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To sum up this thread:
Some guitars are collectors items and some are just old and decrepid-like me! :-)
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02-18-2025 04:37 PM
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Oh, yeah. It is: GAS, short for Gear or Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.
Originally Posted by guitarvegas
I've got it myself. I don't know why, given that I have three excellent archtop guitars (GB10, ES-175 and a Benedetto style 17" carved archtop), three Telecasters, a Stratocaster, a flattop steel string, a classical guitar and a nylon string electric guitar. There might be more that I'm not remembering offhand. Some of them only get played a couple of times a year as I mostly use my ES-175 for everything; it is ergonomically sort of "just right." of all the guitars I own, two of them (the GB 10 and the ES 175) could easily be the only guitars I own. For some people it's much worse; they might have 25 archtop guitars. But as far as acquisition syndromes go and accumulating things, that's probably a lot less harmful than some things you could collect.
And now I find myself looking at 16" non-cutaway acoustic archtop guitars, like a pre-1934 Gibson L5 type instrument. I don't remotely need it. But I like the sound and the look of them. There's a 1939 Epiphone Zenith for sale just a couple miles away from me and I'm sorely tempted to go look at it. From the research I've done, though, it probably has a 1 5/8" nut which is just going to be too narrow for me, so I might be able to avoid checking that one out. There is also a 1950-something Gibson L-50 for sale nearby at Willie's Guitars, but it's the vintage Gibson equivalent of the guitar you posted: it needs new frets, the fingerboard to be planed a bit, probably needs the binding replaced and has been badly refinished and should be properly refinished. For $1600, it's far too much money for an instrument that will need another thousand dollars or more worth of work done on it. So I think I've managed to scratch out the itch on that one. That's really one a luthier should buy, also like the guitar you posted.
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As a luthier, I see it from the other side. Somebody comes to me with a "treasure", a vintage attic-find Stradivarius of archtop guitars and they want to pay a good sum of money so when they get it back, they'll finally be able to play like Joe Pass Virtuoso.
I've learned:
1) Never encourage someone to buy a resurrection guitar if they're really looking for something they imagine will make them something they're not.
2) Never quote a price based on what I think the work will warrant. They NEVER come in on or near budget. (Rout a new ledge and put a new binding on, and it just brings attention to the war torn finish on the top; it makes the damage look even worse. $500 and it looks like crap? Why does it sound like crap when I'm plugging it into my $5K Matchless amp?)
3) Keep the names of other luthiers over the bench.
"I've got a 6 year waiting list, but Orville can do this and he's really good."
I have bought some "Challenges" when I've come across them. Because I do the work and it costs me nothing in my spare time. Which brings me to a suggestion:
guitarvegas, is it really cheap? Why don't you get it as a DIY workshop project and learn how to repair guitars? It will surely deepen your appreciation for the real bargains you get even in the most humble of guitars these days.
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Yeah! I say, boy, I say, somebody give that boy a router. Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
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Worked for me! Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Hey anybody seen my thumb around?
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I offered him $100
He asked me to please stop emailing him.
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I take that as a no. Negotiations concluded. Time to move on. Originally Posted by guitarvegas
I see this as a win win for all parties concerned.
Now your guitar is calling you. No further action needed, just play it and become the guitarist you ever wanted to be. You've got everything you need.
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Are we hoping for better bandwidth or higher speed? Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
MORE YOUTUBE VIDEOS!!!!!
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It isn't just guitars. I have been getting into synthesizers over the past few years and have amassed quite a collection in that time. From what I have read, golfers, photographers, fishermen, and just about any other hobby has that aspect too. The really hard part is that the hunt is so addictive and if we try to settle down with what we have, we get antsy for that hunt again. Originally Posted by guitarvegas
Tony
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Yep, I have the best archtop for me right at arms length all day long. I just want one more! Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
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IMHO $100 was a generous offer for that guitar in that condition. I agree with JBN, consider a case closed and move on.
Vintage guitars are like vintage pocket watches: everybody who owns one believes it's worth much more than it is, except for the rare few that actually are worth a fair amount.
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That early version of a DeArmond 2000 (if working) and the tailpiece are worth at least 400 alone. But I agree, it's something to walk away from.
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How about a nice newish Ibanez AF75? Good instrument?
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I was under the impression after reading the initial post, that this thread was a hilarious troll and I've been laughing hysterically through the entire thing.
Even the guys avatar cracks me up.
Come on.
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Ibanez low end archtops are really pretty decent for the money. Jake Reichbart, who has hundreds of youtube videos of solo guitar performances and tons of lessons on his site as well as lessons on Truefire, plays one of the lower end Ibanez archtops. I don't recall exactly which model, but the fact that a guy such as Jake likes them, says a lot. Also, he is a member here and posts occasionally. Originally Posted by guitarvegas
Tony
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Lots can change in one week. So I am pretty darn certain I am going to sell 3 guitars, and scrape enough money to buy this Ibanez AF95. Going to buy it brand new, because I like the idea of a new guitar....and pretty sure I will keep this for life.
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