best Jazz guitar for around 3000 and under

**Conman** · 07-31-2013, 01:31 PM

Hey guys I posted earlier That I am considering buying a 335 or 339 but Before a eliminated other options do you know if there is another guitar in that price range that is as good or better or perhaps gives a warmer jazz tone that the 335 or 339 cant or are they the best bet?

Thanks

**mr. beaumont** · 07-31-2013, 01:33 PM

Definitely looking semi-hollow?

**Conman** · 07-31-2013, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Definitely looking semi-hollow?

well yeah I am looking at that mainly but open to hollow or archtop If there something else Please tell me

**mr. beaumont** · 07-31-2013, 02:22 PM

Before I just say how I'd spend your money, whi are some players who have a great tone in your opinion?

**Conman** · 07-31-2013, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Before I just say how I'd spend your money, whi are some players who have a great tone in your opinion?

Wes montgumery
Jeff sherman
howard alden
Howard roberts

**DRS** · 07-31-2013, 02:29 PM

Used Gibson ES 175
Used Heritage 535, 575, Eagle, or Sweet 16
New Eastman - pretty much there whole line is under $3000
New or used Ibanez George Benson
New Ibanez Scofield

Now if you aren't using your cheque book to evaluate guitars:
Ibanez - the new line of Artstars is under $1500
D-Angelico - the Korean EXL (newest incarnation) played great and sounded great acoustically even though it's a lam guitar - $1100.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-31-2013, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by DRS

Used Gibson ES 175
Used Heritage 535, 575, Eagle, or Sweet 16
New Eastman - pretty much there whole line is under $3000
New or used Ibanez George Benson
New Ibanez Scofield

Now if you aren't using your cheque book to evaluate guitars:
Ibanez - the new line of Artstars is under $1500
D-Angelico - the Korean EXL (newest incarnation) played great and sounded great acoustically even though it's a lam guitar - $1100.

Used Gibson ES 175 would be my first choice. You never go wrong in business going for Big Blue.

Or get the Eastman 175 clone, and a Tele and still have money left over to buy your sweetie something nice.

**bmw2002** · 07-31-2013, 05:25 PM

Since you mentioned Howard Roberts, how about an HR Fusion? I had the III version, which I sold vis-a-vis this forum -- and wouldn't mind having it back. Semi-hollow with a nice jazz tone.

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 11:41 AM

Many people have told me look at eastman However there are so many eastman archtops out there really whats the difference? Why do some cost so much more than others is the price justified and why doesn't guitar center or musicians friend sell them?

**Bill C** · 08-01-2013, 02:42 PM

think very carefully about whether you prefer a carved top archtop, or a laminate archtop, or a semi hollow. They are subtly different sounds. Check out some video on youtube with some decent headphones or speakers and check out which guitars really deliver the sounds you like. There is a tangible difference ...

**Agate** · 08-01-2013, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Dave's Guitars is a great dealer and you can buy from him with peace of mind.

I bought my first electric guitar at 13 from Dave's. My jaw was on the ground from all the beautiful instruments covering the walls there.

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Bill C

think very carefully about whether you prefer a carved top archtop, or a laminate archtop, or a semi hollow. They are subtly different sounds. Check out some video on youtube with some decent headphones or speakers and check out which guitars really deliver the sounds you like. There is a tangible difference ...

what is the difference in sound between a carved and laminate archtop

I have read tons of good things anout eastman so I am probably looking at that or a 175 both give a better JAZZ sound sound than the 335/339

Honestly want to eventually once I start gigging to get both new 371 and 339or335 but I want to keep My options open. Perhaps I should get a cheaper hollow body like the Joe pass or a eastman ar371 (I already have a sheraton modeled after the 335) to do small stuff till I get more money and start doing bigger gigs.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-01-2013, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Conman

what is the difference in sound between a carved and laminate archtop

For starters, a carved archtop costs more!

Acoustically, a carved archtop sounds better -- more lively. I don't tend to like laminate archtops acoustic sounds,

Plugged in, a laminate, especially within a mounted pickup, sounds darker, more "electric" than a carved archtop with a floater. The carved archtop will feedback much more easily, too.

Much of that is opinion.

**kris** · 08-01-2013, 03:46 PM

all guitarists alwayes looking for nice guitar...this is this..:-)

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Oh boy, grasshopper. A journey of a thousand li begins with the first step. Save your $3000 for the time being, buy an Ibanez AFJ81 for under $440, play and learn all you can and when you know better, shop for what you want. The Ibanez AFJ81 is the best Jazz Guitar for you under $3000 until you know which witch is which.

It is a good question and one worth asking but you are not ready to spend $3000 on a jazz guitar yet. Not unless you wish to regret it later on when you do indeed know better.

well i admit I really know nothing of archtops maily I have worked in les pauls and semi hollow body guitars I defiantly can tell a diff from semi-hollow body vs an arch-top and can know my way around a semi-hollow body guitars and thats why originally I was thinking about a 335 and felt comfortable. But I guess your right I need to get familure with arch tops before making a sizable invest men

what do you think of AFJAvs the eastman ar371ce?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-01-2013, 03:55 PM

If I had $3000 in my hand to buy another guitar, I'd blink and the money would be in my wife's hand.

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

For starters, a carved archtop costs more!

Acoustically, a carved archtop sounds better -- more lively. I don't tend to like laminate archtops acoustic sounds,

Plugged in, a laminate, especially within a mounted pickup, sounds darker, more "electric" than a carved archtop with a floater. The carved archtop will feedback much more easily, too.

Much of that is opinion.

thaks yeah I am familure with the arch top vs semi hollow body but didn't know about carved vs laminate

**kris** · 08-01-2013, 04:02 PM

look at Peerless factory---great sounding guitars!

Peerless Guitars | Guitars 'n Jazz

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

If I had $3000 in my hand to buy another guitar, I'd blink and the money would be in my wife's hand.

well I dont have one of those yet

**jorgemg1984** · 08-01-2013, 04:12 PM

Honestly you seem to be still entering this world so not a good chance of making a good choice... lots of the differences bewtween guitars come to taste not to good or bad. Semi or laminate or solid is good or bad depending on what you want, lots of great sounds took out of all those guitars.

I've tried several Eastman recently and have been really underwhelmed. I was expecting them to be much better honestly giving all the raves here on the forum... I tried the 175 model and much prefer the quality and sound of my Godin Kingpin (completely different guitar I know but in the same price area).

So I would first decide on archtops vs semi and then get a nice but cheap one. In the future, when you'll know best, you can make a much wiser choice.

**Conman** · 08-01-2013, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Honestly you seem to be still entering this world so not a good chance of making a good choice... lots of the differences bewtween guitars come to taste not to good or bad. Semi or laminate or solid is good or bad depending on what you want, lots of great sounds took out of all those guitars.

I've tried several Eastman recently and have been really underwhelmed. I was expecting them to be much better honestly giving all the raves here on the forum... I tried the 175 model and much prefer the quality and sound of my Godin Kingpin (completely different guitar I know but in the same price area).

So I would first decide on archtops vs semi and then get a nice but cheap one. In the future, when you'll know best, you can make a much wiser choice.

yeah I have a sheraton 2 semi-hollow and love it But I now probably want an archtop to give me a more of a warm jazz tone.