Lets talk about Gibson "Jazz Boxes"........

[lpcust]

Originally Posted by Frutiger

I love my '52 ES-175

Beautiful! My '54 Blondie one pickup looks just like yours. They sound killer with one P-90. I can't get much volume out of mine without feedback, but at low volume- OMG.

[lpcust]

Originally Posted by TomGuitar

Man there are a lot of drool-worthy guitars here. tooold's 37 L-5! Ouch. And some of those old 175s. The Boz ES-5. And the newer CTs. Wow.

There sure is something about jazz boxes that screams quality.

I agree about the quality screaming. In a way it's sad that jazzers don't bring much money; carved-top (and back and sides . . . ) guitars require so much craftsmanship. If jazzers brought money based on their quality and difficulty of construction, they'd be untouchable. Over the years I've acquired a Barney, a 175, and an incredible Epi Deluxe for less than $5K total- and they'd bring much less than strats or LPs from similar years. I love solidbody guitars, but it's interesting that they bring the most $ when they're the easiest to build.
However, it means that those of us who love jazz boxes can afford them more easily than vintage solids.

[lpcust]

Originally Posted by flameburst

This is a top favourite of mine - all original 1928 Gibson L5, considered the best year for these early L5's by many...

Unbelievable! That is one of the most gorgeous guitars I've ever seen in my life! (Great photography also!)

BTW, Intermountain Guitar and Banjo in Utah is a great place for monster jazz boxes- they usually have a goodly number of very early killer L-5s. (No affiliation.)

[gitman]

this was mine for about 10 years and many gigs : a '66 Super-400 CES with the infamous pencil neck - which plays absolutely effortless and luckily keeps these specimen a little lower priced than the (not necessarily better playing/sounding) late 50'/early 60's models....
i miss her but i could not afford having 2 of these vintage beauties :-(

[gitman]

[gitman]

[Frutiger]

Originally Posted by lpcust

Beautiful! My '54 Blondie one pickup looks just like yours. They sound killer with one P-90. I can't get much volume out of mine without feedback, but at low volume- OMG.

Do you find with yours that it's so loud acoustically that you have to really turn your amp up to hear it over the guitars acoustic sound?

I end up playing mine unplugged most of the time, but that's fine because she sounds gooooooooooooooood.

[lpcust]

Originally Posted by Frutiger

Do you find with yours that it's so loud acoustically that you have to really turn your amp up to hear it over the guitars acoustic sound?

I end up playing mine unplugged most of the time, but that's fine because she sounds gooooooooooooooood.

Absolutely! That's one of the very cool things about jazz guitars: "Sorry honey, I have to turn it up so I can't hear it" :-)

Have you found that laminated top jazz boxes sound better unplugged than carved guitars? My 175 sounds wonderful by itself; my old L-5 sounds thinner unplugged.

[bigsby'd]

Originally Posted by lpcust

Absolutely! That's one of the very cool things about jazz guitars: "Sorry honey, I have to turn it up so I can't hear it" :-)

Have you found that laminated top jazz boxes sound better unplugged than carved guitars? My 175 sounds wonderful by itself; my old L-5 sounds thinner unplugged.

One man's "thin" is another man's "bright". One man's "warm" is another man's "muddy".
My 175s sound best, to my ears.

[ZZ Not]

There have been some rare and staggeringly beautiful instruments in this thread. Thanks to all who have contributed.

But what about their ugly sisters? Can they come to the party too? These players may not be pretty but are capable of some beautiful tones.

The '52 L4C with the DeArmond 1000 Rhythm Chief in the foreground is the winner in that department, but the '41 ES125 is no slouch either and has the added advantage of being a decent blues guitar as well.

[Wilko]

That 41 ES125 looks a lot like this old guitar shape.

[tooold]

Originally Posted by ZZ Not

There have been some rare and staggeringly beautiful instruments in this thread. Thanks to all who have contributed.

