Working on a paper about archtop guitars - anyone can help?

[valentim]

hi everyone,

i have to do an academic paper on guitars and i wanted to have a section dedicated to archtop guitars.
to be honest, i don´t know anyone that has an archtop guitar and i needed to interview some people that actually own and play archtops.

is there anyone willing to help and answer a couple of questions? something along the lines of what´s your guitar, how did you choose it, the best archtop player, etc....
if anyone is interested in helping me, i´ll send the set of questions.... around 4 or 5

Thanks,
Valen

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Why not post the questions here and ask forum members to either public reply on the thread or send you a private message? There are plenty of archtop owners here who love chewing the fat about their jazzboxes.

[jack_gvr]

Yeah, but here in the "classical" corner is probably not the best place to snag archtop players. How about in the "Gear" corner? Or who has another suggestion?
- jack

[bkdavidson]

I'm with BDLH. Just ask us. You'll probably get a lot more info than you want.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by bkdavidson

I'm with BDLH. Just ask us. You'll probably get a lot more info than you want.

... And most of it contradictory

[valentim]

hey guys,
thanks for your answers.

Sure BigDaddyLoveHandles, that´s a good idea. I can post the question here for everyone to see.
The only question is that probably i´ll get similar answers, since it´s natural to see other people´s answers to get an idea. usually, people´s answers influence other people points of view.
if the answers are private, they will be more unique.

either way, the questions are:

1. Why do you choose to play a archtop guitar instead of another type of guitar? Is it the special sound you get from it?

2. How did you choose your guitar? Where can you buy a good quality archtop?

3. In your opinion, what was the most difficult guitar technique to be played in an archtop guitar? For you, who is the best archtop guitarist ever?

4. For you, what is the most difficult song to play in an archtop guitar? and why?

5. Why are there 6 and 7 strings archtop guitars? What´s the benefit of having a 7 strings?

Thanks a lot for your help.
Apprecite it

Cheers,
Valen

[JohnW400]

Originally Posted by valentim

hey guys,
thanks for your answers.


either way, the questions are:

1. Why do you choose to play a archtop guitar instead of another type of guitar? Is it the special sound you get from it?

I like the full , woody, acoustic sound. I also like the size. Solid bodies are too small for me

Originally Posted by valentim

2. How did you choose your guitar? Where can you buy a good quality archtop?

I currently own 3 archtops. One is a Gibson Super 400. The other two are custom made by small-shop luthiers. You can get a good archtop from any number of manufacturers. Too many to list so I'll just use Gibson, Mark Campellone, Bill Comins and Monteleone.

Originally Posted by valentim

3. In your opinion, what was the most difficult guitar technique to be played in an archtop guitar? For you, who is the best archtop guitarist ever?

The most difficult technique would be string bending. It's not thier strong point. They are designed to use heavy (ier) strings. The Best? There is no best. But I think most would say overall that Johnny Smith could play

Originally Posted by valentim

4. For you, what is the most difficult song to play in an archtop guitar? and why?

Bach Violin Sonata in E, first part. It's tough to keep the cross picking going while you're hunched over a 3" thick, 18" lower bout guitar. I still can't get through it at tempo without messing it up

Originally Posted by valentim

5. Why are there 6 and 7 strings archtop guitars? What´s the benefit of having a 7 strings?

The seventh is to add a low A. This was made famous by Van Eps. I believe his idea was to be able to play lower bass notes extending the range of the guitar

Good luck with your report

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by valentim

1. Why do you choose to play a archtop guitar instead of another type of guitar? Is it the special sound you get from it?

I play other types of guitar, too, but I'm married to my archtop. I like the classic jazz sound you get from it.

Originally Posted by valentim

2. How did you choose your guitar? Where can you buy a good quality archtop?

I bought it from my teacher. My standard suggestions for new archtops that don't break the bank are Eastman and Sadowsky. For used guitars, you just have to shop around.

Originally Posted by valentim

3. In your opinion, what was the most difficult guitar technique to be played in an archtop guitar? For you, who is the best archtop guitarist ever?

Big bends -- because of the heavy string gauge. Ever? Wes.

Originally Posted by valentim

4. For you, what is the most difficult song to play in an archtop guitar? and why?

YouTube Video

I guess the difficulty is in trying not to look ridiculous when you do that on an L-5.

Originally Posted by valentim

5. Why are there 6 and 7 strings archtop guitars? What´s the benefit of having a 7 strings?

Usually 6 strings suffice. The extra string lets you play lower bass lines. 7 string guitars are great for chord melody work and comping in guitar duets.

[bkdavidson]

1. Why do you choose to play a archtop guitar instead of another type of guitar? Is it the special sound you get from it?

I also play a PRS Custom 24, so I don't use archtops exclusively. One of mine is a hardcore jazzbox (Alvarez AD65) which gives me a very traditional jazz sound, and the other is a semi-hollow (Gibson ES-135) which sounds amazing for any style of music I play on it.

2. How did you choose your guitar? Where can you buy a good quality archtop?

I chose mine based on the tone and affordability. Actually, affordability was the key factor in the Alvarez as I was in college when I got it, and the tone was the key factor with the Gibson. I sold 3 other guitars to pay for it. A good quality archtop can be bought pretty much anywhere.

3. In your opinion, what was the most difficult guitar technique to be played in an archtop guitar? For you, who is the best archtop guitarist ever?

Definitely string bending. It's pretty typical to use heavy gauge strings on an archtop, and I'm no exception. Best ever? Tough call. For years I would've said Wes Montgomery without hesitation, but over the last year or so I've been getting really into Johnny Smith.

4. For you, what is the most difficult song to play in an archtop guitar? and why?

Aside from 8-finger tapping, I'd say anything classical. Narrow(er) fingerboards and flatwound metal strings are not condusive to Sor studies and such.

5. Why are there 6 and 7 strings archtop guitars? What´s the benefit of having a 7 strings?

Added bass range for solo and duo work. If you aren't going to use that extended range, the low A string really gets in the way.