Anyone Recognize this Guitar

ruiner54 · #1 01-03-2012, 02:56 PM

Hi

http://moncton.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLar...AdId=342867316

This style looks EXTREMELY familiar...sort of like a dot, but I have seen that tail-piece somewhere. The story is that a guy is selling it for $300 but it has no brand or model on it. For that reason alone I am very cautious but I am curious to hear how it sounds.

It shares the same style as some semi-hollows, but the ad has not mentioned whether its semi or full-hollow body (I think there are one or two full hollows with this style)
Could it be on old Aria knockoff or something? Please let me know what you think.

ronjazz · #2 01-03-2012, 03:12 PM

It looks like a generic 335 knockoff out of an Asian factory, with a Byrdland-style tailpiece. Probably semi-hollow. The Samick factory in Korea builds guitars for everyone, could be from there.

vinlander · #3 01-03-2012, 07:11 PM

Same tailpiece as on the Epiphone Emperor II Joe Pass.
Position of the pickup selector is unusual for a Dot copy however.
Presence of a floating bridge could also mean a Casino copy being full hollow but not sure.

ruiner54 · #4 01-04-2012, 07:04 AM

Ahhh right, the Joe Pass..that's where I have seen that bridge...I knew it wasn't on the dot because they have no tail-piece.

It looks nice (for a knock-off) and if it sounded good it might be worth picking up....not for $300. I priced brand new Epi 335 at Long McQuade and they are just under $400...unless it's a hybrid Scofield knock-off.

Unless it happens to be more amazing than it looks I figured it would deserve no more than $225 - 250. It's hard to price something that has no name.

Thoughts?

I am putting serious thought into getting an Ibanez PM35 or maybe a Joe Pass Emp. in a few months when I have a bit more money....haven't played the Emporer much yet. Until then I would like to grab a cheaper jazz box.

BTW thanks for the quick response..items on Kijiji can go fast so I appreciate the help.

Jake Hanlon · #5 01-04-2012, 08:36 AM

I'd be wary to buy an instrument where the seller isn't willing to show the headstock or condition of the whole instrument. Kijijii is a pretty awesome resource but it's also full of people who don't know what the instrument is worth.

I've not come across as single person on kijiji willing to give value for instruments yet. But in terms of knock off guitars you're prob just better off not buying a guitar you may grow out of in 6 months if it's in poor shape.

In my experience unless you're an absolute beginner, a guitar under $500 is probably not worth buying unless you find a real gem and the owner hasn't a clue what he/she has on them.

I'd also not go by whatever L&M do for pricing you probably could do better but I'm not sure what sort of Music stores are in Moncton or if it's the same as Halifax... pretty much the only game in town.

ruiner54 · #6 01-04-2012, 11:01 AM

Those are some good points actually...especially not being able to see the headstock. I told the guy that it might be hard to get $300 for that guitar and ask if he would like to slide on the price any...of course he said "no". From my experience, people generally don't like to be told they are are selling something for too much money..I think it insults their ego.

So, that turned my "Maybe" into a definite "no". I do actually have a bad habit of buying things because of price and then growing out of them.

There is another shop in town "La Guitare". They have fantastic service and a great luthier but they are smaller and don't carry much stock. I think they currently have one or two jazz boxes in the whole place...both Godin. They said they can order me an Ibanez but they were honest to tell me that it wouldn't be a fast process.

Maybe I should start looking at ordering an archtop online.

I have been playing guitar for about 13 years but have only recently taken an interest in Jazz.

raylinds · #7 01-04-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruiner54

Ahhh right, the Joe Pass..that's where I have seen that bridge...I knew it wasn't on the dot because they have no tail-piece.

The bridge is not from the Joe Pass, but the tailpiece is. The bridge looks like a Gibson. I know this because I swapped out the bridge on my JP for that same bridge. The bridge on the JP is wood, not metal.

ruiner54 · #8 01-05-2012, 10:58 AM

raylinds:

Yeah, i swear I meant tail-piece...I always take notice of tail-piece's because they are often distinct on arch-tops (except Bigsbys)

I am starting to get the guitar buying fever as we talk about it more and more. I keep watching Kijiji in my area and the surrounding provinces, but there don't seem to be many used arch-tops. I don't want the hassle of ordering from far away and having something shipped so I want to buy as local as possible.

