Full size 17 Inch archtops.

[benjazzman82]

Hello guys.

I am having trouble finding a suitable guitar for me. I seem to have a love affair with Peerless guitars at th emoment. I have the Jazz City and Manhattan. The Manhattan is poorly and needs a new pickup and its also had 2 major falls in its life. Will never sell it as i would not make anything. Both falls were repaired properly and its just the pickup which has beome "microphonic" now. Seems to be kicking out a load of treble and nothing else....which leasds me to the first question.

1. What is the best option for replacing the standard p/u. Needs to be a floater like its got already. Just want an articulate warm/phat sound.

I also seem to be buying guitars like they are going out of fashion, keeping them for 3 months and then selling them on. I recenly baught an Ibanez AK105SM off a member on here. Realy nice guy and the guitar is KILLER!! A beaufiful guitar that could hold its own next to a lineup of far more expensive instruments. The problem is that i am a tall guy...6ft 3in. I just cant get on with the smaller dimension of the guitar. It is with much regret that i am selling it at the moment.
I want another archtop as i love the slight variation you get with every different guitar. I gig 4 nights a week. 3 gigs with sax, piano and an ableton track playing live drums and bass and 1 solo guitar gig.
next question coming up....

2. What is the best full size jazz guitar with a cutaway/secondhand, that i should watch out for in the future. Budget of £1'000.

Thanks for reading

Ben

[Jabberwocky]

How about an Eastman AR810CE like the one at www.bernunzio.com ?

[Franz 1997]

I'd suggest looking out for used Guild x175s ( you might just get one for around £1000 in these hard times), 80s Ibanez or Aria L5 or ES350 copies, or maybe a used Yamaha as1200 - I have a feeling there is one for sale on this forum. These are all a cut above the current Peerless etc offerings IMO, good as they are.
I don't know about the Eastman suggested above.

[jmstritt]

I have an early 80's Aria L-5 copy and it is a great guitar! I traded a guy some other gear for it, but total I have about $900 US into it.

[Foulds Jazz Guitars]

Originally Posted by benjazzman82

Hello guys.

I am having trouble finding a suitable guitar for me. I seem to have a love affair with Peerless guitars at th emoment. I have the Jazz City and Manhattan. The Manhattan is poorly and needs a new pickup and its also had 2 major falls in its life. Will never sell it as i would not make anything. Both falls were repaired properly and its just the pickup which has beome "microphonic" now. Seems to be kicking out a load of treble and nothing else....which leasds me to the first question.

1. What is the best option for replacing the standard p/u. Needs to be a floater like its got already. Just want an articulate warm/phat sound.

Hi Ben, I had a similar situation a few years back with my Ibanez Johnny Smith and I got Tim at Bare Knuckle Pickups to rewind and wax pot the pickup I had and it was as good as any pickup you could buy off the shelf; worked out cheaper too.

I also seem to be buying guitars like they are going out of fashion, keeping them for 3 months and then selling them on. I recenly baught an Ibanez AK105SM off a member on here. Realy nice guy and the guitar is KILLER!! A beaufiful guitar that could hold its own next to a lineup of far more expensive instruments. The problem is that i am a tall guy...6ft 3in. I just cant get on with the smaller dimension of the guitar. It is with much regret that i am selling it at the moment.
I want another archtop as i love the slight variation you get with every different guitar. I gig 4 nights a week. 3 gigs with sax, piano and an ableton track playing live drums and bass and 1 solo guitar gig.
next question coming up....

2. What is the best full size jazz guitar with a cutaway/secondhand, that i should watch out for in the future. Budget of £1'000.

Well unfortunately I am completely biased towards my shop. Seriously though we turn over a lot of jazz guitars and have stuff in and out all the time. Here's a list

Of note are the Ibanez 2335, Eastman AR403,503 and the soon coming AR371.
Drop me a line if I can help further.

[jorgemg1984]

If you live in the UK, I also suggest to get Tim services at Bare Kunckles - if I were you I would just buy a pickup from him, you can't do better than that.

I have a 17' Guild X-500 that I love - but it might be tough to find one so cheap. I think there are others 17' Guild archtops cheaper that the X-500 as was suggested before - check them.