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Hi, I'm new to jazz guitar and new-ish to guitar in general. I've only played acoustics. I like the size of acoustics a lot. I've got a budget cap of about $700. I like Kenny Burrell's style and sound. I've been looking at archtops but semi hollows have been showing up a lot. I play a bit of Chet Atkins aside from jazz and in general I play fingerstyle. Thanks!
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03-21-2025 11:17 AM
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Welcome! Your question has been raised and answered on these pages many, many times. If you have the time, do a search and get an idea of the diversity of opinions. The universe of guitars good for jazz is so vast and varied that a clear-cut answer is impossible. But whenever someone comes up with a suggestion, a flurry of counter-suggestions will emerge.
Archtops are more jazz-specific and less versatile than semihollows, which are nevertheless used by many famous jazz guitarists. The sound starts from your fingertips and comes out from the speaker. All links in the signal chain play a role. Is 700 your total budget? A good amp comes with a price tag, too. Used guitars are often great choices - they're past the most expensive playing hours - but you need someone in the know to help you avoid the pitfalls.
As for new guitars, I'd look into the offering from Ibanez and Epiphone: many models to choose from in different price categories. Also, a stable aftermarket. General rule 1: budget-priced guitars are better than ever. General rule 2: Choosing is more difficult than becoming friends with whatever you have chosen. The good news: it's hard to go totally wrong.
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Top of the line advice: Go and play as many as you can.
You already have playing experience and a new guitar is not an automatic solution to getting what you want from the guitar. Not all guitars will do what you want them to do, especially if you continue with finger style playing.
Main things to consider: a neck and fingerboard that is comfortable and built so that YOU can play finger style, as well as a body build that allows you to be comfortable while doing so. Not all will. And.... SOUND
Solid bodies are way different from hollow and semi-hollow guitars. Even semi hollows are different from hollow bodies.
welcome, and best of luck. This is a solid place for gaining insight and info.
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Hey everyone, sorry I took a bit long to respond, still figuring out the boards UI. Thanks for the responses.
Yeah, I've been reading all over the boards (lots of great stuff!), I just thought I might ask. I'm probably going to use my dad's amp. I've got another 200 for a case and a setup. My parents are a bit iffy about buying used.Welcome! Your question has been raised and answered on these pages many, many times. If you have the time, do a search and get an idea of the diversity of opinions. The universe of guitars good for jazz is so vast and varied that a clear-cut answer is impossible. But whenever someone comes up with a suggestion, a flurry of counter-suggestions will emerge.
Archtops are more jazz-specific and less versatile than semihollows, which are nevertheless used by many famous jazz guitarists. The sound starts from your fingertips and comes out from the speaker. All links in the signal chain play a role. Is 700 your total budget? A good amp comes with a price tag, too. Used guitars are often great choices - they're past the most expensive playing hours - but you need someone in the know to help you avoid the pitfalls.
As for new guitars, I'd look into the offering from Ibanez and Epiphone: many models to choose from in different price categories. Also, a stable aftermarket. General rule 1: budget-priced guitars are better than ever. General rule 2: Choosing is more difficult than becoming friends with whatever you have chosen. The good news: it's hard to go totally wrong.
I'm going to Sweetwater in the summer for a day, so that's the plan. I'll keep the neck shape in mind when I shop. I agree, this site has some fantastic stuff!Top of the line advice: Go and play as many as you can.
You already have playing experience and a new guitar is not an automatic solution to getting what you want from the guitar. Not all guitars will do what you want them to do, especially if you continue with finger style playing.
Main things to consider: a neck and fingerboard that is comfortable and built so that YOU can play finger style, as well as a body build that allows you to be comfortable while doing so. Not all will. And.... SOUND
Solid bodies are way different from hollow and semi-hollow guitars. Even semi hollows are different from hollow bodies.
welcome, and best of luck. This is a solid place for gaining insight and info.
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Regarding searches, the forum's search feature doesn't work. You get much better results adding "site:jazzguitar.be" to a regular google search (e.g., "budget archtop site:jazzguitar.be") or google advanced search (Google Advanced Search).
Originally Posted by Sunbursted
Hey everyone, sorry I took a bit long to respond, still figuring out the boards UI. Thanks for the responses.
Yeah, I've been reading all over the boards (lots of great stuff!), I just thought I might ask. I'm probably going to use my dad's amp. I've got another 200 for a case and a setup. My parents are a bit iffy about buying used.
In my opinion and experience, ruling out used guitars is very limiting because the range of choice in your price range for new guitars is pretty small, and you really do get much more bang for you buck used. Regarding cases, you might not even need to spend anything since many guitars come with some kind of case. Padded gig bags are fine (for many people, far more practical than hard cases). So if a guitar comes with a gig bag, don't automatically assume you have to "upgrade" to a hard case.
