The Most Versatile Guitar (Mostly Jazz can stand Feedback)

**P.J.** · 06-27-2009, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by Lester

My choice would be...... one of these .

Check out this sound and tell me what more you need!

I love Ed Bickert!! Tele jazz is quite doable if you mess w/ tone knob on the guitar and use the neck pickup.

=-) PJ

**Thomasguitar** · 08-26-2009, 01:59 PM

YAMAHA SA2200, semi-hollow with coil splitting PUPS. Mine has Bigsby!

Jazzarian · 08-26-2009, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sphereacidburn

What do you think is the most versatile guitar mainly for Jazz but can stand Feedback not saying I defiantly want a very versatile guitar but now I don't which direction to go because I feel Like I will be stuck with it the rest of my life but I also really am considering a Archtop Like A Eastman or A Gibson -
ES-175

Here's the most versatile guitar I know, available without the synth too.
Carvin.com - Guitars, Amplifiers & Pro Audio

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-26-2009, 02:37 PM

Not to beat a dead horse (although I bet a Tele would be excellent at that task), can I return to Ed Bickert?

In that video, you can see the neck pickup is a single coil, probably stock, and it sounds great. But didn't Ed for the most part play a Tele that had some model of Gibson humbucker in the neck position? I sure some EB fans in this forum know...

**mr. beaumont** · 08-26-2009, 03:02 PM

AFAIK, it's the same tele, that Ed fitted with a humbucker sometime in the 70's...there's debate whether that happened before the recording of "pure desmond" or not, but it's obvious Ed could get that tone with whatever pickup.

the story goes that ed had an archtop guitar, it needed some repairs, he had the tele as a "loaner," and decided he liked it better.

but the OP ain't into 'em, so let's get this thread back on track for him.

if you want something truly resistant to feedback, that body better not be too deep. i think something in the "semi-hollow, 335 style" would siut you well.

**Bill C** · 08-26-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Arnesto

sadowsky semihollow archtop sound in a semi package

... if in doubt listen to this ...

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-26-2009, 04:41 PM

Another option is to go for a smaller hollow-bodied guitar (no, not the Thinline Tele!) like the Eastman El Rey: it has a 14" lower bout, and a hollow body without sound holes.

Jazz Instruments: Eastman ER2 El Rey Guitar ? By Russell Carlson ? Jazz Articles

**Thomasguitar** · 08-26-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by bkdavidson

Gibson ES-135 LE without a doubt. They sell for $1200ish if you find one on ebay. If you go 335-style, I'd recommend a Sheraton over a Dot. It's a bit more pricey, but well worth it. An actual 335, however, is not worth the price difference, at least in my opinion.

I totally agree..I have a Yamaha SA2200 (see avatar) and Ibanez Artcore AS103 and in my very humble opinion ...both sound/feel better that my 335...especially the Yamaha, which, in my extremely humble opinion is the BEST 335ish semi I have ever played. Again with the coil-splitters and the Bigsby I installed....I nominate the YAMAHA SA2200 for MOST VERSATILE GUITAR!!

**Gitterbug** · 08-28-2009, 05:08 PM

I agree with Thomasguitar on Yamaha 2200. It's great! I've planned to sell mine several times but it just does any job so convincingly I can't let it go. The stock PU's (known as SAH-SAIG) are ok but, when playing chords, they impart a slight "sawtooth" edge. I've replaced them with Seymour Duncans, Jazz for neck and Jeff Beck for bridge. The sound is much clearer, but the distinction between single-coil and humbucker has clearly gotten narrower. For a budget solution, I would look at the Ibanez Artcore AS-103 and have a pro luthier install the coil split (and eventually a Bigsby). The Ibanez Super 58s are fruity-clear.

**pipster** · 08-28-2009, 05:25 PM

ibanez af artcore customs or epi alleykat...budget and versatile

pipster

**Blair** · 08-28-2009, 08:26 PM

You could look into a gibson howard roberts fusion model

**Thomasguitar** · 08-28-2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Gitterbug

I agree with Thomasguitar on Yamaha 2200. It's great! I've planned to sell mine several times but it just does any job so convincingly I can't let it go. The stock PU's (known as SAH-SAIG) are ok but, when playing chords, they impart a slight "sawtooth" edge. I've replaced them with Seymour Duncans, Jazz for neck and Jeff Beck for bridge. The sound is much clearer, but the distinction between single-coil and humbucker has clearly gotten narrower. For a budget solution, I would look at the Ibanez Artcore AS-103 and have a pro luthier install the coil split (and eventually a Bigsby). The Ibanez Super 58s are fruity-clear.

