What is the Best Ibanez Jazz Guitar?

[alexdm]

Thanks very much for all your replies - I am a bit overwhelmed by your feedback, so I will try to reply to everybody.

@Mangotango - I usually play blues and rock, but lately I am trying to expand my musical knowledge. Jazz has a soothing effect on me. I usually play alone in the evenings, after I return from work. I do not have an amp - I have a POD500x with 2 studio monitors. I cannot try them out - I live in a very small country with 3 or 4 music instruments shops.

@Palindrome - everybody raves about the AS200, hence its position on my list. But in the end, I will probably go with the JP20, I was never impressed with the semi-acoustics a la es-335 etc.

@Pingu - the JP will surely get some nice big thick strings!! Maybe flat-wounds...never had any on my other guitars.

@BigMikeInNJ - I am perfectly fine with a wide neck, but it needs to be normal to thin - I have small-normal hands. Baseball bats with strings are not for me. That JS on ebay is sweet, but is also too expensive
And as for the GB10, I already checked them out, but the cheapest was way out of my budget. I like your guitars a lot!

@TruthHertz - I know the JP20 is a rare gem, that's why I think my choice will be most likely this guitar. Not sure about the pickup change yet - it comes with the SUPER-58 - I'll check it out and see if a change is really needed. But I'll keep your advice in mind...As for the PM model, same as the GB10 - out of my budget.

For the compiled list - I found these guitars on sale in Japan - I just mentioned here the production years as advertised.
But I have to admit, I like to buy used, broken-in already guitars. Played guitars - because that means someone out there loved those guitars, and considered them good enough to dedicate his time playing them.

I am more of a tele/strat guy. I bought my only acoustic guitar because..well, I didn't have any - I had to buy it. That's why now I am more inclined towards the JP20 - I want a bit of acoustic sound too.

@Pierre Richard - I have 12 guitars. Some believe this is too much...I obviously disregard their opinion. Most of them are solid bodies - strats, teles and some singlecuts. And with these, you can afford some hit and misses - you can replace a neck, put some brass saddles, change the pups etc. But with an arch top, there's not much to do. I reckon...

@TJBlonde - yep, know the whole story. Yet, I like the guitar, I am not really picking it just because is Joe's model. Never cared much about the endorsement side of things. If I like it, I buy it - does not matter if it's the Britney Spears strat

Thanks a lot again for the nice information - most likely I will buy the JP20 - pictures to come soon.

Alex

[marvinvv]

Hi Alex you will not regret the JP20 at all, most of what people say is is opinion not fact. here are facts
A. superb neck (for almost everyone)
B. great looking guitar simple lines.
C. very comfortable to hold,
D. excellent build quality at least very early 80-84,
E. great sound
F. The Super 58, ( NOT the Super 58 Custom ) is used in the top Ibanez guitars even Bensons GB30 he could afford anything he wanted.
Did Joe Pass sound bad on a JP20 Noooooooooooooo he sounded amazing. With all the Chinese copies guitars coming these will be even more sought after, because

there are not that many players in the same league as JP coming thro these days. Not even the big names out there today are like Wes or JP only Benson is.

Once people realise they cant get a guitar designed and played by JP ( maybe not as much his Gibson but he sure played it quite a lot ) the value should be sustained.

The whole argument about pup is nonsense Gibson L5 comes with 2 pup WES only had one and only used one pup. Charlie Christian one pup and look at where the position of pup is way back from the neck but boy what a ridiculous fantastic sound. Barney Kessell one pup also set back from neck what does that tell you if the Worlds Best use that well then don't be put off by the JP20 it will be even more collectable in the future.

[tootZ]

I have a JP20 and I'm really pleased with it, the acoustic sound is not so big, but enough to pratice, if you plan to buy an amp take care of the feedback problem, avoid powerful ones with tubes

have fun

michel

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I was just checking out their web site. Am I right in thinking they have no hollow body or semi-hollows with a 25 1/2" scale? Did they ever offer one?

[Jazz_175]

When I bought my first Gibson many years ago I made a choice between Gibson Es 347 and Ibanez As200. I chose Gibson but I it was a tough choice. Since then I am constantly thinking about an Ibanez As200 waiting for me somewhere out there, but I cannot afford having too many guitars.

[tootZ]

I was just checking out their web site. Am I right in thinking they have no hollow body or semi-hollows with a 25 1/2" scale? Did they ever offer one?

The JP20 is 25 1/2"

[calgarc]

I have owned many ibanez guitars over the years, in many styles. They have never let me down or failed me!

