How To Choose A Jazz Guitar | What Size & Type is Right For You? | 7 Guitar Options | Rich Severson

[@stevehoffman9735]

Rich can play any damn guitar and make it sound like heaven!

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

the old P90 Gibson P150 is more magical that the rest put together.

[@ZacCostilla]

Yeah, that P90 spoke to me

[@AlanThomas-hp3fn]

The setup neck shape string height neck shape fret radius and how it works for you means more than body type style brand and pickups .

[@theaverage7550]

Oh, that Heritage Super Eagle sounds incredible

[@wcbibb]

I have the 17 inch Heritage Eagle Classic.

[@alextaylor6707]

Rich! Thanks so much for this excellent comparison video. This helped me so much. This is an indispensable channel for new and old guitarists alike.

[@danielsherwood3460]

Thank you for doing this, Mr. Severson. You're playing is beautiful.

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

I just bought a thinline archtop - and it's almost perfect; single pickup isn't an issue as I've been changing my playing position for different sounds, for decades. The point about the thickness of the body is interesting as my acoustics are all dreadnoughts... so 3.5" is halfway between the dreadnought and my strats - and would be very much more comfortable. I might have to consider such a beastie; it would be more suitable for sing-arounds and acoustic sessions than the strat!

[@janlassensession4209]

Back in 1973 I bought a new L-5 with the case for $750. Sold it a few years later for maybe 5 hundred. Long before guitar prices took off into orbit. I'll know it again if I ever see it as it had a flaw in the body edge binding. It was a beautiful guitar.

[@banej2249]

Thanks for the suggestion about the right hand position. I had pain in my shoulder and thought it was from archery. Now I solved that problem. (:

[@christophedelamusiquedesar7878]

These pearls of genuine experience, so credibly delivered, resonate and assist with worth beyond measure. Priceless, and thank you so much.

[@robzagar4275]

That was an excellent video ! Good job presenting the difference size guitars Rick.

[@danieloconnor1585]

Rich i can't thank you enough for explaining how and why to use a guitar strap when playing a jazz guitar. I am learning jazz and have a beautiful es-335 that is on the heavy side and is digging into my leg on my lap. Took your advice and now the weight is off the leg. Thank you so much!

[@ImOnlyFakingIt]

Great video, thanks Rich! Could you maybe do a video showing your Tele and Strat, and how to get a jazz sound out of those? That would be super helpful to most folks getting into jazz who don't have an expensive hollowbody yet. Thanks!!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

We are planning to do some of those videos very soon! Not sure when they will be out. In the next month hopefully! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@powbobs]

Neck pickup with tone turned down.

[@Lasalas777]

Thanks for teaching us Rick❤

[@blacksunfish]

All my single cutaway archies are 17". For my style, they have to right balance of resonance and bite. An 18" is on my wish list. You made every instrument sound fantastic, sir. That 18" was so lush and sweet though...

[@michaelstanger6907]

Rich is spot on in all his comments. But he covered a lot of ground, and sort of skipped over the main reason why the really good solid wood arch top guitars cost so much; on them all, the back and top's arches are hand carved. This hand work is done to match the individual pieces of wood's inherent tone to be the strongest tone of the finished guitar. It's like carving violins. It takes a lot of experience to do, and it can only be done slowly and patiently. All this added labor adds up and makes these guitars more expensive than their best flat top equivalents. Laminated tops and backs have one great advantage over solid wood in one respect when it comes to arch top guitars: The arch is accomplished using a vacuum press that presses them into the shape, and the laminations take the pressing much better and more uniformly. This helps the strength of the wood, and it also improves the tone of the woods used. Laminated tops are all made of good instrument woods. Typically, the center lamination of the top, the more critical piece for tone, is either the same wood (spruce), but is set at an angle to the other two. Or the center laminate is a slightly different tone wood, such as birch, maple, or mahogany, which are all respectable top woods themselves. Laminated tops can sound just as good as solid tops, but their tone doesn't change over time like solid wood does. It's a less expensive process, and it also makes buying an arch top more reliable when purchased without playing it first. A Gibson ES-175 is a good example of an arch top that's much more affordable, but still possesses really good tone acoustically, unplugged. Laminated arch tops are also lighter weight, guitars generally speaking. The weight difference becomes more noticeable as the guitar's size increases.

