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epiphone broadway


cometredcapp

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Hi y`all, I have been talking about the epiphone dot or casino, that I might get, but lately the Broadway got me intrested. Obviusly everyone uses them for jaaaaz. Im more of a blues guy, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, also Chuck berry, Bo Diddley, and rock like the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. I do know that Dave Davies used a Harmony Meteor for "you really got me", and I have heard of people using hollow-bodies for blues-rock, or RnB, but what about THIS guitar? It is just beautiful, and just a little bit outside of my budget, things are rotten expensive in Norway! But its one of the few guitars in the local music store, and it is just sooo cool! So, Epiphone Broadway-good? Thanks!

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If a full hollow body piques your interest, take a look at the Epi Joe Pass or a 175. Both can be found new and/or used cheaper than the Broadway. I went through a similar dilemma ahort time ago. I was lusting after a Zephyr Blues Deluxe for a "jazz project", but they are difficult to find. I started looking around at alternatives and those two rose to the top of my list. I would have gotten one or the other, had a ZBD not come along, although the Broadway was on that list. I already own a Casino, I was looking for more of a jazz box. I'm not so sure that a Broadway would be my first choice for rock. Personally, I think a Casino or a Sheraton would make a better rock guitar, and easier to find, too. Choosing between those two would be dtermined by which pickup type you prefer, P-90 or HB. Keep us posted on your quest.

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The advantage of a full hollowbody like this one is that when you turn the volume down (or lower the pickups), you can get a beautiful tone that sounds a lot like a good

acoustic guitar being slightly amplified. A whole range of tones is available. It's also a good blues guitar, albeit in the Swing or Memphis styles as opposed to the Chicago genre.

 

The one thing it isn't is a rock guitar; it's a feedback factory at anything approaching high volume. You can stuff it full of cotton or newspapers which is something I've never understood. I remember seeing pictures of Alvin Lee (10 years After) or Mark Farmer (Grand Funk) with guitars with the F holes taped over or hearing that George Thorogood fills his ES-175 with newspapers. If you need to do that, the Broadway isn't your guitar.

 

What you get in the Broadway is a pure jazz guitar, with a tradition that dates from the early 30's. Epiphone has done a good job of making sure that it's a guitar that

doesn't merely cash in on the name (like Gretsch did with it's Historical Series). It's not as spectacular looking as the Joe Pass, but it is a better pure jazz instrument.

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If by "rock," you mean heavily distorted, Hendrix/Metallica/Satriani/shred type stuff, then I'd agree that a 17" hollow body like the Broadway is probably not the best choice.

 

BUT:

 

Many rock guitarists (especially in the early days) have in fact played "jazz" guitars, and their rich, fat tone is not easily replicated on solid bodies. For example:

 

Scotty Moore with Elvis: Gibson ES-295, L-5 and Super 400

Gene Cornish with the Rascals: Gibson Barney Kessel

Brian MacLean with Love: Gibson Barney Kessel

Jerry Miller with Moby Grape: Gibson L-5

Bill Champlin with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson ES-175

Terry Haggerty with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson L-5

Gary Duncan with Quicksilver Messenger Service: Gibson Barney Kessel, L-5

Hal Wagenet with It's A Beautiful Day: Gibson ES-175

Neil Young - Gretsch 6120, White Falcon

Stephen Stills - Gretsch White Falcon

Ted Nugent - Gibson Byrdland

Steve Howe with Yes: Gibson ES-175

Tim Armstrong with Rancid - Gretsch Country Club

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If by "rock," you mean heavily distorted, Hendrix/Metallica/Satriani/shred type stuff, then I'd agree that a 17" hollow body like the Broadway is probably not the best choice.

