Suggestions please - archtop acoustic, cutaway

[spiral]

That sort of specific information is really helpful, thanks. The G100 was one of my initial options, but it's listed as only 2.75" thick which would surely mean it can't project a decent volume acoustically - am I right about that? That's what made me discount it anyway.

And given what you've explained above, then a pressed top would be similar in performance to a carved top (rather than a laminate) in terms of resonance - why the fuss over carved rather than pressed?

Again, I'm not disagreeing at all (especially since I haven't played all these options yet), I'm just trying to work it all out. I have experience with classical guitars and over recent years I've developed experience with electrics, but I'm really just starting to learn about acoustics.

Depth alone can't always tell you much about the volume. The volume and tone depends on the entire construction of the instrument. I personally think the neck thickness & stiffness has a huge impact on volume but it doesn't get talked about much. Unfortunately it is trial and error, especially with archtops because they can be so different. The New Yorker is probably easier to get your hands on and that would be a good one to try. If you have the Loar brand somewhere near you, try that too: LH300. Both are under $1k and will give you a taste of a carved vs. pressed top. I'd be really surprised if you liked the Gretsch more than the Loar side by side, the prices being within $100 of each other.

Solid pressed tops can vary wildly. Old Kays and Harmonys had solid, and very thin, pressed tops, and they sound awesome. But many of them have also collapsed over the years or fallen apart. The tone and volume will depend on how it is braced and how thick the top is. Generally they will have a less complex and quieter sound vs. carved. They are kind of halfway between carved and laminate in tone. I believe the G400 is solid pressed and the G100 is laminate. TruthHertz has some great info in this thread. Steve Andersen has an incredible guitar with a pressed nomex top that could probably best a carved archtop but it also cost 2x's his normal archtop price (which is already spendy).

TL;DR summary: carved archtops typically have the most volume and a richer tone vs. pressed and laminates especially in the $1k price range. Pressed tops are cheaper to produce and give you some archtop flavor and volume at a lower price.

[christianm77]

I play a Loar. Here a couple of of clips of me doodling about on one (and rambling about George Van Eps.) May give you an idea about how it sounds acoustic although I'm not really gunning it here...

I use a heavy pick and .14 TI bebop strings for electric playing, but still has plenty of acoustic volume especially for chord solos and rhythm, and I have played on gigs (without drums) without an amp, also for rhythm in a big band rehearsal... With bronzes it opens up a little bit more.

A good box for Eddie Lang stylings. I would say Eastman's have a different voice - more precise, more modern perhaps.