randythoades Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Hi Chaps I think I have the need for a Jazz box type guitar. I have been playing acoustic in a stripped down rock and roll / jump blues band as the lone instrument except drums, the emphasis on the vocals. I am playing the bass line (palm muted to give the 'tic tac' sound) as I used to on my upright bass for the I chord, then adding melody or strumming on the IV and V chords as needed. Works really well but I am struggling to play solos with any authority on the acoustic as the string balance doesn't quite work with the piezo, plus it is much harder to play. I could just add a magnetic soundhole pickup try and even out the tone, but hey, a new guitar will feed the GAS too! My thoughts are that a large jazzbox will retain enough 'acoustic' ness to sound nice and rich for the bassline an also smooth enough for solos (my strat doesn't have the richness in the basslines). Not looked at them before so not sure which are good and which are not. Don't want to spend a fortune so looking at the lower end, and don't need tremolo necessarily, Epiphone,Vintage, Cort, Gretsch Electromatic etc around the £300-600 mark. The material is softer and jazzier, not as raw as full on rockabilly, Bill Haley, Elvis, Ray Charles, Ricky Nelson, Louis Jordan, Chuck Berry. So I need rich bottom end with the ability to switch to a more balanced solo tone My thoughts initially are: Epiphone ES175, Epiphone Joe Pass, Cort Yorkville, Vintage VSA575. Anyone play a hollow body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) If you want to retain a bit of an acoustic vibe, I'd be tempted to check out an acoustic archtop with a neck pickup as these tend to be a bit more lightly built with a little more acoustic character than dedicated electric archtops. Something like some of the Loar models or a Godin 5th Avenue, for instance, or some vintage models if you can find one you like. Edited July 13, 2015 by Beer of the Bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 13, 2015 Author Share Posted July 13, 2015 BotB, cheers for that, I did think of a traditional archtop, I will check out the Godin, have heard good things about them. Maybe I confused things, it is not the actual true acoustic sound that I am specifically seeking. I use the acoustic for the rich bass tones but find the lead lines much harder than on my strat and I feel like a bit of a prat when my fingers get all twisted. I am thinking that the hollow body will give enough air so that the bass is fat and rich but the lead much easier to handle,and still look traditional to the period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 Check out some of the Tokai semi acoustics - I've got a Tokai 335 copy & it's a bloody lovely guitar, only cost me £150 secondhand too. They do an ES175 style guitar too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Hi Rhys Thanks for this, I will do, have seen a couple on eBay. As a '335' owner, would this be jazzy enough and have enough bottom end to do the job? There are far more 335 style guitars out there and obviously a bit more versatile in the future should I move on. On Ebay there are a couple of second hand Ibanez Artcore hollows, a couple of Vintage and Peavey Rockingham. Anyone got an experience of these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 If you have the funds then you could't go far wrong with a [url=https://ritter-instruments.com/princess-isabella.php]Ritter Princess Isabella[/url]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Not sure I have the funds for this!! Drool, drool... It looks a bit to way out for what I need. The rockabilly bunch are really conservative so want to stay quite traditional, visually at least, otherwise I might have opted for Line 6 Variax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1436868560' post='2821456'] It looks a bit to way out for what I need. The rockabilly bunch are really conservative so want to stay quite traditional, visually at least, otherwise I might have opted for Line 6 Variax. [/quote] The just buy something with a hollow body and a Gretch logo on the headstock. They'll never really be satisfied with anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Very true!! Still very much on the radar. Trouble is, I am not keen on a tremolo and I think a Gretsch may be a little bit twangy for my needs. Plus you pay for the logo so am happy to have a cheaper alternative if the quality is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1436784247' post='2820629'] Hi Chaps I think I have the need for a Jazz box type guitar... [/quote] There's an extensive choice of models on the Xaviere guitar site; prices are in USD ... [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-570-Rockabilly-Semi-Hollowbody-Trapeze-Minitrons_c_454.html"]Xaviere guitars ...[/url] I have several archtops, including Hofners and a Samick 335, but my 'go to' guitar is my Xaviere 610 (Tele Thinline-type...) with Filtertron-like p/us. Most electric guitars are capable of 'jazziness', either using flats or by simply rolling off the treble, but for 'authentic' looks, an 'f-hole' suits me best. The range is still wide, though, from Tele Thinline, through 335 to out-and-out carved-top jazz box. For my part, I find my Xaviere to be the most versatile, as I can have a fair bit of Gretschy 'twang', Joe Pass 'bite' or Montgomery 'thumbness' using the p/u selector, tone control and fingers (I don't/can't use a pick, though...). My 335 copy is second in versatility (less 'twang' potential; more 'bluesy'...). Favourite tone is my Hofner Verithin; a more limited range, but excellent within that range. I've a Hofner Comittee, too, which is even more limited, but superb in its style. Bang for buck..? Xaviere, without hesitation. They play and sound far above their price point. Hope this helps. PS: There are several reviews of various models on t'Tube; here's one (patience; slow to start...)... