If you’re looking for some of the best Epiphone acoustic guitars for the money, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to highlight some of the coolest and most affordable guitars made by this famous brand.
Finding a brand new acoustic guitar made by Epiphone isn’t that easy. There are just so many different models out there! Things can easily get confusing, especially if you’re not an experienced guitarist. Still, there’s a few models that particularly deserve a lot of attention.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 10 best Epiphone acoustic guitars that you can currently find on the market! All of these guitars are relatively cheap, so you shouldn’t have problems to afford them. Feel free to check them out below – the sound demos are included as well.
Epiphone J45 Studio
Epiphone J45 Studio is an another excellent and inexpensive acoustic guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. Again, it’s an extremely popular Epiphone model.
The guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. On top of that, it also has a comfortable Okoume neck with a smooth fingerboard made of Indian Laurel. Although it’s a cheap guitar, the quality of these woods is really high, so that’s a really big advantage.
The sound of J45 Studio can be described as rich, vibrant and lively. No matter what kind of music you want to play, this model won’t disappoint you. It’s perfect for country, folk, blues and rock!
When it comes to pricing, this is actually one of the cheapest acoustic guitars on today’s list. But although it’s cheap, it offers a fantastic value for the money. That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Epiphone EJ-200SCE
Epiphone EJ-200SCE is one of the most popular jumbo acoustic guitars manufactured by this famous brand. Considering how versatile and great sounding it is, it’s not surprising that so many people decide to choose it!
The EJ-200SCE features a solid spruce top with a select maple body. It also has a comfortable maple SlimTaper neck with an easy-playing Pau Ferro fingerboard. This is a huge advantage of that model, because it allows you to practice for several hours without getting tired.
What’s important, this is an acoustic-electric guitar. Epiphone equipped this model with the Fishman Presys electronics which allows you to efficiently use that guitar on stage. On top of that, it has a built-in tuner and a 3-band EQ. If you’re a performer, you will definitely appreciate these features!
Although it’s not the cheapest axes on today’s list, it’s definitely one of the best Epiphone acoustic guitars that you can potentially find on the market. It has absolutely everything – the looks, the sound and the feel.
Epiphone DR-100
Epiphone DR-100 is an another budget acoustic guitar that exceeds all the expectations. This is the cheapest guitar on today’s list, but although it’s cheap, it doesn’t mean that it’s bad. In fact, many guitarists will be pleasantly surprised by its great quality.
The DR-100 features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. There’s also a really comfortable mahogany neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. The neck of that axe has a SlimTaper profile, so it’s perfect for beginners and younger players.
When it comes to sound, Epiphone DR-100 sounds really nice and balanced, although you can’t expect it to be the best sounding guitar in the world. Still, considering how cheap it is, it’s definitely worth every cent. In my opinion, it’s one of the best budget acoustic guitars that you can possibly find on the market right now.
I have to admit that I’m a big fan of that model. It was actually my first acoustic guitar that I bought back in 2008. What’s more, I still have it with me! Although I don’t use it as much as I used to in the past, I still love it. If you’re searching for your first acoustic guitar, this is the way to go.
Epiphone Hummingbird
Epiphone Hummingbird is an another fantastic acoustic-electric guitar manufactured by this famous brand. This is basically a cheaper version of the legendary Gibson Hummingbird, which costs a few time more money.
This particular model features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It also has a really comfortable mahogany neck with an easy-plying laurel fretboard. What’s more, it also has the ivory and black binding on the back and top – it looks beautiful.
Epiphone equipped this model with the Fishman Sonicore pickup which allows you to efficiently use that guitar on stage. The sound of that axe is really versatile, so whether you prefer subtle fingerpicking or loud strumming, you will be satisfied.
Who is it for? Well, Epiphone Hummingbird will be a fantastic choice for any intermediate guitar player who’s searching for a high quality acoustic-electric guitar suitable for live performances. This is a great instrument to gig with!
Epiphone Starling
Epiphone Starling is an another cheap acoustic guitar which exceeds all the expectations. It’s a budget model, so it’s mainly recommended for amateurs who are searching for their first acoustic guitar.
The Starling features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It also has a comfortable mahogany neck with an easy-playing laurel fingerboard. Although it’s not made of solid wood, it still manages to produce a very nice, balanced and resonant tone.
Although it’s not the best acoustic guitar in the world, it’s definitely one of the best acoustic guitars available under $200. Finding a better budget acoustic guitar than Epiphone Starling won’t be that easy!
Epiphone AJ-100CE
Epiphone AJ-100CE is an another affordable acoustic guitar recommended for guitarists of all levels. It’s a perfect choice for anyone who’s searching for an inexpensive, reliable and great sounding guitar with a cutaway.
The guitar features a select spruce top with mahogany back and sides. There’s also a comfortable mahogany neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. Although it’s a cheap guitar, the quality of these woods is really good, so it doesn’t feel or sound cheap at all.
