The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1
    Hey everybody,

    I have always been a rock player, about 2 years ago discovered the blues and it's been my favorite genre to listen to/ play since. I've recently been discovering jazz and have been looking for a jazz guitar. I have a Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster which works beautifully. I know jazz can be played on any type of guitar, but there's just a classic look of a arch top guitar like Wes Montgomery played and I really want one. I am currently looking for one and I was wondering what y'all would think about it. Should I stick with. My solid body jazz guitar or go for an arch top? On a second note, I am considering going into the military and I assume traveling/ flying with an arch top would be way more difficult than a solid body. All in all, thank you for your answers in advance.

    Best,
    iwanttolearnjazzhelp

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    semi-hollowbody guitar-it is very universal..

  4. #3

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    It depends on how you want to sound. That said, great jazz has been played on every kind of guitar.

    From your post it seems like the guitar you have is probably fine, but you have your eye on an archtop anyway.

    The heart wants what the heart wants -- and there are some sounds that may be achievable only with an archtop (and you might want to include feedback among them).

  5. #4

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    You can turn any guitar into a jazz guitar by playing jazz on it - there is no best guitar and any guitar goes.

    But a hollowbody archtop with heavy flatwound strings would be the most chosen option I guess and would be a good starting point.

  6. #5

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    If the vulnerability of an archtop is a restraining facor, a semi hollow is a good option. The lower budget Ibanez semis are great I think.

  7. #6

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    I think the best advice is to stick with you have untill you can afford what you really want.

    Just wish I could follow that myself…

    If you are looking for a cheap non-fragile archtop alternative, I’d look at a epiphone casino worn

  8. #7

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    Travel concerns aside, you're constrained in guitar choice only by your imagination, taste and experience. Archtops feel like a stretch as "do everything guitars" at first. They were for me. Years later, well adapted to the size and feel of larger bodied instruments, I find myself picking up archtops more than any other type of guitar.

    Semis are cool enough, certainly less fragile. I prefer the hollowbody sound. Or, for not hollow, teles. (Telecasters are king of "do everything.") Thin hollowbodies - such as ES-330 types - split the difference. Easier to manage physically. Light, slim, but with that airy sound.

  9. #8

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    Welcome to the Forum, and to the crazy world of jazz, "iwant!"

    With all "which gear do I buy?" posts, I'm always a realist first, and then a dreamer, so: what is your budget? Archtops run from $500 - $15,000 USD or more, so where is your bank account right now??

    Lots of other things, too:
    • you recently discovered jazz and want a new guitar -- are you actually studying/playing jazz, and with whom?
    • Wes is great, and who else are you digging? And which non-guitar jazz musicians do you like? [Lots of listening ideas here, too!]
    • joining the military during war-time is commendable, and it also means you may be traveling ... far away! When I was stationed overseas, I purchased an inexpensive (Washburn) semi-hollowbody -- if it got destroyed by the movers, I wouldn't be too sad! -- and I left my good guitars with my folks. So if you buy a fancy guitar, you may need to leave it behind, too;
    • what happens with a lot of players is that they get a guitar when starting, and as they "evolve" with their playing, and their "tastes," they end up buying a different guitar! As others are saying, your current guitar is fine, especially if you're just starting! Save your money, and buy something cool after you've stuck with jazz for a couple years!


    And most importantly, have fun!

    Marc

  10. #9

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    Any guitar.

  11. #10

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    Well, traveling with an 18 inch archtop guitar is certainly more difficult than traveling with a Jazzmaster, particularly flying, just because the instrument is so much bigger. In a decent case, fragility is less of an issue.


    Small archtops might be worth considering. I will put in my usual plug for the Ibanez GB10, since I have had one for decades and love it. It's much easier to transport in its case than my 17 inch archtop. There are other smaller guitars such as the Eastman El Rey series, which would also be easier to transport and sound good. There is a Heritage Sweet 16, which is a 16 inch arch top guitar, for sale on the forum which would be certainly worth considering if your budget stretches to it. They are wonderful guitars.

  12. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by marcwhy
    With all "which gear do I buy?" posts, I'm always a realist first, and then a dreamer, so: what is your budget? Archtops run from $500 - $15,000 USD or more, so where is your bank account right now??
    I think in this case one has to be both. If we're talking about the US military (and those of a few other countries that are actually at war) chances are quite high that IF you come back you won't be able to play anymore, or to afford a good instrument. In that light it'd be best to buy the nicest instrument you can afford now and hope that of the 2 of you at least the guitar comes back in a good enough shape to be able to sell it without too much loss.

  13. #12

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    Joe Pass + Jazzmaster = jazz……….

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-4dd4d64b-f1f0-467e-8066-14d399ac7448-jpeg

    It ain’t what you play - it’s how you play it. Your taste and needs will change as you get further into it. I’d stick with the JM until you know a bit more about where you’re going in your musical journey.

    ‘nuf said

  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by RJVB
    I think in this case one has to be both. If we're talking about the US military (and those of a few other countries that are actually at war) chances are quite high that IF you come back you won't be able to play anymore, or to afford a good instrument. In that light it'd be best to buy the nicest instrument you can afford now and hope that of the 2 of you at least the guitar comes back in a good enough shape to be able to sell it without too much loss.
    Oh, thats a bit pessimistic I think.

    Now if it was the russian army, then I’d be inclined to agree…

  15. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
    Joe Pass + Jazzmaster = jazz……….

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-4dd4d64b-f1f0-467e-8066-14d399ac7448-jpeg

    It ain’t what you play - it’s how you play it. Your taste and needs will change as you get further into it. I’d stick with the JM until you know a bit more about where you’re going in your musical journey.

    ‘nuf said
    Isnt that a fender jaguar?


