Archtop Shopping Isn't Going Well...

[musicalbodger]

Just for the record, I've just picked up a maple 1988 Heritage H575 off ebay for £1100. Had to give a serious clean, a complete re-set up, but it's a stonking instrument for the money and now plays and sounds so good. I'd go for secondhand if money is tight, you end up with a much better guitar and don't lose money instantly if you have to resell.

[FrankBlack]

Originally Posted by spiral

FrankBlack, what did you end up doing?

I'm doing what I do best: shopping!

Still have not decided as I am so torn between using nylon for jazz and getting a more traditional, yet inexpensive, axe. So, for now, i am just plodding along with what I have until something woos me properly. I must say that the Agile Cool Cat Prestige is a VERY tempting box for someone who doesn't want to spend a mint. My classical came back from the luthier all clean and happy and it sounds nice. The solid cedar top sings a bit more. That makes it easier for me to take my time and just wait for the right guitar to come along. So, for now, I'm still shopping. Once I bite, I promise I'll post for the one or two of you who might care.

[Senior]

I found that the fun is in the hunt. If the hunt last to long, you might want to rethink what you are looking for.

[DustinK]

I have the jazz multiac arch top version and liked it so much that I got the nylon string model as well - both with the 13pin input for synth access. They play great, sound great. The sustain is better then anything I've heard before. The arch top can get muddy with certain amps - in specific, mine does not do well through the fender deluxe where the bass just overwhelms and is hard to roll back. However, it shines through traynor and on accoustic amps as well. Both of mine sound better plugged in, unplugged, there is not a lot of projection - they can be heard, but I don't enjoy their sound unplugged. The nylon version has been wonderful for latin jazz but can be 'clacky' in some of the guitar amps - seems to prefer running through a bass amp. In the model you are looking at, I prefer the cutaway version but have not yet purchased that particular one. I highly recommend Godin though, I've been very happy with mine.

[kevinpaul]

I went nuts to find a proper arch top. I could list the failures and the faults, but I guess that was covered. I ended up with an Ibanez AFS75 and love it. Uesd a steal at $150.00.

[allanploth]

Originally Posted by shoome

Hey there,
for recommendations I can recommend 2 specific guitars:

1st one would be, as already mentioned by many others here, an Epiphone Emperor Regent. It's gosh darn cheap and much guitar for the buck. If you like classical swing sound you will like it. Sound is always a subjective topic, but i personally love the sound of my EmpReg acoustically (see the above video posted by spiral, btw. thanks for the kind words spiral The recording was done using only one condenser about 2 foot away from the 12th fret and adding a little reverb, no big editing etc.)

The 2nd one would be the already mentioned Höfner HCT-J17. I plaied them at the 'Musikmesse Frankfurt' and they were really really nice. They are, what most people don't know, not fully produced in china. They only produce the parts for the guitar there, but the guitar itself is put together in germany. (And I can assure you, that they do a good job there, since a play a Höfner myself )

In addition I can always second what Mr. B said, since the Godin's are really something to look at first, before thinking about any asian-axe and I think he is one of the most experienced guys in here and really knows what he's talking about.

All in all you should not wait to find THE one guitar, since you will most likely not stick with it for a life long and will find something one axe has, that yours doesnt
And the most important thing in my opinion is that there are no rules (like "Gretsch is no Jazz-Guitar") or anything... if YOU like the sound then go ahead, cause thats what matters!

Shoome, really nice recording of your Emperor Regent! I just bought a blonde one and am in the process of getting the neck to behave itself. Quick question: what kind of tailpiece is that? I can't stand the Frequensator tailpiece: ringy, thin (a piece of felt takes the ring out, but it's still not mellow sounding).

[markerhodes]

I'm happy with my Ibanez AF85 VLS. It's strung with D'Addario Chromes (.011-.050) and I play it through it Polytone Mini Brute II. If I had a lot of money, I'd probably buy something better, but I can't blame this guitar when I sound bad.

[mikeymaestro]

Frank,
I'm going through the same exact thing. I really liked the way the Gretsch 5122 felt. I did play a descent Ibanez AF 75 but i wasnt like 100 percent sold on it but played far better than most of the entry level ones, A little thinner neck at least on the one i played.