But what about their ugly sisters? Can they come to the party too? These players may not be pretty but are capable of some beautiful tones.

The '52 L4C with the DeArmond Rhythm King in the foreground is the winner in that department, but the '41 ES125 is no slouch either and has the added advantage of being a decent blues guitar as well.

Those are great!

Anyone enjoying this thread should stop in at the Vintage Corner on the UMGF, where there's a thread of similar length on vintage archtops. There are some amazing photos, including one that has (IIRC) about 5 Strombergs, a D'Angelico, two early Super 400's... pretty incredible. Here's the link:

http://theunofficialmartinguitarforu...c/96790?page=1

I'm mylescdavis over there.

[Frutiger]

Originally Posted by ZZ Not

There have been some rare and staggeringly beautiful instruments in this thread. Thanks to all who have contributed.

But what about their ugly sisters? Can they come to the party too? These players may not be pretty but are capable of some beautiful tones.

There's NOTHING ugly about either of those my friend!

[stevieboy]

So many stunners on this thread. But since the poor relations have been "allowed," I guess I can jump in here...

[MightyMouse]

Hows this one-off L5 CT "Thin" for "beautiful ?

[flameburst]

^^ Lovely wood selection in that one! Was it a custom order?

[MightyMouse]

Yes it was, it was also the last guitar ever made in the original Gibson Kalamazoo Custom Shop.

[andreja marovic]

64 Birdland Custom....

[xybor]

Originally Posted by BillyB

Ever hear Burrell's album from about '66 called 'the tender gender'? - there's a track called 'Mother in law' where he plays some really soulful blues. I think it might be his L-5 with the Charlie Christian pickup. Sounds different from his similar period with Jimmy Smith tone...

I just looked "Mother In Law" on Napster. Not much of a "song", per say. But what a great tune! The phrasing and *tone* . . . man o man. I could listen to it just for the guitar tone (and have been). Thanks for the recommendation.

Terry

[R.A.O.]

Late to the party but I brought some lovely ladies.

1968 ES-175 in fairly rare factory black

1956 ES-175D in blonde

1941 ES-300 in blonde

1953 L-5 CES in blonde

1949 ES-5

[flameburst]

^^ WOW ^^

I'll take that '53 CES please. Lovely stuff.

[Michael Minnis]

Originally Posted by flameburst

^^ WOW ^^

I'll take that '53 CES please. Lovely stuff.

Agreed. Very nice L5 CESN!

[R.A.O.]

Thanks!
Forgot about this one. 56 L-5 CES with P-90s. (Alnicos MIA Boo Hoo) Probably the best sounding and feeling guitar I own.

And from many moons ago, a 53 ES-295 in what most would call a factory sunburst. I personally think it was a refin after spending time with it but it sure was cool.

And howzabout this freak machine? Crazy recent L-5 CES with factory engraved doo-dad-ery.

God knows where the pics are but somewhere there's a 53 ES-295, a 58 ES-295, a 56 ES-175 in sunburst, an early 70s L-5 and a pile of Epis, Guilds and Gretsch boxes. I'll take a swinging jazz box any day over a solid body for looks and sound.

[Stevedenver]

what is the story with Brydlands for sound, and playability and compared to say an L-5 please

i know about the shorter scale
what does this and the pickup config do to tone?

[BillyB]

The Byrdland has always been a little bit in the shadow of the L-5 and Super 400 and many say that because of the body depth and short scale they aren't as full sounding. However there's always this clip of Anthony Wilson with Diana Krall on his '59 Byrdland. 2.07 onwards. Beautiful playing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapVk4GF16Y

[tuberide]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapVk4GF16Y

That cooked

[Stevedenver]

yes it did!

