Epiphone John Lennon EJ-160E (Vintage Cherry Sunburst) Reviews

Charles Garrett
from Kearney, MO USA
November 6, 2012Music Background:
Performing guitarist for 36 years, guitar instructor. Worship team member.

Must have!

This guitar is an excellent value and a real collector's item. Exquisite tone and the Sweetwater team set the action precisely to my personal preferences. The finish is beautiful. This is an excellent instrument for both the novice and the professional.

mario perez
from calexico, ca usa
September 21, 2012Music Background:
begginer musician

great guitar

very good sounding guitar, the finish is great i only want to say only one thing the guitar its awesomeeeeee....

Classicrocker4life2011
from San Antonio, Texas
June 4, 2012Music Background:
Classic Rock Enthusiast

Awesome Guitar after some minor adjustments

Great guitar. The only issue it had was the action was a little high for my playing style. A few turns with an allen wrench and viola! It's now a very easy guitar to play. I would say the fingering now is as easy as playing an electric guitar. The overall construction, fit finish book matching are all awesome. I can't believe that I got this guitar for $344 just because there is a dent on the back of the headstock where it was stamped "used". I play classic rock and this guitar is perfect for that. It sounds awesome either plugged or unplugged. I play a lot of Beatles tunes so this will be my choice when I play those. But this guitar is suitable to play any style of music on, it's really a superior instrument.

Les
from Frisco,TX,USA
February 1, 2011

EJ- , Great sounding

Great sounding guitar with all the quality makings of a Gibson product. Quality and performance by far compares with more expensive guitars.

Micah Evans
from USA
April 14, 2010Music Background:
Hobbyist

Great guitar

The first time I playesd this guitar, I was blown away by the playability and sound. The finish is flawless on mine, beautiful. I play it thru a SWR California Blond II amp. Sounds great, lots of bass, yet is controlled. Im not a John Lennon fan, never have been. I dont want to get into that(the way I feel about who he was) but I do respect him, he was an awesome song writer, and legendary, all politics aside. Anyway,great guitar, love it.

jeff brenner
from cincinnati ohio
December 16, 2007Music Background:
semi pro muscian and collector

awesome

played the guitar right out of the box.set up was great sound wonderful finish flwaless. played it in comparision with my gibson j45 and the sound was almost identicle .the j45 cost 1999.00. you must have this guitar!

Jeff
from USA
October 2, 2007

If John Were Here...

I'm a huge Beatle fan. I couldn't wait to get my hands on my new John Lennon EJ-160E Limited Addition acoustic-electric guitar. I've been checking my shipping status several times a day. It arrived today and Iâ€™m speechless. It's an honor beyond words to even be playing this guitar, let alone own it. No wonder John (and George) loved his and routinely used it on recordings. If John were with us, I think he would love this replica. I recently purchased an AKG C-451-B and Mojave Audio MA-200 from Sweetwater and cannot wait to record this guitar with these two mics. Iâ€™m sure my Epi will sound great recorded, based on its natural tone. Out of the box, it is in mint shape. The action and timbre are sensational. Not one flaw anywhere on the guitar. Epiphone even has a nice fabric similar to felt where the guitar strap pegs are installed into the guitar. I love the sunburst finish. It's stunning in a 60's styled understated way. I will probably change the strings to Martin SP lights, which will really sweeten it up. It was set up great! I'm not doing a thing to this guitar. Bill, thank you and your colleagues for assisting me with exuberance and professionalism. Everything arrived on time and in perfect condition.

Jo
from Port Ewen, NY USA
September 6, 2007Music Background:
Hobbyist

My dream guitar...

I recently purchased a John Lennon EJ-160E from Sweetwater and I am absolutely thrilled with it. The action is perfect and it is simply beautiful in both looks and tone - not to mention the unbelievable price. Being a die-hard Beatles/Lennon fan, I am completely in love with this guitar.

