Archtop Recommendations Under 1000 Euro

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 02:58 AM

Hi everyone, I'm writing here to ask for advice on buying an archtop under €1,000. I live in Italy and was looking for something used and in good condition.

So far, I've considered these options:

- The Loar LH-650
- Eastman AR503CE
- Gretsch G9555
- Guild A150 Savoy

I'm looking for a woody and bright sound, like Barney Kessel

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me; feel free to suggest other models.

**AllanAllen** · 10-10-2025, 10:03 AM

The Eastman is a very nice guitar, I didn't like the pickup, it was dull and bright at the same time, lots of other people like them.

The Gretsch looks really cool, but felt cheap to me. I didn't bring it home from the store.

The other two I haven't played, based on forum videos it looks like Loar have ceded to Eastman in popularity. The Guild is really nice looking, but like I said, I've never played one.

**bananafist** · 10-10-2025, 10:11 AM

I played a Loar 700 and an Eastman, didn't like the neck on the first and the second just didn't work for me. Having tried a G9555 when they came out some years back, I recently had the opportunity to buy one (with the dearmond) very cheaply. I really like it! I had to get the frets dressed, the bridge lowered, and now I love it! It has small Gretsch type frets (not everyones cup of tea but I like 'em,) and a 45mm wide nut with 39mm string spacing - my ideal, and similar to the Martin 000-28EC. I can't say if it sounds like BK, I'm not him, but I like it. Worth trying out if you can find one, and not expensive. Good luck.

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 10:18 AM

Thanks so much for your reply. Unfortunately, there aren't many good Gretsch reviews on YouTube. Do you think the stock floating single coil is any good? How does it sound?

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 10:22 AM

I think Eastman guitars are very beautiful aesthetically and judging from the videos on YouTube they seem to have a nice acoustic sound. I also thought that neck pickup sounded too harsh.

**bananafist** · 10-10-2025, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Giannig

Thanks so much for your reply. Unfortunately, there aren't many good Gretsch reviews on YouTube. Do you think the stock floating single coil is any good? How does it sound?

Its in the ear of the beholder, so to speak, but certainly I don't find it harsh, it is pretty warm sounding, but with my Little Jazz amp I can get it to sound clean and sweet (to my ear).

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by bananafist

Its in the ear of the beholder, so to speak, but certainly I don't find it harsh, it is pretty warm sounding, but with my Little Jazz amp I can get it to sound clean and sweet (to my ear).

Thanks again. I meant that there are few reviews and the audio quality is almost never good, so I never really understood what it sounds like. I really like the look of the guitar.

**GuyBoden** · 10-10-2025, 10:36 AM

There are plenty Jazz Archtops in Italy on Reverb.

Reverb (Italy)..

This nice Sal Salvador needs a floating pickup, also maybe a new pickguard.
Reverb... (Italy)

Reverb... (Italy)

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by GuyBoden

Ci sono molte Jazz Archtop in Italia su Reverb.

Reverb (Italia)..

Questa bella Sal Salvador ha bisogno di un pickup flottante, forse anche di un nuovo battipenna.
Reverb... (Italia)

Reverb... (Italia)

Thanks. I have to admit, that Suzuki looks really nice for the price! I wonder if it has a truss rod... I just saw a demo on YouTube where they're playing a Suzuki archtop with a floating pickup, and I really like it.

**GuyBoden** · 10-10-2025, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Giannig

Thanks. I have to admit, that Suzuki looks really nice for the price! I wonder if it has a truss rod... I just saw a demo on YouTube where they're playing a Suzuki archtop with a floating pickup, and I really like it.

The Suzuki guitars were an inexpensive guitar made in Japan in the 1950's-60's. You would need to ask the seller questions about the action height, the truss rod and can a floating pickup be installed.

If possible, play any guitar before buying. The guitar is located at Montorio al Vomano, Italy

**John A.** · 10-10-2025, 11:22 AM

I've tried all of those except the Loar 650 (I have tried the 350, which is quite similar). I don't think any of them gets particularly close to the sound of BK's ES-350, which has a laminated top and a set-in single coil Charlie Christian pickup. The ones with floating pickups are probably the furthest away from that. Gibson laminated tops are a fairly particular sound and you need similar construction/configuration to get closer to it. For the price range you're looking at I'd suggest looking at:

- Godin 5th Avenue P90 (I had the single pickup version and have played the 2-pickup version several times). IMO, these are the best budget archtops on the market.
- Eastman ar403 rather than the 503, which has a laminated top vs the 503's carved spruce top. I friend of mine has one with a humbucker-sized "CC" pickup like this one. IMO, it sounds much better than the the 503 (which to my ears has kind of thin/nasal peak to it).
- The Eastman ar372 (I preferred it to the ar503 I tried, but liked my friend's ar403 more than either)
- Eastman ar405 (their take on an ES-125, better made than the Godin, but I think the Godin sounds better)
- Epiphone Broadway
- Epiphone ES-175 premium

I'd stay away from floaters.

