New Guitar Purchase - Samick Greg Bennet Lassalle Jz4

[garybaldy]

Yes and no. Mine only has the neck floating mini humbucker. Yours has 2 full size bucks.

This is my Aria FA71 with single floater.

[guitarvegas]

This is my Aria FA71 with single floater.

Pretty much it! Hiw do you like yours?

[garybaldy]

Pretty much it! Hiw do you like yours?

It's a very nice guitar. I don't know why I don't play it much. It has the same strings as when I got it. They seem to be 12 - 50 round. The action is very low and the top 2 strings are a bit too easy to play. The top E needs to be a 13 at least. Probably a new set of 13 would be beneficial.
Strumming cowboy chords acoustically it sounds quite like a flat top but, with a bit more 'finesse' and 'jazzy' chords, it has a lovely cool jazz tone both acoustically and plugged in. I've read somewhere Lasselle is a dead sounding guitar. The Aria is completely the opposite. It has a great neck with a scarf jointed headstock and the finish is superb. Once I change the strings I'll be using it a lot more. I must check what Jim Mullen's choice of string is on his 71.
Edit: It cost me only £325

[guitarvegas]

It's a very nice guitar. I don't know why I don't play it much. It has the same strings as when I got it. They seem to be 12 - 50 round. The action is very low and the top 2 strings are a bit too easy to play. The top E needs to be a 13 at least. Probably a new set of 13 would be beneficial.
Strumming cowboy chords acoustically it sounds quite like a flat top but, with a bit more 'finesse' and 'jazzy' chords, it has a lovely cool jazz tone both acoustically and plugged in. I've read somewhere Lasselle is a dead sounding guitar. The Aria is completely the opposite. It has a great neck with a scarf jointed headstock and the finish is superb. Once I change the strings I'll be using it a lot more. I must check what Jim Mullen's choice of string is on his 71.
Edit: It cost me only £325

I believe mine is going to be a lively one, and I get it tomorrow! Pick up and pots and wires will all need to be upgraded.

[garybaldy]

Pick up and pots and wires will all need to be upgraded.

Are you sure?

[guitarvegas]

Are you sure?

Will know a whole lot more tomorrow

[tomems]

I too am a proud JZ4 owner. I usually just play it unplugged although I did upgrade the pups to the Lollar Johnny Smith about ten years ago. It's a keeper - enjoy!

[AllanAllen]

Don't trust the AI bot over your own ears. I'm just biased though, I'm a P90 guy, a little hum when I'm not touching the strings is worth P90 tone.

[RobbieAG]

I picked up a Samick Greg Bennett Lasalle JZ2 a couple years ago for $350. It's similar to yours, but has 2 top mounted humbuckers. It's from 2013, made in Korea, but has the Greg Bennett style headstock. It's 17" wide, plays very well and has a lively acoustic sound for an archtop with top mounted electronics (louder than my 69-70 Gibson ES-175). I replaced the wiring harness because the neck volume pot wasn't working properly and didn't respond to contact cleaner. I kept the Duncan Designed pickups because I think they're fine. Overall, it's a very nice guitar for a great price!

[guitarvegas]

Alright, alright, alright! I got my guitar!!!! Amazing....love it. Sounds so good played acoustically...better than my Loar....much better and projects much more volume. Tone and feel are perfect to my liking as well.

Here is the first recording sample (1 minute long). I think that the sound when amplified, is muddy and lacks clarity. I am going to have it upgraded and set up with heavier flatwounds. Are 13's a big jump from 12 gauge? I think I have 12's on my Loar.

This is an awesome day....praise God!

[John A.]

Alright, alright, alright! I got my guitar!!!! Amazing....love it. Sounds so good played acoustically...better than my Loar....much better and projects much more volume. Tone and feel are perfect to my liking as well.

Here is the first recording sample (1 minute long). I think that the sound when amplified, is muddy and lacks clarity.

It sounds like you have either the tone control down all the way, or the bass and mids up and the treble all the way down on the amp, and it sounds like there's quite a bit of amp distortion. I'd work more with amp and guitar tone controls and/or try it through something cleaner before spending money on new parts. But it's your money and if you want to swap stuff, have at it.

I am going to have it upgraded and set up with heavier flatwounds. Are 13's a big jump from 12 gauge? I think I have 12's on my Loar.

To me, no. To you, maybe. That's something only you can figure out. But heavier strings are not an "upgrade". They're just different. You might like the difference, or you might; only you can say.

The recording does sound very muddy, but it's more the entire thing than the guitar specifically to my ears. Again, I would experiment more with settings (guitar, amp, recording signal chain) before assuming the electronics in the guitar are no good.

[RobbieAG]

I quite like the tone you're getting! I noticed you have a wood bridge. Mine has a tune-o-matic which makes a difference. I've thought of getting a wood one to try out.

[guitarvegas]

I quite like the tone you're getting! I noticed you have a wood bridge. Mine has a tune-o-matic which makes a difference. I've thought of getting a wood one to try out.

Thanks man! I am feeling this instrument......really solid purchase. This IS a guitar for life! I can say that with absolute certainty.

[guitarvegas]

My babies:

[Cunamara]

Don't trust the AI bot.

Fixed that for you.

[guitarvegas]

Fixed that for you.

Thanks....what did you fix?

[guitarvegas]

And I went ahead and ordered this....and I found a luthier with 40 years experience that will install, do new caps and wiring, and set up for around $75.00. Today was a good day.

[guitarvegas]

I will give my assessment on the Jazzy Joe floating humbucker once it is in. Looking forward to all of this.

[Cunamara]

That might actually be the pickup that's on the guitar now. Would be worth checking (look atnthe underside of the existing pickup).

[garybaldy]

That might actually be the pickup that's on the guitar now. Would be worth checking (look atnthe underside of the existing pickup).

Exactly my thought when I read gv's post. And a jj may not necessarily be an upgrade even if the original isn't a jj.

[guitarvegas]

That might actually be the pickup that's on the guitar now. Would be worth checking (look atnthe underside of the existing pickup).

I talked to Kent last night on the phone. I told him what guitar I have and he said this model pickup is the upgrade I need. I told him I have a 2001 Samick Lasalle Jz4. You would think he is the one person that could steer me in the right direction.
Right?

[AllanAllen]

You don't know that the former owner didn't already make that upgrade. Imagine my surprise when I went to upgrade the boomy and tinny stock pickups in my Epiphone Broadway and found Seth Lover's already inside of it. Thanks to some previous owner.

[guitarvegas]

You don't know that the former owner didn't already make that upgrade. Imagine my surprise when I went to upgrade the boomy and tinny stock pickups in my Epiphone Broadway and found Seth Lover's already inside of it. Thanks to some previous owner.

Yeah, but mine lacks clarity and is muddy. Kent said if it were his Jazzy Joe (even his Korean ones), it would have clarity and articulate clean notes and chord playing. He does not think the stock is his pick up. I am not about to take it apart....but we shall see what I end up with.

[guitarvegas]

The pole pieces on my stock pickup were all out of wack. I just readjusted all of them more to what the standard heights should be. This did improve tone to a degree....but still somewhat weak output overall. I think the Jazzy Joe will be an improvement, along with new caps and wiring, and an overall set up. I'll be happy

[AllanAllen]

Just take the thing off and check what it is. It's held on by 2 screws. You're doing everything but the simple diagnostic check.