D'aquisto Jazzline- worth the price?

[mangotango]

There's a used Sadowsky JH on the wall at Mairant's - the same wall where Felonius' Jazz Line is sitting with a "Sold" sticker on it. I know that because I was in there on Friday. And the Sadowsky is GBP 3,500. Because that's how much they go for over here, due to a lack of availability, the market price is sky high.

I keep saying this on this Forum - prices for decent arch tops are MUCH higher here because those guitars just AREN'T so common. Fact.
And it's silly money to buy from over there because of import duty. Fact.

Maybe one day someone across that side of the pond will listen and appreciate that we just don't have as many options as you do.

EDIT: Sorry, that was a bit ratty, wasn't it? Just having a bad day. Will do better next time.

[2bornot2bop]

D'Q JZ anyone? $1799 obo:

https://reverb.com/item/153193-d-aqu...-2008-sunburst

[2bornot2bop]

Some folks rather buy new...I get it.

Comparing the JZ to the Sad' JH - A users side by side pair review:

Sadowski vs. Aria D'Aquisto Jazzline DQ-JZ

Here's a copy of the thread I wrote some months ago when I had the 2
guitars side by side with the same amp.

Hope it helps.

JM
--
Yesterday I had occasion to be where both the Jazzline and Jim Hall
archtops were sitting side by side begging to be A/B 'd thru an Evans
amp with a RE10 cab.

First a physical inspection;

The colors (the violin sb) were virtually identical but the Hall was a
'deeper' shade all the way around (on top, back and sides but
mostly on top). The other difference was in the flame makeup of the
top; the JH flame was wider and more pronounced.

The body depth on the Jazzline is definitely thinner, tho I did not
measure exactly and there is more "piping" on the JH around the
edges on the sides...the pickup is mounted closer to the fingerboard on

the JH and I'm pretty sure it's a different pickup, tho the gold
cover makes them look virtually identical...
Same tuners, same pickguard, different tailpieces, headstock
shapes...the Jazzline has block inlays, no inlays on the JH...bridges
were similar but not exact...also, the bridge was set higher on the
Jazzline than the JH even tho the action on both was similar...there
was a bit of "falloff" above the 14th fret on the Jazzline. The JH
was straight all the way.

The fingerboard binding on the JH is creme whereas on the Jazzline
it's oversprayed the color of the finish. The vol and tone knobs are
virtually identical but "felt" different when turned...the JH knobs
were 'faster' if that makes any sense. Also, who else but a guitar
geek would stick their finger in the bouts to feel the bracing...They
don't seem to be in the same exact spot, the brace (bass side) was
closer to the f hole than on the Jazzline...in other words, my finger
hit the brace sooner inside the JH.

Truss rod covers are different shape, and probably most important from
the feel perspective was the 1.75 nut on the Sadowsky, which made the
guitar's neck overall feel better, at least for my style of playing.
Not that the 1 11/16 nut on DJL didn't play and feel well, but the
SJH had an evenness, a consistency all the way up and down the neck.

Frets looked identical and were both nice, the JH frets were perhaps a
tad 'shinier?' Case wise, the interiors were virtually identical,
I thought the JH case was a little nicer on the exterior. Probably the
same mfg. Weight very similar, if not dead on...balance wise, the
Sadowsky seemed just a little more even on my shoulder but again, not
by much. Both guitars had TI .13 flats on them...

--

Sound:

Acoustically, JH louder for sure, why, I cannot say...from here, it's
all subjective...the Daquisto owner summed it up by saying yeah,
they're different in a lot of respects until you plug them in...I
sort of agree and disagree at the same time...I think that there is a
lot of psychology going on while one is playing - the (perceived!)
better feeling, better responding instrument makes for less intrusion
on the musical process, so I think there's a definite value to that
better feeling instrument even if sounding alike in a living room ---
one can make a 2000 mile trip in a Ford Taurus or a Mercedes...the
destination is the same, but was the driving journey?

Both guitars sounded very good electrically, but when those highs get
rolled off and you want that sliver of acoustic sound to mesh with the
amp sound, I have to say that the Sadowsky rose to the
occasion...perhaps it was because it had that slightly upper hand
acoustically, or maybe it's the electronics differences or some
combination of both, I dunno. Still, I think with a little time, and in

a controlled situation, eq and with good mics, I could duplicate the
Sadowsky sound on the Jazzline with no problem.

Which brings us to the price differentials...

