The Joe Pass Emperor-II is THE GUITAR if You Want Jazz on a Budget

Epiphone and Joe Pass seem like an odd pairing. But I can tell you with certainty this is an incredible entryway and callback to the legendary archtops of yore.
Let me know what you think about this guitar below!
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IkeGuitar is a KZbin channel designed to give intermediate and beginning guitarists the tools they need to take their next step in their guitar career. We seek to mentor and provide guitarists with practical tools, concepts, and ideas to bridge the gap in their knowledge that will take them from hobbyist to paid professional.

[@DennisVernier]

I would play an Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II on any gig, anywhere in the world, without a second thought. Most people that are not experienced guitarists don't know one guitar from another. It's a fine instrument that sounds and looks great. I don't need to spend $10,000 for a guitar to play a gig where I'm background music and lucky to be making $200. My main guitar is a vintage late 60's Epiphone Casino, but I often use a $450 Greg Bennett Samick and nobody knows or cares about what guitar I'm playing. Reality.

[@Stricknyne1]

"Lush Life" completely caught me off guard. Great job, thanks for the video.

[@IkeGuitar]

So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for noticing! 😊

[@deanlaster1724]

I like mine for rockabilly and early rock and roll. It can play blues pretty well.

[@JillandKevin]

I have had MANY archtops thru the years. I had New York made '51 Triumph Regent & '51 Zephyr Deluxe Regent, Guild X-160 Rockabilly Model, '50's Gretsch "Electromatic, a '56 Gretsch Country Club, a couple of Gibson L-5 CES's & a Super 400 C, several Kalamazoo made Epiphones, including an EXTREMELY rare Broadway Deluxe, and several wonderful Eastman Archtops & Semi's. Among all those, I also had a Korean made Epi Joe Pass. Amazingly, it was a great guitar!!! UNTIL, I thought "it would be even better with REAL Gibson '57 Classic pickups" WRONG!!!! It lost all the great Jazz flavor with the Gibson pickups!!! I switched back, and it was it's old self again. They knew what they were doing when they voiced those Korean pickups for the Epi!!! Can't remember where my old one went! Some trade somewhere along the line I guess. I'm slowly looking around for another one!

[@thomasishida3657]

Interesting, I also have a Korean made and I was thinking of upgrading the pickups, but now I think I won't.

[@JillandKevin]

@@thomasishida3657 I certainly wasn't happy with the Gibson '57 Classics I put in it. Epiphone actually voiced their pickups very well!!

[@potatosquid9595]

That JP20 pictured is from my local music store in Cardiff. I played that exact guitar pictured. It's okay I guess lol wasn't overly blown away by it

[@charliehoschjr1490]

Thanks! man I agree with everything you said as it relates to the Joe Pass Guitar Emperor Pro II . Looking forward to getting one..... Cheers!

[@DaveyG68]

Just picked up a 1993 Joe Pass Emporer (MIK) to pair with my 1993 Sheraton II. It was a great buy. The original owner gigged and recorded Jazz with it for years , then had a luthier build him a guitar. My gain.

[@selfwitness]

Interesting that you chose “Lush Life” as a demo. Very nice.

[@IkeGuitar]

Glad you like it!

[@kennytamburro317]

I own a 1992 Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor . First year , came from the factory with pickup switch on the lower bout . Samick made an after market tune-a matic bridge .

[@geckobaldy]

My EEJP is also 92. I've only seen the switches on the upper bout (nearest the neck). The earlier switch position was on the horn - this was known as the pre JP. Later, at Joe's request, it was put above like an es175. Mine is like the 175.

[@kennytamburro317]

My Joe Pass plays like butter ., perfect intonation up the whole neck .. Back is beautiful flame maple . The adjust-a-matic bridge makes a huge difference . I'm a blues player , but I can appreciate Joe Pass even if I can't compare with him . Stock pickups , love the acoustic flavor when plugged in @@@geckobaldy

[@clovergrass9439]

I bought a 2015 recently. I put a stew mac adjustable bridge, wow, makes a huge difference.

