Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway

**Christoph R.** · 12-13-2013, 12:13 PM

i recently discovered the godin 5th avenue series and i really like the no-cutaway p90 model.

can you recommend any other guitars in this vein?

thanks!

**rpguitar** · 12-13-2013, 12:27 PM

Gibson ES-125 and ES-150 are the progenitors of the concept.

Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-gibson_es125_a_001-jpg

Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-50es150-jpg

**orri** · 12-13-2013, 01:00 PM

The Loar LH309 might be worth checking out.

Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-lh-309-vs-jpg

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-13-2013, 01:02 PM

Price range? New or used? How accessible -- rare models okay? Any particular pickup type, just P-90? Why no cutaway (I was going to recommend the Eastman AR-371):

**Chazmo** · 12-13-2013, 01:10 PM

The Stromberg Newport. You can't buy a new one right now, but their web site says they will be reintroducing the line of guitars this year and they will be made in Europe. The Korean-made line got good reviews. They show up on Feebay once in a while.

Eastman makes nice non-cuts, but for some reason I don't think they put a pickup on it. It's not too big a deal to add a floater. I have a Bartolini Johnny Smith-style floater screwed onto the neck of my Godin 5th Avenue and it sounds great.

**Christoph R.** · 12-13-2013, 01:46 PM

thanks for all the great suggestions!

the non-cutaway is not so important, i just like the look of it!
a p90 would be good, but im open to humbuckers or anything really!

unfortunatelly some of these guitars are not so easy to come by over here in europe!

but please keep 'em coming!

**disco~juice** · 12-13-2013, 02:55 PM

I will go with a dream guitar: Koentopp Amati (BTW do you have like 15000 euros to spend?)
Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-amati-jpg

**rpguitar** · 12-13-2013, 03:03 PM

If we take away "no cutaway" and "P90" as requirements then the options increase dramatically.

You should be able to look online at the inventory from various shops in EU that can ship to you.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-13-2013, 03:13 PM

Price range?

**oldane** · 12-13-2013, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Christoph R.

a p90 would be good, but im open to humbuckers or anything really!

There are many PU makers who make P90s in humbucker disguise. If you get a guitar with a humbucker, you can swap the pickup with one of those - they fit in the humbucker ring. You may also consider one of the modern "Charlie Christian" PUs in humbucker shape. Jason Lollar and Pete Biltoft (Vintage Vibe) make them. They are both excellent. I have Biltofts HCC PU in two of my guitars and have no desire to experiment with other PUs.

So where does that take you? A guitar with or without cutaway and with a humbucker (which you may replace with a single coil PU) - you have countless options.

This is one of mine - a Painter P-350 fitted with a Biltoft HCC with Alnico II magnets:

**Christoph R.** · 12-13-2013, 04:13 PM

thanks! so many sexy guitars...

to narrow down the choice: p90, no cutaway, 2000€ tops!

**spiral** · 12-13-2013, 11:13 PM

It was pretty meh acoustically (because it's laminate) but the Aria FA77 plays like a dream and the stock pickup actually sounded really nice. Not too expensive, fairly high quality, and likely available in your area:

http://en.audiofanzine.com/hollow-bo...,m.310480.html

If you want good acoustic tone the Loar and Eastmans are great options on the budget side before you start getting into private luthier territory.

A budget would be useful to know.

**fws6** · 12-14-2013, 06:30 AM

Europe, no cut, one pickup.... how about a Slaman ??

**fws6** · 12-14-2013, 06:32 AM

**Christoph R.** · 12-14-2013, 07:07 AM

thanks for all the great great guitars!

posting didn't work somehow yesterday, i don't know what happened...

to narrow down the choice i guess i have to decide: p90, no cutaway, 1500-2000€ tops

**jorgemg1984** · 12-14-2013, 08:37 AM

Why not the Kingpin?

**Christoph R.** · 12-14-2013, 09:11 AM

i'm just curious...you know, maybe there's this one overlooked gem?

i really like the kingpin, and its still my first choice, looking at the availability and/or price of all these other gourgeous pieces!

**ES125er** · 12-14-2013, 09:26 AM

Eastman's AR805E should also work for you. It is an acoustic archtop with a floating mini humbucker. Here's mine:

**ES125er** · 12-14-2013, 09:29 AM

That Koentopp is really beautiful. I hope I'm not going to start obsessing over it...

**jorgemg1984** · 12-14-2013, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Christoph R.

i'm just curious...you know, maybe there's this one overlooked gem?

i really like the kingpin, and its still my first choice, looking at the availability and/or price of all these other gourgeous pieces!

Makes sense

**zizala** · 12-14-2013, 09:59 AM

As relatively inexpensive vintage/used alternatives to the noncutaway ES-125 idea, I'm quite fond of the humble Guild X-50 and T-50 models.....
...especially the earlier versions with the Franz single coils.

1955 X-50

1960 T-50

z

**AlainJazz** · 12-14-2013, 12:04 PM

I think you can get a used ES125 or 150 in that price range if it doesn't have to be in perfect condition. Ie. a player's guitar

**AlohaJoe** · 12-14-2013, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by AlainJazz

I think you can get a used ES125 or 150 in that price range if it doesn't have to be in perfect condition. Ie. a player's guitar

Exactly... Why buy a new clone when you can get the real thing?

Some folks prefer new, but I see 125s and150s in very nice shape for under 2k quite often (you may be in a different area), they're great guitars, and if maintained usually hold their value or better. The Guilds are great guitars too and usually very reasonably priced. Ask some local stores (if possible) to let you know when one shows up, or keep an eye on eBay.

**3625** · 12-14-2013, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Christoph R.

to narrow down the choice i guess i have to decide: p90, no cutaway, 1500-2000€ tops

- Back and sides in flamed laminated maple
- Flamed laminated maple top
- Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard
- Celluloid bindings
- Satin finish
- Chrome plated tailpiece
- P90 "Dogear" Lollar pickup
- Including case
- 2 thicknesses available : 82mm et 46mm
- Cutaway is an option

Price: 1,600 Euro

with high gloss finish: 1,810 Euro

Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-saint-louis_pop-jpg

Archtop - One pickup, no cutaway-saint-louis_pop-jpg

- Back and sides in flamed laminated maple
- Flamed laminated maple top
- Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard
- Celluloid bindings
- Satin finish
- Chrome plated tailpiece
- P90 "Dogear" Lollar pickup
- Including case

- 2 thicknesses available : 82mm et 46mm
- Cutaway is an option

**3625** · 12-14-2013, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Why not the Kingpin?

Jorge, I know you're happy with yours but I don't like them for jazz because of the increased lower mids/bass Robert Godin incorporated into the body design. Makes it sound less like a jazz archtop and more like a flat top. I bought one (non-cutaway, p90) and to me it didn't sound like a 'proper' jazz guitar. Robert Godin said that he actually hates the way traditional archtops sound!

I haven't tried that Dupont Saint Louis - but I imagine it's an excellent axe given that Dupont gypsy guitars are right up there as the best guitars in that field.

Not too long ago I played a vintage Gibson 125 (non-cutaway, p90) and was quite underwhelmed - no doubt there's some great ones out there (such as Martijn Van Iterson's) but the one I tried sounded dead and was very hard to play. Vintage guitars can be real hit and miss - to be honest I'd rather buy a new guitar and play it in till the sound opens up, but that's me. That Guild X-50 did look pretty cool though...