Which one: Wasburn J6 or Epiphone Emporer Regent?
Jack Howard
My dear fellow jazz guitar aficionados:
The question is, which one should I buy: a Washburn J6 or an Epiphone
Emporer Regent? I've played them both and like them both, and appreciate
the differences between them. What I'm looking for is either endorsements
or words of caution, especially from owners of these models.
Thanks in advance if you take the time to reply.
- Jack
--
Jack Howard
jho...@fas.harvard.edu
brent
Jack, I have an Emporer Regent. I purchased it 18 months ago. I do like
it an awful lot. A couple of observations. First, the tailpiece is
the traditional Epiphone two-trapeze deal. Not all strings work with
it. This can be a pain, if your favorite strings are not long enough.
Second, it sounds awesome through my amp, (golly, I use a Polytone
too!!) but if you are looking for a strong acoustic sound, it is a bit
lacking. The workmanship is not bad, considering what it costs. I had
the frets dressed out, the action set very low, and it is a highly
playable, good sounding instrument. Hope this helps.
Brent
MONITOR
I have an Emperor Regent (for Epi's "Regent" means cutaway). I'm pretty
satisfied with it and consider it every bit as good as the other large
bodies in it's price range. I've also tried the J6 and almost bought that
as well, but the one I tried had a cosmetic flaw and it was the only one in
the store. I believe they are both made by Samick in Korea. Samick also
makes their own large body (very much like the J6). I played one and it
plays as well as the J6. It is also considerably less expensive. Since
all of these guitars have thick laminated tops they are not very good for
accoustic work. You might find the double pickups of the J6 more versatile
and also more adaptable to other styles of music in addition to jazz. I've
found the quality control on these instruments is not very good so you
should check each individual one carefully and buy it from a reputable
dealer who will give you repairs or an exchange. It's also important to
get the guitar properly set up because it makes a big difference in how it
plays and how it sounds.
You might want to check out the Epi Joe Pass . It has a smaller body and
I find it easier to play.
RR36099
save your money...and get something better..like a '70's 175 or an Ibanez
in beat up cosmetic condition...set up properly..I believe it will sound
cool..these instruments we're discussing..welll...like throwing your money
away..you'll have marginal tone and playability and a hard time selling
should you ever need to..if you can save up 600 bucks..you can save 1200
and go for it..someone here quoted Segovia...."Patience is bitter but its
fruit is sweet..."
Robert E. Irwin
Jack Howard wrote:
>
> My dear fellow jazz guitar aficionados:
>
> The question is, which one should I buy: a Washburn J6 or an Epiphone
> Emporer Regent? I've played them both and like them both, and appreciate
> the differences between them. What I'm looking for is either endorsements
> or words of caution, especially from owners of these models.
>
> Thanks in advance if you take the time to reply.
>
> - Jack
>
> --
> Jack Howard
> jho...@fas.harvard.edu
Hello Jack,
I have not seen the Washburn, but I sure like the Emperor Regent, I like its
acoustic design with the floating pickup. I have read it is wise to play a
lot of them and pick the best one as quality control is not too consistent
with less expensive guitars.
BJE
This is the typical arrogant attitude that keeps the jazz community
small. Not everyone is a pro, and some of us enjoy playing on
Epiphones. Is that ok??? Some of us have wives and children, but late
at night, we get a real joy out of sitting with our "cheap" guitars and
playing through our Peaveys and Polytones.
Let's be real. Jazz guitar is not popular,and we should rejoice when
someone has an interest in an archtop of any kind. In five years he
might be buying that 175 or L-5, or maybe he will just enjoy his
Washburn or Epi.
I can remember 35 years ago, owning a Sears Danelectro, and hearing some
guy with a Gretsch put me down in the same way... wish I had that
guitar today. I think we need some perspective here. Some people will
invest at different levels.
I would bet that some people are afraid to post here, because of these
types of reactions. We all lose.
Glenn
WELL SAID!!!
James1198
BJE writes....
"This is the typical arrogant attitude that keeps the jazz community
small. Not everyone is a pro, and some of us enjoy playing on
Epiphones. Is that ok??? Some of us have wives and children, but late
at night, we get a real joy out of sitting with our "cheap" guitars and
playing through our Peaveys and Polytones. "
I agree BJE....we all tend to get lost in the tools of music rather than
the music itself. It doesn't really matter what instrument you play as
long as the instrument facilitates what your attempting to create. There
is nothing wrong with the Epi's or Washburn's. I can't imagine anyone from
Jim Hall to Pat Methany sounding any less competent on an "inexpensive"
guitar than the latest or most collectable guitar.
The atttitude that the instrument makes the player is often fostered at
Guitar shows where th elikes of George Gruhn promote collectablity rather
than playability. I have no problem with Mr. Gruhn or his ilk but we
should realize that they are in the business of selling collectable
furniture not music instruments.
And as far as "jazz" being a "traditional" music form that should be
played on "traditional instruments!" Bull! Jazz is not only about
tradition as much as breaking with tradition...To one and all, may I
repeat a quote....."learn all there is about jazz, and forget all that
sh*t and play..." (C. Parker)
Best regards,
James Dawson
Kevin Van Sant
On 3 Oct 1996 10:41:43 -0400, jame...@aol.com (James1198) wrote:
>To one and all, may I
>repeat a quote....."learn all there is about jazz, and forget all that
>sh*t and play..." (C. Parker)
This is a nice statement, although fifty years have passed since it
was first spoken so now it takes a good deal longer to "learn all
there is about jazz.."
