Jazz Guitars

Gibson Custom Shop ES-175 Electric Guitar with P-90 Pickups Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson Custom Shop ES-175 Electric Guitar brings back one of the world's most beloved instruments, this time with a unique set of pickups. For the first time, you get all the luxurious features of the ES-175 with single coil P-90 pickups. Play the hollowbody beauty with the P-90 power and bite you love.In 1949 Gibson introduced the ES-175 to enduring and well-deserved acclaim. Since it was primarily an electric guitar, it didn't need the very large dimensions of a classic archtop, but it still benefited from the full hollowbodied resonance of an archtopdesign enhanced by Gibson's fabulous new humbuckers.This version has the same sumptuous vintage vibe of the original, including a careful sunburst finish, split parallelogram fretboard inlays on a bound rosewood fretboard, rosewood bridge base, gold tophat knobs, and deco trapeze tailpiece.

Bob's Comment: The guitar of choice for many fine jazz musicians, including Joe Pass , this is an extremely smooth playing guitar with incredibly fine tone. For me, there is no better guitar. It's my primary guitar for the last 30 years. I do nearly all of my gigs with it. It's especially nice with flatwound strings.

Ibanez AS103 Artcore Custom Series Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar Flame Maple Natural

The Ibanez AS103 Artcore Guitar offers semi-hollow sustain, power, and feedback resistance. Flamed maple on the top back and sides provides beauty and clear tone. A 5-piece Artcore custom set-in neck increases sustain and strength. Two Ibanez Custom 58 pickups have a full, versatile output great for rhythm and lead. Artcore Custom inlays and gold hardware complete the elegant package.Players, music store owners and the music industry press were stunned by the debut of the affordable Ibanez Artcore guitars in 2002. That still didn't prepare them for the unveiling of the Artcore Customs in 2005. These are truly exquisite guitars that offer patrician specs and tones at plebeian prices. The question "How do you do it?" is still being asked.

Bob' Comments: With a rosewood fretboard, this guitar has the warmth and feel that I like. This guitar is exactly what the manufacturer says, it offers sustain and strength. I was very impressed with the calarity at higher volumes. Besides the sound, I was awed (and still am awed) by the absolute beauty of this guitar. For a price tag of about $700, this guitar can't be beat.

Gibson Memphis ES-339 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar with 30/60 Neck Antique Vintage Sunburst

The ES-339 is the next generation from the Custom Shop of Gibson's iconic ES electric guitars. With a bold, new semi-hollow tone that is rich with expressive, even stinging, overtones, the ES-339 has some exciting enhancements, including Memphis Tone electronics, the 30/60 slender neck profile, and reduced dimensions and weight. The loading effect preserves the full-bodied tone with rich midrange and singing sustain from the '57 Classic humbuckers while adding a very sweet bite. The 30/60 slender neck is a '60s style neck with an extra .030" front-to-back to preserve the semi-hollowbody tone, sustain, and feel while providing smooth playability (The rounded '59 neck profile is also available on the ES-339 '59 Neck - product #515255). The ES-339 builds on the success of the semi-hollowbody guitars first introduced by Gibson in 1958 with the ES-335. Lighter and more compact than a traditional semi-hollow guitar, the ES-339 retains the distinct semi-hollowbody electric tone that powered so many hit records and landmark performances. Two '57 Classic Humbuckers with 3-way pickup selection plus individual volume and tone controls provide the incredibly versatile sounds that make the semi-hollow electric famous for its use in jazz, rock, blues, country, and nearly every other style you can think of. The ES-339 is available in a choice of three finishes: Antique Cherry, Antique Vintage Sunburst, and Light Caramel Burst. The Antique Cherry and Antique Vintage Sunburst both come with aged bindings to further enhance the proud ES tradition.The ES-339 comes with a Gibson Custom Shop hardshell case and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Bob's Comments: Lighter and more compact than a traditional semi-hollow guitar, the ES-339 has the same great sound and playability of other sem-hollows but is a treat to play. It has great tone, lots of sustain, and great action. It certainly offers that nice Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton sound that I love.

Bob's Comments: If I didn't have my Gibson ES175, I'd be taking some really serious looks at buying this guitar. I love the rosewood fretboard, the warm tone, and gorgeous workmanship. It has great action, excellent intonation, a smooth play and great feel to hold. It sounds fantastic through a warm amp. I think it's a great buy.

Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino Vintage Sunburst

You'll love the light weight and comfortable neck of the Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino. The Elite series are instruments that approach custom shop perfection. Crafted with premium woods, fitted with American pickups and circuitry -even American-made toggle switches and Grover tuners-they're made at a special factory devoted to their manufacture where they receive a high degree of hands-on luthier attention. You'll find the Elite 1965 Casino true to the original made famous by The Beatles. A finely crafted, great-sounding, and easy-playing instrument that beautifully blurs the line between Epiphone and Gibson. Includes hardshell case.

Bob's Comments: Being an archtop and semi-hollow player, this guitar spans both the Larry Carlton and big band sound that I want - not just the 1960's sounds that I love. A true replica of the Beatles' original, it features Grover tuners and is simply a finely-crafted, great-sound, and easy-playing instrument. With a Gibson feel, it's a great guitar at a great price.