$600 vs $6,000 Jazz Guitar: Which One is Better?
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- Опубликовано: 31 июл 2024
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This is a $600 jazz guitar and this is a $6000 jazz guitar.
Today, I'm discussing which one I personally like the most as well as the age-old question, "Does having an expensive instrument help you play music better?". You might be surprised.
$600 Guitar: Ibanez Artcore AF95
$6,000 Guitar: Victor Baker 15" (custom made)
🕒CHAPTERS🕒
00:00 Intro
00:31 My $600 jazz guitar - brand and specs
01:46 My $6000 jazz guitar - brand and specs
03:09 Sound demo - $600 jazz guitar
03:51 Sound demo - $6000 jazz guitar
04:23 Sound comparison - my opinion
05:53 Which one do I like better? What Georgia has on her mind.
06:23 Are expensive instruments worth it?
07:20 Do you need an expensive instrument to become a great jazz musician or to
improve quicker? Pros and Cons
09:15 Quote by Victor Baker about musicianship and instrument
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Развлечения
I think it's really cool you played one guitar for 14 years and became a highly skilled professional doing so. There are many guitar channels on RUclips where the players have about a tenth of your ability and yet appear to have more gear and guitars than a music shop. More of this type of content on your channel would be good.
Thank you for the feedback! Much appreciated
You make interesting content. Thanks. I am also a multi-instrumentalist. My preferences are all over. I know that Selmer are the jazz gold standard, but I play a Yamaha YTS-62 (current retail about $4200) and like it just fine. Plays great. I like the tone. I have a custom made classical guitar which I bought almost 40 years ago which would cost in today's dollars about $5500 to $6000. My dream grand piano would be a C. Bechstein Concert B 212 (retail $240,000 give or take), but I like Yamaha grands just fine. The take-away: Make Music!
I've gone through this with acoustic guitars. After 20 years of playing I came into some money and tried about 50 different high end acoustics before settling on a luthier made acoustic I bought used. All of those guitars sounded amazing. The one I settled on FELT different when I played it. It is hard to describe, but it opened up a whole new world of navigating the fret board. The most obvious things people think about with instruments is the sound and the look. When you buy a high end instrument, you are also getting a feel that can change your playing. Again, hard to describe.
Great piece. As an electric bass player I have a number of wonderful entry-level "pro" instruments. But then over the winter I broke down and spent the $$$ for a Fodera. I still love my old basses but somehow my fingers glide over the neck of the Fodera more effortlessly. It's like skiing on perfect snow instead of just average conditions, or something like that.
Nice! Like the skiing comparison
Congratulations on the new guitar. Very interesting and thorough discussion Brent. A common sense conclusion too. With regard to GAS - I have students who own glittering collections of mega expensive archtops and this actually hampers their progress - too many options when choosing an instrument to practise with! I urged one student to just exclusively stick to one archtop for a week - and bingo rapid progress!
So refreshing to hear this side of the argument! Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I would say it’s at least 50% instrument and 50% your practice. When it comes to upright bass, for example it’s more like 80% instrument. A good instrument makes you want to practice. Every note gives you satisfaction, on a low quality instrument every note is a drag. The setup makes a big difference, too. Congratulations for your new instrument! (and for a supportive wife!). You’re a good man.
Thanks Frank!
Got it. The key is having the right wife. Beautiful instrument - you sound great on both.
Great video!!! I've been playing for 49 years and totally agree with your evaluation... I'll be sharing this video with my students.
Glad you enjoyed it Earl!
Cool! I bought an Ibanez AF75 about 12 years ago, when I started jazz. Nice box, needs attention now, frequent setups etc. Later bought a Guild Savoy, it's OK too but 17" bout is big. I play a Mexican tele now too. I look a lot but don't buy often. Nice playing!!
I played and made a living on beater jazz boxes for years and then the first time I touch one of John Buscarino's instruments, it was like every idea in my head just slid right out through the guitar. Incredible. So of course money went flying out of my wallet and I haven't looked back.
Good for you! Thanks for sharing
🤣🤣🤣🤣......! I know that feeling....! I tried to walk away from a Gibson L-5 but only got as far as the parking lot. Had to eat Top Ramen for over a year, but I've never regretted it.....
@@PaulBJazz Legendary axe!
Agree! Thanks for the video. Having played guitar for years now I can say that I am constantly blown away by the quality of instrument that can be purchased for less than $1000. Not having a professional level archtop (or amp) is no excuse for a player who is not advancing in their skills. It’s all about consistency and dedication to practice.
Agreed!
Victor made his #62 for me in 2002 ... superb instrument and a lifetime own. Glad I got him on his way up, it would cost twice as much today. Just wish I was a better player, plan to watch your videos ... like what I see so far.
