Epiphone ENJRVSCH1 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone Special II is an affordable, entry-level electric guitar that delivers classic rock tone and playability without breaking the bank. Part of Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson collection, the Special II model pays homage to Gibson's famous double cutaway design while keeping costs low.

This no-frills guitar features a poplar body paired with a maple neck for bright, balanced tone. The Special II comes loaded with dual humbucker pickups that can deliver everything from glassy cleans to overdriven crunch. Hardware includes tuners, a tune-o-matic bridge, and a stopbar tailpiece for solid tuning stability and resonance.

While not a high-end instrument, the Epiphone Special II punches above its weight class, offering beginners and budget-minded players solid construction and versatile tone in an easy-to-play package. Its classic styling and comfortable feel make it a great choice as a first guitar or spare axe.

Body & Neck

The Epiphone Special II has a classic double cutaway body shape made from solid wood. The specific wood isn't specified, but Epiphone generally uses mahogany, alder or basswood for their more affordable models.

The neck is also crafted from mahogany, which provides stability and sustain. It has a 25.5 inch scale length with a rosewood fingerboard featuring dot inlays. The rosewood feels smooth and comfortable under your fingers while bending notes.

The neck joint uses Epiphone's proven bolt-on construction for solid union between the neck and body. It allows easy access to the higher frets. The slim taper neck profile makes chording and fretting easy for smaller hands.

Overall, the guitar's solid wood body and bolt-on mahogany neck give it a balanced feel and robust tone. The rosewood fingerboard offers smooth playability. The Epiphone Special II is a great choice for beginners looking for an affordable, quality electric guitar. With its classic double cutaway design, solid wood body, and smooth rosewood fretboard, it hits all the right notes.

For guitarists needing an even more portable option, check out the Traveler Guitar ULN MHSBW. This unique electric guitar has a full 25.5" scale yet can fold down to just over 2 feet in length. It provides the comfortable playing feel of a full-size guitar but packs down small enough to fit into a backpack or overhead bin on an airplane.

The ULN MHSBW's body is made from solid mahogany for warm, balanced tone. The removable maple neck attaches solidly using a unique locking mechanism. It has a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays for smooth playability. The dual humbucker pickups and full electronics provide versatile tones from rock to metal and blues.

For guitarists frequently on the move, the portable design and packable size of the Traveler Guitar ULN MHSBW make it an excellent choice. It provides the comfortable playing experience of a full-scale guitar without sacrificing portability. The warm mahogany body and smooth rosewood fingerboard deliver great tone and feel. When you need to hit the road with your guitar, check out the innovative Traveler ULN MHSBW.

Electronics

The Epiphone Special II features Epiphone's 700T humbucker pickups, which provide a warm but crisp tone. The guitar has a coil splitter or "killpot" control that allows you to switch between humbucking and single coil modes, providing tonal versatility.

The guitar has two volume controls (one for each pickup) and two tone controls (one for each pickup), allowing you to dial in your tone precisely. The volume controls use traditional knobs, while the tone controls use smaller "amp" style knobs.

The electronics in the Special II are designed to offer a great classic rock and blues tone. The 700T humbuckers have an alnico V magnet at their core, providing dynamics and responsiveness. The coil split function lets you get glassy single coil tones when desired. Overall, the electronics suite allows beginners to get excellent tones without complexity.

For those looking for a more modern and aggressive tone, check out the Hadean EA-100 NA. This guitar features dual Hadean humbucking pickups that provide high output while retaining note clarity and definition. The pickups use ceramic magnets, which give a tight and focused sound perfect for metal and hard rock. There's also a 5-way pickup selector switch, allowing you to get tones from thick humbucking to glassy single coil sounds.

The Hadean EA-100 NA has an active preamp powered by a 9V battery. This preamp boosts and shapes the signal, giving you more tonal control compared to passive electronics. There are knobs for volume, bass, midrange, treble, and gain. With the active preamp you can really dial in your ideal tone, from scooped out metal sounds to mid-heavy rock tones. It's a versatile set of electronics well suited for hard rock, metal, grunge, and aggressive styles of playing.

Hardware

The Epiphone Special II features quality hardware that enables smooth, reliable tuning and sustain. It has a Tune-o-matic bridge with a Stopbar tailpiece to provide solid intonation and resonance. The Tune-o-matic's adjustable saddles allow precise control over string height and length to optimize playability.

The tailpiece couples the strings to the body, allowing them to vibrate freely. The combination of the Tune-o-matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece creates a fulcrum that maximizes string tension and vibration.

Another key component is the guitar's die-cast tuning machines. These are durable tuning pegs that keep the guitar in tune, even during dynamic playing. The precise gear ratio provides fine tuning adjustability while the die-cast metal construction prevents looseness. Overall, the hardware allows quick tuning, reduced string slippage, and great stability even with heavy use.

Sound & Playability

The Epiphone Special II delivers a warm, bluesy tone thanks to its two open-coil humbucking pickups. The neck pickup produces a smooth, rounded sound that's great for jazz and blues. The bridge pickup has more bite for rock riffs and solos.

The slim taper neck has a comfortable 1960s SlimTaper D profile that makes it easy to play fast riffs up and down the fretboard. The 12" fingerboard radius and medium jumbo frets also make string bending smooth and effortless. Despite its budget-friendly price, this guitar feels fast and playable right out of the box.

The Special II excels at classic rock, blues, and jazz tones. From warm neck pickup jazz lines to growling bridge pickup rock solos, this guitar covers a wide range of genres. The bolt-on construction provides good sustain and resonance. Overall, the Special II punches above its weight with impressive playability and versatile humbucker tones.

