PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[Fingers]

Just gotta have that carved spruce top, and ebony fretboard. With these two choices, you can figure out the sound I'm looking for. So, which one will give me that "big thrill" ?

Prices and dealer recomendations appreciated. Got a price on a new Mahogony back L-4 of $3035.00, anyone know whether I can do better ? Thanks for your input.

[Martacus]

I'd definitely consider the size issue - I love a large body guitar, but one of my buds has difficulty with the 17" bout, and scale length enters into it as well. There can be more feedback with a larger body, but it also has more power unamplified - I have 15" and 17" bout models, and find that the 15 is more manageable at higher volumes (it has a seventh string, and THAT one can REALLLLLY feedback), but the 17" can project over the amp at lower trio volumes (drummer on brushes), which I like as well. If there are no physical issues with size, I'd go with the 17" - I wish I got the seven in that size, btw.
_________________
Information is not knowledge,
Knowledge is not wisdom.
--Frank Zappa
www.martypowerjazz.com

[chordspinner]

Hey, Fingers. I have a L4-CES and haven't been really happy with it. It's about 6 years old and I bought it new. Even sitting at home with it, it's boomy and hard to control. I have about given up on taking it on a gig any more. I would recommend against it unless you can really try it out as it's an expensive ax. The workmanship on it is good....the finish, trim and the neck. Although it's pretty subtle, there's also a funny resonance...almost a mid-range vibration, I can't get rid of in the pickups. I even returned it to Gibson and it came back no different. I have played several Heritages and would trade any of them for my L4. I'm looking at trading it for an ES-175 if there are any takers out there? Is anybody else out there dissappointed with Gibson craftsmanship of late?
What is your style, Fingers?
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Chordspinner

"You're either at the gig or waiting to go to the gig."

[Martacus]

Chordspinner,

Is that resonance the type that goes away when you hold/press down on the pickups? I'm just asking because I want to pick up... er, sorry about the pun, BUY another archtop and I'm looking for all the personal experiences I can find for my evaluations.

Thanks,
Marty
_________________
Information is not knowledge,
Knowledge is not wisdom.
--Frank Zappa
www.martypowerjazz.com

[chordspinner]

The "resonance"...probably not a good term. There is a certain grunge with the combination of certain notes in a chord that drives me nuts. Pushing on the neck pickup sometimes lessens it. Other times I pick up the guitar and it's gone. I have tried all kinds of combinations of strings too. I like really clean chords for soloing and comping. The spruce top gives the guitar a unique voice you might like. It gives a very warm coloring that I haven't heard on other jazz guitars. I found the Heritage guitars more "neutral"....they do what you tell them to rather than have their own voice. Does that make sense?
I just recommend you try it before you buy it.
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Chordspinner

"You're either at the gig or waiting to go to the gig."

[Gorecki]

chordspinner what you're describing sounds like the little springs suspending the pickup has got a little play and probably varies a bit depending on humidity.

[Martacus]

OK, definitely, yep, it's the springs. I had that problem in an ES-175, so I pulled the pickups and got new springs, and also checked the fit on the screws. If they're loose, there'll be sympathetic vibrations depending on the chords.
_________________
Information is not knowledge,
Knowledge is not wisdom.
--Frank Zappa
www.martypowerjazz.com

[dewey decibel]

[chordspinner]

Thanks for all the tips, guys. Like I said, I've had the guitar back to the Gibson people and they couldn't find anything. This was after I and a pretty competent guitar tech had the pickups out several times and fooled with the springs. I don't think the springs have ever been replaced so I'll look into that. It's a great guitar. I picked it up yesterday and couldn't put it down. It's like any good archtop: You take it on stage and play louder, it's going to feed back. When you get it equalized so it doesn't, it sounds like a telecaster (nothing against telecasters!)
Anybody have any good Valentine's Day gigs? We had a great concert....all the schmoozy old love songs I never seem to get tired of.
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Chordspinner

"You're either at the gig or waiting to go to the gig."

[darylcd]

Something you may want to consider for your feedback issues:

http://www.dougsplugs.com/

I made my own but these are very reasonably priced.

Daryl

[darylcd]

Our band has 3 guitar players, One has a NEW 335 and the other has the Heritage 335, (I'm the odd ball with the hollow body PRS).

Not even withstanding the price difference, between these two guitars, the Heritage is a better guitar all the way around. But then there is no finer looking headstock in my opinion than Gibsons. I know its just cosmetics but I love the shape of the Gibson headstock. But check them out, at least in the 335, Heritage beats the new ones and a lot of the old ones. There is a lot of variability in 335s. But I've also seen a lot a variability in 175s over the years.

I have a friend with an L4, it's a dandy but he's not playing big venues with it.

Try before you buy, obviously.

Daryl

[darylcd]

Of course I can't speak for all Heritage models. But the Heritage 335 copy has a better fit and finish than the new Gibson. The inlays are also nicer and better done. So it wins on cosmetics and finish.

The neck is better, at least all who have played it agree that the action is better than the new Gibson. That's a hard thing to quantify, but we all agree that as soon as you wrap your hand around the neck and start playing, it just feels better.

The intonation sets up better and nut is better.

Heritage has their own pickups and these are brighter than the those in the 335, which I assume are classic 57's. I've considered putting these in my guitar.

The bottom line is that obviously, at least to me, the Heritage is a quality piece of work that is done in the classic Gibson traditions. In the case I'm familiar with it's a nicer guitar and several hundred dollars less. The Heritage that my buddy has was around $1750 new with a HSC. Although this particular one was a custom, I believe the stock Heritage "335" is more like $1600, although not sure.

Of course this could vary from instrument to instrument and my experience with Heritage is limited to this one guitar. But based on what I have seen I would certainly consider Heritage for any similar models that Gibson makes. I like Gibsons a lot, but I must admit that some of the newer ones, such as the 335, are not the same as they were in the past. The Heritage my buddy has is as fine as any 335 I've played over the past 40 years and better than most.

I've heard conflicting stories about the 575 which is the 175 copy. It may vary from model to model or from guitar to guitar. I think Heritage is a sleeper that certainly warrants looking at. Especially if you're buying new. I think they compete well with Gibson especially when price is considered, and it the case I'm familiar with, the Heritage was cheaper and better. Certainly worth checking out.

This is where my buddy bought his and had a very good experience.

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/heritage.html

Good luck.

Daryl

[user45]