Have fun! Originally Posted by Sunbursted
Last edited by John A.; 03-24-2025 at 11:47 AM.
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Some of the guitars I was looking at (ibanez, for one) don't come with a gig bag, so I'm keeping it in my budget. If the guitar I end up with comes with a gig bag then great! If I convinced my parents to let me buy used, what kinds of places are good to buy used? Originally Posted by John A.
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The for sale section here is very good. It tends to be more expensive stuff, but some more modestly priced guitars show up, plus people post "Public Service Announcements" (PSA) about deals they've spotted. For instance this one. Frankly, I'd say you should stop your search now and go buy that one (maybe call them on the phone and offer them 10% less). You're not going to find a better "starter archtop" than that, and buying from Guitar Center is very low risk. Originally Posted by Sunbursted
In general Guitar Center online is an excellent source for used guitars. They have a 45-day return policy, which makes it easy to try and return something if you don't like it. If there's one near you you can have a guitar shipped to that store rather than directly to you, which puts the shipping-damage risk all on them. If it's damaged, you get your money back on the spot, no questions asked. If all is good and it has no case, you can buy the case or gig bag in that store without worrying whether it fits. I've bought two guitars and an amp from them this way and it has been hassle free.
Reverb.com is also a good place to look, though there you're mostly dealing with individuals rather than stores, which means you can run into flakey and/or dishonest people. I've had good luck both buying and selling, but people do tell tales of deals gone wrong here. Sweetwater also has a used marketplace similar to Reverb.com, but I haven't bought or sold there so can't comment from personal experience. My suggestion is that you browse those to identify a few candidates and post here asking for opinions about the guitars themselves as well as the prices.
Craigslist is hit or miss, but you can get lucky there. I have never bought or sold a guitar on Facebook marketplace, so can't comment on that, but other people here might be able to.
The ideal is a local shop with a decent selection and an on-premises repair tech to do the set-up. But these are getting harder and harder to find, especially for archtops.
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Where are you located? That could help us with suggestions.
As someone who started the first 50 years of guitar life playing acoustics (Martin dreadnoughts almost exclusively), the first thing I had to get used to in trying out archtops was the difference in resonance – my acoustic guitars all rang out after a strum, whereas the sound of most of the archtops I strummed would die out relatively soon. I had to learn that this isn't any indication of inferiority, especially if the archtop is going to be played through an amp – it's an indication of the generally different use cases of archtop and acoustic guitars.
It might be helpful if you could visit a Guitar Center; they generally have both used and new instruments. John A. has some very good points.
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Your dad is/was a player? maybe he could get involved in the "inspection" phase after you've chosen your instrument? in that case I'd most definitely recommend used.....The used market is literally saturated with essentially new items that end up there in a matter of months after purchase, mostly because we don't know what we want even if/when we think we do. Originally Posted by Sunbursted
I'm probably going to use my dad's amp. I've got another 200 for a case and a setup. My parents are a bit iffy about buying used.
And it's probably the only place you'll get a "jazz" guitar without a $tiff premium for the word "Jazz" . And , if you don't love it you can sell it without much of a loss.
FWIW I went with my son when he wanted a strat (30 yrs ago) he picked the one he liked, I just made sure it was all ship shape, he still loves it.
S
P.S. Jake Reichbart plays an Ibanez The Ibanez Artcore AG75 Review | David Boles, BlogsLast edited by SOLR; 03-24-2025 at 05:01 PM.
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You might want to consider something like this Just a moment... Seller has good history,has a hardshell case and well within your budget.
Last edited by nyc chaz; 03-24-2025 at 10:42 PM.
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Nice find, Originally Posted by nyc chaz
Highly recommended....
S
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I'm with your parents on this one (mine are the same, heh) but if u really must/want to go this route, I'd find a local store that sells used guitars; stay away from Scamverb and the like! Originally Posted by Sunbursted
Like many have said, it's always best to play before you buy to make sure you connect with the instrument, and especially so in the case of a secon-hand guit where you may not have the luxury of returning it after X nr. of days for whatever reason.
I'll echo what many have suggested, Ibanez makes good instruments at competitive prices, do give them a try. Also, for another very well priced new guitar, look at Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster - semi-hollow, well made and with a lot more attention to detail re: finish than guits that come out of China (i.e. Epiphone).
Finally, don't rush and take your time, the guitar will find you (plus, you can save up some more in the meantime and move up a bit in the price-bracket)! Took me 7 months or so to find my latest, a brand which before buying the guit I didn't even know existed - Heritage - but whose guitars are so much nicer than all the Gibsons I have tried prior.
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Okay, can't figure out the multiquote on these boards for the life of me, so I'm just going to @ people.