[@heneverreturnasahorse9773]

I love the appointments on the new guitars, but my favorite is the ES-150. What a sweet vintage guitar.

[@tinman8014]

Couldn’t have watched this in better time. Have been struggling with right shoulder pain (and left wrist tendinitis) for a couple of weeks after an extended session wrestling with an archtop on my right thigh in the same way I play my strat. Will be using a strap from now on.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

This makes me so happy to hear! I hope the strap eases the tension while you play. Playing in pain is not fun. I really appreciate you watching the video and taking the time to comment!

[@matthewjoiner-q5b]

Despite taking anti-inflammatories,Cortesone injections and burophene patches!! ,Bursitis, torn tendons & golfers elbow make playing wide and deep bodied gtrs a painful pursuit. 100% agree to play on 45angle. A GibsonES 339 is my go to gtr now and oh so versatile. TheES 175 is a class act lam top is bright and cuts through a combo* and frankly on size upper limit. The Eastman around 65mm has appeal.* Playing in a combo (bass/drums+)at volume requires different tonal settings than solo bedroom velvet glove playing with tone rolled right off :) sadly live performance rarely gets a Guernsey in these forums. My tip try tone wide open in gtr and back off tone on amp, this way you have more control your tone from the guitar.

[@kennymcquinkiss8292]

Pent up House. Nice and clean Georgia on My Mind nice use of tritone substitutions at the outro

[@dobster5819]

Great video Rich, very enjoyable. Thank you.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Very welcome

[@PedroMiguel-if3ll]

Such a pleasure to listen to Rich's playing. But remember, these are all $3-4k and more. Don't expected the same tone from a $600 Ibanez Jazzbox

[@BigFiveJack]

Great Episode!

[@dkstott29]

If I had one complaint, it's that you rarely show how they sound unplugged. Lots of us, play using a mic.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

We just shot a few new videos yesterday and I made sure to play the guitars acoustically so you can hear them. I am not sure when they will be posted but I am going to try to do that from now on... when I feature guitars! I appreciate the suggestion!!

[@larrydering1598]

I didn't buy an archtop with a pickup to hear it without an amp. Buy a acoustic if that's your taste. The deep rich sound of these archtops is what I want to hear.

[@dkstott29]

@@larrydering1598 we all have different expectations from guitars. My playing is split between unplugged and amp-ed. I like to hear what they sound like unplugged to get a sense of how it might sound played into a mic / without the aid of the pickups and amp.

[@eggypop09]

​@@larrydering1598 for real

[@garycoates4987]

I think he does on the smaller videos with a demo of one or comparison with two similar ones

[@sgazzz]

Would love to go on my owj tone seeking journey, but i need to learn how to play a little better first...then it'll be fun searching for the tone. Beautiful guitars and playing as always 🙏🏼

[@drj602]

Love the aesthetics of that Eastman! I will have one before its all over.

[@bpedleyjazzguitarist]

It's great to see an Eastman enthusiast on here. I play and gig with Eastmans exclusively now. Ha trouble deciding on NO currently. Thinking about the Ar603ce

[@DrDooDah]

Any electric guitar can be a jazz guitar. The only 6 string electric I have is a maple necked Strat. Just put a humbucker or a P90 in the neck and darken the EQ a little with pedals, and it will sound great. (I use Seymour Duncan Little '59s, and they give a fantastic, warm and jazzy tone.)

[@armanilehmann6537]

What a cool video! Your L5 is the only one i’ve ever seen like that, what a rare bird indeed. You know those horse whisperer? I think you’re the guitar whisperer. I never knew that the space between the tailpiece and bridge determines the string tension, always learning something from you! That explains why the strings feels tighter on my GB10 then on my 17 inch Guild.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks for watching and commenting Armani, always love to hear your take on things!

[@MrMjp58]

Great video

[@ruckusfitnesd7505]

Im hoping to get a Epiphone Emperor for my first Jazz Box giving me a lot to think on if I get any more jazz box guitars

[@ralex3697]

Gibson sounds so stunning

[@galeburgess5309]

Do you have any experience with or opinion on the Johnson jh 100 guitar?

[@markoberardi1289]

Ok, but... what about Ed Bickert's Telecaster? Many people can't buy a decent hollow body, but they may have some talent to grow.

[@bboyd2034]

Really great video!

