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Major Jazz Guitar Manufactures
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Major Jazz Guitar Manufactures (guitars.shtml) | Updated: 10-Dec-2008 - 00:18
Major Manufactures - Companies that push a lot of instruments and have a dealer network. Most have custom shops and off-the-rack guitars for under a $1000 that can get one started playing jazz. Just remember, you usually get what you pay for.
I have included some manufactures that have seven string guitars but that are not archtop guitars. Could be a cheap way to try out a seven string. This is the route that I took for experimenting with 7 string guitar. I've also listed manufactures of guitars that one can still find used. But might not be making new guitars or are out of business.
A web site that lists the Manufacturers' Suggested Retail Price ( MSRP ) for guitars.
Manufactures Listed
Misc Manufactures Guitar Links
- Guitar Links - Miscellaneous guitar links
- Cheesy Guitars
This site is dedicated to vintage instruments made in Europe and Soviet Union during the "communist" years. The first reason we've made this site is that there's no information about these guitars, no pictures and no reviews. But they exist, and they definitely worth checking out.
Major Manufactures
The following guitar companies all mass produce guitars that are suitable for playing jazz. Some produce laminated archtop entry level guitars and some even have custom shops that spin out carved archtop guitars that rival the custom builders.
Several companies offer models for under one grand that will get you started. Get the best guitar you can afford. It DOES make a difference. Just play one of the higher end models or a custom model and feel and hear the difference. Which can be bad in a way. Then you'll really want one.
Visit a guitar show in your area and look in the local trade rags. In my area their is a local paper call "Tradin' Times" that has a Musician's Grapevine section where you can list instruments and equipment for sale and look for musicians. This is mostly rock oriented guitars for sale, but their are some guitars that are suitable for jazz that show up form time-to-time. Amplifiers and sound equipment are also listed for sale. These type of papers are usually found at your local convenience store. (aka 7-11, Wawa, Turkey Hill. Mini-Mart, etc...)
Also search the web. Their are several sites that list instruments for sale or will search the vintage market for you.
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Township & Afri-Can Guitars
Waterfront Music Stores
Blue Shed, Waterfront
Cape Town
8800
South Africa
Tell: +27 (0) 82 450 7858
Tell: +27 (0) 72 782 9120
Tell: +27 (0) 84 980 8819
Links
- Main Site: www.townshipguitars.com
- England, Australia: www.africanguitars.co.uk
- USA: www.africanguitarsusa.com
Info
(Ed. Just too cool not to list ;-)
Township Guitars are manufactured by hand to exacting musical standards. Made from selected oil cans and a combination of hard woods. The guitars are based on traditional African instruments having originated from the “ramkiekie”, a four stringed oil can guitar invented by the Khoi, when coming into contact with early European settlers. Many African musicians learned their guitar playing skills on a home made oil can guitar including Jimmy Dludlu, Sipho Gumede, Alan Kwela and many others. The Township Guitar is an electric guitar capable of taking the stage with the best.
(From the Afri-Can website)
The forefather of the tin can guitar was called a Ramkie. This was a
form of long necked plucked lute, which had three, then later four
strings and tuning pegs. This instrument was made and played by tribes
in the Cape region of South Africa during the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries It was not originally a copy of the guitar although in its
later development it acquired certain guitar features, notably a capo
tasta. The earliest description of the Ramkie came from O.F. Mentzel, a
resident of the Cape during the period 1733-41 who witnessed the
Khoikhoi tribe making and playing the instrument. The accounts of early
travellers in the region associate the instrument with the Khoikhoi.
However, a man by the name of Thompson, witnessed a Bushwoman playing a
Ramkie in 1823 at a place Bloem Fonteyn in the Roggeveld, in central
Southern Africa. The kind of music produced on the instrument was
repetitive chord playing, with finger-stopping, which frequently
accompanied dancing. Later specimens acquired tin-can bodies, which
replaced the earlier half gourd and gut-string construction. Today the
Ramkie is obsolete, having been replaced by the western commercial
guitar and “homemade” versions. It is generally accepted by
historians that the South African guitar has been around for much
longer than anyone imagined and predates even the colonial influences.
It is worth noting that this instrument is descended from an original
South African instrument and is not just a homemade copy of the western
guitar, which it has become.♣
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Links
Tiki King's Ukulele: Brand name database: Aria
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
Aria now has the D'Aquisto name and is making a series of guitar based on the same original D'Aquisto models. Here is the D'Aquisto DQ-JZ model after Jim Halls Jimmy D'Aquisto built guitar. [ link: www.ariausa.com/daquisto/index.html ]
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No Listings for B
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Makers of multi string guitars and basses.
