Decent cheap archtop

[tomjackson]

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?

[WezV]

peerless perhaps?

[tomjackson]

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. 

[DemosKratia]

I've played some Hagstroms before, excelent guitars! though i dont have any experience with their hollowbodies...

[Philly Q]

This thread needs some input from Fourth Feline.  I think he has an Ibanez and a Vintage.

[AndyR]

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

[tomjackson]

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!

[liftman]

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.

[tomjackson]

And are the necks fairly wide liftman?

[liftman]

similar neck to a 175 I'd say- not too thin like I find a few jazzers to be.

[Ratrod]

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.

[choucas09]

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

[tomjackson]

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

[Ratrod]

I'd put the Dean Palomino on the list as well. 3 P90's!

[kevinr]

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.