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10-12-2024 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Jimmy Mack
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Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
That said, I really didn't care for the stock pickup on the Zephyr Regent or any of the MIK Epiphones I've had. I recommend upgrading the pickup to a 57 Classic if you go that route. They aren't cheap but it's worth it. I used to own a nineties ES165 Herb Ellis and I think the ZR with a 57 is a reasonable facsimile for waay less bread.
Last edited by Boze; 10-13-2024 at 07:43 AM.
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Thanks again !
The Epiphone Zephyr might be a good option. Apparently there is a deluxe regent also
There is this one for sale : Just a moment...
and the classic : Just a moment...
I'm thinking that maybe the best options finally are the one around 1200€, Eastman AR372, D'Angelico excel EXL1, Ibanez GB10SE, Zephyr Regent...
Just one thing, I saw recently a GB10 (the one made in Japan) a little bit over 2 000€ and a Heritage H-530 for 2300€. Are those one a good options and improvement compared to the cheaper ones ?
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Originally Posted by Monica.N
Heritage makes great guitars but the 335 style is its own thing, nothing special acoustically, and I've always been peeved at them for being so heavy considering the thin body.
I'm obviously biased but I'd grab that MIK Zephyr Regent with the one pickup. Have a 57 Classic put in there and you'll be in fine shape. Plus you can always sell it for similar money if you decide you need to flip it into something else later.
The anniversary Zephyr is pretty but I didn't love the YouTube content I listened to and those retro styled pickups aren't the mod platform I'd want for upgrade purposes. They tried to style it like the truly vintage Zephyr and to me using new pickups in that quirky size is just a limitation: can't adjust them and can't replace them with a classic humbucker. Plus I'd literally never use the bridge pickup so for me the MIK one like mine is just right: a poor man's (woman's) ES175 with classic looks and a comfy neck.
Also is the anniversary model made in Indonesia? I like Peerless/Korean stuff better.
Epiphone 150th Anniversary Zephyr Deluxe W/ Coleman Fitts - YouTube
That Eastman hollowbody you mentioned looks like a sensible choice, but this Reverb seller says it's too wide at the nut so perhaps the neck won't be great for you?
Just a moment...Last edited by Boze; 10-13-2024 at 01:19 PM.
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Originally Posted by Monica.N
Those guitars were made in Korea and the build was top notch.
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I have no idea what you'd be happy with in the long run, but I'll contribute my thoughts, in no particular order.
1. Great jazz has been played on every kind of guitar, including Joe Pass and Birelli playing solid bodies.
2. Can you always tell an archtop from a solid body with the same pickup? I think it probably depends on the player. I can't reliably tell a solid from a semisolid with a block (335 has a block inside, 330 doesn't).
3. Will getting the same gear as your favorite player result in you getting the same sound? My experience, having tried that, is "not that much". For example, I'm uncomfortable with the tension of thicker strings - but some players I admire play those thicker strings. So, even if I buy the same guitar, I can't comfortably set it up the same way.
4. There are a few things you can't change. The size and shape of the guitar, particularly the neck profile, are really important. So, you have to feel the guitar first. And, you have to bond with it. This results in the one bit of advice I have to offer: buy with a return privilege unless you're absolutely certain.
5. The very best guitar sounds I've ever heard were mostly archtops played by great players. But, there's also a recording of Ted Greene sounding like a chorus of angels on a Tele. Lorne Lofsky sounds amazing on a Strat type. Etc etc.
6. Makes sense to me to stick with brands that have a good reputation for quality. Issues can arise as a guitar ages.
7. Of the guitars you mention the only brand I have experience with is D'Angelico. I have a 2009 or so EXDC. I heard that Bill Comins designed it. Quality control wasn't perfect -- the nut slots were not cut in the right places causing the low E to slip off the fingerboard. The case arrived with a broken latch. The guitar has a distinctive dark tone that you might, or might not, like and I wouldn't call it especially versatile because of that. But, all that said, it did become my main guitar for some years.
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Made these acoustic recordings of Misty on the 503 and the Zephyr.
While this is just an android phone mic I think it captures the clear, brighter tone of the carved Eastman and the dark and somewhat muddy bass of the deeper body laminate ZR.
Last edited by Boze; 10-14-2024 at 07:25 AM.
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Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
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Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
, and even if you're absolutely certain, buy with a return privilege.
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Hi, Monica! Welcome to the quest for the perfect jazz guitar!
I first thought not to take part of suggesting things because as You have seen, there is already many options to go.
But I want to say that keep it simple: if You like the sound of Joe Pass and Emily Remler, go to that direction. There is a lot of Gibson ES-175 derivatives in Your price range.
Emily’s main guitar was an ES-330 which had Gibson humbuckers installed instead of P-90s.
So the main things are hollow or thinline laminate archtop with a full size humbucker.