What’s important, the AJ-100CE has a cutaway which allows you to easily access the highest frets. Surely, anyone who loves to play some solos in the part of the fretboard will be really happy about that.
Undoubtedly, Epiphone AJ-100CE is one of the best Epiphone acoustic guitars for the money. Considering how affordable it is, it’s definitely worth every cent. That’s for sure!
Epiphone Dove Studio
Epiphone Dove is an another amazing acoustic guitar recommended for guitarists of all levels. This particular model is very similar to the Hummingbird mentioned earlier, but in comparison with that previous axe, it’s actually a lot cheaper.
The famous Dove features a solid spruce top with maple back and sides. On top of that, it also has a really comfortable maple neck with an easy-playing Indian Laurel fretboard. This is a really important part of that guitar, because it allows you to practice smoothly and efficiently for several hours without getting tired.
The sound of Epiphone Dove can be described as resonant, vibrant, rich and lively. What’s more, this selection of woods (solid spruce and maple) guarantees that the tone of that guitar will enhance over time.
It is also worth mentioning that the manufacturer equipped that model with the Fishman Sonitone electronics which allows you to efficiently use that guitar on stage. This is an extremely important feature, especially if you’re a working musician!
Undoubtedly, Epiphone Dove is one of the best Epiphone acoustic guitars for the money. It will be really tough to find a better acoustic-electric guitar at this price level.
Epiphone Lil Tex Travel
Epiphone Lil Tex is an another really cool acoustic guitar suitable for guitarists of all levels. This particular model is most often used as a travel guitar, but it can also be used for casual strumming on the couch on lazy Sunday afternoons.
The guitar features a spruce top with sapele back and sides. It also has a comfortable mahogany neck with a smooth Granadillo fingerboard. What’s more, the manufacturer equipped that model with the passive piezo under-saddle pickup which allows you to use that guitar with an amp.
Although it’s a 3/4-size guitar, it sounds very resonant and it can actually get pretty loud. I’m sure that a lot of guitarists will be really surprised of how good and how versatile it can actually be.
Who is it for? Well, I have no hesitation in recommending this model to all guitarists who are looking for an affordable, reliable and great sounding 3/4-size guitars that can be also used for live performances. Finding a better guitar than Epiphone Lil Tex won’t be that easy, especially at this price level.
Epiphone PR5E
Epiphone PR5E is an another fantastic acoustic-electric guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitar players out there. No matter how experienced you are, you will definitely notice and appreciate the high quality of that guitar.
What makes it so cool? Well, the PR5E features a select spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It also has a pretty comfortable mahogany neck with an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. There’s also a cutaway that allows you to easily access the highest frets.
The sound of PR5E can be described as loud, rich and resonant. This is mainly caused because of the body shape of that guitar. What’s important, it also has the Shadow Performer preamp which allows you to efficiently use it for live performances.
Undoubtedly, Epiphone PR5E is one of the best Epiphone acoustic guitars for the money. In my opinion, it’s also one of the best acoustic-electric guitars available under $500. It’s a fantastic instrument that exceeds all the expectations!
Epiphone J200 EC Studio
Epiphone J200 EC Studio is an another excellent mid-level acoustic-electric guitar suitable for the most demanding guitarists out there. This a smaller ‘coupe’-sized jumbo guitar, so it’s perfect for traveling and casual playing on the weekends!
The guitar features a solid spruce top with select Ovangkol back and sides. On top of that, it has a rounded maple neck with an easy-playing Pau Ferro fingerboard. What’s more, Epiphone equipped this guitar with high quality Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners which guarantee a superb tuning stability.
Since this is an acoustic-electric guitar, it’s a perfect instrument for any gigging musician. Epiphone equipped this model with the Fishman Sonicare under-saddle pickup and Fishman Presys II preamp which allows you to efficiently use that guitar during live performances.
Undoubtedly, Epiphone J200 EC Studio is one of the best acoustic guitars made by this famous brand. I’m sure that a lot of you will immediately fall in love with that model!
Pros & Cons Of Epiphone Guitars
Here’s the catch – not all axes by this brand are perfect! Just like all other guitars in the world, they have their own pros and cons.
Advantages
- Affordable price
- Great look
- Comfortable necks
- High versatility
- Amazing tone
- Unique aesthetic (think of guitars like Dove or Hummingbird – you just can’t find similar ones anywhere else!)
Disadvantages
- Usually come without cases
- They aren’t that cheap either
- And most importantly… They’re not Gibsons! But I’m sure that a lot of you will argue whether Gibsons are actually worth the money 🙂
Want to find out more about Epiphone?
If you want to learn more about this legendary manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars, make sure to visit the official website of Epiphone.
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of fantastic acoustic guitars manufactured by Epiphone. I have no hesitation in recommending all of the models mentioned above. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re an experienced guitarist or not – you will definitely appreciate their great quality.
Which Epiphone guitar is your favorite and why? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
