Recommend me a jazz box, please.
- Thread starter Onslow
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DLT
Guest
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Do they make the fat body Ibanez (AF-75) in the quilted (or burled) maple?
I saw the thinner bodied one (model # ?), with an extra cool looking tailpiece. Super gorgeous guitar! Could be the AF 125 you are talking about.
Do they make the fat body Ibanez (AF-75) in the quilted (or burled) maple?
I saw the thinner bodied one (model # ?), with an extra cool looking tailpiece. Super gorgeous guitar! Could be the AF 125 you are talking about.
brentrocks
New member
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
there are a lot of great deals on used Heritage jazz boxes...575 would be a nice one or a Eagle...if you are lucky, maybe you could find a 550 or a 575 custom?
check craigslist and ebay and the gearpage...they pop up often!! great guitars for a lot less than a gibby!!!
there are a lot of great deals on used Heritage jazz boxes...575 would be a nice one or a Eagle...if you are lucky, maybe you could find a 550 or a 575 custom?
check craigslist and ebay and the gearpage...they pop up often!! great guitars for a lot less than a gibby!!!
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
That Cort yorktown looks to be very affordable, which is great.
If you have a few bucks to spend, check out the Prestige Guitars Musician and Musician Pro. I just found out about them because of an SD contest, but I love the look of them. MSRP for both is $1320.
In the more affordable price bracket, look at the Aria FA Series
That Cort yorktown looks to be very affordable, which is great.
If you have a few bucks to spend, check out the Prestige Guitars Musician and Musician Pro. I just found out about them because of an SD contest, but I love the look of them. MSRP for both is $1320.
In the more affordable price bracket, look at the Aria FA Series
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
I'm kind of in the same boat, I have a strat and a tele I love for rock, and a big 'ol gretsch with flats on it that I use for jazz, and it sounds pretty good, but I'm wanting something mellower
Originally I was lookin at more big full hollows like the gretsch g100ce and hagstrom HJ-800, maybe even the HL-550, but since I started using warmer tones for the psych rock band I decided on something in between that could do both. I figure I'll get a full-on jazz box when I'm making enough from gigs to finance one
I'm thinking this with a set of 11's and some Antiquities
*edit* wow, this one's old, may as well throw in some extra eye candy
I'm kind of in the same boat, I have a strat and a tele I love for rock, and a big 'ol gretsch with flats on it that I use for jazz, and it sounds pretty good, but I'm wanting something mellower
Originally I was lookin at more big full hollows like the gretsch g100ce and hagstrom HJ-800, maybe even the HL-550, but since I started using warmer tones for the psych rock band I decided on something in between that could do both. I figure I'll get a full-on jazz box when I'm making enough from gigs to finance one
I'm thinking this with a set of 11's and some Antiquities
*edit* wow, this one's old, may as well throw in some extra eye candy
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JOLLY
Super Simonologist
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Several people have already suggested the Epiphone Dot and Sheraton models. I wish to add the Epiphone BB King Lucille model to the list. Buy pre-owned, feed it a pair if US-made humbuckers, get playing.
The advantage of this model is the Vari-Tone circuit. Dialling this in and balancing the volume and tone controls summons up all manner of mellow "woody" Jazz tones - even with brand new 10-46 roundwound strings.
Several people have already suggested the Epiphone Dot and Sheraton models. I wish to add the Epiphone BB King Lucille model to the list. Buy pre-owned, feed it a pair if US-made humbuckers, get playing.
The advantage of this model is the Vari-Tone circuit. Dialling this in and balancing the volume and tone controls summons up all manner of mellow "woody" Jazz tones - even with brand new 10-46 roundwound strings.
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Well, still being broke makes me indecisive. I don't want to jump at the first cheapo thing I can find either.
I found out those Cort's aren't too great.
Wow, really taking your time looking for that jazz box
Well, still being broke makes me indecisive. I don't want to jump at the first cheapo thing I can find either.
I found out those Cort's aren't too great.
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TimmyPage
New member
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Jazz boxes are finnickey guitars. You can ask every guitar player in my program and we all like the standards of electric guitars (teles, strats, les pauls) and find most of them play well for us, but we all have a completely different jazz box. If you were to pick up your friend's archtop and try it most of the time you would thing 'this feels/sounds like crap'. They are quite personal I find, and unless you go into a good store and try a bunch out you won't end up with one you really love.
For me, that guitar was a Godin 5th Avenue, two of my friends use seperate Eastman Hollows, and another friend of mine uses the Epiphone Joe Pass, all of which are relatively inexpensive guitars, and all of them sound great and if they work in your hands properly then they might just be the guitar for you.
Jazz boxes are finnickey guitars. You can ask every guitar player in my program and we all like the standards of electric guitars (teles, strats, les pauls) and find most of them play well for us, but we all have a completely different jazz box. If you were to pick up your friend's archtop and try it most of the time you would thing 'this feels/sounds like crap'. They are quite personal I find, and unless you go into a good store and try a bunch out you won't end up with one you really love.
For me, that guitar was a Godin 5th Avenue, two of my friends use seperate Eastman Hollows, and another friend of mine uses the Epiphone Joe Pass, all of which are relatively inexpensive guitars, and all of them sound great and if they work in your hands properly then they might just be the guitar for you.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
im with blueman on this...the joe pass or the ibanez af105 are very good choices for jazz if you are after a budget axe. The pass is smaller than a regular jazz box so it may suit you. If you can tho....the older Korean Pass models feel and look better than the current ones so keep an eye out for one. Also...pickup and wiring upgrades will make your axe sound very rewarding.
