Elferink Guitar Guidance

**kris** · 04-06-2015, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by jads57

For those of you who own Elferink archtops how do they compare tone wise to say a Gibson Johnny Smith, etc? Did he ask about how you wanted your instrument voiced, or is it one voice for all of his archtops? Thanks!

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**paco1976** · 04-07-2015, 05:33 AM

I can't say. I bought mine used. He has several models, I guess they will be different one to each other.
There are a bunch of videos in youtube you can check.

**jimsnade** · 04-08-2015, 09:19 AM

I wanted my guitar to have a mellow jazzy sound with fast attack and a flatter neck as I come from classical guitar
The tuning is different as no two pieces of wood are the same. I only play with my fingers never use a pick and wanted a very responsive instrument
If you play mainly loud and amplified the recurving of the top is different to a guitar made for acoustic performance.
Frans asked me before building the instrument and I bombarded him with lots of different questions. ..
I had the opportunity to compare my guitar to a Gibson L 5 and mine has a faster attack and clearer sound when playing chords
but a little less bass although I must say my guitar was only about 3 months old and an archtop needs more time to develop.
Now after a year the bass response has changed and it is much fuller.

**jimsnade** · 04-08-2015, 09:25 AM

Amplified I love the sound of the Armstrong floating PAF no pots just straight into my Fender deluxe reverb

**paco1976** · 04-08-2015, 09:52 AM

I use a Fender Blues Junior and mine has this pickup as well. Sounds really well in a tube amp, which is my choice really.

**Giraku** · 04-08-2015, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by jimsnade

I wanted my guitar to have a mellow jazzy sound with fast attack and a flatter neck as I come from classical guitar
The tuning is different as no two pieces of wood are the same. I only play with my fingers never use a pick and wanted a very responsive instrument
If you play mainly loud and amplified the recurving of the top is different to a guitar made for acoustic performance.
Frans asked me before building the instrument and I bombarded him with lots of different questions. ..
I had the opportunity to compare my guitar to a Gibson L 5 and mine has a faster attack and clearer sound when playing chords
but a little less bass although I must say my guitar was only about 3 months old and an archtop needs more time to develop.
Now after a year the bass response has changed and it is much fuller.

Thanks, jimsnade, for the detailed report of your experience with your Elferink guitar.
I'm also from classical guitar and play exclusively fingerstyle so that your post is extremely helpful for me.
I don't care much about the feedback issues as I don't play that loudly amplified. I would like to hit the best balance between acoustic and electric performance.
Anyway, thank you again.

**paco1976** · 04-08-2015, 10:06 AM

For the best balance between acoustic and electric ask around because my guitar has a stereo jack, one wire comes from the pickup and the other from a mic inside the body. Then there is a pedal included to mix both signals (only acoustic, only electric, 50-50 etc), it is a great plus.
My preference is only electric, but it brings a great palettes of sounds from the guitar really interesting.

**Giraku** · 04-08-2015, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by paco1976

For the best balance between acoustic and electric ask around because my guitar has a stereo jack, one wire comes from the pickup and the other from a mic inside the body. Then there is a pedal included to mix both signals (only acoustic, only electric, 50-50 etc), it is a great plus.
My preference is only electric, but it brings a great palettes of sounds from the guitar really interesting.

That's one great setup. When I communicate with Mr. Elferink, I will certainly ask what options he provides for mixing electric and acoustic signals.
Thanks!

**paco1976** · 04-08-2015, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Giraku

That's one great setup. When I communicate with Mr. Elferink, I will certainly ask what options he provides for mixing electric and acoustic signals.
Thanks!

Actually the pedal has his logo, you have this mixer still available for sure. Also the jack works in mono with normal cables as electric (only pickup), if you use the stereo cable and the pedal you have the mix available.
Summary if you don't want to use the mixer you don't have to travel around with a stereo cable, a regular mono one will work with any amp as it would with any other guitar.

**jads57** · 04-08-2015, 11:05 PM

Thanks for the reply's fellas!

**jimsnade** · 04-09-2015, 03:52 AM

Mine has just the PAF and I use a Beyer M 130 ribbon mic for the acoustic sound.
You get a very 3 dimensional woody sound

**Elliott Randolph** · 11-24-2016, 07:19 PM

I bought a 2007 year old Exclibur Special a few years ago. Beautiful woods throughout and a neck that plays like butter. Definitely not a guitar for giving around town. My only con: wish it had more punch.

