The J-45 is one of the best-selling acoustic guitars of all time. Gibson first introduced the J-45 in 1942, whilst Epiphone has since offered more affordable versions of the iconic guitar. In this article I’ll directly compare the Gibson and Epiphone versions of the J-45 so you can decide which is best for you.
Contents:
- Gibson Original vs Epiphone (Inspired by Gibson) J-45
- Feature Summary Table
- Tone Comparison
- Cosmetic Differences
- Neck Designs
- Other Key Differences
- Similarities
- Gibson Studio vs Epiphone J-45
- Other Models Available
Gibson J-45 Standard vs Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” J-45
The two most commonly compared J-45 models are the Gibson J-45 Standard and Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” J-45. As you can tell by the name, the “Epiphone Inspired by Gibson” version is designed to offer the closest option to the Gibson Original, but at a cheaper price point.
Here is a table highlighting all the differences between the Gibson J-45 Standard and Epiphone J-45.
| Feature | Gibson Standard J-45 | Epiphone J-45 |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Profile | Slim Taper | Rounded C |
| Scale | 24.75” | 24.724” |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Indian Laurel |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12” | 12.007” |
| Fret Number | 20 | 20 |
| Fret Wire | Standard | Medium Jumbo |
| Nut | Synthetic | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.724” | 1.692” |
| Saddle | TUSQ | Bone |
| Tuning Machines | Grover Rotomatic | Epiphone |
| Pickup | LR Baggs VTC | Fishman Sonicore |
| Case | Hardshell | Not Included |
| Pickguard | Teardrop | Extended |
| Colors | Vintage Sunburst Black Cherry | Aged Vintage Sunburst |
| Average Price | $2850 | $750 |
| Made In | USA | China |
Tone Comparison
Both these guitars have solid spruce tops and solid mahogany back and sides, and they also have scalloped X-bracing patterns so sound very similar to one another. Unless you play both guitars back to back you probably won’t be able to tell a difference when played purely acoustically.
To my ears, the Epiphone J-45 has a bit more mid-range, and the Gibson J-45 has a bit more treble response, but the difference is so subtle.
However, when plugged in the guitars do sound quite different as they use different pickups.
The Gibson Hummingbird has an LR Baggs VTC pickup whereas the Epiphone version has a Fishman Sonicore pickup. The Fishman pickup on the Epiphone is hotter and sounds a bit more harsh compared to the LR Baggs pickup on the Gibson which sounds more natural.
Check out this YouTube video comparing the Epiphone and Gibson J-45.
Neck Design
The Gibson and Epiphone J-45 versions have pretty different neck shapes.
The Epiphone has a fuller “rounded C” neck profile compared to the J-45 “slim taper” profile. Check out my guide to Gibson neck shapes to learn more about this.
Both guitars have 20 frets but the measurements of the fretboard are marginally different from one another:
- The Gibson has a 24.75″ scale whereas the Epiphone has a 24.724″ scale
- The Gibson has a 12″ fingerboard radius whereas the Epiphone has a 12.007″ radius
- The Gibson has a 1.724″ nut width and the Epiphone has a 1.692″ nut width
The scale and fingerboard radius are virtually identical, but the narrower nut on the Epiphone may be noticeable to some players especially if you are trying both guitars back to back.
The Gibson J-45 has a rosewood fretboard whereas the Epiphone J-45 has an Indian laurel fretboard.
Rosewood fretboards are more porous so feel rougher compared to Indian laurel fretboards. Visually, rosewood is darker and has more streaks compared to Indian laurel which has a more even appearance. Rosewood is naturally more oily so less prone to warping and requires less maintenance.
Check out my comparison between Indian laurel and rosewood fretboards to learn more.
Cosmetic Differences
Both these guitars are available in a Vintage Sunburst finish, but on the Epiphone J-45 it is an “aged” finish which looks a bit more saturated and lighter. The J-45 is also available in black and cherry finishes.
The Gibson J-45 has a nitrocellulose finish whereas the Epiphone J-45 has a gloss polyurethane finish. Poly finishes are less likely to get scratched and chipped and do not fade as quickly, however nitro finishes are synonymous with high-end guitars.
Check out my comparison between nitro and poly finishes to learn more.
