A Good Budget Jazz Guitar

**christianm77** · 04-26-2016, 05:31 AM

I like the Godin 5th Avenue Jazz

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-26-2016, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Dry, dark, a little sparkle... Sounds like you are describing a Tal Farlow!

I've thought Tal Farlows are great guitars for a long time (about 20 plus years). Unfortunately, they seem to be kind of rare on the ground, and as a result are quite a bit more then I can afford. I love the way they sound, and would love to have one. Oh well.

Lately I've been getting into Andy Brown, and he gets some killer tones out of his Tal Farlow

**Max405** · 04-26-2016, 08:36 AM

Ellen, Pound for Pound, Dollar for Dollar, the Tal is the only jazz Guitar you'll ever need. If one comes your way and can fit comfortably into your budget do it. You wont regret it.
Joe D.

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-26-2016, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Ellen, Pound for Pound, Dollar for Dollar, the Tal is the only jazz Guitar you'll ever need. If one comes your way and can fit comfortably into your budget do it. You wont regret it.
Joe D.

Ooohhhh! Must fight GAS, and the urge to sell all of my gear to get one! ....... So hard to do!

**JSanta** · 04-26-2016, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl

Ooohhhh! Must fight GAS, and the urge to sell all of my gear to get one! ....... So hard to do!

I agree 100% with Joe on this one. I would totally consider selling off some gear that you may not be using to fund one above your current budget, especially a Tal. I sold off a few things to get my Benedetto and I have zero regrets. The guitar is so nice (even though it's just their base Bambino model) that I have been playing more than I have in well over a year.

**Jim Soloway** · 04-26-2016, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl

I've thought Tal Farlows are great guitars for a long time (about 20 plus years). Unfortunately, they seem to be kind of rare on the ground, and as a result are quite a bit more then I can afford. I love the way they sound, and would love to have one. Oh well.

Lately I've been getting into Andy Brown, and he gets some killer tones out of his Tal Farlow

Andy Brown is a monster player. Just great. I wonder how close to the Tal the Heritage H550 comes. The specs are actually somewhat similar.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-26-2016, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by christianm77

I like the Godin 5th Avenue Jazz

They're outstanding.

I really want to try a Composer out in person.

OP, those might be good picks, too. Otherwise, I say used Heritage.

I always recommend buying used. Get so much more for your dollar.

**Boston Joe** · 04-26-2016, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I always recommend buying used. Get so much more for your dollar.

I don't disagree, but I love buying new gear. I love having a pristine instrument, knowing that it's going to break in to my playing and no one else's.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-26-2016, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Boston Joe

I don't disagree, but I love buying new gear. I love having a pristine instrument, knowing that it's going to break in to my playing and no one else's.

I understand that sentiment, too.

I'm a klutz, and I have little kids, so getting a guitar with a few pre-dents is good for me, because it's bound to get a few more, and that first dent is oh so painful.

**Boston Joe** · 04-26-2016, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I understand that sentiment, too.

I'm a klutz, and I have little kids, so getting a guitar with a few pre-dents is good for me, because it's bound to get a few more, and that first dent is oh so painful.

Oh, I hear you. No kids here, but I feel you on the first dent thing. So far, I've managed to avoid dinging the Ibanez. I don't imagine that streak will hold up forever, but I get nervous every time I pick it up.

The Tele is used and pre-dinged, so I don't worry about it too much. Also, Teles are nigh-indestructable. That's why the Tele is my "throw it in the trunk of the car" axe.

**Bluedawg** · 04-26-2016, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I understand that sentiment, too.

I'm a klutz, and I have little kids, so getting a guitar with a few pre-dents is good for me, because it's bound to get a few more, and that first dent is oh so painful.

For me it's dogs .... I'll be noodling on the couch while watching the tube and look down and one of my dogs is licking my guitar's tailpiece .... that can't be good for the ones with gold plating

And they tend to rough house and jump around at times

And all of this Tal Farlow talk is bad for me .... there's a very nice new one near me at a good price and I have several neglected solid bodies in my collection that could be traded or sold to bring the Tal home

**Boston Joe** · 04-26-2016, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bluedawg

And all of this Tal Farlow talk is bad for me .... there's a very nice new one near me at a good price and I have several neglected solid bodies in my collection that could be traded or sold to bring the Tal home

And that's "bad" how? Sounds like a plan to me.

