best epiphone acoustic guitar

7 Best Epiphone Acoustic Guitar – Top Quality Models

Updated on April 1, 2022 by Dan Harper

Epiphone have been in the acoustic guitar business for almost 150 years, this acoustic guitar brand is featured regularly on the best acoustic guitars lists. Their older designs are coveted while new models live up to their well deserved reputation for quality.

The following are our reviews of the best Epiphone acoustic guitar options.

Quick Links To My Good Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Recommendations

The company was established in 1873, in what is now Turkey, to produce stringed musical instruments. In 1903 they relocated to the United States and by 1928 they were manufacturing acoustic guitars. In 1957 the company was acquired by the Gibson guitar company.

Today they produce more affordable versions of Gibson classics, such as the remarkable Epiphone Dove-PRO, as well as their own models, including the highly successful DR-100.

Epiphone guitars, however, aren’t just for those looking for a first guitar; many experienced musicians use them too, because they are well-made and have a great sound.

My Top Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Reviews

Epiphone PR-150

The Epiphone PR-150 very much falls into the budget guitar range that is aimed primarily at the beginner market and is one of their most affordable.

The guitar follows the classic Dreadnought acoustic shape with no cutaway which is traditional. The tonewoods used in its manufacture are excellent. It uses Spruce wood for the soundboard while the back and sides are Mahogany. This combination of tonewoods is used on some of the best but, to ensure affordability, they do not use solid pieces but only laminate the top surfaces which nonetheless still produces an excellent sound.

The shoulder of the guitar is square, similar to a Martin guitar, which provides a better low-frequency response, and also increases its volume and sound projection.
It features a solid Mahogany neck and Rosewood fingerboard which is an attractive combination.

The only negative of this guitar is in the tuners, which look a little on the cheap side, though this is unsurprising in a budget guitar. It has a plastic nut, but this is compensated for with a synthetic bone saddle and a real Rosewood bridge.

The Epiphone PR-150 is a very durable guitar, that is built to withstand a lot of wear and tear, and is relatively low maintenance, making it a great choice for beginner musicians on a budget.

Pros:

  • Top notch sound and tones.
  • Clear sound.
  • Colorful and brilliant tone making it excellent for blues guitar.
  • Durable guitar that can last a lifetime.

Cons:

  • It is not as lightweight as other guitars.

Check out our Epiphone PR-150 review as well.
Our Rating –
5/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone PR-150

Epiphone DR-100

Any list of the best Epiphone guitars must include the Epiphone DR 100. Sitting in the middle of the spectrum of entry-level options, the quality of the DR-100 proves that you can sometimes get more than you pay for with this beginner-friendly instrument. Having said that, we could nonetheless easily imagine this guitar being used by professional players when travelling, to ensure their favourite guitar isn’t damaged. While this guitar can’t match the sound of a full-sized instrument, it still delivers a rich tone and good volume.

It is a beautifully decorated instrument which makes use of durable woods to enhance its sound quality and offers more than would be expected from a guitar in this price range. The guitar produces a rich tone and punchy volume through the Spruce soundboard and the Mahogany back and sides, tonewoods.

The DR-100 is a well equipped guitar and offers many features that are rarely seen at its price. It is a robust instrument that is built with great craftsmanship which gives it great structural strength and enhances its durability. Its functionality and stability make the DR-100 an outstanding choice for players who are just starting to learn the guitar as well as for more advanced hobbyists that are looking for a solid, playable guitar for regular use.

Pros:

  • Classic sound and style.
  • Solid top with all the features you want.
  • Great for beginners and advanced players looking for a solid, classic sounding.
  • Ebony fingerboard looks great with natural, mahogany body.

Cons:

  • Tuners are not locking but are still of high quality.

Take a look here for a full Epiphone DR-100 review.

 

Our Rating –
4.5/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone DR-100

Epiphone EJ-200SCE

Epiphone’s EJ-200SCE electro acoustic guitar is Gibson’s way of paying homage to the legendary Gibson J-200 that always rates highly in top lists of the best guitars ever made. The attractive look is derived from the Gibson’s and the tone is makes it a worthy successor to the Gibson legacy. Along with the classic design comes with a solid set of electronics adding a modern base to the traditional design.

