Archtop suggestions on $1500 budget

[snoskier63]

Here is a good video I found of the Guild X-170 through a polytone amp.

Guitarras de Jazz - Guild X-170 con Polytone.:

[Al Br.]

Heard a Guild this past weekend, played at a local market. Shoppers are offered various musical entertainment at certian food stores. May not be the classic Jazz club venue but a gig is a gig.
The point being, a very nice sounding instrument and after talking with the performer, a great guitar to play.
Worth a look see.

[Al Br.]

Just saw that there is a very nice looking Peerless custom in the for sale section listed at 550 pounds sterling. worth a look see if the original poster is still looking.

[vernon]

OP here... Right now my plan is to get down to GuitarsnJazz in October and test drive a bunch of them. I've got a friend from Michigan who might join me since he is on the hunt as well. Then I'll go from there. From what I've seen and heard (not yet played) I'm attracted to the used Guild or Heritage archtops, but I will try my best to keep an open mind. Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and experience!

[vernon]

And the winner is... a 2002 Heritage Custom Eagle in excellent condition with floater for $2,500. Decided to take a risk and buy something really decent. I am loving this archtop experience so far... haven't even thought of playing another guitar. This one has my complete attention. Now I get what you guys are talking about. A whole new world!!

[2bornot2bop]

And the winner is... a 2002 Heritage Custom Eagle in excellent condition with floater for $2,500. Decided to take a risk and buy something really decent. I am loving this archtop experience so far... haven't even thought of playing another guitar. This one has my complete attention. Now I get what you guys are talking about. A whole new world!!

So your original budget went out of the window...funny how that happens.

Congrat's...you know the rules...Pix, or it didn't happen!

[nick1994]

And the winner is... a 2002 Heritage Custom Eagle in excellent condition with floater for $2,500. Decided to take a risk and buy something really decent. I am loving this archtop experience so far... haven't even thought of playing another guitar. This one has my complete attention. Now I get what you guys are talking about. A whole new world!!

I have a similar budget and I was looking at Eastman, peerless, D'angelico and Ibanez, but your post is really making me consider heritage now.

[vernon]

Trying to upload photos...

[vernon]

Bought this from Mass Street Music in Lawrence, KS through Reverb.com. I sold a couple of good amps to help subsidize this project. Thankfully my wife was very supportive (of course it helps that she is a musician too). Totally worth it!!

[vintagelove]

Both a Peerless Monarch and the Eastman ar371 are very fine instruments regardless of price. They may not say Gibson at the top, but they look, play, tune and intonate as good as any high$$$ guitar. Choose with your fingers, not your eyes.

[nick1994]

But some people don't have access to those brands and so when they hear people praise the quality it gives people confidence to buy sight unseen.

[vernon]

The internet is a wonderful tool for gathering information. Jazz Guitar forum... Telecaster forum... Steel Guitar forum... all have helped me immensely in my guitar/tone quest. Basically what I heard here was that the best value would be to buy a good used archtop. I'm sure Eastman and Peerless are great guitars, but I didn't really have an opportunity to try them out. Because of the consistently positive reviews of Heritage archtops I began to feel more comfortable going to the next price point without actually playing the instrument. In my case it worked out great and I couldn't be happier. Without the online guitar communities I never could have done this. So I am thankful to you all.