Since I can't afford to spend the money on a Gibson ES-175 or other normally priced arch-top 2000+++, I will settle for something in the $700-1000 range.

This brings me to the Epiphone (supposed Joe Pass) emperor, which he endorsed but didn't like very much? I have seen a couple used in the Halifax area (a few hours from me).

So, any strong opinions on this guitar? The local shop has one, which I have attempted to play, but there always seems to be some guy playing AC/DC on an SG through a marshall or loud obnoxious blues. It's been hard to get a real feel for the instrument.....from what I could tell...I liked it.

ruiner54 · #9 01-05-2012, 12:47 PM

Scratch that question...my memory is bad and I forgot that I have asked about the Joe Pass already in the Gear section. I thought it was on another fourm so I guess I should just stick to one.

Thanks for the help with the no name

ruiner54 · #10 01-08-2012, 10:05 AM

I have made a decision on the Epi Joe Pass...for the price it's i nice guitar. My friend at the guitar shop said that he has seen quite a few Joe Pass models come and go there and none have played as nice the one they currently have. So rather than risk it being sold and getting another one ordered I'm going in to put a down payment on it tomorrow then picking it up next week.

vinlander · #11 01-08-2012, 03:43 PM

I have a Joe Pass since the early 90s and its a very playable and comfortable guitar, you will enjoy it.
I got it as my first Jazz box while trying to get into the ES 175 ballpark.
I changed the neck pickup for a 490R to get closer to the 175.
Probably could benefit even more from a classic 57 but even stock it remains a very descent instrument.
I particularly love the neck on mine.

ruiner54 · #12 01-09-2012, 09:50 AM

That was actually my next question: what sort of pickup should I put in the neck. Thanks for that...I have heard many people mention putting the 57 in, but I always like options. With the two pickups you mentioned, they should fit in without any alteration? I don't know a ton about pickups. When I bought my Lollar CC for my tele, I found out that some of th MIM teles were already routed for humbuckers as well, but the body still required minor routing. I had a luthier do it and he did a fine job very cheaply, but this time I want an option that I can just solder and drop in with no body mods.

I am a big fan of buying good quality alternatives to expensive guitars and modding them over time to suit my needs (eg. MIM fender instead of Americn, Epiphone rather than Gibson).

vinlander · #13 01-09-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruiner54

That was actually my next question: what sort of pickup should I put in the neck. Thanks for that...I have heard many people mention putting the 57 in, but I always like options. With the two pickups you mentioned, they should fit in without any alteration? I don't know a ton about pickups. When I bought my Lollar CC for my tele, I found out that some of th MIM teles were already routed for humbuckers as well, but the body still required minor routing. I had a luthier do it and he did a fine job very cheaply, but this time I want an option that I can just solder and drop in with no body mods.

I am a big fan of buying good quality alternatives to expensive guitars and modding them over time to suit my needs (eg. MIM fender instead of Americn, Epiphone rather than Gibson).

I had a 490R put in mine back in the days, because at the time I was studying with my teacher who was playing an Herb Ellis ES 165 with such a pickup.
He sold me on the Joe Pass and did the pickup swapping for me.
As far as I recall the only other upgrade was the the toggle switch which was buzzing when I played.
To be honnest, we both were amazed how it was getting close to the real deal and for such a low price.
The only time I am using the stock bridge pickup is when I feel like playing some prog rock like old Yes. Maybe in the futur I will put a 490T and change the harness for a vintage BCS like I did in my Sheraton lately.
I now what you mean by taking inexpensive guitar and upgrade them I did on all my Epiphones.
If you already like the instrument and bound with it, its a nice way to make it more personal and get the most out of them.
All my Epis are keepers