[@williamschletzer4516]

I got a Heritage Sweet 16 from Rich and really like it. I'd like to compliment it with any of these since they all have the mounted humbuckers. The Sweet 16 has a floating pick up. Sounds nice but prone to feedback so don't sit in front of the amp even at low volume. I wish he had gone into some detail about pickups: humbucker vs P90, floating vs fixed

[@williamschletzer4516]

I spoke too soon. He mentioned both my things, P90s and floating vs fixed.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Bill what amp are you using when you're getting feedback

[@williamschletzer4516]

@@RichSeversonGuitar Hi Rich. I get feedback when I use my Mesa Boogie Mark Five 35, but the set up in that room has me sitting almost directly in front of the amp. In my living room I have a blues Junior and I sit to the side and slightly behind that amp and I have almost no trouble with Feedback. It is more position than anything

[@tiagocandiani3958]

Great content, Rich. As a tone hunter myself, I found awesome the explanation about the pros and cons and very useful the facts about different sizes. Also, as a short guy, those shoulder busters really do not work for me as they get me tired sooner than the other guitars - some lessons that otherwise would just come to me with time. Thanks again.

[@matt_greene]

What song were you playing on each guitar? Sounds beautiful

[@joshgibson3618]

Great video and excellent point about holding a jazz box, also a classical guitar! Have you ever played an Epiphone Joe Pass?

[@thegallantsaint2034]

Great video. Very informative. Would you consider a Gretsch for jazz?

[@tom_buggy]

im ahard rock guitarist and your playing is unreal

[@larryhawes8295]

Great video. Did You mention what amp you're playing through? Thanks

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

No amp... I am going straight into the mixing board and into the computer. Thanks for watching, Larry!

[@revelationsoundstudio]

Another guitar to choose from is Heritage Guitars. Gibson stopped making the Es 175 guitar. Heritage Guitars are made in the old Gibson shop. They make a H 575 which is their version of the Gibson 175. They feel and sound similar to the Gibson.

[@danvee1804]

sir you make any guitar sound exceptional!!!Thank you

[@CeresKLee]

Jazz guitar? Like Steve Howe's ES-175? Or Jorma Kaukonen or B.B. King's ES-335? I can't afford a Gibson so I got a Inyen Vina copy of a ES-175T. I have not even think in jazz, I rock!

[@benlogan430]

The hollow bodies are the stuff. I play blues with a crunch on a 5420 Gretsch and have no feedback issues. I believe George Thorogood had an ES175 when I saw him. I would like a fancier one like the ones you were showing.

[@dealfaror]

i cant find confirmation about the size of the first guitar. where do you get it? thanks

[@jeremybaker195]

What about using a Gretsch for Jazz?? Is it too bright?

[@susanroycroft89]

Hi Rich ,Don hear from Hamilton NZ, yes and I love guitar comparison's they are very subtle but they are there but you know Vedy Few of the Audience will be able to tell, but the player can, and Iv'e been playing since 1963 and Iv'e listened to excellent jazz guitarist's for a long time and they were playing old Hofners with thick necks, and I gave him my cheap Yamaha and it still sounded good, slightly different but to my ear playing in the same position there Wasn't a Vast difference, yet I'll bet the player knew the difference, I rest my case, but I love this sort of comparison, Kind Regds Don from NZ still playing my D3 Martin and the Chinese Cort's l own and the Takamine (identical size and wood's) and they ARE SOO similar, and at my age l love 'em all 'coz they sound sooo similar, they can all twang,or play softly depending on How you play and where you're playing hand is, right next to the bridge or further up,the tone softens little and that not putting through an AMPLIFIER, once you do that now it's another ball- game, you can make 'em all very similar, DEPENDING how you play, but l loved the video,keep it up, regards and take care... and keep 'em coming

[@L5man]

50 years playing, 50 guitars, and the best jazz guitar is an Edwards seven string 335. E-TC-7ST. I’ve had Eastmans, L5s….

[@dsilva70]

Great video. Subbed. Many thanks Rich!

[@seop1721]

Hi. I’m interested in a Yamaha Silent Guitar, steel string, to learn jazz on, with quietness being a priority because I’m in Japan. I’m wondering if you think I will not be able to learn ‘properly’ on such a guitar? What is your opinion? Thanks!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Yes but I would get the nylon string

[@seop1721]

@@RichSeversonGuitar I thought the wider neck would use a different technique and wouldn't transfer as easily to an archtop or similar. I know it's slightly quieter, but is there another reason you'd recommend the nylon?

