How does a FA 700 compare to a Gibson...

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Author Message   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 7:15 am:    Hi guys, Any of you have played both, Gibson L5 and FA 700. I still need a "Working Guitar" for some gigs. For the past 15 years i played Gibson L5's. My main concern is similar feel in playability and sound. It seems there are no FA 700's where i live, so i would have to buy one through internet. Thus the question is: How does a FA 700 compare to a Gibson L5 CES TIA   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 8:53 am:    I googled a bit and discovered the FA700 on Craigs list has been removed (sold?). Hoboken-Guitars offers a 1976 jazz guitar with the description FA700/2460. Well, if it's a 2460 the top is NOT solid carved, as you will know because you have one for sale yourself. So if you want to upgrade to a carved solid top with two humbuckers, you should either pick the 2470 or the FA700. Comparing these two to a Gibson L-5CES is not fair. A blonde L-5CES is worth more than $8,000.-(They were 34,000 Dutch guilders which is about 15,500.- EUR). You can buy FOUR good Ibanezes for the price of ONE second hand L-5CES NAT. But I know of at least one Japanese top model that beat an original L-5CES in a shoot-out. Before you decide, ask a picture of the label, so that you don't buy what you already have. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 9:08 am:    Oh sorry, I just saw that you are NOT the SELLER of that 2460. In that case, you're not looking for an upgrade to a solid carved top. Then the 2460 is an excellent choice. The guitar Charlesc is offering has the lawsuit headstock, the Hoboken instrument is post-lawsuit (so tulip headstock). Carved solid tops are only better acoustically, amplified I doubt you'll hear the difference except for perhaps more feedback. But from a luthier's point of view the carved solid tops are always the best guitars. Ginger   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 9:19 am:    The reason i 'm interested in comparison is the following: i need a guitar for some outdoor gigs on which i'd feel bad about taking my expensive L5. Partly because of exposure to sun or moisture in late evening hours. I will play it on those gigs only, don't want to practise/rehearse with it, so the closer it feels to a L5 the better i'm off. BTW there is a missunderstanding, i never owned or played a 2460. Question: does the hoboken FA 700 have a solid top? I think i'm getting a little confused with the terms FA700, 2460 and 2470 ....... TIA   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 1:26 pm:    Pity, the hoboken FA 700 has just been sold - just an hour before i made up my mind to buy it http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item =220131596622   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, July 20, 2007 - 7:22 pm:    I doubt that it was an FA700. I think it was a 2460 OR a 2470. Just look at the L-5 tailpiece. I have no indication that the production of the FA700 would have already started in 1976. That's why I wrote to ask for pics of the label. If it's a 2460, the top is laminated spruce. If it's a 2470 or FA700 the top is carved solid spruce. If there is no label, you'd have to see the guitar from nearby to know what it is. (Take one of the pickups out and look at the edges of the hole in the top.) Even for a POST-lawsuit 2460 model from 1976, the price of the Hoboken guitar was rather low. I've seen them for higher prices. What's important , is if the corrosive pickguard gas has damaged the hardware. This devalues the guitar. So always ask detailed pictures of the hardware (pickup covers, tailpiece, frets, tuners, pickguard bracket, shielding of the harness, potmeter shafts and nuts). Ginger   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:34 am:    Thanks Ginger, Why do you think the pickguard was corrosive? I know from my own experience that the Gibson L5 pickguards from the late sixties/early seventies react chemically and damage finish & hardware - is it the same with Ibanez?   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 6:32 am:    Ginger, do you think the damage of the pickup cover on this FA510 is caused by the pickguard? http://web128.login-4.hoststar.ch/Ibanez/510Top.JP G   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:10 am:    Yes, it's the same for vintage Ibanez tortoise pickguards. Pity, because IMO bound tortoise is the most beautiful pickguard you can have on a jazz box. I've seen pictures of Tyson's sunburst 2640 and several Bensons, which had corroded parts because of the pickups. Keeping them in the case is probably keeping the gas of the pickguard with the guitar in a concentrated quantity. But it could also have something to do with the case itself, for instance that foam or glue reacts with the pickguard, because of which it deteriorates. It's a difficult problem, which we discussed before. If you do a ICW search for "gassing" and "corrosion" you should find a link to corroded antiquities. I remember there was some antique purse in