Maurizio Tancredi
from Rome Italy
March 1, 2007Music Background:
Hobbyst

A very good axe for creating Beatlesque sound

I was really surprised by the fact this guitar sounds closely like the original model made by Gibson, that I tried and play 'bout a couple of years ago. If you want to increase the sound when plays electrically, You'd better put on electric strings (011-012 gauge).It is great when playin' Beatles stuff, or sixties sound like Kinks, Hollies etc... And over all, it is a must for creating power pop songs!!!

Thomas J
from NYC, NY
August 7, 2006Music Background:
Lyricist, Composer, Arranger

Good Things come to Those who Wait

I ordered this guitar in March. I was told when ordering it that it would not be in stock until the summer. I was cool with waiting as I'm a huge John Lennon fan but at the same time I've researched this guitar greatly.

I was told again and again that it was a great guitar.

I got the guitar yesterday and it is PERFECT. It sounds as well as it looks(beautiful!) Everything I've waited for and more. Well worth it! Amazing sound for a great price... I'd get one if you can, they are sure to be hard to find.

dw
from Terre Haute
September 22, 2008Music Background:
Hobbyist

Solid Choice

I've owned the EJ-160E for over 2 years and play it regularly. It is very playable and has a good sound. I've plugged it into a variety of Marshalls, Epiphones, Behringers, and Peaveys with good results. Because of the mini-humbucker, you will not get the traditional acoustic tone.

John Myers
from North Shore of Lake Superior, MN
May 2, 2008Music Background:
lifetime amateur

Exceeded Expectations

I am a total amateur player with 20 years on the same crummy Palmer 6 string. This guitar is wonderful. I sounds and plays great, plugged or unplugged. The neck has a great feel and it is very easy to get Beatles/Dylan sounds. I should have upgraded a long time ago. Build quality is excellent and the elixir strings that were recommended are well worth the extra $$$. Minor hassle with wrong case was dealt with very well from Sweetwater. I will use them for all my future music purchases.

Greg
from MN.
April 28, 2012Music Background:
For fun

Nice Epiphone

Nice version of the Gibon model without the cost. Have played other copies of this and they were a little easier to play because of the thinner necks, but their pickups weren't as good as this. Good looking and a deep, rich sound through an amp because of the location and type of pickup. Affordable and it's Beatle gear you are buying this for, right? I own it and I like it.

Nick
from Long Island, NY USA
October 20, 2006Music Background:
Student

Very Good Guitar

The guitar has really put me on a journey with both good and bad experiences.
This guitar is limited edition and sound great. I had a problem with the craftmanship. My guitar appeared to have been made a little incorrectly. The neck was too high to the body, so I had it fixed under the warranty. The guitar is fixed and now sounds great.
I must say, the action is set pretty high on this guitar (or atleast on mine). Nevertheless, this guitar is a keeper. If I had to do it all over again I would still choose the EJ-160E John Lennon. It carries the John Lennon name, but more importantly it delivers the John Lennon sound.

R. H.
from North Carolina, USA
October 13, 2012Music Background:
Semi-pro musician,

Plays great - - sounds not so great.

Ordered this guitar from Sweetwater on a whim, and had always like the look of this particular model Epi. Havng played one years ago, I remember the nice woody tone and lightweight of the guitar. Received it in good shape, but immediately noticed how very, very HEAVY this new model was. Maybe I got a bad one, who knows - - but it was no doubt the heaviest, deadest-sounding guitar I've had in my hands in ages. Changing out the strings for fresh D'Addario's helped a little with the tone, but not much. I'm a semi-pro 50+ yr. player and have owned many high-dollar acoustics (i.e., Martin, Gibson, Taylor) so I know good sound and good quality. This was supposed to be a nice-looking and sounding "beater" for me to take out instead of my old, expensive Yairi or Gibson J-35, but alas ths model just didin't cut it. Be advised that the body is NOT flame maple (as the description says) but is lamainated Mahogany, not that it matters, just a misprint in the specs.

