Should I purchase a new Archtop Tribute AT350?

[2bornot2bop]

What should be my expectations?

Deep dark tones? Any experience with this particular model?

Or, should I consider their P90 model?

Thx in advance!

[tuesday]

No experience with the AT350 but... I would have no hesitation buying another guitar from Masaki, in fact I was going to when they get the new stock of ATC175's in June/July (I just got a Gibson locally, however). I've got the AT-130 and it is fantastic.

I'd say go for it!

And then please let me know how you like it, because I'm already saving up for that one in the future.

[2bornot2bop]

No experience with the AT350 but... I would have no hesitation buying another guitar from Masaki, in fact I was going to when they get the new stock of ATC175's in June/July (I just got a Gibson locally, however). I've got the AT-130 and it is fantastic.

I'd say go for it!

And then please let me know how you like it, because I'm already saving up for that one in the future.

Much appreciate your input!

[Archie]

Much appreciate your input!

I’m skeptical. For $1,500 can you really expect an ES350? In the end one has to ask the obvious question.
I know esteemed members are enthusiastic.

I trust 213Cobra so the answer is… maybe?

[m_d]

No experience with any of their guitars but have a look at Bruce Forman's Instagram, he plays a red custom one in dozens of videos. He seems to like it. In an interview Forman says that Barney Kessel trusted that shop to work on his ES-350 - the very same ES-350 Forman inherited, apparently. I don't know if Masaki was in charge at the time. But they did not spring out of nowhere. There's no doubt in my mind that those people have the highest standards and know what they're doing. The Kessel connection kind of speaks for itself. The main issue as I see it would be not being able to try the guitar beforehand in case you don't like something about it.

[vinnyv1k]

Japan made guitars are very high quality when it comes to fit and finish. Roll the dice. No guts no glory

[mr. beaumont]

I've actually never heard anything even a little bad about these.

[wintermoon]

Send member telephone a message, he has/had one.

[For Sale] Archtop Tribute ATC350BK [For Sale] Archtop Tribute ATC350BK

[Prof Silverhair]

These are a really compelling guitar from what I've read and watched.

Watching this thread for more input from those that know.

Also, where's the best place to buy these?

[Archie]

No experience with any of their guitars but have a look at Bruce Forman's Instagram, he plays a red custom one in dozens of videos. He seems to like it. In an interview Forman says that Barney Kessel trusted that shop to work on his ES-350 - the very same ES-350 Forman inherited, apparently. I don't know if Masaki was in charge at the time. But they did not spring out of nowhere. There's no doubt in my mind that those people have the highest standards and know what they're doing. The Kessel connection kind of speaks for itself. The main issue as I see it would be not being able to try the guitar beforehand in case you don't like something about it.

That’s not how manufacturing works. You cannot create something for 1/4 the price and expect the same result. Even for Japan those prices are cheap.
I would expect at those prices, the individual components are being made in china or Indonesia. That is not in and of itself a bad thing but input is output and input is driven by cost.

Also how are these legal to buy new un the US and why have Gibson corps lawyers not started intervening? I’m all for these models being opened up to 3rd party manufacturers given that the current people at Gibson guitars, have nothing to do with the original company and these guitars have long ago crossed the boundaries into cultural assets.

[Mick-7]

I’m skeptical. For $1,500 can you really expect an ES350? In the end one has to ask the obvious question.
I know esteemed members are enthusiastic. I trust 213Cobra so the answer is… maybe?

The prices are much lower than usual now because, as I mentioned in another thread, Japan recently had a financial meltdown, the Yen hit its lowest exchange rate vis a-vis the dollar in 36 years - but it is rising now, as the U.S. economy declines -- walkin.co.jp - Archtop Tribute Guitars

[Archie]

The prices are much lower than usual now because, as I mentioned in another thread, Japan recently had a financial meltdown, Yen hit lowest exchange rate vis a-vis the dollar in 36 years - but it is rising now, as the U.S. economy declines.-- 17?????????????????

I thought cost of living in Japan is going up. This means cost of materials are going up and likely labour. There is also a shortage of labour in Japan.

[Mick-7]

I thought cost of living in Japan is going up. This means cost of materials are going up and likely labour. There is also a shortage of labour in Japan.

Well, it's relative, the value of a country's currency doesn't necessarily reflect it's economic health, in the short term anyway.

[Woody Sound]

There's a very cool BK version for sale here.

[m_d]

That’s not how manufacturing works. You cannot create something for 1/4 the price and expect the same result. Even for Japan those prices are cheap.
I would expect at those prices, the individual components are being made in china or Indonesia. That is not in and of itself a bad thing but input is output and input is driven by cost.

Also how are these legal to buy new un the US and why have Gibson corps lawyers not started intervening? I’m all for these models being opened up to 3rd party manufacturers given that the current people at Gibson guitars, have nothing to do with the original company and these guitars have long ago crossed the boundaries into cultural assets.

