The King of the Flat-Tops, Before the War Changed Everything
When the Gibson SJ-200 debuted in 1937, it was the biggest, boldest flattop guitar on the market — and the earliest ones had something the later maple versions didn't: rosewood back and sides. Those pre-war rosewood examples were produced in small numbers, and today the originals command serious collector prices. This Epiphone Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Reissue, developed in collaboration with Gibson Custom, is a faithful recreation built with all-solid tonewoods and period-correct appointments throughout.
It's a full Super Jumbo body with real presence — both visually and acoustically. The ornate Moustache bridge, graduated Crown inlays, vintage-style pickguard, and aged mother-of-pearl headstock inlay all point back to the late 1930s aesthetic that made the original such a statement instrument. Yet it's wired for modern stages, with an L.R. Baggs VTC pickup system already installed and ready to go.
Whether you're a vintage guitar enthusiast who always wanted one of these without the six-figure price tag, or a player looking for a large-bodied acoustic-electric with genuine all-solid construction, this reissue delivers the look and substance to back it up.
A Top That's Already Been Through Something
The spruce top on this guitar has been thermally aged — a process that accelerates the natural seasoning that happens to tonewoods over decades of use. The result is a top that feels and responds more like a broken-in vintage instrument from day one, with enhanced openness and warmth rather than the slightly stiff sound some new guitars start with.
Underneath, traditional scalloped X-bracing made from quarter-sawn solid spruce reinforces the top while preserving its ability to vibrate freely. Scalloped bracing removes material from the brace ends, which lowers mass without sacrificing structural integrity — a construction choice historically associated with greater projection and dynamic sensitivity.
Solid Rosewood Back and Sides
This is the defining feature of the pre-war SJ-200 story, and Epiphone doesn't cut corners here. The back and sides are solid rosewood — not laminate — which contributes the characteristic complexity and depth that rosewood is prized for. After 1947, Gibson switched the SJ-200 to maple; this reissue specifically honors that earlier, rarer configuration.
The two-piece maple neck features a rosewood stringer and a Round D profile, attached to the body via a glued-in dovetail joint. The 25.5" scale length and 1.74" nut width give you a comfortable, familiar feel across the full Super Jumbo body. The ebony fretboard carries 20 frets and mother-of-pearl graduated Crown inlays, with a 12" radius that suits both rhythm work and melodic playing.
Appointments Worth Looking At Twice
The hardware and details throughout are genuinely ornate. Gold Grover Imperial tuners handle tuning stability with a premium feel. The bone nut, compensated bone saddle, and bone bridge pins add tonal clarity and sustain. The ebony SJ-200 open two-bar Moustache bridge carries mother-of-pearl inlays, and the vintage-style pickguard graphics complete the pre-war look. The Gibson-style "open book" headstock features a vintage Epiphone logo and Gibson Crown inlaid in aged mother-of-pearl.
For live performance or recording, the under-saddle L.R. Baggs VTC piezo pickup and active preamp with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls give you a natural, acoustic-leaning amplified sound without any visible external controls breaking the vintage aesthetic. It's a discreet, effective system that doesn't require any modifications to plug in and play.
Product Features:
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Top: Thermally aged solid spruce with traditional scalloped X-bracing (quarter-sawn solid spruce)
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Back & Sides: Solid rosewood, matching the original pre-war SJ-200 configuration
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Body: Super Jumbo (SJ-200) shape with multi-ply top and back binding
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Neck: 2-piece maple with rosewood stringer, Round D profile, glued-in dovetail joint, 25.5" scale, 1.74" nut width
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Fretboard: Ebony, 12" radius, 20 frets, mother-of-pearl graduated Crown inlays
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Bridge & Hardware: Ebony SJ-200 open two-bar Moustache bridge with mother-of-pearl inlays; bone nut, compensated saddle, and bridge pins; gold Grover Imperial tuners
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Electronics: L.R. Baggs VTC under-saddle piezo pickup and active preamp with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls
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Finish: Vintage Sunburst gloss
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Series: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom, developed in collaboration with Gibson Custom
Brand: Epiphone
Model: Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Reissue
SKU: ECPW200VSGH1
Condition: New
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