The pickguard also looks a bit different on both guitars. Although they both have a tortoiseshell design, the Gibson J-45 has a classic teardrop shape compared to the Epiphone which has an extended pickguard which follows the contours of the upper and lower bout.
Other Differences
One of the main differences between the Gibson and Epiphone versions of the J-45 is that the Gibson is made in the USA and the Epiphone is made in China. USA-made guitars are built using higher quality parts and with more attention to detail compared to Chinese guitars which are mass produced.
The Gibson comes with a hardshell case, whereas the Epiphone does not include any case or gig bag. The Gibson J-45 also has better tuning machines (Grover Rotomatics) compared to the Epiphone J-45.
Interestingly, the Epiphone has a bone nut and saddle, whereas the Gibson nut and saddle are both synthetic.
A final point to make is that the Epiphone J-45 is slightly heavier compared to the Gibson J-45, usually by around 1 lbs.
Similarities
- Body shape
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Solid mahogany back and sides
- Scalloped X-bracing (the Epiphone J-45 lists this as “quarter sawn” on the specifications but both guitars use this bracing pattern)
- Cream body binding
- No neck binding
- Mother of pearl dot inlays
- Dovetail neck joint
- Traditional belly up bridge (the Epiphone J-45 lists this as “reverse belly” on the specifications but the design is identical on both)
- Volume and tone controls
- 0.012-0.053″ strings
Cheapest Gibson vs Most Expensive Epiphone J-45
Now let’s take a look at the cheapest Gibson J-45 and the most expensive Epiphone J-45 to see what you get for your money. I’ll be comparing the following two guitars:
- Epiphone J-45 “Inspired by Gibson”
- Gibson J-45 Studio Walnut
| Feature | Gibson J-45 Studio Walnut | Epiphone J-45 |
| Back and Sides | Solid Walnut | Solid Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Walnut | Indian Laurel |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Profile | Advanced Response | Rounded C |
| Scale | 24.75” | 24.724” |
| Fingerboard Radius | 16” | 12.007” |
| Fret Number | 20 | 20 |
| Fret Wire | Standard | Medium Jumbo |
| Nut | Synthetic | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.724” | 1.692” |
| Saddle | TUSQ | Bone |
| Tuning Machines | Grover Rotomatic | Epiphone |
| Pickup | Active Under-saddle Piezo Pickup | Fishman Sonicore |
| Pickguard | Teardrop | Extended |
| Colors | Antique Natural | Aged Vintage Sunburst |
| Average Price | $2300 | $750 |
The Gibson Studio J-45 has a slimmer neck and flatter fretboard radius compared to the Epiphone J-45. The mahogany back and sides on the Epiphone give it a brighter tone compared to the walnut sides on the Gibson which give it a warmer tone with more mid-range.
Similarities
- Body shape and size
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Scalloped X-bracing (the Epiphone J-45 lists this as “quarter sawn” on the specifications but both guitars use this bracing pattern)
- Cream body binding
- No neck binding
- Mother of pearl dot inlays
- Dovetail neck joint
- Traditional belly up bridge (the Epiphone J-45 lists this as “reverse belly” on the specifications but the design is identical on both)
- Tortoiseshell teardrop pickguard
- Volume and tone controls
- 0.012-0.053″ strings
- Case as an optional extra
Other Models Available
At the time of writing there are 6 different Gibson J-45 models and 2 different Epiphone J-45 models available. Gibson J-45 models cost between $2300 and $2850, whereas Epiphone J-45 guitars cost between $300 and $750.
Here is a table comparing the average USA and UK prices of every currently available (at the time of writing) Gibson and Epiphone J-45 acoustic guitar model.
| J-45 | Average Price USA | Average Price UK |
| Epiphone J-45 Studio | $300 | £220 |
| Epiphone J-45 | $750 | £550 |
| Gibson J-45 Studio Walnut | $2300 | £1800 |
| Gibson J-45 Studio Rosewood | $2400 | £2000 |
| Gibson J-45 50s Faded | $2500 | £2200 |
| Gibson J-45 60s Original | $2650 | £2200 |
| Gibson J-45 50s Original | $2850 | £2500 |
| Gibson J-45 Standard | $2850 | £2500 |