Does a nylon stringed archtop guitar exist?

**yaugnotsac** · 01-09-2010, 12:56 PM

I am looking to buy a classical archtop nylon string guitar or an archtop guitar built for nylon strings.

Does anybody know anything about this subject?
It seems to be very hard to build.

**Scolohofo** · 01-09-2010, 01:44 PM

there are selmer types for nylon or maybe by godin a kind of archtop guitars with nylon.

**lpdeluxe** · 01-09-2010, 01:47 PM

I've always understood that the archtop requires the heavier steel strings to properly drive it.

**Steve Z** · 01-09-2010, 01:58 PM

Daniel Slaman makes nylon string jazz archtops. The website is build using frames so I cannot provide a direct link to the nylon string guitars... click on models, then toward the bottom of the page under "Modern Series"
http://www.slamanguitars.com

**Steve Z** · 01-09-2010, 02:26 PM

How about the Buscarino Guitars Starlight Nylon String...

**yaugnotsac** · 01-09-2010, 04:55 PM

Thanks . The Daniel Slaman guitar looks quite keen and sound pretty good.
That's the clossest I saw one.
I was thinking of a affordable good classical guitar with also a "archtop" build for the jazz look.
But it probably does'nt exist and it would cost loads to make.

**Tom Karol** · 01-09-2010, 07:29 PM

Yes!
Toru Nittono Guitars

**knoble53** · 01-09-2010, 08:34 PM

Henneken Concerto.

Al Carruth has also built some.

**yaugnotsac** · 01-09-2010, 08:55 PM

Great The Henneken concerto looks perfect thanks a lot

**kawa** · 01-11-2010, 02:51 AM

(non arch) YAMAHA APX-5NA

1

2

**Bill C** · 01-11-2010, 09:05 AM

a Roger Borys jazz nylon string ...

1987 Borys B-520

**YocoYur** · 08-06-2010, 04:03 AM

Ibanez make nice guitar with nylon strings, such as the AEG10NE. I've had a chance to try it and it is very nice sounding and playing instrument!

**rpguitar** · 11-19-2014, 11:58 PM

Played by Francesco Buzzurro, who I can't believe I've never heard of, but just discovered thanks to the "Shadow of Your Smile" thread on the Players forum.

Made by an Italian luthier, Mirko Borghino. I've seen attempts at this type of hybrid before, but never as successful and compelling as this.

**Flat** · 11-20-2014, 12:15 AM

Wow! Great guitar and a great player! I'd never heard of the guitarist or the guitar either. I thought maybe that was a Kirk Sand guitar until I scrolled down and saw the Borghino name.

F holes!! I don't think I've ever seen f holes on any nylon-string guitar, and they really seem to seal the deal here.

**Flyin' Brian** · 11-20-2014, 12:36 AM

What delightful playing! Oh the guitar is cool too but that is some wonderful musicianship.

Chega De Saudade is a favorite of mine.

**mcahoon** · 11-20-2014, 01:15 AM

Great sound. Also check out the Dome archtop guitar by Daniel Slaman.

**Klatu** · 11-20-2014, 01:28 AM

That's some of the best playing I've ever seen.

It's times like these when I reflect on the life of a musician. All too often the genius players are stuck playing for peanuts while sluts and idiots make millions singing into pitch correcting software. Oh well.

**Frank67** · 11-20-2014, 02:34 AM

What a fantastic player, fluent, melodic, tasteful, clean, technically brilliant .... And a great sound of the guitar too.

**targuit** · 11-20-2014, 03:23 AM

When I heard that clip on the Shadow of Your Smile thread last night, I tried to investigate the luthier's site. This guitar, which I immediately thought of as my 'dream nylon string' because of the gorgeous tone, may have been a one off for Francesco, who teaches jazz guitar at a University in Sicily. I may contact Borghino just to find out how much it would cost to 'realize the dream'. But whom am I kidding....probably out of sight.

Jay

**mhch** · 11-20-2014, 04:13 AM

Francesco's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgI...Iji51v9-dOxHiQ is full of marvels ... Couldn't believe one could play a symphony band performance all by himself ...

**silverfoxx** · 11-20-2014, 05:19 AM

Mcahoon,
This beautiful rendition of "Wave" is a great start to the day I shall play this
again & again , thank you for the post.
BTW the Slaman Dome has a wonderful tone, your picking is to be admired.

**Jabberwocky** · 11-20-2014, 07:08 AM

Wonderful player with fantastic chops. The guitar reminds me of a manouche guitar with De Mauro f-holes. Bold luthiery but not convinced of its tonal attributes at this point.

**rpguitar** · 11-20-2014, 07:30 AM

This is the first guitar I've seen in months where I said to myself "I must own that."

Obviously tone is subjective. But listen to the incredible dynamic range of the instrument, the nearly perfect intonation, and the evenness of tone up and down the neck. Combine this with the form factor of an archtop guitar with its immediate attack and lush midrange, not to mention the setup that is likely possible with an adjustable bridge and truss rod...

I did write a brief note to the luthier via the contact form on his website. I get the feeling that he will produce more of these; I read an interview with him (translated from Italian thanks to Google) where he discusses the guitar a bit, reflecting on the R&D it took to make it, and the refinements that probably await as he evaluates it in the ridiculously capable hands of Sr. Buzzurro.

**kris** · 11-20-2014, 10:35 AM

Great tone and great player.
I/ve used arch-top nylon strings guitar over 9 years.
It was Concerto made by Marrku Henneken but Mirko Borghino guitar sounds simply fantastic.
Thanks for video link.

**mr. beaumont** · 11-20-2014, 11:01 AM

I like to store clips like these up for when people say something like "you can't play a lot of notes and still have 'feeling'," or some mumbo jumbo like that.