This EJ-200SCE guitar uses the Jumbo body type. While the Jumbo may not be as compact as other guitars in the line, it delivers an extra powerful sound that many guitar players are after.

It also features a cutaway design which makes a noticeable difference when combined with a Jumbo boy. This feature makes it more suitable for the strummer-style player to reach the frets more easily.

The tonewoods used are Maple for the neck, back and the sides, the top is solid Spruce and the fretboard is normally made from Rosewood. This gives the guitar a beautiful, timeless appearance and for an instrument of this price, it is just astonishing.

The Epiphone EJ-200SCE delivers a powerful sound with or without amplification, through its Jumbo body, and it delivers a durable and vibrant tone. Along with its classic looks and quality build it makes for an attractive, affordable classic.

Pros:

  • This model is solidly built, and is affordable
  • The EJ-200SCE has a striking look in natural or sunburst
  • This guitar has a dynamic voice with lots of versatility, which is perfect for soloists that want to be heard without an amplifier.

Cons:

  • This guitar leans towards the brighter side of the spectrum, giving it a thin sound quality.

Check out my full Epiphone EJ-200SCE review as well.

Our Rating –
4.5/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone EJ-200SCE

Epiphone PR4E

The Epiphone PR4E is a affordable option for those looking for a combination acoustic / electric guitar that has great sound and comes in a package deal offering an small amplifier and other accessories.
The guitar comes with a small 10-Watt solid-state practice amplifier included. The amplifier features volume, gain, treble, mid, bass controls and a boost switch, which is quite respectable in a compact amplifier like this one. As well as the amplifier, the guitar also comes with a gig bag, strap, cable, tuner, picks, and instructional material.

It is made from durable and quality Mahogany wood used for the neck, back and sides and features a Spruce top matched with a rosewood fingerboard. The Piezo pickups in the guitar provide an easy transition to a PA system or amplifier. The guitar has onboard tuners to help keep it in tune more easily.

The sound the PR4E produces is remarkable for a guitar in this range. Driven by a powerful mid-range strike with rich, clear trebles notes, this acoustic-electric guitar produces a quality tone. Whether it is being strummed unplugged or plugged in to the amplifier, the audio is powerful and it has good overall sound quality.

This is a great overall package based around a quality guitar that also comes with some great bonuses. Its durable features and quality build will satisfaction to all guitar players, whatever their skill level may be.

Pros:

  • These guitars are unbelievably reasonable in price.
  • They have deep, punchy lows and sparkling highs.
  • The neck is slim and rounded.

Cons:

  • The guitar is heavier than other models.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone PR4E

Epiphone PRO-1 Acoustic

The Epiphone line of PRO-1 is designed primarily for beginner guitar players with instruments that are comfortable, easy to play and affordable.
The Epiphone PRO-1 collection consists of four different models. All have a body and glued-in neck of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard.

A feature that makes the steel-string models easier to play is the shorter, though full-size, scale length of 24.75 inches as compared with 25.4 inches for most dreadnoughts. This is helped further with the EZ-Profile slim neck profile, jumbo frets, light-gauge strings and PRO-Ease lubricant being applied to the strings and fingerboard. Some models come with deluxe tuners with an18:1 ratio to provide more precise tuning whil the EZ-String pinless bridge simplifies changing strings. The body is slimmer and more comfortable than those usually found on traditional acoustic guitars.

The features of the PRO-1 guitars offer a level of playability that is usually reserved for much more expensive instruments. What makes these so valuable for beginners is that it makes the process of learning kinder, gentler and sometimes literally painless and so encourages them to continue playing.

The PRO-1 models have made guitarist’s lives easier than ever through their comfortable, easy-to-play and specialized features and are suitable for both beginners and advanced players, alike.

Pros:

  • Great for beginners
  • Solid top (satin finish)

Cons:

  • No cutaway
  • Cheap tuners on the headstock

Check out our Epiphone PRO-1 review as well.
Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone PRO-1 Acoustic

Epiphone Dove Pro Solid Top Acoustic

If you’ve ever wanted a Gibson Dove, but found the process too steep the Epiphone Dove Pro could be what you’ve been looking for. This guitar makes the Dove legend approachable to regular guitarists and adds modern electronics so that it’s just as home at solo gigs or onstage with a band. It has both an attractive look and pleasing sound.

