Searching for a solid spruce guitar.

[Andreaj88]

That's actually what I tried to find at the beginning of my 'jazz guitar' searches - to combine good acoustic sound with good amplified tone...
I do not know - I ended up with bying acoustic... all-solid jumbo guitar))) for acoustic playing...




I own Epi Broadway (bought new from thomann).... It's Korean (Unsung factory).
I love this guitar... Love some special things about it like Frequensator)))
It is very well done... very smoothly played right from the box - not defaults at all...

It has very loud and pleasent acoustic tone... not only for practice.. but I even played at master class with he teache who had real acoustic... and once in an 'appartment' jam with slightly amplified es-175 and upright bass ... and in both cases I played acoustically... and it was absolutely audible and sounded very nice

Actually many guys who tried mine said that it sounded as if the top is solid...

But it's not and there are two humbuckers installed and knobs and switch..

So of course you cannot compare with real acoustic archtop and even more with flat-top (I have all-solid jumbo - of course this The Acoustic sound)))

As per amplified sound... it is a bit muddy and lacks highs to me... the thing is I play it only slightly amplified... but you really add volume - I don't know - the pickups are obviously cheap.. you may want to change it.

Another point - it is very heavy... heavy to carry (especially in a hardcase) and if you play with a strap...

And it is really big - actually it is exactly the same as my full-size jumbo (they fit teh same hardcase) - not that deep..

So you may have some problem with hands and back...

And last but not least - it looks nice but to me a bit pretencious... I mean you can see that it tries to look more expensive that it really is...

For example what I like about Ibanez taht they look at the price they are.. they do not want to 'pretend Gibsons'...

Actually I wanted to switch to AJK95 - exactly because it's lighter and a bit smaller... but I already had similar guitar (Godin 5th Ave)

so finally I am getting nor Ibames AS93 with Suoer 58 pups (ES-335 type guitar)... but I still try to keep my Broadway... I have somthing personal about it)

If you want I can try to may some short demo tonight when I get home.. I do not make vids usually but if you really need it I can do it

Thank you for the good answer! Don't worry about the demo, youtube is full of review of the broadway!
It seems to be a good guitar, i can find it here around 500 euro used. Should i search for a korea model or china is ok?
What about the washburn j6? can you compare with the epi?
Thanks

[Jonah]

It seems to be a good guitar, i can find it here around 500 euro used. Should i search for a korea model or china is ok?

You never know... I just took a chance and turned out to be Korean.
To me Korea could be better... and might be easier to sell later

Epis do not write the country of productio, but you can check origin factory and date of issue by the serial number on the label on the website.

What about the washburn j6? can you compare with the epi?

No I did not try this one... but I had very bad exoperience with other Washburns...

To me Epi (havung some problems too) has more consistency about quality

[Jonah]

Thank you for the good answer! Don't worry about the demo, youtube is full of review of the broadway!

None of them shows how it really sounds acoustically

But anyway do not expect miracles form acoustic sound with Broadway....
It's bright and nice for electric laminated guitar...
But real acoustic sound is more than just brightness - it's richness, overtones, depth, colour - ofcourse Broadway will not provide it all ...

And Alnico Classic are worse than Super 58 (even those lowere end S58 they put on AJK95) - so be ready for that...

[Andreaj88]

None of them shows how it really sounds acoustically

But anyway do not expect miracles form acoustic sound with Broadway....
It's bright and nice for electric laminated guitar...
But real acoustic sound is more than just brightness - it's richness, overtones, depth, colour - ofcourse Broadway will not provide it all ...

And Alnico Classic are worse than Super 58 (even those lowere end S58 they put on AJK95) - so be ready for that...

For "Real acoustic" you mean acoustic guitars? Like Martin for example, or you mean an high quality hollow like Gibson L5?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I might be the odd man out, but I won't buy a guitar I cannot play first. Even if I get great soundclips, there's no telling if my hands will like it. Play before you pay.

[Jonah]

I might be the odd man out, but I won't buy a guitar I cannot play first. Even if I get great soundclips, there's no telling if my hands will like it. Play before you pay.