Pros

The Epiphone Special II Electric Guitar offers a lot of value considering its affordable price point. This classic, Les Paul-inspired electric guitar doesn't cut corners when it comes to quality and playability.

• Affordable Price Point: At around $150, the Epiphone Special II is an excellent choice for beginners and budget-conscious guitarists. You'd be hard pressed to find another solid, playable electric guitar at this low price point.

• Classic Les Paul-Inspired Design: The Epiphone Special II features the iconic single cutaway Les Paul body shape with a sleek gloss finish. It looks fantastic and gives players that classic rock guitar vibe.

• Quality Materials for Price Range: Despite the low cost, Epiphone didn't skimp on materials. The Special II has a solid okoume body, smooth laurel fingerboard, and a bolt-on maple neck. These quality components allow the guitar to play well beyond its price tag.

The Epiphone Special II manages to pack a lot of value into an inexpensive electric guitar. The classic design, playability, and quality materials make this Les Paul-style axe a great choice for newbies and budget-conscious players.

Cons

The Epiphone Special II has a few potential drawbacks to consider:

• Tuning stability could be better - This is a budget guitar, so it may require more frequent tuning adjustments compared to a more high-end instrument. The hardware and nut aren't the highest quality, which can lead to the guitar going out of tune more easily. Plan to tune before each practice session or gig.

• Pickups may need upgrading for some players - The stock pickups are decent for the price, but discerning players may find them a bit muddy or somewhat lacking in dynamic range, especially the bridge pickup. Upgrading to better aftermarket pickups like Seymour Duncans or EMG's can coax a wider range of tones from the guitar.

• May require a professional setup - Due to mass production, the factory setup on the Special II may have high action or slight intonation problems. Paying for a pro setup with properly cut nut and adjusted neck relief can improve playability.

• Lacks premium materials & craftsmanship - This is an entry-level import guitar, so it lacks the premium tonewoods, hardware, electronics and hand-built craftsmanship of pricier guitars. The fit & finish may not be perfect. Serious players may eventually want to upgrade.

• Not as versatile as some guitars - With its fixed bridge and single volume & tone knobs, the Special II offers a somewhat limited range of tones compared to guitars with tremolo bridges and more advanced wiring. Players desiring maximum versatility may want more switching options.

Who It's For

The Epiphone Special II electric guitar is an excellent choice for beginning and intermediate guitarists, especially those on a budget. This is a very affordable guitar, usually priced under $200, making it ideal for players who are just starting out and not looking to spend a lot.

The Special II is tailored towards blues and rock musicians. It has a classic double cutaway design reminiscent of guitars played by legends like Eric Clapton and B.B. King. The dual humbucker pickups provide a thicker, warmer tone that's perfect for blues, rock, and classic rock.

While not suitable for advanced players, the Epiphone Special II will serve new guitarists well. The playability is very good right out of the box, with a fast neck and low action. Beginners will find this guitar easy to play while they learn. The tone is also impressive for an entry-level instrument.

Intermediate players can benefit from the Special II as a solid backup guitar. The classic styling looks great on stage. It can also cover the blues-rock sound for certain songs without needing to bring a more expensive guitar. Overall, it hits the sweet spot for newbies and those on a strict budget.

Alternatives

The Epiphone SPECIAL II is a great budget electric guitar, but there are a few other models that are worth considering in a similar price range:

Epiphone Les Paul Studio

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is another affordable Les Paul style guitar by Epiphone. It has a classic maple top and mahogany body construction with dual humbucker pickups for that iconic Les Paul tone. The neck is slimmer than a traditional Les Paul, making it easier to play for those with smaller hands. The hardware is very good quality for the price. Overall, the Les Paul Studio provides a more versatile classic rock and blues tone compared to the Special II.

Squier Affinity Stratocaster

For players who want that signature Stratocaster sound, the Squier Affinity Stratocaster is an excellent choice. It has the classic contoured double cutaway alder body with a maple neck and fingerboard. There are three single coil pickups for crisp, bright tone. The tremolo bridge allows for expressive effects. The thin neck and medium jumbo frets make fast playing very comfortable. While not as affordable as the Special II, the Squier Stratocaster provides great value for players who prefer the Strat sound.

Ibanez GRG121DX

The Ibanez GRG121DX is a good option for players who want a sharp, aggressive metal tone on a budget. It has a basswood body with a maple neck topped by a rosewood fretboard. There are two Ibanez humbuckers that can handle high gain distortion. The neck is exceptionally fast for shred playing, with a thin profile and jumbo frets. While not as versatile as other models, the Ibanez GRG121DX excels at heavy rock and metal styles.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Special II is an excellent choice as a budget-friendly electric guitar, especially for new players. It delivers solid performance and iconic styling at a very affordable price point.

With its classic double cutaway design based on Gibson's famous ES-335 model, the Special II looks great while also being comfortable to play. The combination of a mahogany body and maple neck provides a balanced, resonant tone. The pickups and hardware are basic but very serviceable, allowing new guitarists to get started without breaking the bank.

While an experienced player may eventually want to upgrade, the Epiphone Special II is more than capable as a beginner's main electric guitar. The build quality and components allow it to deliver that classic glossy electric tone, even at this low price range. Thanks to its thinner neck profile and reduced weight compared to a full hollowbody, it's also comfortable for lengthy practice sessions.

Overall, the Special II earns its reputation as one of the best electric guitars under $200. For new players seeking an affordable, stylish and great-sounding guitar to start their musical journey, the Epiphone Special II is easy to recommend. Its combination of playability, iconic aesthetic and versatile sound make it a perfect entry point into the world of electric guitars.