Sigma Guitars - Cheap Archtop

[dylanthefox]

Has anyone tried one of these?

SATA-400 - Sigma Guitars - Legendary Acoustic Guitars

[dylanthefox]

Is this the same instrument as a Loar Lh 700?

[garybaldy]

Is it a new product by Sigma? Looks nice.

[olejason]

I haven't followed the particulars but wasn't there a recent ownership shakeup with Loar? It does look like the 700 w/ a different name on the headstock

[Mark Fowler]

I found this post on Facebook. It seems that they have essentially taken over the Loar line but have made some changes.

https://www.facebook.com/SigmaGuitar...1977544631674/

I've attached a screenshot of the relevant comments.

[Jx30510]

So, anyone has tried one of these new Sigma Archtops ?
I'm quite interested. Plain simple yet classy by the looks and specs. Very curious to hear about user feedback.
Other than the Loar, or hugely expensive boutique luthiers, these are the only alternatives in new propositions.
And hand carved spruce gets me very curious.
Are these made in China ?

[Jx30510]

Don't know if it's because I revived the thread, but the only one available on line this morning is now out of stock
Should've pulled the trigger before waiting too much

Edit for the post below :
The SATA 200 E
I'm in Europe !
It was Gear4Music store in the UK

[GuyBoden]

Don't if it's because I revived the thread, but the only one available on line this morning is now out of stock
Should've pulled the trigger before waiting too much

Which model?

ATA-100E?
Sigma - Archtop ATA-100E with Hard Case

Sigma ATA-100E Archtop

[mr. beaumont]

I had a Loar 600, probably should have kept it, if just to use as a rhythm guitar.

The V neck was too pronounced for me. Actually, it was perfect for playing rhythm, it's just that the guitar sounded so good I wanted to use it for other stuff too, and when I played solos or solo guitar stuff on it, it was uncomfortable for me to play. Ended up getting frustrated with it.

But if this guitar is like the Loar as far as construction and materials and sound, it'll be very cool.

[Jx30510]

I read somewhere the neck was soft V for vintage feel with modern playability. I suppose it's must less pronounced than the Loar.
That neck, well the consensus regarding the very awkward profile, always kept me from getting one.
The guitar Loars with the '50 ending suffix (LH 650 for instance) seemed to have a more round profile.
But that model was so rare ? They must have stopped building it at one point..

Guys Boden, it was the SATA 200 E.

[339 in june]

Don't know if it's because I revived the thread, but the only one available on line this morning is now out of stock
Should've pulled the trigger before waiting too much

Edit for the post below :
The SATA 200 E
I'm in Europe !
It was Gear4Music store in the UK

London isn't in Europe anymore but as you quoted Gear4Music, you can have this one at Mak's
Sigma SATA-200E Archtop
– Mak's Guitars

[Mick-7]

London isn't in Europe anymore

Yes, I warned them they'd pay through the nose if they hired the Brexit moving company, but they didn't listen!

[mr. beaumont]

The guitar Loars with the '50 ending suffix (LH 650 for instance) seemed to have a more round profile.
.

Yes, the models with the pickup and cutaway had a more rounded neck.

It would make sense cost wise for Sigma to only use one neck shape for the both the acoustic and electric models, so maybe that's what they are doing...

[Jx30510]

Yeah, should've said on the other side of the pond
I know UK is no longer in Europe.
Didn't want the hassle to explain since most are in the US here. I kinda simplified ..
Gear4Music, while in the UK, do ship to France.
The UK will come back in Europe at one time or another, it's just a question of time, believe me

Really interested in this guitar. May try the other shop based in the UK, on the other side of the smaller pond.

[Christian Miller]

Yeah, should've said on the other side of the pond
I know UK is no longer in Europe.
Didn't want the hassle to explain since most are in the US here. I kinda simplified ..
Gear4Music, while in the UK, do ship to France.
The UK will come back in Europe at one time or another, it's just a question of time, believe me

Really interested in this guitar. May try the other shop based in the UK, on the other side of the smaller pond.

