Modern Small Builder Archtops for Swing/Western Swing

[stringmaster]

Just a curiosity more than anything--I've had very limited experience with small builder acoustic archtops i.e. Andersen, Moll, Comins, Lacey, etc. Are any of the modern guitars built/voiced to do the vintage Swing/Western Swing thing i.e. big huge projection when slamming out chords--or are they built for a more delicate/jazzy tone? Does one with a floater get a fairly authentic acoustic guitar sound--not unlike a mic'd vintage archtop? Solid woods/laminates? Thanks

[iim7V7IM7]

Repeat post (moderators please delete)

[iim7V7IM7]

Check out Johnny Hiland playing the archtop that Bill Comins built for him...

[neatomic]

check out tk smith, grez guitars & tnm guitars...

cheers

[stringmaster]

Thanks--but I'm talking acoustic archtops--but those are 3 great builders!

[Stringswinger]

Daniel Slamen makes replicas of old school archtops. I would opine that your best bet is a vintage Epiphone. You can get a Triumph for less than any new hand built guitar.

[neatomic]

cool..i get ya..just for info, have you seen terrys m5?? soo nice

wont link image

M-5-Piezo

cheers

[stringmaster]

Daniel Slamen makes replicas of old school archtops. I would opine that your best bet is a vintage Epiphone. You can get a Triumph for less than any new hand built guitar.

HaHa I have one of each Was just curious where Andersen, Comins., Lacey, Moll, etc. fit into the scheme--they look so beautiful!!

[campusfive]

Just a curiosity more than anything--I've had very limited experience with small builder acoustic archtops i.e. Andersen, Moll, Comins, Lacey, etc. Are any of the modern guitars built/voiced to do the vintage Swing/Western Swing thing i.e. big huge projection when slamming out chords--or are they built for a more delicate/jazzy tone?

The only person I can think of making new guitars with any nods to pre-bop Swing and/or Western Swing, outside of Slaman, would be Bryant Trenier. Many of his guitars are more modern in design, but his "Broadway" model is based on the Walnut-backed pre-1935 16" Epiphone ones of the same name. I'm guessing that model can throw some serious heat, volume and projection-wise.

Does one with a floater get a fairly authentic acoustic guitar sound--not unlike a mic'd vintage archtop? Solid woods/laminates? Thanks

I don't think any magnetic pickup sounds like a mic'd vintage acoustic archtop - not even close. But, I'm the curmudgeon who mic's his acoustic archtops with a clip-on lavalier mic, and will switch from the acoustic to an electric archtop just for a solo during a song, and then switch right back to the acoustic.

[AlohaJoe]

I ran a 6-pc Western Swing dance band for about 12 years. In that configuration I usually plugged in an ES125, in larger venues a Tele, but we also did many smaller acoustic gigs without a drummer, so here's my take for whatever it's worth.

I've played a number of the newer carved archtops and the Treniers sounded the most traditional to me and his workmanship is as good as it gets. The high end carved acoustic archtops are all good, but I wouldn't trade any of them for my late '40s 17" Broadway which in dollars is worth less but in tone/volume sounds better to my ear. I also have a much-played Triumph that sounds even more open but in dollars is worth less than the Broadway. The money doesn't always match the ear. I also like that vintage sound and want to use the instruments that made it. The new ones are beautiful and tempting, but I don't think they'll sound like a 60+ year-old carved archtop for about 60 years. With more modern (electric) Swing & WS anything goes.

Joel McKenzie drives it uptown.

[Archtop Guy]

I'd say check out Jim Triggs. Check out Ranger dougs' video on the Triggs' sight.

[stringmaster]

Yeah Joey McKenzie is great! And was inspired by Carolyn Martin's playing on her L5 when I saw her last Friday night.

[neatomic]

talkin about bill frisell in other threads reminded me of a great luthier he's using…joseph yanuziello

click on the pic..gorgeous!!

Archtops

cheers

[jazzbow]

The money doesn't always match the ear.

Amen!

+1 for Slaman here.

[Archtop Guy]

Just a curiosity more than anything--I've had very limited experience with small builder acoustic archtops i.e. Andersen, Moll, Comins, Lacey, etc. Are any of the modern guitars built/voiced to do the vintage Swing/Western Swing thing i.e. big huge projection when slamming out chords--or are they built for a more delicate/jazzy tone? Does one with a floater get a fairly authentic acoustic guitar sound--not unlike a mic'd vintage archtop? Solid woods/laminates? Thanks

>There is a video out from Mike Dowling called "Swing Guitar" on Homespun video. That'll give you an actual look and sound of an acoustic in swing mode. You tube has some of him.

[stringmaster]

>There is a video out from Mike Dowling called "Swing Guitar" on Homespun video. That'll give you an actual look and sound of an acoustic in swing mode. You tube has some of him.

Thanks, Mike is a mentor of mine--spent many hours studying with him and have all of his materials--I had forgotten that he used a DA on one of the early videos--will have to revisit.

[D.G.]

The loudest acoustic guitar you'll get is a resonator, usually a biscuit. In wood guitars, I've never found anything as loud as a Dupont MDC50.

In archtops, I once test played a vintage Epi that was just magical for rhythm work. Unfortunately, the store knew what they had and priced it accordingly It was a rare bird, haven't come across another one that sounded half as good.