Choosing a Custom Jazz Archtop Guitar

Do you play the jazz guitar? It is such a wonderful instrument! In fact, many would say there is something awesome about the sound of a jazz guitar, because it adds fullness and life to a piece of otherwise drab music. But if you have never given any thought to purchasing a custom jazz archtop guitar, and now find yourself considering it, what do you look for? Is the most expensive jazz archtop guitar the best one to purchase? Is one body style better than the other is?

Well, like many things, the answer to these questions is not a straightforward response. It depends much on what style of music you want to play, how much you can afford to invest and what your preferences are. So, if you are deciding what will be the best custom jazz archtop guitar is for you, then here are a few tips to keep in mind.

· The solid body - Ideally, you will want one with a solid body as this is the type of guitar used not only jazz guitarist like John Abercrombie, J. McLaughlin and Mike Stern, but it is also a very popular guitar for country, blues and rock music. A solid body guitar produces a very consistent tone, has a high volume output and is nearly 100% immune to feedback---a common occurrence in other types of guitars.

· The semi-hollow body - Made famous by guitar greats like Emily Remier who played a Gibson ES-330, Larry Carlton who preferred the Gibson ES-335, Ben Monder and John Scofield, the semi-hollow is viewed as the middle ground of jazz guitars. It is of medium size, adds a nice sound and has a great deal of versatility. However, it does have some feedback concerns, which will have to be dealt with when playing.

· Archtop guitars - This is an exemplary jazz guitar has been used by numerous jazz guitar legends like Joe Pass who played the Gibson 175 and American archtop player, Craig Wagner. The archtop guitar is not just seen as a key part of a band, but is also an item that is coveted by many collectors and those professionals who can afford the higher end instruments. However, the average musician can enjoy many styles, such as Gibsons, Gretsch, Ibanez and others.

If you are considering purchasing a custom archtop guitar, then talking to those you know who play the guitar will be the best thing you can do. They will be able to help direct you towards a guitar that will help you achieve the sound you want at a price you can afford.

Many websites provide additional information on the topic of custom jazz archtop guitars. One such site worth visiting is

Janet Slagell independently authors articles for WebDrafter.com, Inc. for search engine marketing. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author, and not of any other person, company or organization. No guarantee or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, fitness, or use of the content herein.