Sadowsky Jim Hall on a budget

[EinarG]

Hi!

I'm totally in love with the JH Sadowsky, and my GAS is beginning to drive me nuts. I've got about $1500 (preferably less) to spent on an archtop, so the real deal is completely out of the question.

I'm looking for a guitar with the same features and sound at a lower price.
One (or two) mounted humbucker(s), laminate body, preferably no inlays, only side dots, and a nice finish. Scale length no longer that 25".


Any suggestions?
I've been looking at the peerless monarch, d'angelico, different guilds, heritage and 175-type guitars.

/Einar

[mangotango]

D'Angelico New Yorker in perfect condition on eBay (end time 16-Mar-11 21:41:49 GMT)

If you don't buy this, I just might........

[EinarG]

Man, you're right. That's a great guitar right there. Allthough, I already have a great semi-hollow I'm not planning to get rid of. What I need now is a hollowbody.

[Flat]

Einar - I am extremely lucky to own both a Sadowsky Jim Hall Signature and a Heritage H575.

I had the Heritage for several years, then found a good deal on a used Sadowsky and thought I would "step up" to it, and sell the Heritage to help finance the purchase.

That was last year. I love the SJH, but I just can't let the Heritage go! It's a fantastic guitar. And though it is different from the Sadowsky, it doesn't seem in any way the lesser.

There are a number of options out there, but my vote would be to find a good used Heritage H575. Awesome guitar, fantastic value-per-dollar, imho.

[EinarG]

Yeah, I've been looking at those, just wished I could afford one with a burst of some sorts. But, as long as it's good, I don't mind it being in a natural finish Something like this? HERITAGE H-575 GUITAR IN ANTIQUE NATURAL - eBay (item 360350901443 end time Apr-08-11 15:11:13 PDT)

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by EinarG

Yeah, I've been looking at those, just wished I could afford one with a burst of some sorts. But, as long as it's good, I don't mind it being in a natural finish Something like this? HERITAGE H-575 GUITAR IN ANTIQUE NATURAL - eBay (item 360350901443 end time Apr-08-11 15:11:13 PDT)

I used to own a 575, it was a great guitar. It features a solid top though which does not meet your requirement for a laminated top.

The Heritage Groovemaster features a laminate top. It's a nice guitar as well but they don't come up used very often.

[EinarG]

Well, I actually ruled out solid top first and foremost because it would be expensive. And, I guess, why spend alot of money on a solid top when I want mounted pickups?

I found a Dearmond x-155 at a reasonable price, what do you guys think of those? It's based on one of the guilds, wich is basically a 175. It's got the recipe for success, but does it have the ingredients?

[Marcel]

Have you considered a used Eastman? The Pisano is a sweet guitar. Vary similar to a ES 175. But with a more pure tone. Eastmans are great and they have a few models with a cut in PU.
Here is one on Ebay at $1000 right now
Eastman AR680ce archtop John Pisano model - eBay (item 120696856527 end time Mar-18-11 20:19:37 PDT)

[mongrel]

Originally Posted by EinarG

Well, I actually ruled out solid top first and foremost because it would be expensive. And, I guess, why spend alot of money on a solid top when I want mounted pickups?

I found a Dearmond x-155 at a reasonable price, what do you guys think of those? It's based on one of the guilds, wich is basically a 175. It's got the recipe for success, but does it have the ingredients?

The Dearmond X155 is a good basic guitar if it was made pre-Fender acquisition which can be determined by the "Guild" on the headstock and "Made in Korea" on the back of the headstock. They have USA made "Goldtone" pickups which sort of resemble Filtertrons. I had them in a DeArmond solid body and could never get them dialed in. The guitar is about in between a Korean Epi Joe Pass and an Aria FA 71 or Cort Yorktown (the older ones only) on the upper end. You should be able to find one of those in the $500-$600 max range.

[NiAg]

>>> I found a Dearmond x-155 at a reasonable price, what do you guys think of those? It's based on one of the guilds, wich is basically a 175.

The 155 is quite a bit different from a 175 in my opinion. Likewise I would not at all consider it to be similar in feel or sound to a Jim Hall.

The 155 is a very nicely built guitar. It is a big traditional box, with a very large feel when playing. Not a bad thing - but not like the SJH which really sits much more like a small guitar even though the numbers do not make it sound like a much smaller box.

The 155 pickups are unusual. They are quite bright.

On the SJH, you have a medium maple box sounding smooth and even, with big boobs.

With the 155 you have a big maple box sounding very lively and articulate.

Both are fine things, but not much alike.