While it was very heavy, massive, and tinny-sounding acoustically, it did have a decent tone when plugged in, but really nothing to write home about. The workmanship was very neat overall, but I just can't get over how massive the construction was on this guitar. Huge internal bracing didn't help the overall weight. It did play like a dream, though, with perfect intonation all the way up the neck. Very nice fingerboard, slick fret job, and nice low action. Unfortunately, the neck was very fat, and a bit wider than I like, and with my arthritis this did not work at all. Reminded me a lot of the old Kay or Kraftsman "baseball bat" neck profiles of the 1960's, so regrettably with all the negatives I was forced to send this guitar back for a refund. I feel that if this model sounded good acoustically and wasn't so heavy it would have been just OK, but is overpriced for what it is.

I was impressed with Sweetwater's great service, their free setup, and willingness to accept my subsquent return of this guitar. While I'm a fan of Epiphone, and have been for many years, I just can't recommend this Epi model if you are looking for that good, woody tone acoustically - - I'd say go with something more lively (like the AJ-200 or the Hummingbird, which I have owned and they are both great guitars for the $$$). For recording purposes, this EJ-160e would work well, and would probably suit your needs in the studio, or even plugged in on stage, because it played like a dream and stayed in tune throughout a whole set with no problems. I really wanted this guitar to work out because it was a real beauty and it had the pickup, but there are much better options out there, for less money, even in the Epiphone line. Guess it depends on what you are needing and looking for. If you are searchng for good, airy acoustic tone and a lightweight instrument, this is NOT the guitar for you. UPDATE: I did later manage to settle on a nice Epi Masterbilt AJ-500M (Factory 2nd, recently discontinued) from eBay that is totally awesome in every way, for 1/2 the price of this EJ-160E, so I'm still a fan of Epiphone and their products.

Glenn Napier
from van buren Arkansas
March 1, 2004

Epiphone lennon limited

I have always wanted one of these, I am such a Beatle fan and to play a guitar made famous by George and John, even tho they bought the Gibson, I feel this is an exceptional value for the such a high quality musical instrument. I highly recomend buying an Epiphone. I have played a Gibson J45 and the tone and all around sound of the Epi is so close it is unreal.

Coz
from
February 1, 2004

John Lennon!

Now who WOULDNT like a guitar thats named after John Lennon??? HONESTLY! i luuuuuurve it!

Nenad Miletiæ Pippo
from Zagreb, Croatia
February 1, 2004

The Guitar of my Boyish Dreams

Despite my classical training and education, deeply in my soul, I am an electric guitarst who always wanted to get a nice rhythm guitar accompainment (if necessary) to my own lead. John Lennon's experience in that field is probably the very top of musical and devoted playing, as well as "Epiphone" J-160E signature model is on the very high level of its task: it enables everyone who wants to follow John Lennon's divine inspiration - with recognizable sound, timbar, character and playability.
Even more. J-160E is an excellent instrument for solo playing, near to John McLoughlin's sensitivity and touch style, with strings always "divisi" (italian word) enough, with beautiful chords always "tutti" enough, with strong energy always "forte" enough and with soft reacting always "piano" enough.
When I take her in my arms she always weeps: "Play me...!" - and I do. With pleasure! It's a real great satisfaction for an electric guitarist to lay on his or her fingers to a drednought with Gibsonish shaped and formated neck and fingerboard. Completely "at home", not to say - normal (!).
J-160E is only acoustic guitar. It's pick-up (P-90 or P-100?) is mostly nostalgic and decorative, unless if one takes it as a serious document how iliterrate was the amplification in a pre-piezzo period.
Cheep version of Gibson tulip-tuner machines are strongly reccomandable to be changed, and it is the only thing I would complain about if that guitar doesn't cost as it does. Considering the price, very nice one and affordable, "Epiphone" J-160E is one of the best guitars I have ever played.
The guitar of my boyish dreams..

Pippo

iOS/iPad

Recording

Computer Audio

Guitar

Bass

Keyboard

Drums

Live Sound

DJ/Lighting

Accessories

Dealzone

inSync

SweetCare® 24/7 Tech Support