I have had a 1966 Johnny Smith for 12 years-easy to get spoiled. I can tell the difference in sound from it and a Benedetto-I'd love to have one but I would feel uneasy about taking either to a gig.
Nice Video, Brent. You sounded professional on both guitars. I did hear the same tonal difference you described but, the Ibanez did sound great. What were you using for an amp and string selection? Do you use flatwounds? Hats off to your wife for encouraging you and greenlighting the upgrade. What did she think when she saw and heard the new addition?
Just being honest, I wasn't looking at the screen when you switched, and I didn't know that you did. The VB is Gorgeous and I like the looks of it way better, but maybe it's just because I was hearing it over the internet on small speakers, but I could not tell a difference in tone. That could also be because you've dialed it in to sound like the sound you were used to for 14 years. I'm sure that comes into play to some extent. I was just playing my Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor ll after playing nothing but my Les Paul Recording model for several months. It was SO much fun. I find that playing a different guitar with a different sound and feel kind of re-inspires me to play some different things. I'm sure you know what I mean. I made my living playing multiple Instruments in Show Bands, and Theater Shows starting in 1968. I worked with Dennis Weaver six nights a week in a Variety Show where I played Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Mandolin, Banjo, Drums, Tenor Sax and Native American Flute. Been pretty much retired for the last few years and have done a lot of writing and recording, and only rarely playing out. If you're interested, here is a video showing some of the people I worked with in the '80s & '90s set to two Original pieces on which I'm playing everything. I got even more interested in your playing when you said you played several instruments because I've found that every new one that I picked up influenced all the others. I've subscribed, and plan to learn everything I can from your videos. I like your Guitar style.
ruclips.net/video/McaKoS55ymw/видео.html
Indeed. But my tour started with acoustic guitars, where differences are much bigger. So, entry level, midlevel or quality (not excentric rare) are quite different. That is how I ended with few of those. My electric first and only until few years back was 78 LP clone by Aria. Lately I encouraged and started with jazz ( as amateur never got that far or had time) and bought nice HB semihollow, that does it's job, the rest is up to me. As long as the instrument plays nice, we get along.
I quite like your Ibanez, looks pretty nice too, but the Victor Baker is just superb, looks great and sounds beautiful.
Thanks!
Wow. Huge difference. And I bet the VB is a delight to play. Having said that, I bet a $1500 Yamaha is also really excellent. Must make you feel just a little bit different to have a custom made axe, though.
I’ve got a luthier friend that makes $10 k + Classical concert guitars.
I never understood it until I checked out his studio and understood what went into it. And played one of his fine instruments.
Jim Redgate is his name. Adelaide Australia.
Also the Vic Baker will improve with age. The Ibanez although a great guitar probably won’t.
one thing that stops me from ordering one is the stress I'd get from playing it, I'd have to always be suuuper careful. and also the thought of owning one, having it subject to theft is something that wouldn't quite sit right with me. I developed skills to actually make guitars, making an archtop is quite another level though. But I could maybe in a few years go down that road. It's like you say, you only need 1 anyway.
Out of curiosity, is the VB fully hollowed or is there a soundpost under the brige? Thanks! Excellent video!
Gotta say the VB sounds a little better to my ear. But I kind of have the same situation with my guitars. I have an Ibanez AMH90 which I like to mess around and doodle with, I can leave it out all night or day with no effect on the axe. but I also have an Eastman AR603-15 which is all solid wood and handmade. I have to keep it in the case when not using it and keep it dehumidified or humidified depending on the weather and temperature. It plays and sounds better than the Ibanez-but I like them both. Thanks for the video, and no the instrument does not make the player, the player makes the instrument!
A well balanced perspective without commercial bias. Ed Bickert's beatup Telecaster probably needed a major makeover. Ed's proficiency, however, made it sound great and unique over decades of performing professionally. It's not to say that more expensive hardware would not have made him sound even better or play with more ease. At the other extreme, a beginner's guitar of poor quality with a high "touch" and bad intonation discourages a new player as a de-motivating force. However, a pro career can be launched with an intermediate level instrument with a lifetime of love and care . Parting with an older loved instrument is not always easy - "Breaking up is hard to do" ...right Brent ?
Hey, I gotta figure out whether I want to make a hole in my instrument for the pickup, or to have a floating pickup. I mean, I kinda dislike the feedback effect so I tend to go for the mounted pickup. But on the other hand I don't wanna put a hole in my top (: Yours seem to be mounted, right?
Yoooo Victor Baker 🔥 he's a sick player too
I have an Ibanez GB-10, an Eastman 805 and 905, as well as a Gibson L-5. They are all wonderful, amazing-sounding guitars, but that Gibson L5 at more than double the price is by FAR the best in both feel and tone by a wide margin, hands-down. IMHO, higher-end instruments are definitely much better.
How does the Eastman 805 stack up against the other guitars and on its own?