The guitar has a solid spruce top on a laminated maple body which gives it a warm tone that only improves with age. The rosewood fretboard has classic pearloid parallelogram inlayed, making it easy to distinguish the 20 frets. Imitation bone gives the nut and compensated saddle durability while providing a rich harmonic tone. A set of Grover 14:1 tuners are include to make tuning easier.

It also has integrated Fishman Sonicore electronics for its pickup system which produces a more sound than a standard pickup system. It has bass, treble, and master volume controls and the battery powers it for about 100 hours.

The Dove Pro is exactly like the classic Gibson Dove but with electronics added and constructed from different, though still quality, materials. It brings back the rock ‘n roll icon for the modern player that doesn’t have the serious money the original commands.

Pros:

  • Elegant mahogany top.
  • Tone that is full and dynamic.
  • Easier to play than those with narrower necks.

Cons:

  • Narrower neck width which can be uncomfortable for some players.
  • No cutaway, so playing higher up the fretboard may be more difficult to reach.

Take a look at our Epiphone Dove Pro review here.
Our Rating –
4.5/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone Dove Pro Solid Top Acoustic

Epiphone AJ-220S

The Epiphone AJ-220S is a solid acoustic guitar and is a well-rounded instrument that is suited to both professional musicians and beginners. The instrument delivers a crisp, rich tone with good projection and its lovely craftsmanship and construction demonstrates their reputation for quality.

Whether fingerpicking, flatpickicking or strumming, this guitar performs like a charm. It is available in a choice of colours, from natural look to a range of Sunburst types so there’s a look for every taste. The guitar features a solid top made from Sitka Spruce, side and back made from Mahogany, a rosewood fretboard with hardware made from nickel and will turn heads wherever it is played.

The quality of the build makes the guitar incredibly durable and long lasting and since it is a larger guitar, it can also produce a broad dynamic range. The Sitka spruce top will mature over time, warming the colour and bringing out the elegance of its craftsmanship and design.

The Epiphone AJ-220S is recommended for those looking for an instrument that want to be able to perform music. It is an ideal introductory guitar, with the neck enabling the player to hone their speed with chords. For more seasoned professionals, it has brilliant playability and produces a full-range tone, making it perfect for both performing or recording in the studio.

Pros:

  • Great sound for the cost.
  • Solid Sitka Spruce Top with Mahogany back and sides.

Cons:

  • Plain finish on top of guitar could look a bit plain on stage.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Epiphone AJ-220S

Choosing The Right Epiphone Acoustic Guitar For You

If you are planning on buying an Epiphone, you may want to consider these factors before making your decision to purchase.

Firstly, you need to be certain that the guitar is in the right price range for what you are willing to spend. This is an important thing because Epiphone can cost anywhere from $100 to $5000 dollars depending on quality and level of instrument.

Secondly, it’s best if you decide on a size of instrument that will work best for your specific needs or current skill level. After all, not everyone is an accomplished player but most can still appreciate the sound of a high quality instrument. This means you need to consider quality first, not just price.

Another important consideration is what type you should buy. There are different types of Epiphones and they are called archtops, semi-acoustic guitars and hollowbody guitars. Each type has its own advantages depending on your budget and genre of music along with what you’re playing or singing for your performances.

Lastly, you need to consider the actual instrument you are purchasing. You need to look at the color and style that will work best with your own musical preferences and playing style. This is why it’s good to hear samples of each type of guitar to get a feel for what each model sounds like and if it would be right for your own needs.

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Other Epiphone guitar options:

Conclusion

Are Epiphone guitars good?  These best Epiphone acoustics
and the Epiphone range of guitars deliver a rich tone, loud projection and great playability for both the beginner and professional alike. Their range of guitars is designed to cover every need and style of player, allowing the options of playing exclusively acoustically or plugging the guitar in to an amplifier.

For the price they charge, Epiphone’s best guitars are solid and durable, with a stylish design, and are built to be played for many years to come. An Epiphone is a beautiful looking guitar that will have everyone asking about it, while its realistic price means that you get a high-quality and well-crafted guitar for much less than more expensive makes.