Looking for a guitar like these from Hancock

[j4zz]

These are made by Hancock, Australia and I love the look & vibe, but they are expensive. What other, more budget friendly options are there, that share the same general style and looks?

[marcwhy]

Beautiful guitars!

So what is your budget and where are you located?

[j4zz]

Beautiful guitars!

So what is your budget and where are you located?

Yes, truly lovely stuff.

So, I would like to keep it under $5000, ideally about $2000 or so.

I have been looking around a lot, and there are some lovely eastman guitars I am liking too. There was a blonde AR580CE I liked that might fit the budget. I would prefer a floating neck pickup maybe though. They don't seem to have it on their website anymore. (picture below)

I am in Australia, so not so easy to get to play some of these guitars. Planning to visit quite a few guitar stores soon though

[Cunamara]

Eastman was my first thought and a very good option, new or used. I don't know what the used market in AUS looks like- is there a Craigslist style website, Facebook Marketplace, etc.?

[j4zz]

Eastman was my first thought and a very good option, new or used. I don't know what the used market in AUS looks like- is there a Craigslist style website, Facebook Marketplace, etc.?

Yes, all the above and more. I just need to get comfortable with it There's even an Australian section of Reverb.com, but you hear many horror stories about some of these places.

If I could get something pretty for cheap enough, I would still be tempted me to buy new. Biggest thing for me is actually getting to play it before I buy it though.

[j4zz]

What are the pros and cons of a slightly cheaper model from Eastman. This one seems nice Eastman AR805CE-BD Electric Hollowbody Archtop-Blonde
– Gladesville Guitar Factory and has a floating bridge and solid spruce top (a couple of my main criteria)

[Rob MacKillop]

I have a AR910CE and AR680 Pisano model, both from Eastman. I can highly recommend them both, but the 910CE looks most similar to those Hancock guitars, with its floating pickup. The 910 is insanely good for its price, a fat, warm sound even when played acoustically. I bought mine used, and it's in near mint condition - just one very slight ding - for 2,300 UK pounds from a shop in England called SellUsYourGuitar, who gave great service, and will ship to OZ. They don't have that guitar in stock now (thanks to me!) but you should be able to find one somewhere. Highly recommended.

Good luck!

[Gitterbug]

1+ for Eastman!

[Jimmy blue note]

There are three builders in China who do excellent work on par with anything costing many times more. There have been threads on these guitars by Yunzhi, Mr Wu and Li Dan. These are made by hand, two of whom worked as top luthiers with Eastman and established their own businesses on their own.

You can design them to your own spec because they're all built custom for each customer. If you want traditional F holes, for instance, just say. Fitted out for 6 or 7 strings, body size 15-18", colour of your choosing, lacquer finish, with an optional case, and they start for about $1200 -1300 USD.
Being built by hand, you can't try it out ahead of time, and truth be told, you really can't know just how great it will become until it's broken in over the course of the first year or so. This is the window in which the lacquer properly cures, the wood finds the vibrational patterns that come from being played into the nodal patterns that allow it to "sing".
These instruments are genuinely fine guitars BUT in my opinion, they will be at their best when you have the help of a good local luthier to do the final fitting and setup to your own tastes. Things like wood settling in, fret ends fit to the settling of the fingerboard, action and relief set to your own sense of personal perfection, ...these are things that make the difference between a guitar that genuinely fits YOU and they won't be done when the guitar is sent out to you.

It's an option, but can very well be an instrument you'll play for life.
I have one. I'm a luthier, I build my own and I know guitars and my Chinese archtop is the one I'm really enjoying playing in my living room. Just an option for you to put on your radar.

[jads57]

Lark Street Music: L.KORN Archtop

[EastwoodMike]

Lark Street is nowhere near Australia.

[EastwoodMike]

Yes, all the above and more. I just need to get comfortable with it There's even an Australian section of Reverb.com, but you hear many horror stories about some of these places.

If I could get something pretty for cheap enough, I would still be tempted me to buy new. Biggest thing for me is actually getting to play it before I buy it though.

Mate, those Hancock guitars are lovely, solid carved and acoustic arch tops. If you are after the vibe of a floating bridge arch aud2-5k then suss out the Ibanez GB range. There was a nice blond LGB30 that might still be at Gladesville. The slightly smaller GBs are floating PUs. From memory they are both Laminated. Keep in mind Lam is superior to solid tops in a combo or band where feedback is a challenge. Just figure out if you want a PU, and if so, floating or set in body.
It will be very hard to get in hand to try a solid wood with floaters new at that price point in Australia at least and the Eastmans are your best bet. You may get lucky on Gumtree or Marketplace though.
And worth checking out the used/consignment sales for Gladesville and Parra Guitar factories. It’s not in their interests to offload clapped out junk through their stores.

happy hunting!