[@derekhenderson1730]

I bought my Joe Pass Emperor in early 1995. I got Kent Armstrong (when he was still in London) to make 2 vintage PAF's for me. I installed them and added a Gibson 175 tailpiece and Grover rotomatic Imperial tuners. It looks and sounds killer. I don't think spending 10/20,000 on a vintage Gibson could give me a better tone.

[@ragsdirt3492]

I play a 1997 Guild X-700. It sounds sweet. I also have a Loar 650 that has a floating Bartilino pickup and a Benedetto pick guard. I sounds sweet for jazz.

[@jamescpht]

I cannot imagine why people would give you looks or be judgemental for playing an Epiphone. John Chiodini plays an Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II all the time. John Chiodini is fabulous and one of my favorite guitarists

[@DennisVernier]

Thank you.

[@Martinjazz16799119]

Good review brother!! Thanks

[@ryanmccutcheon4298]

Don't forget Gretsch, Godin, Ibanez and D'angelico still make jazz boxes.

[@jamescpht]

Yes indeed. All if them still making new jazz boxes, mostly original designs. Ibanez is my most preferred brand, especially their AFC series.

[@geckobaldy]

The Ibby AF55 is a wonderful budget jazz box.

[@andriesscheper2022]

Some 50 years ago I was really impressed by an Ibanez electric. Fingerpicked a dreadnought Gibson/Epiphone (couldn't afford the Fender, let alone a Martin). At an age of 69 I realize (like many other players): we're always one short ( instruments, I mean). Stay safe!

[@DoubleRR44]

I use a fender vintage 1966 Coronado with a vintage fender 1976 starcaster maple neck. I call it the “co-star” it is a great jazz guitar

[@giantteshorelone6345]

oh man, what amp did you use in the demo? it sounds really great!

[@IkeGuitar]

@@giantteshorelone6345 Archetype Petrucci!

[@giantteshorelone6345]

@@IkeGuitar Thanks!

[@amphionification]

I've had my Joe Pass for almost 20 years. It plays like a dream and has held up to a lot of gigging and abuse.

[@TAM-gz5tc]

AF105F ART CORE JAZZ IBANEZ FITTED WITH GB FLOATING PICK UP ON NECK NO PICKGUARD IS WHAT I USE. TO MY EAR THIS HAS A PROPER JAZZ TONE . THE PICKUP IS A WIDE RANGE FREQUENCY PROVIDING WARMPTH AND CLARITY.

[@localguy8]

I did like the Joe Pass but I got me the Ibanez GB10 EM instead .

[@Jgreen2794]

I got a 2006 recently. I love it.

[@user-qt5cm1qf3m]

I have one. I love 💘 💗 ♥ it. RIP Joe Pass.

[@PatStockdaleMusic]

I like it... Im going to buy it!

[@IkeGuitar]

He bought it ❤

[@PatStockdaleMusic]

@@IkeGuitar it is a good one

[@STRAT1974]

What do you think of the Hagstrom D’Aquisto “Jimmy” I have an oval hole blonde and standard 2 pickup sunburst models

[@MrMjp58]

I'm not an expert on jazz boxes, but.. I have played a high end Gibson 175 and a Joe Pass signature Epiphone, which beat the Gibson hands down, in every aspect.

[@paulgentile1024]

Sounds great

[@randykalish7558]

My JP shreds with least effort. Feedback at louder venues meant it got left home. Wish I'd known that a soundpost cures that: easy. Recently playing and loving it more and more, like its useabiliy, not speaking of the jazz realm, is from a higher price range, so not only the bargain is exciting, it may have some value in unusual applications. The thing certainly can roar! EQ necessary, lol.

[@jameshendee4489]

The man makes the guitar, the guitar does not make the man... meaning... the "jazz sound" available is from the person playing it... turn the tone down and play the right chords on most any guitar (even, like the neck pickup on a Jackson Randy Rhoads)... and it will be the jazz (familiar) "tone"... but the fingers making the chords is where the actual sound comes from... no chords, no jazz... or power chords with a muffled tone, maybe or what the hell... crack on the distortion to cover all the mistakes, haha -- I love my Joe Pass Epiphone... I can't possibly afford the Gibson prices anymore, and if they make anything like their old Byrdlands, etc, put 5 zeros behind the numbers in the price... its just ridiculous... I am all-in with Epiphone, especially after the 2020 CEO change, and the newly developed "Inspired by Gibson" line ups. So far I think I have ten of the new 2020 and later Epiphones... for the price of like one Gibson Les Paul Custom at $5,000 a pop... hahaha

[@L4sleeko]

Lovely playing

[@IkeGuitar]

Thank you!