(ed. I played a 7 string Conlin bass and is was really a cool instrument. But - I 'll stick with four. Even after having owned a five string.)
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Cort Guitars
3451 W. Commercial Ave.
Northbrook, IL USA 60062
847/498-6491
Fax: 847/498-5370
Cort Guitars Korea
660 Dungchon-Dong.
Kangso-Ku, Seoul Korea
82-2-3661-1981
Fax: 82-2-3661-1986
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
Joe Beck has 2 models that he endorses. The Beck-6 and the Beck Alto model tuned A to A. (String gauges: 018 / 026 / 018 / 022 / 051 / 075). To hear how this guitar sounds go to Jimmy Bruno 's site and buy his Polarity CD with Joe Beck. If you want to buy on of these just but it directly from Joe Beck.
(UPDATE 2007: Joe Beck is playing and Martin archtop designed by Dale Unger of American Archtop)
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D'Angelico Guitars
D'Angelico Guitars of America
PO Box 627
Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone 908.518.9010
Fax: 908.518.9011
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
Re-issues by Mr. Shino, a top Japanese guitar designer, and President of Vestax of the D’Angelico New Yorker style guitar.
D'Angelico NYL-7 (25 1/2" scale Ebony fingerboard Nut Width: 1 11/16")
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Links
- See the Aria listing for current D'Aquisto guitars...
Aria now has the D'Aquisto name and is making a series of guitar based on the same original D'Aquisto models. Here is the D'Aquisto DQ-JZ model after Jim Halls Jimmy D'Aquisto built guitar. [ link: www.ariausa.com/daquisto/index.html ]
This brings the D'Aquisto name from Jimmy D'Aquisto through Fender and now Aria.
If you are really looking for a Jim Hall inspired D'Aquisto guitar get the Sadowsky Jim Hall model guitar.
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
DeArmond® instruments are no longer available for purchase, but they have made their support materials available. On their site you'll find product information, technical specifications, and troubleshooting information.
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DiPinto Guitars
P.O. Box 29453
Philadelphia, PA 19125
Retail Store
407-409 E. Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA ZIP
Phone: 215-427-7805
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Links
Info
(from their site) DiPinto Guitars is a small family owned company, operating out of Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1995 as a repair shop, the store slowly evolved into a showroom specializing in oddball vintage guitars and Chris DiPinto's own guitar creations. Over the years, DiPinto has grown to include a full scale guitar manufacturing operation while still operating the original retail outlet.
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Eastman Strings
A division of: Eastman Music Company
22525 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871
Phone: 240-686-2050
Toll-free: 1-800-624-0270
Fax: 240-686-2058
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
With Ibanez no longer producing their 7 string archtop, Eastman Strings with their Uptown AR810-7 7 string archtop model might be a alternative. This guitar is in their line of Uptown Professional Archtops. I played this 7 string model at the Fall 2003 Philly Guitar show and was not impressed. I was however told that they where prototypes and more work is being done. They also have a line of Uptown Luxury Archtops. Price (from site) under $3000 for the Uptown Professional Archtops and $3,695 for the Uptown Luxury Archtop.
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Epiphone
Owned by Gibson
Links
A division of Gibson
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Masterbuilt Ukulele Collection
The Joe Pass Emperor II is a great guitar for someone
just getting into jazz guitar. Inexpensive ($699 - $729) and also available in
a left handed model($729). Features include a laminated maple neck and
body; solid rosewood bridge; gold tuners and tailpiece; multiple
bound body, neck
Scale: 24 3/4" scale
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Links
- www.fender.com
- WidipediA: Leo Fender
- WidipediA: Fender
Harmony-Central user reviews: Fender
Info
A tried and true Fender Twin Reverb will always work. It's one of the amps one will always find in a studio and can rent when on the road. Learn to how to dial in your sound from a Twin.
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Gibson
Gibson Corporate
309 Plus Park Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37217
800.444.2766
615.871.4500
615.889.5509 FAX
Gibson Europe BV
Clarissenhof 5c/
4133 AB Vianen
The Netherlands
Phone: 31.347.324010
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Links
| Gretsch - The Guitars Of The Fred Gretsch Co. Guitar. Size 9x12 inches. 288 pages. Published by Centerstream Publications. (142) |
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
(January 1, 2003, Fender will assume development, production, marketing, and worldwide distribution of Gretsch guitars.)
