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What do you buy? I am selling my house and will be treating myself to a new guitar. The kind of guitar that I will probably never spend as much on again. I am very torn what direction to go...I have a '77 Ibanez Artist (the 335 that came before the John Scofield one), a '77 DAgistino (made in the same factory a month apart from the Ibanez...a es175 lawsuit basically) and a 2005 Eastman 805ce...which is not "e" anymore since I took of the pick guard and electronics.
Part of me wants to go with Gibson. I had a Tal Farlow model that I sold in 2000 that I regret selling. An L5 or Wes model has always been on the bucket list. Or a vintage Gibson of some sort. But spending 10k on a guitar (not a definite but it is around my upper price point) I know I could go with other luthiers. I have a lot of thinking to do. I don't get guitars to keep them in the house so even with a pricey one I plan to gig and teach with it and have it travel and play so that isn't a factor.
So in the mean time, I was curious what some of you might do if you had some money set aside for a guitar.
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04-18-2016 08:42 PM
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Gibson L5 CES, that will be my 50th birthday present to myself.
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I recommend a Stromberg G-1.
Preferably one that's in great shape that plays and sounds fantastic, equipped with an old Dearmond floating pickup for those electric gigs.
Coincidentally, I have one just like that for sale, within your budget.
Of course if you need one of those new-fangled "cutaways" that the kids are raving about for their wheedely-wheedely needs, I recommend a Hofner Chancellor, which has a cutaway, 16th fret neck joint, and a floating minihumbucker.
Coincidentally, I also have one just like that for sale, well within your budget.
Always happy to help with this kind of advice!Last edited by Hammertone; 04-19-2016 at 12:35 AM.
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Thanks! Since you are selling, though, what would you get given the opportunity?
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It really depends on what you want.
A Tal Farlow and this, and you are set for life..
https://reverb.com/item/1671834-d-an...-1939-sunburstLast edited by Max405; 04-18-2016 at 09:08 PM.
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If you are happy with your current guitars don't buy any! If not try a bunch until one speaks to you!
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Based on your current lineup I say grab a Ibanez GB100... it's an amazingly expressive guitar.
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Don't spend anything until you know what you want.
I think it's very hard to go wrong with vintage Gibson. At the bare minimum, you're not going to lose anything if you buy and sell a few looking for the "right one."
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If you're a player who honestly hopes a guitar will be a lifelong companion that will take you places you never imagined, that really, truly and honestly is SUCH a personal question. I had a Gibson Johnny Smith, a Guild Artist Award, a Korean Ibanez George Benson (which I chose because I liked it more than the Japanese ones) and an Ibanez Joe Pass at one time.
All instruments that I and many others believed were the ultimate. In the end, I play a custom 15" 7 string and the musician it has allowed me to become... priceless.
Funny thing, those iconic instruments, I always felt the inherent mystique from, but as a player, I didn't feel on par with. My present instrument is a custom invention designed by me for one purpose: not to get in the way of me and the music.
When I had that, I no longer had a desire to find the "best" guitar. There was only an instrument of music.
Have you taken an inventory of what you want as a player? As a collector? As an investor? and wouldn't this help you decide what a guitar should be to you?
You've got good instruments right now. What would they have to have to be better for your purposes? Have you considered having someone build you a custom that is designed for your tastes, hands, setup, body, ears and desire to grow? Does Gibson have a custom shop anymore, do you know?
A custom instrument is something many don't even consider because they are enamoured of a fantasy instrument or they never thought they'd have the money.
It's a fantastic opportunity you have. Compared with what you can become as a musician, you're buying a tool. I hope it serves you well in your own craft! Have fun-
David
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Thank you for the replies - I'm also curious what you all would choose if you were giving yourself a gift of a new guitar?
Joe, that looks sweet and I am tempted.
Re: the gb100. Funny story. I had a blonde gb10. It was the first nice jazz guitar I owned. After a gig, I put it in the trunk and the drummer took it out to make some room for his stuff since we were driving together. It was in a soft case. I reversed right over it. It was a horrible sound. The only thing not broken was the fretboard which hangs on my wall to this very day. The guitar I got after that was the Tal Farlow.
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Florentine cutaway L5, Super 400 or if looking to save some money a Barney Kessel.