But what I really want to know is this: If one is offended by some
words does substituting one or two letters of a given word with an
asterisk really make it any less offensive? What is really offensive
anyway, is it the word itself or is it the imagery conjured up by the
use of the offending word. I mean there is no mistaking what the
intended word is, to be sure the point is in fact for the reader to
know exactly what the word is. It is not a big deal really, and I
don't mean to single out James over this, I see it all the time and
it just seems to me to be a silly practice.
================================================
Kevin Van Sant kvan...@pobox.com
Jazz Guitar
calendar and booking information at:
http://www.webbuild.com/~kvansant/kvs_home.htm
For a complete index of internet jazz resources:
http://www.pobox.com/~onestopjazz
================================================
Lawson G. Stone
I agree with those who defend use of "cheap" archtops. I have had two
marvelous archtops: a Gibson ES175 and now a Heritage Golden Eagle. But
recently I picked up an Epiphone Emperor II (precursor to the Joe Pass).
I am astonished at how fine playing it is. Feels great, plays well,
sounds very solid and plummy. A buddy wants to buy it from me for a lot
more than I paid, but I don't know if I want to give this guitar up. I
know that "finer" instruments exist; but I agree that these more
economical instruments offer a good doorway into playing jazz. All of us
want the best we can get, but somebody who pays $400 for an Epiphone Joe
Pass in good used condition will have a lot of guitar for the money,
have a pretty nice looking instrument, and have a solid jazz sound.
--
//////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Lawson G. Stone帰sbury Theological Seminary妓ilmore, KY 40390
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\///////////////////////////////////
"I never practice. I open the case once in a while and throw in a
piece of meat." Wes Montgomery, Jazz Guitarist, told to Jim Hall.
Gary Persons
In article <530jb7$7...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, From jame...@aol.com
(James1198), the following was written:
> There
> is nothing wrong with the Epi's or Washburn's. I can't imagine anyone
> from Jim Hall to Pat Methany sounding any less competent on an
> "inexpensive" guitar than the latest or most collectable guitar.
John Pisano, who has done everything from guitar and writer in Tijuana
Brass, to backing up Joe Pass on most of his albums, to making a couple
of great CDs himself, has a pretty good collection of guitars. What
does he play on a local gig?
An Epi Joe Pass with a new (un-marked) pickguard.
It's a matter of practicality sometimes, too. Would you rather get a
"ding" in your $500 box or your $5,000 (or $50,000) baby?
!^NavFont02F02650007IHZHI666586
--
Gary Persons
Glendale, CA
gper...@earthlink.net
Using OUI PRO 1.5
tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
In article <324FE0...@infohwy.com> BJE <hch...@infohwy.com> writes:
>This is the typical arrogant attitude that keeps the jazz community
>small. Not everyone is a pro, and some of us enjoy playing on
>Epiphones. Is that ok??? Some of us have wives and children, but late
>at night, we get a real joy out of sitting with our "cheap" guitars and
>playing through our Peaveys and Polytones.
>
>someone has an interest in an archtop of any kind. In five years he
>might be buying that 175 or L-5, or maybe he will just enjoy his
>Washburn or Epi.
>
>I can remember 35 years ago, owning a Sears Danelectro, and hearing some
>guy with a Gretsch put me down in the same way... wish I had that
>guitar today. I think we need some perspective here. Some people will
>invest at different levels.
>
>I would bet that some people are afraid to post here, because of these
>types of reactions. We all lose.
You didn't quote the post you're criticizing, but I recall it as
containing good advice rather than arrogant condescension. The fact
is, whatever the merits of the Washburn and Epi budget models, you
can make a significant move up in quality without laying out all
that much more money.
One can find used Guilds and Ibanezes in the same price range, or for not
all that much more--under a grand easily. And most of these will beat
most of the budget Korean archtops in quality, on average. I would encourage
budget shoppers to look into the used market, because you'll get a lot more
for your money there.
Mark Long
I agree 100%!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I used to do alot of work on guitars and alot of the BIG NAME guitars don't deserve as much fanfare as
they get! I don't know how many times I had to do TONS of work on someone's precious Gibson, Fender, Martin
etc, etc, etc, because it played like CRAP! I am in no way saying that there aren't good guitars out there. I
am just saying that how a guitar plays and sounds has alot more to do with the worth of a guitar than the name
on the headstock.
I have a 15 year-old Washburn acoustic that will out play most big name guitars. I also had a Gibson 335 that
was very nice(as judged by alot of other guitar players) AFTER I did a ton of work on it. I sold it so I could
buy a japanese-built 335 clone(Daion) that was twice the guitar at half the price!
Well, enough said. I'll probably royally flamed for this one. :)
Jayson Tipp
TBrown commented on the advance in quality (and I'd guess that includes
workmanship and sound which tend to go hand-in-hand, but...) one can
achieve by spending a bit more than the Washburn & new Epi's cost. So,
I'm not a guitar player, but I'm trying to pass on as much of this info
to a friend who does not have web/internet access. What should I advise
him to expect to find in the $500-1000 range for better quality
archtops. Of note, he plays a variety of styles but mostly an early
70's strat and a Washburn EA-20 electric acoustic (which although he
admits it isn't a high quality acoustic, he regards it as one of the
nicest playing affordable E/A models available). He has an older Ibanez
AS-50 which isn't doing the archtop (it's only semi-hollow) job and has
owned a number of Gibson semi-hollow ES-models.
So, there it is. Any advise?
Thanks.
.25X2
Jose Paulo Xavier Pires
Reply for the original question:
WASHBURN J6 !!!
I own one and it's amazing.
Jose Paulo Pires
================
Hewlett Packard Brazil
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| The opinions expressed herein are my personal one, do not necessarily
|
| reflecting those of HP.
|
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