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Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Yamaha A5R ARE
VS
Playability
78
Sound
85
Build
77
Value
85
Score
80
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Playability
73
Sound
90
Build
89
Value
79
Score
84
FIND IT ON:
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Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor vs Yamaha A5R ARE

Reasons to Get
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor over Yamaha A5R ARE

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Body Shape
Jumbo vs Dreadnought
Large body with a tight waist for more top-end
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.6'' (650.2mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
85 vs 79
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Yamaha A5R ARE over Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Sides Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Back Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Body Shape
Dreadnought vs Jumbo
Prominent low-end tones in a large body
Scale Length
25.6'' (650.2mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor vs Yamaha A5R ARE

Back Material
Ovangkol vs Rosewood
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Ovangkol vs Rosewood
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Pau Ferro vs Ebony
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor vs Yamaha A5R ARE

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha A5R ARE is probably the better product overall with its final score of 84 compared to the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's 80 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha A5R ARE wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha A5R ARE
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Modern Acoustic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Ovangkol back
  • Ovangkol sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Pau Ferro bridge
  • Acoustic Rounded Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Yamaha A5R ARE Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2017 A series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany (3-ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Weight between 4.95lbs (2.2kgs) and 5.2lbs (2.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Ovangkol wood pattern used for guitar building
Ovangkol

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Ovangkol is a beautiful wood that's popular for acoustic guitars. Its tone sits somewhere between rosewood and mahogany, meaning it has a punchy low-end and nice mid-range. Find out more about Ovangkol.

Woods Used in the Yamaha A5R ARE

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Yamaha A5R ARE.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Sustain 85
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 85
Yamaha A5R ARE
Sustain 95
Versatility 95
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 90

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor compares to the Yamaha A5R ARE.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor is built in China while the Yamaha A5R ARE is made in Japan.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Yamaha A5R ARE

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Yamaha A5R ARE comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's are Grover Mini Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio while the Yamaha A5R ARE's are Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh)

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha A5R ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Electronics
  • Ivory Tusq Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Quality of materials 86
Features 85
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 77
Yamaha A5R ARE
Quality of materials 96
Features 80
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 89

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's Scale Length
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's Scale Length
Yamaha A5R ARE's Scale Length
Yamaha A5R ARE's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Yamaha A5R ARE has the longest scale: 25.6". The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.85'' (21.6mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Neck Profile
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's neck profile
Yamaha A5R ARE Neck Profile
Yamaha A5R ARE's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor and the Yamaha A5R ARE have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha A5R ARE Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha A5R ARE's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha A5R ARE's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Yamaha A5R ARE.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha A5R ARE:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor and Yamaha A5R ARE Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78
Yamaha A5R ARE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor vs Yamaha A5R ARE
General Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Yamaha A5R ARE
Brand: Epiphone Yamaha
Year: 2020 2017
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Japan
Series: Modern Acoustic A
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Spruce Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing
Sides Material: Ovangkol Rosewood
Back Material: Ovangkol Rosewood
Bridge: Pau Ferro Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh)
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany African Mahogany (3-ply)
Decoration: Dot inlays with a Crown on 12th fret Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.6"
Shape: Acoustic Rounded Acoustic C
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15.75"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active) SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Active)