The Epiphone AJ 220SCE is a wonderful mid-range instrument that can be a solid upgrade from a cheap beginner acoustic.
I started learning on a cheap guitar and to be honest, fretting even a simple chord was a painful experience. Getting barres to ring out was very difficult and even with a teacher, my progress was quite slow.
I did put in a lot of time to practice forming and shifting chords, so I was demotivated by how bad I was. I somehow got through it, and these days, I see the value of learning on a decent instrument.
Today, we can have high-quality instruments with amazing playability for cheap prices, so there isn’t a need to learn on beginner guitars that are very hard to play. Needless to say, you’ll need to upgrade to a better guitar anyway, so why not start out with a decent one in the first place?
The electro-acoustic guitar is a great budget guitar if you want the experience of a quality instrument without paying a high amount.
Table of Contents
Overview of Epiphone AJ 220SCE
Epiphone AJ-220SCE
What We Like
- Solid Sitka spruce top for fantastic tone
- Classic dreadnought body
- Convenient controls for easy playing
- Affordable
Our Verdict
The Epiphone AJ 220SCE has an amazing projection and beautiful tones both plugged and unplugged. The easy playability factor makes it suitable for both beginners and gigging professionals.
Since it features cool aesthetics, excellent playability, and convenient controls, it’s a serious contender in the lower price range.
Epiphone – The Brand
Epiphone needs no introduction as the brand is already favored by many guitar players for the inexpensive line of guitars and effects.
I’ve come across many Epiphone guitars and almost all of them have sounded great. The design on these is also top-notch, and I favor Epiphone headstocks over any other headstocks in the market.
Epiphone guitars also sound as good as some expensive guitars, so opting for this budget brand is a great choice to save some money.
Tuning
The tuning on Epiphone AJ 220SCE is handled by a set of Ni-plated die-cast tuning machines which do a great job of holding the strings in tune. These look gorgeous on the classic Epiphone headstock and do not cost a lot- so it’s easy to see why Epiphone put these on.
Sound-wise, the AJ 220SCE stays in tune while doing vibrato or bends, so it’s nice. You could certainly improve the tuning by swapping out the plastic nut for an inexpensive bone nut.
Aesthetics
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE is heavily inspired by dreadnought styles and if you ask me, it looks stunning!
In addition to the depth and fuller sound of a dreadnought, it also provides a couple of comfort features. The cutaway model looks quite good on the Sitka Spruce body with a gloss finish.
The plastic nut and saddle look nice too. You can swap one with a bone nut with little effort,
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE looks and feels like a premium instrument even though it doesn’t cost the part. The lovely attention to detail is one of the things I like about the AJ 220 SCE.
Neck
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE features 20 medium-jumbo frets on a mahogany neck. 20 frets mean that the guitar has close to four octave-range, which is more than enough for most of the rhythm and occasional lead-work that you may do.
The neck is very durable and has a slim profile.
There is a Pao Ferro fingerboard on the neck which is a budget alternative to the more expensive rosewood. Pao Ferro is quite similar tonally, so it’s nice to have a cheaper material that does the same thing.
The neck has a satin finish which has smooth playability.
When I’m buying an acoustic, I don’t pay much attention to the wood. I do notice plastic nuts and saddles, which I don’t like at all.
Back to my point, any time I’m out for an acoustic (or an electric), I check to see how it feels against my palm and fingers. The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE feels really nice- thanks to the satin finish and there are no rough edges either which makes gliding over the neck very convenient.
Getting barre chords to sound nice is also easy with the slim neck which seems to be ideal for most players.
Body
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE having laminate mahogany for sides and back is reasonable as Epiphone has wanted to keep the prices low. What matters more is that it has a solid top as it makes a huge difference in sound.
The solid Sitka Spruce top does a great job at enhancing the sound. It is protected by a gloss finish which also looks great.
The cutaway guitar body design makes playing upper frets very convenient.
Controls
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE is a semi-acoustic guitar and it has a built-in preamp.
I prefer to have 3-band EQ as it allows better control over the mids, but this one has a 2-band EQ that lets you easily adjust the bass and treble. For most intermediate-level players, not having a mid-control isn’t much of a serious problem.
The controls are situated on the top side when you’re playing, so you’ll have an easy time changing the settings mid-song when playing live.
There is also volume control and phase control.
Overall, the knobs are pretty sturdy and look nice. It doesn’t feel cheap and more importantly, the controls do their job, which is what I look for in the guitars I’m buying.
How it Sounds?
The Epiphone AJ 220 SCE delivers the full punch of an acoustic when unplugged. The dreadnought shape is responsible for the depth and amazing sound of this guitar.
The beautiful entry-level acoustic-electric guitar sounds beautiful when plugged into a decent amp, and the tones are just perfect for some fingerstyle.
It sounds fuller when you turn the bass all the way up and the phase option makes even a simple chord sound great.
What I really like about this semi-acoustic Epiphone is the amazing projection you get even when playing a simple chord.
The strings that come on this are pretty heavy. Personally, I would swap them out for a set of fresh Martin Light strings. Mostly because those are easier on the hands and over the years, I’ve grown to love them!
It’s personal taste and you can keep the original strings if you like how they sound.
Who it’s for
The budget Epiphone is great for both beginners and professionals, and anybody in between.
It is inexpensive so you don’t have to worry about it while on your travels and it’s got decent playability which makes it suitable for gigs too.
Professionals can use it as a practice instrument to practice their chops. I cannot think of any reason why somebody couldn’t use it on gigs as a rhythm instrument.
There are many parents who think that you can gift your child the cheapest instrument on the market and if your child is musically inclined, he’ll be able to play amazing music early on. Nothing could be farther from the truth as musical ability is something that most develop after lots of practice.
I had a crappy guitar growing up, and I know first-hand the troubles of learning one. If anything, having your child start on a cheap acoustic is a sure way to demotivate them. If you want them to develop an interest in something, you need to put in some effort on your part too.
The AJ 220SCE is a well set-up quality instrument, so it makes a great gift idea for friends or family.
Score
Bottom Line
The Epiphone AJ 220SCE is a great budget option for anybody looking for a serious instrument at a low-price range.
There are some compromises in the construction materials but overall, it offers a solid value for the low asking price. Another excellent option for those seeking a highly affordable acoustic guitar for beginners is the Epiphone DR-100.
FAQ
Can I plug a semi-acoustic guitar into an electric guitar amp if I do not have an acoustic amp?
Yes, you can. Doing so will result in a weaker sound but if you only have an electric amp, by all means, go for it. For practice or on-the-go playing, exploring the best mini guitar amplifiers can provide a convenient and quality sound solution without needing a full-sized setup. For comprehensive advice on how to record bass guitar to a computer or phone, explore our detailed guide.
I want to learn fingerstyle on this. Can I put nylon strings on it?
Yes, you definitely can! If you really want to learn on a nylon-string, you’d be better off with a classical guitar.
Many fingerstyle players do play on steel-string acoustic too, so you can get started on any you like.
Amp Compatibility for Different Instruments
While the Epiphone AJ 220SCE is an electro-acoustic, players often wonder about amp compatibility across various instruments. For instance, connecting a bass guitar to a standard guitar amplifier raises specific questions regarding safety and sound quality. It's crucial to understand the impedance and power requirements to prevent damage and ensure optimal tone. Exploring whether it's suitable to play a bass guitar through a guitar amp can save you from potential equipment issues and help you achieve the best sound for your setup. This is a common query among musicians with limited access to specialized amplification.