D'Aspiranta New Yorker Archtop

[bluejazz57]

Hi all,

I've recently bought one of these in excellent second hand condition.

I think they were a forerunner of the Peerless guitars made in Korea.

Anyone got any info on these?

[Archtop Guy]

I've always loved the style of it. But, I haven't seen one in person or even heard one. Check You Tube.

[Klatu]

I think I remember those guitars being sold in Sam Ash as their store brand. The guitars I played looked and sounded quite good.

[kris]

I use one for 5 years.
Nice jazz box.
I did many updates/new pick up,ebony taipliece,ebony bridge/.

[hot ford coupe]

Hey Kris, that sounds like a pretty good instrument. No wonder you used it for 5 years. Great playing also.

[2bornot2bop]

Dig your playin' Kris. Great duo work. I love that tune!

She's got the identical look and clarity of my former Imperial. She's a Peerless alright!

[kris]

Hey Kris, that sounds like a pretty good instrument. No wonder you used it for 5 years. Great playing also.

Thanks

[kris]

Dig you're playin' Kris. Great duo work. I love that tune!

She's got the identical look and clarity of my former Imperial. She's a Peerless alright!

Thanks.
It is made by Peerless factory - very similar to yours Imperial.

[Klatu]

I think these guitars are laminates, and I had the impression that the Imperials were solid tops.

[2bornot2bop]

I think these guitars are laminates, and I had the impression that the Imperials were solid tops.

The majority of what Peerless creates are laminates....it's my understanding it's the Monarch that's solid.

The spruce top Imperial and the maple top Cremona are the only carved spruce and carved maple archtops Peerless produces, to the best of my knowledge. Lou of guitars 'n jazz in New Jersey advertises both the Imperial and Cremona as carved, not solid, tops. He'd be the man to clarify any ?'s about anything Peerless. Both he and Doc, whose on the west coast, are the sole importers of Peerless in the US.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEERLESS-MON...item4846284e58

Although, many manufacturer's use "solid woods" to describe a laminate top.

Having lived with the Imperial for many months, I'd say it possessed too much clarity and richness to be either a laminate or solid top. Greatest acoustic volume one will likely ever discover from a jazz archtop. Blew away my tap tuned Golden Eagle, for acoustic volume...off the charts. My Imperial went to a local gigging musician, which is nice in that I'll have an opportunity to hear it playing out from time to time. He was one happy camper to get that axe!

[grahamdabass]

I have one of these and I'm most impressed with build quality. They were definitely made in the Peerless factory, laminated 17" body, mine has a beautifully figured book matched maple back. Originally supplied with just a volume knob on the scratchplate, mine is modified to add a tone pot which gives it a bit more variety.

Originally ordered for a company based in California, Peerless now sell this under there own brand name.

Some people don't like the wooden tailpiece, but this is consistent with the Jimmy D'Aquisto model it copies, my only gripe is the Rosewood scratch plate which looks very cheap compared to the rest and is bound in white plastic. Wish I could find something better to replace it with.

The action is brilliant, neck inlays and binding is first class. I'd recommend one to anyone and as Martin Taylor is now endorsing Peerless he must have a pretty good opinion of them.

[kris]

D'Aspiranta is realy great arch-top jazz guitar.
Very comfortable to play.

[rpguitar]

Greatest acoustic volume one will likely ever discover from a jazz archtop. Blew away my tap tuned Golden Eagle, for acoustic volume...off the charts.

Strombergs, Epi Emperors, and non-cut Super 400s might have a bone to pick with that assertion.

[2bornot2bop]

Strombergs, Epi Emperors, and non-cut Super 400s might have a bone to pick with that assertion.

Clearly the assertion was to read AFFORDABLE archtop guitars for the masses. Most of us would love to be in position to do a side by side comparison with the guitars you've mentioned.

[kris]

I like my D'Aspiranta...:-)
...and it is not expensive...+1

[hotdotdog]

I have one of these D'Aspiranta Archtops. I purchased it directly from the man that commissioned the build, Dr. Art Ridderhof. I had seen the guitar on eBay (2005) and was very interested. I learned that his office was only 20 miles from my house so I went to meet him and selected my instrument from about 4 or 5 he had at his office. The story he told me was that he had a collection of Ibanez Lawsuit Les Paul copies which he sold to finance the build of the D'Aspirantas. As a collector, he had many acquaintances who owned D’Angelico’s and noticed that these owners who were performing musicians did not want to take these guitars to their gigs because of their value. He created the D’Aspiranta to provide a copy that played and sounded well enough to satisfy this professional need. I feel he accomplished this. He said that it took several iterations and at least one trip to the factory in Korea to get this guitar where he wanted it. He said it was the same factory that produced Aria in the 1970’s. I live in the Los Angeles area and have played professionally since 1972. I have attended most NAMM shows here over the years and it was about the year or 2 after the D’Aspiranta was first produced (2005) that I saw the Peerles booth displaying what looked like a direct copy of Dr. Ridderhof’s design.
Mine is a tobacco sunburst model purchase in 2005 for my 50th birthday, I have to say the build consistency and setup between the 4 models I sampled was amazingly similar. I finalized my decision based on the acoustic sound which I thought was just a touch sweeter in tone (to my taste) but they were all so very close. I will say at the very first model I played, I knew I was going to leave with one of these for sure. The pickup he designed is similar in tone to the Johnny Smith.
Over the past few years, I have had some nerve damage in my neck which has resulted in my hands becoming weak over time and I have had to back-off on much of my playing especially the styles that requires broad reaching jazz chords. This, coupled with my wife’s car breaking a timing belt has necessitated putting some guitars up for sale. If anyone is interested in my D’Aspiranta, it is in mint condition and available. I would like it to go to someone who would really appreciate it however. If interested, I’ll send hi resolution pictures if you like.

[chaseme045]

Very interested

[jazzuki]

D'Aspiranta.The straight Peerless equivalent is not the Monarch it is the Peerless"New York".I agree with Kris great guitars.Nice playing again Kris.

[kris]

D'Aspiranta.The straight Peerless equivalent is not the Monarch it is the Peerless"New York".I agree with Kris great guitars.Nice playing again Kris.

Thanks a lot!Attachment 7444Attachment 7445Attachment 7446Attachment 7447Attachment 7448
After professional set up D'Aspiranta New Yorker is my favorite arch-top jazz box/over 7 years/.

[jazzuki]

Kris.Great photo's

[kris]

Attachment 7449Thanks.
D'Aspiranta in action...:-)

[jazzuki]

Thanks Kris!

[hotdotdog]

Very interested

If you are interested, I still have it. Are you local to Los Angeles? Give me your email address and I'll send you pictures.

[jazzuki]

This is my Peerless "New York" which I bought used with case about 5yrs ago.Always wanted the original D'Aquisto "New Yorker but at the time (1980's) out of my league. Instead of the controls on the pickguard they are on the body.

[kris]

nice pic!