Do not be put off by full size (16inch) bodies tho because when you are sitting down they are extremely comfortable to play. Unless you are a particularly small person the standard size jazz box is large enough and wide enough to wrap your arm around and relax your body on it...which facilitates easier, smoother and faster playing due to the fact that none of your tendons are bent across any edges and it takes no effort to keep your picking hand in a good position and at a good angle across the strings.
People raised on strat type guitars believe it is a superior shape for playing comfort....but you have to remember its all context...strats are great for standing whereas jazz boxes are great if you are sitting down. Its all about ergonomics and body position.
if (as you mentioned ) you want a guitar purely for jazz then you cant beat a full hollow for its response to dynamics and as a result this type of guitar is excellent for playing in a swinging style. Nice flatwound strings (thomastik are great) will complete the package, but this will all take time to get used to. Generally standard rock and even classical technique on the left hand need some fine tuning to get around all the changes and chord voicings etc. The right hand also will have to undergo some changes to play smooth, fast and melodic in a jazz context. However, the basic jazz formula of an archtop hollowbody and flat strings as well as heavy picks works very well for that style so go for it and let your style and sound adjust to meet the demands of the music.
Enjoy!
im with blueman on this...the joe pass or the ibanez af105 are very good choices for jazz if you are after a budget axe. The pass is smaller than a regular jazz box so it may suit you. If you can tho....the older Korean Pass models feel and look better than the current ones so keep an eye out for one. Also...pickup and wiring upgrades will make your axe sound very rewarding.
Do not be put off by full size (16inch) bodies tho because when you are sitting down they are extremely comfortable to play. Unless you are a particularly small person the standard size jazz box is large enough and wide enough to wrap your arm around and relax your body on it...which facilitates easier, smoother and faster playing due to the fact that none of your tendons are bent across any edges and it takes no effort to keep your picking hand in a good position and at a good angle across the strings.
People raised on strat type guitars believe it is a superior shape for playing comfort....but you have to remember its all context...strats are great for standing whereas jazz boxes are great if you are sitting down. Its all about ergonomics and body position.
if (as you mentioned ) you want a guitar purely for jazz then you cant beat a full hollow for its response to dynamics and as a result this type of guitar is excellent for playing in a swinging style. Nice flatwound strings (thomastik are great) will complete the package, but this will all take time to get used to. Generally standard rock and even classical technique on the left hand need some fine tuning to get around all the changes and chord voicings etc. The right hand also will have to undergo some changes to play smooth, fast and melodic in a jazz context. However, the basic jazz formula of an archtop hollowbody and flat strings as well as heavy picks works very well for that style so go for it and let your style and sound adjust to meet the demands of the music.
Enjoy!
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Epiphone makes some nice jazz boxes . . . My Epi Dot is great for jazzy stuff, and I have a friend with a Joe Pass that is also pretty nice for those kinds of tones. If I was to do it all again though, I think that I'd buy North American made:
Epiphone makes some nice jazz boxes . . . My Epi Dot is great for jazzy stuff, and I have a friend with a Joe Pass that is also pretty nice for those kinds of tones. If I was to do it all again though, I think that I'd buy North American made:
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
Yeah the only thing that makes me apprehensive about those Godin's is the canadian cherry--it's not a typical tonewood so i don't know what to expect
Also timmy, where the hell did you find a reasonably priced eastman? All the one's I've seen are at least $1200
Also Also JB, pick out any epiphone you want and I'll trade you for that 175
Yeah the only thing that makes me apprehensive about those Godin's is the canadian cherry--it's not a typical tonewood so i don't know what to expect
Also timmy, where the hell did you find a reasonably priced eastman? All the one's I've seen are at least $1200
Also Also JB, pick out any epiphone you want and I'll trade you for that 175
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Recommend me a jazz box, please.
THe fifth avenues are nice. Very lively acoustic sound due to the thin top but like any acoustic instrument its quite prone to feedback if you are playing at higher than the level where the acoutic and the pickup sound blend. FOR this sound tho its very nice - excellent for recording but a little touch and go when you have to play rooms of various sizes. To me it has more in common with a flat top sound than an archtop for some reason tho so if i wanted only one jazz box i dont think this would be the one. It it modeled on the gibson es150 but comparing the two, the 150 has a smoother, warmer more midrange tone that amplifys well where the fifth is brighter and louder acoustically. this may be due to the choice of woods and the thinness of the top in the fifth.
Another thing to consider in your choice of jazz box is scale length and tailpiece style...this affects the string tension a lot. With the regular gibson style scale length you have 24 3/4 inch which allows you to put on heavy strings for a nice fat sound but still means you need very little pressure on the left hand.
THe fifth avenues are nice. Very lively acoustic sound due to the thin top but like any acoustic instrument its quite prone to feedback if you are playing at higher than the level where the acoutic and the pickup sound blend. FOR this sound tho its very nice - excellent for recording but a little touch and go when you have to play rooms of various sizes. To me it has more in common with a flat top sound than an archtop for some reason tho so if i wanted only one jazz box i dont think this would be the one. It it modeled on the gibson es150 but comparing the two, the 150 has a smoother, warmer more midrange tone that amplifys well where the fifth is brighter and louder acoustically. this may be due to the choice of woods and the thinness of the top in the fifth.
Another thing to consider in your choice of jazz box is scale length and tailpiece style...this affects the string tension a lot. With the regular gibson style scale length you have 24 3/4 inch which allows you to put on heavy strings for a nice fat sound but still means you need very little pressure on the left hand.
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