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The as73 is semi hollow...different beast.
I hate the cheap Gretsches. Garbage. The Epiphone is a pretty paperweight.
The Ibanezes are decent, worth a look.
What's your budget?
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08-23-2012 10:07 PM
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Hmmm... About the Gretsch, thats a relief, I dont want to take the more expensive choice and then regret.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
I have 550£ to spend. (695€ or 870$)
Ah, and by the moment I dont really know whats will fit better for me, hollow, semihollow, semi-acoustic? I have no idea.
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Well, that's just my opinion...be sure to check things out for yourself.
Also, it sounds like you need to do more research anyway and find out what type of guitar suits you.
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I have a Godin Kinpin that I like (750€ Thomann) but I did changed electronics and pickups and bridge. But I liked it stock... But no cutaway, hard to access past 14th fret.
I have also heard great thing about Eastman AR371 but it's a little more expensive than what you want (check Foulds Music).
I am not a fan of Ibanez Arctores actually, but I am an exception around here.
Goof luck!
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The low end Epiphones I've played were pretty dull and lifeless, and Gretch pickups aren't well suited to jazz, IMO.
Given your budget, I'd give one of the Ibanezes a try, and consider upgrading the pickup(s) down the line. The AS73 is a semi-hollow, similar to a Gibson ES-335, where the AG75 is a full hollow body archtop. The latter will probably give you a more traditional jazz sound.
Given your budget, I suggest you consider buying a used guitar. Both of the Ibanez models you're looking at have similar, upgraded versions. If you can find an upgraded guitar at a similar price used, you'll be better off. Just check it out carefully and play it a while.
Good luck. Hope you enjoy your new guitar.
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Villanover,
You will get a lot of opinions but I can only tell you that I have been playing blues and jazz for the last 20 years on an Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass 1, and I would recommend it. It's not perfect - when I bought it new the cable socket was very loose, the fingerboard rattled so much that the only solution in the end was to remove it, the 3 way toggle switch is low quality and always loose, and the pots are pretty poor. So why do I recommend it? Because the neck is sublime, the fretwork first-class and the tuners are terrific. Most of all, you can get a smooth thick buttery tone out of it (with flatwounds) and it stays in tune.
Nowadays I only play - or attempt to play - chord melody jazz on this guitar and I find that there is no need to change the pick-up. I only ever use the neck pickup and no doubt the guitar would sound better with a Seymour-Duncan or a P90 or something, but as I don't gig in public that would simply be an indulgence.
The "Joe Pass" script on the instrument looks a bit crass to me, but that's of no account. That neck and its easy playability is what matters. I have played on a Gibson 175 and while it's undoubtedly a far superior guitar the neck didn't feel any better to me. One final thing. Don't be tempted to spend too much time energy and money on the instrument. If you've got time to spare, don't worry about all the opinions and instrument choices out there. Practice!
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It's hard to argue with that advice. While there's something to be said for an instrument that plays great, sounds amazing and really inspires you -- you're not likely to find that guitar in your price range, and it may not be what you really need right now. Originally Posted by JSmithwannabe
What really matters is finding a guitar that works for you. If it sings for you, so much the better, but it's not essential. Play a lot of guitars and buy the one that you think you can make work for your sound and style. There are a lot of inexpensive guitars these days that play well, stay in tune and sound pretty good.
It's easy to get fixated on gear. I suggest you play a lot of guitars and pick the best one for you. Then play the hell out of it and make it work for you!
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I have a Korean made Epiphone ES 175 that is an excellent guitar- it cost £350.
Some of the hollow body Epiphones can be good guitars- it depends which factory made them I think.
Try some out in the shops and I think you might be surprised how nice the nice ones are.
And you cant get more of a classic jazz guitar than a 175
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Maybe you need another Tele style guitar? You're used to it (assuming you like it), should be at least easier to find one in your budget and it might even be easier to bring back home with you. Maybe flatwound .11 or .12's
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If you're patient you can pick up an Eastman, I bought my T186MX for £600. I'd definitely go secondhand though, £550 buys a lot of guitar second hand. Originally Posted by Villanover
I've been eying up second hand Peerless models that would definitely be in your price range.
This Stonebridge is gorgeous: Stonebridge A17 40 CM Archtop Guitar | eBay
It may be it a bit expensive though.
This old Framus is gorgeous, and with a floating pickup fitted it'd make a great electric:
Vintage Huttl Jazz Guitar, similar to Hofner/Framus/Musima etc. | eBay
But I'd definitely go secondhand.
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I think that in terms of quality the lower end Ibanez artcores and the epis are similar. Of your list I would go with the Epi Joe Pass. The Gretsches are fine, but not too jazzy. The artcores just don't resonate with me. Their stock pickups are better than the epis IMHO but somehow they just feel totally bland to me. The JP on the other hand is a fine instrument. I have one that plays really well. I would recommend a few upgrades: bone nut, TOM bridge and a decent PAF in the neck (Epi pickups suck and electronics are not so good). Altogether maybe 150 Euro or so, still in your budget.
Here you can hear how it sounds:
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It is a pleasant sound to my ears (TI swing 12s), quite typical of a laminate hollowbody. The video is only about practicing some scales (part of feps studygroup) but i hope it helps a bit.
