acoustic archtop TONE

[Patrick2]

Very well said! We on the same page, Bob, probably even the same book. I was drawn to these guitars 15 years ago but I had no clue how to play them. I let a couple slip away because they frustrated me. The tone and response didn't match my approach or my expectations. I think that happens to a lot of people, actually.

The good thing is that, thanks to Eastman and Loar, there are excellent quality solid wood archtops being made that allow players to try their hand without spending a mint on an old Gibson or (if so lucky) D'Angelico. I go strictly for Gibsons now because I am really hooked on the history of it all as well as the sound.

Amusingly, during a Googling effort one day, I came across a post of mine on a newsgroup from many years ago, in which I was proclaiming myself to be "done" with acoustic archtops. Gotta love it. Life is about change and evolution, and sometimes re-discovery.

I too agree with uburoibob about the tonally addictive nature of arch tops guitars. For some of us, it goes even beyond tonal addiction. It's also visual/aesthetic addiction as well. That addiction can be worse than drugs . . . (hyperbolically speaking of course). I recently remembered , about a year or so ago, where my attraction to arch tops guitars first began. Before I got serious about learning how to play guitar, I saw a Harmony Patrician (I'm pretty sure that's what I remember it to be) F hole arch top that one of my neighbors owned. He probably owned it for over 10 years at the time .. . and he bought it used. I remember thinking at the time . . . "WOW .. . I doubt I could play rock n roll on that thing but it sure is pretty." I kept trying to buy it from him, but he said he would not sell it to me until I deserved to own it. Since that time, back in Jersey City somewhere during 1971 . . . everytime I see and fall in love with another arch top guitar, I kind of get the same feeling I had when I first saw Johnny Besante's Harmony Patrician. I never did buy that from him . . . but, I did buy his 1969-71 (not sure) Les Paul Custom Black Beauty.

rpguitar . . . you say you like the culture and the history of Gibson.?.? I really don't want for this to come across like a plug for my affiliation with The Heritage .. . but, that's what their guitars are all about . . . the history of Gibson . . ESPECIALLY their arch tops. If you haven't looked closely at them, you may want to do so. I see that you are from NJ. I currently have 10 of them. I would be happy to have you stop by and play any and all of them. Acoustically, they are tonally magnificent. Just PM me if you're interested and I'll be happy to set it up.

[Patrick2]

I'm just beginning to study solo guitar and chord melody.
this is an italian old pop standard.
the Loar LH 600, thomastick flat .013, zoom H2 recorder
a lot of mistakes but a tone that I like...

gianluca: I really enjoyed hearing this song. It took me back to when my father-in-law would sing it to my mother-in-law (che ripossi in pace) usually after he had consumed too much wine . . . which was a daily occurance. Of course, my mother-in-law always got mad at him for singing it to her . . . until we would all laugh hysterically at him for holding the last note so long he would turn red and almost pass out from lack of oxygen. I also enjoyed hearing your strong Joe Pass influence. Joe, in my opinion and to my taste, was the greatest jazz guitarist ever to live. I really liked your interpretation of the song as well. As you continue to refine your performance of that tune, consider harmonizing more of the lead melody lines, as opposed to single note statements. I believe that would dress it up even more. The guitar sounded great too!!