-
Hey all,
I'm looking to buy my first hollow body guitar. My budget is about $700 and I've been looking at MIK Epi Joe Pass and Epi ES-175 Premium models. I've seen a lot of recommendations for these guitars on this forum over the years about how good they are, especially for the money, but these posts are often from when the JP could be had for $250 and the ES-175 for $500.
Current prices locally and online put the JP at $450-700 and the ES-175 at $800-1000. I'm expecting that a 90s-2000s MIK Joe Pass will need fret work at this point, so I'm factoring in a luthier bill too.
Are these guitars still worth it for that kind of money?
$1000 for an Epiphone seems like a lot, but when they sold for half the price people said they played like guitars that cost triple, so maybe the tone/price inflation ratio is still pretty good?
I don't want to shell out too much on my very first hollow body -- I'm not sure exactly what I like yet, I'm fairly new to jazz guitar so can't justify owning anything too expensive, and I'm generally satisfied with rather humble instruments, as long as they're well set up. These models appeal to me as they're fully hollow, 24.75" scale, and apparently have medium to thin necks, which I prefer, but I'm open to other suggestions that meet that criteria.
-
01-10-2022 11:27 AM
-
Look into the Gretsch Streamliner and Electromatic models: they both have several styles, from standard hollow-body single-cutaway 175-style to double-cutaway semi hollow 335 styles. They are often in to $500-700 range on the used market, and occasionally sell brand-new in that range through Guitar Center. I picked up a 5420 (much like a 175) very slightly used for $600 (with case!), and another very slightly used double cutaway hollow-body 5422 for $675. Both are superb guitars, pro-level, well-built and more tonally eclectic than the guitars you're looking at.
-
Those are both good guitars (especially as "starter" archtops). Just doing a quick glance at reverb, you should be able to score either for $700-800. Plenty of folks are happy with those basically forever, not just as starters. There are tons of threads here about both of those specifically and archtops at lower price points, so run searches to get a sense of it.
Some other ones to consider might be:
- Godin 5th Ave Kingpin (the single pickup version is a steal at $500 ish; the 2 P90 version is a great, but not as ridiculously cheap for the quality)
- Eastman ar372
- Various Ibanez Artcore models (pick a price point, they make at least one model that'll good). AKJV90 or 95, AF125, AF95 are examples.
- Samick HJ 650 or HF 650 (the HF is essentially the same guitar as the Epi Joe Pass; I had one for a long time)
I'm sure others can add to the list
Each of these is a bit different sounding and has a different neck shape so it can be tough to predict which you'll like.Last edited by John A.; 01-10-2022 at 12:46 PM.
-
Personally, I would be happy with either of the mentioned guitars. I have a Gibson ES-175, an '04, and couldn't be happier with it. The Epi Joe Pass gets high marks from those who have them. The Epi ES-175 is , I gather, something quite special, based on the remarks of those fortunate enough to own both a Gibson and the Epiphone version. This tells me they are likely never going to be cheaper than they are now, all other things being equal. Remember: "Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars." Or something like that. 
-
I have a 89 pre Joe Pass and is an excellent guitar to improve on. I rewired the whole electronics with CTS pots and better wiring, new input and toggle switch, Bendetto pickups and got rid of the cheap pot metal tailpiece with an high quality ebony one. Tuners were also upgraded to 16.1 ratio Grover. It plays and sounds fantastic and hangs with the best. Build quality of the 80's models were the best years
-
, Laptop44!
-
For years I had a Korean pre-Joe Pass Epi Emperor II that I loved. In fact I liked it so much I had it PLEK'd, put Benedetto B-6 pups in it along with a Frequensator and rosewood guard and knobs. Sounds idiotic, because the PLEK and pups were more than I paid for the guitar. But it had a gorgeous midrange woodiness to the sound that none of my other guitars have. I sold it a year or so ago because the thin neck profile had just become too uncomfortable for me to play for long periods because of some left hand issues I've developed.
I sold it to a young teenage kid who was just becoming serious about learning jazz guitar. I'm sure at some point he'll want a more expensive 'real' jazz archtop, but I doubt he'll find one that sounds or plays better unless he spends several thousands.
-
This tells me you'd better off buying a good quality used sub $1000 like the ones you've mentioned. You have mentioned a refret, but I'd recommend not buying ones that have issues which are expensive to fix. There are many around that play great and won't need anything changed. Try a fully hollow, a semi, maybe a Casino. Spend some time with them.
Originally Posted by The Cabbage
Epis are great. My main is a Dot Studio. And I had and still have others that were several times more expensive.
-
I have had both and overall I think the ES175 Premium is the best guitar provided you get the Gibson pickups. Some are selling this guitar but they have replaced the Gibson pickups. Still, I was delighted with my Epiphone ES175 Premium and also liked my older Epi Joe Pass as well. I find I preferred the ES175. A LOT of guitar for the money if you get the original pickups. If not, push for a steep discount.