[@Rodney_T]

Are there neck only pickup hollow bodies less than $1000.00?

[@neiles335]

Really useful video Rich; thankyou. You're so right when you say it's often not easy to find these instruments to try out. I'd love to try a Heritage Eagle, or an Es175, or L5, but I've never seen one in any music store even the largest ones. Meanwhile my Es335 and my Es137 (albeit different animals than these mentionedher) do a very admirable job playing jazz.

[@JMZ369]

great video, thanks!

[@L4sleeko]

... oh, but that fabulous L5 CES! YES! 😎👌

[@allenwilliams5517]

Where can find a 17” body like the L5

[@michaelrevell6463]

Rich what do you think of the Oscar Schmidt L5? Michael Revell

[@thuxta]

Love the new intro

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks! My son Wes made it and used one of my songs on it which gave it sort of an Austin Powers vibe! lol

[@davemeshamsr6000]

Like the Gibson es150 but not so much the price

[@stevebuckerfield3868]

Great video Rich. Very enjoyable.

[@dmyerstc55]

Is there a Jazz sounding acoustic guitar without electronics?

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

None that I know of. There may be some very early Jazz guitars that from the 30's or 40's that have jazz characteristics and no pickups. Thanks for watching!

[@Bryantkh13]

For vintage theres a ton of Gibsons from the 20-40s that were all acoustic. For newer models check out a Loar

[@petercastle4231]

Don ,I made 6 archtop guitars some years ago they were fully hand carved with maple and spruce they had a great acoustic sound amazing depth and projection the crucial thing about these guitars they are plectrum not fingerstyle. regards Peter

[@4578a]

Oh those are Heritage Guitars, that's why they sound the best. I correct myself, those are probably the most expensive.

[@To.Si.Ma.]

Just listening to Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel and Kenny Burrell. Man that Jazz Box sound is just killer. But then. There are semi-hollow guys like John McLaughlin and John Scofield which make a 335 sound as great in a different way. In my opinion one need a Jazz Box, a 335 and a Telecaster to be fully Jazz equipped.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

That's a start

[@jimmywarren7968]

That 18 inch sound brings tears 😊👍

[@devinfrench4924]

Alot of the tone of these guitars is actually similiar sounding because a pro is playing soft delicate technique playing over the neck for the darkest lowest tone

[@co7013]

One of the most interesting ideas from this video is: "I can't get a good rock sound from a jazz guitar. But i can get a pretty decent jazz sound from a different guitar." So that means that for many people, it wouldn't hurt to start playing jazz on a semi-hollow or even a solid body guitar and wait a bit before actually buying a 'real' big bodied jazz box. That said, i find 15" to 16" inch jazz guitars to be quite comfortable and flexible (as long as your not moving to far out of the jazz realm).

[@michaelstanger6907]

The arch top guitar can work for any kind of music anyone wants to play on it. They only became called a jazz guitar because the arch top worked so well in big band jazz acoustically, the most popular kind of music when the first guitar virtuosos became known. I came to the arch top as a folk musician who wanted the same guitar sound I heard on the Carter family recordings; Mother Maybell Carter played an early Gibson L-5 arch top all her life. When Country music became popular, arch tops with pickups were just as popular as lead instruments as they were for jazz rhythm instruments. They were always good Blues guitars, too. Robert Johnson's guitar was an arch top. And when Rock rolled around, Scotty Moore and most others who started it played arch tops. They are all just different guitars than solid bodies or flat tops. They are as versatile as the others, and they'll work fine for anything a player wants to play.

[@misterknightowlandco]

@@michaelstanger6907 as long as the guitar is set up for what your playing, your correct. 😂 I ain’t playing rock n roll w/ 14 gauge flatwounds 😂

[@KingJorman]

except if you're Steve Howe

[@daceyhavens9926]

It's hard to beat the 175

[@jimmyhansen5842]

Do you use flatwounds on your guitars. You play so smooth and effortless. Thanks for the great video. 😉👍

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Yes my custom set. www.guitarcollege.net/strings.html

[@kevininman2013]

What are your thoughts on the Godin 5th ave king pin?

[@stevewhite3753]

I have a Heritage H-550 love it!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Steve!