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David, thank you for the reply. That is all good stuff. I am hesitant to go with a new Gibson just because I know that there are more qualified luthiers that could build a better instrument for the price. Since I got those couple of '77 instruments, my first chance to play vintage (spending on what you call vintage I suppose) they respond very differently than any other guitars I've had. You make a good point though. I know exactly what I'd ask for in a custom instrument. I guess that just makes it more complicated in a way. I am not really concerned about collectibility but the old plywood Es-175 copy I have with the jankiness and sloppy building sounds and responds better than anything I have had, and who knows how long I'll be around if I get a new instrument. There are just so many choices so I was curious if anyone else had ever thought what they'd buy with the opportunity to do so.
E: I have a friend who got a Kessell. Sweet, quirky guitar.
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A mint Gibson Johnny Smith.
Originally Posted by rio
A D'Angelico with a cutaway.
JD
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No rush, keep it in the bank until you know what you really want.
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Fun thread. From what you described, I would definitely suggest an L5, Wesmo or Super 400.
If I am answering as the title of the threads reads, I personally would order or buy a Comins, Buscarino, Trenier (after seeing Steve's NGD thread) etc.
Don't get me started on what I would buy if I had an estate and sold it.
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Well, RyanM's advice is probably the best. The problem with giving advice about what to buy is that it's going to be biased towards what speaks to us, not necessarily to you. The best thing you can do is play a bunch of instruments and see what speaks to you.
My 17" archtop- made by forum member Matt Cushman 10-15 years ago- is a fine instrument that can and probably will be the guitar for the rest of my days. Every time I have tried out a different archtop, I think "does this sound/feel better than what I have?" So far the answer has been "no" and thus I have not bought another archtop. Now, this relationship didn't happen overnight. I've had the guitar for 10 years and over that time I have adapted to it and it has adapted to me. Interestingly the biggest change seems to have happened in the past couple of years in terms of its amplified sound, although the acoustic side of it has been great for a long time. It's like I just finally figured out how to amplify it. I mention this because "the" guitar may not seem like it right away.
And that's an important question- are you looking for an acoustic instrument, amplified instrument or one that is both? Are you looking for an instrument to spend the rest of your playing days with, in which case resale value is less salient and thus a boutique type instrument could be a great choice, or something that will hold resale value just in case? If the latter then a Gibson L5, vintage ES-175, etc., might be more apropos.
If I was going to get another special instrument, it would be a non-cutaway purely acoustic archtop aimed at having a voice along the lines of Joe DeNisco's vintage D'Angelico. The sound of that guitar when Joe has played it in his videos has been transfixing to me. I've got the electric side well covered already between my Cushman, my Tele and my GB10 (and frankly the acoustic side is covered already by the Cushman, but, you know... it's a sickness, man). I couldn't afford a D'A (and would be too worried about it, I'd never be able to leave the house!) but there are other options.
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Man you have some nice guitars. I would spend the money going to the Jamey Aebersold summer workshops then off to New York to one of those Jazz Institute 2 week courses, the one you get to play at Small's at the end, if money left over might then go to a European Jazz School I heard the one in Austria is very good or buy some studio time and lay down some tracks with some buddies.
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He said he was getting money, not time
Damn, if I could choose one...
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The used market has been pretty good for buyers, take a look at what's out there.
Guild Artist Award is a great guitar for the $$$. There were recently a couple on Reverb for +/- $4,000, they must have finally sold or the listings been pulled.
L5CES or a WesMo is also hard to beat.
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I dunno. Originally Posted by rio
Maybe a Stromberg G1 and a Hofner Chancellor.Last edited by Hammertone; 04-19-2016 at 04:38 PM.
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Get a great L-5. Life is short and ticking off the bucket list stuff should be a priority. There is something very special about a great L-5. They are on most jazz guitarists bucket list. And for good reason....
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Or... Buy that DA that JD gave you the link to. No better guitar than a real DA.
My bucket list is down to a DA New Yorker ( a real one). They are a bit rich for my blood at the moment, but perhaps some day....
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Nice problem you have here Rio !
It happended to me last year. I am a Gibson guy. Choose a great L5C from 1953 and a fabulous Slaman DS 250 (luthier's guitar). But it depends so much on what you want to play. I would add a prewar Gibson ES 150 in the list, best electric archtop IMHO. Super 400 would be another option if you are into 18''.
Cheers
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Benedetto?
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Gibson Johnny Smith.
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