it. So, if you have the original pickguard: ventilate the guitar. Take it out of the case every day to play it, or place it in a good stand (a stable LOW one like Quick Lock), or hang it on the wall on a professional hook (K und M for instance). It's always a pity to see them without the bound tortoise. Ginger   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:27 am:    I had a 1967 L5 and still have a 1970 L5 which both had the original pickguards literally fall apart. After noticing some chemical reaction i replaced and put them away in a small vinyl bag for some years. When i was selling the 1967 L5 i was going to give the buyer the old pickgard, but what i found was just a bag full of scrambled bleached plastic - unbelievable btw. Allparts sell pickguards which look close to the original, not AS transparent though ........ i got a couple and am curious how they develop with age.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 9:01 am:    The vinyl bag finished it off then. I guess these things just have to breathe. Ginger   Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 6:27 pm:    a propos of hanging guitars... some years ago i got a wall hook, installed it, and hung a guitar before going to sleep. the morning after the guitar had stuck to it! in the space of just a few hours the gum of the hook corroded the finish (fortunately not the paint) of the guitar. this gum is hard, tire-like, not soft and spongy as other hooks i know. so be aware! the best thing is to tape the hook with a piece of cotton - an old sock or something will do - to avoid these kind of "surprises". specially if you have a 10K L5...   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 6:50 am:    This popped up on the net "Millenium GS2001E Stand for E-Guitars - Small but robust stand with adjustable width.(not suitable for guitars with nitro laquer)" http://www.thomann.de/fi/millenium_gs2001e.htm So, some sellers know what they sell and care to tell. Juha   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 8:12 am:    I really wouldn't know the finishes of all of my instruments. So at least I know now that this material reacts with "nitro lacquer". Actually it's nitrocellulose lacquer. Read what both, vinyl AND rubber on popular guitar stands, can do to lacquer: http://www.mcknightguitars.com/maint.html The same materials are often used for the hooks. Does this mean lots of accessories we own are useless for permanent storage, and that we can use them at rehearsals and on stage only? They cost me a several hundreds of guilders. Ginger   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 9:29 am:    Many but not all of stands and hooks sold by Thomann have that warning. The question is: Does it depend on manufacturer's announcement or on what? It is difficult to know what those rubber-like and plastics materials are and how they react with finishing materials. http://www.thomann.de/gb/guitar_and_bass_stands.ht ml Juha   Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 12:25 pm:    my guitar was an ibamez AM, so i think it's poliurethane and not nitro finished.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 3:31 pm:    Jazz~ If you are looking for a good 'working guitar' for your jazz gigs, have you considered a used Heritage? Most of their archtops are solid wood (plywood on special order!), and are made at the old Gibson Kalamazoo plant by many of the same luthiers who made the original L5's. On the used market, Heritage archtops are a steal. However, I recommend shopping at the nation's two top Heritage dealers, Wolfe Guitars (Florida) and Buffalo Bros. (Calif.) for the best selection and pricing. Obviously, include a Gbase and Ebay search if interested. Here is an example of a Heritage that can go head to head with a Gibson L5: '93 Heritage Golden Eagle Hope this helps. Tim   Sgjazz Username: Sgjazz Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 3:44 pm:    I recently purchased a Samick JZ4 for traveling. I am amazed at how good it sounds. They sell for around $500.   Jazznote Username: Jazznote Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 1:33 pm:    Tim, Thanks, i have inquired about heritage guitars. They seem to be fine instruments, however they all are a little less deep (3" only not 3 1/2") than a L5. Wolfe has some nice "affordable" ones and seems to be a very reliable seller. Do you have any experience with buying from wolfe? As i'm located overseas i would not want to take a risk.   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 2:15 pm:    Yes, I have purchased a couple of gits from Wolfe, all within the US however. I ordered a custom spec G&L and a used H575 Custom from Jay. He and his staff are great to deal with. Heritage will build you anything (within reason) you spec. 3 1/2" body depth should not be a problem. You can even call Heritage direct. Most likely one of the owners/luthiers will answer the phone! Totally a unique guitar buying experience. (Can you tell I'm a huge 'H' fan?) Next to Ibanez they are my favorite 'bang for buck' guitar maker.

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