Will archtops ever see a resurgence in popularity?

[Stringswinger]

If archtops are so low in popularity why are virtually every luthier making archtops ive talked to booked out months if not years? If theyre to expensive why are the top 5 figure intrument makers so busy they have lists to get on the list? Archtops are mainly desired by jazz guitarists, whats the least popular music being promoted? (1 guess). Im old and have been playing since the '60s so lets go back to the good old days. Most "boomers" were listening to rock. Every young player wanted a strat tele or les paul and although I was facinated by jazz and saw and heard Pizzerelli, Smith , Barnes, Cinderella, Paul...etc regularly (because my best buddie and bass players dad played with them) I thought archtops were the most beauifull things I ever saw but still wanted a Les Paul (perfect example of "pearls before swine"), I had a lesson with Tal when I was a teen, we went over the fundumentals,when he asked me what I wanted to learn I said "little wing" my point is nothings changed except theres more young guys that are quite accomplished jazzers than there was then, theres more affordable "jazz guitars" then there ever was before. What I see as the biggest factor is for the gigging musician they have to have a wide range of styles to stay busy although all the top cats I know playing jazz are all busy. The instrument and music buisness has always survived on "pop" music. When my buds dad was in his living room playing Moonlight in Vermont with Bucky we were next door playing Blue Cheer summertime blues. Nothings changed. My bud and I laugh about this as now I spend virtually all my playing time trying to be like his dad! As much as the 21st century is non intuitive to me the oportunitys for learning, buying and a much wider view of music internationally cant be undervalued. So my take is they are seeing a resurgence but in a different time when chunkin 4 to the bar isnt the main job for the guitar anymore but one of many many skills you need to stay busy, archtop tone will never go out of style and the playing of them is continually evolving. Last note, I couldnt afford a fine archtop (had/have 175) till I retired, fortunately there is now a large selection at every price point and condition. Last Last note, anyone notice how many jazz albums have been rereleased on vinyl and sold out at $50. ea...shitloads

+1

I love Strats, Teles and Lesters AND I love archtops. I suspect that in both the world of guitar collectors and pro musicians (and with SUCCESSFUL pro musicians, those two groups most certainly overlap quite often) there are many guitarists who agree with my taste in guitars (and there are many who don't).

I will say that playing a rock/blues gig is easier on a plank than a full hollowbody, at least for me (How exactly did Steve Howe and Ted Nugent do that?). And at the end of the day, anybody who wants an archtop guitar can easily find one. Of course, if buying new Gibson archtops is your passion, at present, you are SOL (sorry Vinny!)

[mr. beaumont]

^^^

Yeah, I think I've figured out I just really like guitars. Almost all of them.

[ThatRhythmMan]

+1

I love Strats, Teles and Lesters AND I love archtops. I suspect that in both the world of guitar collectors and pro musicians (and with SUCCESSFUL pro musicians, those two groups most certainly overlap quite often) there are many guitarists who agree with my taste in guitars (and there are many who don't).

I will say that playing a rock/blues gig is easier on a plank than a full hollowbody, at least for me (How exactly did Steve Howe and Ted Nugent do that?). And at the end of the day, anybody who wants an archtop guitar can easily find one. Of course, if buying new Gibson archtops is your passion, at present, you are SOL (sorry Vinny!)

I agree playing rock music on a plank is easier, but there can be something exhilarating about keeping a lively hollow guitar tamed while doing so… or at least trying to do so.


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[Stringswinger]

^^^

Yeah, I think I've figured out I just really like guitars. Almost all of them.

That is lucky, guys who like cars, motorcycles, speedboats or most other "toys for big boys" lose money on their stuff as they are constantly depreciating. Guitars on the other hand often appreciate over time. At least that is what I tell my wife.

[Stringswinger]

I agree playing rock music on a plank is easier, but there can be something exhilarating about keeping a lively hollow guitar tamed while doing so… or at least trying to do so.


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Hmm. I found skydiving somewhat "exhilarating" but I never tried it a second time. I have had trouble on loud jazz gigs with a full hollow body. I find bringing a plank relieves a lot of anxiety when playing in a new room or when playing with unfamiliar players. I have gotten strange looks from cats when I show up as a sideman with a plank, but in every case, once I start playing, it is all OK.

If you like trying to tame a howling hollowbody guitar on a gig, God bless you! Somewhere, Jimi must be smiling.

[bluejaybill]

(snip)
Perhaps my point is that archtops are available to those who need them and aren't on the verge of extinction despite Gibson's absence. It's NAMM time again. I was there in 2020 when two Gibson reps promised the return of the ES-175 within a year or two. Must be more difficult each passing year. Even if the tooling were still there, critical skills may have been lost since the discontinuation in 2019.

Whether or not it happens, I suspect they still have the skills, mainly because a 175 is a laminate, which they still use with 335's.

It is the carved top models where I really fear they may be losing the institutional memory.

PS I didn't know that a guitar player could be a back sheep in a family of photographers!

[Litterick]

If archtops are so low in popularity why are virtually every luthier making archtops ive talked to booked out months if not years? If theyre to expensive why are the top 5 figure intrument makers so busy they have lists to get on the list?

A few people have most of the money and can afford to pay others to make products for them. A few artisans can make a living by making these products.

[Stringswinger]

Whether or not it happens, I suspect they still have the skills, mainly because a 175 is a laminate, which they still use with 335's.

It is the carved top models where I really fear they may be losing the institutional memory.

PS I didn't know that a guitar player could be a back sheep in a family of photographers!

If Gibson wants to get back to making carved top archtops, I am sure they can subcontract with one or more of the dozens of highly skilled archtop makers out there and still turn a tidy profit,

[Christian Miller]

A few people have most of the money and can afford to pay others to make products for them. A few artisans can make a living by making these products.

There’s also been an uptick of interest in indie makers among jazz players too. The sort of players who own just really one or two really good guitars. The modern carved archtop is quite popular. I would say the classic Gibson models are a bit out of fashion.


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