Small Body Jazz Guitar?

[The Poppster]

Hi there

I'm brand new to this forum and been playing guitar for a year now. I started to find blues and rock a little same-y and consequently a bit dull, but when I heard some Wes Montgomery, that was it, I was sold!

I should mention that I'm paraplegic and wheelchair-bound, so the size of a guitar's body is a pretty important factor. I'm currently playing a Gibson Les Paul which fits perfectly fine, and I was really fancying an Epiphone 'Joe Pass' Emperror II. I have my old classical guitar which fits on my lap ok; just to give you an idea of my physical capability!

Any thoughts anyone? I'd be grateful for any advice.

The Poppster

[Gramps]

There is no reason you can't play jazz on your Les Paul. Use the neck pickup and set your amp on a clean setting. Now roll off the highs on either the guitar or amp and you'll be in the ball park.

[The Poppster]

Hey, thanks for the quick replies everyone! I'm going to check out those links. And Gramps, thanks very much for your advice. It's always better to make what you already have work rather spending more money; especially when, like myself, it doesn't take much persuading to buy more kit!

Thanks again folks.

[IbanezAS100]

Since you're looking for a smaller bodied jazz guitar, you could also check out the Ibanez George Benson model (GB 10)...or if you don't want to spend loads, an AGS83, which (especially if you upgrade the electronics, tuners and bridge as I have done) is a great Jazz guitar..both very similar to your Les Paul..

Best of luck

[IbanezAS100]

..or the D'Angelico NYSS-3, like the one Rosenwinkel plays. Also very simlar to a Les Paul..

[goshawk]

As Gramps said, no reason you can't play jazz on the Paul. I think the Eastman El Rey ER-1 might be the best fit for you. It's only 14" across the lower bout, 2" deep, and weighs about 5lbs. And, personally, it seems to me that the design factor that makes it neck heavy when you're playing standing up with a strap makes it very comfortable to play when you're sitting down. Of course, I play one, so I'm biased.




Another, similar design is the Benedetto Bambino. I think it's 14.5" across the lower bout, otherwise I think it's the same size as the ER-1. Other major difference (I think) is that it's a laminate, where the ER-1 is solid woods. There are three variations of it: the Bambino (with no f-holes), the Deluxe (with f-holes) and the Elite (f-holes and solid woods).

[Flyin' Brian]

Check out the Heritage Millenium series, nice small hollow bodies.




Or the Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno model.

[The Poppster]

Thanks very much everyone for all the helpful advice. I'm going to check out some hollowbodies, and those Eastmans look really nice!! But in the meantime I'll take Gramp's advice of playing the Les Paul, and just try to get a feel for jazz.

Thanks again.

[RoyaleT]

A reasonably priced alternative might be a Samick Greg Bennett in the RL series of semi-hollow. Nice guitars, just a bit small for my tastes.

[Soco]

Check out the Collings Soco Deluxe, it has a 15' body.




The new PRS JA-15 looks nice as well.

[Modalguru]

Hi,
Les Pauls are great for Jazz. But for jazz they sound better with low to moderate output pickups. Modern high output pickups sound less acoustic...

My suggestion for a jazzier sound: don't roll back the tone-knob, but roll back the volume knob. Reduces some highs too, but in a better way, imho.

Cheers, Modalguru

[Patrick Brown]

Those vintage style PAF's really can do it.

[Stian41]

I only play jazz (well, mostly), and I use a Les Paul Mine is a '76, so there's not very high output (which is great). When I started playing jazz more seriously, I thought maybe i "had to" get a hollow-body. But when I experimented a bit with EQ and the tonecontrolls on the guitar, it sounded just right Now I'm definately not buying another guitar (not that I was going to sell the Paul anyway).

And besides, most of the tone is in your fingers, anyway

Stian

[The Poppster]

Thanks very much for your input guys! But I have 'confession' to make...

I bought an Ibanez AK-80 since posting this thread! Apart from the desperate curiosity, I started to figure that an archtop should fit ok; and sure enough it does! The bigger body and lighter weight helps me to rest my body on it (my torso doesn't work anymore you see!). I'm VERY pleased! It's perfect for me. So, I've also sold my Goldtop les paul, and got a very reasonable price for it.

