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Hey guys,
I have always been a huge fan of jazz, and since I'm studying jazz guitar at university now, I thought it'd be a good time to get myself a decent jazz box. As you'd expect from a student, I don't have much money, or at least enough money to afford even a second hand ES175 or something. My budget is around £1000, at most £1100. I enjoy the tones of Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny and George Benson. My playing style is probably closest to Pat Metheny but I also enjoy playing in the style of George Benson (lots of blues and R&B licks).
I'm currently eyeing on Eastman AR403ce, Eastman AR503ce, the new Ibanez SJ300, Peerless Jazz City (really pushing my budgets!) and D'Angelico EXL-1 (although I'm not sure about the laminated top with floating pickups combo).
I live in the UK, and as stated, currently studying at university, I can't really travel around to try out these guitars, especially a lot of them aren't even immediately available in the UK... so I can only rely on experience from you guys who may have owned or tried any of these guitars.
Many thanks and best regards!
Hai
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02-24-2015 12:41 AM
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Archtops aren't magic and if finances are tight then just play what you have, and wait till you're on better financial ground. Especially if in school why have enough on your mind and it will give you time of checkout more guitars and not spend you money on a strangers recommendation.
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Ibanez LGB30 or PM2. (2nd hand is better, help you save some money)
I owned Eastman, but I didn't bond with it because it doesn't have electric tone.
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Sounds like you want a laminate with a set-in pickup. There are lots of good, reasonably priced options from Ibanez and Eastman, especially the AR371CE from the latter. Also consider a used Epiphone Joe Pass, those are great and very reasonably priced instruments (in the States, anyway).
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Used Ibanez George Benson at 1000 pounds
1987 Ibanez GB10 George Benson Natural Hollow jazz japan greco GB rare old 606559001712 | eBay
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Hai
Whereabouts are you based in the UK ? Some of us may be able to advise where you can try out suitable guitars close to your location.
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Docbop is right. Archtops aren't magic (though, if you are of an age/situation to have the funds, the right one can be).
While buying a new guitar in order to support the luthier industry is commendable, buy used. There is a lot more bang for buck, and you might be helping a guitar's former owner upgrade so it's all good. Buying used will also allow you to suffer less 'depreciation' when you go to upgrade later, presumably still before you have hit the big time.
Your local online classifieds will have a bunch of good deals I am sure (and the UK has several versions). There are also some interesting auction houses in the UK. And if you find something a little ways off, a day trip is always fun, and if it leads to buying THAT guitar, it will be cherished. I have had great fun buying used things far away because of the opportunity it gives me to travel, meet people, see the sights and culture of a town I did not know. So far the farthest I have done is 1100km to pick up a turntable. It was a great trip.
In my relatively short history looking at archtops, I have sunk in more deeply than I should but I really like studying markets of all kinds. I have so far found that almost universally, used Japanese archtops appear to be the very good bang for buck. Used German archtops would probably be good now for you too with a slightly weaker euro and soft euro land economy.
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I'm currently in Bath, so the nearest large guitar shop to me is probably PMT in Bristol, but they don't have many archtops that I wanted to try on there.
Originally Posted by newsense
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I second that. I almost fell for an Ibanez and finally acquired a AR372 (the two pickups version of the 371) and still can't believe it was under EUR 1,000 (~ GBP 730)... Considering your budget, if you don't find a satisfying second hand guitar, I'm sure that an AR371 will be a great choice, especially if you upgrade the pickup with the extra cash you'll have (the stock ones are ok imho but they lack that little something to make the guitar really great). Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Student Railcard. Day trip to London. Denmark Street (while it's still there, grrrrrr....) and Mairants. Even if you don't come away with anything, you'll have much more idea of what you want. And you'll have had a good day out. Originally Posted by Haisenberg
When I was a student in Cardiff, before you were born most likely, Bristol was my nearest place for guitars that weren't run-of-the-mill. But, jumping on the 125 (as used to be) to London always meant a fun day. And empty pockets afterwards, but hey.....Last edited by mangotango; 02-24-2015 at 12:37 PM.
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Vintage and Rare are in Bath, aren't they? Worth looking to see if they have anything within your budget, I would think.
Edit - Just checked - nothing electric in your budget
Last edited by Plukky; 02-24-2015 at 11:49 AM.
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I too second Epiphone products. The Joe Pass, ES-175 Premium or Broadway should be well within your budget.
Sometimes you can find a nice used Emperor Regent since Epiphone has discontinued that model. I managed to buy a 2005 Korean Peerless made Emperor Regent for $400
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Oh believe me, I have been there plenty of times to covet over guitars! Originally Posted by Plukky
Vintage and Rare are in Bath, aren't they? Worth looking to see if they have anything within your budget, I would think.
Edit - Just checked - nothing electric in your budget
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1100km for a turntable? It'd better be good. What's that? A tricked out Linn Sondek with a Naim Aro? A Pink Triangle Anniversary with an SME V? A Regaplanar 9? An original Wilson Benesch with a CF tonearm? Originally Posted by travisty
Hai, good advice all round. Member newsense has an upgraded secondhand Ibanez AFJ91 for sale asking £400. Not shilling for newsense but you can't go wrong with an Ibanez. Maybe newsense can give you a student deal?