**caue amaral** · 10-10-2025, 12:31 PM

I think different experiences with models are always conditioned by context, which involves the particularities and differences even between instruments of the same model, amplifier used, pickups, guitar settings, strings, etc. Therefore, everyone will have a story to tell, and that's why it's best to test each instrument! If that's not possible, you should keep the characteristics in mind. For example, Eastmans have wider necks and greater string spacing... solid tops tend to be more responsive, etc. Here's a suggestion a little different from the more common ones, which involve Epiphones, Ibanez, and others:

Stanford CR Fatboy 75 – United States

**Cunamara** · 10-10-2025, 02:20 PM

Barney used a single coil guitar throughout his career (Gibson ES-350 with a Charlie Christian style bar pickup). If you want to approximate his sound, that will help. I would stay away from guitars with humbuckers, unless you want to replace the pickup and electronics (there are some very good CC style pickups that fit in a PAF humbucker mounting ring).

**Giannig** · 10-10-2025, 03:44 PM

Oops, sorry, but I think I got something mixed up. The sound I'm looking for is more like Grant Green's with his floating pickup. A little dirty and woody at the same time, but never nasal or honky.

**AllanAllen** · 10-10-2025, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Giannig

Oops, sorry, but I think I got something mixed up. The sound I'm looking for is more like Grant Green's with his floating pickup. A little dirty and woody at the same time, but never nasal or honky.

That was also a single coil.

**Sleeko** · 10-10-2025, 05:38 PM

I enjoy my single pickup Savoy X-150.
To my ear it has a relatively bright sound. Nice solid construction with, I believe, a smooth nitro finish.
The rest on your list look promising as well.
Here is a comparison video with a Gibson ES-175:

Archtop Recommendations Under 1000 Euro-img_0691-jpg

Happy hunting! ?

**StefanoGhirardo** · 10-11-2025, 08:50 AM

Ciao Gianni, this is a good time to get guitars with great sound and playability for under €1,000. I can't tell you which one will reproduce the sound you're looking for, but I recommend choosing by ear, trying them out, and not relying too much on recommendations: tastes often differ greatly, even within a relatively well-defined circle like this. In my case, I've learned that buying a guitar based on other people's opinions, or worse, on its features, without first trying it thoroughly, has led to disappointment and unnecessary expenses.
If you live near me (I'm in Ivrea (TO)) and want to get an idea, I'm available to let you try out my guitars: Epiphone Regent, Epiphone Joe Pass, Epiphone 175 Custom, Eastman AR503 in my LittleJazz amp.

**Giannig** · 10-12-2025, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by StefanoGhirardo

Ciao Gianni, this is a good time to get guitars with great sound and playability for under €1,000. I can't tell you which one will reproduce the sound you're looking for, but I recommend choosing by ear, trying them out, and not relying too much on recommendations: tastes often differ greatly, even within a relatively well-defined circle like this. In my case, I've learned that buying a guitar based on other people's opinions, or worse, on its features, without first trying it thoroughly, has led to disappointment and unnecessary expenses.
If you live near me (I'm in Ivrea (TO)) and want to get an idea, I'm available to let you try out my guitars: Epiphone Regent, Epiphone Joe Pass, Epiphone 175 Custom, Eastman AR503 in my LittleJazz amp.

Thank you so much for your reply. Unfortunately, we're quite far away, but I really appreciate your kindness. I ended up buying the loar online. I hope I really like it, but I can always return it if I'm not happy with it.

**bananafist** · 10-12-2025, 06:31 AM

Do post and let us know how you like it, in due course. They are nice looking guitars.

**58flame** · 10-12-2025, 08:11 AM

Save a couple more euros and find a used US Guild X-170 or X-150. Both should give you the sound you want, and both are nicer than anything on the list.

**Giannig** · 10-22-2025, 07:27 AM

So the loar arrived! I played it for a few hours and inspected it. I noticed that the frets aren't beveled on the sides, as I'd expect on a mid-range instrument. No matter how you position the wooden bridge, you can never get the G string in tune at the 12 fret. The pickup doesn't produce a very warm sound, as I expected; it's bright and metallic. I didn't feel like I was holding a well-made guitar; I don't know why, but it's just my hands. I really wanted to fall in love with this guitar, but I think I'll return it.