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Martin GPC-X2E
Epiphone J-15 EC
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Playability
73
Sound
84
Build
71
Value
81
Score
76
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Playability
77
Sound
80
Build
62
Value
83
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Martin GPC-X2E vs Epiphone J-15 EC

Reasons to Get
Martin GPC-X2E over Epiphone J-15 EC

Country of Manufacturing
Mexico vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Acoustic Performing Artist vs Acoustic 1960's SlimTaper D-shape
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Corian vs Plastic
Similar to Bone, but slightly cheaper
Top Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.677'' (42.6mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Grand Auditorium vs Jumbo
Wide and narrow body with a balanced tone
Scale Length
25.4'' (645.2mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Epiphone J-15 EC over Martin GPC-X2E

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Acoustic 1960's SlimTaper D-shape vs Acoustic Performing Artist
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Width
1.677'' (42.6mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Jumbo vs Grand Auditorium
Large body with a tight waist for more top-end
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25.4'' (645.2mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
83 vs 81
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Martin GPC-X2E vs Epiphone J-15 EC

Back Material
HPL vs Mahogany
Different Back Material
Sides Material
HPL vs Mahogany
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Select Hardwood vs Pau Ferro; Reverse-Belly
Different Bridge Material
Neck Wood
Hardwood vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Hardwood vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Corian vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Martin GPC-X2E vs Epiphone J-15 EC

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body 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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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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Epiphone J-15 EC Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Martin GPC-X2E is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Epiphone J-15 EC's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Martin GPC-X2E wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Epiphone J-15 EC has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Epiphone J-15 EC 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 J-15 EC is the better choice.

The Epiphone J-15 EC meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Martin GPC-X2E 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

Martin GPC-X2E
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone J-15 EC
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • 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.

Martin GPC-X2E Overview

  • From Martin's 2020 X series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • HPL back
  • HPL sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • Select Hardwood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman (Preamp/Active)
  • Select Hardwood bridge
  • Acoustic Performing Artist Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Chrome Enclosed Gear tuners
  • Weight between 4.6lbs (2.1kgs) and 4.7lbs (2.1kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone J-15 EC Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Modern series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Spruce top
  • Select Mahogany back
  • Select Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: NanoFlex, low-impedance pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Pau Ferro; Reverse-Belly bridge
  • Acoustic 1960's SlimTaper D-shape Set neck
  • 20 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Premium Die-Cast with Kidney Buttons: 14:1 ratio 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

Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

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 Martin GPC-X2E

Hardwood wood pattern used for guitar building
Hardwood
HPL wood pattern used for guitar building
HPL

Hardwood is just a generic wood that can come from many species. This type of wood is used to build guitars because it provides a rich, warm sound. The wood also has good structural properties, making it durable and long-lasting.

HPL is a high-pressure laminate made from multiple layers of paper or fabric that are impregnated with resin and then fused together under high pressure and heat.

Woods Used in the Epiphone J-15 EC

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

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.

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.

Winner: Epiphone J-15 EC.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Martin GPC-X2E
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84
Epiphone J-15 EC
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 80

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 Martin GPC-X2E compares to the Epiphone J-15 EC.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Martin GPC-X2E is built in Mexico while the Epiphone J-15 EC is made in China.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

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: Martin GPC-X2E

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 Martin GPC-X2E has a Corian nut. It used to be the go-to nut for Gibson, but it's slowly being replaced by Graph Tech (Tusq). It's a synthetic material made to be similar to Bone, but it doesn't have the same self-lubricating properties, and it's less resistant.

On the other hand, the Epiphone J-15 EC 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: Martin GPC-X2E.

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 Martin GPC-X2E's are Chrome Enclosed Gear while the Epiphone J-15 EC's are Premium Die-Cast with Kidney Buttons: 14:1 ratio

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin GPC-X2E
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone J-15 EC
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Martin GPC-X2E
Quality of materials 58
Features 85
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 71
Epiphone J-15 EC
Quality of materials 56
Features 75
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 62

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

Martin GPC-X2E Nut Width
Martin GPC-X2E Nut Width
Epiphone J-15 EC Nut Width
Epiphone J-15 EC Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Martin GPC-X2E has the wider nut with 44.5mm (1.75'') vs 42.6mm (1.677''). This is a 1.9mm (0.073'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Martin GPC-X2E, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Martin GPC-X2E's Scale Length
Martin GPC-X2E's Scale Length
Epiphone J-15 EC's Scale Length
Epiphone J-15 EC'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 J-15 EC has the longest scale: 25.5". The Martin GPC-X2E is only 25.4" long. This is a 0.1'' (2.5mm) 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

Martin GPC-X2E Neck Profile
Martin GPC-X2E's neck profile
Epiphone J-15 EC Neck Profile
Epiphone J-15 EC'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 Martin GPC-X2E 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 J-15 EC, 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

Martin GPC-X2E Fingerboard Radius
Martin GPC-X2E's Fingerboard radius
Epiphone J-15 EC Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone J-15 EC'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-15 EC's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Martin GPC-X2E'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 Martin GPC-X2E.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Martin GPC-X2E favors large hands more than the Epiphone J-15 EC. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Martin GPC-X2E:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone J-15 EC:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Martin GPC-X2E Frets Size
Martin GPC-X2E's Frets Size
Epiphone J-15 EC Frets Size
Epiphone J-15 EC's Frets Size

The Epiphone J-15 EC has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Martin GPC-X2E'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

Martin GPC-X2E
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Epiphone J-15 EC
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Martin GPC-X2E vs Epiphone J-15 EC
General Martin GPC-X2E Epiphone J-15 EC
Brand: Martin Epiphone
Year: 2020 2021
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico China
Series: X Modern
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Spruce Select Spruce
Sides Material: HPL Mahogany
Back Material: HPL Mahogany
Bridge: Select Hardwood Pau Ferro; Reverse-Belly
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Chrome Enclosed Gear Premium Die-Cast with Kidney Buttons: 14:1 ratio
Fretboard: Select Hardwood Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Select Hardwood Mahogany
Decoration: Mother-of-Pearl Pattern Style 28 Dot
Scale Size: 25.4" 25.5"
Shape: Acoustic Performing Artist Acoustic 1960's SlimTaper D-shape
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12"
Nut: Corian Plastic
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 42.6mm (1.677'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman (Preamp / Active) NanoFlex, low-impedance pickup (Preamp / Active)