Advice on Buying a Cheap Jazz Guitar

**Uncle Micky** · 02-27-2015, 05:01 PM

Best guitar deal I ever got was a DeArmond M65 solid body in a pawnshop for $149 ... it had been owned by a kid punker I think. Someone had sanded the finish off the back of the neck and there were "Gameboy" stickers on the el cheap case that came with it..

I cleaned it up, had the frets dressed, changed the tuners to Grovers and stuck a pair of Sheptone "tribute" pickups in it and never looked back.

It's a fabulous guitar tone-wise and especially playing. Low, fast action and no unwanted ringing overtones.

And weighs half of what my Les Paul Standard weighs, so I can gig with it.

I'm not the only one to discover this model's wonders and after all is said and done it's now a $500 guitar that was very well worth the money. Excellent rosewood fretboard, too! Sounds great for jazz.

**kris** · 02-28-2015, 05:22 AM

I.ve got my Tele syle guitar for $300 and did mods for $700...:-)

**Uncle Micky** · 02-28-2015, 12:39 PM

So I paid about $150 for the DeArmond and did around $300 in upgrades and Kris paid $300 then did $700 in upgrades.

It appears that if you find an in inexpensive gem that warms the cockles of your fingertips at a yard sale or pawnshop, be prepared to spend roughly double that amount for upgrades to get it where you want it.

Oh yeah, and it's another $75 for a decent hardshell case.

Would I do it again?

You betcha, in a heartbeat. Love that guitar!

Hey Kris, would you?

The old and originally inexpensive Les Paul Juniors were thought of as "beginner kiddie"models back when they were first made and some half-century later we know just how cool and excellent the build quality actually was. I like to think of someone will be playing this particular DeArmond fifty years from now and thinking "wow, what a great cool guitar ... and made out of real wood too!".

**Playerizor** · 02-28-2015, 02:13 PM

After having owned several guitars north of $3,000, and a few south of $500, I've come to the realization that anything around $1,000 is about right. The build is good so it feels good in my hands and stays in tune, and the electronics will be far better than the really cheap guitars.

I have a couple strats, a tele, a Heritage 535 (bought used for $1,200) , and a Godin Multiac. Range is from $750 to $1,250.

To me, these are inexpensive.

**Paully** · 03-02-2015, 11:44 PM

I have an Epiphone Joe Pass got at pawnshop for $350.
Not cheap to me, it's actually $50 more than my monthly disposable income

**EddieLastra** · 03-03-2015, 05:48 AM

Once upon a time I was lucky enough to have owned more than a few expensive guitars. They looked beautiful and played wonderfully, only thing was they never left the house and spent most of their lives in the case. A shame since these instruments were made to go out and make good music. I was more concerned of them getting dinged, banged up, or stolen. Life circumstances caused me to have to part with all of them. Fast forward to today.... for the past 8 years I've been playing an old Epiphone Emperor II (pre Joe Pass) that I got on ebay for $300. I gradually upgraded the neck pickup to a Gibson and replaced all the pots and switches when they got scratchy, also made a few cosmetic changes like the pickguard and tailpiece. I love playing it and always leave it on the stand, if I bang it up here or there no big deal.

~Eddie

**snoskier63** · 03-03-2015, 11:40 AM

I was in my local Guitar Center yesterday and played a new Ibanez Artcore Expressionist. It was discounted to $450, and while it is no match for a high end archtop it's fit and finish was nice, it played cleanly throughout and with good action, and through the new silver face deluxe reverb it actually sounded pretty good. For those on a budget, or that don't want to risk carrying around an expensive guitar it is a very good option.