Haisenberg, yeah, right; you reading Physics in the Uni.?Last edited by Jabberwocky; 02-24-2015 at 12:15 PM.
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What do you guys think of Eastman guitars? How do the AR371CE and AR403ce compare? And has anyone tried the new Ibanez SS300/SJ300 yet?
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No I study Music, my friends who worships Breaking Bad gave me that nickname because of my name 'Hai', it kinda got stuck with me... Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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How do you identify a korean made Epiphone? Originally Posted by OldGuitarPlayer
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Ibanez wise
Theres a nice AF91 with upgrades inc a Gibson PU for £400
I'd probably make an for that , were I you
whatever
Played an LGB30 which was great the other day
also try PM2 they're well liked round hereLast edited by pingu; 02-24-2015 at 01:13 PM.
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I have the SJ500, the Made in China for Japan only forerunner to the SJ300. The SJ300 is listed as having the AlNiCo pickups. The SJ500 has the S58-N and S58-B pickups. Other than cosmetics and the tailpiece, they are the same guitar. Originally Posted by Haisenberg
The SJ500/300 has a solid pressed spruce top, 3mm thick. You can play it acoustically with flatwounds. I would hazard a guess that it has half the volume of an acoustic archtop strung with phosphor bronze strings. It is not a dead sounding laminate box; it sounds woody, warm and tuneful. Let's just say that you can accompany yourself singing and it won't overpower your voice when strummed hard. It doesn't turn into mush.
It does not feedback that easily but I don't play at loud volumes. The electric tone with D'Addario flats is surprisingly full, round and warm, full of wood. It is the antithesis of bright, thin or hard.
All these things are subjective to what you expect to hear. I am no Kenny Burrell but rolling off the tone knobs I got a tone that could fool me into thinking KB's recorded Super 400CES tone in Midnight Blue with the usual caveat that I don't have the best audio playback system at present. That is in comparison to KB's processed recorded tone; KB's live Super 400ces will sound vastly better. The SJ500 could sound a little tubby; it does not have the tonal response of a well carved graduated spruce top guitar. If it suffers, they are the sins of omission, not commission. So, not offensive sounding but merely lacking the more sprightly attributes of a true carved tap tuned spruce archtop. Less lively sounding and responsive in comparison.
It measures 16.5" across the lower bout and 3.125" deep at the rim. It has a scale length of 24.75". The finish is pretty good but the one I got has some niggling flaws hidden under the bridge and the fretboard end has started to "fray". I understand the SJ300 is better finished. The frets are very well-dressed; no rough or sharp edges. The intonation is spot on. The neck profile is not chunky nor clubby, with low shoulders, a small smooth C.
The SS500/SS300 has the body form and dimensions of the GB10. I have no experience with it but it is likely to have a more focussed "tighter" sound with less bass response. A smaller voice than the bigger brother. The difference is in the handling.
I like the SJ500 a lot and I do own a few Gibsons. (11 archtops, 8 R9s, 1 R4, at present, if I wish to be odiously ostentatious about it.) The SJ300 is practically the same with better AlNiCo pickups.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 02-24-2015 at 01:22 PM.
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It was a Denon DP-100M. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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Originally Posted by Aant
Here is the WIKI website where you can decode your guitar! I did.
Regards,
Jan
Epiphone Serial Number Decoding - The Unofficial Epiphone Wiki
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Jazz Guitars, Amps & Accessories - Jazz Guitars
200km from Bath...
good luck!
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That was so esoteric I had to look it up. 48Kg of whupass! I am not worthy. I prostrate before you in humble acknowledgment of my own inferiority. Originally Posted by travisty
Bet you have never heard a John Bicht Versa Dynamics with a Lyra Parnassus?
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I may grab a lift from my friend who lives in Derby during Easter holiday... Originally Posted by tootZ
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I've heard a VD several times, but not with a Lyra. Most of my analog/vinyl history is in Japan, where Lyra does not have really any distribution/brand, despite the fact that the principals are based there.... which is a shame because Lyra makes some great stuff. JCarr is a friend, and a really great guy to have a conversation with, and he has some great cart ideas (which unfortunately cost an arm and a leg to put together). I have learned more about carts from him than I'd ever need, but it has led to some great vintage cart discoveries. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
But back to the main point, it's just a TT. I probably could have found another. The point was the long trip I took (needed a weekend with national holidays stuck on one end) was a great way to "need" to visit someplace I would not have otherwise visited, and it was a great experience - snowstorm in the Alps, 3-4 museums, a couple of historical sites, and all because what I was looking for was where it was. If it had been somewhere different, I would have gone there and enjoyed it too - it is great to stretch one's boundaries. And buying that particular used TT vs another of the same make saved me more than enough to pay for the whole weekend for four. Looking for unusual, quality items which are used leads to interesting situations and opportunities.
By the way, great review of the Ibanez laminate tops.
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