Please stop

[Lkdog]

How is the shipping and import tariff fees handled?

[ccroft]

"Should I purchase a new Archtop Tribute AT350?"

Somebody has to. You were born for this :)

[2bornot2bop]

There's a very cool BK version for sale here.

the CC version? Didn’t it sell months ago?

[2bornot2bop]

How is the shipping and import tariff fees handled?

shipping via DHL Shipping added to purchase price. I’d imagine DHL is handling whatever tariff charges their are.

Spoke to Masaki. They have one blonde and one sunburst remaining. Case will cost $150. Total cost shipped, $2060 for the single humbucker.

[lumena]

I have been traveling and will be staying in Chiang Mai rest of year.
Last week i bought one of the p90 at350s . I won’t get it until I get back to Thailand in late march.
I did order it with a custom Westville Crest pickup with a custom mount to fit in the p90 hole. The Crest pu is the same one that comes in the Westville guitars. Aruba Crest — Westville Guitars
It is the same one that Hirofumi Asada has recently had Masaki put in his 1950 es350.

Check out his YouTube to hear it. It’s a lightweight cc pickup with the same tone but less weight on the top so a better acoustic sound.
I did own one of the BK models and that was my main complaint, It didn’t have enough acoustic sound for me.

My total order cost was just over $2290 with all custom work, custom mounting plate for pickup and DHL to Chiang Mai

My experience with the BK model was that it arrived to the USA as the nicest setup guitar out of the box I have ever received.
Nothing like an Gibson or an Ibanez. Each guitar is custom setup in the shop before shipping by Masaki.
Whatever your fears, lose them. These guitars are works of love and only about 12-15 are made a year. Order now or wait a year because that is what I had to do after selling the BK to pay for an es330 that I had a jones for mistakenly thinking I could always get another.
picts will be awhile but I will post them in March-April.

These are custom guitars and you can request setup and anything else as Masaki is a great person and loves his workshop.

Crest pickup.
"It has open yet fat sound and microphonic property. And the fact that the sound quality is inspired by the vintage single coil’s like the CC, the DeArmond Dynasonic and DeArmond 1100." - Jesse van Ruller -

[Archie]

Please stop

I’m just asking questions.

There’s no need to be rude.

[wintermoon]

Other than the open book/mustache tip of the headstock I'm not sure Gibson has any legal claim w these guitars.

[m_d]

I’m just asking questions.

There’s no need to be rude.

I'm sorry if I came across as rude. But you were inferring they are cutting corners. The Japanese typically do not cut corners, but in that case, given the background of that company, even less so. As to their current prices, the historically low Yen is a factor, but there are other ones: a pervasive culture of excellence (it's in everything they do, you'll notice it if you visit Japan). Another big one, which many like to ignore or avoid talking about, is quite simply the West's competitive decline relative to Asia.

I'm not American so I'm less bothered that they're making Gibson replicas. On the other hand, Gibson refuses to make archtops anymore, and haven't offered an ES-175 in nearly a decade, and an ES-350 in several decades. Workshops like AT are like keepers of the flame. Would it be wise of Gibson to extinguish that flame? AT hardly promote themselves at all nor are they seeking commercial expansion. They used to work with Barney Kessel as per Bruce Forman, yet do not even mention that pedigree officially. This website may be one of the only places on the Internet giving them any kind of publicity. If I were Gibson I would be inspired by their passion, not offended. IMHO and FWIW etc.

[John A.]

That’s not how manufacturing works. You cannot create something for 1/4 the price and expect the same result. Even for Japan those prices are cheap.
I would expect at those prices, the individual components are being made in china or Indonesia. That is not in and of itself a bad thing but input is output and input is driven by cost.

Also how are these legal to buy new un the US and why have Gibson corps lawyers not started intervening? I’m all for these models being opened up to 3rd party manufacturers given that the current people at Gibson guitars, have nothing to do with the original company and these guitars have long ago crossed the boundaries into cultural assets.

So far as I can tell they haven’t lowered their prices in yen. The dollar/yen exchange rates have changed, which (for now) lowers the cost to importers purchasing in dollars. That happens for a complicated array of trade and macroeconomic reasons that aren’t necessarily connected to the cost of doing business within Japan. Also, even if costs more broadly are rising in Japan, that doesn’t mean they are for this particular builder (e.g., they might be working from inventory purchased in the past at lower prices, which insulates them from inflation for a while).

As to legality, it’s up to Gibson to seek enforcement remedies. Given the small volumes being imported it’s probably not worth it to them to do this (if they’re even aware of it). But we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.

[2bornot2bop]

So, what should I anticipate the tariff charge to be on $2k for a Japan purchase? Anyone know?