**OldGuitarPlayer** · 03-03-2015, 12:26 PM

All my guitars are inexpensive. For my blues band gigs I play a used Jay Turser "Vintage" Series tele copy that I paid $120 for. I also sometimes use a Jay Turser Vintage Series strat copy that cost me $50 used. I am a fan of these Turser Vintage Series guitars and to me they are a great bargain. Just as good or better than Squier Affinity models. My only archtop electric is an 2005 Epiphone Emperor Regent that cost me $400 with a hard case. My main acoustic guitar is an early 1970's Norman B-20 that I bought for $75 from a guy over three years ago. I use this guitar every week at an acoustic open mic that I host. It's basically the "house" guitar and I let others use if they'd like to perform and didn't bring a guitar with them.

**vinlander** · 03-03-2015, 01:23 PM

Fortunately my 2 customized Epi Emperors are relatively successful at taming down my "Lust" for more a prestigious instrument (read Gibson TF or ES 350).
They are "adequate" enough until the planets will be aligned (read my living room hobbyist skills will justify the money)

**mr quick** · 03-03-2015, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by vinlander

Fortunately my 2 customized Epi Emperors are relatively successful at taming down my "Lust" for more a prestigious instrument (read Gibson TF or ES 350).
They are "adequate" enough until the planets will be aligned (read my living room hobbyist skills will justify the money)

It's justified.. I know this local guy (with whom I've had the "pleasure" of playing) who is literally the worst guitarist I have ever met. He plays a 2.5k Suhr guitar. The second worst plays an Anderson, I believe. They are really terrible, unfathomably poor performance when considering they are both third-year guitar students.

My point is that you cannot be as bad as they are; it is physically impossible. If you want to, go for it

**Al Br.** · 03-03-2015, 05:28 PM

I have 3 inexpensive and one , to me, expensive. But that is a bit of a stretch since the first two which I paid $175 and $300 are now well into 4 digit figures. The third was a 2014 Peerless Cremona which does not constitute cheap to my way of thinking, and the latest is a $400 Epi Es-335. The thing is, the first two cheapies are just as much a joy to play as the peerless as is the Epi.
Would I trade in my "cheapies" on more expensive units? No. More expensive would not make my playing any better. If it did I'd be running to the line.

**entresz** · 03-03-2015, 06:22 PM

I have a 1958 Hofner Senator, in it's day it was a 'cheap' guitar. I love pretty much everything about it. I even like the way it smells. It's incredibly loud, very cutting and bright. It's actually a very good guitar for gypsy jazz for those reasons. It is very nicely made, and plays beautifully.

**peskypesky** · 03-03-2015, 06:29 PM

I like inexpensive guitars. I doubt I'll ever pay more than $1k for an electric. I have 14 electrics, and the most expensive was $365 (the Epiphone Dot I bought last November).

**peskypesky** · 03-03-2015, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by stellarstar

I play a Squier Strat with D'addario Flatwounds. maaaan. Tone for days through this DLX Reverb amp model. Most jazz tones are too mellow and in the mix to me. With the strat i get the mellowness but I'm able to cut through the mix when I can also. It responds and it feels good, regardless of the details.

I've never even thought about putting flat wounds on one of my Strats! Must do that!!

**Engine Swap** · 03-03-2015, 08:38 PM

I was hankering for some plank and almost bought a pinecaster, but at the last second bought an Austin for a c-note.

This is my first P90 guitar and I'm really digging it. Didn't get it for playing jazz, but it covers pretty well.

**OldGuitarPlayer** · 03-04-2015, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Engine Swap

I was hankering for some plank and almost bought a pinecaster, but at the last second bought an Austin for a c-note.

This is my first P90 guitar and I'm really digging it. Didn't get it for playing jazz, but it covers pretty well.

That is a cool guitar! Is it a bolt on or set neck? For $100 you can't go wrong either way! !

**Engine Swap** · 03-05-2015, 12:12 AM

Set neck and yeah, the finish is a little "outside the lines".