The Ibanez is the cheapest guitar I've bought and my favorite now; the workmanship is excellent! I also put a set of Daddario flatwounds on, 13-56; what an improvement! Wow!
Now I just need to play and improve.

Incidentally, can anyone recommend a good book on theory, suitable for a beginner. I'm currently working my way through Mickey Baker's jazz guitar course book, volume 1. I've learnt quite a bit already, so will this do?
Regards . . Pops.

[backliner]

...I have 'confession' to make . . . I bought an Ibanez AK-80...

We absolve you. It's not considered a crime or immoral to buy a guitar once a forum eggs you on!

You'll either wind up with a guitar that suits your needs, or OURS!

I have a cheap Ibanez AF-75 that feels as good as my Guild Savoy. I use it all the time and leave it out without worry about dogs running by or me doddering around knocking it over.

You are on your way.

'Course, it's a lifelong process, but I still enjoy learning new stuff every day I can (somedays my brain is off). And I enjoy playing guitar and music more than ever (been at it 50 years). Welcome to the jazz disease.

[The Poppster]

Thank you for your encouragement. For sure, no other music has impacted me quite like jazz has.
I guess this is one 'disease' we can welcome!!

[The Poppster]

What I found appealing was the woods used (spruce top/ sycamore back and sides) and the all wood bridge. I figured that if I was going to buy an archtop I would like it to be a guitar quite a bit different to what I had been used to. Now, although it's impossible for me to give an assessment of it based on comparison with other archtops, I can confirm that it sounds just as warm as the the Ibanez 'blurb' said it would. And perhaps most telling is the fact that I've stopped checking out other guitars!! I guess that speaks for itself really!

Steve, I totally agree with what you say re flatwounds. After putting a set on the Ibbi, I put a set on my strat and it transformed the tone; very 'jazzy'!

So far so good!

[backliner]

Yu...and the all wood bridge....

I missed that feature, and that's a good one. I definitely prefer a wood bridge on an archtop. They take a lot of the "ping" and twang off the tone.

A tone control does what it does, but I prefer starting with a wood bridge first. Sometimes the tone control is wide open if I already have a wood bridge on the guitar, but I still get a good so-called "jazz guitar" tone.

[Meggy]

Love the wooden bridge and spruce top on that guitar - superb value for money, very nice looking guitar, well done on your aquisition!

[backliner]

...This guitar is remarkably good value for money, IMO!

I agree.

In the past I've been kind of a snob when it came to cheap imports, but when I noticed my AF-75 (which I bought used and cheap as a spare beater to save my frets while practicing) felt and played just as well as my Guild Savoy, I started gigging it!

I never wanted to be seen in public with a cheap import, but I just don't care anymore.

[woyvel]

I avoided two brands in particular for years, Ibanez and Squier. I picked up an AFS75 when they were first introduced. Reviews were as if there was a "1" or a "2" in front of the 3 digits of the price.

I searched for the right thing again and again and landed with a {gulp} Squier tele because it was the only answer under $1500. I play both of them much more than the Gibson that I've had for 30 years.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I searched for the right thing again and again and landed with a {gulp} Squier tele because it was the only answer under $1500. I play both of them much more than the Gibson that I've had for 30 years.

The recent Squier "Classic Vibe" series gets excellent marks for value and, for example, good fret finishing. The CV '50s Tele is $350 street price (US) and often big box places like Guitar Center will have "15% off" sales. They are also made to standard Fender specs so you can upgrade components easily.

[jazzguyfromnc]

As a fellow-Artcore owner/player I concur with what's being said here. You simply can't find this level of value for the money anywhere else. I'm on my second one now, and when I wear this one out, I'll be on to the next one.

[The Poppster]

As a fellow-Artcore owner/player I concur with what's being said here. You simply can't find this level of value for the money anywhere else. I'm on my second one now, and when I wear this one out, I'll be on to the next one.

I totally agree. Ibanez solid-bodies are really well priced. On the strength of the AK's quality I'm tempted to buy one of their 'shred' type guitars, just to see what it's like!

[kris]

What is the best sounding small body jazz guitar?