@John A., I appreciate the heads up, but I won't have the cash till summer. I've found a nice local shop which I'm considering getting the setup from. Haven't checked out their shop in person though. Might have some used there.
@Ukena, yeah, I'm going to go to guitar center to try a couple guitars out! Used there is a possibility, not sure if I trust them as much as sweetwater, but probably better deals. I'm about 2 hours out from Chicago.
@SOLR He's a leftie who plays a right hand guitar. I think he's coming just to check out new guitars (been eyeing a Martin for a while), but I'll ask him what he thinks.
@nyc chaz, the miser in me calls out to that deal, but I can't test it and I'm effectively broke at the moment.
@jazzloverfat, will play a classic vibe when I get around to checking stuff out. IDK if the shape is my style, but it's cheap so if it plays right then I might get it! Definitely on the list. I agree, picking a new instrument requires time, I'm going to do it over the summer when I've got a bit more time.
In the meantime, my dad says I can try some different strings on his Jaguar, so I'll play with that for a bit. Also, yesterday someone told me about this thing, which is pretty appealing for cost and because I also play an old nylon guitar a family has and I like the sound. We'll see how it plays with my style. I can't thank everyone enough for the advice!
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I would cautiously offer the following thoughts.
The OP mentioned Kenny Burrell and fingerstyle. For most, that would suggest an archtop with enough space between the strings.
But, I also think about this. If Kenny Burrell played some other kind of guitar, he'd probably still sound pretty much like Kenny Burrell. And, plenty of fingerstyle players have managed quite well with the usual string spacing. So, I'm not sure that either of these criteria really limit what you might end up being happy with.
Buying used makes me a little nervous because I may not know enough about how to check out a guitar. Well, I can tell if it's perfect, but I probably can't tell what's easily fixed vs what's likely to be a long term problem with the neck. That said, one of the two instruments I play regularly was one I bought used from Starving Musician. GC makes this safer because of the return privilege. I've returned a few things and it was quick and easy. They honor that commitment.
And, speaking of that guitar, there's a point to make. It's a Yamaha Pacifica 012. That's the cheapest model Yamaha sells afaik. Mine was made in Indonesia. The wood parts of the guitar are great. The hardware, not so much, but it's pretty cheap and easy to upgrade. I've gigged with it in favor of some much more expensive guitars.
Will it sound like Kenny Burrell? Mine has a HB in the neck position -- I think it could sound a lot like KB if he played it. Will it sound like an archtop? I'd say no, but it might be more versatile. I would not expect a consensus among forum members on this point.
I might mention that the two best guitar sounds for comping I've heard were both archtops. But, some of the worst sounds I've heard were also archtops -- with low frequencies howling. Skilled players don't seem to have that problem though.
The Yamaha Pacificas show up on Craigslist regularly for a hundred or two. Very little risk and, even if you end up with Kenny's own Gibson, you might still have some use for a Strat type.
Similar arguments apply to other name brand instruments. I mention the Yamaha here because it's one I have experience with. I have a D'Angelico EXDC that would probably sell at GC for well under your budget -- it's a fine guitar and was my main instrument for several years.
I used to think that a hard shell case was a requirement. I've changed my mind completely. I use an M80 case and I don't worry about the guitar. But, the M80 cost more than that Yamaha. I also have an unpadded bag that came for free with the Yamaha at Starving Musician. It affords a way to carry the guitar and prevent the accumulation of dust, but there's no protection against damage from impact.
One last point. Nowadays when I think about buying a guitar I often think about the Jaguar. It's the short scale that's attractive.
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I like the Korean made Guilds. A-150 Savoy or X-175 Manhattan. I have had both and think that they are they are just as good as other higher priced Korean makes such as Peerless. And I have had a couple of those as well. You might be able to find a used one at your price point or slightly higher. Originally Posted by Sunbursted
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Check out Chicago Music Exchange.
Chicago Music Exchange
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I'll second the suggestion for a Guild, though the big-body Korean models are now out of production so will become harder to find. Keep an eye on Sweetwater, they have been blowing Guilds out for the past year and a half; Blonde X-175's were going for $700 new, others for $800. They just sold through a batch of Starfire VI's ($999) that previously went for almost double that price. Originally Posted by lammie200
If stuck with new as your only option, you could also look at some of Guild's Indonesian-made semi-hollows, though these can be hit or miss so make sure you play it before you buy it!
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Take a look at the Chicago Music Exchange:
Guild Newark St. Collection X-175 Manhattan Sunburst 2012
– Chicago Music Exchange
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@rpjazzguitar, lots of great points to consider. I'll look out for a strat eventually. Funnily enough, my dad has a Jag. The problem is it was expensive and it's his only electric aside from a acoustic with piezo pickups, so I can't play it that often. Cool stuff!