-
I have an Epi ES175 Premium, and it's a fine guitar. I think it's easily the equal of a Gibson. The reasons I don't play mine more than I do are that the neck is thin, the body is deep (it is a 175 copy, afterall) and I have some carved top archtops that I prefer the sound of, with bigger necks and shallower bodies. If you like the ES175 style, I don't know that you can find better for the money, even above $1,000. As Lawson said, though, make sure you get the Gibson 57 pickups, not some cheap junk the previous owner substituted. That goes for any used guitar, though.
-
I have some doubts about the opportunity to get a Joe Pass MIK, because I have tried several and I do not consider them better than my Joe Pass bought new a couple of years ago. So on the Joe Pass I'd go for the new: it has a sweet sound and it's well built for the price. Here (//youtu.be/O5xB9Tn7MWA) you can hear the sound of mine, with the original pup on the neck, splitted, with flat TI 13 strings, via Umc404hd and Cakewalk (please judge the sound, not the player: I have so much to learn! ;-). Instead, if you find an Epi175 (Premium!) or an Emperor Regent (listen here: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XqASLJjFOc and here: //www.youtube.com/watch ? v = nqr9s1nsuVE) at a good price , it might be worth going for second-hand: they both have a sound that makes them potentially great guitars.
-
My vote goes to Emperor Regent, if you find a Korean sample from the 1990s and like the idea of a 17" body and floating PU. Otherwise, I can only say that the early Joe Pass versions were less than spectacular - something good must have happened given the positive reviews of late - while all Ibanez hollowbodies I've come across (having owned/owning six Ibanez archtops and semis) are of consistent quality, affordable and aging beautifully.
-
Originally Posted by StefanoGhirardo
-
The ER is definitely sweet. I had one for about 6 months and was astonished at how much guitar it was for the price. I still think the Epiphone Broadway (same basic body) is also another guitar that punches way above its class. Originally Posted by Gitterbug
-
Thanks for weighing in everyone. Sounds like these are both good options despite the higher prices. I like the looks and price of the JP but the ES175 sounds fantastic in all the videos I've watched and citzenk74 is right that they probably won't be cheaper than they are now. I'm thinking that's what I really want, so I'll try to be patient and wait for one to come around!
There's a beautiful 90s Broadway for sale near me but the larger size and longer scale are scaring me off. I've read they have chunkier necks too. All of that together might make it a difficult adjustment for me to go from solid bodies to archtops. Nonetheless, I still want it! Originally Posted by lawson-stone
-
Can anyone weigh in on the neck size/profile of the Broadway? I've listened to some clips - it sounds excellent and looks amazing. The guitar is an hour and a half from me so I want to figure out if this will be a good fit for me the best I can before heading out there. Not sure if the 17" body will be a problem for me, but I have to start with something I suppose. I'm going from a tele, a mustang, and various LP-type guitars, so whatever I get is likely going to feel big to me at first. Originally Posted by The Cabbage
There's a beautiful 90s Broadway for sale near me but the larger size and longer scale are scaring me off. I've read they have chunkier necks too. All of that together might make it a difficult adjustment for me to go from solid bodies to archtops. Nonetheless, I still want it!
-
There are excellent thinner guitars available. A guitar doesn't have to be more than 3" deep to play jazz, or to sound good.
-
I'm open to suggestions! The guitars I mentioned weren't singled out for their depth, so I'd certainly consider slimmer guitars. Originally Posted by sgosnell
-
Look at Ibanez. There are lots of used ones available, and they're mostly well regarded. I have no personal experience with them, but others here do.
-
I prefer my 2019 AF55 to my 1992 EEJP. Originally Posted by sgosnell
-
yes the low end Ibanez artcores are
great bang for the buck .....
-
I would stay away from 17" size if you are new to arch tops, unless you are really tall. They take some getting used to. 16" is much more manageable coming from a solid body. Originally Posted by The Cabbage
Or as others have said something slimmer.
-
Though a full hollow, the Epiphone Broadway 90's body is 3" not a "full depth." I recall the neck on mine being slim but not skinny. I'll check it when I get home tonight. Originally Posted by The Cabbage
-
Last night I measured my 90's Peerless built Epiphone Broadway's neck thickness. It is .81" behind the 1st fret, .82" behind the 5th, and .87" behind the 9th fret. That's measuring in the center of the fingerboard using a digital caliper. Originally Posted by The Cabbage
It also looks like a C profile. I feel no shoulders or sharp turns in the neck profile. It really is pretty much what I saw on my Elitist Broadway, my ES175 Premium, and my Zephyr Regent Reissue (ES165 clone). I think Epiphone calls it "SlimTaper."
Hope that helps.
-
That is extremely helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to measure. It sounds like the neck would be very comfortable for me. I'm going to contact the seller and check it out for myself in person. The price and condition are right and this one is from Peerless as well. Originally Posted by lawson-stone
Reply With Quote
Used Conti 7-string Prototype archtop guitar
Today, 03:07 PM in For Sale