Anything wrong with a "pressed top" ?

[Dave70]

I'm considering getting the new Guild A150 Savoy. I read that it has a solid spruce top and I think someone on this forum said it is pressed into shape, instead of carved.

Just wondering if there is anything to worry about with this type of construction, like durability issues? The short clip I saw about these Newark St. collection guitars sounded great anyways...

Thanks for any insight in advance!

[Tom Karol]

More durable, but less resonant (and less prone to feedback as well) ... I think.

[Chazmo]

I've had my Epiphone Elitist Broadway with a a pressed top for years and I love it. Other guitars come and go--including a Gibson L-5C Wesmo--but I keep the Epi and play it all the time. The curvature of the top has held up perfectly. Compare that to a Gibson L-7C from Bozeman I once had with a hand-carved top that sunk in at the bridge.

The pressed top will never have the same acoustic properties as a carved top, but if you play amplified most of the time, that's okay if you like the sound the guitar produces.

I've always been a Guild fan and would love to play one of the new A-150s. Go for it and let us know how you like it. We all have a guitar we wish we had not let get away, and mine is a Guild X-150 Savoy with a laminated, pressed top.

[TH]

This recent discussion might be helpful.
Pressed Solid Spruce- What Does This Mean?

David

[Jonathan0996]

I've had my Epiphone Elitist Broadway with a a pressed top for years and I love it. Other guitars come and go--including a Gibson L-5C Wesmo--but I keep the Epi and play it all the time.

I agree. I have a Washburn J-10 Orleans with a pressed spruce top that's loosened up wonderfully over the years. The guitar really sounds sweet, both acoustically and plugged in.

Regarding carved tops, I think it's largely a matter of who's doing the carving. A real master can probably tap tune a top so it will sound superior to any pressed top. However, you won't get that for anywhere near the cost of a production guitar with a pressed top.

Is a Mercedes Benz worth four times the cost of the Toyota? Maybe, if you can afford it. You pay your money and you take your choice.

[Dave70]

Thanks guys! Hopefully I'll get to try one before I buy. If I can't I still may go for it.

[Gato Jazz]

Still, Selmer Maccaferri guitars have a pressed top and are well regarded acoustic instruments. The tone might not please everyone, but it certainly vibrates and projects enough to be quite loud.

[jnbrown]

You may have seen this already.
Looks like a nice guitar for the price $1,149 ?
Sounds kind of acoustic, but he is playing with fingers I kind of like it.
Maybe a possible future upgrade.
I wouldn't worry about the pressed top as long as you like the guitar and sound.
Supposedly Loar guitars have a carved top but made in China, maybe another option.
Lots of laminate top guitars that sound great.

[Dave70]

Thanks I did see that one. I also checked out the x-175 clip. I think I like the a-150 tone better and I'd be playing a lot of fingerstyle on it too.

[Monjo Hakashi]

Pressed tops? Like car-body panels. Lol. But as Jonathon says - it depends on who is doing the carving. This is the price jump; pressed tops on the best guitars might cost up to $2,000 (as a general rule) but proper carved tops don't really start until over $6,000. The tone of real woods is obviously better, pressed tops make a much brighter and sharper tone, but few people play a guitar with a pickup without plugging it in? and then there's really no difference as the pickup makes all the sound. Then, as Chasmo says, over time, real wood is unpredictable. I'm a great fan of arch-tops, particularly of acoustic arch-tops. I'm mad. I have bought The Loar, Gretsch G100, Godin 5th Ave. and an Adam black. Long experience has taught me that Silk and Steel make pressed tops more mellow, (and a little easier to play) but of course, they are not really suitable for use with a pickup.

[2bornot2bop]

Listen to this Monarch's "pressed" top, and tell me if there's something "wrong" with pressed tops.

[fritz jones]

I played a new Guild A 150 and was amazed at the playability. The neck felt really good.
It also has that unique pickup.
My only concern with it is the thick urethane finish, but that might not matter when plugged in.

the pickup sounded nice through a fender tube amp, not sure which kind.

[Dave70]

Monarch sounded good, is it a solid wood pressed top? I'd guess that a solid piece of wood would be a bit nicer sounding than a laminated one.

Still, I haven't had the chance to actually try that Guild A 150 or X 175. Of course that would be the best thing for me to do!

[2bornot2bop]

Monarch sounded good, is it a solid wood pressed top?

Good question. I've not verified it personally. All I know, is THIS Monarch sounds as good or better than some $6k retail archtops I've owned. The setup on the guitar was perfectly low - It almost seems to play itself, and sounds exactly like that video.

I love the look of the Guild. I've owned 5 Guild archtops. None of them could approach the playability or tonality of THIS Monarch. I'm still scratching my head over the guitar's ability. Good luck!

[jnbrown]

I have never played or heard a Monarch in person, but in all the videos it sounds great.
I had a chance to buy a used one for $500 but didn't want a 17" body otherwise would have.
I take back what I said about the Guild, after listening to it again it sounds really boxy.
Of course the guy is playing with fingers and not jazz.
Guild should have made a better video than this to sell an archtop.
Maybe it sounds better than this video, let us know if you play one.

[2bornot2bop]

Monarch sounded good, is it a solid wood pressed top?

Thanks to forum member 'neuroscan' for this video link. Per the tweaker the Monarch is......SOLID wood!!!!!!! Wow, what a surprise...and delight to know!