No more Gibson archtops ?

[RJVB]

You're right. We're screwed.

Question is, screwed as much as by the fact that IBM no longer make PCs?

Feedback is a limiting factor.

I have a very simple PoV here: acoustic and electric guitars are two very different animals and the latter doesn't need a top (plate), be it flat or arched. Trying to combine the 2 in a single instrument is almost always going to compromise at least one of the functions.

Blues on an archtop is perfectly possible even if it's not a Lucille:

(both happen to be flat-backs btw).

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

But he’s wearing a hat indoors……

[RJVB]

But he’s wearing a hat indoors……

Ah, how difficult it is to understand each other's cultural dos and donts

It's his indoors...

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Ah, how difficult it is to understand each other's cultural dos and donts

It's his indoors...

Ahhh - you left that out of your earlier pronouncement...

Hats are great - but men take 'em off inside

[Marty Grass]

Question is, screwed as much as by the fact that IBM no longer make PCs?



I have a very simple PoV here: acoustic and electric guitars are two very different animals and the latter doesn't need a top (plate), be it flat or arched. Trying to combine the 2 in a single instrument is almost always going to compromise at least one of the functions.

Blues on an archtop is perfectly possible even if it's not a Lucille:

(both happen to be flat-backs btw).

You make fair points. Still it is true that full sized archtops are less versatile for the gigging guitarist in general. I could bring a 335 to almost any venue and not worry about it being damaged, stolen, or feeding back. I could play loud blues, Blood, Sweat and Tears jazz, and more, and 99% of audiences would be happy with the sound. If something did happen to it, it would be much easier to replace. Few musicians on tour at larger festivals tote their best jazz instruments it seems.

At smaller venues, I sometimes brought my ES-175.

Even with our more modest instruments we needed someone to babysit the stage constantly.

Having said that, I know of some elites who bought a second ticket on their planes to keep their guitar next to them. That helped with security and temperature control.

[RJVB]

I think of that as practicality rather than versatility.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I could bring a 335 to almost any venue and not worry about it being damaged, stolen, or feeding back.

Interesting take on the problem, Marty. But I think the likelihood of a 3X5’s being stolen is a lot higher than it is for a 175. Most thieves resell their loot, and a 175 is probably not a fast mover on the street or black market. A thief who knows what these are would favor the semi unless he or she were taking it to play. As news of a 175 that was stolen from a gigging player would probably spread fast through the pro community, only an idiot would play it in public. And trying to sell it on internet markets carries a high risk that it will be recognized by its owner or someone who knows the owner &/or the guitar. I think most of us browse the web for interesting instruments these days.

The risk of damage seems to me to be about the same, except perhaps that the center block probably improves the survivability of a body blow by a little bit. Being knocked off a stand is as likely to break a neck or headstock on either one. I suppose that dropping the guitar on its jack with a plug in it is more likely to crack a fatter rim.

You’re certainly right about feedback, though.

[Betz]

I have recently been researching L5’s and a lot of old threads from jazz guitar.be show up in the search engine results. When you look back from about 2012 to the Memphis shop closing in 2019, you can read about going into a (albeit major name) music store and playing every L4 / L5 they had in stock. You can also read about music store owners complaining that they had to take a couple L4s / L5s in their Gibson order if they wanted to get those Les Pauls and SGs. And then there was CME blowing out ES-175 ‘59 VOS guitars because they otherwise could not move them.

My points? We didn’t know how good we had it. And the handwriting was on the wall; hollow-body archtops guitars were already no longer a viable product for Gibson.

[lawson-stone]

I have recently been researching L5’s and a lot of old threads from jazz guitar.be show up in the search engine results. When you look back from about 2012 to the Memphis shop closing in 2019, you can read about going into a (albeit major name) music store and playing every L4 / L5 they had in stock. You can also read about music store owners complaining that they had to take a couple L4s / L5s in their Gibson order if they wanted to get those Les Pauls and SGs. And then there was CME blowing out ES-175 ‘59 VOS guitars because they otherwise could not move them.

My points? We didn’t know how good we had it. And the handwriting was on the wall; hollow-body archtops guitars were already no longer a viable product for Gibson.

I got one of those ES175 '59VOS for $2000. Still have it, a fantastic guitar that I play every day.

[lawson-stone]

Question is, screwed as much as by the fact that IBM no longer make PCs?

Bad analogy. L5ces, ES175, L7... they are not obsolete. Great players can still play them and make great music. IBM's "PC" is the very definition of "obsolete."

[fine-instruments]

agreed, but they used invisible ink for the writing on the wall so most of us did not see. And yes, 2 grands for a 59 RI 175 was a smoking deal back then, congratulation

[Betz]

I got one of those ES175 '59VOS for $2000. Still have it, a fantastic guitar that I play every day.

I remember; your comments inspired me when one came available. I sold it recently and have often questioned that decision.

[sgosnell]

I've sold a total of 3 guitars, as well as I remember. One I bought as an investment to sell for profit, and that worked well. I don't expect to come across another deal like that. The other two I still regret, and I don't expect to sell another, even though my wife would be happier if I did. She puts her unwanted items into garage sales. I ain't doing that.