Fred_C

Scott, Thank you for your excellent response. I absolutely agree with all of your observations. I concur wholeheartedly regarding Gibson. They appear to not care about shoddy craftsmanship at all. In addition they are exhorbitantly priced. In general, I don't think that a Gibson is a good "Value Proposition". I have gotten to the point where I would prefer an import costing $1500-2000. For that money, I could own a well-crafted, visually beautiful, sonically breathtaking, stage worthy instrument. In all fairness, I should mention that there are a lot of Gibson players on the JGF who love their instruments. Well yeah, they're playing L-5's, Byrdlands, Super 400's and the like. Hell, if I could afford to spend $8,000-10,000 on a guitar, I had damn well better be happy with it!

Bro. Larry, Congrats again on your beautiful new archtop. I hope it brings you many years of enjoyment and may it motivate you to learn as much as you can about playing our chosen instrument, the guitar

I have become a true believer regarding electronics upgrades (pots, caps, and especially pickups). I have witnessed the sonic miracle that a pickup upgrade can provide.

Peerless are fabulous guitars. They made archtops for Gretsch, Epiphone & a few others before putting their own name on headstocks. Very fine instruments, but if you want to step up a notch in price & quality, take a look at some Eastmans. Scott, I absolutely agree that Eastman makes a very fine guitar. Peerless archtops go up to around $2500. Isn't this about what an Eastman costs? Both companies are "building to a price ppint" and at any given price ppint, compete with each other. While at GnU I played a Peerless Gigmaster Jazz and an Eastman AR371. BOTH of these instruments were the manufacturers' take on an ES175. Both instruments cost around $1,000, both were excellent quality and NEITHER sounded like an ES175. They both had their own sonic character. I should mention that playability was excellent on both. I finally decided on the Peerless Monarch 16 at $1400. IMO, the level of performance was worth the incremental increase in price. "Different strokes for different folks". Be well and play well, my friend.

Yea. I love the beautiful, complex tone of a hollow body archtop too. Man, you're going top shelf! I thought you were looking at the "Entrada". Is the "Heirloom" pressed or carved? I feel confident that you are going to love your Peerless. They really do make fine guitars. Looking forward to reading your first impressions. BTW: My Monarch 16 is also solid wood (Spruce/Maple) pressed, not carved. GORGEOUS ARCHTOP!!! P.S. What kind (brand, set) of strings are you playing? I've been playing D'Addario EPN115 Pure Nickel 11-48 on my hollow bodies add D'Addario EXL115w 11-49 wound 3rd on my Sheraton.

I don't know why you bother.

Bro. Larry, Peerless is a family owned and operated company in Korea. They make very high quality instruments and are very reasonably priced. My Monarch 16 is absolutely gorgeous. It is unique because it was designed by Lou Del Rosso, the owner of Guitars-n-Jazz in Summit, New Jersey and is only available from Guitars-n-Jazz. Like many Jazz guitars, only has one pickup in the neck position. Interestingly, it is a mini-humbucker and remains stock. The tone is so beautiful that I have not felt the need to upgrade. I have no idea what brand of pickup it is. I can unhesitatimgly recommend Peerless guitars. They are beautifully crafted, with tone and playability rivaling the best (and more expensive) instruments available. They are highly respected on the JGF and I would buy another Peerless in a heartbeat. I'm guessing that you're thinking about the Conti guitars which are made by Peerless. IMO, an excellent choice. Let me know if you have more questions.

Bro. Larry, I kinda'wish I could afford a new instrument, but everything I want is $1300-1800 and that expenditure would only buy "different" not "better". I DON'T NEED ANY MORE GUITARS! I would be spending money for no other reason than to spend money. I am very happy with my guitars. I think I can hear my Peerless Monarch 16 calling to me from a guitar stand across the room. I'm gonna'go play now. I believe that when I "play", I play stuff I already know. When I "practice", I work on stuff I can't play.

