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Hi, this is my first post so let me introduce myself.
My name is Rick and I recently started taking jazz guitar lessons a few months ago after many years playing blues and rock.
Until now I've been playing an Ibanez Artcore AS93 semi-hollow but now I've decided that I'd like to buy an archtop.
I've been looking around and I've narrowed it down to the Peerless Monarch and the Peerless Jazz City.
The type of tone I'm going for is Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green.
I'll be wanting to use it amplified primarily, but also acoustically at home.
As far as I can tell, the main differences are (monarch vs jazz city):
Solid spruce top with solid maple sides vs solid maple top with laminated maple sides.
Floating mini humbucker vs full-sized set in humbucker.
Volume control only vs volume and tone control.
Am I right in thinking that the Jazz City might be more suited to amplified playing (laminate sides to cut back on feedback), and the Monarch might be more suited to acoustic playing (better tone from the spruce top, all solid)?
Also, will the Jazz City be darker sounding than the Monarch? I suppose a slight concern is the lack of a tone control on the Monarch, and whether I'd be able dial out any brightness to taste.
A local store has a Monarch in stock, so I'm going to go and try it out. Nowhere has the Jazz City though, so I thought I'd see if anyone has any experience with these models?
To muddy the waters further, there is a shop in London (Mairants) which sell these models but with their own branding:
Mairants 17" Archtop Guitar with Floating Pickup by Peerless | eBay
Mairants 17" Archtop Jazz Guitar by Peerless | eBay
These seem to be about £200 cheaper than the Peerless branded models, AND their Monarch has a tone control.
The custom branding may affect their resale value I suppose, but I'd be getting it cheaper to start with.
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03-25-2013 06:48 AM
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Hi Easilyled (are you?)
First off don't worry about resale value of a Korean made jazz guitar, they will always be worth something! Just go to ebay and tap in epiphone Korea and see how much they are going for.
Secondly Mairaints are the first port of call for Jazz guitars in London and the south east (Foulds being the other guys to check out in the Midlands). They always get good value and superbly playing instruments. I bought my first solid wood Japanese Martin clone from them some 30 years ago (I still have it)!
Mairaints are no longer independent as they are owned by John Hornby Skewes but they still have excellent guitars that are more Jazz orientated than all the London shops put together. Further more the older Vintage branded Jazz guitars were made by Peerless (which were Monarch and Jazz City shapes) and are a steal if you can find one second hand.
Thirdly, solid topped jazz guitars are more prone to feedback but it all depends how you position your amp in relation to where you are sitting/standing. I seem top remember a thread a while back on positioning an amplifier to stop feedback. If you are D.I.Y savvy you could make foam plugs for the 'F' holes to stop the howling, there was a thread on that subject too.
Some would say that a whacking great humbucker hole in a solid topped jazz guitar ruins the acoustic sound and these styles of guitar should be laminate (I tend to sway to that thought).
So to sum up, the floater would have more going for it acoustic wise, but, It's that sound in your head that we all strive for that keeps us going to find 'The One!' I've settled on a solid bodied Squier Mascis Jazzmaster with electronic upgrades, this is the sound and feel that makes so much sense to me!
All in my mostest humblest opinion...nin.
I hope ole' Jazzbow ain't twisted yer brain box too much.....
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Hi Jazzbow,
Eazilyled - I used to be in a Led Zep tribute band a few years back with this name, and it's stuck ever since!
Thanks for the info. It sounds like a Korean investment is worthwhile.
I'm based in North Derbyshire so I might take a trip to Foulds. Sounds Great in Manchester is closer though so I'll try there first.
Cheers,
Rick
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Hey you guys.
I habe been lucky enough to own 3 peerless models. The Manhatten, Jazz City and Monarch.
I went peerless mad for a few years and I lived them....still do. The Jazz City was my favourite of the 3. Its satin finish was more to my taste and the acoustic sound was actually superior to the Monarch IMO. The Manhatten was a beast to tame live, constantly feeding back....amazing woody sound but I just couldn't tame it.
I have done a few recordings on youtube with my Peerless guitars a few years back. Have a look on youtube for "Ben Pedley Guitarist:. Sorry I cant cut and paate but am currently in bed recovering from an illness.
All the best with your choice.
I only wish you had poated a few months earlier...I was selling my Jazz City.
Ben
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There is a jaz city on ebay UK at the moment. FYI.
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Thanks for the info Ben and hope you feel better soon.
I checked out a few of your YouTube vids and they sound great.
I think the Jazz City might be more of the sound I'm looking for.
Just out of interest, I noticed that there was one vid with you playing an Eastman AR403 and that was another guitar I was considering. Sounded really nice in the vid.
Is that the one you replaced your Jazz City with and why did you make the switch?
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As most people on this site know I am a dedicated fan of Peerless build and Peerless prices. Either of the guitars you mention are suitable.If you need a guitar which is acoustically loudest of any Peerless have a play on the "New York".I got mine from Foulds in Derby.The tech/player was Dan Johnson.I bought this "blind" and on Dans say so. As you dont live to far from them it would be worth you while to/phone visit as they have a dedicated Jazz Guitar room. Best of Luck.
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Forgot to mention Foulds have a good range of Eastman's as well.
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OK thanks jazzuki!
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No worries. I changed from Peerless to Eastman about 1 year ago. This is where it gets tricky...
. For me, the two Eastman guitars I have now are better in every way. Sound, fit and finish and value for the initial outlay. Foulds is a great place and that is where I bought my ar403ce from as mentioned above they also have Peerless models there to try. Dan is very helpful . I also have an 803ce that I baugut online blind. That was a steal.
For me it the woody sound and the nut width that I like.
Best of luck. Try before you buy.
Ben
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OK Ben thanks again.
I guess it all comes down to personal preference in the end.
I'm seriously considering a visit to Foulds so I can try a few guitars out.
Cheers,
Rick
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I bought a peerless monarch 5 years ago & am very happy with it in terms of sound, volume & playability - but haven't tried anyother peerless guitars so can't make a comparison.
Just one comment in terms of feedback - the monarch has a strut that sits roughly underneath the bridge to reduce feedback; you can get foam plugs cut to shape at www.dougsplugs.com to insert into the f-holes which also helps. However I have just bought a mambo 10" wedge amp & had no feedback problems at my gig last Friday (and wasn't using the foam plugs). Had emailed Jon Mambo about this issue & he said that as the mambo amps have a very even frequency this should cut down on the issue of feedback considerably.
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OK thanks rkwestcoast - I'd never heard of the f-hole plugs before.
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No problem - other approaches include sticking a thin clear plastic sheet over the sound holes - George Benson uses this approach - you can make out the sheet on this clip from later with Jools Holland if you look at the section around 2:35 you can see the studio lights reflected off the sheet.
Originally Posted by eazilyled
Other options include using a EQ pedal and dialling out the frequency that feeds back.
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Just remembered that I never updated this thread with the result of my purchasing expedition. I ended up buying an Eastman AR503ce from Foulds. I love it! I liked the Peerless models, but I preferred the feel of the neck on the Eastmans.
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Good choice! Though you couldn't have made a bad choice. They are different but equally awesome. Congrats. Originally Posted by eazilyled
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