Good jazz guitar...

[gibson69]

Hi,
Recommend me the best jazz guitar I can get in the 500-600ish range.
I've been looking at epiphone, hagstrom, ibanez, gretsch, and others. However, I dont believe they carry hagstrom in my area. Recommend away!

[mr. beaumont]

I would definitely add the godin kingpin and the loar's cheaper offerings to your list.

[Jazzman301]

Depend on what your "reuirements" are. You can find some really nice stuff used on ebay for instance. Dearmond x135 is a nice 17" jazz box as I recall. Some of the Aria stuff is also very nice. Eastman ar371 is another new and reasonably priced guitar, though higher than $500. You could buy a decent tele for about $500 and get a real nice jazz tone.

I think if you give us a better idea of what you are looking for cats can give you better guidance.

'Mike

[Retroman1969]

In general, some good choices in that range include:
Godin Kingpin
Epiphone ES-175
Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass
Hofner J17
Washburn J6 (used)

[Jazzman301]

I think the washburn and Godin are in a Seperate league from the Epiphone Es175. They seem like a much higher build and tone quality than the Epiphone stuff. My Epi ES175 was an OK guitar but I feel like I could have done better if I looked around a bit more.

'Mike

'Mike

[AlohaJoe]

$500... I haven't played one but they get good reviews for guitars in that price range. 1-11/16" nut width, 25-1/2" scale.
ARIA FA-65 (recent) A65 - Elderly Instruments

[Jazzman301]

My limited experience with Aria FA65 is they are very nice guitars for the money and I think they are a step up from Epiphones ES175. I think they can benefit from a pickup swap BUT its not needed.

'Mike

[RoyaleT]

A used Aria FA 70 or 71 would be good choices, too, in that price range, or less.

[gerraguitar]

check out ibanez artcores, they are great for the price and the best part is you can put in some nice pickups if you don't dig the stocks. put a gibson 57 in the neck of my ak97 and i'm set

[hallpass]

Originally Posted by gerraguitar

check out ibanez artcores, they are great for the price and the best part is you can put in some nice pickups if you don't dig the stocks. put a gibson 57 in the neck of my ak97 and i'm set

I agree...I generally prefer them to the Epiphones I've played. Artcore models do vary some. Though I assume you mean AK95?

The triple digit artcores model numbers (100+) are simply great all around.

[gtr_5155]

Stromberg Stromberg Stromberg
Check the reviews. I love mine!

[rickshapiro]

Originally Posted by gibson69

Hi,
Recommend me the best jazz guitar I can get in the 500-600ish range.
I've been looking at epiphone, hagstrom, ibanez, gretsch, and others. However, I dont believe they carry hagstrom in my area. Recommend away!

used Aria or Samick

[gerraguitar]

Originally Posted by martinopass

I agree...I generally prefer them to the Epiphones I've played. Artcore models do vary some. Though I assume you mean AK95?

The triple digit artcores model numbers (100+) are simply great all around.

yes, mine is in fact the ak95, my mistake, great boxes!

[mambosun]

Have a look at Samick Gregg Benett, either new or used.

[nado64]

I'v tried and liked the gretsch g100 and the ibanez pm35.

[RoyaleT]

I just spotted a new FA71 on E-bay for $499'
Aria FA-71 Guitar BRAND NEW!! THREE LEFT Beautiful Instrument Sounds Perfect!! | eBay I have no connection with the seller.

[rickshapiro]

Originally Posted by RoyaleT

I just spotted a new FA71 on E-bay for $499'
Aria FA-71 Guitar BRAND NEW!! THREE LEFT Beautiful Instrument Sounds Perfect!! | eBay I have no connection with the seller.

That is a steal. These are really decent guitars.

[mrblues]

Used epiphone joe pass model! I bought mine around 500 usd and changed the pup (SH-AZ 48 is in there now). I could compare to an ibanez artcore (dont know which model, but it was 1200 usd in the shop), and liked the joe pass much better.

You cant go wrong with the korean made models (now it is built in indonesia and those ones are not so good unfortunately like the old ones made in korea)

[rickshapiro]

Originally Posted by mrblues

Used epiphone joe pass model! I bought mine around 500 usd and changed the pup (SH-AZ 48 is in there now). I could compare to an ibanez artcore (dont know which model, but it was 1200 usd in the shop), and liked the joe pass much better.

You cant go wrong with the korean made models (now it is built in indonesia and those ones are not so good unfortunately like the old ones made in korea)

Is that a floating pickup? So you are running the two pickups and a floating?

[willtheguitardude]

If you would be okay with a Semi-Hollow approach to Jazz Guitar, the Epiphone Sheraton II is an awesome guitar! It's one of the only ones I use! Amazing guitar! For full hollows, I heard the Ibanez Artcore Custom series is pretty good.

[Kojo27]

It depends on the kind of sound you're after, of course. Do you like acoustic, "woody" archtops that'll blow the windows out without a pickup or amp at all? Or do you like more electric/electronic stuff -- Larry Carlton maybe, Ted Greene, Pat Metheny?

Whichever you prefer (or something in between), I'd *strongly* advise you to shop the used market. When I jumped into jazz a while back, I found a Brand New Ibanez AF95, w/Roadrunner Gig Bag, for $350 on eBay - no opposing bids. Later, I found an acoustic archtop, a solid-topped Gretsch from 1947, from the original owner - $600. He was moving to Florida and couldn't hang around, didn't want to pack it.

Here's a guitar I've been wanting for a long time, and it's "woody" and BIG, and the price is right. Elderly Instruments is TOP DOG of honesty and fair dealing. No hype at Elderly - and they'd set this up for you for a little extra:



$595. Solid spruce top on this baby - big box sound. Here's the link: ARIA PRO II FA-71 (2003) - Elderly Instruments

Good luck!
kj

[mrblues]

Originally Posted by rickshapiro

Is that a floating pickup? So you are running the two pickups and a floating?

No sry. I wanted to say SH-AZ-49 but I always get confused about numbers...

But if You want, check some interesting guitar like that, for example Martin Taylor's Yamaha. He mixes the Johnny Smith floating humbucker with a piezo bridge. I also thought mix piezo+floating with inner (You clip a little mic into the soundhole or F-key) or outer microphone. That could give some unique sound.

laci

[Jazzman301]

I have a HIGHLY customized Gretsch G100CE.
ebonyarchtoptailpiece
Scroll all the way down and thats my G100CE.

At any rate the stock pickup is less than awesome. It was well worth the expense of a handwound Kent Armstrong handwound USA made floating P.A.F with a coil tap. Its really a brand new guitar. It goes from a really nice accoustic tone to warm fat and very Wes like. I bought mine used at GC for $400 and I think with all the mods I am into it for about as much as a new one maybe a few dollars more.

p.s if you are thinking of a pickup swap Djangobooks.com has some of the best prices around. Benedetto pickups for $106 or so and their Handmade KA stuff is at least $10 cheaper than archtop.com

[RoyaleT]

"$595. Solid spruce top on this baby - big box sound. Here's the link: ARIA PRO II FA-71 (2003) - Elderly Instruments"

Just an FYI: I have a Fa-71, and the top is laminate, not solid spruce, their ad does not state "solid" just spruce top.

[augusjazz]

One option to consider is the Cort Yorktown in the hollow body or semi hollow Vantage 635 TG.
Here some sample audios:

YouTube Video

YouTube Video