@lammie200, Okay, those will be added to the list! Was already on the lookout for a cheapish Starfire.
@Cunamara, yeah, had an eye on them. Parents say we can check it out soon-ish.
@LesB3, will keep my eye out.
@caue_amaral, was looking at that one just now! Beautiful guitar, I hope It's there come summer.Last edited by Sunbursted; 03-26-2025 at 02:16 PM.
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You can play great jazz on basically any guitar. It's what you play, not the instrument, that makes the difference. I don't know how much jazz listening you've done so far, but Joe Pass is pretty much the apex of jazz guitar (IMHO, although there are certainly a large number of other contenders that other people might prefer). Unfortunately the recording quality of this clip isn't all that hot, but you can see Joe blazing away in 1964 on a Fender solidbody: Originally Posted by Sunbursted
At the time, Joe was in rehab to kick his heroin habit. He didn't even own a guitar; this guitar was owned by the rehab facility. You can also find plenty of other examples of people playing great jazz on non-archtop guitars, such as Ed Bickert. Not long after this, Joe was gifted a Gibson ES-175 by a music fan and he played that for years, before playing a D'Aquisto and then an Ibanez, finally a Gibson again in the last couple years of his life.
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$700 is barely enough to buy a case around here...
You could do a lot with a nice Ibanez Artcore archtop guitar. Leave something for a set-up, strings and possibly, a nice set of pickups.
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For $700, you can get yourself a brand new D'Angelico Excel DC Tour, mine is about 2 months old and I love it.
Didn't need a pro setup, the nut was cut perfectly, I just tweaked the truss rod and lowered the action to just before I got a string buzz.
I strung mine with D'Addario half rounds, but I'm sure you could get a nice jazzy tone with flatwounds and the tone rolled off.
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@Cunamara, my plan was initially to 3D print a guitar but I was talked to get out of my DIY obsession for 5 seconds and get something that sounds decent. I like Joe Pass for his solos, I prefer Reinhardt and Burrell for comping. I agree with you though, at that level the player makes the music, not the guitar. I'd like to get to a point where the guitar doesn't matter!
@jabberwocky, yeah the sticker shock on some of this stuff is crazy! I've got some cash saved for strings and setup, pickups I'll get out of someone for my birthday. There's a deal i'm looking at which I hope holds. It probably won't but it would be really nice. A guitar from a higher end (from my perspective, at least) brand that comes with a hardshell case. If it doesn't hold I'm probably back to looking at ibanez (which look good for the price, but not so much a deal as my current prospect).
@BuddyO, now on the list, thanks!Last edited by Sunbursted; 03-27-2025 at 02:09 PM.
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3D print a guitar... while I admire your spirit, unless you can replicate organic matter, STAY AWAY from plastic guitars!! xD
If you're really into DIY, why not get a kit and put it together? You could learn so much from the experience even if the final product may or may not be up to par - which is where the risk comes from with this approach if the main goal is to have something that stimulates your desire to pick up the instrument and play.Last edited by jazzloverfat; 03-29-2025 at 12:53 AM.
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You don't say whether you're specifically looking for an archtop guitar (which is kind of the default mode in a jazz guitar forum) or if you're open to other kinds of guitars.
I have several archtops. All of mine are going to be well out of your budget range. But there are very affordable archtop guitars from Ibanez and a few others which are really very practical, well playing and nice instruments. I had a Squier Affinity Tele for 10 years or so, gigged many times with it. $180 new in those days. It was well made, played easily and sounded fine. I think they cost more now but are probably also better instruments. Stepping up a little bit, the Squier Classic Vibe series of guitars is well thought of. MIM (Made In Mexico) Fender guitars are also worth a look. Moving up a little further from that, the Paul Reed Smith SE line of guitars are impressive instruments at a very favorable price, although a little bit above your $700 budget- unless you buy used, which I don't personally have any problem with. It's not like buying a used car which has a lot of not easily seen parts and the buyer is purchasing on good faith; a guitar is a pretty simple, straightforward item and easy to check out.
With CNC milling, precisely made guitars are available inexpensively. Harley Benson or whatever they are called is a good example. The Yamaha Revstar seems to be an interesting choice, works fine for Matteo Mancuso who is a monster (and good enough that many manufacturers would probably be falling all over themselves to get their guitars in his hands for his videos). He sounds very good on it, I'm not a good judge for his distortion tones but his clean tones are excellent. RP has spoken favorably of his Yamaha Pacifica for quite a few years now; Mike Stern has a signature model from them and that is a pretty resounding endorsement. Yamaha makes good stuff.
There are actually far too many options. Cheap guitars used to be crap, now they are very viable instruments.
You could reasonably spend $500 on a guitar and use it for the rest of your career.
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