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Looking for a Jazz oriented guitar without the huge body (Godin?)


CaptainCoconut

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stores in my area suck, I have like 10 in my surrounding area, both mom and pop and chain, and they all carry the same stuff. An authentic LP here, an American strat there, the copy cat guitars meant to look like said LP and strat.... and then more strat and lp lookalikes.. so I don't have the ability to go around and pickup different jazz guitars to see what I'm comfortable with.

 

I'm looking for something slim with thin neck yet BIG sound.... the giant archtops are just too bulky for me. (GC does carry a few of these). So i've been looking at Godin, specifically the lgxt. I've heard conflicting opinions on Godin, some say the building process is horrid, others say this is irrevant because they sound great.

 

I know i'm asking for allot here but really if anyone plays a guitar that sounds {censored}ing wonderful through clean channel with lots of sustain and is relatively slim and comfortable to hold for smaller players just let me know and I'll look into the rest from there, please.

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What's your price? I haven't played the Montreal, but the Godins I have played were all nice.

 

The Benedetto Bambino is quite small. $2400.

The Gibby 339/359 is pretty small as well.

 

What about some of the older Gibsons like a 125?

 

In a much lower price the Hofner CT series Verythin model comes in about $500. About the size of a 335, but, as the name implies, it is very thin. Nice guitar, too.

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Oh right, sorry! Around $1000 even, give or take but I want to pay for workmanship not brand name, and apparently Godin has some issues there? Two things, can't find the link but apparently he hires Mexicans...in canada.... and pays them dirt cheap? lol and also in the beginning stages of crafting they split the wood and glue it back together for the sole purpose of making the wood dry faster, which kind of sucks.

 

I'm checking out those suggestions now, thanks.

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PRS Hollowbodys are small bodied, but the necks are relatively fat - somewhere above a '60 LP cut, but well beneath baseball bat. Also $$$.

 

The 339/Johnny A's from Gibson get pretty jazzy, and are small w/ smaller necks.

 

There's lots of custom makers out there...

 

Whats the price limit?

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Telecaster????

 

Sorry about sound quality!

 

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

 

The point being, playing jazz also rests in the sound you can coax from an amp. And your phrasing!!!!!

 

A les paul can do Jazz very nicely too if they're burstbucker or burstbucker pro mounted, or have other PAF sort of pick ups.

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Schecter C-1 E/A (electric acoustic) used. $350, and it has a very functional piezo, tonepros bridge, and great construction. Last time I was in Vegas, a jazz guitarist I went to see was using one. I owned the same model at the time, so we starting talking about gear and what not. It was his primary jazz guitar. Anyway, it sounded great in that application, and it's nice and small.

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It might take some searching, but look for a Heritage Prospect. It is a smaller bodied 335-style, kind of like an ES339. The big difference is that the Prospect often comes with a floating (rather than solid) center block so it has a bit jazzier tone than a normal. They sound really good. New they are around $1800, but you can probably find a used one around $1000, although they don't come up much.

 

The shape looks a bit funky in pictures but in person they look really good.

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Definitely check out the Hofner. Halfyour budget but it is a very nice guitar. You seem to be leery of the Godins, but I'm very impressed with the Kingpin at $699.

 

As far as labor goes, I'm sure his Mexican workers are treated better than your average Chinese worker. I know I would not like to be forced to live in the factory dorm and work 18 hour shifts with lax safety standards.

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I don't know where you are getting your info about Godin,first I've heard anything like that,but whatever.I've never heard anybody complain about quality or workmanship,I have 5 Godin products and they are all well built.

I doubt there is a large mexican work pool to be found in Quebec.

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I don't know where you are getting your info about Godin,first I've heard anything like that,but whatever.I've never heard anybody complain about quality or workmanship,I have 5 Godin products and they are all well built.

I doubt there is a large mexican work pool to be found in Quebec.

 

 

I have to agree here. Quality and workmanship are two of the things Godin's are known for. I own 4 Godin products and I have never had any problems with the quality and workmanship with any of them.

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This is about as small a body as you're going to find:

 

Danedetto-d.jpg

 

but it's a custom build.

 

Godins reputation is for first-class build and innovative guitars.

 

If you're into modding, look to pick up an 60's era Tiesco/Silvertone hollow or semi and upgrade it. Those had pretty small bodies and necks. The hardware and electronics suck, but that's fixable. Good news is they were so bad, you can get one relatively cheap.

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I'm looking for something slim with thin neck yet BIG sound.... the giant archtops are just too bulky for me...


I know i'm asking for allot here but really if anyone plays a guitar that sounds {censored}ing wonderful through clean channel with lots of sustain and is relatively slim and comfortable to hold for smaller players just let me know and I'll look into the rest from there, please.

 

 

I use my Epi Casino for jazz all the time. It is a slimline so the body is really shallow and comfortable. I also has a really slim neck. I don't have large hands (insert joke here) so the Casino really "fits" well.

 

The P-90's on the Casino are really musical to my ears. The neck sounds organic and woody, more articulate than a HB and perfect for jazz. Adjust the tone knob to flavor.

 

The only thing that might be missing from your description is the "BIG" sound that you are looking for. If you are amplifying, then the acoustic sound is mostly irrelevant, but if you're looking to record ala Joe Pass on Virtuoso, then the Casino will sound thin.

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Way more input than expected, thank you so much everyone this really helps. I regret not being more thorough while purchasing my first guitar. I've looked into all your suggestions.

 

the gibson 339's neck might be an issue, otherwise a beauty. I have considered the tele believe it or not as i'm very familiar with its inherent jazz tones, however I already have a fender and just for the sake of becoming more well rounded in my knowledge of brands i'd like to go elsewhere for this purchase.

 

AJD91VLS.gif

Ibanez AJD


Worth looking into.
:thu:

those looks... that price! think we've got a winner folks. but what's the catch? Aren't those things made in china? how is the craftsmanship? sorry only 2 reviews online and zero videos on youtube.

 

ps - the comments on this video and others are what triggered my questions on Godin, many commenters are claiming that Godin himself mistreats workers and the part where they split the wood makes me wonder.. don't get me wrong I'd love to own one but money is tight these days ya know.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJgK_d19p80

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Don't forget Reverend:

 

Manta Ray comes w/ 'buckers or P90s, street under $800 I believe:

 

manta_ray_hb_fm_lg.jpg

 

Pete Anderson is bit more dough:

 

Pete_Anderson_black_lg.jpg

 

 

Club King also comes w/either type of pickups, also street under $800:

club_king_hb_blue_burst.jpg

 

Check out their clips on the reverendguitars.com website. I like their instruments.

Oh, btw, I also think Godin makes damn fine guitars, "for the money" and regardless of $.

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ps - the comments on this video and others are what triggered my questions on Godin, many commenters are claiming that Godin himself mistreats workers and the part where they split the wood makes me wonder.. don't get me wrong I'd love to own one but money is tight these days ya know.


 

 

 

 

well,I read the comments on the vid,it sounds like a bunch of 14 y/os to me.Spouting off about things they know little of.

Just standard guitar manufacturing processes shown there.

 

Don't put a lot of faith in Youtube commentators,I actually hardly ever read the comments.

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A Telecaster with flatwounds and/or humbucker in the neck would take you quite close. Picking closer to the end of the neck helps to achieve an approx. classic sound.

 

Turning down the tone knob is overhyped, IMHO.

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