-
Hello,
I've never played jazz guitar before and I'm somewhat fascinated by this style. I would really like to get started but I don't know what guitar to buy. I've been playing on a crappy classical guitar for a few month but eventually got tired of it.
I was amazed when I found this website, so much useful content to learn jazz guitar!
But I really don't know what gear I need to get started, especially since I have quite a low budget (around 250-300$)...
I'm interested in a polyvalent guitar with which I could play other jazz-related styles in the future such as funk, fusion, r&b, yatch-rock, ... What about the amp? See, I'm a student who lives in a small appartment and would probably need headphones to play in order not to disturb my neighboors.
Do you have any advice? Thank you!
-
07-30-2019 05:23 AM
-
Get a decent Telecaster copy, put 011 strings on it and practice ! Any ol' battery amp will do for making it loud enough so you can hear yourself in your room. Spend the money you save with a cheap(er) rig on a few lessons from a GOOD teacher.....
-
Hi Kazwat! Rather than offer advice on which guitar to get I would start with the question of what guitar type do you want to play and feel comfortable playing. You will find a article that addresses that question here,
Jazz Guitars Buyer's Guide - The Best Guitar For Jazz [2019]
as well as the question of amps here
Jazz Guitar Amp Reviews and Buying Tips
I would take the issue of size, body model, neck type etc as the first, most important step, in as learning to play means lots of time on the instrument so the body comfort is important. The amp question would seem to demand that you have an earphone out. On top of this a very good set up to make the instrument playable, or of course learning the art of the set up yourself is an imperative. All this entails going out where you live and playing guitars for sale, checking all this out and making decisions. This will then give you a bit of knowledge while exploring the used market that your budget will make its best mark. Lastly I would be wary of the immediate need to get all that done quickly as opposed to getting it done well. Best of luck and good playing! After getting settled on an instrument, join the fb group, "Play Jazz Guitar" and start learning songs etc.
-
$250-300 for both a guitar and amp? I'd recommend a used Squier Standard Telecaster (I see several advertised by Guitar Center for around $150) and a Fender Champion 20 amp ($99 new). That'll get you a fairly high quality functional and versatile rig that will keep up with you as you improve.
Originally Posted by KAZWAT
Hello,
I've never played jazz guitar before and I'm somewhat fascinated by this style. I would really like to get started but I don't know what guitar to buy. I've been playing on a crappy classical guitar for a few month but eventually got tired of it.
I was amazed when I found this website, so much useful content to learn jazz guitar!
But I really don't know what gear I need to get started, especially since I have quite a low budget (around 250-300$)...
I'm interested in a polyvalent guitar with which I could play other jazz-related styles in the future such as funk, fusion, r&b, yatch-rock, ... What about the amp? See, I'm a student who lives in a small appartment and would probably need headphones to play in order not to disturb my neighboors.
Do you have any advice? Thank you!
Another amp option would be a Roland MicroCube for about $150 (somewhat less used), which can run on batteries and sounds quite good. Either of those amps works with headphones (I have both).
You could also go for one of the packages sold by Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone that includes a guitar, amp, gig bag, and some accessories for $250-300. However, the used Tele + Champion 20 approach will yield significantly better quality gear than what's in those packages.
If you can push your budget up another $100-ish, you could look at something like a used Epiphone Dot semi-hollow rather than a Tele, or a somewhat higher end Tele (such as a Classic Vibe).
John
-
My advice, and it is worth every penny you paid for it, is to develop your skills on what you have.
If the guitar is unplayable then get it worked on.
When you can get your playing to sound good, think how great it would sound on a better instrument.
I know musicians that spend a lot of money on better and better instruments thinking the instrument will make them sound better. When in reality the better instrument can only inspire more intense practice.
Turn your mind to, I'm going to master this style, then I will reward myself with a instrument that will bring out the sound I'm looking for. It may take years but the work will be worth it.
-
If you are fundamentally unhappy (or dissatisfied- a different thing) with your current guitar, and have a budget of 300 USD, then listen to John A.
A Squier Tele can do absolutely anything.
That it is very inexpensive is hardly its fault. It did not mean to be.
Your budget is 100% capable of delivering a great noise-maker and an inspiring guitar for jazz study.
And frankly, if you had to show up somewhere with absolutely NO IDEA what you had to play, a Squier Tele and a set of your favorite .011 strings is the perfect choice.
“All the Things You Are”, or “Smoke on the Water” - you are ready for action. For less than Robert Kraft spends for a massage.
-
No seriously, you may find that Jazz is your calling, or that you hate it in the end. OR, most likely that you will struggle and need to back off now and then, but will stay with it.
In all three cases, an inexpensive Tele is the ideal choice.
If you end up with 25,000 USD worth of guitars some day, you will still grab the Tele often.
If you end up with only one guitar, that Tele will get you where you want to go.
So few things in life are so certain to work as a basic Tele.
-
OK, last comment - really.
Picks.
Try lots of different picks.
A Tele and a set of your favorite .011 strings are perfect. This will be VERY responsive to different picks.
Get a few ProPlek’s. This will be remarkably full and round.
Then try absolutely everything else that is inexpensive. You will be shocked at the range of sounds available via cheap-ass picks.
-
Thank you all for your answers.
Indeed, a Telecaster seems like what I am looking for.