Here in the UK, I've not encountered massive issues buying stuff from EU sites like Thomann. A big box company like that or Gear4music can absorb any import charges.

I'd want to recommend Mak's as a great shop that's not a big box impersonal retailer like Gear4music. I know Mak and bought a couple of guitars from his shop over the years (used to be Ivor Mairants) - but you'd have to see re: shipping to France.

I estimate played my Loar LH600 on probably around half the gigs I've done this year - two this week - and I've had it about 13 years. Great guitar, absolute cannon that I love playing. If the Sigma is the same type of thing, I would recommend ESPECIALLY if it has a more modern neck profile.

This one looks more like an LH700 from the specs, so slightly better.

For amplification, I use 80/20 bronze strings and a Krivo Djangobucker into a LR Baggs Para DI into an amp. Sounds great. The bronze strings give a great acoustic tone too.

[Jx30510]

Thanks a lot for your insights.
I checked at Mak's, the shipping costs would be 35£, which is totally ok for me. The big question is import taxes. I'm going to ask the shop if they have any clue.
The Sigma looks good on pictures, and I like the no frills design.
Maybe will inquire Sigma directly if they can give more details on the neck profile

[garybaldy]

Here in the UK, I've not encountered massive issues buying stuff from EU sites like Thomann. A big box company like that or Gear4music can absorb any import charges.

I'd want to recommend Mak's as a great shop that's not a big box impersonal retailer like Gear4music. I know Mak and bought a couple of guitars from his shop over the years (used to be Ivor Mairants) - but you'd have to see re: shipping to France.

I estimate played my Loar LH600 on probably around half the gigs I've done this year - two this week - and I've had it about 13 years. Great guitar, absolute cannon that I love playing. If the Sigma is the same type of thing, I would recommend ESPECIALLY if it has a more modern neck profile.

This one looks more like an LH700 from the specs, so slightly better.

For amplification, I use 80/20 bronze strings and a Krivo Djangobucker into a LR Baggs Para DI into an amp. Sounds great. The bronze strings give a great acoustic tone too.

How do you set the Baggs please?

[GuyBoden]

Sigma ATA-100E Archtop £599
Specifications
Product Name: Sigma ATA-100E Archtop
Product Code: SIG-GTR-ATA-100E
Body
Body Size: Archtop Hollowbody
Top: Hand-Carved Solid Spruce
Back & Sides: Maple
Finish: Polished Gloss with Vintage Sunburst
Neck & Fretboard
Neck: Maple, Soft V-Profile
Scale Length: 24.75" (628 mm)
Neck Width at Nut: 1-3/4" (45 mm)
Truss Rod: Two-Way
Nut & Saddle: Bone
Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood
Hardware & Electronics
Tuning Machines: Chrome with Butterbean Knobs
Electronics: P90 Neck Pickup
Case: Embroidered Foam Case Included


Sigma SATA-200E £849.00
Specifications
Product Name: Sigma SATA-200E All-Solid Archtop
Product Code: SIG-GTR-SATA-200E
Body
Body Size: Archtop Hollowbody
Top: Hand-Carved Solid Spruce (AA Grade)
Back & Sides: Solid Flamed Maple
Finish: Polished Gloss with Vintage Sunburst
Neck & Fretboard
Neck: Maple, Soft V-Profile
Scale Length: 24.75" (628 mm)
Neck Width at Nut: 1-3/4" (45 mm)
Truss Rod: Two-Way Truss Rod
Fingerboard: Ebony
Hardware & Electronics
Bridge: Ebony
Nut & Saddle: Bone
Tuning Machines: Chrome with Butterbean Knobs
Electronics: P90 Neck Pickup
Included Accessories: Hardshell Case

**Not much difference in spec between these two Sigma guitars, but the SATA-200E has Back & Sides of Solid Flamed Maple. **

[Jx30510]

Yes. And it seems the 400 E not much different other than even "higher grade AAA maple"
Wonder if it's just aesthetic upgrade, in which isn't really important for my use.

