17" electric arch top with floater pickup - need advice

**gianluca** · 11-18-2013, 08:05 AM

I love the Benson's tone heard in some recent thread in this forum and I'm willing to buy an arch top with the floating pickup, johnny smith style or similar.
I was thinking at something of good quality to put beside my L-5 CES.
maybe a 17", venetian cutaway, 25" 1/2 scale.
but I can't find it in the current market as new.

I need some suggestion.
if it is supported by a good video clip, it would be great

**rpguitar** · 11-18-2013, 10:23 AM

Hi Gianluca,

Does it really have to be new? I mean, you can get custom order a new Gibson but that's very serious money. One can find Johnny Smith, L-5C, L-7C, Campellone, and Heritage guitars that either are already "right there" or can be modified a little to match your desired specs.

As usual, it comes down to budget and availability vis a vis your location (Italy).

Have you had a go at searching Gbase.com to see what's on the used market at retailers?

**coolvinny** · 11-18-2013, 12:39 PM

You can't do any better than the Andersen Streamline available through John Stewart Guitars. I'd created a thread on it after giving it a trial. If I wanted a 17" carved guitar with a floater, I'd be all over that guitar. Go to his website and email him and he'll give you the specs. I believe price is $3,750.

**David B** · 11-18-2013, 03:29 PM

If you have the budget and are in no rush, I highly recommend Moffa in Pescara. His Maestro model fits your requirements. I have his Maryan model and cannot recommend his work highly enough.
http://www.moffaguitars.it/maestro_e.htm

**gianluca** · 11-18-2013, 05:10 PM

I'm sure those are great guitars, but I'm looking for something that I could try before buy.
a guitar available in Italy, with a good distribution.
some clip to hear...

**IbanezAS100** · 11-18-2013, 07:02 PM

You've probably seen this already, but there's an Elferink Excalibur with a DeArmond type pickup on Mercatino Musicale for 1700 Euros. There's a repair of a hairline crack that explains the low price according to the seller but if you also like Jesse Van Ruller's tone that could be the ticket.....or you could put a floating humbucker on it for a thicker tone a la Peter Bernstein, maybe something like this :

http://www.guitarmaker.de/jazzbucker.html

There are many clips on YouTube although it's obviously better if you can try the guitar in person-it's in Cuneo which (Google maps tells me) is near Torino-but you knew that...

Here it is

http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/...6110.html#pics

17" electric arch top with floater pickup - need advice-elferink-jpg

17" electric arch top with floater pickup - need advice-elferink-jpg

**IbanezAS100** · 11-19-2013, 07:47 AM

This D'Angelico copy looks pretty cool as well:

http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/...id1496439.html

**ES125er** · 11-19-2013, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by coolvinny

You can't do any better than the Andersen Streamline available through John Stewart Guitars. I'd created a thread on it after giving it a trial. If I wanted a 17" carved guitar with a floater, I'd be all over that guitar. Go to his website and email him and he'll give you the specs. I believe price is $3,750.

This guitar is not for sale anymore: it was delivered to its new owner a couple of days ago.
Thanks for the heads up.

**dharma66** · 11-19-2013, 06:36 PM

Eastman do 17" floating pup archtops don't they? I'd have thought they would have an Italian distributor?

**gianluca** · 11-19-2013, 06:49 PM

nobody has a nice youtube video clip to share? a clip where those guitars are played by a good player, where is possible to hear their tone?

**Philco** · 11-20-2013, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by gianluca

nobody has a nice youtube video clip to share? a clip where those guitars are played by a good player, where is possible to hear their tone?

Hi gianluca, we share the same passion for the JS tone. Here is an Eastman with a great electric tone. Less acoustic than so many I've heard. Nothing will be exactly the JS tone but this has some of the characteristics. That nice "plum" tone after the initial attack. Not sure of the model. Others may know. No surprise that it's a floating pup.
I've posted this before so you may have seen it.

**ES125er** · 11-20-2013, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Philco

Not sure of the model. Others may know.

Based on the design of the cutaway, it is probably a 16" model: AR805CE or the fancier AR905CE.

Very nice tone and playing. I enjoyed it!

**JSanta** · 11-20-2013, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by ES125er

Based on the design of the cutaway, it is probably a 16" model: AR805CE or the fancier AR905CE.

Very nice tone and playing. I enjoyed it!

Certainly an 805 or 905 model, though I've not seen a 905 in that color. I have an 805 7 string and I adore the guitar. I'm drawn to pick it up and play it, it's just effortless and has such a wonderful acoustic tone, and amplified it's just fantastic.

I can't compare it to a Gibson as I've not done a side-by-side, but my teacher has a 17" Goodman 7 string and he's said that he prefers the acoustic tone on mine just a bit more. The quality on the Goodman is unreal, and the guitar has been played hard for at least 10 years. Even though the following video is of a 7 string, I believe the amplification in this video does an excellent job of relaying the acoustic tone of the 805/810 series.

**fws6** · 11-20-2013, 10:40 AM

there are many clips on Elferinks on youtube like this:

He makes a working mans archtop with a price ticket to match i.e. very reasonably priced for fully hand made to your specs

Another fellow Dutch luthier who I think is building some of the nicest all carved acoustic archtops, is Daniel Slaman. I cannot say enough good things, but he mostly focuses on guitars with CC type pickups though not really floaters. I am sure he has built / will build you one though. Bit more expensive that the Elfrinks probably but GREAT sounding instruments

**Klatu** · 11-20-2013, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Philco

Hi gianluca, we share the same passion for the JS tone. Here is an Eastman with a great electric tone. Less acoustic than so many I've heard. Nothing will be exactly the JS tone but this has some of the characteristics. That nice "plum" tone after the initial attack. Not sure of the model. Others may know. No surprise that it's a floating pup.
I've posted this before so you may have seen it.

This is some of the most impressive bebop tone and playing In a while. This kid has great feel and plays with an easy swing not readily found in players of his generation. Do you happen to know what amp he's playing through.

**Philco** · 11-20-2013, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

This is some of the most impressive bebop tone and playing In a while. This kid has great feel and plays with an easy swing not readily found in players of his generation. Do you happen to know what amp he's playing through.

Looking at some of his other clips he seems to be using a Fender of some description. About the size of a DR or TR.

As per usual it's worth noting that the clip we watched is mixed after the fact. It's live but well recorded and probably multi track. I mean it doesn't sound like they are playing in a room with brick walls as it appears they were. The opening head is very in your face with no room sound. The piano is DI of course.

Not implying anything other than just some post sweetening and a good mix with most of the room ambience removed.

Great performance by all.