Wow.. you are a mind reader. In the Artcore AS103 I put a Seymore Jazz PUP in the neck and installed coil-splitters and will eventually put in another Bigsby (maybe Ibanez model) . As for the SA2200, here is another pic!

**gary mitchell** · 08-28-2009, 11:52 PM

Ive have a gibson es335 a godin with gibson P90s but if I could only own one guitar it would be a Tele. Theres noway I would get rid of my Tele that guitar can do about everything well.

**Thomasguitar** · 08-29-2009, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

Ive have a gibson es335 a godin with gibson P90s but if I could only own one guitar it would be a Tele. Theres noway I would get rid of my Tele that guitar can do about everything well.

Yes I hear ya!

**Thomasguitar** · 01-10-2011, 02:48 AM

YAMAHA AES1500B

**kris** · 01-10-2011, 03:53 AM

What about Ibanez As-200?

**rpguitar** · 01-10-2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by kris

What about Ibanez As-200?

Obviously, yes. That's a 335 copy for all intents and purposes.

I think the thread is pretty much beat to the ground. Tele, or ES-335 and all its many imitators - these make great jazz guitars that are versatile and have no feedback worth being concerned about.

Apart from that, everyone has a pet favorite, and some have been mentioned. But the basic formula(s) are tried and true.

**kris** · 01-10-2011, 10:55 AM

I think Ibanez As-200 is not exactly copy of Gib-335.
It has ebony fingerboard,different tailpece,humbucers etc.
The sound is also different.
Quality of these Ibanez models specialy from 80's is great.
I have one of it.I can play all kind of music on it/ without classical

/.

**rpguitar** · 01-10-2011, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by kris

I think Ibanez As-200 is not exactly copy of Gib-335.

You're missing the point. They are both double cutaway guitars with solid center blocks and hollow, f-holed wings. The wood on the fingerboard and the tailpiece design are details that make no difference whatsoever in the basic purpose of the instruments.

I have an '83 AM-255 Artist and a '67 335.

**Kiefer.Wolfowitz** · 02-11-2014, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by P.J.

My choices would be either a Parker Nitefly or a Tele. Not what you usually think of when you think "jazz guitars" but extremely versatile nonetheless.

=-) PJ

The softwood solid-body and the Ghost modular piezo bridge (with individual pickups for each string) and Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups make the MaxxFly PDF105 extremely versatile.

The softwood solid-body and Piezo give greater warmth than other solidbodies, and are especially good for jazz. They run c. 650-700 USD.

They are also very light and comfortable to play. (Higher end models are even lighter.)

**jzucker** · 02-11-2014, 08:48 AM

eastman el rey ER1 or ER2 sounds fantastic for jazz and is relatively inexpensive used. Here's a clip I did on mine.

**snoskier63** · 02-11-2014, 10:22 AM

I will veer from the other replies and recommend the Guild Starfire IV. While it looks like the ES-335 it's tone is very different. They can be found with various types of pickups, but most commonly:

1960's: Guild Anti-Hum (Hoboken, NJ until about 1967, then Westerly, RI)
1970/1 - 1994/5: Guild HB-1's (Westerly, RI)
1995 - 2001: SD-1's (maybe some Fender HB-1's as well - Fender bought Guild '95, moved to Corona, CA end of '01)

Those models from 1960's through 1994 seem to be more preferred, but the post-FMIC models from 1995 and beyond are also very good. FMIC-era models can be had in mint condition for about $1200. Westerly models mint for about $1400 to $1800. Hoboken models mint in the low 2K's, all general estimates.

Here is what I think is a Corona model (blues)...

And here is one that mentions 2002, which would also make it a Corona model, but if can't verify the year (jazz)...

All of the above are made in the USA, but Guild has recently started producing replicas of their 1960's version in Korea, and having demo'd one I can say they are very good. The street price on those is around $1100 from a dealer, but can be had for a little less.

The Guild X-175 is also a great guitar. It is primarily a jazz guitar, but can be used very nicely for rock and blues as well. There is a new Korean version of this one replicating a 1950's model, and the USA models are from the 1950's through the pre-FMIC Westerly era ( not sure of the last year). They can be had in mint condition from around $1700 -$2500, depending on the vintage, and the earlier Hoboken models had unique single coils, which are fantastic for whatever you want to play. The pickups on the new Korean models are very similar.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your search, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need any help finding one as I know a lot of people that play and collect Guilds, including me.

**kris** · 02-11-2014, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

You're missing the point. They are both double cutaway guitars with solid center blocks and hollow, f-holed wings. The wood on the fingerboard and the tailpiece design are details that make no difference whatsoever in the basic purpose of the instruments.

I have an '83 AM-255 Artist and a '67 335.

I think Gibson es-335 has laminated body but Ibanez as-200 hasn't.
so the sound is also different...