[@sjazzp]

Excellent video and comparison, at the end I don’t know what to pick as all of them sound amazing but that L5 is impressive. I do have an Eastman T386 with flatwounds (11-50), it sounds very nice but nothing like any of the guitars you played here. Someday I’ll get a proper archtop hollowbody

[@bobleary8545]

The Gibson was nice and smooth, and the Godin somewhat more gutbucket. I loved my Godin, it barked in a swing-style rhythm section, as close to acoustic as possible, which is mainly what I do. I'm not sure that the Polytone is the ideal amp for either of these guitars - they might both do better with maybe a Blues Junior. Excellent playing, BTW.

[@jaytea42]

Good stuff Rich! Love the USA made guitars.

[@rayurena1356]

Great video! Too bad Heritage isn't making more hollow bodies. Only 535s and LPs

[@patrickevelyn8028]

The es175 sounded sweet...the 1st Heritage Eagle just a little sweeter

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Patrick!

[@dkstott29]

I owned a AR 803 and a T-145 from Eastman almost 10 years ago. Great guitars, but they were very prone to finish checking, flaking, easily chipped, etc. I ended up selling both of them due to the issues.

[@realtruenorth]

L5 is my dream guitar. Now, just gotta win the lotto 🤞

[@domagojoinky8262]

So, a 16in is a good allrounder, not so small in sound like a 15in, but not a sumo guitar that 18in is.

[@oldtimer99]

All sound wonderful but for the price, even from your place, is way high for anyone learning jazz. If it is a requirement then I would rather take the path of learning using a tele. Thanks

[@mrjohnp555]

the 15" Eastman design looks a lot like a Benedetto, my dream axe...

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Yes it does! Benedetto makes a great axe! Thanks for watching..

[@gregmacklin9758]

Hey Rich are you related to Doc Severinson.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Maybe about 20 generations back

[@janymikeptz1156]

Thank you very much for the helpful video. Just curious why D'Angelico, Peerless or Ibanez weren't included?

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Those are all good guitars, especially when you get the higher-end models. I just personally don't have any of those brands at the moment to feature! If I end up buying one you can bet I will post a video on it!

[@janymikeptz1156]

@@RichSeversonGuitar Thank you Sir!

[@Ptpop]

What do you mean by a 16” or a 16” etc. guitar?

[@renakmans3521]

I wish you pulled down the guitar that’s behind you…what is it?

[@tvtommm]

Very nice sounding guitars. I have a friend that builds guitars - check out Redentore guitars by Mark Piper.

[@Peter-ic7vj]

Shadow. Of your. Smile...!!!

[@Bluesonata]

Thank you for sharing all these info, I'm a beginner, don't want to spend too much on one of those expensive guitar yet, what do you think about Ibanez af95 and Godin 5th ave kingpin II HB? or even PRS SE hollowbody II? I love how full hollow for warmer tone.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Hi, Kydia! Do you have a chance to play any of these? I would feel them and listen to them if you can and see which one feels best for you. They all would be good choices for beginner jazz guitars. Thanks for the comment!

[@Bluesonata]

@@RichSeversonGuitar I only tried on the 5th ave and PRS se, I had one lesson, can't ready tell the difference, I like the 5th ave, but the sales told me PRS is a good brand too,for the price of se is at a more affordable price, and Ibanez is out of stock, be very helpful to hear some suggestions from a pro's perspective, thank you so much

[@ColocasiaCorm]

I think any guitar you play jazz on is a jazz guitar

[@PedroMiguel-if3ll]

Like everything in life, don't expect a $500 guitar to sound the same as a $5000 one.

[@michaelpilgrim8131]

How dare you play a snippet of a Fernando Sor study on a jazz box?!

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

We all admire your income😣

[@4578a]

The Gibson's sounded the worst and i'm sure they're the most expensive.

[@rickberry4477]

Hey Rich. Huge fan. Love my DeArmond by Guild X155’s. Minty from 98. Blonde and sunburst best hidden deal out there. Usually around 800

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Had a couple of them a while back. Nice axe

[@rickberry4477]

Also used to have a Samick Lasalle single floating pup spruce top. Greg Bennett design like Cliff Lisette on here plays. Shoulda kept it! 😂😢

[@HansenogCarlsen]

Nordic guitar friends / Hansen & Carlsen for 0 sekunder siden @hansenogcarlsen : Hey Rich - Thanks it's a joy listening to you👍🏻