Huh, found a custom archtop maker near me...

[Retroman1969]

This is just one of those bits of information I stumbled across, but a local luthier is now building custom archtops, and they just look beautiful and classic.
Anxious to get the free time to go try one out!




These are the specs he sent me about the one I'm interested in...

Thanks for the interest in my guitars. *Its' top is hand-carved solid Sitka spruce. *It has an asymmetrical parallel bracing. *The back is also hand-carved but out of Big Leaf maple. *The sides are also Big Leaf maple with a hard maple neck. *All the fittings are solid ebony and were also made by me. *The scale length is 25" with a 1 3/4" nut width. *The lower bout is 17" with a *body depth at the sides of 3". *I'm asking $2600 for that one. *Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. *Thanks again.

I may have found my future dream guitar purchase.
I'm going to check them out soon as I get a chance.

[Retroman1969]

[Retroman1969]

[Al_F]

wow, that is very nice! Let us know how it plays, $2600 is very reasonable i think.

[Retroman1969]

I will.
He just told me of a new project I might be interested in where he's making a Johnny Smith era D'A type guitar that's intended to be an acoustic with a Rhythm Chief pickup on it.
Yes, I might be interested!

[bigdaddyguitar]

That's one good looking guitar you got there .

[Patrick2]

Does this luthier have a web site?

[fumblefingers]

looks like a Benedetto Manhattan knock off. i think there may be one zero missing from the price.

[Retroman1969]

He doesn't have a site as yet, but he has a Facebook page that includes a step-by-step on how he carves the tops and backs.
Combs Instruments | Facebook
Email: combsinstruments@gmail.com

Yeah, I was surprised by the price with those specs and that much hand work. I hope it's not a typo!

[bohemian46]

Very nice guitars, thanks for the link.

[merritt stone]

Looks nice.


2600 seems cheap, but it really isn't in this situation. Who is going to drop 20k on an unkown luthier? Not me haha. He's getting into the business, and I'm sure price increases will coincide with popularity and reputation. Unless they turn out to suck...

Look promising though, can't wait to hear your review OP.

[Retroman1969]

I'll be anxious to give it!

[Retroman1969]

Well that C. Allen is a fantastic price for such a beautiful guitar. I'm sure it plays as great as it looks!
In this case, it's nice to be able to sit and play the instruments and meet personally with the maker about personal preferences and options, and there is some bonus satisfaction in supporting the local artists, etc.

[Elias Graves]

Wow, is he here in OKC? Very cool.
Tony Rincon (teles and lap steels mostly) isn't too far from here, either. He did my son's tele and has one in the works for me, too.

Cool we have several builders right here.

EG

[Retroman1969]

Hey EG...
Yeah, a couple of his guitars are currently at Norman Music Center if you feel like checking them out.

A Tele builder here too? Awesome!

[Elias Graves]

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

Hey EG...
Yeah, a couple of his guitars are currently at Norman Music Center if you feel like checking them out.

A Tele builder here too? Awesome!

I stop in there occaisionally. I'll have to check them out!
Yes, Tony Rincon, formerly of the ffirst aact custom shop, builds teles and lap steels out near fairview.
He made my son's walnut tele and is building one for me right now.

My kid's.


EG

[jmstritt]

Originally Posted by Elias Graves

Cool we have several builders right here.

...and Robert Keeley ;-)

[Retroman1969]

Beauty of a Tele! Looks like LPB, my favorite color.
Fairview, out near Enid... Good to know.

[50Hz]

^?

[Retroman1969]

What the hell was that all about???? Report who to what....?
#1 I'm straight. Duh.
#2 I've never been on "jazzguitar.be" whatever that is.
If that was some kind of spam-bot, it must have gone crazy like the robots in Blade Runner. ;P
Either that, or the Santorum campaign is really getting weird.

[billkath]

Wow!! Harsh! No way is that a bot--too specific. This is jazzguitar.be by the way-this forum. Look at the address?

[Retroman1969]

Ah, never noticed that.
Either way, I have no idea who that poster is or what he's talking about.
I've never reported anyone for anything on any net forum.
And I don't recall having any California luthier recommended to me.
If the mystery poster wants to do any random baseless name-calling he can send me a private message I'd be happy to tell him where to go.

[billkath]

I'll hold your coat if you want to punch his nose!! Bit childish, namecalling on the internet. No consequences, you see.

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by billkath

I'll hold your coat if you want to punch his nose!! Bit childish, namecalling on the internet. No consequences, you see.

Well, there needs to be consequences. It appears that this guy was once registered as word1. Then, after the first profane post, one of the mods or the Admin banned him and he rerigestered as word.1. The Admin could block the URL signature from his computer, so that what ever name he registers under, the computer signature would be recognized as banned and disallowed.

Personally, I think it is just some wahoo, someone with way too much time on his hands, pulling Retroman's chain.

Although, we will forever enjoy being able to occasionally tease Retroman1969, for not even knowing that he was on "jazzguitar.be" forum . . . . . "what ever that is"

[Pierrot]

jazzguitar.be, jazzguitar.be, let's see...jazzguitar.be...I can't recorder...

[SOR]

I saw that guy's post late last night.. wow. I assumed he would be pulled as soon as someone noticed. Very nice archtop by the way, at seemingly a very fair price.

[M-ster]

Back to the archtop: Simple and beautiful. Hope it's as wonderful in person. That will be a great find!

[PTChristopher]

I thought this was "The Gear Page"?

And ".be", wat is dat voor iets?

Some sort of foreign location I suspect?

But yeah, great looking guitar and hard to imagine how it is done for that cost.

Chris

[Retroman1969]

thanks guys, I think its a pretty stellar deal for a custom hand-made.

PS: For the record, I've never looked at the address bar. The site has always shown in my searches as the Jazz Guitar Forum.

PPS: Oh, and Patrick, Pierrot, and Chris are on my permanent s#%@ list. jk

[Geert]

.be= Belgium
You know that little paradise in Europe where everybody loves Jazz, guitars, beers, and fries.

Geert (from Ghent)