The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Hey everyone!

    What do you think the best guitar to play jazz with, under $1000?

    My budget is really limited so, please give me you suggestions..

    So far I found the Epiphone Dot Studio and Ibanez Artcore AF75 in my price range...

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    You can play jazz on most any guitar. For example, there are a few big aficionados of Telecasters for jazz, here. And don't forget 1/2 your sound is your amp.

  4. #3

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    Try out an Epiphone Casino.


    Best Jazz Guitar Under 00-epiphone-elitist-casino-jpg

  5. #4

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    Have a look a Peerless.

    Excellent build quality, they're nice to play, good sound and they are exellent value.

  6. #5

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    This subject comes up a lot.

    If you are sticking strictly with jazz I'd recommend the Epiphone Joe Pass. You can change out the pickups if you want and still be well under $1000. Can even get an amp as well.

    Best Jazz Guitar Under 00-epiphone-joe-pass-emperor-jpg


    If you want something more versatile with a traditional non-cutaway look, check out the Godin Kingpin.

    Best Jazz Guitar Under 00-godin-5th-avenue-kingpin-jpg

  7. #6

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    It always helps if you can be more specific: is your focus acoustic or electric sound? semi- or full body? do you like the twangy/woody chet atkins + les paul sound or mellow smooth wes montgomery sound on the other side?

  8. #7
    I would prefer a hollow body electric and im going for the mellow wes sound!

  9. #8

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    Under a grand, I'd stay away from hollowbodies and stick to a nice solidbody...maybe even one with piezos.

    If you go slightly over a grand, your options really open up.

  10. #9

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    Fender Tele.

    If you must play an Archie at that price point, Godin Kingpin.

    Actually, if you can find one used, a DeArmond X-155--alas, no longer made. They were great guitars at even twice the price.

  11. #10

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    I chose an Ibanez AFS75 over a Dot and never looked back. I love it.

    It really depends on what you're looking for in a "jazz" guitar. It comes down to what you're comfortable with. That can mean playablilty, tone, and even "vibe" of the guitar. It could be a new Squier Tele under $300, or a used Eastman semi-hollow for $950.

    If you're looking for versatility, a Godin xtsa might be hard to beat (solid body), but if it's an archtop you're looking for, many like the Godin 5th Ave Kingpin in that price area. Play them first though! For instance, I'm not crazy about the 5th Ave myself, but as I said, many like it.

  12. #11

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    On this kind of budget it might be worth going for a used instrument.
    For the classic Wes type sound, some great working/giggable guitars that I've owned or tried are:

    Ibanez AF125 (I own one)
    Older Ibanez Korean AF120 (Artstar)
    Cort Yorktown
    De Armond X155 (as suggested above-I used to have one and it was great)
    Peerless
    Epiphone Joe Pass

    All of them can be found for less than a grand used and you then upgrade/mod to your taste...

    Happy hunting

  13. #12

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    Has anybody here played or seen a Washburn HB35? I recently bought an inexpensive Washburn acoustical and the sound/quality on this instrument is truly amazing.

    The HB35 appears to be Washburn's version of the Gibson ES335. The Washburn looks very good and the price at $550-$650 is certainly great.


    Best Jazz Guitar Under 00-washburn-hb35-jpg

  14. #13

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    I'm amazed how many mentions the Telecaster gets in respect of jazz playing.
    Although I love and have played solids most of my musical life, I find the Tele a bit too narrow on the neck for my hands to catch the notes and chords comfortably. I purchased a Squier Bullet Strat over a year ago when on a two month visit to Canada just to keep in practice. I was amazed at the playability and warm jazz sound it produced and ended up taking it home with me rather than my original intention to leave it there for future visits. I play it almost every day still. I've had two real Strats over the years and neither came near to the sound I get out of this one. It depends on what you want to use it for, if for home use like myself now, just get something like this, however, if for gigging, you would be better getting something more expensive given the fact that you will want to sound more professional and also be most likely earning money to allow your budget a bit more leaway.
    I recently had a loan of a Tanglewood Oreans for home recording and found it to be a really great instrument for the modest price it was. Well worth a look.
    Hugh.
    Last edited by Hugh; 10-11-2010 at 02:57 AM.

  15. #14

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    ever looked into MIJ gibson copies?
    there are some great bargins to be had on a copy of nearly any gibson model you'd ever want. brands such as greco, orvile, tokai and aria all made high quality copies throughout the late 70s, 80s and early 90s. definitely worth a look on ebay!

    ps if anyone happend to have a 80s 335 copy such as the greco sa series or the tokai es100 or 150 and are interested in selling it, i'm interested in buying!