[@jala_penoss]

I wonder, is it hard to play fast on it? How’s the action for an average setup, I mean I’ve heard that the big gauges need to be a little higher in order to sound right. Thanks for the review btw

[@IkeGuitar]

You can play as fast as you have practiced up to. Takes a larger gauge for the sound, but that really doesn't matter. People like to think they play faster on lower action and lighter strings but that's like an iceberg mentality. It only makes up for 5%. The other 95% is practice practice practice.

[@n0tett]

I don't understand... why is the Joe Pass Emperor 2 roughly 1/2 the price of a 2010 Broadway? I am coming from the world of synths and am very confused as to how guitar companies determine MSRP.

[@TAM-gz5tc]

THE AMP MAKES A HUGH DIFFERENCE. I USE A DV MARK JAZZ 12. A FENDER AMP CREATES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SOUND AND RESPONSE.

[@user-cd3tq9ye2p]

is it flat top?

[@GraveyBones]

True chads would recognize this guitar as the one that Guitar Guy uses to play the theme for the Angry Video Game Nerd!

[@golden-sun]

I didn't know that, I've been watching avgn since 2007 🤐

[@ArrozCLeche]

Is that final fantasy 15 music in the background?

[@davidallen346]

I had one before in the 90s

[@ArthurVanDerTacitus]

I honestly wonder if a Chinese made one is any worse because I think they still use the same materials since it is the same brand.

[@TheStrataminor]

4:00 for the 40 seconds of playing

[@IkeGuitar]

I follow a strict "no more than 10% of the video is playing" policy.

[@yodasecondave]

Gretsch electromatic

[@fishingwithpappy5611]

I have a epiphone es175 and it’s better than my Gibson es135 and my gretsch 6118t

[@BeachCat]

Who cares about what the gear snobs think? Play whatever you like.

[@billpomfret774]

Aint that the truth ...

[@donlawson6347]

Love the tone love the neck it stays in tune no real feedback that I noticed. I love playing it. for a beginner who loves music it's a great!

[@georgeargon5113]

I don't know from what planet you're from. But there are plenty of jazz boxes around at affordable prices. Try the Eastman AR322CE, D'Angelico Excel EXL-1, Epiphone Emperor Broadway, Guild Starfire II ST Dyasonic, Ibanez Pat Matheny, and PRSE SE Hollowbody. Should I go on? Hmm, maybe I'll do a show of my own that is researched instead of coming across like a cast member of SNL's "Wayne's World."

[@IkeGuitar]

You seem upset. Would you like a little cheese with your wine?

[@alankeish6420]

People don’t play jazz because it takes to much thinking

[@randykalish7558]

I would like to play jazz, I think? Joe Pass indicated that you can't be thinking much while you play, and indeed the permutations seem limitless yet the greats don't appear to be confused while they're playing on camera, so I imagine the cussin and swearin take place in the practice room?

[@pem1126]

NOT TRUE! D'Angelico makes great jazz guitars.

[@frankschmidt5223]

too much of talking talking ...

[@andriesscheper2022]

I've chosen a Chinese made Gretch Pearl editon semi hollow body. Paid some € 900. Plays, sounds and looks great! It rocks as well as rockabillies; plays Elvis, Cash, The Eagles, Skynyrd, ZZ, BB and the lot, and all the ones that I forgot to mention... Santana, Gary Moore, so many more... the ones in jazz like Atkins, Pass, and all the other most iconic players... I can't give credit to them all. For Bossa Nova I prefer my nylon stringed ceder top chines made, Maurice Dupont designed Lag Occ 180 classic guitar. For it's qualities at some €500 a bargain. It's got a tuner and small pre amp, plays like a dream..., plenty of overtones, well designed: a beautiful guitar.