Soloette jazz guitar

[kris]

Nice sounding travel jazz guitar.
anybody use it?
SoloEtte Jazz SongBird 3 - YouTube

[Steve Z]

Wow! That is really a great archtop type tone from the Solette Songbird Jazz.

Steel String Guitar Specifications

The SongBird Jazz has a neck position, EMG humbucking pickup for a sweet jazz tone. The Jazz has clear chord tones as well as sweet single notes. The elegant simplicity of the guitar includes jumbo frets and a full 1 3/4" nut width making it a performance instrument in every way. We have included an on-board mono headphone output for practice. The action comes set to proper, low string height and can be adjusted with the Schaller bridge.

The Price: $1450.00 plus shipping.

The SongBird Cutaway Frame assembles to accommodate a comfortable guitar shape in your lap and balances beautifully. The edge outline of the frame allows you to rest the weight of your arm on it so your fingertips will hover over the strings right where you would expect. Because the gears are at the other end, this full sized guitar is 5 inches shorter. This reorientation of the gears creates balance and offers superior tuning access, as described below.

Tuning: Tuning from this end is probably the way it should have been all along, but was not available to standard stringed instruments when tone propagation from thin woods would be hampered by heavy tuning mechanisms. Due to the design of the SoloEtte Guitar, the area behind the bridge is available for tuners. A pegbox fits perfectly here, does not need to tilt back, and can be made stronger and thicker because the strings are spread wider. Our steel string utilizes a straight-pull pegbox which improves tuning and string alignment. It is so nice to hold one string at the 5th fret and keep holding it while you tune the other string until it is perfect. Or tune while holding a chord and keep holding it with your left hand while you tune it perfectly with your right hand.

The Frame is solid ¼ aluminum rod covered w/ black polyurethane tubing.

The Electronics use a 9 volt battery with an easy access battery door. There are two output jacks as well as volume and tone controls.

Body and neck wood is Hard Rock Maple (Acer Saccharum) "Canadian Maple."

Fingerboard wood for all of our steel string models is your choice of Pau Ferro, Padauk, Bloodwood, Wenge, or Hard Rock Maple. Ebony is available for an additional $50 and 6-8 weeks additional build time.

[kris]

I think about this nice sounding guitar.

[FatJeff]

Those things are ridiculously overpriced. I have the classical version and the fretboard is just awful. I never play it.

[Steve Z]

Originally Posted by FatJeff

Those things are ridiculously overpriced. I have the classical version and the fretboard is just awful. I never play it.

I also thought that they were pricey. Thanks for sharing your comments on the fretboard... definitely takes this guitar off my "interest list".

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by FatJeff

Those things are ridiculously overpriced. I have the classical version and the fretboard is just awful. I never play it.

What specifically don't you like about the fretboard?

[FrankBlack]

I like the Dragonfly model as well. This video of Gustavo Assis-Brasil shows him playing it as well as another Soloette model. I don't love the tone for either model, but I don't hate it. Hard to say if it is the guitar or just how he's shaped the tone. Still, it is a bit pricey, but I don't think you could call it just a practice guitar. I have the licensed knock-off version of the Soloette (Aria Sinsonido) and I really love how it plays. The neck, fretboard and intonation are very good for me. It is light and easy to transport. The tone isn't too good, but it really isn't a performance instrument (although it can be for the casual user). I don't think the classical Soloette models are intended to be performance quality either, even though they are much better than the Aria. The two Soloette jazz guitars, though, really are performance quality.

Hey, if Sharon Isbin digs the Soloette, I'll defer to her awesomely awesome awesomeness.

[FatJeff]

Originally Posted by Cobra

What specifically don't you like about the fretboard?

It was not finished particular well and the frets are rough and too high.