[floatingpickup]

I have had three JP-20's over the years. They were extremely well made and beautiful looking, typical of the Ibanez MIJ guitars of the 1980's. The JP-20 does have a 25.5" scale, which is a little unusual for a 16" body Archtop, but the neck profile is fabulous and the scale felt comfortable to me. The sunburst was perfect, and I loved the D'Aquisto inspired styling. My only complaint was that the tone was a little brighter than I am used to, due to the position of the pickup. Even with the tone control rolled off, the guitar sounds different than an ES-175 for instance. I know that the pickup on a 175 is also set back from the end of the fingerboard a bit, but the JP was still brighter. I tried replacement pickups in the JP-20's, but I still couldn't quite get the tone I wanted. In the end, I sold them and went back to playing ES-175's. Everyone is different though, so if the tone suits you, a JP-20 will be a great guitar.
Keith

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Cool to hear about the JP's scale.

[MacFever]

I would like to know what is the best Ibanez jazz guitar (money is no object)

GB20?
AR3000?
Other?

I know that this is a subjective opinion but I would like to know what guitar is up there

Thanks,
Eric

[blackcat]

I am sure others might be thinking this too. Best Ibanez Jazz Guitar for:

a. Value for money?
b. Style of jazz/desired sound?
c. Relative to what exactly?

Pin this down and we can probably home in on the problem.

For instance, I have owned variously several guitars by Peerless : Jazz City, Monarch, Renaissance Custom, Manhattan, and Cremona.

Each had its virtues.

For a carved guitar matched to a suitable Kent Armstrong humbucker the Cremona was hard to beat.

Was it the 'best' Peerless? At the moment I am enjoying my Ibanez AFJ95 which is almost as sweet as my duo partner's LGB30 but then that would not be the 'best' Ibanez for me (at almost twice the price )because I dislike the aesthetics and prefer a rosewood fretboard.

PS Elsewhere here Dan Johnson of Foulds in the UK was extolling the virtues of the AS153 which clearly ticks all the boxes for him at this point and he pretty well has access to most models. Best (Ibanez) guitar for Dan at this point in time?

[MacFever]

Hi Blackcat,

I am looking for that typical old clean sweet jazz sound.

Relative to other Ibanez guitars, for example I think everyone will agree that a GB300 is a better guitar than a GB30.

I meant the best not the best value.

Thanks a lot

Eric

[blackcat]

Hi Eric,

Understood but I fear that many here will be better qualified than I to determine that exact requirement.

I still think 'best however is relative. Better constructed/finished from superior materials is easy to determine but better for you?

Even with that 'old clean sweet jazz sound' many would point to the ES-175 genre ie plywood.

So many variables. If there are members out there with experience of more than one 'top end' Ibanez I'm sure they'll come forward.

[Archie]

All of these



77 Ibanez 2355



84 AM205



82 AR305


72/73 Custom Agent



82 FA-800µ



83 JP-20



SJ500 2008?

[ah.clem]

Love the Ibanez JP20.

There's an 1980 on archtop.com right now I've been thinking about (I thought the model run began in 1981). Been awhile since a GAS attack, but this is an early, signed model.

Too many great guitars out there...

[mr quick]

What about those old L5 copies? Aren't they quite acclaimed?

[2bornot2bop]

Best is subjective...but the "best" for my money is an Ibanez 2460.

Those Super 70s in the 2460 create some of the sweetest jazz tone of any archtop I've yet to hear.

Worth $2400? Absolutely!

[Frank67]

GB10 anyone? Nicely made, plays great, sounds great, small, light, very gigable. What's not to like?

[Cunamara]

The GB10 is what I would have mentioned, but I've had one since 1986 so obviously I am partial.

Blackcat's point is right on.

There is no "best" jazz guitar, only best for the needs and tastes of the owner. There is no "best" jazz guitar tone - compare Farlow, Montgomery, Hall, Bickert, Scofield, Django, Monder, Green and Metheny just to try to get some of the spectrum of sounds that jazz guitarists have produced.

As such, we can't identify the "best" Ibanez guitar for jazz.

"Best for X playing" is the most we could hope to to and even that is really hard.

[cosmic gumbo]

Don't the best ones have lightning bolts on the headstock?

[Para]

I have an AF200 it's great guitar, in fact I've just let a friend have my LGB300 as I prefer the AF200.

[blackcat]

Some nice Ibanez models there.

And the 'best one' is?

Original poster must be totally confused by now.

We all mean well of course, but surely he must define need first of all in order to provide a match?

[Archie]

Well it's tricky because he didn't specify body type. Thats why I thought a good bombing would be called for.

Or I just needed any excuse :-))

The best one, well it depends what you need.

Solid Body AR305

Semi AM205

Hollow JP-20

[jzucker]

i would say the GB10.

It's the best selling ibanez archtop of all time and is featured on more live performances and recordings than all other ibanez archtops combined.

[yebdox]

I'm with Jack.

Although I've only played a couple of other Ibanez models and have only owned a Johnny Smith copy besides my GB10, I could easily get by without my L5 and Sadowsky Jim Hall if I could only have one arch top.

It has my favorite neck of all time, plays like a dream and is always in tune.

I never use the bridge pick up and wish that it was a 16 or 17 inch body, but other than those issues, it's an amazing guitar.

Metheny, Wes, and of course Benson tones on tap :-)