Replacement archtop jazz guitar

[derekmatheson]

I currently play a Gibson ES175D and use it in big band and jazz group. I play it through a Henriksen The Forte amp for big band and AER 60 for group.
I however fancy another archtop guitar and am getting confused with the options. I am therefore looking for some tips or anyone that is a similar position.
The guitars that I am looking at are

- Heritage Golden Eagle Classic - like the idea that it is based on an L5
- Ibanez LBG300
- Ibanez GB10 (looks a nice size and comfortable to play)
- Eastman AR880CE John Pisano

Since I cannot try these guitars out I am concerned about the following

- size and comfort of playing for long sessions seated
- projection over brass and drums
- feedback
- quality of sound thinking about the Gibson big fat jazz

I would welcome views from anyone that has gone through this or used the guitars/amps mentioned and the results they have got

Cheers

[Longways to Go]

I'm no pro, but my vote would be to stick with the ES-175 and buy a Telecaster.

[citizenk74]

I currently play a Gibson ES175D and use it in big band and jazz group. I play it through a Henriksen The Forte amp for big band and AER 60 for group.
I however fancy another archtop guitar and am getting confused with the options. I am therefore looking for some tips or anyone that is a similar position.
The guitars that I am looking at are

- Heritage Golden Eagle Classic - like the idea that it is based on an L5
- Ibanez LBG300
- Ibanez GB10 (looks a nice size and comfortable to play)
- Eastman AR880CE John Pisano

Since I cannot try these guitars out I am concerned about the following

- size and comfort of playing for long sessions seated
- projection over brass and drums
- feedback
- quality of sound thinking about the Gibson big fat jazz

I would welcome views from anyone that has gone through this or used the guitars/amps mentioned and the results they have got

Cheers

If you are dealing with brass and drums, Longways to Go's advice is hard to beat. As an ES-175 player myself, I can relate.

[dconeill]

I currently play a Gibson ES175D ... through a Henriksen The Forte amp ... [or] AER 60. ...
I however fancy another archtop guitar...

My question would be, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you looking to duplicate the sound of the ES175 in a fancier guitar? Do you want a different sound, and if so, what sound? Do you want to keep the ES175 but add something different? Is there a particular player you want to sound like? Are you bored with your current guitar, and if so, why? Is there something your current guitar doesn't do that you want to be able to do? What's your budget?

Perhaps if you were able to gain some insight into these and similar questions your quest would be easier. As of now you've more-or-less stated, "I want a new jazz guitar. What should I get?" That's not a lot to go on.

[ccroft]

I own a Pisano 880. It is a lightly built carved guitar. Thin top and light bracing. More 'air' in the sound. It's more feedback prone than my other carved archtop. It does very well in a small group setting with a senior playing drums, but it might be problematic in big band. I haven't been near one of those in a long long time, but I remember it being pretty loud.

It's a lovely and very comfortable instrument. I really enjoy it, but it might not be right for you.

[Cunamara]

I have a 1981 GB10 that I've owned for 35 years. It is an excellent "stage" guitar. I am tall and find it a bit small to comfortably play seated so I use a strap whether I am standing or sitting down with that guitar.

Some experimentation with the knobs is necessary to get the tone you want; the pickups on those are very high output and I tend to run the neck volume at about four or five, which thickens the tone as well as avoids overdriving the amp. The tone knob is adjusted to taste. There's a lot of tonal variety available in that guitar and it is very versatile. It can and tends to want to sound like George Benson's tone, rather bright and poppy but a darker, more "typical" jazz tone can be found with a little knob twiddling. Feedback is possible but it's much less so than my 17 inch carved archtop. It is not going to sound like your ES175. It can cut through a mix very, very well. I always get compliments on my sound from the other musicians in the band when I play that one.

As a bonus, the smaller size in the case makes it a much more portable instrument in and out of gigs.

[Herbie]

I have two ES-175. One from 1984 and one from 2015 (Reissue 1954 with P90 pickups). They are so different guitars that one could imagine they are totally different types. Necks, top thickness, acoustic volume – everything is different with them.

Some weeks ago I had a comparison session with my friend with totally five ES-175 guitars. There was no similar guitar in that crowd.

So I suggest You to have another ES-175!

Although I understand You if You decide to take another path...

[Gitfiddler]

I have a 1981 GB10 that I've owned for 35 years. It is an excellent "stage" guitar. I am tall and find it a bit small to comfortably play seated so I use a strap whether I am standing or sitting down with that guitar.

Some experimentation with the knobs is necessary to get the tone you want; the pickups on those are very high output and I tend to run the neck volume at about four or five, which thickens the tone as well as avoids overdriving the amp. The tone knob is adjusted to taste. There's a lot of tonal variety available in that guitar and it is very versatile. It can and tends to want to sound like George Benson's tone, rather bright and poppy but a darker, more "typical" jazz tone can be found with a little knob twiddling. Feedback is possible but it's much less so than my 17 inch carved archtop. It is not going to sound like your ES175. It can cut through a mix very, very well. I always get compliments on my sound from the other musicians in the band when I play that one.

As a bonus, the smaller size in the case makes it a much more portable instrument in and out of gigs.

This!

[Stringswinger]

I have two ES-175. One from 1984 and one from 2015 (Reissue 1954 with P90 pickups). They are so different guitars that one could imagine they are totally different types. Necks, top thickness, acoustic volume – everything is different with them.

Some weeks ago I had a comparison session with my friend with totally five ES-175 guitars. There was no similar guitar in that crowd.

So I suggest You to have another ES-175!

Although I understand You if You decide to take another path...

+1 to this. I have three ES-175D Gibson guitars. All are different and between the three. I can dial in the right Jazz sound for the room or situation.

[gitman]

"Projection" is one aspect that I would NOT worry about when we talk about a guitar that will be used in a band situation - except MAYBE in a chamber group without drums .... I've played in Bigbands practically all my live and I've had the best results with either an ES-345 or my Warmoth Tele. No archtop guitars for me and my Bigband gigs ! On a large stage, under controlled circumstances you might get away with an acoustic big-box miked up but what if your leader calls up a more modern tune ? Believe me, with Practice, a little fiddling, a good amp and maybe a few pedals you'll make a decent Tele sound like almost any guitar. Sitting in the rhythm section and cradling a regal-looking archtop might LOOK really good but just think for a minute about the narrow frequency-range you have left to fill up, squeezed in between the bass, the trombones + trumpets and the drummer's cymbals ! You don't need lows, you don't need brilliance, it's the midrange frequencies from roughly 500 hz to ca. 2500 hz that cuts through. When I have the switch on my (semi-hollowbody) Tele in the middle position I can mimick the sound of an acoustic guitar, the neck pup solo gives me the thump and warmth of a fat + humbucker-equipped Gibson. Medium gauge strings and a somewhat stiff action helps ...