Help choosing a higher end Funk/Jazz guitar.

[Flyin' Brian]

I'd go with something like a Heritage 575 with Fralin P-92 pickups on it or with Fralin Unbuckers. The Unbucker is made specifically to split in that you don't lose all sorts of volume when you do split them. So you have the hollow body, the humbucker for jazz and the split humbucker for funk.

I use P-92s on both my Heritage Prospect which is almost hollow...it has a block on the top but the block doesn't go all the way to the back so you still get a "woody" sound. The P-92s will do funk all day when you open the tone controls, particularly when you use both pickups. I even use a P-92 on my Sweet 16.

I admit that I'm very much a Heritage guy and a Fralin guy for the sounds that I like and for playability and dollar value.

[Greentone]

The Swampers funked it up, but my money goes back to Memphis, Hi Rhythm Section, Teenie Hodges on guitar.

I couldn't agree more. I love the swampers and all the stuff that came out of Muscle Shoals. BUT...Memphis was the Mecca of funk. Stax/Volt/Hi records put out unbelievable music in the 60s and into the 70s. Almost all of it featured Al Jackson Jr. on drums. His murder in the mid-70s silenced the greatest force in rock/funk drumming...period.

Teenie Hodges is the s#$t! However, never discount the great Steve Cropper. Cropper's playing _and_ song writing was and is without peer.

Cropper favored Telecasters and the ES 335 for his work. Later on, of course, he played his signature model Peavey...but it's basically a tricked up Telecaster.

[gcb]

Altough not a hollowbody, the reissue Gibson L6s seems to be highly versatile.

[Greentone]

The L6s is a great guitar. I owned a '74 L6s Midnight Special that I gave my son a few years back. It is his main guitar. It is, like a Telecaster, great for all music...But especially funk.

[zowno]

I seem to be very unable to boil down my choices. If I open up my criteria to include true archtops, what are my option?

[DRS]

zowno

I am confused by your criteria. At first you said you didn't want an archtop but did want a hollowbody. I can't think of many electric guitars that are hollowbody but not an archtop - Gibson Johnny A (to much $$$) and Gibson Uptown come to mind. Now you're willing to accept a true archtop. Define "ture archtop."

[Headshot]

The Gretsch through a Vox...a tone meant for Jazz/Funk. It is my only hollowbody as I play my jazz on Strats and Teles, and my friends call my style "Redneck Surf Jazz", so try that combo.

[Fusionshred]

Surprised nobody has mentioned yet (unless I missed it) -

Rickenbacker.