Archtop recommendation in the $3k-$4k range

[Playerizor]

I have a Heritage 575 Custom with a solid spruce top and one pick-up with an ebony fretboard. I bought it new so it cost about what you want to spend. IMHO it is a phenomenal sounding guitar and feels incredible in my hands. The quality is quite good.

[ESCC]

I wouldnt buy from an owners club, they will want far too much money. Go on ebay plus you get some protection.

Not a well informed statement. Typically, the prices at the Heritage Owners Forum are better than e-bay etc. More discussion and negotiation, good group of members with a common bond.

[Dennis D]

You mentioned maybe an ES-175....an L-4 CES is the exact same size, scale back and sides, but with a carved toop and ebony fingerboard. There are two for sale on Gbase right now for under $3500. and one is blonde..I owned a '60's 175 for years, and bought an L-4 recently, and hands down the L-4 sounds better. And they don't get mentioned a lot - including here.
But you'll be doing yourself a favor if you track one down and play it.
MHO Dennis

[kenbennett]

Mark Piper is a great builder. Formerly ran the Guild Custom shop at Fender. Then with Evan Ellis built the Benedetto guitars at Fender. Ellis moved to Savannah with Benedetto. Piper now builds his own line. Should be in your price range. Check it out.

Redentore Guitars

[Patrick2]

Mark Piper is a great builder. Formerly ran the Guild Custom shop at Fender. Then with Evan Ellis built the Benedetto guitars at Fender. Ellis moved to Savannah with Benedetto. Piper now builds his own line. Should be in your price range. Check it out.

Redentore Guitars

I recently sold a 2002 Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award. If that guitar was any indication of Mark's skills and capabilities . . . . then, he's a master!

That guitar was one of the finest arch tops I've ever owned or played.

[ArchieTop]

Well, I might as well throw my opinion in here. I wasn't going to because people don't take advice unless they either pay for it or their life depends on it.

But what the heck. I'm 58 years old and still do the sit-down jazz gigs, as I like to call them, content to comp behind those who want to be in the limelight. Got more archtops than I can shake a stick at.

Get a 175. After all these decades it's still the model I usually grab for gigging. I have 6 of 'em so, I dunno, maybe I think they're good.

[Section Player]

Well, I might as well throw my opinion in here. I wasn't going to because people don't take advice unless they either pay for it or their life depends on it.

But what the heck. I'm 58 years old and still do the sit-down jazz gigs, as I like to call them, content to comp behind those who want to be in the limelight. Got more archtops than I can shake a stick at.

Get a 175. After all these decades it's still the model I usually grab for gigging. I have 6 of 'em so, I dunno, maybe I think they're good.

I hear you, brother. Help: are you talking about a Guild X-175 or a Gibson ES-175? I like 'em both.

[ArchieTop]

Gibson ES-175.

You know, I'm not knocking other models. Like I said, I have a bunch of them. But if the house were on fire and I only had the chance to grab one, a 175 would be it. And, yeah, that would mean those nice L5's would be toast, too.

[rpguitar]

The "house on fire" test is a good one. I run imaginary fire drills all the time. However, I consider 2 saved guitars to be a minimum, given the number of hands I've been endowed with. The L-5 is first. I am not sure about the second but my old 175 with PAFs is a definite candidate.

[Section Player]

Which is a good reminder that we should all have records and photos of any valuable instruments (you define "valuable"); also check with your fire insurance co. to see if any special or additional coverage is needed for them, for theft, fire, failure to remember the B flat scale in at least two positions, etc.

[floatingpickup]

Campellone Standard. Great guitar from one of the finest builders.
Keith

[Playerizor]

The "house on fire" test is a good one. I run imaginary fire drills all the time. However, I consider 2 saved guitars to be a minimum, given the number of hands I've been endowed with. The L-5 is first. I am not sure about the second but my old 175 with PAFs is a definite candidate.

I'd have to grab the wife first, it might look a little suspicious if I'm standing outside with my guitar and she's trapped inside.

Of course, I'd be holding her and in her hand would be my Heritage Custom 575.

[rpguitar]

Oh yeah... I forgot: The wife can walk and she has two more hands to work with!

[stevedenver]

which of course means two MORE guitars saved-
life has its priorities

[2bornot2bop]

Great budget. I always recommend buying used if possible to save money and when you decide that you want to trade up or sideways later you will may get more of your money back. FWIW, I tend to really like the playability and tone of the Epiphone Joe Pass which I believe is based on the Emperor class body. The newer Epi Swingster with the same essential body and neck plays great as well. My point is that more expensive and better build quality does not always mean you the guitar will necessarily be better for "you".... I have owned my share of high end archtops in the past so I have some real life experience, but they were mighty nice to own.

I just did a quick Craigslist search using SearchTempest Online Classifieds Search - All the Classifieds. One Search. and found the following...

I really like the Golden Eagle.... sweet! (not mine but I wish it was

Heritage Golden Eagles... looks like a custom model with the Gibson style pickguard (a great alternative to an L5)
2001 Heritage Golden Eagle





2009 Jim Triggs - San Salvador
http://http://austin.craigslist.org/msg/3019609074.html


Guild X-500
High end Guitar Collection for sale:

that's trouble....if you knew my penchant for OSB's you'd not be temptin' my ass with that!