The pickup is quite important aspect. The mini humbuckers probably will not give what Your ears want to hear if there is that classic full hb sound already in Your head.
Maybe Your first guitar will be the guitar for the last of Your life, but as You might have noticed, most of the jazz guitarists keep on upgrading their instrument. So buy wisely so You get Your investments back when You find more perfect options.
Good luck!
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Hi,
I've been playing for a while but am still newish to the archtop world. I recently bought a used archtop that might be relevant.
It's this model, but with a spruce top rather than cedar:
17inch handmade jazz guitar - China - Manufacturer - JAZZ GUITAR -
What's interesting is that it has a 2-1/16" nut, like a classical guitar. So that might feel more familiar to you. But it has a 10" radius fretboard, so it's comfortable for making barre chords for a non-classical player like me.
They do custom sizes and scale lengths, so they might well do a 16-inch body and a 25" scale. (Mine is a 17-inch body and 25-1/2" scale.)
I think it would be in your price range including any taxes and setup and replaced tuners (which are junk).
Note that these are handmade, with solid, carved tops and backs and lovely woods. But you will absolutely need to have a luthier set it up if you buy one. Probably to adjust the action and tidy the frets, and to put on a better set of tuning pegs.
There are threads on Mr. Wu and Yunzhi archtops on here to give you the background of these guitars.
Good luck on your search!
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Originally Posted by Boze
Originally Posted by Herbie
- eastman ar372ce - T49
- Epiphone Zephyr Regent
- Ibanez LGB30 / AF2000
It will depend if i want to go for the cheaper option or invest all my budget. I have noticed that nobody told me that there is a "bad" option, a guitar/brand to avoid. While reading the forum I also saw some interesting options, vintage guitares like Ibanez FA100 or 2355.
I'll keep you informed about my choiceLast edited by Monica.N; 10-14-2024 at 01:42 PM.
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I only really play any straight jazz at home but my main gigging guitar (country, western swing) is a Guild A-150 Savoy. It is a pressed spruce top with laminate maple back and sides. I believe the lower bout is just shy of 16 inches and the scale length is 24.75 inches. I commonly see these under 1,000 US but I don't know about availability where you are. It requires a decent amount of EQ for live use but I'm happy with it.
I also have to second the Ibanez GB10, the least costly George Benson model. Every time I pick one up in a shop I'm so impressed by how good it sounds and how comfortable it is. I have no need for one or I'd really consider it.
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I have a Comins GCS-1 ES and an Ibanez LGB30.
Both spruce tops with maple back and sides.
I would recommend the Ibanez, being a true hollowbody, it's got that classic jazzbox tone and also sounds good unplugged.
The neck is a bit chunkier than the Comins, so that takes some getting used to, but the tone is worth the extra effort.
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Yes the Ibanez GB10 and 30 are on my list.
I think i prefer the LGB30, just for the look.
I'll try to see if i cant test one but there is no shop with those guitars in my area currently.
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That's probably not surprising. The only place where I ever bumped into a collection of semi-hollows on a wall was at a Cultura. That's a bit like a less ubiquitous FNAC with less of an aura to please the intello parisien. I saw a few Ibanez instruments in their online catalogue (probably under consignment or sold via their marketplace) but they have a good collection of Epiphones:
cultura.com
They have 3 stores in your area: Wittenheim, Epinal and Geispolsheim. If they're like the one I visited once you'll have plenty of space and (probably) quiet to try out a few instruments of the kind you have on your shortlist - unlike (probably) in a typical French "intramuros" music shop.
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There are three one pickup Peerless guitars at Guitarsn'Jazz:
Search Results for “Peerless” — Guitars 'n Jazz
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bonjour Monica,
voir peut-être Guitare Village, leur site... il y a des occasions qui peuvent marcher, mais c’est en région parisienne...
Envoyé de mon SM-X200 en utilisant Tapatalk
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Nowadays there is more and more areas in the world which have no jazz guitar shops around!
I live in Finland and since starting this fine field of study in 1995 I have never had an opportunity to test a jazz guitar before buying it.
Oh, sorry: seven times remote purchases (from USA, Germany or Finland) but the latest time I travelled 200 km to test the guitar. But although I bought it after testing, I had it only some months. In the end I just didn’t feel good with it (it had not a cutaway).
So be patient! You just have to start somewhere and hope that it feels good! And if it does not, just go on!
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I'd suggest the Epiphone Joe Pass/Emperor model.
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Basel is a lot closer than Paris for the OP and I see there's a jazz curriculum at the Schola Cantorum. Anyone here know any shops that should have jazz guitars in stock?
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See... this representative of the Seventy Seven brand is based in France. Great options from a great brand within your budget.
Seventy seven Hawk JAPAN Tune up AR | Japanguitar-handmade.com
Seventy seven Exrubato JT CTM T-BLK | Japanguitar-handmade.com
Building a new rig. All that's left is an FRFR...
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