[FrankBlack]

As I was posting today I noticed this thread was never given closure. I realize that many, many, many of you (alright, none of you) were concerned over my choice. I have to tell you, I really did a sh*tload of shopping. I looked anywhere and I went everywhere. Seriously, you'd freak if I showed you a map and a calendar. In the end, I didn't find anything that spoke to me enough to part with the money. Don't get me wrong, if I was filthy rich I'd buy quite a few things, but given my poor playing ability and my poor budget, I couldn't find any one guitar that did it for me. Part of the issue was that I was torn between an archtop and a nylon string. The other part was that all the good guitars I played (Eastman, etc.) sounded nice, but not so nice that it justified an extra $1000 or more. In the right hands I'm sure they would sound better. Then there was the incessant acts of fate. On more than one occasion I planned or actually went to higher-end dealers (who shall remain nameless) and they were closed or out of whatever interested me. On more than one occasion I had everything filled out on-line to purchase a guitar and lacked the final click to buy the instrument. A day or so later, after some soul-searching, when I went back I found the instrument(s) were gone. I bought one instrument and returned it as it didn't seem worth the money and had a conflict with my playing style. A few auctions didn't work out either. One dealer wouldn't come down in price on an instrument with a hazy/scratched top. I took it as a sign from the Guitar Goddess. No one can accuse me of being an impulse buyer.

So, in the end, rather than buy one guitar that would have brought me nirvana or, perhaps, made me sad as it didn't do all I wanted, I bought two cheaper guitars to hold me over until the day my true love and I are united. The choices are very odd, I know, but they work for me right now.

My nylon shopping took me to far too many places, choices and disappointments. After serendipitously finding a video of a chap playing one, I decided to try an Aria Sinsonido nylon. This is the hybrid nylon model AS-101C/SPL. I thought it would be nice to take with me on trips and to lug around without worrying. This version was only available in Europe, so I got mine from the UK. The USA only seems to have the AS-100 models still laying about. Let me tell you, I am very happy with this instrument. No, it won't win any tone awards, per se, but I just love how the neck feels and how light it is. The tone can be made presentable with the right amp adjustments and even with something like Amplitube. I put a set of TI Classic S KR-116s on it and the tone and action is very smooth. I also plug it into my old Korg Toneworks and put on one of my ten or so jazz tones and it works out nicely for quiet headphone practice and more. The only thing I'll get around to replacing soon is the tuning machines as they are criminally foul.



As my archtop shopping never really made it, I ended up buying the Epiphone Emperor Swingster. The deciding factor was the "Swingbucker" pick-ups and the ability to play each in parallel or as a single via push/pull tone control knobs ("coil-tapped", I think it is called in the back alleys). The tonal possibilities are greatly enhanced with that option, so whatever shortcomings the instrument has in other areas, those are more than made up for (in my mind) with this ability. I find it too heavy (especially after using the Sinsonido) but the playability is good (not as good as the Sinsonido) and it sounds much better once I replaced my original choice of Chrome 12s with TI Benson 12s (not a judgment, just a preference). Here is a video of a young gentleman putting the thing through its paces, albeit with rockabilly rather than jazz.



I could go on, but I've bored everyone enough. I do wonder if I should've purchased the Godin Kingpin II as it was a lovely instrument. If I already had a nice archtop I probably would have purchased it. The Swingster will give me a bit of versatility for now until I get my ultimate archtop. And, even with the custom hardshell case, the Swingster was still over $200 cheaper (more like $300). The one thing I will say, however, is that I am not now, nor have I ever really been a fan of the Bigsby, but since it is one more tool to use I won't lose sleep over it. I don't like the after-ring one gets with them (some call it the "Bigsby Ring"). So, I fashioned a leather bracelet for the strings to reduce the resonance down to manageable levels. I call it my "chime bracelet". I will say the Bigsby's effect on tone can be nice as it lightens things up a bit.



So, I didn't meet the guitar of my dreams, but I have a couple of sweet babes to keep me warm on those cold winter nights. Perhaps someday I'll meet the right one? For now, I am having fun playing the field (and playing scales and chords).

Thanks for all the input and support you guys gave.

Now to buy a couple amps...

[tsar nicholas]

^ That Epiphone looks pretty cool! I dig that style of Bigsby arm too.

[Dad3353]

Good afternoon, Frank...

I've been following with interest this thread from the beginning (15 months ago..!); the final outcome does you proud. I can't see you being pushed into a deal you don't want by many salefolks..!
An original choice for the nylon, but as 'voyagability' seems to be a strong factor, entirely coherent. The archtop seems to suite you (can't bear Bigsby's myself, but that's just me...). Now comes the harder part... learning to play them to your own satisfaction.
Splendid thread, congratulations on your investments; enjoy..!

[Retroman1969]

As a growing Epinut, I dig your final decision. Very cool guitar.

[otillio]

I'll bet you never knew that you had so many friends!

Congratulations on your selections; may you play them in good health...

Keep on pluckin'

[eddy b.]

Look into Washburn they make a nice"entry" level jazz box.