Your best under $1k acoustic - And or electric humbucker jazz guitar?

[2bornot2bop]

I'm a fan of archtops readily available to the masses that truly perform above their accessible price range.

Using a $1k price max, here's 2bs'

Acoustic - Loar LH650

The criticism of this guitar is not voice performance based. Some were produced with poor neck angles. But the guitar possesses so much merit, there's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you sample a good '650, and swap the bridge for a Bill Gagnon and the pickup of your choice the '650's voice is on par with acoustic guitars costing many, many times more. I've owned 2 of them. Each was exceptional. So much so the guitar, pickup, bridge combo photographed below had the woodiest tone of any guitar I've ever owned...crazy I know. $950 used.




Electric Humbucker - Epi Premium ES175

This isn't a true "sleeper" because many have heard suggestions about how good this guitar is. However, I don't think one realizes just how good the preemy truly is until they a/b them side by side with the real thing. This is the under $1k electric guitar that could. Like with any guitar expect to set it up. This one arrived with a pro setup which included limited fretwork. $450 used. Don't ask me how the Epi compares to the Gibson...we don't need to go there. Let's keep this fun!



Honorable mentions I've acquired used that fall under the $1k price range:

Peerless Monarch
Mr Wu
I've not owned a Aria Herb Ellis, but I've heard very positive things about them...perhaps worth a look see WHEN you can find one under $1k.

Next, I'll do a $1500 and $2k and under best buy category. Hopefully these will hold some value to newbies visiting the site, or to someone who has some spare change to blow.

So - What's yours?

[ronjazz]

Philips Nouveau 16: very Jim Hall, wide fingerboard, single mini HB pickup, deep cutaway, ebony board, $700 brand new.

[MaxTwang]

1960 ES-175. I paid $425 around 1982 for the guitar and a Silvertone amp I sold for $100, so this guitar cost me $325. The original wood bridge is in the case.



I also have a Godin Jazz that I bought for $800, great guitar!

[r_cc_c]

Acoustic sound from a Yunzhi or Mr. Wu are very pronounce and resonant.
I built a 15" few years back around 1K.
It is a true carve top/bottom guitar and the wood are carved to very thin.
With flat wound string playing with fingers, it sounded a bit like a nylon string classical guitar.

I replaced the pickup with a KA resin cast 12 pole floating.
With 250K tone knob + 0.047uf (or 0.033uf...I forgot) cap.

Be aware of feedback.

[jazz.fred]

2b,

The Peerless Monarchs (both 16" & 17") are now $1395 new and therefore would be more appropriately positioned in your $1500 list. Still a great value in a solid wood archtop.

The Peerless Gigmaster Jazz (ES175 clone) is $1195.

[jazz.fred]

2b,

The Peerless Monarchs (both 16" & 17") are now $1395 new and therefore would be more appropriately positioned in your $1500 list. Still a great value in a solid wood archtop.

The Peerless Gigmaster Jazz (ES175 clone) is $1195 new and although a good value, I think you can score an Epi 175 for under $1000.

[Jim Soloway]

[entresz]

My best <1k archtop is my mid 70's Greco ES-175 copy. Having now compared it to a couple Gibson ES-175s , it's definitely in the ballpark. I don't like humbuckers much so the neck pickup will probably get swapped for a VV CC style pickup.

The other guitar under 1K that stood out was my Godin 5th Avenue. I put a floating CC pickup on it, it sounded fantastic. I sold it to fund the purchase of the Greco 175.

[Jabberwocky]

<$1000 new? Anything that says Ibanez.

[2bornot2bop]

2b,

The Peerless Monarchs (both 16" & 17") are now $1395 new and therefore would be more appropriately positioned in your $1500 list. Still a great value in a solid wood archtop.

The Peerless Gigmaster Jazz (ES175 clone) is $1195 new and although a good value, I think you can score an Epi 175 for under $1000.

Hi JF! Yes, but 2b always quotes, and buys, used.

[jazz.fred]

Hi JF! Yes, but 2b always quotes, and buys, used.

2b,

Where are you finding used Monarchs for under $1K? I looked on Reverb, Gbase, Ebay and found none.

You must know something I don't.

[Dedalus]

Well, I don't have anywhere near the experience of most of this forum, but to my ears and hands the Korean Made, round hole, The Loar LH-400 in my avatar is a great buy. Snagged it off a local auction site for a tad under US$400, with hard case. More than adequate for my feeble atteepts at jazz geetar...

[Longways to Go]

The new Epiphone Century collection fits this category perfectly.

Unfortunately they're not quite in full circulation just yet.

But the one I got to play is a very nice guitar.

[DanielleOM]

I think my Eastman AR371CE is sounding pretty good right now with TI 13 flats on it.

[TOMMO]

I'm no expert when it comes to archtops but I really dig my Ibanez AFJ95 - amazing quality considering a price well under 1k.








If used guitars are permitted: my Tokai 335, bought "pre-owned" - you really couldn't called it used. 850,- Euros about 15 years ago and it gives my Gibsons a run for their money.

[nopedals]

If it is not a carved top, it is not an acoustic. If it has a routed in pickup, it is not an acoustic. For that matter, there are carved tops that are not serious acoustic guitars.

I have one of the best sounding laminates; a late forties ES-150 17 inch thin laminate. It crushes most of the guitars in this thread for acoustic sound. But it is not an acoustic guitar. All I have to do is strum my L7 for 10 sends to confirm it.

AFAIK, Loar is currently it for this category.

[jazz.fred]

I think my Eastman AR371CE is sounding pretty good right now with TI 13 flats on it.

I agree. Although I opted for the Peerless Monarch 16, I really liked the AR 371 I played. Good playing and sounding guitar.

[Woody Sound]

Are you a fairly tall guy Jim? The Godin looks a little smaller than it should.

[Jim Soloway]

Are you a fairly tall guy Jim? The Godin looks a little smaller than it should.

No. Once upon a time I was just under 5' 10". Now I'm old and just under 5' 8" (and doesn't that suck!). I just hold the guitar slightly different than most people so it's in a different position than you're used to seeing it.

[Chazmo]

+1 on the Godin 5th Avenues.

[wharriso]

Nice playing! That Godin 5th Ave CWII just makes the cut!. Mine cost $995.00 with no sales tax since I bought it on the internet.

[2bornot2bop]

Both eBay and reverb. It's always a timing thing for good buys. I've acquired three monarchs but the last was two years ago. I listed that guitar on the forum for $850. There were no takers. Kind of like the "17 Cremona for $1300 that's been here nearly a month that sold on reverb today. It's hit and miss on the forum even with decent buys. But keep your eyes peeled for a monarch. Nice guitar that actually sounds like the videos to my ear. Best of luck!

2b,

Where are you finding used Monarchs for under $1K? I looked on Reverb, Gbase, Ebay and found none.

You must know something I don't.

[jazz.fred]

2b,

Already own a Monarch 16. Bought it brand new from GnJ last November. You're right! A great guitar for the money.

[DRS]

I sold my Eastman AR810CE for $1150 CDN with an updated Benedetto pickup and Schertler controls. That's $943 USD.

[TedBPhx]

I paid $600 for my Martin D-35, new. That was back in 1979 though. Still have it and play it. That is my best under $1000 guitar.