An Nice Archtop Under 1000?

[thefuzz7219]

Starting a jazz gig and wanted to pick up a nice guitar for it. I don't want to break the bank on it though. Suggestions?

 

[DaveinLondon]

The Godin 5th Avenue range:
http://www.godinguitars.com/godin5thaveseriesp.htm

 

[Lihns]

I was in the same prediciment until i recently purchased (and am still waiting for) my barnbuster tele and it'll have to wait. after months of research i narrowed down my best choices would be:
Godin 5th Avenue as mentioned
Epiphone Emperor Regent
Hagstrom's hollow body (can't remember the model, but they only have one i believe)
And if your willing to shell out a little more dough Eastman or D'angelico
I was also lookin at a douglas WNO on rondo, but that was lowballing it with the bang for the buck factor

I thought I was going to get the Godin for quite some time, but in reality I wasn't really all that crazy about the way they played, theyre a great value though and if they fit you then more power to ya. My hands didn't agree with the neck.

 

[MikeT]

The Godin is very nice for the money. I didn't like the PU, too noisy and not sweet enough for my jazz taste (good for raunchier stuff). I'd replace it with a Fralin noiseless P90 or a humbucker. Probably better to get the non-PU version and add your preferred PU. Note: even on the model with P90, the PU is not set into the top, it's mounted on top of the top, LOL;-)

It also depends what sound you're after, the more electric sound à la ES175 or the more acoustic sound like L5.
For the more electric sound you don't really need a hollowbody. If it's that sound you're after I'd seriously consider a Tele with a humbucker in the neck position.

Sadly enough, you'd probably have to mod an existing production model.
I wish Fender would offer a Tele that's primarily intended for Jazzers, considered that so many famous jazz Players used Teles.
(6 saddles brass bridge, nice sweet neck HB, 9.5 radius, bone saddle, ready for heavy strings, maybe a second humbucker in the middle à la Ted Greene etc etc, maybe also an opportunity for a small builder? Sadowsky does models like that, wished there were more offers in the lower price range for people that don't want to do the DIY route, but that's probably just me...)

Otherwise: an used Epiphone Elitist 335 also is a very fine guitar.

 

[ando]

there was a guild archtop on here recently for 1200 bucks..spend a little more
if possible & buy it..great guitar & you probably would get close to your money back & maybe more down the line if you decide to sell it..

 

[martyncrew]

Try to find a Gibson ES125 full body...you may find something around the $1000 mark if you aren't fussy about originality. Wonderful necks and great woody, warm tone.

 

[lfio710]

There is a very nice looking D'Angelico in the Emporium for under $1K.

 

[shigihara]

The Godin is very nice for the money.

the 5th Ave w/1 P90 is my favorite...
I got the 2 P90 5th Ave and the acoustic as well.
Great value for the money...

 

[GregoryL]

A used Eastman.

 

[RockStarNick]

If you look hard, you can probably score a Gibson ES135 with 57 classic buckers for well under a grand.

I had the P90 version. Liked it, didn't love it. The midrangey P90s, combined with the big resonant midrange of the body, was a little too much for me. I can imagine that the bucker version would be perfect, since the pickups are a little more full-range. Not to mention more choices when it comes to pickup modding.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I picked up a late 90's Guild Starfire 3 for around 1000, dont know how well it would suit your jazz needs but it works well for me!

 

[Mudder]

Sadly enough, you'd probably have to mod an existing production model.
I wish Fender would offer a Tele that's primarily intended for Jazzers, considered that so many famous jazz Players used Teles.

G&L has their bluesboy with a hum in the neck position. Pretty close...

 

[karmadave]

Ibanez Artcore Series

 

[Steve Z]

there was a guild archtop on here recently for 1200 bucks..spend a little more
if possible & buy it..great guitar & you probably would get close to your money back & maybe more down the line if you decide to sell it..

I would be buying this Guild X-170 myself if I didn't just buy a guitar last month. The Guild archtops are a fantastic bargain and this one is practically being given away. A great investment in that you should be able to get your money back if you ever needed to sell the guitar.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/775078

 

[Thor]

If you are willing to go just a bit north of $1000, keep an eye out for a used Soloway. Not a traditional archtop, but seem to be excellent for jazz (just check out Jim's clips on his website).

 

[Blue Bee]

used gibson es-125/135/137 or any eastman hollow.... these easily compete with the 2k+ stuff and you can get em for under 1k.

 

[MartinPiana]

+1 on Eastman. If you can be patient, you can get a full hollow, solid hand carved woods for $1k. That's about what I sold the one below for (a Benedetto fell in my lap). Way outclasses Ibanez and Godin.