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-26-2016, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl

I've thought Tal Farlows are great guitars for a long time (about 20 plus years). Unfortunately, they seem to be kind of rare on the ground, and as a result are quite a bit more then I can afford. I love the way they sound, and would love to have one. Oh well.

Lately I've been getting into Andy Brown, and he gets some killer tones out of his Tal Farlow

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Andy Brown is a monster player. Just great. I wonder how close to the Tal the Heritage H550 comes. The specs are actually somewhat similar.

Kind of close. The main difference is, IIRC, the Tal Farlow has a solid top, whereas the H550 is laminated (not a deal breaker for me). I would say both it and the Tal (with another Howard Roberts Fusion as a darkhorse) are definitely in the running. Of the 3, the H550 is probably the easiest for me to get at the present time. I could hold off on getting another Gretsch Country Club, and flip the $2200 I have on the Gretsch to an H550, since the place I have the Gretsch on layaway at, is also a Heritage dealer.

My main concern for both the Tal Farlow, and the H550, are the necks. What are they like profile-wise? I play classical style with my thumb behind the neck (I've never been a thumb hanger or a thumb wrapper [blame it on my Uncle Joe, whom grampa the jazz player, insisted take classical guitar lessons - when I finally started really playing guitar at age 15, he caught me playing with my thumb sticking up, and told me not to play that way

]), and as a result do NOT like thin necks at all. The necks I like don't have to be baseball bats, but a Medium C at least (or a U profile with some heft) will work for me. Every time I get a guitar with a thin profile neck, I end up getting rid of it in short order - it's too uncomfortable for me with my playing style.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-26-2016, 05:50 PM

I don't think the Tal has a solid top.

**goldenwave77** · 04-26-2016, 06:26 PM

[QUOTE=EllenGtrGrl;644582]Kind of close. The main difference is, IIRC, the Tal Farlow has a solid top, whereas the H550 is laminated (not a deal breaker for me). I would say both it and the Tal (with another Howard Roberts Fusion as a darkhorse) are definitely in the running. Of the 3, the H550 is probably the easiest for me to get at the present time. I could hold off on getting another Gretsch Country Club, and flip the $2200 I have on the Gretsch to an H550, since the place I have the Gretsch on layaway at, is also a Heritage dealer.

My main concern for both the Tal Farlow, and the H550, are the necks. What are they like profile-wise?

I have a 550 which I bought from another forum member here. Great, great guitar. Very rich tonally, but with a lot of definition and crispness. Surprisingly loud, acoustically, perfectly OK for practicing.

I would call it a medium C neck---definitely not a flattish neck. I also have an L4-CES. The necks are very similar. Both are keepers.

I have calipers somewhere around but can't locate them. So, I can't get you an objective measurement but I have a partscaster tele with a baseball bat neck---I have big hands, and like thickish necks. These two archies are definitely thinner than a true baseball bat, though.

Had a HR Fusion--but sold it. Also very good instrument but a more semi-hollow sound--more 335-ish.

The 550 is really versatile...the back pu might even replace your Gretsch...pretty bright and almost twangy. You should definitely check one out, IMO. I'm sure you know Heritages can vary from model to model...mine is a natural and is labelled as a "custom model", and both the L4-CES and the 550 are way more guitar than I probably deserve. (I even like the 'Batman' headstock on the 550. I think I got it for $1850...arrived perfectly set up, from another forum member who moved on to a Sadowsky, I guess for more of that layered acoustic-y sound).

I like bigger body guitars as I have longer arms, and the slightly thinner body of the 550 (3"), like the Tal, makes it comfortable.

**Bluedawg** · 04-26-2016, 07:13 PM

Pretty sure the Tal is laminated ... otherwise it would be much more expensive

I played a Tal and I loved the neck.

I have big hands and I tend to hold my thumb classical style ... I studied classical in college while earning an engineering degree

The neck was on the big side and had an interesting profile .... but it's been a while so I don't remember enough to describe it in more detail

**snoskier63** · 04-26-2016, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl

Kind of close. The main difference is, IIRC, the Tal Farlow has a solid top, whereas the H550 is laminated (not a deal breaker for me). I would say both it and the Tal (with another Howard Roberts Fusion as a darkhorse) are definitely in the running. Of the 3, the H550 is probably the easiest for me to get at the present time. I could hold off on getting another Gretsch Country Club, and flip the $2200 I have on the Gretsch to an H550, since the place I have the Gretsch on layaway at, is also a Heritage dealer.