[Alter]

So anyone knows what the dimensions of an "archtop hollowbody" body actually are?

[Christian Miller]

How do you set the Baggs please?

Flat, unless the room or feedback issues require mucking around.

It adds a bit of top end acousticness to the sound somehow. It’s meant for piezo really but I tried it one day just to see what would happen and I liked it.

The sound straight in to an amp is also very nice but more ‘hollow body with a magnetic pickup.’


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[shpalman]

Don't know if it's because I revived the thread, but the only one available on line this morning is now out of stock
Should've pulled the trigger before waiting too much

Edit for the post below :
The SATA 200 E
I'm in Europe !
It was Gear4Music store in the UK

That might be my fault.

Actually probably not because I ordered my SATA 200 E from them at the beginning of October, shipped to Italy, and there's anyway one in stock right now. The import tax was about €30.

It's a 16-inch body by the way.

[Jx30510]

No worry ! How do you like it ? Have you compared it to other low priced archtops like the Loar, or even non solid topped ones like Godin ?
How's the neck profile ? I sent a mail to Sigma on the neck specs, but no answer to this day.
I'd be very curious to hear a review from you.
Is it correctly paralell braced and carved ?

[Jx30510]

Got to add it looks very nice!
The sunburst is very well made, not too orangy like some (which I find pretty ugly in that case).
How's the playability ?
I'm still on the fence ordering one, but am really waiting some first reviews, at least

Congratulations, happy NGD

[shpalman]

I've never actually played an acoustic archtop before. I can only say that it has more acoustic sound than my hollow body Gretsch G5420T (basically the Electromatic version of the Chet Atkins sort of thing, pretty but not very authentic for prewar swing let alone dixieland; chord-melody solos come out sounding too funky) but not as much as my Alvarez Delta 00 flattop (I have a solid wood version of it, not the more common laminated back and sides, and of course that has 80/20 bronze strings on it).

It probably has less acoustic sound than the ATA-400 without the pickup in it, but there was nowhere near here where I could have gone to try them out. Right now it even seems like the ATA-400 costs just a bit more than the ATA-400E on gear4music, weirdly enough. Pity there isn't a ATA-200.

The pickup does sound very nice though. It's sounds like a P90 in the neck position because that's what it is.

The neck profile isn't much of a V at all (certainly not as much as the Alvarez) and it's only down at the headstock end that you'd notice. I tend to play with my thumb against the middle of the back of the neck, classical style, rather than wrapped around, and it's not a problem. It just feels like a decently chunky neck as you'd need for heavy jazz strings.



It amuses me, coming from rock/blues, that 12-gauge strings for an electric get called heavy, while 12-gauge jazz strings are considered light. It definitely had 12-52 (wound g) strings on it when it arrived because we measured them with a micrometer. The coloured ball-ends lead me to think they were D'Addario Jazz Light. I swapped them for the same gauge of Half Rounds because I'm sensitive to nickel, but they feel like they're already worn out, I'd rather have the brighter sound. So if anyone knows of nickel-free jazz strings which aren't flat-wound and work with magnetic pickups? (It seems like the highest gauge of round-wound stainless strings tends to be 11, with plain g. I have those on the Gretsch.)

It's certainly playable enough to spend more than an hour comping in horn-friendly flat keys. The string spacing feels a bit wider than usual, it's easy to lower the action but hard to raise it without loosening the strings, there's a bit of relief in the neck so the action for me is limited by choking out at the 13th fret.

The top feels fairly thick, I expect fully acoustic archtops have thinner tops but I wouldn't know; I can't imagine how difficult it is to carve a thin arched top. Maybe it's just deliberately thicker because it's optimised for the pickup rather than the acoustic sound. I haven't looked inside to see the bracing.

But the bottom line is that I like it and I'm glad I bought it.