DUDE!
the gibby archtop flatback i took pics of a while ago goes for about 1,200.00 u.s. dollars and its definitly worth it.
all solid wood!
and a floating pup can be had for around 100 bucks.
i would like to stress how much better a solid top sounds compared to laminated top.
i a/b'd the semi arch that i built a few years back next to one that was laminated( same templates and design, minus the pup size and f-hole)
and the difference was very audible.
i also a/b'd a newer but used "benedetto"(laminated) with a new MB, same basic design, both 17inch bodies, both with a soft cutaway.
and once again the sound difference was immense.
i have been trying like hell to score a beat up 40's-50's budget model that is solid wood for under 100 bucks but i never seem to find the right one.(i have been looking for 16inchers, kinda rare compared to 17, and 18)
Archtop shopping
Moderated By: mods
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robert(original)
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- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:30 pm
- Location: somewhere in the midwest
Benecol - I think I've only play the Electromatic ones and I'm holding out that the jap and originals are better. I'll definitely try one before chucking a grand at one though.
Mike - I've recently realised that I don't like Fender guitars that much. I think they often look fantastic and play quite nicely. Sometimes I play one and it feels very natural. Most of the time somethings not quite right. I've always thought that it was perhaps just not quite the right one, or something like that. Then when i thought about it I realised that it's the same thing pretty much all of the time. Maybe I'll own another someday, and I'd still buy that duo that stewart got from hurb if I could, but for now the only Fenders that do what I want are amps.
William - I am avoiding the electromatics. I don't think they're bad. I'm just very indifferent to them.
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To make with the mojo terms. When I play an archtop I like it feels like its playing back to me with the resonance and what have you. Now obviously this is all to do with it being hollow or semi-hollow but there's something slightly more to it than that. It's in the neck as much as the body. I've had it a little with some electrics but never with a Fender. The archtop I have now does it, so in a sense it seems silly to sell it but then I thought to myself - 'there are so many great guitars out there that I'll never play. I may as well own a few while I can'.
I do think it's ridiculous for me to own a £1000+ guitar but I figure if I do it almost entirely with gear sales money (probably be one or two pedals going to fund the gretsch) it's no more ridiculous than my current situation.
Mike - I've recently realised that I don't like Fender guitars that much. I think they often look fantastic and play quite nicely. Sometimes I play one and it feels very natural. Most of the time somethings not quite right. I've always thought that it was perhaps just not quite the right one, or something like that. Then when i thought about it I realised that it's the same thing pretty much all of the time. Maybe I'll own another someday, and I'd still buy that duo that stewart got from hurb if I could, but for now the only Fenders that do what I want are amps.
William - I am avoiding the electromatics. I don't think they're bad. I'm just very indifferent to them.
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To make with the mojo terms. When I play an archtop I like it feels like its playing back to me with the resonance and what have you. Now obviously this is all to do with it being hollow or semi-hollow but there's something slightly more to it than that. It's in the neck as much as the body. I've had it a little with some electrics but never with a Fender. The archtop I have now does it, so in a sense it seems silly to sell it but then I thought to myself - 'there are so many great guitars out there that I'll never play. I may as well own a few while I can'.
I do think it's ridiculous for me to own a £1000+ guitar but I figure if I do it almost entirely with gear sales money (probably be one or two pedals going to fund the gretsch) it's no more ridiculous than my current situation.
Shabba.
How is it ridiculous to own a 1000GBP guitar? Lots of people spend 1000 on a laptop that they use for dicking around online, only to buy a new one 2-3 years later and let the old one rot or sell it to a college student for 150.
1000 on an instrument that you could keep forever, or sell in a few years for a profit, makes all the sense in the world.
edit: rob(og) mentioned solid woods. The Eastmans are all solid, BTW.
1000 on an instrument that you could keep forever, or sell in a few years for a profit, makes all the sense in the world.
edit: rob(og) mentioned solid woods. The Eastmans are all solid, BTW.
I was joking about smoke green of course, but I do like the look of these. You can buy the 'uptown' model on UK ebay for £1100 no problem. I'm going to look at models and prices now. ebay link
Shabba.
I suppose if I buy the Gretsch, then 6-12 months later fancy the Eastman I could always sell and switch. And, let's be honest here, it is smoke green.
Actually. Although most come in smoke green and I wouldn't be interested in the sunburst ones, I would be tempted by a bamboo yellow, although that means modern rather than vintage.
Actually. Although most come in smoke green and I wouldn't be interested in the sunburst ones, I would be tempted by a bamboo yellow, although that means modern rather than vintage.
Shabba.
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robert(original)
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- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:30 pm
- Location: somewhere in the midwest
One of the nicest guitars I ever played was an Epiphone Emperor Regent. It felt GREAT.
http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery ... 809212570/
http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery ... 809212570/
Re: Archtop shopping
So why sell it?James wrote:I have a feeling this is going to be expensive.
I'm thinking of trading my ES75 copy in for (trading by selling and then using the money towards) a different type of hollow body. It's going to almost certainly involve a bit of expenditure beyond the value of my 175 simply because the one I have is an undervalued bargain. I'm ok with that but it means I'm going to either have to get something very close in value and quality, or something fairly spectacular to justify it.
It's actually more this. I don't have a mortgage, kids or any other responsibilities like that. I like the archtop I have now but I'd also like to try a few others. There's no way I could afford one in the price range I'm looking at without selling the one I have now. If I could I'd probably keep it.James wrote:'there are so many great guitars out there that I'll never play. I may as well own a few while I can'.
It's a little bit westtexasred and I know you guys aren't a fan of the constant selling and buying thing, but If I could own a 60s jag for 6 months, then sell it and buy a 60s jazzmaster, sell that and buy a rickenbacker... I'll have had three great guitars with only ever putting down the money for one. I much prefer that way of doing things to the straight 'buy as many 60s Fenders as possible' guys who have a room full of sunburst strats and the like.
Shabba.
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robert(original)
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- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:30 pm
- Location: somewhere in the midwest
that makes sense, the wheeling and dealing of being able to own and play a guitar of your dreams just to trade it in for another.
i love archtops, im kinda waiting for the day when i find a really nice high end 30's jazz box for cheap.
i like to buy guitars, test them out, and if they are keepers i'll hold on to them, otherwise, they knock around for a while and then i sell them here or on ebay.
deffinitly a/b some solid vs. laminated arches, and try to get a feel for body widths.
i heard benedetto say that he won't do an 18 unless the person is really really sure they want it becuz he said they look too big and are hard to manuver around.
i love archtops, im kinda waiting for the day when i find a really nice high end 30's jazz box for cheap.
i like to buy guitars, test them out, and if they are keepers i'll hold on to them, otherwise, they knock around for a while and then i sell them here or on ebay.
deffinitly a/b some solid vs. laminated arches, and try to get a feel for body widths.
i heard benedetto say that he won't do an 18 unless the person is really really sure they want it becuz he said they look too big and are hard to manuver around.
