Flattop acoustic jazzers, what guitar do you play?

[TF]

An Eastman E1 SS SB, for my weekly unplugged background music performance. And you - ?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Ibanez AEL-207E with TI JS112 flatwounds (+ a 65 Chrome 7th string)

[John A.]

Eastman ac308ce-LTD. I have yet to perform with it (and didn't perform jazz with the flattops I've had prior to this), but I practice/noodle on it quite a bit. It currently has D'Adaddrio coated PB strings (I think I'll probably switch back to regular PB's though).

[mr. beaumont]

Martin 000-15m

[rictroll]

A Collings 002H - small but sweet sounding

[Cunamara]

My flattop is also my first guitar: a 1978 Takamine F340S dreadnought. I bought it in 1979, and it has been just good enough to keep me from buying another flattop. Is it a great acoustic? Not really, but it has gotten the job done for 45+ years. As I recall it was $200 new plus another $25 for a generic case. Played it yesterday.

[Jx30510]

Gibson LG2 50's reissue

[JazzPadd]

Not my full-time jazz guitar, but I do use these two from time to time to play some jazz:



On the left is a K. Yairi hybrid bass / guitar fitted with an LR Baggs iBeam, on the right a Taylor Grand Concert 712CE fitted with a K&K Pure Mini. I've used both to play jazz. The hybrid is useful, because I can take on the role of either a bass or guitar (or a little bit of both though I don't have the chops to do the complex stuff!). I've used the Taylor more frequently in combo, duo and solo settings and enjoy the feel and sound of a flattop for playing jazz. An inspiration for me in playing the flattop for jazz has been Gabor Szabo.

I couldn't find any videos on the Yairi, but for anyone who might be interested, here are two videos playing the Taylor. Same song ("Out of Nowhere"), same guitar, two different settings. The first is sitting in with a Romany Jazz trio as part of a university lecture for about 200 students on the topic of Music, Migration and Discrimination. The second is a jam session clip at a small venue with a jazz duo partner I played out with on occasion.

Edit: In addition to what’s noted above about the same guitar, etc., revisiting these two clips reminded me that on one I was a picker, the other a thumber, but that’s another story.

[John A.]

Here’s my Eastman ac308ce-LTD

I think it goes better with vocals than a dread or jumbo

[wfarr]

Also not my primary jazz guitar, but Collings OM1A JL.

[bmw2002]

Another Collings 002H (14 fret) here.

[mikeSF]

whatever "self taught legend" is playing at Smalls is right for me.

[Kirk Garrett]

Martin 000-15m

I wish I could do that.