To this I claim Switzerland - The Jazzline was purchased used on eBay
for $2K. The Sadowsky JH sells for $3895 and not gonna come up used for

a while, if at all... So there's a point spread to be sure...
Ok, I'll stick my neck out this far...if cash is tight, the Jazzline
is a great ringer...but if you're the type to use the best oil in
your car, buy the Klotz cables etc...then hands down, the JH is calling

you!

[feloniousmonk]

Yeah, that's very in depth, thanks.

There is a carved top peerless Martin Taylor signature for the same price. I'd be willing to switch to that guitar if it's a big deal, but it's 15" as far as I'm aware, and I'm not sure if it'd be a downgrade from the JZ overall. On top of that, I've paid a deposit on the JZ and I think it'd be bad form for me to request it be transferred to the Peerless. In terms of etiquette and what's reasonable to request, is that sort of thing done? Lacking experience in this area.

The DQ-JZ sounds fairly nice to me on videos like this:

I'd like to get a sadowsky JH or even an Elferink (the tonemaster starts at 2900 euros or ~£2300) But I rather foolishly put down a deposit on the JZ, and when you add the deposit forfeiture into account, I'm looking at £2500 for an Elferink. As another user mentioned, there's a Guild A-150 at Mairants, and if it's okay with them I might shift my deposit to that guitar?

[Bill C]

Bear in mind that a laminate guitar with a built in pickup will tend to be more suited to a wider variety of live performance situations than the more refined and possibly more feedback-prone sound of a carved top and/or a floater pickup. There's also a matter of personal taste here - some people prefer the sound of laminate guitars, especially amplified. Some prefer the more refined sound of a carved to and/or floater. These are generalisations of course but you get the idea ... If Mairants have a few candidate guitars in stock it might be best to pop in and try them and see which one works best for you.

[GoergeBenson]

I think its fair to say that any hollow body guitar will feedback at most need able volumes for live situations.

Laminate guitars rarely fair that much better unless its a 16" slime line with two pickups.

Having a floating pickup on a laminate just seems silly really and defeats the point of having one in the first place

IMO.

[Jabberwocky]

feloniusmonk, why is it foolish to plump for a DQ-JZ? Look up Tim Lerch on YT and see what Tim does with his.

Advice from the bell-end: Swap the stock pickup for a Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday or an Aaron Armstrong s/o Kent 12-pole PAF Handwound. And send it to a good luthier to get it set up right. Makes more of a difference than JZ vs. Peerless vs. Guild Savoy.

Odds are, you let these well-intentioned guys sway you from your DQ-JZ to a Peerless MT or Guild Savoy you will end up being sorely disappointed because neither is what you wanted in the first place: the Aria DQ JZ. Only you know what you want.

Buy it. Live with it. Play it. You'll be longing for something else in a few more years.

It is like politics or sports sometimes.

[mangotango]

Yeah, that's very in depth, thanks.

There is a carved top peerless Martin Taylor signature for the same price. I'd be willing to switch to that guitar if it's a big deal, but it's 15" as far as I'm aware, and I'm not sure if it'd be a downgrade from the JZ overall. On top of that, I've paid a deposit on the JZ and I think it'd be bad form for me to request it be transferred to the Peerless. In terms of etiquette and what's reasonable to request, is that sort of thing done? Lacking experience in this area.

The DQ-JZ sounds fairly nice to me on videos like this:

I'd like to get a sadowsky JH or even an Elferink (the tonemaster starts at 2900 euros or ~£2300) But I rather foolishly put down a deposit on the JZ, and when you add the deposit forfeiture into account, I'm looking at £2500 for an Elferink. As another user mentioned, there's a Guild A-150 at Mairants, and if it's okay with them I might shift my deposit to that guitar?

Well, I went down last Friday and enquired about the Guild, and almost inevitably, it's looooong gone. But, I saw your guitar as well, and it looks really very nice indeed. So, go with it and I wish you well to play it. Don't doubt that you got the one that you originally wanted - the last thing that youwant it to let that spoil the guitar for you.

Soundclips when you get it, yeah?

[Chimera1to1]

Chimera, if you can find a 175 for £1,300, please let me know where!! I'd have thought that you'd be looking at nearer £1,700 at the very least.

Hi Mango, there are a lot on eBay around £1700 but they are London location. They do crop up much cheaper but they don't hang around long. I agree with the concern regarding what might turn up if your order a new 175 but by the same token at the £2000 price point how wise is it to buy unseen?