**jads57** · 11-24-2016, 07:52 PM

I ended up w/ an Elferink Tonemaster and am Most Pleased! I can't imagine finding a better replacement to this guitar, different but not better!

**mjc999** · 01-30-2017, 11:34 AM

For any in the U.S. who have ordered from Elferink, how long did it take from order to delivery?

Any issues to be aware of regarding ordering from the Netherlands?

thanks from a potential customer.

**Elliott Randolph** · 02-05-2017, 08:52 AM

I would imagine you'll have to pony up some $$ for an import tariff, but Hans Elferink should be able to walk you through those hurdles. He makes a great guitar. The US dollar has appreciated handsomely against the Euro, so you're ahead in that regard.
I did notice that there is an Elf Excalibur for sale on ebay @ $3000. The seller is from Israel. I have a 2009 Excalibur that I'll probably sell in the next year. It's comparable to the model on his web page, fully optioned with incredible AAAA maple quilt. I'm in Baltimore if you're nearby.
Best regards, Elliott

**ScottAustin** · 03-13-2021, 12:42 PM

I would like to buy a used Elferink Excalibur 18" but have not been able to find one. Does anyone have any ideas. Mr. Elferink says he will let me know if he gets one in but says that is rare.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Regards, Scott

**jads57** · 03-13-2021, 01:35 PM

I belie. There is one on on Reverb

**2bornot2bop** · 03-13-2021, 02:59 PM

Doesn’t that guitar belong to a member here on the forum? He had it listed here but it’s not listed now.

dmgolf66. or something like that. The post says the seller is a luthier so I’m certain it’s that member.

Elferink Excalibur Excalibur 2005 Blond | Mark's jazz | Reverb

**2bornot2bop** · 03-13-2021, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by ScottAustin

I would like to buy a used Elferink Excalibur 18" but have not been able to find one. Does anyone have any ideas. Mr. Elferink says he will let me know if he gets one in but says that is rare.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Regards, Scott

I’ve emailed two members here who I believe is selling the guitar on Reverb. Stand by and I’ll forward their information or perhaps they’ll chime in here and ask you to pm them. Thanks

**wintermoon** · 03-13-2021, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

I’ve emailed two members here who I believe is selling the guitar on Reverb. Stand by and I’ll forward their information or perhaps they’ll chime in here and ask you to pm them. Thanks

that's the deacon's guitar

**2bornot2bop** · 03-13-2021, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

that's the deacon's guitar

Ive already pm’d him.

**ScottAustin** · 03-20-2021, 08:14 PM

Thank you all for the information. I did talk to the man selling the Elferink on Reverb. I have curling fingers and play with very low action and 10 gauge strings. He rightly informed me that 11's are probably a minimum gauge for an Excalibur and that very low action reduces the the tone and character of the sound. So he suggested I should stick with my PRS SC-J. I think he is right. So I have stopped looking for an Elferink guitar.

**Alter** · 03-21-2021, 04:50 AM

This probably holds true for every archtop. I have an Elferink tonemaster that I bought used, and the previous owner had 10s on it (I believe round wounds also), extra low action. The guitar was playing perfectly, and I actually kept the 10s on it for a while cause I was waiting to get it to a setup shop.

I usually put 12s or 13s on it, but if someone likes 10, I didn't find any drawback with them, the guitar was still very responsive and resonant. Biggest difference was the feel under your fingers.

**ScottAustin** · 03-21-2021, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the information, Alter.

Maybe Deacon just did not think the guitar was right for me? I did tell him about my wife's health problems and the financial strain it was causing. He certainly is a nice man and I am sure he was trying to help me. He sent me two nice videos of him playing the guitar. It is a wonderful guitar!

But my fingers are a real problem. And I really can't afford $5,000 for a guitar - I am a terrible musician.

At 80 I don't have a long time to learn all I need to know either!

I just love the warm sound of a good hollow-body.

But it is good to know that 10's would probably work fine for me - even on a quality Jazz guitar. And I do like my PRS SC-J. So thank you very much for your information and advice.

Stay safe! Regards, Scott

**jads57** · 03-21-2021, 01:55 PM

Scott perhaps a used Eastman solid woods archtop might do the trick. They aren't as heavily built and are about 90% of what you are looking for in an archtop

They do sound a bit more modern since they use thinner carved plates. But I've had a great 810CE and it was an excellent guitar.
I sold it to buy an Elferink Tonemaster archtop which I've had since 2015. And it's modeled on the older Johnny Smith platform of heavier construction.