Worst Budget Archtops?

[pingu]

low end Ibanez jazz boxes can be great …. listen to what Jake Reichbart
does with his old AG75 Ibanez
and some packing tape

go Jake !

Steely Dan fingerstyle guitar arrangements by Jake Reichbart - YouTube

I’m not that level but my main playing out guitar
is a Korean AF120 with a couple of mods …. its great

[AllanAllen]

I own an Ibanez AF95. The US price is $649. I think it sounds pretty good.

Wow, you make that thing sing.

It wasn't my intention to say the Ibanez were bad guitars, I just don't prefer them over the Epiphone Broadway or Joe Pass guitars.

Like somebody else said, every option now is better than the Kay, Silvertone, and Harmony guitars that used to be the beginner option.

[DawgBone]

Even in desperation I will not drink Miller Lite beer. The same holds true for guitars at some point you might as well take up another instrument.

Miller Lite is delicious. You jazz guys have high society tastes.

[AllanAllen]

A $400 Ibanez is the Miller Lite of archtops.

[mr. beaumont]

We definitely live in the Golden Age of inexpensive guitars. There's very little out there that's truly "bad."

[DawgBone]

A $400 Ibanez is the Miller Lite of archtops.

Add a good set of pickups and it's like an extra cold Miller Lite in one of those aluminum bottles. Definitely drinkable.

I've pretty much given up on owning high priced guitars. Just a liability at 100-400 dollar per man gigs. I still like a quality pickup in whatever I'm playing along with a good amp though.

[GuyBoden]

I don't know about worst, but I like the quirky look to this China Guitar for £80 ($107) + postage.

It will match my coffee table.

But, maybe not.

Here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...22922.271278.0







Edit: This Customer (below) looks pleased with his purchase, he has installed a DIY bridge pickup.

[mr. beaumont]

That flattop with the F holes is kind of cool. I'd be tempted for that cheap...

[GuyBoden]

That flattop with the F holes is kind of cool. I'd be tempted for that cheap...

It has some good customer feedback, but there is no mention if the frets needed levelling for an acceptable playing action.

The fret action looks very high on the picture below to my eyes.

[AllanAllen]

I would try to slap a tailpiece on it and fill the bridge pin holes. The lower bout looks weird as is.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Miller Lite is delicious. You jazz guys have high society tastes.

You oughtta be ashamed of yourself! You come from the land of Fredericksburg Brewing Company. You can get fresh Yellow Rose (Lone Pint Brewery), Live Oak Hefeweizen, Abide (Brash Brewery), Sputnik (Austin Beer Works), Shepherd Boy (5 Stones Brewery) and many more fabulous beers. Even plain old Lone Star is light years ahead of that yak urine called Miller Lite.

We spent a few days on a beer vacation in Fredericksburg about 30 years ago, when Fredericksburg was proud to be a beer town. Meals at the hotel (which I assume is now the thing called "Bed and Brew") were fantastic. The brewmaster made some really wild stuff, and we had beer with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was very sad to learn that beer's no longer featured in the town's list of things to do.

Now I find out that the famous badass known as DawgBone likes Miller Lite?????

[AllanAllen]

we had beer with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

This is called alcoholism.

[joe2758]

I like the hole on the side for his beard to go inside of

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

This is called alcoholism.

It's a sad, sad world when a man gets called names for having a glass of beer with meals for 2 1/2 days while on vacation - especially in Texas! Now I'm glad I didn't describe the meals ("BBQ for beakfast?? That's called gluttony!") It's somewhat ironic that the same guys who think schlepping a Twin up three flights of stairs is the only way to gig and playing the exact same notes and lines that were recorded decades ago is the only way to play jazz aren't equally fond of eating and drinking the way we used to eat and drink. Food and drink are great fun! My family and I love finding great new experiences, and we tread the straight and narrow almost all the time so we can pig out for a few days a few times a year without damage.

When we went to Austin, we always had at least one meal at Hudson's On The Bend (a very fine place that served exotic game). On one trip, my son and I both had rattlesnake cakes, followed by javelina stuffed with wild boar - fantastic!! Sadly, that too is just a memory. I'm told it was sold and reopened as a more traditional "casual" restaurant. What the heck is happening to Texas??? At least the Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson is still what it always was, and our friends who are members can still take us there.

[DawgBone]

You oughtta be ashamed of yourself! You come from the land of Fredericksburg Brewing Company. You can get fresh Yellow Rose (Lone Pint Brewery), Live Oak Hefeweizen, Abide (Brash Brewery), Sputnik (Austin Beer Works), Shepherd Boy (5 Stones Brewery) and many more fabulous beers. Even plain old Lone Star is light years ahead of that yak urine called Miller Lite.

We spent a few days on a beer vacation in Fredericksburg about 30 years ago, when Fredericksburg was proud to be a beer town. Meals at the hotel (which I assume is now the thing called "Bed and Brew") were fantastic. The brewmaster made some really wild stuff, and we had beer with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was very sad to learn that beer's no longer featured in the town's list of things to do.

Now I find out that the famous badass known as DawgBone likes Miller Lite?????

