Jazz boxes

[Little Pigbacon]

A current thread about an epic Epi archtop, and a recent episode of Supergirl, have got me thinking about jazz boxes again. I want the stereotypical jazz guitar sound, like Russell Malone on Diana Krall's Love Scenes album. I'd really love seven strings, but I can't spend custom-guitar money, so it's completely negotiable. If it has weird suspended pickups, they'll have to sound good as-is.

What's a good jazz box these days?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Jazz boxes

I like Ibanez for a budget jazz box. You won't need to replace the Super 58 pickups. The Benson is a great guitar, first class.

I'm less fond of the Epiphones due to the pickups, but they can be nice. Samick has a couple worth looking at. Eastman has become a player in this market, and of course D'Angelico.

And if you want to go all-in, I know where there is a vintage Gibson Super 400-CES. $18,500. Yowsa!

Bill

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Jazz boxes

http://www.ibanez.com/products/hb_detail17.php?year=2017&area_id=3&cat_id=7&series_id=112&data_id=4&color=CL01

View attachment 79590
View attachment 79591

These are $1,000 USD new, with a hardshell case.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Jazz boxes

Ibanez AF71...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ibanez-artcore-af71f-hollowbody-electric-guitar/j15092

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Jazz boxes

The new Epi Probucker pickups are just fine

In my Florentine they sing
I wanted a 335 style jazz box too
After playing Jerry's Les Paul Signature 335

After playing several Dots and Sheraton's in store
The big body just did me in
The 339 was gonna be my thing till I played a Memphis Gibson Les Paul at GC

The weight was super light,
The neck was thick 59 style
Sounded awesome.
But even with 1/3 off it was 2K.

I found the Epi version
Which I have today
The thinner slim taper neck is super comfortable
The probuckers, as I said earlier sound nice to my ears

It doesn't sound like a Les Paul . more 335 , just in a slimmer Les Paul packge

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Jazz boxes

Emperor Epiphone Joe Pass MIK..way best value per dollar spent / thread.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Jazz boxes

I haven't played these, but just throwing out some names you might check out and see if they are any good:

Gretsch G100 Synchromatic
Grestch G9555 New Yorker
Epiphone Masterbuilt Century Deluxe
Epiphone "Inspired by 1966" Century Archtop
Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin/Jazz/Uptown
The Loar LH3## series
Eastman AR40#/AR50#/AR60# series
Heritage H525
Hofner archtops

 

[Blille]

Jazz boxes

I haven't played these, but just throwing out some names you might check out and see if they are any good:

Gretsch G100 Synchromatic
Grestch G9555 New Yorker
Epiphone Masterbuilt Century Deluxe
Epiphone "Inspired by 1966" Century Archtop
Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin/Jazz/Uptown
The Loar LH3## series
Eastman AR40#/AR50#/AR60# series
Heritage H525
Hofner archtops

That's a solid list.

The Gretsch IME are a bit polarizing.

Godins are ridiculous value, I love mine.

I also love my Epi ES175 premium. The only guitar I have without SDs since it came with Classic 57s. They were on clearance at GC a couple months back so now you have them used under $600.

I've had a Loar and loved the tone but couldn't handle the chunky neck. Be wary of chunky necks in jazz boxes if you don't like them. Hagstrom and Ibanez are thinner though.



Also worth stoping by the Jazz Guitar Forum


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[Mincer]

Re: Jazz boxes

Eastman archtops are also really nice. They are a step up from the Godins, and play better.

 

[Blille]

Jazz boxes

Eastman archtops are also really nice. They are a step up from the Godins, and play better.

Eastmans are great and I agree they are a step up from the most known archtop Godins, the 5th avenue or the kingpin, but not the Jazz (at least not in the OP's budget). And I'll push back on Eastmans playing better than Godins since IMHO that is subjective.

http://www.godinguitars.com/godin5thavenue_35069_35700_35052.html

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[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Jazz boxes

Hagstrom. I've got an HJ800. Plays great. Looks awesome. Sounds fantastic. The pickups are a little 2 dimensional for my tastes, but I'll probably swap them out soon.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Jazz boxes

I have an older Eastman oval hole 804... it's awesome. I don't even bother with the pickup, just mike it up.

