Epiphone EJ-160E
John, you nailed it in some of your points. They seem to be along some of the lines that I was trying to hit in mine, about A/B-ing the two. When taken alone, the Epiphone is a good guitar, but when compared with the Gibson, there isn't really a comparison. I'm not claiming the Gibson to be the "end all, be all", but it is a great guitar in my opinion. And it's not guitar snobbery.
Sarcasm just doesn't come through when you're typing...
A "pro setup" to me is taking it in to a professional guitar tech and paying him/her to inspect the guitar and fix things like intonation, fret dressing, truss rod adjustment, and the like. I would expect the tech to ask me what I was looking for -- do I want high or low action, what kind of strings, etc.
I'm no luthier or guitar tech -- I can change strings and I have been known to mess around with truss rods. But that's about the extent of it. Now, with the Epi, I did take it in for a setup, and he did a great job, and lowered the action to closer to where I wanted it. I played it that way for awhile and then finally decided I needed it a bit lower (try playing "I Feel Fine" on ANY J-160 with high action!). So I got out my toolbox and tweaked the truss rod, and now to me it's perfect.
I will say that all the advice I had read on this board from other more experienced folks helped give me the confidence to adjust the rods myself (take it slow, let the guitar adjust to the first tweak before you do the next tweak, etc.).
Finally, the strings I use. Well, I've said before I'm a big fan of D'Addario Chomes (flatwound) .11s, so that's what I used. I read somewhere once on some forum that on acoustic-electrics with a magnetic pickup, you had to use steel strings for best results. It did COME with steel stings, but they were rounds and thinner gauge. Using the flats and the larger gauge helped me, since it improved the guitar's intonation and also cut down on one of my personal big problems -- the tendency for my big fat meathook hands to make all kinds of noise on rounds.
I've had the flats on for two years, and in my opinion, I've been able to nail the sound of the acoustic in songs like "Things We Said Today", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Girl", and pretty much anything from the Rubber Soul era. It also, to me, nails the sound of the electrified J-160.
What I'm less sure about is the "chime" that you find in the J-160 from the "Hard Day's Night" era. I think lighter strings might help in that area. I guess the only answer is I need TWO of them!
All in all, I'm still very happy with the guitar. I also have a 1980's era Ovation with standard bronze acoustic strings, so I feel that I've got the best of both worlds right now.
Again, not at all trying to dis the Gibby. If I was more of an acoustic guitar afficianado, I would probably go with the Gibson version too, and maybe someday I'll get one and wonder what took me so long. But right now, the Epi is just fine.
I'm no luthier or guitar tech -- I can change strings and I have been known to mess around with truss rods. But that's about the extent of it. Now, with the Epi, I did take it in for a setup, and he did a great job, and lowered the action to closer to where I wanted it. I played it that way for awhile and then finally decided I needed it a bit lower (try playing "I Feel Fine" on ANY J-160 with high action!). So I got out my toolbox and tweaked the truss rod, and now to me it's perfect.
I will say that all the advice I had read on this board from other more experienced folks helped give me the confidence to adjust the rods myself (take it slow, let the guitar adjust to the first tweak before you do the next tweak, etc.).
Finally, the strings I use. Well, I've said before I'm a big fan of D'Addario Chomes (flatwound) .11s, so that's what I used. I read somewhere once on some forum that on acoustic-electrics with a magnetic pickup, you had to use steel strings for best results. It did COME with steel stings, but they were rounds and thinner gauge. Using the flats and the larger gauge helped me, since it improved the guitar's intonation and also cut down on one of my personal big problems -- the tendency for my big fat meathook hands to make all kinds of noise on rounds.
I've had the flats on for two years, and in my opinion, I've been able to nail the sound of the acoustic in songs like "Things We Said Today", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Girl", and pretty much anything from the Rubber Soul era. It also, to me, nails the sound of the electrified J-160.
What I'm less sure about is the "chime" that you find in the J-160 from the "Hard Day's Night" era. I think lighter strings might help in that area. I guess the only answer is I need TWO of them!
All in all, I'm still very happy with the guitar. I also have a 1980's era Ovation with standard bronze acoustic strings, so I feel that I've got the best of both worlds right now.
Again, not at all trying to dis the Gibby. If I was more of an acoustic guitar afficianado, I would probably go with the Gibson version too, and maybe someday I'll get one and wonder what took me so long. But right now, the Epi is just fine.
I have both the Epiphone and the Gibson. Both are excellent guitars for their respective price points.
The Gibson does everything an expensive guitar should do, stay in tune, have excellent intonation, and sound good.
