Name some guitar companies that make good hollowbody guitars

**heavyblues** · 12-29-2009, 06:44 PM

Might sound like a dumb question, but apparantly its not easy enough to just google companies that make jazz guitars. I didn't know Sadowsky existed until I saw Jimmy Bruno playing one for instance. Right now all I can really do is go to musiciansfriend.com and type in "hollowbody", only to find just Gibson, epiphone, Ibanez, hagstrom, etc.

Name some good guitar companies that others here may or may not know about.

**Innerurge1** · 12-29-2009, 06:48 PM

Benedetto
Godin make some cool ones called 5th avenues
Eastman
Guild

**Big Ron** · 12-29-2009, 06:52 PM

Try Typing in "Jazz Box" or "Jazz Guitar" and you will see some others. What kind of price range are you shopping for?
I do not have one, and never have had one, but currently I am developing a huge case of GAS for an Ibanez Artcore AF105 or AF125. I need to find one and play it. Also need a ski mask and a .45 to help pay for it. But as very nice looking jazz boxes go, they are in the lower price range. Listing for about a grand, with a street price a couple of hundred less - then there is always eBay.

Ron

**millman** · 12-29-2009, 07:02 PM

Heritage is a brand that I've become familiar with since coming to this forum. From what I can see they are pretty good along with Collings.

**randyc** · 12-29-2009, 07:43 PM

Always shop for used guitars before considering new ones. If you are patient, the right guitar WILL come along. All of the above suggestions are good ones. Go to places that specialize in jazz guitars to become familiar with the "good" names. Archtops.com and elderlyinstruments.com are both good places and there are many, many more.

**heavyblues** · 12-29-2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Vermillion

I need to find one and play it. Also need a ski mask and a .45 to help pay for it.

Ron

hahaha, thats classic. You know, I just got an Ibanez AF95...I like it, but it can't hold onto TI Benson 14's and have normal action. I have yet to try TI 12's and see if it will hold onto those with normal action. Besides the strength of the neck, I love the guitar....and considering the AF105 is about twice the price, I figure the neck will be stronger, and its 5-piece. I really really want an AF105 as well. Ibanez guitars are lookers too!

**goshawk** · 12-29-2009, 09:18 PM

Eastman has already been mentioned, but I'll second it.

Peerless makes a pretty broad range of jazz guitars.

Samick has the Greg Bennett LaSalle line.

I've had both a player and well-regarded luthier in this area recommend Cort archtops.

guitarsnjazz.com and jhalemusic.com are good sites for looking at a variety of instruments.

**Dr.K-Miller** · 12-30-2009, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by heavyblues

Might sound like a dumb question, but apparantly its not easy enough to just google companies that make jazz guitars. I didn't know Sadowsky existed until I saw Jimmy Bruno playing one for instance. Right now all I can really do is go to musiciansfriend.com and type in "hollowbody", only to find just Gibson, epiphone, Ibanez, hagstrom, etc.

Name some good guitar companies that others here may or may not know about.

You should have a look at other big internet shops like thomann.de which have categories like "jazz guitars".

Jazz Guitars - Greek International Cyberstore

**heavyblues** · 12-31-2009, 06:44 PM

thanks everyone...I was a little reluctant to start this thread as I could find answers throughout this forum, but I was moreso looking for brand names of companies still in business rather than hard to find or lawsuit type guitar brands.

**whippersnapper** · 01-02-2010, 09:37 AM

I am really into vintage arhtops (Gibsons, Guild, Epiphone, etc), but they are not easily available and to everyones taste!

Godin seem to be the real deal around here. Killer quality and sound at afford prices...

**revmcintyre** · 01-02-2010, 11:39 AM

try Hagstrom, they carry both a thinline and a Jazz Box (HL550) which I use. The Epiphone 175 is nice, too.

Bill

**TK_AK** · 01-02-2010, 01:49 PM

Prs

**lkmuller** · 01-02-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Vermillion

Try Typing in "Jazz Box" or "Jazz Guitar" and you will see some others. What kind of price range are you shopping for?
I do not have one, and never have had one, but currently I am developing a huge case of GAS for an Ibanez Artcore AF105 or AF125. I need to find one and play it. Also need a ski mask and a .45 to help pay for it. But as very nice looking jazz boxes go, they are in the lower price range. Listing for about a grand, with a street price a couple of hundred less - then there is always eBay.

Ron

I owned an AF105f, the one with the floating pickup, and it was a sweet sounding axe, to be sure. However at higher volumes it lost much of its tone. It sounded very nice when I was playing at home with tracks, but on the bandstand it couldn't cut through the bass and drums. For the money, though, an AF105f will give you a great bang for your buck. I bought mine brand new for under $400.

**gsf1200r** · 01-02-2010, 03:19 PM

how about Gretsch...framus..dearmond

**Big Ron** · 01-02-2010, 03:53 PM

L K Muller - in a former lifetime I had for a short period of time a Gibson Johnny Smith. Got it on a trade - was playing 100% rock and roll and just hated it. Similar pickup concept and identical results. There was no area between low volume and violent feedback when trying to perform with it.
Swapped it off ( darn it - would love to get it back now, but no such luck)

Ron

**Sphereacidburn** · 01-02-2010, 06:19 PM

Gibson

Gretsch

Heritage

Benedetto

Sadowsky

Old D'angelico

Old D'aquisto

Eastman

Campollone

Epiphone

Gibson

Gibson

Gibson

Gibson

**RoyaleT** · 01-02-2010, 06:27 PM

Add Aria, especially their FA 70 and 71's. Great bang for the buck.

**dougal** · 01-02-2010, 06:59 PM

Played a whole bunch of hollowbodies in December and finally bought a Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno, which I immediately fell for, and which I am liking even more every day. Others that I liked were the Sadowsky Jim Hall, the Eastman John Pisano, the Gibson L5 (too pricey for me, but a fantastic old-school jazzbox). One appeal of the Jimmy Bruno is its compact size. Very comfortable to play and nice for travelling. Great sound and a beauty to look at. My advice --- take your time, and play as many as you can get your hands on before deciding.

**FWBO** · 01-03-2010, 06:16 PM

Hofner

**jimbo53** · 11-03-2012, 11:22 PM

Another recommendation for the Samick Greg Bennett Lasalle line-just picked up a JZ-2 in natural finish on Craigs List. Amazing guitar, esepecially for the prive. Very well made, flawless finish, nice mellow tone with .10 flat wounds.

**docbop** · 11-03-2012, 11:53 PM

I like my Ibanez GB's and if patient can find good deals on used ones.

**Hammertone** · 11-04-2012, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by FWBO

Hofner

Thank, you, thank you, thank you.
Sometimes I feel so....lonely.

**Broyale** · 11-04-2012, 02:10 AM

Because archtops aren't the easiest to "try before you buy" beyond Artcore, Gretsch, and Ibanez, i'd recommend sticking to used Gibsons. This way, you can splurge on a top-quality instrument, and if its not for you, get rid of it quick (well, quicker than you could something from some humble luthier nobody knows about outside of this forum), and not lose too much coin in the process.

**wizard3739** · 11-04-2012, 02:23 AM

I am an old coot and have been playing for about 60 years. As you might guess, I have owned and played many, many guitars, mostly vintage types. For those of you who might be interested, the very best guitar I have ever owned is the 2005 Sadowsky "Jim Hall" model I currently own and gig with. I paid $3200 for it on eBay a few years ago and consider myself to be very lucky (I bought it sight unseen from a classical guitarist who did not want it).

wiz