Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The Epiphone AJ-220SCE isn't a $3,000 guitar but at a tenth of the cost you'll find a quality instrument that far surpasses its price provided you understand a few simple rules.
First, acoustic guitars often vary wildly in quality and tone even among the same model. The AJ-220SCE is no exception to that rule. I played three different AJ-220SCEs and one was an absolute dud. It physically looked identical and had no obvious defects yet the sound was dull, thin and hardly worthy of $100 let alone $300. That said, I've also played high-end Martin and Gibson acoustics that absolutely blew me away and others that were so bad they should be ashamed to charge for the instrument at all. This particular AJ-220SCE was certainly better than your usual solid-top/laminate back guitars out there for $300. So the lesson here is that you can only know if a guitar is right for you by PLAYING IT. Lean on Amazon's return policy or play one in your local shop before ordering!
Second, remember that at $300 you have lots of options including excellent guitars from Guild, Washburn, Takamine and a variety of other manufacturers. For $300 you may be able to get an all-solid acoustic such as the Epiphone Masterbilt series, the Seagull Maritime series or others. You likely won't get electronics at that price unless you're willing to skip the comfort of a warranty and buying new from a reputable source.
Now for the features...
The AJ-220SCE has some really exceptional features you often won't find at this price including a bound fretboard, higher-quality Gotoh tuners, a solid-spruce top and an outstanding Shadow Nanoflex pickup and Performer pre-amp combination. The handsomely bound fretboard was surprisingly paired with perfectly trimmed frets--no sharp spots here. The tuners are tight and stay in tune. The top is your standard solid spruce with x-bracing which gives the AJ-220SCE its voice. But the genuine scene-stealer is the inclusion of a German-made Shadow Nanoflex pickup and pre-amp. The pickup is an under-saddle model but lacks the quack you'd expect from a piezo. The Performer pre-amp has an on-board tuner, two-band equalizer and a phase switch to reduce feedback. It's powered by two watch batteries rather than the standard 9v.
Next my personal preferences came into play. I happen to love the sound of the Gibson sloped-shoulder jumbo along with Gibson build quality. This time I was in the market for a beater that wouldn't force a gasp should I knock it over however--something a Gibson J-45 is not. I also happen to own other Gibson and Epiphone guitars and dig the soft C-shaped neck most feature. And the AJ-220SCE definitely fits that bill. It's gorgeous but a scratch on this guy won't keep me up at night. And the neck is slim, smooth and fast. Wow...does it ever feel good.
So, if you're in the market for an inexpensive guitar with quality electronics I'd urge you to check out the solid-top AJ-220SCE.
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Epiphone AJ-220SCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural
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