    Skickat från min iPad med Tapatalk

  16. #15
    Hey Marc, thanks for your message! I'm attempting to teach myself jazz, but am thinking about finding a local teacher near where I live. My budget rn is going to be selling my studio equipment and excess gear I don't use to be able to afford a nice Archtop. I was thinking my budget could be 1,000-1,500 bucks. I was considering a guild, any recommendations on good brands would be welcome. I love the idea of a single neck Humbucker or pickup, but I also love rockabilly and blues so I was thinking maybe a Gretsch? Thanks for your message!
    Quote Originally Posted by marcwhy
    Welcome to the Forum, and to the crazy world of jazz, "iwant!"

    With all "which gear do I buy?" posts, I'm always a realist first, and then a dreamer, so: what is your budget? Archtops run from $500 - $15,000 USD or more, so where is your bank account right now??

    Lots of other things, too:
    • you recently discovered jazz and want a new guitar -- are you actually studying/playing jazz, and with whom?
    • Wes is great, and who else are you digging? And which non-guitar jazz musicians do you like? [Lots of listening ideas here, too!]
    • joining the military during war-time is commendable, and it also means you may be traveling ... far away! When I was stationed overseas, I purchased an inexpensive (Washburn) semi-hollowbody -- if it got destroyed by the movers, I wouldn't be too sad! -- and I left my good guitars with my folks. So if you buy a fancy guitar, you may need to leave it behind, too;
    • what happens with a lot of players is that they get a guitar when starting, and as they "evolve" with their playing, and their "tastes," they end up buying a different guitar! As others are saying, your current guitar is fine, especially if you're just starting! Save your money, and buy something cool after you've stuck with jazz for a couple years!


    And most importantly, have fun!

    Marc

  17. #16

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    A Jazzmaster is a great place to start your blues and jazz adventure.

    A semi hollow is also a great guitar for covering multiple styles.

    If you do the military, what country, branch, and military career/specialty are you looking at?

    If you going to be on a ship/boat or in the frontlines with infantry, armor or some other tactical unit, there will be more limits on how much personal stuff you can take with you. These units can spend more time living in the woods even when you're not deployed to some forward area.

    If you going to be in the rear echelons working with communications, intelligence, or logistics you're more likely to have living quarters that can accommodate multiple guitars and less travel.

    If you have enough college credits to go in with a higher enlisted rank or as an officer that usually means better living quarters as well.

    In the US Air Force the enlisted ranks are less likely to see front line action. They send their officers out to do the dangerous stuff.

    Good luck

  18. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by iwantotlearnjazzhelp
    Hey Marc, thanks for your message! I'm attempting to teach myself jazz, but am thinking about finding a local teacher near where I live. My budget rn is going to be selling my studio equipment and excess gear I don't use to be able to afford a nice Archtop. I was thinking my budget could be 1,000-1,500 bucks. I was considering a guild, any recommendations on good brands would be welcome. I love the idea of a single neck Humbucker or pickup, but I also love rockabilly and blues so I was thinking maybe a Gretsch? Thanks for your message!
    Gretsch guitars are currently the best deals out there, in my opinion. I play jazz, blues, and General Business gigs on my Gretsch 5420 (full hollowbody) or 5422 (thin hollowbody), and they are great: lots of different tones, well-made, and inexpensive, especially on the used market. I bought both of mine slightly used, with cases, for about $1400.00 USD. I've been a pro player for 50 years; discovering Gretsch recently really made me love playing again.

  19. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by JohanAbrandt
    Isnt that a fender Jaguar?
    Yes it is. My point was that you can play jazz very well on almost anything. JP sounded like himself on every guitar he ever played - and so can you. I looked harder for you and found one of him on the Jazzmaster he played in the early ‘60s.

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-9eae4e9b-acc4-421a-a7b4-a5398808eb2a-jpeg

  20. #19

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    Me in Army playing jazz on Jaguar in 1967:

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-mellotones-club-1-jpg

    I also had an L-4C with me:

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-concert-jpg

    I preferred using the L-4C but the Jag was often more practical because of the large difference in humidity between my quarters and the clubs we played in almost every night.

    Danny W.

  21. #20

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    Danny W.,
    That's so cool!
    Thanks.

  22. #21

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    See if you can find a guitar center with an Epiphone Joe Pass or some budget Ibanez and Gretsch to try out.

    I know the influencers bash guitar center all the time, but it’s not that bad.

  23. #22

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    When James Blunt was serving with the Blues and Royals in Kosovo, he had his acoustic guitar strapped to the back of his tank.

  24. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Danny W.
    Me in Army playing jazz on Jaguar in 1967:

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-mellotones-club-1-jpg

    I also had an L-4C with me:

    Best Jazz Guitar for Jazz & Blues?-concert-jpg

    I preferred using the L-4C but the Jag was often more practical because of the large difference in humidity between my quarters and the clubs we played in almost every night.

    Danny W.
    Nice!

    My current band has 3 members (sax, trumpet, and guitar) that made a full career as US Army musicians including full retirement benefits.

    Unfortunately, the US military has been cutting back on their bands. Not sure what opportunities there will be in the future for military musicians in the US.

  25. #24

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    Solid bodies = reliability, portability, stability, and they slide into tight spaces easily!

    Seriously though, they are capable of jazzy sounds. And those could be more attributable to your approach to the music. Why play what everyone else is playing? Stand out with your solid body self!

  26. #25

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    Jazz guitarists are associated with guitars available of the era they grew up in. But Hollow Bodies we’re usually the preferred choice, especially the affordable Gibson ES-175. And generally flat wound strings even on early solid bodies if the 1950’s and 1960’s as well.

    Find the guitar that inspires YOU the most with the TONE in your head! Lately for me it’s my Benedetto Bambino with Round wounds!