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxR73x4bV8[/media] Edited July 14, 2015 by Dad3353 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 Hey, Thanks Dad Thy look great,very reasonable too. Will look into these further. The XV950 in particular looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 If I was in the market for a traditional style hollow body guitar then I wouldn't be parting with any money until I had tried out at least a couple of models from [url=http://www.peerlessguitars.eu/#/electric/4549480806]Peerless[/url]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share Posted July 14, 2015 I will have to pop over to Guitar Village in Farnham for an afternoon, they seem to have a stock of the Gretsch, Ibanez and Peerless. Looking at their website the Ibanez Pat Methany PM 2 looks good, as well as the Peerless Tonemaster in orange (the only rockabilly colour to have...) On eBay, there is a second hand Ibanez AF75 hollow body for £250 + delivery, and a Gretsch 5120 for £395. Would the Gretsch be worth dropping the extra £ for just because of the name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Does the Ibanez have a vibrato unit fitted? Our guitarist had one on loan before he bought his DeArmond and with the vibrato the break angle of the strings over the bridge was very shallow which meant that they kept popping off the saddles when played with any vigour. Other than that it was a very nice guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Interesting to see what Douglas posted about Xavier. My thoughts reading the first few posts were for a thinline Tele with P90s or maybe filtertrons. Should be capable of giving the acoustic essence you're after and also with enough assistance for playing leads with authority. Another possibility would be to look for something with an acoustic bridge pickup (there's a Telecoustic for sale in the classifieds right now) which brings a new tonality and behaviour to a solid guitar. I mostly use a Godin xtSA these days, and often find myself using the acoustic bridge tone when I want something with a much wider sound than an electric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 BigRedX, no, the Ibanez Artcore does not have the vibrato unit, fixed archtop tailpiece. I tend to prefer the look rather than the bigsby but it would not be a major thing as I would rarely use the trem anyway so would probably remove it and retrofit a tailpiece. Ancient Mariner: I had initially discounted the thinline guitars and pretty much the semi's in order to keep the richness in the bass but when I go to try some I may include some as a comparison, god idea. Also good thought about the acoustic bridge, there are a couple of hybrids out there with piezo bridges I may look into that, didn't really think about that initially either. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1436784247' post='2820629'] Hi Chaps I think I have the need for a Jazz box type guitar... [/quote] Is this of any interest to you..? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/264890-2013-gretsch-g5422tdc-electromatic-white-with-gold-hardware"]2013 Gretsch in the BC Marketplace ...[/url] No affiliation, obviously; just thought it worth a bit more than a glance. Not far away, either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Thanks for that Dad. Looks lovely. Unfortunately I went round at the weekend having a bit of a play. I was generally disappointed by the quality of the Gretsches that I played and the vibrato arm kept getting in my way. I tried to like the traditional archtop style with the single pickup but didn't find anything that I liked. Out of all of them I quite liked the Epiphone es175 and the Joe Pass, an strangely enough the Epiphone Casino but not enough to buy a new one, I will keep an eye out for similar on ebay. I also tried out a hybrid with a fishman piezo bridge (the name escapes me now) which was excellent but too modern looking for my needs. I am toying with the idea of buying a fishman powerbridge for my tele and building my own (I am generally ok with routing and electrics etc). But for now I am sticking to my trusty acoustic until something comes up on ebay. Cheers for all the advice, the search goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Peavey Rockinghams are really good guitars, you can pick them up pretty cheap on Ebay. Darrel Higham used to play them & spoke very highly of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hi Rhys Cheers for that, I actually have a couple on watch at the moment, I might have a punt on one, I like the look and the lack of vibrato, so expecting something similar to the Epi Joe Pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I have the mid 2000's series Gretsch Electromatic (in White) with the Dearmond pickups, just a wonderful guitar....I have always lusted after a White Falcon but after buying my Electromatic I have never been able to justify parting with it or paying so much more for a Falcon. Find yourself one for about £350.00 to £400.00 and you will be a happy bunny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) Thinking 'out of the box', this looks like a real bargain... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/257411-eastwood-12-string-semi-in-whitegold-stunning-now-l350-posted/"]Eastwood 12 string Semi in White/Gold, stunning ...[/url] No affiliation, again; can be strung as a sixer, but 12's are great, too. I have a Daisy Rock Retro-H 12, really cool for strumming or 'Byrds'-type picking. Edited July 25, 2015 by Dad3353 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I had an Epiphone Broadway for a few years that was really nice. Proper jazz box sounds, especially when strung with flats. You should be able to pick one up for less than £400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Finally sorted. Ended up nabbing a Parkwood PWH 2 hybrid guitar off ebay for £300. Semi hollow, mini humbuckers and strung with heavy strings so with a bit of EQ can get a nice rich jazzy tone mixed half and half with piezo acoustic sounds, plus click to bridge pickup for almost telecaster tones . Really nice to play through a clean valve amp and exactly the tone I was looking for. Am a happy camper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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