Thin Archtop Recommendations?

[John A.]

Good question on the depth. I would say 2" or thinner.

As others have noted, there are not many fully hollow guitars that are that skinny. IME, what will get you closest to a vintage Gibson archtop sort of sound is an ES125T or TC, which are very much in the '50s ES-175 neighborhood tone-wise (there's also the TDC, but I don't think you'll find one for less than $3k). I've never played one so I don't how good they are, but there's also the Epiphone George Thorogood model, which is a re-issue of a 125 TDC, and a lot cheaper. Otherwise, if it has to be this thin, consider semi-hollows.

[va3ux]

Peerless Renaissance.



1999 - 2008 Epiphone Sorrento (the one with P90s, also made by Peerless)

[L50EF15]

Can't help with LA shop suggestions. It would still be good to know what you depth you consider to be thin. That said, I'd recommend looking at:

Gibson ES-275
Gibson ES-125T or TC
Gibson ES-330 Satin (has humbuckers and sounds very different from a regular 330)
Eastman AR403ce and AR503ce
Peerless Gigmeister Jazz
Seventy Seven Hawk Standard or Hawk Jazz Standard (hard to find, but great guitars)
Guild T50 or T100

I can vouch for the ES-125TC; I had a 1966 example and it’s the guitar I regret selling. There’s also its predecessor, the 225. A friend of mine has a few of them and he always sounds great.

A humbucker ES-330 is the Emily Remler sound, from Firefly through at least Catwalk.

[Boze]

I'd been looking for a thin archtop too; i particularly wanted something lightweight to play standing up more.

Been pretty happy with an Eastman AR503CE I got this summer but it's just a tad neck heavy for me and that's the sort of thing I notice even more when standing.

Just got an ES125T and will likely sell the Eastman now. The Eastman is carved, has nice acoustic tone, and is thinner and lighter than either of my Epiphone laminates (MIK Zephyr and Emperor), and I do love a set humbucker (I put an underwound 57 in it since I'm not into the Seth Lover it comes with). The 125T is lighter still though and easier to play and I'm not held back by its lack of a cutaway.

[marcwhy]

For something not on the radar, Bob Conti's guitars are thinline, and good quality for the price!

He's demoing one here:

@charlieparker -- for just a bit more over your stated budget, you can get a custom axe from Steve Holst up in Oregon! Tell him what you want, and he'll build it!

Here's my thin one (posted here before):



Marc

[charlieparker]

For something not on the radar, Bob Conti's guitars are thinline, and good quality for the price!

He's demoing one here:

@charlieparker -- for just a bit more over your stated budget, you can get a custom axe from Steve Holst up in Oregon! Tell him what you want, and he'll build it!

Here's my thin one (posted here before):



Marc

That Holst looks gorgeous!

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

For something not on the radar, Bob Conti's guitars are thinline, and good quality for the price!

He's demoing one here:

@charlieparker -- for just a bit more over your stated budget, you can get a custom axe from Steve Holst up in Oregon! Tell him what you want, and he'll build it!

Here's my thin one (posted here before):



Marc

I have really nothing to say against Conti's playing, he really sounds good on his guitar (except for the "rocking" part), but those cheap and cheesy General MIDI string arrangements in his playbacks made me vomit. And then people are complaining that MuseScore had bad sounds ...

[powerwagonjohn]

I have a very nice 1959 ES-225T. I have thought of selling it as I don't play it often but when I get it out I usually change my mind. It's all original but I have been using .011 ga. strings with a wound g string. I just have to many guitars and need to thin the herd as they say.
Thanks john