I wanted to know your opinion on Harley Benton's guitars like this one : Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series – Thomann France.
I know they make good low-budget bass that sound very like Fender Jazz but I don't know about their guitars.
-
I know absolutely nothing about the Harley Benton products.
My comments were regarding the Squier Tele as typically delivered in the USA.
If one had to show up somewhere for a 100% unknown gig but had a Squier Tele delivered from UPS waiting for you, and a set of .011 strings in hand, and maybe 15 minutes (or even 10 minutes) for a little set-up work,...
I’d say “sure”.
EDIT: Maybe bring a little screwdriver, and if you are greedy - hope for a truss rod adjustment tool.
-
Harley Benton is, I believe, the house brand for Thomann. I have never played one, but there are plenty of reviews around which generally seem very positive.
I would also suggest a telecaster and a small amp.
Assuming it is possible, I would suggest you visit your local bricks-and-mortar store and see what they have in the cheap telecaster range. The big advantage of that is (unless you can do it yourself) you can usually find something pretty well set up action wise, or they will do it for you as you wish. To be honest, I have always found playing electric guitar to be easier (action wise) than on a classical guitar, but there are a lot of variables (string tensions, string type, nut height etc), and going through it with someone who knows will save you a lot of hassles and issues down the road.
-
I think the Telecaster advice is excellent.
However, if you're like me, and Tele's don't feel physically comfortable, I'd suggest looking at the Yamaha Pacifica series.
The cheapest one is the 012, a guitar I have played a lot of gigs with and enjoyed. Mine has a replacement pickup and tuners, but I think even the stock model would be okay. They skimped a bit on the quality of the switch and jacks, IMOm but all those parts are cheap and easy to replace. The 012 has a very slim neck, which is why I like it. In a head-to-head comparison a genuine Fender sounds better, but the Yamaha is pretty good. On a gig in a noisy bar, I don't think the difference matters.
As for an amp, I like the old Crate GFX15. They sell for about $35 used and they sound great at practice volume. On a gig too, but you have to mic it and run through a PA.
-
As dazzaman says Harley Benton is the house brand of Thomann. The instruments are made in China, Vietnam and Indonesia in the same factories as those making cheaper far-east models for the bigger manufacturers. They offer good value for money but an entry level model like the TE-20 will need the tuners upgrading, and some filing of fret ends to be comfortable to play. Probably better to go for a Squire Bullet Telecaster for around 160 euros which will not need any further investment. Alternatively look at a better Harley Benton like the TE80 at around 175 euros or stretch to the TE90 at about 185 euros. Originally Posted by KAZWAT
-
Given you circumstances I'd get a headphone amp. I believe the Vox headphone amps are about $40 and the one that does Fender tones should be good for getting decent jazz tones through a pair of buds or headphones. It will get the job done and leave you more money for the guitar.
Last edited by Jim Soloway; 07-31-2019 at 07:08 PM.
-
Telecaster is obviously a good choice.
Ibanez hollowbody is another option to look at while you are shopping.
-
Here's what I found :
Fender SQ Bullet Tele LRL Red SPKL – Thomann France
Fender Mini 65 Twin Amp – Thomann France
-Sorry for the french website, this is where I usually look up but yeah, I am a frenchy-
-
Le Bullet Tele est OK, mais un Squier Standard Tele d'occasion est beacoup meilleur. Si c'est possible, peut-etre cherchez pour ca avant une guitare neuve. Originally Posted by KAZWAT
Here's what I found :
Fender SQ Bullet Tele LRL Red SPKL – Thomann France
Fender Mini 65 Twin Amp – Thomann France
-Sorry for the french website, this is where I usually look up but yeah, I am a frenchy-
Pour un ampli, le Mini Twin est un jouet, pas un vrai ampli, et ne vaut pas le coup. Par contre cet ampli ci: Blackstar FLY 3 Mini Amp BK – Thomann France est vraiment pas mal.
Bonne chance,
John
-
Haha, Originally Posted by John A.
J’ai ecouté les examples sonores du FLY 3. J’espere que cela sonne moins une boite plastique à faible niveau sonore pour le jazz.
(sorry for certain errors in my poor French)
-
It is 30+ years since I lived in Ville d’Avray, but as I recall, there was not much of a lively used guitar market in the Paris area. Maybe it is better now with the inter-web.
Agreed that a standard Squier Tele new or used is a great way to go. You can never out-grow it.
But that red sparkle would definitely do the job, and it is sort of growing on me. Man if I think back to how crappy low-cost guitars were in the late 70’s compared to how absolutely gig-worthy they are now.
Life has problems, but is decidedly good for guitar players in 2019.
-
The Blackstar Fly3 is very nice, aux In to play some backing tracks, headphone out, a sweet and versatile delay.. It is a great little piece of kit.
And if I were you I would look at Thomann for a Harley Benton model (they make everything from jazz boxes to thinline and all..)
Thomann has an excellent return policy
You can even order 2 models and keep the one you like the best
Today it is quite incredible what you can buy for such little money.
Some of the Harley Bentons seem way more value for the money they fetch
Look at the reviews on Thomann..
-
Quite true, I purchase many things from Thomann and look always for returns. Ths usually gets a 10% discount as someone else has opened the package first. Originally Posted by Jx30510
Reply With Quote
Mr Magic, guitar solo
Today, 05:45 AM in From The Bandstand