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Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
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Playability
78
Sound
88
Build
94
Value
72
Score
87
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Playability
77
Sound
88
Build
77
Value
86
Score
81
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String vs Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Specs Comparison
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
General
Brand: Gibson Epiphone
Year: 2021 2020
Strings: 12 6
Made in: United States China
Series: Modern Acoustic Masterbilt
Colors: Sunburst Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce Solid Sitka Spruce
Sides Material: Mahogany Maple
Back Material: Mahogany Maple
Bridge: Reverse Belly, Rosewood Indian Laurel
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatic Gold, Keystone Buttons
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Dots Pearloid Split Block Rectangles
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Acoustic Slim Taper Acoustic C
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone NuBone
Nut Width: 47.6mm (1.875'') 42.7mm (1.68'')
Electronics
Pickups: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active) Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active)
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Gold

Reasons to Get
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String over Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Strings
12 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Nut Width
1.875'' (47.6mm) vs 1.68'' (42.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Jumbo vs Dreadnought
Large body with a tight waist for more top-end
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier over Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Strings
6 vs 12
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Nut Width
1.68'' (42.7mm) vs 1.875'' (47.6mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Dreadnought vs Jumbo
Prominent low-end tones in a large body
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
86 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String vs Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Back Material
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Ivory Tusq vs Bone
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Reverse Belly, Rosewood vs Indian Laurel
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6-6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String vs Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
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
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String favors large hands more than the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String 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

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Winner: Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
Sustain 95
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 88
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Sustain 95
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 88

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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String compares to the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String is built in United States while the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier is made in China.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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: Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String

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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String 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 Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier comes with a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's are Grover Mini Rotomatic while the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's are Gold, Keystone Buttons

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Ivory Tusq Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
Quality of materials 96
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 94
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Quality of materials 86
Features 85
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 77

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

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Nut Width
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Nut Width
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Nut Width
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 42.7mm (1.68''). This is a 4.9mm (0.195'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's Scale Length
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's Scale Length
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's Scale Length
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier'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 Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Neck Profile
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's neck profile
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Neck Profile
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier'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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String and the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier 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

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String 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 Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String and the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier 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.

Fret Size

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String Frets Size
Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's Frets Size
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Frets Size
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's Frets Size

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson J-45 Standard 12-String
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77