Recommendation for inexpensive jazz hollow body.

[Oriondk]

I think I’m ready to get a hollow body for jazz. I’ve been using a semi-hollow and It’s just not giving me the tone I want I probably want a smaller guitar like an ES-175. I had Gretsch years ago, but it was a little difficult for me to play and didn’t give me the tone I was looking for. I’m looking for something less than $1,000, and it doesn’t have to have a bridge pick up.

 

[sashavie]

Eastman AR series.

 

[consumerduck]

Godin 5th avenue is a brilliant jazz guitar. Light, small, sounds ok acoustically (like many 175s), but sounds like a million bux plugged in. That p-90 can be magical. Great fit and finish and made in Canada. Hard to put down and at their price, they are worth every Canadian penny.

 

[Northernbreed]

Ibanez LGB30

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

Ibanez. Just pick one.

 

[dreamingaxe]

Eastman AR series.

I second the Eastman..

The ES-175 copy is VERY GOOD. I sampled one when I was buying an acoustic.. the natural one is actually very beautiful and with Kent Armstrong pickups, theres actually nothing to upgrade.. it also rivals the feel and build quality of my ES-330. I actually want one to add a "175" in my collection.




They also have the 1 pickup version

Eastman AR-371CE Blonde Electric Archtop

THE Gypsy Jazz Guitar and Django Reinhardt guitar shop. Imported European Gypsy Jazz guitars, accessories and information, Jazz Manouche and Gypsy Jazz.

www.djangoguitars.com

 

[BigDoug1053]

Eastman makes very nice archtops and the AR272 is a copy of the ES-175. Check them out. I have an AR810CE 7 string and a Jazz 16 7 string and they are both killer guitars...

Eastman810 7string-002.jpg

• BigDoug1053
• Aug 29, 2021

Eastman Jazz16_DSC0764.jpg

• BigDoug1053
• Aug 29, 2021

 

[David B]

Eastman

 

[CardinalComb]

Eastman would be over $1,000, here in Canada anyways and I suspect $US too. I bought a used Ibanez Artcore AFJ85 a few days ago for $550. The owner even put flatwound strings on it. Plays really well, action is super low and the pickups are super warm and clear.

 

[Golem]

Used Ibanez is the ticket. They're often undervalued on the used market and the quality has impressed me regardless of the country they've been made in. If you find yourself getting a cheaper one, there's always the opportunity to upgrade the pickups.

 

[GT3]

Ibanez

 

[Drawde]

Eastman AR series.

I recently did exactly this and got an Eastman Ar371. Probably the closest you'll get to an Es175 for under 1000. There are also some epiphone 175s on reverb from time to time.

 

[FuzzMuff]

I don't know first hand, but have heard a lot of good things about Ibanez hollow bodies that are a lot of bang for the buck.

HOLLOW BODIES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

Find a great collection of Hollow Body at Ibanez. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks.

www.ibanez.com

 

[Eireguitar]

The Eastmans have gotten expensive lately, at least where I live. The base model 175 type is around the €1400 mark. Ibanez seems like the only decent option at that price. There is also The Loar and Godin but any I played were really flimsy and low quality.

 

[monkmiles]

Is Epiphone still making their ES-175? Perhaps it's priced lower than an Eastman AR372, which I'd prefer myself. Or you could always go the used route with either. There's also the Epiphone Zephyr Regent.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

Used Ibanez is the ticket. They're often undervalued on the used market and the quality has impressed me regardless of the country they've been made in. If you find yourself getting a cheaper one, there's always the opportunity to upgrade the pickups.

^ THIS. I seriously don't know how those end up on the used market for so little $$$. They're great instruments. Grab one!

 

[kenoflife]

Yes Eastman.. I was able to get my Eastman AR371CE-BD in Blonde, with a Lollar pickup installed, for $700 on Reverb. Had an unnoticeable ding on the back. With a setup to fix the bridge in place, its a great jazzbox. What a great value.

 

[bluegrif]

An Eastman is one of the best options if you buy used. Another great used option would be Peerless. Some of the Newark series Guilds can be found in that price range. The X-175 Manhattan is pretty nice and I see mint used ones for around $800. New, Ibanez will be your best option. The really inexpensive Ibanez models don’t have the depth of tone you’ll get with higher priced archtops, but they do a respectable job plugged in.

 

[boogiejem]

Another vote for a used Ibanez. I picked up a used JP 120 that is a beautiful jazz guitar and despite being made in the 80’s this guitar has almost no fret wear and an action that is better than the Gibson I have owned.

 

[Guitarwiz007]

Those Ibanez George Benson models are really nice. I do think Ibanez would be your best bet overall in that price range.