[BillyB]

Yup. I side with Anthony Wilson on the subject of whether Byrdlands sound good or not

[MightyMouse]

Originally Posted by lpcust

I agree about the quality screaming. In a way it's sad that jazzers don't bring much money; carved-top (and back and sides . . . ) guitars require so much craftsmanship. If jazzers brought money based on their quality and difficulty of construction, they'd be untouchable. Over the years I've acquired a Barney, a 175, and an incredible Epi Deluxe for less than $5K total- and they'd bring much less than strats or LPs from similar years. I love solidbody guitars, but it's interesting that they bring the most $ when they're the easiest to build.
However, it means that those of us who love jazz boxes can afford them more easily than vintage solids.

Its also sad that JAZZ musicians dont make much money and have a hard time finding a place to play. If only success was based on talent ....

[wooderson]

If musical success were in any way related to musical skill, the pop charts would look very different.

The same could be said about many lines of work:

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."

Regardless what you think of the source, the observation is pretty accurate.

[andreja marovic]

Originally Posted by R.A.O.

Thanks!
Forgot about this one. 56 L-5 CES with P-90s. (Alnicos MIA Boo Hoo) Probably the best sounding and feeling guitar I own.

And from many moons ago, a 53 ES-295 in what most would call a factory sunburst. I personally think it was a refin after spending time with it but it sure was cool.

And howzabout this freak machine? Crazy recent L-5 CES with factory engraved doo-dad-ery.

God knows where the pics are but somewhere there's a 53 ES-295, a 58 ES-295, a 56 ES-175 in sunburst, an early 70s L-5 and a pile of Epis, Guilds and Gretsch boxes. I'll take a swinging jazz box any day over a solid body for looks and sound.

ES 295 : Corect me if I am wrong but I saw the same guitar on eBay.Refinished
Beautiful...enjoy AND PLAY IT IN GOOD HEALTH.

[Monroe]

Bireli Lagrene & John McLaughlin Blue Train

[blauserk]

Time to revive this thread. Although I feel a little abashed trotting out plywood amidst so much hand-carved spruce.

The best-playing guitar I've laid hands on maybe ever, and also holds a tune better than any other guitar I've played: A 1960 ES-5 Switchmaster, one of about 100 made (give or take) with the Florentine cutaway.



There's a reason it has so much playing wear.

[flameburst]

Originally Posted by blauserk

Time to revive this thread. Although I feel a little abashed trotting out plywood amidst so much hand-carved spruce.

The best-playing guitar I've laid hands on maybe ever, and also holds a tune better than any other guitar I've played: A 1960 ES-5 Switchmaster, one of about 100 made (give or take) with the Florentine cutaway.



There's a reason it has so much playing wear.

Really glad you went for this one. There were only 41 sunburst and 11 natural ES-5 Switchmasters in 1961. Gibson made this florentine variant for one year only. Is yours definitely a 1960?

[blauserk]

Originally Posted by flameburst

Is yours definitely a 1960?

Yes, I think so. FON begins with an "R" and the neck is still fairly chunky. Did you happen to play it?

[fender69]

Simply beautiful.....

[flameburst]

Originally Posted by blauserk

Yes, I think so. FON begins with an "R" and the neck is still fairly chunky. Did you happen to play it?

Didn't play it, but I have a '61 with a '60 FON. I'm pretty sure the florentine cut was 1961 only.

[BillyB]

Isn't it about time we heard some of these beauties?

I'll stick my head above the parapet first. Sorry for the uninspiring film - it was done in front of my Mac....



Here's my Super 400CES


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5DkDbghP4w








.

[tuberide]

Chops galore Very nice

[tooold]

Originally Posted by BillyB

Isn't is about time we heard some of these beauties?

I'll stick my head above the parapet first. Sorry for the uninspiring film - it was done in front of my Mac....

Here's my Super 400CES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5DkDbghP4w.

Very nice, BillyB - you've got that totally relaxed, hey-I'm-barely-moving-my-hands-and-look-at-all-the-music-coming-out thing going on. I look like I'm directing traffic.