Surfergirl, Thanks for the heads-up, but I can't pull the trigger right now. I have to buy a new computer. I am doing everything from my phone and although convenient, it's also a PIA. My birthday is in July and that's when I'll pull the trigger.

Bro. Larry, Yeah, love Texas Swing, Rockabilly and of course 30's & 40's Swing Jazz. I'm excited about learning some new music. The Truefire membership is going to be my 70th b'day present to myself. I'm certain that some of those 140 Jazz courses will benefit me. I thought about acquiring a new instrument, but truthfully, I don't need any more guitars. I am a Jazz and Blues player and my little collection will handle both genres with ease.

Cool idea. If I had $3500-5000 to spend on an electric guitar I'm fairly certain that I would buy a Heritage H555 semi-hollow.

SMH is a very interesting concept of which I was previously unaware. You taught me something, Doc. Thanks!

I have become a believer in upgrading electronics (pickups and pots/caps) in mid-priced ($1000-1500) instruments. These modest upgrades often result in HUGE improvements in performance, due to the fact that it in these areas that manufacturers attempt to save money when building to a "price point".

@Caev, That's exactly the methodology I use to learn new music. First, I listen to as many recordings of the tune as I can find. I want to hear what other artists think. I steal some ideas. Then, I learn an arrangement from a chart. Then, I'll memorize it and finally, I'll incorporate the ideas I stole and add some of my own ideas. It is important to sound like you, rather than someone else when playing Jazz and Blues.

Bro. Larry, The main requirement for a computer is that my hard drive contains a multitude of important WORD documents like my resume, DD214 etc., as well as several musical charts two of which I paid to have created for me. These documents are very important to me. Thank you for the kind compliment, but I stopped teaching and performing about 5 years ago. I now play solely for my own enjoyment and to feed my musical "soul". I come to this forum and the JGF to "hang out" with other musicians. If I can offer information that will benefit others, I am happy to do so. However, it is not my intention to be pedantic or to set myself up as some sort of "expert".As a matter of fact, I am considering purchasing a one year membership to Truefire for $200. They boast 140 Jazz courses and I can continue learning without spending $50/hour for private instruction. I might even take a "Rockabilly" course or two and get into some "Texas Swing". I am a student of the guitar.

Yes. I guess I didn't explain. I was discussing playing the A minor Pentatonic over a Blues in A Major. In that instance, the V7 chord would be E7. I was thinking about resolving to the Major 3rd tone of the E7 (G#) rather than the root (E) or the b7 (D). Also, resolving the I chord (A) to the Major 3rd (C#) rather than the predictable Root (A). You can get a nice bluesy sound by bending the b3 © into the C#. Sorry. I should have mentioned that. In my defense, I should mention that I still have not replaced my dead computer, so I am posting from my phone. I hate typing with my thumb, so I'm trying to keep my comments short. You know, I can do almost everything from my phone, but still need a damn computer for the rest. BTW. I do NOT consider myself a teacher and certainly not a master I'm a guitarist, just like you and everyone else on this forum. I also belong to the Jazz Guitar Forum and there are numerous members whose expertise and abilities are light years ahead of mine.

G# .

The Picardy third. Exactly! Sounds great!

When playing Blues i ,often resolve to the major 3rd.

Thanks, gents. I try to make a positive contribution to any thread I participate in.

As usual, I concur with Bro. Larry. Playing 9ths, 11ths and 13ths add color and interest to your harmonies as well as offering melodic opportunities. They are called "dominant extensions". It is important to mention that there is only one dominant chord in the harmonized scale- the V7. This holds true whether your playing in "Tertian" (harmony in thirds,) or "extended" (harmony in 7ths) harmony.

Beautiful music, beautifully played. This is what I mean when I talk about "Technique in the service of music". That beautiful, clear tone is a result of technical excellence.

Very well played!

Tell your friend to call MF Customer Service. If he is within the 45 day return period I'm fairly certain they'll honor the deal.

Hey Myles, Thanks so much for the expert advice. Regards.