Spoken like a woman with honest to goodness GAS! I believe there is a 10 guit...I mean step program for that problem. Whatever you get play it often!

**vinlander** · 04-26-2016, 07:32 PM

The Tal is 1 piece laminated top and back.
I would describe the neck on mine as on the slim side at the nut and going up to medium down the body.
I play mostly all the time with the thumb behind the neck even if I wish I could thumb over (can't because of a badly healed fracture years ago).
I am not a fan of big full neck, slim 60's is my favorite usually but the Tal fits perfectly

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-26-2016, 11:34 PM

Thanks for the info people!

Both the Tal and the H-550 are definitely sounding more and more like what the doctor ordered. It sounds like they have necks with enough heft to keep my left hand happy, when I'm playing.

**Ray175** · 04-27-2016, 03:03 PM

Second hand you might consider an early Ibanez GB20 (1977?) or GB20NT from 1981. Both should be within you price range and will certainly have been "played in" by now......

As an outfielder suggestion you could look at the Ibanez Howard Roberts copy 1977 - as good as the Gibson originals of the same period and should be available at les than $1.500.

For Ibanez, I suggest you register with Ibanez Collectors World and keep an eye open for sales posts - alternatively people regularly post links to reverb and e-bay as good deals come on line. This is how I picked up a 1978 MC400 NT (a real dream machine if you like that sort of thing) at a ridiculously low price a couple of months ago..

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-27-2016, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Ray175

Second hand you might consider an early Ibanez GB20 (1977?) or GB20NT from 1981. Both should be within you price range and will certainly have been "played in" by now......

As an outfielder suggestion you could look at the Ibanez Howard Roberts copy 1977 - as good as the Gibson originals of the same period and should be available at les than $1.500.

For Ibanez, I suggest you register with Ibanez Collectors World and keep an eye open for sales posts - alternatively people regularly post links to reverb and e-bay as good deals come on line. This is how I picked up a 1978 MC400 NT (a real dream machine if you like that sort of thing) at a ridiculously low price a couple of months ago..

Hmmm, those are also some good ideas. The Lawsuit Era Ibanezes are great guitars. The original version Howard Roberts (Epiphone, Gibson, and the Ibanez copies), are also very cool guitars IMO.

In general, everybody has given me some fantastic ideas. Thanks!

While I am leaning towards a Heritage H-550 (or a Tal Farlow if I can somehow manage to pull it off), I'm still open to suggestions. I have not made a decision yet, and my choice is tentative at the present time.

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-28-2016, 10:14 PM

I priced the Heritage H550, and new ones are going for $3000 (ouch!). I can't afford a Tal Farlow, and I can't afford at the present time, to buy outright a used version of either guitar - I'd have to use the layaway money I have on the Country Club, and buy the guitar from the shop, where I have the layaway to buy either guitar. So, it's looking like I'll just pay off the rest of the money I owe on the Country Club ($500), get it refretted (as you may recall I have a severe nickel allergy), and use it while saving my money up for a Tal Farlow, etc. Oh well. Who knows maybe I can tweak the tone settings enough to get a nice, warm jazz tone out of the Country Club.

**Cavalier** · 04-28-2016, 10:52 PM

If nothing else works something like a boss graphic eq. should help. I think you'll learn more about getting sounds this way actually. Jazz is really a state of mind, the gear is secondary. Once tradition gets entrenched in a art form it can cease to reflect the current times. I'm going to commit sacrilege and suggest that given the opportunity Charlie Christian would have been playing a Strat.

**Bach5G** · 04-29-2016, 12:35 AM

There's an Epi HR2 at the LMS. They say it's made in Japan. $799 (CDN)

Maybe I'll have a look. I don't need another guitar. Still paying off the last one.

**EllenGtrGrl** · 04-29-2016, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Cavalier

If nothing else works something like a boss graphic eq. should help. I think you'll learn more about getting sounds this way actually. Jazz is really a state of mind, the gear is secondary. Once tradition gets entrenched in a art form it can cease to reflect the current times. I'm going to commit sacrilege and suggest that given the opportunity Charlie Christian would have been playing a Strat.

I think that's true. I remember reading a quote years ago, that was similar to what you said, made by Lemmy. He stated that If Eddie Cochran had come on the scene at the time (the late 80s), instead of the 50s, he would have played a Strat, instead of a Gretsch 6120. Charlie probably played an ES-150, because there weren't many choices for electric guitars back in the late 30s & early 40s. Still, it would be cool to have a Tal Farlow.