@@AhmedAli-rg3hp The 805 actually sounds better than the 905 and the GB, but it’s not nearly as rich and buttery as the L-5, regardless of the amp or settings…..
@@paulbatson9174 Wow, I’ve yet to play one but on paper and based off of reviews, it really looks to be a great value. Thanks for the review!
@@AhmedAli-rg3hp it’s a really great guitar. I wouldn’t hesitate to get it if I were you….You won’t be disappointed
Thanx, Brent🌹🌹🌹🌹
My pleasure!
Never really thought why you didn't bust out other instruments, but hey, I can get about things that way too. One pair of feet, one pair of shoes makes sense to me. Learn where them notes are and then wear a path across em..
Great video! Get the best you can afford, and get to work! (And don't be afraid to window shop)
thanks! Very true
At a workshop some guy next to me looked and listened to my guitar. He played a Heritage, a high quality guitar for sure with a price around 5k. He asked to try out my Instrument. I gave it to him, and he was delighted. Sound and feel he really enjoyed. "That is a great guitar" he said, as he gave it back. "What did you pay for it?". "I paid 550 including the case. He turned a whiter shade of pale... literally the colour went out of his face. But it is true. It is a Johnson JAT-12 NA made in Korea. I bought a very early model. It has a fine massive spruce top, The regular price later was about 800, the guitars are no longer built. Maybe to good quality, so some big player in the business bought the brand to stop a competitor - but I don't know. And I know some Gibson L5 Player that sound .... well ... not so good. If the Instrument is ok, and you love the sound and feel the only thing you really need is enough confidence to present yourself with a "no name" guitar. The acoustic element of an amplified Jazz guitar is a very small part. In my opinion picks and amp and pickups make the most part of the sound. And the player. For example I play with a very heavy pick (Dunlop Flow Jumbo 4.2) an a very light touch. That gives a very special sound and a long sustain. But I have that on every guitar I play.
To be honest I prefer your Ibanez than the other one, simply bc you can hear how extremely beautiful it sounds. Yes the 6000 dollar one is bit clearer and it has sharper tone, but the Ibanez guitar sounds more darker and has more feel to it. Personally yes I would buy a more expensive guitar as an investment for concerts and stuff, but I would also upgrade the Ibanez guitar with better quality pickups, electrical wiring and few adjustments to the neck and it would sound even better, cause at the end of the day wood is wood, everything else is replaceable.
It’s not what you have it’s what you do with it that really counts. 😉
Let's level set this... Your talking about a professional player buying a professional instrument. For begining guitarist, getting a guitar with easy action, smooth and straight neck and good tuning/intonation is all that is required to start. Back in the 1980s you had a pay 500-1000 for a good guitar like described.. in 2022, there are many guitars made on low cost cnc lines that have tight necks, good action and generally a 200 guitar is fine for a beginner. And you can upscale your lower cost guitar thru learning how to do frets, set necks, intonation and that will make the ceap guitar better ... But it might not be so stable... For example I have one of the epihone swingster.. out of box it's like the artcore, but after spending the time on then neck, frets and a good setup, it's a pretty good guitar but it still is unstable tonally.. sit for a while and it falls out of tune... I have a 70s Gibson that I can sit in the closet for a year, take it out and it's still in tune...
To me, it's more about getting the acoustic tone if you want it I'd say. Hand carved guitars are expensive. If you don't need that, then you can use a Telecaster or other solid body really.
Curious what strings / gauge you use on the two guitars.
On the Ibanez D'Addario 13's, on the VB D'Addario 12's, both Nickel Wound
"Is the instrument highlights - improve the playing or the playing makes the instrument sound good?"
It is not easily discernible! For me ,with a good instrument, technique changes and we sound better because all the small details are discernible. But that doesn't mean that a good instrument will do the job by itself.
Beyond the quality of the woods one more reason Baker's guitar sounds better is because that it has the basic wood combination maple ebony sprut where it has been used for centuries for the manufacture of hollow - semi hollow instruments like violins, etc
A good instrument is an investment for a musician, but first must discover exactly what he/she wants tonewoods, pickups, hardware, frets etc Cool video!!
PS: Try (black) limba than mahogany.. hehe
Glad you enjoyed it George!
Also .. all the comments regarding sound ..? These are electric guitars and the post adjustment of sound is really part of the whole picture.. I could easily adjust the amp settings so that that artcore sounded just like the custom guitar... It is unlikely that one setup would be optimum for two different guitatrs
Is the string action higher on the new guitar? The old one sounded like the string action was too low and that it sounded more "plastic" and the expensive one more "woody".
No they are about the same
Super 58's do sound good!
The Ibanez sounds like a string vibrating, the baker sounds like wood resonating
I'm an amateur and I have the means to buy an expensive instrument (the purchase wouldn't make a dent in my budget) and I want an expensive archtop, is it ok if I indulge?