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Thanks to all of you for this help!!!
I still going to wait and think about it a bit more... Anyway I think I'll be patient checking for a nice secondhand deal. Otherwise, If i finally decide to buy a new one, I think I'll choose a Ibanez... maybe a Af105 or AK95!
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the ibanez pm35 is a good guitar to begin : lightweight, low action, good sound,... and I think you'll keep it.
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I spent an hour one day comparing (doing A-B testing with a couple of different amps) the Ibanez AF75 and AG75. These are almost alike, the AF75 is a little big bigger, and I found the sound to be a little fuller and I liked it better. Both fully hollow jazz guitars, same pickups, same price. I bought the AF75 and I've been happy with it.
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that's exactly what I keep saying to you guys on that side of the pond and each time I rave about your pound buying power one of you whines about a lack of inventory. But you're not the only ones who want their cake and eat it too...don't try to decipher that it's just an old goofy american expression...pay no mind! Originally Posted by Gabe
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Take a hard look at the Eastman 371. I am enamored with the one I own. Originally Posted by Villanover
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Godins are nice. I like the Fender Super Champ for an amp.
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Not sure if I agree that an electric is bad for technique. If you are careful/conscious about your fingering and posture...there is not an issue, though I agree that a lot of rock players have sloppy fingering habits, that you should try to avoid/not fall into. Many solid bodies play a lot easier than many acoustic instruments, though.
Also, solid bodies are quieter for practice...if you're in an apt. an unamplified telecaster can be played at night without bothering the neighbors....a small practice amp with headphone out also solves that problem...Fender mustangs are supposed to be decent--even a small Roland Cube can be picked up 2nd hand for not much money..
Telecasters are great, truly versatile instruments that stay in tune better than strats...wider tonal range--get one with rosewood fingerboard and they can do a pretty convincing jazz tone...also install a 4-way switch (cheap mod--about $20) and you'll have something that can do everything from country clean to mellow jazz (Ted Greene and Ed Bickert), to grungy/overdriven rock (Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck) to clean, rhythm pop/rock (Andy Summers in The Police).
I also sometimes prefer the clean, low volume sound of a solid body to practice with...the tone is more pure/fewer overtones...the richness of an archtop or a Gibson type acoustic can be like eating premium ice cream--great at first but half an hr. later, you feel sated-- a solid body played with a clean tone at a low volume is kind of more like fruit sherbet where you can polish off the pint, and still be wanting more.
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Ibanez makes a inexpensive, decent playing jazz style guitar, artcore model is decent.
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Hello.
The best advice I was given on buying gear, too many years ago, was, ‘Get the very best that you can afford and then move up from there’.
Music is the key that can open strange rooms in the house of memory.Llewelyn Wyn Griffith
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I agree with Reg, a halfway decent flat top is a great way to begin building an all around usable technique, you don't need an amp and is always a relevant guitar to own at any time in your life.
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I have been playing guitar for a long time but just recently a jazz convert. I found a great Ibanez Artcore hollowbody that I definitely think is great for a student model. On the used market you can find a great guitar for next to nothing. The next guitar I plan on purchasing will be something much nicer, but for what I paid and how well it plays I couldn't be happier.
I don't use an amp at home much because I live in an apartment too, so a nice archtop is great because you really don't need an amp for practicing!
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I vote for an acoustic. You can play jazz on a anything of course but an acoustic gives you an intro to the history of the music.
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I'll disagree with the acoustic. Part of learning to play, and even moreso jazz, is being able to play with others. An electro-acoustic would generally sound bad with an inexperienced guitarist in a jazz setting. A non electric acoustic, you wouldn't even be able to play with a group.
Now that you gave us your budget, 300-600, I still keep my suggestion of picking up a Godin or a 335. I would suggest a Loar LH-350, which is 700, but it's a fully acoustic archtop, and from what I get, you want to be able to practice in silence at night.
As I said, I am biased against telecasters or stratocasters, and even hate them more if you buy it on a budget (300-600 would get you most likely a squier or a cheaply made fender, no bueno).
Also, if you want guitar to be your main instrument, barely any gear of that price will last you five years, unless you really fall in love with the axe. In four years of playing jazz at school, I've been through three guitars. The first one was a Gibson Les Paul Studio, got rid of that to get my Loar LH-350, which is now my secondary after I got my Victor Baker archtop.
So back to my two suggestions, Godin archtops are budget archtops, so they'll be well made with little extra features, which makes them cheap. Not bad guitars though. A 335, for 300-600 will most likely be an Epiphone rather than a Gibson, but I prefer Epiphone to Squier. It's all about choice though.
Also consider used guitars. A used Gibson 335 can go for about 800+, also above your budget, but it would be a good buy.
And finally, you can also consider copy brands. Some guitar makers make guitars with the same features as something a Gibson or Fender would have, but go for cheaper, since sometimes you pay extra for the "name brand".
An example is Rondo Music Home Page
I'm not familiar with the quality of their 6 string instruments, but they do go for really cheap. They're more well known for their extended range guitars (7+ strings, which tend to be decent instruments). Look into some other brands too.
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Ah, good thread. Ibanez make some great low end archtops/semis for a few hundred. I always recommend them to beginners. Also, check out the Roland cube amp series, good practice amps without having to spend a fortune!
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Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
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