Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: tomjackson on June 28, 2010, 08:16:07 PM
-
I'm thinking of selling my ES thinline and going to a full hollow body. Just wandering what are good deals in the budget range.
I'm thinking 2 pickups and no trem, so ES175 type of vibe.
What woods should I be looking at for a nice deep mellow tone? I want it for Jazz, blues and reggae so definitely don't need a full Jazzer.
Thoughts?
-
peerless perhaps?
-
Yeah, peerless are decent but the Journeyman is the only one that is in the ballpark but it's £700.
I'm thinking more on the lines of the Ibanez Artcores, Epi ES175 and Vintage 175 copy.
This Hagstrom looks nice also but it's over £600
http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Hagstrom-HJ-800-Semi-Acoustic-Guitar-Sunburst/9VQ
I know to get a great archtop sound you probably have to spend thousands but as long as it sounds reasonable and has a chunky neck I'll be happy.
-
I've played some Hagstroms before, excelent guitars! though i dont have any experience with their hollowbodies...
-
This thread needs some input from Fourth Feline. I think he has an Ibanez and a Vintage.
-
This thread needs some input from Fourth Feline.
Yep :D
I saw it last night, and once I realised Godin 5th Avenue is probably not what Tom has in mind, I decided not to post but leave it to our "jazz-guru" :D
-
Thanks fellas, I'll do a search as I think Derek has posted a few times on the subject.
Correct Andy, the Godin's are nice but not what I'm after, thy are a little bright and too acoustic.
From what I've read most of the cheaper options have slim necks which will limit me, I like Gibson 50's style, the bigger the better!
-
I've got an Ibanez AF 150 which is discontinued but is pretty much the same as the Artcore custom AF ones they make now. I used to have a Heritage 575 but no longer 'cause I prefer this! It's a bit on the bright side but still sounds great and is very responsive to play.
The customs are top of the range and maybe £5-600, I'm not sure but they come up second hand now and again.
I tried an artcore custom Scofield type model the other day and thought it was one of the best necks I've played, but that's more of a 335 type.
-
And are the necks fairly wide liftman?
-
similar neck to a 175 I'd say- not too thin like I find a few jazzers to be.
-
Also check out Epiphone and rondoguitars.com
Sometimes you can get a great deal on used Gretsch Synchromatics and Historics, the ones with the cat's eye f-holes and Dearmond pickups.
-
Someone I know was in a similar position to you a couple of months ago and after much research and trials he settled on an Epiphone Broadway. He's since brought it round so I got to hear and play it through my own amp. Lovely guitar and I can thoroughly recommend it for your ones to try list.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.thomann.de/pics/prod/141602.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_broadway_na.htm&usg=__Dpv_3xfI-5_qbQMdgKeDOXYdo-0=&h=350&w=140&sz=12&hl=en&start=8&sig2=vpZgB6n3oLI4MpNdianYMA&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=w1sCv1PrB6CUrM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=48&prev=/images%3Fq%3Depiphone%2Bbroadway%2Buk%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=nFgsTNOLN6iMnAeQ29m0Aw
-
Thanks, I was looking at those as the Spruce top appeals to me.
What is the neck like, Gibson 50's style or thinner?
This is the other I'm also thinking of....
http://www.ibanez.com/HollowBodyGuitars/model-AK95
-
I'd put the Dean Palomino on the list as well. 3 P90's!
-
I purchased a 96 Epi Joe Pass a few months ago, fitted it with a set of Stormy Mondays better pots and caps and now it is really a good guitar, you may have to play one as the neck may not be to your liking.
-
The neck on the Broadway is a nice c shape and not as clubby as a 50's . It looked a huge and handsome guitar with the all blonde finish. Having said that the AK95 with the dark violin burst looks amazing.
-
Stupit question, but what is the difference between a recent production Epiphone Emperor and a recent production Epiphone Broadway?
-
I think the broadway is a little bigger and deeper, closer to the bigger Gibson archtops wheras the Joe pass is closer to an ES175.
Epiphone's website is shitee for specs!
-
Sorry for joining this one rather late, but my recomendation would be the Ibanez AF75.
My own 'main' guitar has ended up being the Vintage VS575, as seen in my avatar - but that's mostly due to it being the only one with gold hardware to match my beloved B.K.P Manhattans. The VS575 has set up and settled in beautifully, but cosmetically, it required further spending to make it look as nice as the Ibanez looked straight out of the box.
For build quality and a lovely neck ( albeit that the criteria for 'lovely neck' is surprisingly hard to define in words ) - the Ibanez Artcore series are winners.
The stock pickups of the Vintage VS575 were a little more subtle than the Ibanez, but both guitars deserved better pickups, as the bodies and potential intrinsic tonal attributes where being hidden by the stock pickups.
The Ibby is brighter , the Vintage sweeter, but if you want the best value for money and solid build quality, inlays and superior hardwear ( at the sub £300 mark ) - go Ibanez.
I tried Tanglewood for my '335' era and enjoyed it , until I realised that the above two eclipsed it. So, in choice order :
1) Ibanez
2) Vintage
3) Tanglewood.
And of course the Eastmans and Peerless in first and second place respectively if you can afford them. Sadly I have neither tried or afforded them, but Choucas has confirmed that his Eastman 'El-Rey 2' is all it is claimed to be - and more.
Cheers ! :)
-
A quick observational reprise regarding the Epiphones ( or any guitar / Archtop of course ) - remember to check the scale length, as the bigger bodied Epiphone archtops have a stiffer Fender like 25.5" scale - and others the softer feeling Gibson like 24.75" scale. The longer scale, bigger bodies being combined , due to the assumption that you might prefer an acoustically louder ' Big Band ' Era type instrument - that can take heavy rhythmic down strokes ( think Freddie Green ).
I prefer the 24.75" scale for Jazz - as smooth action encourages smooth playing ... 8)