I have lately fallen in love with jazz guitar. I enjoy how complex it can be and the use of more dissonant tones to create beauty. What do you think is the best guitar for jazz? Mostly smooth jazz such as:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww5f5aAk9Vk[/url]
I've been looking at some Gretsch guitars lately but I would like a few other opinions.
Ibanez makes some great reasonably priced archtops.
One of my mates has an AF105 and it sounds fantastic
[img]http://resources.ibanez.com/resourceservicehost/images/Ibanez/web/hollow/products/test/AF105NT.gif[/img]
It's also worth noting that you can get a great jazz tone out of solid body guitars too. You'd be surprised what something as simple as changing your strings to flatwounds can do. Even then, sound is more reliant on the amp. I heard sweet jazz tones come out of a stock Mexican Strat with D'addario ball ends on it, but it was running through a Roland Jazz Chorus, which is a fine amp.
I personally think that if you're gonna try to make jazz with some essence of modernity (like with funk or jazz fusion), your very best bet is a Fender Telecaster.
Would a Fender 15 watt tube blues jr. amp be alright for good jazz tones? Its the amp I have at the moment.
Also, the electric guitar I have at the moment is a Yamaha semi-hollow guitar with Seymour Duncan humbuckers.
Telecasters pretty much embody the exact opposite of the stereotypical jazz guitar tone.
Telecasters = twang (but sexy twang)
Hollowbodies and other humbucking guitars = sweet buttery smoothness
For jazz fusion, sure. But anything goes in jazz fusion. Hell, I play my 7 string Ibanez shredder in my funk/fusion/jazz group I'm in sometimes.
[editline]03:59PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=spyinfiltrator;25239446]Would a Fender 15 watt tube blues jr. amp be alright for good jazz tones? Its the amp I have at the moment.[/QUOTE]
Practice amps generally aren't great at anything, but if you want a jazzy tone it should manage.
Try setting the bass at around 12 o'clock, mids at 4-5 o'clock and highs at 8-9 o'clock.
Something like that should get you something smooth as butter. A little gain wouldn't hurt either.
[QUOTE=TheGuru;25239450]Telecasters pretty much embody the exact opposite of the stereotypical jazz guitar tone.
Telecasters = twang (but sexy twang)
Hollowbodies and other humbucking guitars = sweet buttery smoothness[/QUOTE]
set your tone nob down to about 6, use the neck pickup, and you'll lose the twang but you'll have a wonderful sound
[editline]10:01PM[/editline]
I mean john mclaughlin uses a duo-sonic, so there's no other reason except personal preference, i just think they are way easier to play than a stereotypical jazz guitar
That is true, I hate playing archtops with a passion. I'd still take pretty much any humbucker equipped guitar over a tele or strat though, but yeah it can be done.
Fender Jazzmaster.
[QUOTE=DamagePoint;25240163]Fender Jazzmaster.[/QUOTE]
good luck finding one
[QUOTE=thisispain;25240919]good luck finding one[/QUOTE]
I remember when I was new to guitar I wanted one.
I think Tele would do fine though.
[IMG]http://www.allguitar.cn/wp-content/uploads/Fender/4/Fender.Telecaster.Deluxe.jpg[/IMG]
Get dat.
Pat Meheney Signature Ibanez?
[QUOTE=thisispain;25240919]good luck finding one[/QUOTE]
[url]http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1311&_nkw=fender+jazzmaster+guitar&_sacat=See-All-Categories[/url]
I had lots of luck finding many...
[QUOTE=Siminov;25249516][url]http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1311&_nkw=fender+jazzmaster+guitar&_sacat=See-All-Categories[/url]
I had lots of luck finding many...[/QUOTE]
well i forgot about ebay
yeah on the internet you'd find tons of them
Any sort of archtop with humbuckers should be alright. Not sure of the "best".
[editline]10:46PM[/editline]
Saying that though, it doesn't have to be an archtop - look at the Les Paul.
[QUOTE=thisispain;25249599]well i forgot about ebay
yeah on the internet you'd find tons of them[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I didn't think you meant in a local guitar shop.
[QUOTE=thisispain;25249599]well i forgot about ebay
yeah on the internet you'd find tons of them[/QUOTE]
All 3 of my local shops have at least one...
To contribute, jazz is normally very smooth and well rounded, so a decent hollowbody with a set of fairly high gauge flatwounds with a very mellow clean amp will get a good jazz tone. Something like the Ibanez which has been recommended.
Furthermore, how much are you looking to spend? Jazz guitars can get pretty damn crazy.
At most, $1000, for the moment.
Might try a telecaster as suggested above. The guitar player in my band plays a squire tele. I play an Sg Special and it has a pretty nice clean tone despite what people tell you..
Telecaster is the best jazz guitar, no doubt about it
I know that a fender strat is definitely more for blues, but could I make it work for jazz?
[QUOTE=spyinfiltrator;25260855]At most, $1000, for the moment.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.mattraines.com/pages/product_display_bebop7.cfm[/url]
It's a 7 string model only, but if you wanted to save a couple hundred more there's a few pretty decent 6 string jazzboxes there. Or look into Eastman, or failing that, one of the Ibby's recommended before. I wouldn't really recommend a Strat for jazz
[QUOTE=spyinfiltrator;25279373]I know that a fender strat is definitely more for blues, but could I make it work for jazz?[/QUOTE]
Pretty much any gutiar [i]can[/i] work for jazz, and I said in my first reply that I've heard great jazz tones out of a strat.
However, for your typical smooth jazz guitar sound, the best guitar is a hollow body archtop, no question. I have no idea why everyone in this thread seems to think Telecasters are jazz guitars. Yes, they can work for jazz, but the are not typically regarded as purpose built jazz guitars.
Are you asking for a good guitar for just jazz, or something that can do everything with jazz as a priority?
It is in my best interests to buy a guitar that can do everything with jazz as a priority.
Then get the Jazzmaster.
[QUOTE=spyinfiltrator;25279373]I know that a fender strat is definitely more for blues, but could I make it work for jazz?[/QUOTE]
Yes, the guitarist in my band has two guitars, a semi-hollow one and a strat. He still prefers the strat over anything else.
But the best jazz guitar:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Gibson_ES-150.png[/img]
How are you even supposed to use the higher frets without it being awkward
[QUOTE=spyinfiltrator;25282631]It is in my best interests to buy a guitar that can do everything with jazz as a priority.[/QUOTE]
In that case:
[img]http://www.musicthingz.com/images/Paul%20Reed%20Smith%20Custom%2024%20Ten-Top%20Guitar.jpg[/img]
PRS C24
Much $$$
[QUOTE=En-Guage V2;25286461]How are you even supposed to use the higher frets without it being awkward[/QUOTE]
You don't, that's the best about Jazz.
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