 

BUT:

 

Many rock guitarists (especially in the early days) have in fact played "jazz" guitars, and their rich, fat tone is not easily replicated on solid bodies. For example:

 

Scotty Moore with Elvis: Gibson ES-295, L-5 and Super 400

Gene Cornish with the Rascals: Gibson Barney Kessel

Brian MacLean with Love: Gibson Barney Kessel

Jerry Miller with Moby Grape: Gibson L-5

Bill Champlin with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson ES-175

Terry Haggerty with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson L-5

Gary Duncan with Quicksilver Messenger Service: Gibson Barney Kessel, L-5

Hal Wagenet with It's A Beautiful Day: Gibson ES-175

Neil Young - Gretsch 6120, White Falcon

Stephen Stills - Gretsch White Falcon

Steve Howe with Yes: Gibson ES-175

Tim Armstrong with Rancid - Gretsch Country Club

Nicely played, sir.

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If by "rock," you mean heavily distorted, Hendrix/Metallica/Satriani/shred type stuff, then I'd agree that a 17" hollow body like the Broadway is probably not the best choice.

 

BUT:

 

Many rock guitarists (especially in the early days) have in fact played "jazz" guitars, and their rich, fat tone is not easily replicated on solid bodies. For example:

 

Scotty Moore with Elvis: Gibson ES-295, L-5 and Super 400

Gene Cornish with the Rascals: Gibson Barney Kessel

Brian MacLean with Love: Gibson Barney Kessel

Jerry Miller with Moby Grape: Gibson L-5

Bill Champlin with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson ES-175

Terry Haggerty with the Sons of Champlin: Gibson L-5

Gary Duncan with Quicksilver Messenger Service: Gibson Barney Kessel, L-5

Hal Wagenet with It's A Beautiful Day: Gibson ES-175

Neil Young - Gretsch 6120, White Falcon

Stephen Stills - Gretsch White Falcon

Steve Howe with Yes: Gibson ES-175

Tim Armstrong with Rancid - Gretsch Country Club

 

+ 1.

 

The Broadway is a very well-made hollow body, too. The sleeper of the Epiphone line. I think it's much better than the Gretsch Electromatics that are similarly priced.

 

Red 333

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Thanks, I might think about a Joe Pass, as it is cheaper. I really like the look of an 175 reissiue, but they dont have those anywhere close. Very well said Red 333, Im not thinking of any thrash or heavy metal (bluelake, I love Eric Claptons music, thats probably the heaviest I get) But like I said earlier, I am inspired by music from people like Chuck Berry, B.B. king, and my favourite guitarist is Dave Davies, as I love the Kinks (and the Rolling stones for that) in the 60s. I am thinking of getting together a little band, just to play at little youth clubs, so that would be good? The only thing I dont like is that silly signature on the pickguard. Im not really a great big jazz fan, and I would be slightly ashamed of myself to buy one of this as a tribute/signature guitar for Joe...

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  • 1 month later...

Hi y`all, I have been talking about the epiphone dot or casino, that I might get, but lately the Broadway got me intrested. Obviusly everyone uses them for jaaaaz. Im more of a blues guy, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, also Chuck berry, Bo Diddley, and rock like the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. I do know that Dave Davies used a Harmony Meteor for "you really got me", and I have heard of people using hollow-bodies for blues-rock, or RnB, but what about THIS guitar? It is just beautiful, and just a little bit outside of my budget, things are rotten expensive in Norway! But its one of the few guitars in the local music store, and it is just sooo cool! So, Epiphone Broadway-good? Thanks!

 

If you want to play Rock, no... If you want to play Rock n Roll, yes. I have a Broadway because of my love for T-Bone, very early Berry had a 350 before the 350-T, and, even Oscar Moore and Carl Hogan. It is pure as pure and a lovely realm. Let's add to that Danny Cedrone on the famous Rock Around The Clock solo.

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The only thing I dont like is that silly signature on the pickguard. Im not really a great big jazz fan, and I would be slightly ashamed of myself to buy one of this as a tribute/signature guitar for Joe...

 

That's easily remedied. If you don't like the pickguard signature, it will rub off quite easily with a soft cloth and some Goo Gone or naphtha. Can't say for sure whether removing the signature will impact the value should you later decide to sell the guitar, but if it does, I'd imagine not by a lot.

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