**Duotone** · 03-11-2015, 03:46 PM

To me, it wasn't actually cheap. But when it was built, it was the cheapest thinline model in the Gibson/Epiphone lineup:

A 1966 Kalamazoo Epiphone Granada TC. I needed to get one when I first saw one being played by Francoiz Breut's guitarist! Lol

I love the design for its peculiar, ear-shaped pickguard. The design-rationale behind it is mere cost-saving approach in the production: all the electrics are pre-wired before assembly. No labour-consuming wiring inside the body/ through the f-holes. In fact, there is no second f-hole at all.

I love it's rather plain looks without any bindings around the f-holes. The sunburst is one if the most beautiful that you can find in the Granadas. Above all I was really happy to get hold of the cutaway-version of this guitar (especially in such a good condition), which seem to be really scarce.

Edited for better picture integration.

**James655** · 03-11-2015, 04:32 PM

That indeed is a beautiful guitar, Duotone. You're right: the absence of the binding around the f-hole makes it even peculiar. But as you said, definitely not a cheap guitar anymore in these days. Congratulations and don't make the same mistake we often read about in these forums: selling the guitar and then later regret it.

**Duotone** · 03-11-2015, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by James655

Congratulations and don't make the same mistake we often read about in these forums: selling the guitar and then later regret it.

Thanks a lot for the compliments. I think I won't ever part with it, though for jazz it is rather bright sounding.

**EriktK** · 06-07-2015, 08:29 AM

Here are my cheap guitars. They needed some minor adjustments like the nut. Other then that they are good player guitars. Most are Epiphone's made in Korea and Indonesia.

**Greentone** · 06-07-2015, 09:20 AM

While gigging Friday on my Nash S-57 (Strat copy), I also tried out my bandmate's Chinese Fender Jazzmaster. I was surprised at the overall quality of the guitar. It played well and the sound was just great. This was the first Chinese Fender I have played, other than one of the new Starcasters--which was also surprisingly good. [It didn't hurt that the Jazzmaster was being played through a very vintage tweed Fender Harvard amp. If you haven't had the opportunity to play an old Harvard, you don't know what you are missing--they are sensationally great amplifiers.]

If this is an indication of the quality of cheap guitars, these days, all I can say is that players have a tremendous array of choices open to them for small coin.

**jazzbow** · 06-07-2015, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by EriktK

Here are my cheap guitars. They needed some minor adjustments like the nut. Other then that they are good player guitars. Most are Epiphone's made in Korea and Indonesia.

Erik, I routinely listen to your YTube Emperor Regent clip and y'know you have great technique.

I have a 2012 Emeror Regent on its way, a choice I made as a result of playing it in a local shop.

Talking of cheapo guitars have you tried Squiers?

I think you need a jazz Tele to round off your collection

**ChrisDowning** · 11-18-2015, 05:56 AM

Its amazing what 's out there in shops if you visit and take a look and a play. Trouble with online shopping is its limited by what you think will be OK and we all know you can get duff guitars ocasionally from any maker. But ocasionally you'll find a gem without a big name badge. Russ Barenberg uses an Epiphone Elitist acoustic alonside his famous J45 - he found the Epi is a shop he chanced to call in on, found it played well and souded great - bought it for not much money. Gordon Giltrap has all sorts of stuff he has found in shops on his travels. Plays his guitars txhrough a Fender Portable PA ..... Because its easy and sounds great. I found a Tokai Strat in a shop and have never found another that played or sounded better. I found an Ibanez RD300 bass close after they launched them with real Seymour Duncan PUs and it sounded and played so god I sold the Fender and another bass and just played that one.

The key to all this is visiting shops and keeping your eyes and ears open for anyone selling an instrument. If you pick it up, and it sounds and plays good, then buy it. Who cares what brand it is? I know a guy who regularly goes to the USA to buy Japanese Guitars to sell in Europe - because he says the southern USA doesn't like Japanese guitars (his observation not mine) - so he buys them for a song and makes a tidy profit reselling them in Europe.

There's good stuff out there. You got to get off your computer and go visit real bricks and mortar shops! In every production run of a cheap knock off ES175 will be a couple that play just like the original. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find them!