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I'm moving to a new city very soon with nothing but a backpack and suitcase. I'll need to pick up a new guitar when I arrive and I've been jonesing for a jazzbox for a while (I've been playing for 10 years but I'm just starting out with jazz). There are a few options up on the used sites that I'm considering, but mostly I'm torn between a 1990 pre-Joe Pass Emperor at 600€ and a 2012 Broadway at 750€. The Emperor comes from the Samick factory supposedly, which I've heard made some good-quality stuff, but I do slightly prefer the look of the Broadway, and it comes with a nice case and Bugera V5. Are either of these a good deal? Is one an obvious winner?
(FWIW my other options are an Ibanez AKJ-V90DAL and a Hagström HL 550 at around the same price point - all quite different guitars but I'm mostly just concerned with value).
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06-27-2023 04:46 PM
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IDK what the Godin 5th Avenue Kingpins cost where you are, but if they are available in your price range (even new!), have a look.
Originally Posted by loamyclay
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You have four good choices, of which I would probably pick the Broadway. Joe Pass-type short-scale Emperor or Emperor Regent? All Ibanez archtops deliver their money's worth. I've been fondling quite a few Hagstroms over the years, and the quality has become more consistent since they were re-introduced some 20 years ago. More difficult to sell, I'm afraid. To me the 5th Avenue is a one-trick pony which you either like or don't.
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Just curious what makes you think a Kingpin (more specifically, a 2-pickup Kingpin II) is a "one-trick pony" over the others? OR why the 1-pickup Emperor Regent has "more tricks" than the 1-pickup Kingpin? Originally Posted by Gitterbug
Not trying to be confrontational, just honestly interested... the Kingpin and Emperor Regent are very similar and neither is very "versatile". (of course it doesn't need to be if all you'll be playing on it is jazz)
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I had an Epi Joe Pass from the Samick factory. It was a very good guitar indeed—well made.
I would vote for that one.
BTW, my ex-SIL is Estonian and works in real estate in Tallinn. My nephew Jonas Tarm is a composer whose works have been performed by the Estonian National Symphony. His brother Brendan plays cello with the ENSO as well.
One of the highlights of one of my trips to Tallinn was hearing a performance of a Veljo Tormis work in the concert hall there, and meeting the great composer.
My wife met Arvo Part on an airplane once and got his autograph for me, but unfortunately I have not met him. Yet.
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I've had both. Had an oldish Joe Pass and liked it a lot. But I fell in love with my Broadway. It's a great instrument with a lot of potential for upgrading and tweaking if you like that. I tend to like the 17" body and the general L5ces vibe. Still, between those two, assuming they are in great condition, you won't go badly wrong either way. Sounds like the Broadway has some useful accessories.
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Ruger, I'm afraid I can't satisfy your curiosity in a satisfactory way. Emperor Regent was my first archtop after 25 years of playing hiatus. I bonded with it instantly. Despite too many Ibanez and Gibson "upgrades", plus a vintage Levin, a Benedetto Bravo and a Terada-built D'A NYL-2, it will be the last to leave. In the hands of one of the country's top jazz guitarists, it sounded just awesome. Surely, I'm emotional about it. It's called Marilyn.
I also had a single-PU, non-cutaway 5th Ave Kingpin intended for big band comping - in which role the ER also is at home. In the end I couldn't join the band due to a string of orthopedic operations in 2010-2014. The Kingpin got very little air time. Feedback-prone, it somehow sounded boxy and too bright to my taste. Lent it last fall to an Italian jazz guitar exchange student (a far better player than I am) who bonded with it instantly and insisted on buying it despite the ES-175 waiting for him at home. I rarely use the bridge PU on any guitar so a two-PU 5th Avenue might not make much difference. Love affairs are not always purely rational.
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That's for sure! We like what we like, and reason doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it! Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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I hear they're nice! The cutaway model I'd want is a bit out of my price range new though and the look isn't my favorite. I'll keep my eye out when I stop in the used shops nonetheless. Originally Posted by ruger9
It's the Joe Pass-type but pre-signature model era. The Ibanez looks pretty sweet and it was my first choice until I found the Epis, I'm just not sure how I feel about the faux-aging on it. As for the Hagstrom it's my least favorite of the batch I've picked out, but Rob MacKillop has a video with a favorable opinion of it, so it's on the list if the others don't work out. Originally Posted by Gitterbug
There's so much interesting music coming from Estonia! Your nephew's work is no exception. I'm actually a Yank but I've been here for school. Moving on to Austria next week to start my new job, and my biggest regret is not having caught any concerts of Pärt's work in my time here. Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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If I only had one guitar, I would want one that could work well in many situations.
My limited experience is that more jazz-ness a guitar has, can make it less useful for other things. (That might not apply to you at all).
A tele or semi can cover a lot of ground, and with the right focus can do jazz well enough to make big bucks. (Again, I am just throwing this out… this could be completely useless info).
(Some people would add a strat into the suggestions… I have mixed feelings about strats).
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The Joe Pass and the Broadway are both excellent choices. Just decide if you want want 24 3/4 scale(Pass) or 25 1/2 scale(Broadway).
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A couple of things fir the OP to be wary of:
- - what size guitar are you used to? Archtops are pretty big guitars - 17" or 16" across the lower bout, typically, and 3.5 inches or more thick at the center. If you're used to small guitars you might find these uncomfortable.
- - what scale length do you like, or at least are you used to? Some archtops have 25.5 inch scales, while others have 24.75 inch scales.
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I would go with the Broadway. Have had all the guitars mentioned and I keep coming back to the Broadway. As Lawson-Stone says, a Broadway has that L-5 vibe and holds a lot of potential for upgrades but also works fine as is.
Roli
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Good points. I found the Broadway HUGE. Not comfortable for me. I also have a Gretsch, which is thinner (2-1/2"), and smaller (16"), and it is alot more comfortable than the Broadway was. For this reason, my next archtop will not be anything 17"... likely a Loar or Godin. Originally Posted by dconeill
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Good point indeed. I'm over 2 m tall and would get the Broadway, especially as it comes with an amp, but it might be too big for you.
Anyway I've always thought that the guitar finds you, not the other way round. If you can, play them all and see which one speaks to you.
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