Help choosing my next guitar - Fender D'Aquisto or Gibson 275

[Socraticaster]

Like the title says, I need some help deciding. I was pretty sure I was going to buy the Gibson ES-275 next week; I played it and really liked the sound, the feel, and the look. However, a friend on another forum suggested that if I was interested in the 275, I'd be better off checking out a Fender D'Aquisto. I don't have access to one to play, but the clips I've heard on Youtube at least confirm that you can get a convincing jazz-box sound out of it (or at least it seems so on my crappy computer speakers).

If I do go the Fender D'Aquisto route, I'll have to buy one online without playing it first. That's not a deal-breaker for me. I've bought quite a few guitars online in the past, and, as long as I have a fair idea of what I'm getting, I've never been disappointed.

So, fellow jazz guitarists - and especially those who have, or have played, a Fender D'Aquisto - what would you pick between these two guitars, and why? I'm sightly leaning towards the ES-275, but only because it's familiar and that whole 'bird in the hand...' thing. But I would like to make my decision based on as much crowd-sourced information as I can get as well.

Thanks. I'll probably be buying the guitar Wednesday or Thursday. And, just putting this out there: if you have a cool archtop you're thinking of unloading, send me a private message. My budget is around $3500.

[rpjazzguitar]

I have heard one player on a Fender D'Aquisto. I don't know if there are multiple versions and, if so, which one it might have been.

Played through a Twin Reverb.

Sounded as good as any archtop tone I'd ever heard.

Of course, some players get a better sound than others out of any equipment and this was a good player.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Having spent time with both of these models, I don’t really think you can go wrong with either. I would lean toward the ES-275 more if you want to get a typical Wes Montgomery tone though. The one I have for sale can pretty much nail that with the neck pickup and the you still have a bridge pickup on top of that option.

[Ray175]

What do you want a new guitar to bring you compared to what you already have? I think both are great guitars, so maybe you can give an idea of what you have, what styles you play. It'll help us formulate a reasoned suggestion for you....

[steve burchfield]

For jazz sometimes only a Gibson is good enough. Look at the history of jazz guitar recordings. Also poly finish?

[2bornot2bop]

For jazz sometimes only a Gibson is good enough. Look at the history of jazz guitar recordings. Also poly finish?

BS! His budget doesn’t allow him to buy an L5. Barely an ES175. You guys act like all jazz ever recorded was recorded on a Gibson. I understand being a fan of a brand. But some act like they’re in a cult.

[rpjazzguitar]

For jazz sometimes only a Gibson is good enough. Look at the history of jazz guitar recordings. Also poly finish?

When I was coming up in NYC in the 60s, a lot of the jazz guys wanted D'Angelicos and settled for Gibsons. Some wanted Gibsons, the L5 or 175, usually. They spoke positively about Guild and Epiphone, but none of the guys I met wanted one. They dismissed Fender and Gretsch as irrelevant to jazz.

But, in recent years, there seems to be a lot more diversity. When I saw Strings Attached there were two archtops (can't recall which, but I think Mark Whitfield had a Gibson). There were two semi's, a Comins GCS-1 and whatever Vic Juris was playing.

Tele's were used by Ted Greene, Julian Lage and Mike Stern, to name a few that come readily to mind.

Toninho Horta plays a Strat type.

Chico Pinheiro plays a Benedetto.

And, lots of players play Gibsons.

[Greentone]

I've spent time on both. I prefer the Fender DA. It it an _excellent _ archtop electric.

[Jimmy blue note]

Fender made several models of the D'Aquisto. It was with a close collaboration with the master and personally I feel they achieved something they and most others have not matched.
Now I love Gibsons, and in many situations their solid build, great design and most of the time really good use of high quality materials makes them a guitar to be coveted. Always more than Fender in my book. With the exception of those D'Aquistos. They are incredible guitars. I still watch out for them just to see what kinds of sweet deals they can be had for.
Sound, feel, lineage, balance, and in all the ones I've worked on, a unique hand built vibe. They don't make them like they did then. They didn't before and they haven't since, at least from Fender or most big production companies. They got it right on that one.
But seriously, that's just me. Each player has a unique list of qualities that make a match for them, that inspire them to play better. You need to know enough about your own needs in a guitar to recognize whether it's the Gibson or the Fender that makes you fall in love with the music.
Make sure both have a workable return policy and find out what's YOUR fit.

[Spook410]

I belong to a jazz forum on Facebook. There are lots of jazz youtube videos posted with a diverse group (age, gender, nationality) represented. Several new videos daily. I haven't collected specific metrics but my casual observation is that the most common brand being played is Ibanez hollow and semi's followed by Fender solids. Though Gibson's aren't uncommon. Especially old guys. Things change.

