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Takamine GJ72CE
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
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Playability
77
Sound
85
Build
74
Value
84
Score
79
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Playability
78
Sound
85
Build
77
Value
85
Score
80
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
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Takamine GJ72CE vs Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

Reasons to Get
Takamine GJ72CE over Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

Neck Profile
Acoustic Asymmetrical C vs Acoustic Rounded
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.4'' (645.2mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor over Takamine GJ72CE

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Acoustic Rounded vs Acoustic Asymmetrical C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.4'' (645.2mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
85 vs 84
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Takamine GJ72CE vs Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

Back Material
Flame Maple vs Ovangkol
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Flame Maple vs Ovangkol
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Fixed vs Pau Ferro
Different Bridge Material
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Takamine GJ72CE vs Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

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
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • 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-200 EC Studio Parlor is probably the better product overall with its final score of 80 compared to the Takamine GJ72CE's 79 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Takamine GJ72CE has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Takamine GJ72CE is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Takamine GJ72CE is the better choice.

The Takamine GJ72CE meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor 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

Takamine GJ72CE
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

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

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.

Takamine GJ72CE Overview

  • From Takamine's 2019 G series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Flame Maple back
  • Flame Maple sides
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: TK-40D (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Takamine Die-cast tuners
  • Weight between 5.3lbs (2.4kgs) and 5.65lbs (2.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

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 >

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 Takamine GJ72CE

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

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.

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.

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Woods Used in the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor

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

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.

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.

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

Takamine GJ72CE
Sustain 85
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 85
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Sustain 85
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 85

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 Takamine GJ72CE compares to the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor.

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 Takamine GJ72CE 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 J-200 EC Studio Parlor comes with 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.

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 Takamine GJ72CE's are Takamine Die-cast while the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's are Grover Mini Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine GJ72CE
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic 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
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

Final Build Quality Scores

Takamine GJ72CE
Quality of materials 76
Features 85
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 74
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
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

Takamine GJ72CE Nut Width
Takamine GJ72CE Nut Width
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Nut Width
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.2mm (0.008'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Takamine GJ72CE's Scale Length
Takamine GJ72CE's Scale Length
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor's Scale Length
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor'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 Takamine GJ72CE has the longest scale: 25.4". The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.65'' (16.5mm) 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

Takamine GJ72CE Neck Profile
Takamine GJ72CE's neck profile
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor Neck Profile
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor'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 Takamine GJ72CE has a Asymmetrical type of neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

The Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor, on the other hand, has a C 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

Takamine GJ72CE 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 Takamine GJ72CE and the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor 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-200 EC Studio Parlor favors large hands more than the Takamine GJ72CE. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Takamine GJ72CE:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Takamine GJ72CE and Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor 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

Takamine GJ72CE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Takamine GJ72CE vs Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
General Takamine GJ72CE Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
Brand: Takamine Epiphone
Year: 2019 2020
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: G Modern Acoustic
Colors: Sunburst, Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Spruce Solid Spruce
Sides Material: Flame Maple Ovangkol
Back Material: Flame Maple Ovangkol
Bridge: Fixed Pau Ferro
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Takamine Die-cast Grover Mini Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio
Fretboard: Laurel Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Abalone custom 12th Dot inlays with a Crown on 12th fret
Scale Size: 25.4" 24.75"
Shape: Acoustic Asymmetrical C Acoustic Rounded
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42.8mm (1.685'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: TK-40D (Preamp / Active) Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active)