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Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
Epiphone L-00 Studio
VS
Playability
78
Sound
85
Build
72
Value
88
Score
78
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Playability
78
Sound
79
Build
72
Value
86
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Epiphone J-45 EC Studio vs L-00 Studio

Reasons to Get
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio over L-00 Studio

Neck Profile
Acoustic Rounded C vs Acoustic SlimTaper D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Number of Frets
20 vs 19
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.68'' (42.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Jumbo vs Parlor
Large body with a tight waist for more top-end
Value Score
88 vs 86
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone L-00 Studio over J-45 EC Studio

Number of Frets
19 vs 20
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Acoustic SlimTaper D vs Acoustic Rounded C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Width
1.68'' (42.7mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Parlor vs Jumbo
Very small body with prominent mid tones

Other Key Differences
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio vs L-00 Studio

Saddle Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Reverse Belly Pau Ferro vs Indian Laurel
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio vs L-00 Studio

Back Material
Mahogany
Same Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany
Same Sides Material
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 Epiphone J-45 EC Studio is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Epiphone L-00 Studio's 76 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone J-45 EC Studio wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Epiphone L-00 Studio has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Epiphone L-00 Studio is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone L-00 Studio is the better choice.

The Epiphone L-00 Studio meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio meets only 3. 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.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone L-00 Studio
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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-45 EC Studio Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Modern series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Layered Mahogany back
  • Layered Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Reverse Belly Pau Ferro bridge
  • Acoustic Rounded C Set neck
  • 20 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Epiphone Premium Die Cast with Kidney Bean Metal Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone L-00 Studio Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Modern Acoustic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Mahogany back
  • Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Indian Laurel bridge
  • Acoustic SlimTaper D Set neck
  • 19 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatic with mini buttons 14:1 tuners
  • 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-45 EC Studio

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone L-00 Studio

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Winner: Tie.

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-45 EC Studio
Sustain 85
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 85
Epiphone L-00 Studio
Sustain 75
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 79

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-45 EC Studio compares to the Epiphone L-00 Studio.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

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.

Winner: Tie

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-45 EC Studio has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Epiphone L-00 Studio comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Epiphone J-45 EC Studio.

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-45 EC Studio's are Epiphone Premium Die Cast with Kidney Bean Metal Buttons while the Epiphone L-00 Studio's are Grover Rotomatic with mini buttons 14:1

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Compensated 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
Epiphone L-00 Studio
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
Quality of materials 76
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 72
Epiphone L-00 Studio
Quality of materials 76
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 72

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-45 EC Studio Nut Width
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio Nut Width
Epiphone L-00 Studio Nut Width
Epiphone L-00 Studio Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.7mm (1.68''). This is a 0.3mm (0.013'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio and Epiphone L-00 Studio's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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-45 EC Studio Neck Profile
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio's neck profile
Epiphone L-00 Studio Neck Profile
Epiphone L-00 Studio'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Epiphone J-45 EC Studio has a C type of 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.

The Epiphone L-00 Studio, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio and the Epiphone L-00 Studio have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio favors large hands more than the Epiphone L-00 Studio. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone L-00 Studio:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio and Epiphone L-00 Studio Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78
Epiphone L-00 Studio
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone J-45 EC Studio vs L-00 Studio
General Epiphone J-45 EC Studio L-00 Studio
Brand: Epiphone Epiphone
Year: 2021 2021
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Modern Modern Acoustic
Colors: Natural Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce Solid Spruce
Sides Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Reverse Belly Pau Ferro Indian Laurel
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Epiphone Premium Die Cast with Kidney Bean Metal Buttons Grover Rotomatic with mini buttons 14:1
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Acoustic Rounded C Acoustic SlimTaper D
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 19 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.7mm (1.68'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active) Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active)