fubb Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Hello I'm starting to look for a new guitar for jazz. I'm willing to spend a lot of time looking and playing to find something I'll live with and use for life. My shortlist is currently broad including a 175, L5 and a super 400. I've played a 175 which was great but didn't move me. I want to play a 400 but living in the UK I do not know of any retailer who has one or will only order one if I agree to buy in advance of playing it. I could go up "cold " to a band and ask to have a look but suspect I'll get a polite brush-off. Does any one have any comments on the merits of these guitars and how I access a 400 in the UK. Currently playing '59 335 reissue which is strung for blues and is beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 I'd like to help you, but there are so many unknowns here (your location, your price range, electric/acoustic, old/new, etc etc). It sounds like you have very little experience with jazz guitars. My advice to you would be to look for a nice used instrument (whether an L5 or a Super 400) on Craigslist UK. Step one is to find a seller or a shop within driving distance where you can try out some guitars. I wouldn't advise ordering a new L5 or Super 400, which would likely be very expensive, and not necessarily the best investment. If you can afford a vintage guitar in nice condition, that might be something to consider also. Super 400's being large guitars, they are a little less universally preferred. They really can be cumbersome to certain players. L5's are a lot more manageable. Super 4's do have that great big sound, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 When I decided to be a Jazzman, it was going to be either an L-5 or a Super 400 for me. The Super 400 was just too damn big. Until you spend a good bit of time reaching around an 18" guitar, you don't realize how big it really is. I've been playing an L-5CES for years and have never looked back. Neither the L-5, or Super 400, are "production model" guitars, nor ever have been. In fact, I believe I read here that Gibson is not currently building either of these models. I'm not sure in my 40 years of playing guitar that I've ever seen either of these guitar models hanging on a store rack, the market for a $15,000 (according to Gibson's MSRP) just does not bear keeping "stock", even here in the States. Your best bet is to find one "on-line" with a test-drive/return policy. Probably the easiest way is to find a vintage guitar dealer and have him "procure" you one through the "network". Vintage Guitar Dealer etiquette is such that once you "engage" him to find you a specific guitar, you are somewhat committed to buy. Through my contacts here in the States I can probably get you the name of a reputable UK dealer. PM me if you want that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Hello I'm starting to look for a new guitar for jazz. I'm willing to spend a lot of time looking and playing to find something I'll live with and use for life. My shortlist is currently broad including a 175, L5 and a super 400. I've played a 175 which was great but didn't move me. I want to play a 400 but living in the UK I do not know of any retailer who has one or will only order one if I agree to buy in advance of playing it. I could go up "cold " to a band and ask to have a look but suspect I'll get a polite brush-off. Does any one have any comments on the merits of these guitars and how I access a 400 in the UK. Currently playing '59 335 reissue which is strung for blues and is beautiful I used to have a nice collection of Super 400's that were some of the best-sounding and -playing guitars I've owned and beautiful to boot. One day I realized that I couldn't play any of them for more than a half-hour before my right arm fell asleep, and that even before it did that I was struggling to get around the guitar. I'm a limited-enough player to not need any extra impediments, so I sold them all (not without many qualms). I'm only 5' 5" though (that's 1.65 meters over there)--if you're much taller, you might love a Super 400. If not, an L-5 is much the same in a smaller package. Some of what I had: Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fubb Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 Thanks for all the comments and advice. I'm 6' 3" but I get the point that big is not always beautiful. I'll start looking at some of the " vintage" shops and see whats around. An L5 is probably the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Thanks for all the comments and advice. I'm 6' 3" but I get the point that big is not always beautiful. I'll start looking at some of the " vintage" shops and see whats around. An L5 is probably the answer. If I were 6'3" I would play a Super 400. Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Just recently, on another guitar forum, a gentleman posted a couple of videos where he played a '56 Super 400CES (with alnicos) and a '62 Super 400CN (with a DeArmond). Hearing these made me think about turning back the clock and finding another 400 (I've had three over the years). I think he got a wonderful sound on both guitars (unfortunately, he was forced to sell the '56). http://www.youtube.com/user/gitmantube/videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 If I were 6'3" I would play a Super 400. It's not just the length, it's also the girth that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 It's not just the length, it's also the girth that matters. It wasn't the length that bothered me. Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 It wasn't the length that bothered me. I'm talking about the player, not the guitar. If your 6' tall, and 6' wide.......NEVERMIND! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Valuable words of wisdom preceding... Agreed it is better to test drive gear before dreaming too hard...and expensively Personal preference is for 'versatility' as evinced to the upper left.. The Super 400 and L5 are at the top of their respective trees and can be cherished lifetime purchases... I would be a little scared spending £5000+ on one guitar...preferring 2-3 quality instruments within the same budget I am 6' tall and gravitate to 16" archtops, particularly when standing, occasionally 17"... The 335 is for many the ultimate versatile tool, from Eric Clapton through to Larry Coryell...Larry Carlton et al... For many, the ES 175 is a do-it-all classic... Other options...good quality and with jazz capability...IMO... ES 330, L5 Thinline, ES 137, L4 CES, ES 5 Switchmaster... Coda Music at Luton/Stevenage are an excellent Gibson stockist... Enjoy the chase V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I'm talking about the player, not the guitar. If your 6' tall, and 6' wide.......NEVERMIND! Gotcha! Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberwocky Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Danny, These are some kinda wonderful Super 400s. What year respectively were the Sunburst 400CES, Blonde 400CES and Red 400C? I wish I had known about it when you were selling them. It must have been many years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Danny, These are some kinda wonderful Super 400s. What year respectively were the Sunburst 400CES, Blonde 400CES and Red 400C? I wish I had known about it when you were selling them. It must have been many years ago. They were all really nice guitars. The three were all made in 1994; the florentine was from 1964. The blonde one was the guitar that convinced me that Gibson had learned to build carved-top guitars again. The red one and the cherry sunburst one were equally nice, but the blonde was first. Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Guitar Village in Surrey would be worth your checking out - several dozen Gibson semis and archtops including a second hand Super 400. Otherwise the Uk isn't great for high end archtops - Ivor Mairants and Foulds specialise in Jazz guitars, although neither are Gibson dealers. But Foulds has a secondhand Le Grand and an ES-175 on their website and both carry Heritage equivalents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fubb Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Thanks,that's really helpful. I'll check the out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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