The Epiphone is a little temperamental with tuning (small tweaks for day to day playing) and very sensitive to string changes. The string changes affect both the setup and the sound. Some strings work great others no so well. I did upgrade the nut, saddle and bridge pins on the Epiphone to Tusq components. Unfortunately I did that along with a change to some new strings (D'Addario Bronze) and it sounds great but I don't know what component added what to the overall sound. For $500 I think the Epiphone is a great value and I use it often.
The Gibson does everything an expensive guitar should do, stay in tune, have excellent intonation, and sound good.
The Epiphone is a little temperamental with tuning (small tweaks for day to day playing) and very sensitive to string changes. The string changes affect both the setup and the sound. Some strings work great others no so well. I did upgrade the nut, saddle and bridge pins on the Epiphone to Tusq components. Unfortunately I did that along with a change to some new strings (D'Addario Bronze) and it sounds great but I don't know what component added what to the overall sound. For $500 I think the Epiphone is a great value and I use it often.
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took38years
- New member
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- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:58 pm
I really like my EJ160E (Korean made). I also have a Strat, a Casino and a Rickenbacker 12 String, all wonderful guitars, but hands down, for some reason, that EJ160E stays in tune better than all of them. I just picked it up for the first time in a couple of weeks (work is getting in the way of guitars and everything else) and the EJ hardly needed any tuning. I was impressed.
You guys are killing me! It's been "yes-no-yes-no" throughout the posts for me and now...I just might spend the $500.
Do I need guitar #14? I guess so!
Jerry, John, Matt, Todd and John S. Thank you for your 2 cents(And everyone else). It is appreciated. I haven't bought a "new" guitar in three years.(I got the 'shakes')
Epiphone 6-String
Epiphone 12-String
Vantage 665(A piece of shyte)
Epiphone Casino(A bit 'moody', but I love it)
Gretsch Country Classic II(LOVE IT!)
Epiphone Viola Bass
Ibanez Acoustic Electric
Jay Turser Strat($150-If I don't use the whammy bar, it's almost perfect!)
Rogue Electric Sitar($300 that I wasted! A real P.O.S.)
Rickenbacker 4003 Bass(AWESOME!)
Yamaha Classical Guitar($120-I got what I paid for!)
Artisan Lap Steel($60-Again, got what I paid for!)
A Fat Dawg(Yes, I said Fat Dawg!) 12-String Electric. I guess it's a 70's Danelectro rip-off(Man, that's sad when THEY are copied!!!) Hard to play, but sounds decent.
That's over $6000 worth of guitars! But, let's not forget the other cash I spend on a keyboard, sitar(s), tamboura, tabla, (a ****** eBay-ed) upright bass, shakers, and tambourines...All I need now is drums. Are "Ludwig" sets cheap?(LOL)
Brian
P.S. What has happened to the Danelectro guitars? It's like they don't exist anymore. I've never owned one, but played quite'a'plenty and they were sweet!
P.S.S. Strings. I'm not the solo master, but there is one thing that bothers me with my "solo" playing. For some reason, EVERY electric I have just DOESN'T sound right with an unwound 3rd. Obviously, having heavier strings makes it harder to do bends...But, again, they just don't sound right without a wound 3rd string. Thoughts anyone?(Am I going tone-deaf in my old age...32???)
Do I need guitar #14? I guess so!
Jerry, John, Matt, Todd and John S. Thank you for your 2 cents(And everyone else). It is appreciated. I haven't bought a "new" guitar in three years.(I got the 'shakes')
Epiphone 6-String
Epiphone 12-String
Vantage 665(A piece of shyte)
Epiphone Casino(A bit 'moody', but I love it)
Gretsch Country Classic II(LOVE IT!)
Epiphone Viola Bass
Ibanez Acoustic Electric
Jay Turser Strat($150-If I don't use the whammy bar, it's almost perfect!)
Rogue Electric Sitar($300 that I wasted! A real P.O.S.)
Rickenbacker 4003 Bass(AWESOME!)
Yamaha Classical Guitar($120-I got what I paid for!)
Artisan Lap Steel($60-Again, got what I paid for!)
A Fat Dawg(Yes, I said Fat Dawg!) 12-String Electric. I guess it's a 70's Danelectro rip-off(Man, that's sad when THEY are copied!!!) Hard to play, but sounds decent.
That's over $6000 worth of guitars! But, let's not forget the other cash I spend on a keyboard, sitar(s), tamboura, tabla, (a ****** eBay-ed) upright bass, shakers, and tambourines...All I need now is drums. Are "Ludwig" sets cheap?(LOL)
Brian
P.S. What has happened to the Danelectro guitars? It's like they don't exist anymore. I've never owned one, but played quite'a'plenty and they were sweet!