  16. #15

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    If you can find a used one, might fit your budget: Guild X-170


    Best Jazz Guitar Under 00-guild-x-170-jpg

  17. #16

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    Hey Hugh, I agree about the telecaster. I don't get the "jazz connection" that so many speak of. That's a country guitar, in my opinion. PERIOD. I know Jimmy Page played one on the first LZ album, but good luck with anyone else getting that sound out of one! I like dark sounding hollowbodies for jazz. The tele doesn't make a bit of sense to me. AND, I have listened to tele disciples play jazz on them, and I did not enjoy it! Sounds about like you'd imagine.

  18. #17

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    It seems many jazz guitarists are only interested in imitating the past and for them a traditional hollow body is just right. Others see jazz as a progressive art form that has no boundaries and is intended to push the leading edge of music. For them, almost any guitar is suitable.

    I like Telecasters because the neck pick up has a clear warm tone without too many complex overtones.

  19. #18

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    Hey Nic, Yes, that's a very important distinction you have pointed out. We were definitely speaking of traditional sounds, etc. , which is where my interests currently lie, so my perspective is that hollowbody guitars with humbuckers are the favored tool. And, there's no denying that the TELE is considered by many to be about the most versatile guitar around, but to my ear, it fits the country genre best.

  20. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Murph_tone
    We were definitely speaking of traditional sounds, etc. , which is where my interests currently lie, so my perspective is that hollowbody guitars with humbuckers are the favored tool.
    of course, just to play devil's advocate--many of the truly classic jazz tones were recorded on hollowbodies with single coil pickups...Charlie Christian, anyone?

    But I agree, a hollowbody with humbuckers is almost "plug and play" as far as finding a jazz tone...other guitars have their sweet spots, but it might require a bit more "tweaking" to get that classic, smoky jazz tone that so many instantly identify as "jazz."

  21. #20

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    mr. beaumont, I stand corrected! I listened to your tunes. BEAUTIFUL tone. Sounds nothing like the guys I've seen live playing teles in the small club scene. I noticed you have a tele with the neck HB. Is that the guitar you recorded these tunes with, or a standard tele? Nevertheless, I really like your sound.

  22. #21

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    Jazz of course has many sounds and is only restricted to your personal taste and imagination. To each his own.... (I certainly own my share of Tele's too)

    But the guy who started the thread is specifically asking for a cheap "hollow body electric with a mellow sound". That's why I came with the Pass with upgraded HB's. If you want to sound like Wes the rest is practice.... (i wouldnt mind sounding like Wes but that is idle hope)

  23. #22

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    mr. beaumont,

    What is your setup on those awesome recordings? Which Tele, what amp, strings etc.

  24. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Murph_tone
    mr. beaumont, I stand corrected! I listened to your tunes. BEAUTIFUL tone. Sounds nothing like the guys I've seen live playing teles in the small club scene. I noticed you have a tele with the neck HB. Is that the guitar you recorded these tunes with, or a standard tele? Nevertheless, I really like your sound.
    well, thanks brother.

    Actually, I ditched that tele a little bit ago, I'm using a "frankentele" (pieced together from the best parts of 3 or 4 teles, like clapton's blackie, if you will) now that has single coils...most of the recordings are single coil, just "blue bossa" is the humbucker tele.

    Admittedly, my recent hofner acquisition looks to bump my tele out of main jazz gig duties, but I'll always have my tele around, especially for those gigs I have to take public transit around to...the hof would be a liability, the tele, a weapon, if necessary!

  25. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
    ...a hollowbody with humbuckers is almost "plug and play" as far as finding a jazz tone...other guitars have their sweet spots, but it might require a bit more "tweaking" to get that classic, smoky jazz tone that so many instantly identify as "jazz."
    I played a Tele for years in orchestra pit Showtunes/BigBand-Pop jobs where you had to sail the notes out to the back row in 1,000 seaters, like driving golf balls.

    The nuances of a nice archtop tone were lost as soon as the volume got to a certain level. A solidbody with the tone rolled off got an acceptable so-called "jazz tone," when needed. I never liked what a semi-hollow gave me, but that's just me.

    Archtop sounds just rattled around in the pit and were never heard by say, the tap dancer who needed a cue. Feedback was an issue too.

    So it used to take more "tweaking" to get the archtops to work in those circumstances. A Tele on the front pickup had more "cutting power," and could still be mellow with the tone pot rolled off.

    But now that I play small quiet restaurants primarily I like getting a bit of acoustic response against my chest, so I'm back to archtops. I can hear them better when practicing unplugged too.

    Just preference. Almost anything nowadays can do almost anything, if you're willing to patiently tweak it into the range.

  26. #25

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    Just curious. WHY a Tele and not a Strat? Isn't a Stratocaster more comfy to hold? Doesn't it have more of a midrangey note than a Telecaster?

    I'm just curious..

    On the other hand, why not a 335?

    I'm speaking to the pro player that has to be heard at the back of the hall...