[j4zz]

There are three builders in China who do excellent work on par with anything costing many times more. There have been threads on these guitars by Yunzhi, Mr Wu and Li Dan. These are made by hand, two of whom worked as top luthiers with Eastman and established their own businesses on their own.

You can design them to your own spec because they're all built custom for each customer. If you want traditional F holes, for instance, just say. Fitted out for 6 or 7 strings, body size 15-18", colour of your choosing, lacquer finish, with an optional case, and they start for about $1200 -1300 USD.
Being built by hand, you can't try it out ahead of time, and truth be told, you really can't know just how great it will become until it's broken in over the course of the first year or so. This is the window in which the lacquer properly cures, the wood finds the vibrational patterns that come from being played into the nodal patterns that allow it to "sing".
These instruments are genuinely fine guitars BUT in my opinion, they will be at their best when you have the help of a good local luthier to do the final fitting and setup to your own tastes. Things like wood settling in, fret ends fit to the settling of the fingerboard, action and relief set to your own sense of personal perfection, ...these are things that make the difference between a guitar that genuinely fits YOU and they won't be done when the guitar is sent out to you.

It's an option, but can very well be an instrument you'll play for life.
I have one. I'm a luthier, I build my own and I know guitars and my Chinese archtop is the one I'm really enjoying playing in my living room. Just an option for you to put on your radar.

Great info, thanks. Nice looking modern styled blonde guitar there. I can do all the final setup you mentioned, myself. I have made quite a few soid body guitars, but not an archtop.

[j4zz]

Mate, those Hancock guitars are lovely, solid carved and acoustic arch tops. If you are after the vibe of a floating bridge arch aud2-5k then suss out the Ibanez GB range. There was a nice blond LGB30 that might still be at Gladesville. The slightly smaller GBs are floating PUs. From memory they are both Laminated. Keep in mind Lam is superior to solid tops in a combo or band where feedback is a challenge. Just figure out if you want a PU, and if so, floating or set in body.
It will be very hard to get in hand to try a solid wood with floaters new at that price point in Australia at least and the Eastmans are your best bet. You may get lucky on Gumtree or Marketplace though.
And worth checking out the used/consignment sales for Gladesville and Parra Guitar factories. It’s not in their interests to offload clapped out junk through their stores.

happy hunting!

Thanks for the tips. Yes, solid top and floating pickup is my preference. I already have a cheap Washburn ES-175 copy , laminate top and two humbuckers, that plays well in a band situation.

I only recently learned about the guitar store in Gladesville. I will be watching that and gumtree etc.

[Cunamara]

Googling "Li Dan guitars" has some interesting results.

[EastwoodMike]

Great info, thanks. Nice looking modern styled blonde guitar there. I can do all the final setup you mentioned, myself. I have made quite a few soid body guitars, but not an archtop.

you mentioned you’ve Made a few Solid bodies? If you are up for it I met a nice guy at the Syd Guitar Show the other weekend- he runs classes making guitars up near Erina. Pay as you go, whatever type you want. Notice the guitar in the latest Elvis Movie that Scotty Moore was playing? He made that, and it sounded so good they recorded the studio soundtrack with it.


Australian School of Guitar making or something like that

[Jabberwocky]

How about a nice used Trenier Broadway? ?????????????????16.5?????????

Jazz Guitar Design? 希少モデルです！17インチボディのアコースティック・アーチトップ！

[j4zz]

you mentioned you’ve Made a few Solid bodies? If you are up for it I met a nice guy at the Syd Guitar Show the other weekend- he runs classes making guitars up near Erina. Pay as you go, whatever type you want. Notice the guitar in the latest Elvis Movie that Scotty Moore was playing? He made that, and it sounded so good they recorded the studio soundtrack with it.


Australian School of Guitar making or something like that

So interesting.

I could plan a holiday and do that. Those guys at Hancock guitars (up in Tambourine Mountain, QLD) used to do a similar thing - make your own acoustic guitar.

[j4zz]

How about a nice used Trenier Broadway? ?????????????????16.5?????????

Jazz Guitar Design? ????????17???????????????????????

Nice but I do find non-standard F holes a bit confronting. That's not to say I don't like some of them. Have to get used to them I suppose.

[j4zz]

Australian School of Guitar making or something like that

Found it

Guitar Making Course - Australian Guitar Making School