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Hey, everyone! New to this forum, but not new to forums.
I did a search but couldn't find a topic directly relating to this. I'm interested in moving in a more trad jazz direction after having dabbled in the blues side of jazz for years. I am drawn to an ES-175 (or similar) just because so many of my jazz heroes (Burrell, Green, Wes, Hall, Kessel, Ellis, etc) played one but coming from 30 years of playing solid bodies, I'm not sure how easy it will be to make the adjustment to such a large bodies guitar
I've had plenty of ES-335s along the way but I'm not sure I can get that trad jazz tone without a little more body size and depth.
So my question is, what guitars might you guys recommend that fall somewhere in-between? Big enough to get that classic, mellow jazz tone but perhaps in a more compact package.
My budget is up to 5K and I'm accustomed to playing higher end solid body guitars so although I'm not necessarily against import / budget instruments, I'd prefer spending a bit more to get a higher quality instrument.
I typically buy used and I'm definitely not apposed to vintage either. I know there are a lot of great options out there but It's always nice to get recommendations from folks who've actually owned / played something.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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12-30-2024 01:12 PM
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tough to beat..,
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175 is extra deep, most other hollowbodies will be a little slimmer.
Archtop Tribute also makes a mid depth 175.
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I'd say the ES-330 is right in between the 175 and the 335. Fully hollow (like the 175) but the same body dimensions as the 335. And Gibson just put them into production again after a long absence. It's most notable user was Grant Green.
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The only guitar that sounds like a 175 is a 175. I have never bonded with the 335 or it's ilk. They seem like a compromise on the feedback resistance and sustain of a Lester with the woody/somewhat acoustic sound of the 175. There are guitars like the Ibanez Benson or a Roger Borys/ Stephen Holst which have their own sounds that are beloved by many jazz guitarists out there. They are slimmer than a 175. But they do not sound like a 175.
A Gibson ES 330 with humbuckers as used by Emily Remler gets you a slim guitar with more of an archtop sound than a 335. That might be worth pursuing. But did I mention that the only guitar that sounds like a 175 is a 175?
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If you're looking at Gibson's, maybe an ES-350?
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These are all hollow, or semi-hollow but with the block just at the bridge, more arcthop-ish than a 335-style guitar with depth somewhere a 335 and a 175. I believe all can be found for $5k or less.
Guild X-170
Early '90s Gibson ES-350T (these have a 25.5" scale length)
Gibson ES-125T, TC, or TDC
Guild Starfire II
Gibson ES-330 or Epi Casino
Seventy-Seven Hawk or Hawk Jazz (MIJ thin versions)
Eastman ar503, ar403, T145
Comins GCS-16
Godin 5th Ave series (bunch of different variants)
D'Aquisto Jazz Line
I'm sure there are a lot more options, but this is off the top of my head. I've played most of these.
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I would add a D'Angelico too.
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Gibson ES 275.
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Thanks everyone for the input! As of yesterday evening I have purchased a 1956 ES-175. As it has been stated above, nothing quite sounds like a 175 and having been immersing myself in my favorite late 50's / early 60's era jazz guitar albums, I realized that the 175 is the right way to go. I've also always wanted a vintage one, so I checked that box as well. Looking forward to getting to know this lovely old guitar as soon as it makes the trip from Ohio.... hopefully, safely!
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Welcome to the Forum, @Retro!
Originally Posted by Stringswinger
With that budget there are many options out there! Steve Holst is fantastic, and will make a fantastic guitar for your desires!
Happy hunting!
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Congrats in advance. A 56 175, whether one pickup or two is a great choice. The P-90 pickups will get you into early Kenny Burrell/Herb Ellis tone. I have opined many times that a good 175 is the only guitar that a jazz guitarist needs. I am sure that Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Jim Hall and many others would agree, but of course, we would need to hold a seance with a good medium to find that out. Originally Posted by RetroSound
Welcome to the forum and please do a new guitar day thread with pictures of that 56 175, so the rest of us can share the joy!
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There’s at least one Fender D’Aquisto Elite for sale on this forum that would fit the bill. Excellent guitars that are reminiscent of slightly thinner ES-175s.
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ES-330
ES150DC
Seventy Seven Guitars Exrubato Jazz
Guild X-170
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Epiphone Casinos are underrated jazz guitars imo.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Here’s what you do…
Take the guitar you have now, put it on the neck pickup and roll the volume down 10-15% set your amp eq to 0 treb, 5 mid, 5 bass.
Jazz tone
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Congratulations! I was going to suggest an Ibanez GB10 based on your size parameters, but you've preempted that with a great classic choice. Enjoy! Originally Posted by RetroSound
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honestly I was giving the GB10 a long look.... I'd still love to play one at some point. It does seem like a great option.
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Congrats on the 175...hard to argue about that one.
Back to the OP--I have an ES-135 that I think would fit the bill. It has the bite and feedback resistance of the 335, but still with the resonance of a fully hollow. Unlike the 335, mine has a balsa wood block, along with Gibson Classic '57 pickups.
Only downside is it's a bit heavy, but not a problem if you play sitting down.
I might be putting mine up for sale in the near future. Will post in the classifieds if I do.
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I wouldn't say "extra-deep." All the Gibson traditional jazz archtops, the L5, L7, ES125, have about the same body depth. Originally Posted by RyanM
I think (but don't know) that the Eastman ES175 counterparts have a slightly slimmer body depth, maybe a hair under 3 inches? Also the Heritage counterparts likewise go for a somewhat shallower body, again a hair under 3 inches.
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This was a fast thread! I meant to propose a Benedetto Bravo or Sadowsky Jim Hall but had to make it to a New Year's party first. (Finland is 7 hours ahead of US East Coast.) I have a Bravo and an ES-175 1959 VOS reissue, and can't decide which one I prefer. More problems like this, please, and a Happy New Year!
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Here's a suggestion, I used to own one of these and got a great jazz tone out of it. Is the Gibson ES-Les Paul, it's a semi-hollow like a 335, but with the smaller Les Paul body, it weights les than 7 lbs, and the stock pickups are great too.
Another suggestion is some of the smaller semi-hollow D'Angelico's.
Cheers,
Arnie..
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That black beauty ES Les Paul is fantastic
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Maybe ES135 or ES137? Semi-hollow, thinner than 175, neck joint at 16th fret. ...I think. :-)
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Ahh, Grasshopper! When the evening sun strikes the mid point between the truss rod cover and the 12th fret, you will understand the magic that is the 175! (But, your journey to the inner temple of GAS has only begun and you are NOT ready to leave the temple!) Originally Posted by RetroSound
Truly, there is ONLY the 175 and everything else. Speaking from personal experience, an L5, a 335, a Sadowsky Jim Hall, a GB10, an Ibanez Johnny Smith and a Byrdland have all been great guitars in my hands, but they are not the same beast. There is magic in a good 175 - enjoy!
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