peerless imperial vs cremona

**gb10** · 12-20-2016, 03:46 AM

i am thinking to buy one of these two peerless guitars.I had first hand experience with the cremona but not with imperial.
what guitar do you think is closer to an l5 tone...imperial has the spruce top but is short cale,
Cremona has a long scale but has also maple top
.i know an l5 is a different animal, i am just trying for a warm electric tone, (think kenny burrell) not the benedetto -eastman acoustic type of tone

**Archtop Guy** · 12-20-2016, 09:59 AM

Check out the Matt Otten videos on YouTube. The problem with Matt is that any guitar he plays sounds great.

**Max405** · 12-20-2016, 10:19 AM

Yeah that's for sure. I got one of these guitars one time and it didn't sound like the one in the Matt Otten Video so I thought it was broken and I sent it back.
Kidding..

**mr. beaumont** · 12-20-2016, 11:07 AM

What's your amp?

**ESCC** · 12-20-2016, 11:42 AM

I've heard a few Monarchs with set humbuckers that do a fair imitation of the L-5 sound.

**goldenwave77** · 12-20-2016, 02:46 PM

Is the Monarch model a lot more money? It seems to get closer to L5-land, at least to my ear.

**2bornot2bop** · 12-20-2016, 04:38 PM

Cremona is closest hands down. It's not an L5, and only an L5 is an L5. But it's a very good guitar. I've previously owned 5 of them. Monarch is a great guitar too, but it's not a Cremona. I'd not consider an Imperial in any "L5" conversation.

**jazz.fred** · 12-21-2016, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

I'd not consider an Imperial in any "L5" conversation.

Why not?

**2bornot2bop** · 12-21-2016, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by jazz.fred

Why not?

99.999999 % of Imperial's are acoustics. Cremona's have set in humbuckers. The Imperial I previously owned sounded nothing like an L5 electric with set humbuckers.

**gb10** · 12-21-2016, 04:47 AM

i have played cremona ,but not imperial.
i feel the cremona maple top cut some highs...and some overtones...also has a VERY FAST attack..thats the reason i am thinking imperial...the spruce top...
I had also monarch and a ibanez gb10..Both of them have a floater instead of set humbuckers.
Both plugged in had very electric tone, not acoustic at all.. I want i little more detail from a carved top but without going into the acoustic side like eastmans.I dont play fingerstyle

**jazz.fred** · 12-21-2016, 09:23 AM

@2b,

I'm fairly certain that Imperials with set humbuckers are readily available from GnJ. As a matter of fact, Lou's description of the instrument specifically states that an Imperial with a set pickup "sounds like an L-5 CES". Marketing hype? Perhaps.

Let's face it. If you want to play an L5 (or an ES175 or a [insert favorite ultra-expensive guitar here], then you'll never be satisfied until you own it. Nothing else will suffice.

**Max405** · 12-21-2016, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by jazz.fred

Let's face it. If you want to play an L5 (or an ES175 or a [insert favorite ultra-expensive guitar here], then you'll never be satisfied until you own it. Nothing else will suffice.

jazz.fred, you are right on the money..
As I've grown up, I realize why L5's and 175's are the benchmarks. I had 2 L5's in my life and never really appreciated them. Now, I get it. I cant wait get another one.
JD

**jazz.fred** · 12-21-2016, 10:01 AM

Thanks Max.

I have no interest in an L-5 or an ES175 (and that's a good thing since I can't afford a $5K-9K instrument. I'm happy with my current collection which includes a Heritage H575 Custom, Peerless Monarch 16 and an Ibanez AF125 Custom.

I will admit that I lust over an Imperial and/or Heritage H555. I've also thought about buying a Peerless "Hardtail" (ES-335 clone) and upgrading all the electronics, thereby ending up with a killer semi-hollow for about $1500. I did exactly that with my '97 Epiphone Sheraton II and I am very happy with the results. Its a great playing, great sounding instrument.

**2bornot2bop** · 12-21-2016, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by jazz.fred

@2b,

I'm fairly certain that Imperials with set humbuckers are readily available from GnJ. As a matter of fact, Lou's description of the instrument specifically states that an Imperial with a set pickup "sounds like an L-5 CES". Marketing hype? Perhaps.

Let's face it. If you want to play an L5 (or an ES175 or a [insert favorite ultra-expensive guitar here], then you'll never be satisfied until you own it. Nothing else will suffice.

Yes, Lou's ads say a lot of things

But he's done a masterful job of promoting custom model Peerless archtops, and even custom Eastmans, so I have no fault with the hyperbole.

It's just having been fortunate to have owned 6 L5's, all electric humbucker models, even the Cremona's as great as they are don't sound like an L5 - In my brief experience.

BTW, I've seen two ever Imperials with single humbuckers. A used one sat on ebay for over 6 months for $1750. That guitar appeared near mint. I don't know if it ever sold.

And then there's this 2014 model in Lou's stock.

PEERLESS IMPERIAL JAZZ 17" 3" CARVED JAZZ Hollowbody Demo Guitar | eBay

edit - btw 2, last time I spoke to Lou about special ordering a Peerless guitar beyond his stock I was informed that Lou had to purchase a minimum of 12 guitars to place an order, and a year wait. If that's still true then getting the guitar of ones liking may not be so "readily available."

Personally, I bought each of my former Peerless models used with its price depreciated. Each arrived in nearly as new condition. If one keeps an eye on ebay or reverb finding a used Peerless to ones liking isn't so hard to do.

**helios** · 12-21-2016, 11:54 PM

I agree, there is a bit of hype from GnJ, but I think as a Gibson alternative an Eastman Jazz Elite 17 does get into L5'ish territory:

**Irwin1993** · 12-22-2016, 01:03 AM

If you have a chance could you tell me how the peerless monarch 16 sounds? I've been highly considering getting one. I'm looking for a warm sound that doesn't sound completely electric and has some air to it. An acoustic quality I guess, that's not bright and thin. I'd be totally willing to swap p-up too. Thanks

**jazz.fred** · 12-22-2016, 01:50 AM

@Irwin,

I always have great difficulty discussing tone . I can't seem to find words that adequately describe the sound I'm hearing. I always plug in, so don't have much experience with the acoustic tone. All I can say is that, given 2.75" depth, the acoustic tone is very good. I am very happy with the guitar's playability. IMO, the Monarch guitars perform at a level that belies their affordable price and represent an outstanding value.

**Jabberwocky** · 12-22-2016, 05:28 AM

Ibanez SJ300.

**skiboyny** · 12-22-2016, 07:54 AM

I have a Cremona and a Monarch. The Monarch is the pressed version of the Imperial if I remember correctly. The Cremona is much closer to an L-5 sound. (I have a wes L-5). I don't find the attack of the cremona to be much different than the L-5. My cremona is a 16inch. They are carved so I'm sure there are different examples. I'd be willing to part with either if your interested.

Originally Posted by gb10

i am thinking to buy one of these two peerless guitars.I had first hand experience with the cremona but not with imperial.
what guitar do you think is closer to an l5 tone...imperial has the spruce top but is short cale,
Cremona has a long scale but has also maple top
.i know an l5 is a different animal, i am just trying for a warm electric tone, (think kenny burrell) not the benedetto -eastman acoustic type of tone