogany adds warmth and sweetness. Together, these two woods produce nice complexity across the tonal range. Laminated woods may not sound quite as rich as solid woods, but can still deliver quality sound in more affordable instruments like the Epiphone AJ-220S.

While Epiphone uses these select tonewoods to offer good value, other brands like Fender also leverage quality materials in their budget-friendly models. The all-mahogany body of the Fender 970331322 helps it punch above its weight class in terms of rich sound. For intermediate players or those looking for their first serious acoustic, the AJ-220S and 970331322 represent accessible options with impressive musicality.

Hardware

The Epiphone J-45 features quality hardware that enables it to produce a balanced tone. The guitar has vintage-style open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs that provide smooth and accurate tuning. These tuners are very reliable and hold the strings in tune well.

The bridge is made of rosewood, which is a warm-sounding tonewood that adds resonance. Rosewood is a popular bridge material on acoustic guitars as it transfers string vibrations efficiently into the top. The material also holds up well over time.

Overall, the hardware components on the J-45 are thoughtfully chosen to complement the guitar's design and tonal character. The tuners and bridge work together to maximize the guitar's potential for balanced tone and singing sustain.

Neck

The Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3 has a SlimTaper "D" profile mahogany neck with a smooth satin finish. This classic shaped neck has a 25.5" scale length with a nut width of 1.68", providing comfortable playability throughout the fretboard. The slim profile and shorter scale length help make extended chords and complex fingerings obtainable up and down the neck. Despite its vintage-inspired design, the neck contour and dimensions create an inviting playing feel that works well for modern fingerstyle techniques too. Whether you have small hands or prefer a slimmer, vintage-style neck, the J45's smoothly finished mahogany neck offers a very playable feel.

Playability

The Epiphone AJ-220S features a slim taper mahogany neck with a 24.75" scale length and 12" radius rosewood fretboard that is very comfortable to hold and easy to play. The action out of the box is set up nicely for strumming chords and soloing, with the strings sitting close to the fretboard without too much buzz.

The nut width is a comfortable 1 21/32", allowing smooth transitions between chord shapes. The neck has a very playable rounded "C" profile that feels great in the hand. It's not overly chunky but still substantial enough for solid grip and control.

The fretwork from the factory is impressively clean and smooth. Bends, slides, and hammer-ons come easy on this guitar thanks to the perfectly dressed medium-jumbo frets. Intonation across the fretboard is accurate and reliable.

Sound

The Epiphone AJ-220S produces a balanced, well-rounded tone that works nicely for a variety of musical genres. The combination of the solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides gives this guitar a bright, crisp treble with pleasantly warm low end.

The guitar projects very well, with enough volume to hold its own in a jam session or open mic night. Single notes and chords ring out with good sustain. The tone stays balanced across the fretboard, thanks in part to the nicely finished frets that give clear note definition.

Strummed rhythm parts have nice punch and clarity. Fingerpicking brings out the spruce top's clear, airy voice. The mahogany adds pleasing low-mid warmth that fills out the guitar's voice. Overall, the AJ-220S offers very nice tone for a guitar in this price range. The woods are well-matched to give a balanced sound profile suitable for playing folk, rock, country, blues, and more.

Electronics

The Epiphone J-45 features Epiphone's eSonic2 preamp system, which utilizes a built-in undersaddle piezo pickup and a Shadow NanoFlex preamp. This pickup setup allows you to plug the J-45 directly into an amp or PA system for amplified acoustic guitar performances.

The undersaddle piezo pickup captures the guitar's natural acoustic tone by sensing vibrations directly from the bridge. This creates an organic amplified tone without using internal microphones. The Shadow preamp provides volume and tone shaping controls with integrated Chromatic LED Tuner. There's also a phase switch to prevent feedback at high volumes.

The preamp has a built-in tuner, so you can quickly tune up on stage. The simple volume and tone controls give you versatility when plugging into different systems. The undersaddle pickup avoids problems like feedback and uneven tone that can happen with internal mics. Overall, the electronics offer a plug-and-play amplified acoustic experience perfect for gigging.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic jumbo body shape provides full and robust tone
• All-mahogany construction creates a warm, balanced sound
• Smooth satin neck finish offers great playability
• Equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics for natural amplification
• Gorgeous vintage sunburst finish looks classic and stylish

Cons

• Lacks cutaway for upper fret access
• Only comes with gig bag, not a hardshell case
  -Electronics can feedback at higher volumes
• Midrange tones can overpower treble notes

The Epiphone J-45 Studio provides fantastic value in a full-size dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar. With its all-mahogany build, vintage sunburst finish, and Fishman Sonitone electronics, this guitar delivers classic dreadnought tone and playability at an affordable price point. While it lacks a cutaway and hardshell case, overall the J-45 Studio's warm sound and smooth playability make it an excellent choice for players looking for an traditional acoustic with stage-ready features.

Verdict

The Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3 is an excellent value, offering many of the qualities of the classic Gibson J-45 at a budget price point. Those looking for a well-built acoustic that delivers warm, balanced tone with good projection will find a lot to like in the J45.

The all-solid tonewoods help this Epiphone achieve rich, nuanced sound that belies its affordable cost. With a comfortable neck, quality hardware, and detailed appointments, it feels like a premium instrument. The electronics add useful versatility for amplified performance or recording.

In the final summary, the Epiphone J45 EA22VSNH3 punches well above its weight given the reasonable price tag. For players wanting classic Gibson J-45 tone and aesthetics without breaking the bank, the Epiphone J45 is a superb choice that won't disappoint. It's an easy recommendation for anyone looking for an excellent quality, nice sounding dreadnought acoustic guitar.