Of course that's my point too...

but I gradually change my mind... sometimes you just cannot ever play it before you buy it)))

I just try to be reasonable: find good offer with good conditions, buy something you will be able to sell))

[Jonah]

For "Real acoustic" you mean acoustic guitars? Like Martin for example, or you mean an high quality hollow like Gibson L5?

I mean 'real acoustic tone' - that is a tone of the instruments that are built to be good acosutic instruments... it may be both Martin or acoustic Gibson L-5 (not the one with installed humbuckers)...

[christianm77]

Not sure what the availability is like in Italy - but as far as solid top archtops go, one of the more affordable options is the Gretsch G-400 Synchromatic. From what I have heard there's quite a lot of variation in the specifications throughout the models run. Some have rosewood fingerboards, and apparently some are laminated too.

Mine is from 2012 and has a solid "formed/pressed" top and a very slick ebony fingerboard. There's a little hole in the top where the pickguard is mounted and can confirm that it is not laminated. It's not as lively as a good carved top, but it still has a respectable acoustic sound. I have a floating Vintage Vibe CC pickup fitted to it and it's a very sweet sounding instrument.

Did you mean the G 100?

I play a Loar LH600 mostly these days. I love it but it's pretty old school - more Eddie Lang than Grant Green. I have installed an Atilla Zoller pickup.

[Andreaj88]

I might be the odd man out, but I won't buy a guitar I cannot play first. Even if I get great soundclips, there's no telling if my hands will like it. Play before you pay.

I know and i hate to buy guitar that i can't try before, but if the seller lives too far it's a problem.
However for a cheap guitar i can risk; if i have to buy an expensive instrument i'll go and try it(in the range of 300-400 km)!

[Thumpalumpacus]

Of course that's my point too...

but I gradually change my mind... sometimes you just cannot ever play it before you buy it)))

I just try to be reasonable: find good offer with good conditions, buy something you will be able to sell))

I know and i hate to buy guitar that i can't try before, but if the seller lives too far it's a problem.
However for a cheap guitar i can risk; if i have to buy an expensive instrument i'll go and try it(in the range of 300-400 km)!

Yeah, your circumstances are much different than mine ... you do what you gotta do, and in those circumstances buying something very sellable is a good approach.

[dconeill]

The Ibanez SJ300 (16.5" lower bout) and SS300 (15" lower bout) are steam-formed (pressed) solid spruce topped guitars with two set-in humbuckers. In the USA they sell for about US $1300 with case. Apart from the sizes and body shapes, these models are identical in construction. The SJ300 might have slightly more bass than the SS300.

Furch, a Czech firm, made a few archtops. I don't think they're made anymore, but you might find one used.

Hofner, a German company, makes several archtops. Maybe some are in the OP's price range.

[Andreaj88]

what about this one ?
PEERLESS CREMONA SEMIACUSTICA ARCHTOP - #4683673 - su Mercatino Musicale in Chitarre Semiacustiche
i can try to make an offer of 1000 euro

[2bornot2bop]

what about this one ?
PEERLESS CREMONA SEMIACUSTICA ARCHTOP - #4683673 - su Mercatino Musicale in Chitarre Semiacustiche
i can try to make an offer of 1000 euro

Great guitars, great buys, but that seems a low offer for what is almost a Leela Cremona - to me.

[Andreaj88]

Great guitars, great buys, but that seems a low offer for what is almost a Leela Cremona - to me.

yeah he didn't accept

[Andreaj88]

I found a good price for one d'angelico exl1 used, around 1000 euros.
But now i'm afraid to buy a guitar with floating for the feedback problem.

[2bornot2bop]

yeah he didn't accept

His asking price is valid but you could make a more legit offer. That Cremona is not an EXL1

[Andreaj88]

what about the exl1? is a good instrument?

[Andreaj88]

Hello, i need help, i found this epiphone regent
EPIPHONE REGENT CUSTOM - #4774101 - su Mercatino Musicale in Chitarre Semiacustiche
He put on a Gibson 57 hum
Is the position of the pickup OK? I asked for more photos. Thanks