All in my opinion. I used to own an X-155.

[NiAg]

Oooh. Just noticed this comment:

>>> X155 is a good basic guitar if it was made pre-Fender acquisition which can be determined by the "Guild" on the headstock and "Made in Korea" on the back of the headstock.

I have noticed no difference whatsoever between X-155's with or without any peculiar pre-Fender details. They all seemed the same to me.

Its funny how they introduced the 155 to rave reviews. Then they sold very, very poorly. They were blown out by dealers for very low $$$.

And now they go for what they originally cost before the blowout.

[EinarG]

Thanks for the info!

At the price I was offered it seemed like a good deal, but if I have to swap the pickups before I can appreciate it, I would rather spend a bit more for a better guitar.

What about the Peerless Monarch with the mounted pickup? Are there anyone here whos played one, or one of the other peerless guitars?

I might have a good deal on a Höfner Jazzica as well, but it's got a 25 1/2 scale neck, and 24 frets, wich leaves little space for a neck pickup, I fear it might be to bright on the treble strings. Any input?

I'm going to pay attention to the eastman auction, maybe I'll toss in a bid if it stays this low.

[Soco]

Originally Posted by Marcel

Have you considered a used Eastman? The Pisano is a sweet guitar. Vary similar to a ES 175. But with a more pure tone. Eastmans are great and they have a few models with a cut in PU.
Here is one on Ebay at $1000 right now
Eastman AR680ce archtop John Pisano model - eBay (item 120696856527 end time Mar-18-11 20:19:37 PDT)

+1 on Eastman. I just checked out a used thinline T146Sm, singlecutaway fully hollow, one pickup.Really nice guitar, I think they wanted 1200$ used.
Much better than the korean made now discontinued Ibanez PM20 that I used to own.

[Philly112]

Originally Posted by EinarG

Thanks for the info!

At the price I was offered it seemed like a good deal, but if I have to swap the pickups before I can appreciate it, I would rather spend a bit more for a better guitar.

What about the Peerless Monarch with the mounted pickup? Are there anyone here whos played one, or one of the other peerless guitars?

I might have a good deal on a Höfner Jazzica as well, but it's got a 25 1/2 scale neck, and 24 frets, wich leaves little space for a neck pickup, I fear it might be to bright on the treble strings. Any input?

I'm going to pay attention to the eastman auction, maybe I'll toss in a bid if it stays this low.

I have recently acquired via our favourite auction site a Peerless Manhattan. The Monarch is solid wood, the Manhattan laminated, and the Monarch features rosewood fingerboard and 'accessories', the Manhattan ebony. Also the Manhattan doesn't have any fingerboard markings.
It was a bit of a 'rush of blood' blind buy for me; I also have an Ibanez 2355. Anyway, it's only money...
My Peerless has a different pick up fitted to the standard one; check out comments on the one fitted to the Monarch as I believe that the pups might be their weak point. Mine has an additional tone control fitted, which is a mixed blessing as it can be difficult to miss the controls when picking. I put on smaller knobs as the ones supplied were quite long.
The guitar is flawlessly finished, and plays wonderfully.
It also feeds back quite a bit; more than the Ibanez.
So overall, I'm very happy with it. However, it does play and sound quite different to the Ibanez.
There are quite a few You Tube clips of people playing the Monarch (for what a clip of someone else playing a guitar is worth!)

Cheers
Phil

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by EinarG

Man, you're right. That's a great guitar right there. Allthough, I already have a great semi-hollow I'm not planning to get rid of. What I need now is a hollowbody.

Sorry Einar, I got myself mixed between this thread and your other one.

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...ggestions.html

My fault for not paying enough attention!!

Still, that leaves me free to go for the D'A with a clear conscience.....

[EinarG]

No problem! Go ahead, buy it!

Yeah, my priorities has changed --and budget, unfortunately

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by EinarG

No problem! Go ahead, buy it!

Yeah, my priorities has changed --and budget, unfortunately

Any interest in these? There was a suggestion of the Heritage 575

Heritage H-575 archtop guitar on eBay (end time 16-Mar-11 20:21:58 GMT)

Heritage H575 in stunning condition built 1990 on eBay (end time 24-Mar-11 17:27:44 GMT)

and you mentioned D'Angelico:-

D' ANGELICO EXCEL JAZZ ARCHTOP WITH CASE / SUPERB on eBay (end time 19-Mar-11 17:12:12 GMT)

[mongrel]

Originally Posted by NiAg

Oooh. Just noticed this comment:

>>> X155 is a good basic guitar if it was made pre-Fender acquisition which can be determined by the "Guild" on the headstock and "Made in Korea" on the back of the headstock.

