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Ok, I want a new guitar, and I've posted several times over the past several months about various guitars that I've been considering. Basically, there are three types of guitars I've been wanting, but I can't afford all of them. I've been wanting a Gibson-style double-cutaway (solid like an SG or hollow like a 335), a jazz box, and a guitar with a Bigsby (insired by Johnny A. and Chet Atkins).
I've considered everything from Agiles to real Gibsons, and I've gone to nearly every music store in the Nashville and Chattanooga areas checking out guitars. The problem with the music stores, though, is they only carry the most popular models. So, I've only had a chance to play things like Gibsons and Ibanez Artcores. I have, however, e-mailed numerous manufacturers to ask questions and get specs.
Anyway, based on specs and the price to features/quality ratio, I think I've narrowed my selection down to either a Washburn HB35 or a Washburn J9.
I love the neck specs and the double cutaway on the HB35, but being a semi-hollow, I don't know how jazzy it will sound. The J9 has a full hollow body and a Bigsby, but the neck is a slight bit more narrow and thin than I would like. Also, the fret access is the opposite of the HB35 since the J9's neck joins at the 14th fret like a jazz box. But, like the HB35, this one won’t be a true jazz box either since it has a thin body and a Bigsby. I’m not sure which of the two would be better for jazz stuff, and I can’t decide which one I want more.
To help y’all help me, here a little background. Gear wise, all my electrics are solid bodies: Les Pauls, Tele-styles with humbuckers, and Strats (standard trem and Floyd Rose). Style wise, I’ve always played blues, rock, and 80’s metal. However, over the past year or two, I’ve been broadening my horizons and have been learning a lot of different styles. I’ve been playing a lot of jazz single note improv, chordy stuff, like jazz chord-melody and Johnny A.’s style, and country (I’m learning Travis picking). On top of that, I’ve been really inspired by guys like Derek Trucks, Duane Allman, and Warren Haynes and have been learning slide. My style now is getting harder and harder to define and is quickly becoming a melting pot of seemingly conflicting influences.
So, if you’ve taken the time to read my long, boring post, which guitar do you think would be best for me?
I've considered everything from Agiles to real Gibsons, and I've gone to nearly every music store in the Nashville and Chattanooga areas checking out guitars. The problem with the music stores, though, is they only carry the most popular models. So, I've only had a chance to play things like Gibsons and Ibanez Artcores. I have, however, e-mailed numerous manufacturers to ask questions and get specs.
Anyway, based on specs and the price to features/quality ratio, I think I've narrowed my selection down to either a Washburn HB35 or a Washburn J9.
I love the neck specs and the double cutaway on the HB35, but being a semi-hollow, I don't know how jazzy it will sound. The J9 has a full hollow body and a Bigsby, but the neck is a slight bit more narrow and thin than I would like. Also, the fret access is the opposite of the HB35 since the J9's neck joins at the 14th fret like a jazz box. But, like the HB35, this one won’t be a true jazz box either since it has a thin body and a Bigsby. I’m not sure which of the two would be better for jazz stuff, and I can’t decide which one I want more.
To help y’all help me, here a little background. Gear wise, all my electrics are solid bodies: Les Pauls, Tele-styles with humbuckers, and Strats (standard trem and Floyd Rose). Style wise, I’ve always played blues, rock, and 80’s metal. However, over the past year or two, I’ve been broadening my horizons and have been learning a lot of different styles. I’ve been playing a lot of jazz single note improv, chordy stuff, like jazz chord-melody and Johnny A.’s style, and country (I’m learning Travis picking). On top of that, I’ve been really inspired by guys like Derek Trucks, Duane Allman, and Warren Haynes and have been learning slide. My style now is getting harder and harder to define and is quickly becoming a melting pot of seemingly conflicting influences.
So, if you’ve taken the time to read my long, boring post, which guitar do you think would be best for me?
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