One of my clients is a serious jazzer gigging in a local big band. He has a vintage Wes Montgomery L-5, a new Gibson ES-275, an Ibanez from the 80's (looks like a flamey Johnny Smith), an Oscar Schmidt L-5 copy (had a Duncan 59-ectomy), and an Aria Pro II L-5 copy. They all play great and sound awesome (well, the ES-275 is a little more awesome than the rest for jazz. It sucks for anything else).

Guess what he gigs with? The flamey Ibanez. Sounds great for jazz, or the occasional fling with "Mustang Sally", "Vehicle", or some screaming blues. Cost him $350 over 10 years ago.

Look for used stuff, get a pro set up, and stroke that smooth jazz.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Jazz boxes

What's a good jazz box these days?

It depends on your budget.

Give a sum I can work with and I'll tell you what's worth that.

HTH,

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Jazz boxes

It depends on your budget.

Give a sum I can work with and I'll tell you what's worth that.

HTH,

$1,000 USD

Consolation prize: $500 USD

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Jazz boxes

Semi local shop has Eastman's
Excellent players
Nicely dressed
A bit pricey
Average around $1500

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Jazz boxes

again, at the risk of belaboring my point, there is NOTHING that could compare to a 5 grand full hollow Gibson. All these other guitars are pretty bad compromises..in the world of acoustics,especially Electric Spanish guitars, you don't 'get close' like in solid bodies.
Is spending 1000-1500 gonna make you any happier than a really good epiphone Joe Pass, or a Hagstrom at the 600-800 price point ?...no. All these guitars they are still pretty bad at worst, and average at best compromises.

The guitar ,the Epi Joe Pass, the one made in Korea, is definitely the way to go.Check out the jazz forums..with upgrades they are very consistent and spending more doesn't really get you that much better of a guitar...of course I am actually going to be pretty glad to see Pig Bacon waste his money as obviously I can't know wtf I am talking about.

The 300 dollar artcore class and such guitars are pretty terrible- I wouldnt go there .

OTOH, playing a full hollow requires a differenet specialized technique, lifting you arm off of teh body- just get a 335 and call it a day...its way more versatile, and a good springboard for the uninitiated.I think i general you get much better jazz tone value for your money.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Jazz boxes

Sssshhhhh
Jerry

He'll hear you

Ssssshhhhhhh

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Jazz boxes

It's okay, Jerry. My people will take your comments under advisement.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Jazz boxes

$1,000 USD

Consolation prize: $500 USD

A grand is a lot of dawg for an archtop beginner, IMHO.

I actually own a pretty good big Jazz box, an early-'90s Korean L5-CES copy, made in the Samick factory, that I got for next-to-nothing in my neck of woods:



As I've been moonlightning as a guitar tech for over fifteen years and regularly repair and service semi- and full-hollow instruments, I think I can give you unbiased advice for what you're looking for.

To get the best archtop experience for the reasonable least amount of money, what I'd do is the following: I'd look for a second-hand Epiphone Broadway in a fairly good condition, then take it to a well-reputed local luthier and have the frets leveled, crowned and mirror-polished, a professional setup, with special attention with the nut and the instrument's intonation, and have him install a new harness with good components, along with an A3/A2 modded, nickel-covered '59 set. If the Broadway you find is 2010 or newer, it won't even be necessary to change the tuning pegs.

You can do that with less than $ 600.00, and you'll have an excellent-sounding instrument that'll last a lifetime. I should know; I've made about twenty Broadways exactly like that and I have no recorded complaints so far.

HTH,

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Jazz boxes

You really need to play a few.
Still if you just want bang for buck and are prepared to buy sight unseen, Jerry's rantings about 90s MIK joe Pass axes is actually bang on.
Swap the pickups and noone will know its a cheapy. Good workhorses.