P.S.S. Strings. I'm not the solo master, but there is one thing that bothers me with my "solo" playing. For some reason, EVERY electric I have just DOESN'T sound right with an unwound 3rd. Obviously, having heavier strings makes it harder to do bends...But, again, they just don't sound right without a wound 3rd string. Thoughts anyone?(Am I going tone-deaf in my old age...32???)
What I may lack in common sense, I make up in sarcasm.
Brian,
Good luck. If the one EJ 160E I played was indicative of others you can't go wrong for the money.
BTW, depending on the year, the Gretsch Country Classic you own (the one you said you loved) might have been in the Terada factory in Japan (look for a T in the beginning of the serial number) which is the same place that makes the Elitist Casinos.
http://www.gretschguitars.com/terada/
Good luck. If the one EJ 160E I played was indicative of others you can't go wrong for the money.
BTW, depending on the year, the Gretsch Country Classic you own (the one you said you loved) might have been in the Terada factory in Japan (look for a T in the beginning of the serial number) which is the same place that makes the Elitist Casinos.
http://www.gretschguitars.com/terada/
It's no problem. I guess my last bit here is that if you have a local or regional Epiphone dealer, you might call them up and try one out if there is one in stock that way you have an idea about it first. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
Sarcasm just doesn't come through when you're typing...
Hi Brian, just came across this thread as, John mentioned, I've been on the road.
I bought an EJ last year, then came across a good deal on a J-160. My original thought was to sell the EJ when I got the Gibby, but it didn't turn out that way.
I think the EJ is a spectacular guitar, regardless of the price. Mine was made in China, and I think think the sound, quality and finish is absolutely first rate.
I had to chuckle reading Johneek's post, as it mirrored almost exactly the conversation we had when he was playing them!
. I'm always touting the virtues of the import Epis, and John's always saying "yes, but..." 
. What JK is (very modestly I might add) not telling everyone here is that he's significantly more talented than I, and his ear much more refined--one of the many reasons I like playing with him, as he makes me much better (I tend to be a "close is good enough for gov't work kind of guy .
As JK pointed out, the most noticeable difference between the two to me is the difference in scale length. Although the pups are different (P-90 in the newer 160s and miniHB in the EJ), I think they sound very similar. String wise, I put T-I Jazz/Swing flats on both guitars, though I used tens on the EJ and either 11s or 12s, I'm pretty sure 11s on the 160. Both guitars like these strings A LOT.
The other noticeable diff (to me anyway) is the Gibson neck feels a lot beefier.
With all that in mind, I don't hear the tonal differences between the EJ and Gibson that I hear between my Korean Casino and my Revolution. While I still love my Korean Casino, the Rev sounds distinctly deeper to me than the Epi.
Not sure if any of this helps or not, reading over the posts it seems my impressions are pretty much in sync with some of the others. For $500, I don't think you can go wrong--and to add one more really superficial thought, I think the JL signature in the EJ is really cool!
Good luck!! Bill
I bought an EJ last year, then came across a good deal on a J-160. My original thought was to sell the EJ when I got the Gibby, but it didn't turn out that way.
I think the EJ is a spectacular guitar, regardless of the price. Mine was made in China, and I think think the sound, quality and finish is absolutely first rate.
I had to chuckle reading Johneek's post, as it mirrored almost exactly the conversation we had when he was playing them!
. I'm always touting the virtues of the import Epis, and John's always saying "yes, but..." . What JK is (very modestly I might add) not telling everyone here is that he's significantly more talented than I, and his ear much more refined--one of the many reasons I like playing with him, as he makes me much better (I tend to be a "close is good enough for gov't work kind of guy . As JK pointed out, the most noticeable difference between the two to me is the difference in scale length. Although the pups are different (P-90 in the newer 160s and miniHB in the EJ), I think they sound very similar. String wise, I put T-I Jazz/Swing flats on both guitars, though I used tens on the EJ and either 11s or 12s, I'm pretty sure 11s on the 160. Both guitars like these strings A LOT.
The other noticeable diff (to me anyway) is the Gibson neck feels a lot beefier.
With all that in mind, I don't hear the tonal differences between the EJ and Gibson that I hear between my Korean Casino and my Revolution. While I still love my Korean Casino, the Rev sounds distinctly deeper to me than the Epi.
Not sure if any of this helps or not, reading over the posts it seems my impressions are pretty much in sync with some of the others. For $500, I don't think you can go wrong--and to add one more really superficial thought, I think the JL signature in the EJ is really cool!
Good luck!! Bill
"Let me take you down...'cause I'm going to...."