The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Anyone know what else is being made out there with the classic byrdland body dimensions? 17” body, 2.25 max depth. I know westville is making the Prospect which is awesome but pricey. Looking for cheaper guitars of this size, thanks!

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Gibsin 350-t?

  4. #3
    At that price I’d get the westville! Haha

  5. #4

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    Epiphone also used to make Byrdland's. They were cheaper but still made in Japan I think.

  6. #5

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    The Guild X-170 is approx. the same size and is a very nice guitar for the price. They have all laminated maple bodies. I have a 1991 so it is from the old Guild company before FMC bought them out.
    Thanks John

  7. #6

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    Peerless Wizard :
    Wizard - Peerless Guitars Co Ltd
    Heritage Eagle TDC

    Conti (by Peerless) There's one for sale now on this forum
    Conty Equity (by Peerless) Robert Conti signature

    and so on ....

  8. #7

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    Holst.

  9. #8
    The guild seems to be a little short of 17” and actually 2.5 wide rather than 2.25. The peerless I ever cared for (not a fan of three pickup guitars let alone one with P-90s). The peerless I did see, but it actually looks like 1.75 deep, very strange configuration. I never cared much for the demos I’ve seen of them.

    I know eastman has the jazz elites, but the 17” models are also wider than the 16s. Is nobody making an affordable Byrdland today?

  10. #9

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    Search until you find a Epiphone Elitist, especially one made for the Japan market as they have the Gibson open book headstock shape. They’re so good Gibson stopped making them - built in the Terada factory. Ibanez and Greco made amazing Byrdland copies up until ‘78.

    you never clearly stated your budget either, what’s you limit ??

  11. #10
    I’m really wondering if anyone is producing new byrdland copies today, something under 2k ideally.

  12. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by MHoranzy
    Anyone know what else is being made out there with the classic byrdland body dimensions? 17” body, 2.25 max depth. I know westville is making the Prospect which is awesome but pricey. Looking for cheaper guitars of this size, thanks!
    Since that guy who makes the Westville guitars studied with Sakashta, did Westville ever make any of those models that Sakashta made, with the rounded sides, like the Beauregard MB was modeled on?

  13. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Crm114
    They’re so good Gibson stopped making them
    This is one of those Internet rumors that won't go away, yet has no basis in fact. It makes no sense if you stop and think about it. They stopped the Elite/Elitist Byrdlands because they weren't selling. Scads of them were blown out for dimes on the dollars when they were discontinued.

    The single cut iteration of the Gretsch Country Gent fits the OP's stated criteria.

  14. #13

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    @MHoranzy

    This may be above your stated budget, but may be worth your pursuing.

    https://guitarchimp.com/products/200...25ab35a7&_ss=r

  15. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by customxke
    This is one of those Internet rumors that won't go away, yet has no basis in fact. It makes no sense if you stop and think about it. They stopped the Elite/Elitist Byrdlands because they weren't selling. Scads of them were blown out for dimes on the dollars when they were discontinued.

    The single cut iteration of the Gretsch Country Gent fits the OP's stated criteria.
    Tty finding one for sale now. 7-10
    years ago 2k was about right, now it’s more like 3k
    you are right sbout the Country Gent though, Also built atTerada

  16. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by Crm114
    Tty finding one for sale now. 7-10
    years ago 2k was about right, now it’s more like 3k
    you are right sbout the Country Gent though, Also built atTerada
    Gibson didn't stop making them because they "sold too well". They stopped making them because they didn't sell.

  17. #16

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    Well do you care about it being carved, solid or laminate?

  18. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
    @MHoranzy

    This may be above your stated budget, but may be worth your pursuing.

    https://guitarchimp.com/products/200...25ab35a7&_ss=r

    Wow. That's gorgeous.

  19. #18
    Don’t care about carved or laminate.

    That link to the epi is long since sold out. I’m aware of the epiphone byrdlands, but they’re rarer and sometimes as pricey as Gibson’s.

    the Gretsch looks super weird? What’s up with the back? No thank you to Gretsch guitars.

  20. #19

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    At the highest of prices the Epi Byrdlands are still about 1/2 of the Gibsons in cost.

    Both are superb.

    I have owned 3 of the Epi Byrds. They all sounded exactly the same. Exactly.

    The Gibson Byrdlands open up and have incredibly articulate complexity when the spruce top has a wider open grain. A tight grained Gibson Byrdland (much loved by those who hear with the eyes) sounds perfectly fine, much like the Epi Byrdlands do.

    After 40 years of working on them and, trying them, and buying a few, I ended up with a wide-grained 2015 Gibson Byrdland from Dave’s when they were “on the outs” with Gibson. The search is over.

  21. #20

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    If you're thinking Casino Elitist, consider the Eastman T64. It's not 17" (the Casino is neither), but it has a very transparant sound due to the antique varnish and the great sounding Lollar P90s. With TI jazz 012's it sounds superb. Nice slim neck too and a very low weight.