I have noticed no difference whatsoever between X-155's with or without any peculiar pre-Fender details. They all seemed the same to me.

Its funny how they introduced the 155 to rave reviews. Then they sold very, very poorly. They were blown out by dealers for very low $$$.

And now they go for what they originally cost before the blowout.

After Fender took over DeArmond, it moved manufacturing to Indonesia. Mahogany became "nato". Quality decreased and I recall that after about one model year, they stopped making the electrics. The real star of that pre-Fender DeArmond line is the Starfire Special, a single cutaway thinline with single coil Dynasonic like pickups. Some of those are selling at prices approaching real USA made used Guilds.

[carlescountry]

Originally Posted by mangotango

D'Angelico New Yorker in perfect condition on eBay (end time 16-Mar-11 21:41:49 GMT)

If you don't buy this, I just might........

Only for UK I would bid for that guitar!!!

[mangotango]

Dagnabbit - got outbid at the last minute!

[carlescountry]

Only 770GBP Good luck for the buyer!!!

[EinarG]

Man, that's cheap!

There's a sunburst vestax here in norway for 3500 usd. Great guitars, lucky buyer!

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by carlescountry

Only 770GBP Good luck for the buyer!!!

yeh really pleased for him (gritted teeth).

[Flat]

That Eastman Pisano sold for $998. Barring unseen issues, somebody got a good deal!

[jazzfan13]

for small budget, the yamaha aex 1500 could be a good choice, the electronic-piezo part doesn't do anything and you can forget it, but all the rest is ok, for a ridiculous price you get a correct archtop
I am testing one, and i think it's perfect for a gift : nobody like this guitar and you can get it easily,
(I own 2 sadowsky JH, 1 eastman pisano, 1 fender d'aquisto and more...)

[pingu]

Originally Posted by jazzfan13

for small budget, the yamaha aex 1500 could be a good choice, the electronic-piezo part doesn't do anything and you can forget it, but all the rest is ok, for a ridiculous price you get a correct archtop
I am testing one, and i think it's perfect for a gift : nobody like this guitar and you can get it easily,
(I own 2 sadowsky JH, 1 eastman pisano, 1 fender d'aquisto and more...)

Whay do you think of the Pisano ?
They're pretty

[jazzfan13]

the pisano (mine anyway) is a really beautiful guitar you can fall in love at first glance, thin lacker, beautiful color, beautiful woods,
very very lightweight
acoustically excellent with very bigs and rounds trebles, great volume and "projection" (in french) for his size ... really nice to play
plugged the sound is not so precise in trebles than SJH, too fat for me, and not so equal : some notes sound differents from others, I change the pickup for another one parallel mounting and I think the sound is better but no possible comparison with SJH
but comparing with a 175, I think the pisano (plugged) is in the same mood and is a more beautiful instrument for less money
(unplunged, the 175 simply doen't exist)

[oldane]

Used Painter archtops show up now and then for around $1700-2000. There was one on this forum two months ago, but it was sold. They are built around the same principles as the Sadowskys - laminated with thinner plies for a more lively tone than the present Gibson offerings. Because of their deliberate lack of bindings, inlays etc., the Painter guitars look more "crude" than the Sadowskys, but they are fine players and sound good.

[jazzfan13]

Originally Posted by oldane

Used Painter archtops show up now and then for around $1700-2000. There was one on this forum two months ago, but it was sold. They are built around the same principles as the Sadowskys - laminated with thinner plies for a more lively tone than the present Gibson offerings. Because of their deliberate lack of bindings, inlays etc., the Painter guitars look more "crude" than the Sadowskys, but they are fine players and sound good.

are you talking about the pisano?
mine (ar880) is very elaborated : beautiful woods, multiple woods head, the little wood frog on the string, multiple wood bending,...
imho esthetic choice of "simplicity" but same level of working
and the 880 has a massive table, I don't know if they have worked on plies size, very possible hearing the sound and the weight

[oldane]

Originally Posted by jazzfan13

are you talking about the pisano?
mine (ar880) is very elaborated : beautiful woods, multiple woods head, the little wood frog on the string, multiple wood bending,...
imho esthetic choice of "simplicity" but same level of working
and the 880 has a massive table, I don't know if they have worked on plies size, very possible hearing the sound and the weight

No, I was referring to the laminated archtops made by Tom Painter, and I compared them to the Sadowsky archtops. The Pisano models are made by Eastman. I have no experiences with Eastman guitars.