As for 'only a Gibson being good enough for jazz'.. jeez... where to begin. Make music using gear that sounds good, you can afford, and inspires you. Who cares what's on the headstock. Of course, if you do care about such things, then for me a Fender D'Aquisto is certainly cooler than the generic Gibson 275. Don't think I ever played the Fender in an Elite model (they came in grades with material differences) but the ones I did play looked and sounded quite good.

[wintermoon]

If you want to hear a recorded sound of the Fender just check out Jimmy Bruno's debut cd. I used to see him all the time in a trio setting w a bassist friend of mine in a small basement club and it sounded pretty good. Not L-5 great, but good laminate.
Of course a recording is a recording, and it is Jimmy, he'd probably make a cigar box sound good.....

[steve burchfield]

As long he has return privileges try anything that makes sense.

[Jabberwocky]

Save your money, Soc. Buy used. This just in from Joe Vinikow of Archtop Dot Com: 2016 Gibson ES-275, blonde, 15" Venetian cutaway thinline body, lovely flame, factory MHS pickups, T-bar tailpiece, great recent model on the way,

[Filmosound 621]

I sold the ES-275 for a late 40's ES-125 and an early 50's ES-175

much much happier now.

[kris]

Fender D'Aquisto is a grat jazz guitar.Very comfortable to play.
There are several models of this guitar.I used Fender DA standard for about 15 years.

[maggles55]

Never played an ES275, but my 1987 Fender D'Aquisto Elite is an amazingly good guitar. Plays and sounds great. Also very well made: I have had to tweak the truss rod only once in 20 years I have owned it.

The one negative you should consider is that this guitar (most, but not all production) has an unusual sized pickup and a swap is therefore difficult. I was not a fan of the original (Schaller, I believe). I had a luthier make ebony "ears" that allow a HB pickup to fit, and replaced with a HB-sized P90 made by Kent Armstrong. The sound now is wonderful.

[setemupjoe]

Fender D'Aquisto Elite w/Vintage Vibe Charlie Christian pu and OHSC
Fender D'Aquisto Elite w/Vintage Vibe Charlie Christian pu and OHSC

[jonh]

I tried one vs. a Heritage aged or whatever they call it. I really liked the sound and the neck (thin like my 60s Tele). I didn’t pull the trigger soon enough…it was missing a truss rod cover and I was really looking for an ES-175. In hindsight it would have been a good choice. I’m happy with what I ended up with but if I find another Fender D’A at a decent price I’d probably snap it up. Great guitar. I like the fact it was a little different.

[Socraticaster]

Just to let you know - I ended up buying the 275. I'm very happy with it.

Here are some pics from the store website:

[deacon Mark]

Just to let you know - I ended up buying the 275. I'm very happy with it.

Here are some pics from the store website:

That is a beauty you made the right decision. I would take this over a Fender D'a any day and any time.

[wzpgsr]

That is a beauty you made the right decision. I would take this over a Fender D'a any day and any time.

I just got a Fender D’Aquisto Elite with a humbucker-sized Charlie Christian pickup from Vintage Vibe. I can’t compare directly to the 275 above, but I’ll say that this guitar, to my ear, sits in the same tonal family as other laminates like the airy-sounding single pickup ES-175s and ES-125s from the 1950s. However—and this is the great part—the higher registers of this guitar have a presence and sweetness that is reminiscent of carved, solid tops. The build quality—aside from a few finish cracks that were disclosed by the seller—appears to be excellent. Maybe a bit too early to tell, but with some setup tweaks I could see this guitar becoming my number one player or at least in frequent rotation.

[Socraticaster]

Just an update: I restrung the ES-275 with D'Addario Chrome Flatwound 12s, and while the strings were off I replaced the ABR-1 bridge with a rosewood bridge. I got very lucky with the bridge. The post to post spacing for the ABR-1 bridge base was 2.9", but almost every archtop wood bridge has a post to post spacing of 2.98 - close, but no cigar. Fortunately I found a compensated rosewood archtop bridge in my parts bin with the correct post to post spacing.

This guitar has really blossomed now. The notes are a bit richer and deeper, and have a nice 'round,' warm sound to them. The sound reminds me a lot of the '68 ES-175 that I used to have a few years back. I play in a big band, and when I roll the volume down to about 7 and the tone to about 5 and play on the neck pickup, I get a pretty convincing big band rhythm 'thunk.'

-Travis

[Filmosound 621]

thanks for the update - this is something I should have done with my otherwise dear 275, a Rosewood bridge conversion.

happy playing to you, it is such a beautiful guitar, dressed up like yours.

[Bonniville]

I Have an absolute mint condition 1991 D Aquisto with the gold plated hardware and ebony treatments. If interested

[citizenk74]

I Have an absolute mint condition 1991 D Aquisto with the gold plated hardware and ebony treatments. If interested