Well, Lone Star pretty much is a Miller product IIRC so there's that. I drink it about as often as Miller Lite.

I'm a bluesman so as long as it's cold I will drink it. Might even drink malt liquor if that's what's being served. Not a picky beer guy here.

A lot of that beer you listed is kinda hipster beer. Honestly I still think Shiner Blonde tops all of those fancy Austin craft brews and that is pretty much the official beverage of my band. I should try to get them to sponsor us because that's our go-to followed by Pearl Snap, which is an Austin brewed beer I think.

I have played in quite a few breweries and tap houses with tons of beer on tap and I still mostly like the Shiner blonde. My go-to around home is Modelo especial and Wild Turkey 101.

[John A.]

You oughtta be ashamed of yourself! You come from the land of Fredericksburg Brewing Company. You can get fresh Yellow Rose (Lone Pint Brewery), Live Oak Hefeweizen, Abide (Brash Brewery), Sputnik (Austin Beer Works), Shepherd Boy (5 Stones Brewery) and many more fabulous beers. Even plain old Lone Star is light years ahead of that yak urine called Miller Lite.

We spent a few days on a beer vacation in Fredericksburg about 30 years ago, when Fredericksburg was proud to be a beer town. Meals at the hotel (which I assume is now the thing called "Bed and Brew") were fantastic. The brewmaster made some really wild stuff, and we had beer with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was very sad to learn that beer's no longer featured in the town's list of things to do.

Now I find out that the famous badass known as DawgBone likes Miller Lite?????

"DawgBone" is actually the online alter ego of a soccer mom who plays a Daisy Rock in a Taylor Swift cover band. On "gig" nights it's Miller Lite, otherwise the gals are drinking Chardonnay.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Well, Lone Star pretty much is a Miller product IIRC so there's that. I drink it about as often as Miller Lite.

I'm a bluesman so as long as it's cold I will drink it. Might even drink malt liquor if that's what's being served. Not a picky beer guy here.

A lot of that beer you listed is kinda hipster beer. Honestly I still think Shiner Blonde tops all of those fancy Austin craft brews and that is pretty much the official beverage of my band. I should try to get them to sponsor us because that's our go-to followed by Pearl Snap, which is an Austin brewed beer I think.

I have played in quite a few breweries and tap houses with tons of beer on tap and I still mostly like the Shiner blonde. My go-to around home is Modelo especial and Wild Turkey 101.

I'm relieved - there's hope for you yet, DB!

Shiner and Modelo are also great, but make my Shiner Bock and my Modelo Negro. I played regularly at a blues club in Philly called Warmdaddy's from the time it opened in about 1995 until they went downscale in location, acts, and food years ago. They had the best crawfish etouffe I've had outside of N'awlins, with Abita Turbodog (yeah!!!) to wash it down. Back in the day, they fed and watered national acts in addition to paying us, and I was a sideman for a lot of them. The food was so good that I regularly broke my life-long rule not to eat or drink anything but water, juice or coffee before or during a gig.

I hate feeling full when I have to play, and I'm never late for a gig but I don't like hanging around for hours waiting to play. But there I'd be set up and ready to play when the kitchen opened so I could have at least 90 minutes to enjoy myself properly.

[DawgBone]

"DawgBone" is actually the online alter ego of a soccer mom who plays a Daisy Rock in a Taylor Swift cover band. On "gig" nights it's Miller Lite, otherwise the gals are drinking Chardonnay.

Yeah, YOUR mom.

LOL

[John A.]

Yeah, YOUR mom.

LOL

Mom?! You're alive?!

[DawgBone]

I'm relieved - there's hope for you yet, DB!

Shiner and Modelo are also great, but make my Shiner Bock and my Modelo Negro. I played regularly at a blues club in Philly called Warmdaddy's from the time it opened in about 1995 until they went downscale in location, acts, and food years ago. They had the best crawfish etouffe I've had outside of N'awlins, with Abita Turbodog (yeah!!!) to wash it down. Back in the day, they fed and watered national acts in addition to paying us, and I was a sideman for a lot of them. The food was so good that I regularly broke my life-long rule not to eat or drink anything but water, juice or coffee before or during a gig. I hate feeling full when I have to play, and I'm never late for a gig. But there I'd be set up and ready to play when the kitchen opened so I could enjoy myself properly.

I never got into the Bock but the Shiner Blonde is perfect hot weather gigging beer. Not too rich or dark. The "Light" version is usually on tap so that's what I get. They also make some specialty beers once a year. The prickly pear one is pretty good. I like the Negro Modelo better than especial but they don't sell it at the gas station in 32oz jugs so I usually get especial. I am not a buy a six pack sort of guy. If I don't gig I buy a 32oz and enjoy it after dinner on friday night.

I have a similar rule. No eating before gigs. Mostly cause I don't want food in my mic or stuck in my teeth while I'm talking and entertaining others. I've only broken that rule once in about ten years when I did six three hour gigs in two days in '18 and I was damn hungry before the last show, which I picked up short notice at the gig before it. By the time the last show was over I had caught my second wind and was ready for the next show but there was none, lol.