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
| The Guild Guitar Book Book (not sheet music). Size 9.3x11.7 inches. 184 pages. Published by Hal Leonard Corporation. (330502) |
Guild is owned by Fender
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United States:
Kaman Music Corporation
PO Box 507
Bloomfield, CT 06002-0507
email: info@hamerguitars.com
www.kamanmusic.com
Hamer Canada:
B & J Music Ltd.
2360 Tedlo Street
Mississauga
Ontario, Canada L5A 3V3
email: bjmusic-kmc@kaman.com
Hamer UK:
Soho Soundhouse
114-116 Charing Cross Rd.
London
WC2H 0DT
United Kingdom
020-7379-6766
020-7379-0093
email: info@sohosoundhouse.com
www.sohosoundhouse.com
Heritage Guitars, Inc.
225 Parsons St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Phone 269-385-5721
Fax 269-385-3519
Sales and Marketing
Lasar Music Corp., PO Box 2045
Brentwood
TN 37027
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Notes: When Gibson moved to Nashville, theses are the master builders that didn't move. Very nice instruments.
See the Dealers page for two dealers that carry these guitars: Wolfe Guitars and J. Hale Music Supply
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Ibanez
Hoshino (usa) Inc.
1726 Winchester Rd.
Bensalem, PA, 19020
Telephone (215)638-8670
Fax (215)245-8583
Links
- www.ibanez.com
- Parent company: Hoshino Gakki Group
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Info
Models: George Benson, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Artstar, Artcore
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Links
- Some online sources (no affiliation): www.musicbrokers.com, www.mandalaymusic.com, www.musiciansdiscountwarehouse.com, www.bryansmusic.com
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Models:
Johnson's Las Vegas JH-440 (List $395.00)
New Yorker JH-400 (List $795.00)
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Kiso Guitars and world class guitar designer luthier, Tom Ribbecke, from Healdsburg California, are proud to introduce you to the new KisoRibbecke jazz archtop.
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No Listings for L
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C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.
510 Sycamore Street
P. O. Box 329
Nazareth, PA 18064-0329
Phone: 610-759-2837
Fax: 610-759-5757
Links
Info
| Martin Guitar Masterpieces A Showcase of Artists' Editions, Limited Editions and Custom Guitars. Book (not sheet music). Size 10.2x14.25 inches. 144 pages. Published by Bullfinch Press. (331139) |
American Archtop
Released: 1/15/04
Source: Sounding Board Newsletter Vol 16 - Jan. 2004
C. F. Martin and American Archtop Guitars Unveil A True Player’s Archtop Collaboration
by Dale Unger
As a teen living in Nazareth, I became fiercely inspired by meeting many of Martin’s finest craftsmen. My desire to learn how to make guitars became a reality after my introduction to Dick Boak. In the ensuing years Dick and I renovated the “Church of Art” in the center of Nazareth, and we built many unique experimental instruments. In addition to being Dick’s residence, the “Church of Art” was a guitar studio, concert hall and art gallery. It was a great inspiration to me while I was perfecting my craft as a luthier. This is where I constructed my first guitar in the mid ‘70s. Though he doesn’t reside there any more, Dick still owns the “Church,” and I presently teach my archtop design and construction classes there. 
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Maker of Charlie Hunter's 8 string guitar and the inventor of the fanned fret system.
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No Listings for O
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Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS)
380 Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666 USA
Phone: 410-643-9970
FAX: 410-643-9980
Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
| The PRS Guitar Book Softcover. Book (not sheet music). Book only. Size 9.88x12.5 inches. 142 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (330953) |
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No Listings for Q
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: link
Graphite guitars. Used to make an ES175 style guitar. I don't see it anymore on their web site.
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Links
(Ed.) I was surprised to see this. But they do make a carved spruce archtop guitar. The 760J "Jazz-bo". Classic Rickenbacker neck and head stock on 17" jazz body. Pretty cool f-holes.
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Links
Harmony-Central user reviews: Sadowsky
Info
See the February 1999 issue of Just Jazz Guitar for an article about Roger Sadowsky.
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Links
Info
(from the Samick site ) For almost 40 years Samick has manufactured product for the leading brand names in the guitar business. In the process, we learned a great deal about not only what goes into a great guitar, but how to produce it at an affordable price. We also realized that the ability to produce quality product at an affordable price was only half the equation. There needed to be an all out effort to develop a powerful new identity for the product and our company.