I love joe pass but the JP-20 just sounds tinny to me

**Stringswinger** · 07-26-2015, 06:07 PM

@ Joe D.

**pingu** · 07-26-2015, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

And of course, it's all subjective. Please don't think i'm putting anyone down. Just offering my opinion. For a solo jazz guitar sound, I much prefer *THIS* tone but nobody's right and wrong here. It's all personal taste.

mmm thats really a nice sound
Gibson should make
a JP guitar just like that ...

anyone know the depth of that ?
2+1/2" at the rim maybe ?

**Cunamara** · 07-26-2015, 06:17 PM

That Jazz Baltica video is the best Joe ever sounded to me- not just tone-wise but musicality. Every note counts on every tune.

So sorry I never saw him live; he came to town on his last tour with Leo Kottke and IIRC John Williams and I skipped it because it wasn't quite convenient in my schedule. "I'll catch him next time," said I. D'oh! Don't waste chances to see the musicians you really want to see because you just never know when the next chance won't come along.

**Stringswinger** · 07-26-2015, 06:44 PM

When Joe Died, there was some conflict in the settlement of his estate between two of his heirs. I would surmise that their inability to get along has made a Gibson Joe Pass model (which Joe was playing the prototype of in the last few years of his life) an impossibility. As time passes (no pun intended), the marketability for this model diminishes, so all we have is the Epiphone Joe Pass (Not a pro level, or great guitar IMO) which probably has a contract that preexisted before Joe's death, and the JP-20, which is in limited supply, and no new ones will probably be made (as it too would require the estate to come to some type of new agreement).

I imagine Gibson might build a custom instrument to the specs of Joe's prototype, but they might require some small change, as the estate of Joe Pass might have some proprietary interest in it, and it would most certainly cost an arm and a leg (as do most new guitars that say Gibson on the headstock).

**Max405** · 07-26-2015, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

When Joe Died, there was some conflict in the settlement of his estate between two of his heirs. I would surmise that their inability to get along has made a Gibson Joe Pass model (which Joe was playing the prototype of in the last few years of his life) an impossibility. As time passes (no pun intended), the marketability for this model diminishes, so all we have is the Epiphone Joe Pass (Not a pro level, or great guitar IMO) which probably has a contract that preexisted before Joe's death, and the JP-20, which is in limited supply, and no new ones will probably be made (as it too would require the estate to come to some type of new agreement).

I imagine Gibson might build a custom instrument to the specs of Joe's prototype, but they might require some small change, as the estate of Joe Pass might have some proprietary interest in it, and it would most certainly cost an arm and a leg (as do most new guitars that say Gibson on the headstock).

I would be glad to offer my own name for the signature model. Gibson could make the thin line 175 and put Joe D on the headstock. I will even sign the labels. All for free. In fact I'd give them a couple a grand to do it. Only problem, I think only me and my wife would buy them and Gibson would send somebody to have me killed..

**John A.** · 07-26-2015, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

When Joe Died, there was some conflict in the settlement of his estate between two of his heirs. I would surmise that their inability to get along has made a Gibson Joe Pass model (which Joe was playing the prototype of in the last few years of his life) an impossibility. As time passes (no pun intended), the marketability for this model diminishes, so all we have is the Epiphone Joe Pass (Not a pro level, or great guitar IMO) which probably has a contract that preexisted before Joe's death, and the JP-20, which is in limited supply, and no new ones will probably be made (as it too would require the estate to come to some type of new agreement).

I imagine Gibson might build a custom instrument to the specs of Joe's prototype, but they might require some small change, as the estate of Joe Pass might have some proprietary interest in it, and it would most certainly cost an arm and a leg (as do most new guitars that say Gibson on the headstock).

I saw Joe Pass not too long before he died, and he was playing an Epiphone that looked like the Epi JP. I've heard stories both that it was the Epi JP and that it was a custom prototype. He played without an amp, plugged into the PA, at times turned down so we could hear him acoustically. I also saw him play the Ibanez back in the early 80s. I don't remember being particularly aware of his tone either time I saw him. The musical impact of his solo performance completely overshadowed all else.

**Stuart Elliott** · 07-27-2015, 08:43 AM

It might just not be the tone of the JP-20. It might be the mike placement, etc for the recording. It might be the OP's computer speakers.

**jzucker** · 07-27-2015, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Stuart Elliott

It might just not be the tone of the JP-20. It might be the mike placement, etc for the recording. It might be the OP's computer speakers.

The OP owned one. It's not the mic placement or computer speakers (which are studio monitors by the way)

**ESCC** · 07-27-2015, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

I would be glad to offer my own name for the signature model. Gibson could make the thin line 175 and put Joe D on the headstock. I will even sign the labels. All for free. In fact I'd give them a couple a grand to do it. Only problem, I think only me and my wife would buy them and Gibson would send somebody to have me killed..

Joe, don't be so hard on yourself, I might consider buying one, but first just sign it Joe, leave the D off and keep the price under $1,500.