Hi, you may watch this video for details on the guitar ruclips.net/video/ym2XbAVD9Ec/видео.html. Thank you!
I wish you would have told us what amp and speaker/amp-sim and you were going into in the sound demo and if they were the same on both, after all the speaker makes the biggest difference in the sound. But great video otherwise!
A lot also depends on the setup.
For some reason, every Ibanez I hear has a tin sound to it. However, I have never heard one in person.
Wait...your wife conviced you to buy an expensive(pro) guitar???That must be the first time in jazz history 😁
Ummm.... Just an observation: Georgia did, in fact, blink twice, so... However, the feel is the most important quality. Also, it's the combination of electronics (pickups and amplifier) that end up making the sound. That said, I have my favorite guitar. Now, when talking about acoustic guitars, the luthier and the materials do, in fact, make the difference. And, if you're just learning, a bad sounding guitar will simply discourage you regardless of your innate talent.
Did you spec it out with the maker?
Yes, I did.
@@Learnjazzstandards
It's a gorgeous instrument, Congratulations !!,
@@audreygiamlayhoon Thanks!
its the person playing the guitar that makes it sound good. I've had all the old great guitars $10,000 to $40,000 they are not worth it. buy a house🤑
If one has a limited budget. Buy an instrument that does not hold you back. The instrument must have a straight neck. Frets flushed at the sides and the intonation is not off at the twelfth fret. I think a 16 inch body is a comfortable size for a guitarist at any level.
In other words the first guitar should not be a toy.
I need at least gibson l5 to play bro
Cheap archtop guitars can sometimes be great buys, but here are some recommendations based on my experiences:
1/ Find a specimen that works. I have a cheap Epi Broadway that I picked out of a bunch. Although mine looked the same as the others, it resonated so much more and sounded so much better. So, don't order a cheap guitar online, go find one that sounds decent.
2/ Cheap plastic nut and cheap thin bridge made of soft wood kill the resonance of the guitar. Replace the nut with bone and get a proper bridge. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.
3/ This is optional, but replacing the electronics might help a great deal, especially on guitars with humbuckers. Some cheap archtops have relatively high output humbuckers which do not sound musical and do not cut well through the mix when playing clean. Cheap P90s tend to be better than cheap humbuckers.
Great tips!
There are precious few wives who will actively encourage their guitar playing husbands to spend big sums of money on new guitars. You sir are blessed!
Thank you!
Night & day contrast. You have a wise woman.
Forgot about drums
Brent - what is the equivalent current value of $ 600 14 years ago? About $ 900/1000 - so it wasn't a cheapo guitar.
I started playing jazz about 2012 after 20 years of rock and blues on a Fender Elite and a Gibson Les Paul. Neither sounded right to me for jazz - although Dave Cliff (London - well known jazz player) always played a Fender as does Michael Landau with Steve Gadd's band. So I bought a second hand Ibanez Artist. Cost approx $ 850 - lovely guitar. I played it all the time in my band until last year when someone handed me a 1964 Gibson ES 330. Incredible - the action was perfect as was the sound - that guitar sings. I bought it for £ 4500. One comment said you should never buy a guitar on-line. Absolutely right - you have to touch it, play it and listen to its resonance. Some guitars are "dead" whatever you do with them. On the question of weight - does your new guitar have a central wood section in the body under the strings? Often put there to stop feed back vibrations. My Ibanez Artist has one, ( the Gibson ES 135 has a balsa wood one and is lighter) but the Gibson 330 doesn't, and is consequently much lighter. You notice this as you get older - I can't remember how I used to pay 3 hour gigs standing with that 1984 Les Paul around my neck!
Uh oh - my wife overheard you saying I don't need an expensive guitar!
;-)
Your wife is a keeper
You're probably the only guitarist I know who was persuaded by his girlfriend to buy an expensive guitar. Sounds almost absurd :)
To hell with the guitar, congrats on the girlfriend!
Couldn't agree more! I married her to lock that in
Will your wife marry me too and demand I spend more money on instruments?!!! 😉
😂
Seriously? You expect people to believe that your wife nagged you into dropping $6,000 on a guitar? Excuse me, I have a pressing engagement.
Well, he's a lucky dude, isn't he.
I expect no one to actually believe that...but its true
Went for the Peter Bernstein lookin guitar, huh? Speaking of guitar …Do you think you’ll ever have a TAB option for your online courses?
Baker has more detailed sound but both sound like you
Kudos to the girlfriend for pushing you into getting a better instrument!
It’s not 10x better. The Ibanez is fine.
Over use of the word "like" makes you sound similar to my 12 yo daughters friends. like, like, like. Is it "like" a Jazz Guitar or is it some facsimile?
It’s a scourge of modern English speaking unfortunately. I don’t know when I started doing it, but trying to stop yourself from doing it is incredibly difficult.