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It seems like most of the high quality laminate archtops all have maple tops (Sadowsky, Gibson, Ibanez PM200) or carved spruce tops. I have a 1978 Ibanez 2460 with a laminate spruce top, but it's heavy and the binding is in bad shape. I used to have an Ibanez AFJ85 also with a laminate spruce top, but the poor quality mahogany neck started to warp, so I sold it. I'm not a big fan of 25" scale length guitars, so I'm not really interested in a Benedetto or Eastman, but either 24.75" or 25.5" will work. The ideal guitar would be something like a Sadowsky Jim Hall or Ibanez PM200 with a laminate spruce top. Does anyone have any recommendations (used or new)?
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11-21-2015 03:21 PM
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John Pizzarelli Moll used at Music Zoo. I also belive there was a couple of Holst laminates for sale here in the forum awhile back.
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Almost all of Hofner's archtop guitars going back to day one have laminated tops.
They acquired truss rods and very nice modern neck profiles @1960. Scale length is typically 25 1/2" or 25 1/4".
These are not hard to find, are inexpensive, come with one or two pickups as well as acoustic with floaters, and are excellent archtop guitars.
The period from 1960 to 1995 provides you with lots of options in the 16" as well as 17" archtop sizes, including
@16"
- Hofner President, President 66,
- Ambassador, Selmer Emperor
- Models 457/459/461/462/463/464/465
- Selmer Diplomat
@17"
- Committee
- Models 468/470/471
- 477, 478, A2L, A2HL
@18"
- Golden Hofner
- New Committee
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Hofner's current range includes a couple of all laminated archtops with laminated spruce tops, but they are built in very limited quantities in Germany:
- President 16" Florentine thinline cutaway (one available in the North America right now), 25 1/4" scale
- New Committee 17" (one available in the North America right now), 25 1/4" scale. Here it is:Last edited by Hammertone; 11-22-2015 at 03:23 AM.
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All of the D'angelico (last (not current) series from Korea) that I own have a spruce top as do (did) the Ibanez AK series.
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Seventy Seven Hawk Jazz model, either thin or thick body. Super Jazz guitars for the $. Just my two cents! Bob
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Originally Posted by louistopat
It's helpful for us to have your budget in mind, otherwise some of the suggestions are useless.
What are you hoping to spend?
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Good point!
Bob
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Attachment 25114Attachment 25113Attachment 25112Attachment 25111 Will sell you this 2014 USA made beauty.
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When I hear the words laminate electric archtop, the first guitar I think of is the Roger Borys B-120.
He's been making that model for almost 40 years, and has it down to a science.
But don't trust me, ask:
Paul Bollenback
Larry Koonse
Vic Juris
Pat Kelley
Mundell Lowe
Larry Coryell
Sid Jacobs
Bucky Pizzarelli
Paul Meyers
Or hold a seance and ask:
Barry Galbraith
Emily Remler
Jimmy Wyble
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Wow, thanks a lot everyone for the generous suggestions! I'll be sure to look into all of them.
marcwhy - In terms of price, I'd say something in the range of $2K-$4K, but if I find something I really like for as much as $5K, then I'll wait and save up for a few more months to get it.
To add a couple more factors that I forgot to mention, it should have a fixed (set) humbucker (1 preferable, but 2 would be okay). It should also be made in either the US, Europe, or Japan.
Other options that I'm flexible about would be: 16" or 17" lower bout, 2.5" or more depth, ebony fretboard.
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If I had your specs and available cash I'd have to settle on an L4 CES!
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Thanks Vinny! I played the one of those Guilds at Resurrection Guitars in Austin. It sounded very good, but then I played an L-5 they had and it kind spoiled it for me.
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I'm in the US.
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GANPPI - although the L-4 CES doesn't have a laminate spruce top, it is on the list of guitars I'm looking at. With it's 24.75" scale length, it's a close cousin to my Ibanez 2460. My only concern with buying Gibson is that I would need to try it first and I'm much more likely to run across a used L-5 than an L-4 here in northern CA.
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Another guitar to consider is the Martin/Unger CF-1. It has a lam spruce top, lam maple sides and back. It was made by Dale Unger and carries the Martin label and guaranty. The guitar sounds superb and plays great. The only drawback: 25" scale, which you say you don't want. Sorry.
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No prob at all but I only offered because you specified a laminate spruce top. A L5 is carved solid spruce. Originally Posted by louistopat
Best of luck in your quest.
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It's hard not to be spoiled by a carved body archtop. I have three: a 16", a 17", and a 18". However, I still regularly play my laminated spruce top Matsumoku copy of a Gibson Super V. The guitar has an outstanding tone and plays incredibly well. Here is Robert Conti playing the same guitar:
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Of course, there's always this, a Japanese-made Polytone Improv I from 1980 - a 16", laminated, spruce top, ebony board, two-pickup archtop. 2 7/8" deep. Hey, you'd be the only one on the block with one. OK, the only one in the city. The state. The tri-state area. Maybe the entire West Coast. Here:
Last edited by Hammertone; 11-23-2015 at 04:22 PM.
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Gretsch Country Club or Guild X-500.
Those two are not for sale (at reasonable prices). If you don't like the bigsby, there are Country Clubs without one.
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I also recommend the Guild X-500. I sold a 1993 model to help pay for the AP X-500 that Guild made in 2013, and while I will never part with my AP model I wish I had that 1993 back. That vintage in mint condition can be had for around $2k give or take a few hundred.
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B120's have laminated maple tops. Originally Posted by sgcim
Keith
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The Borys B120 is an EXCELLENT sounding archtop guitar.
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thats very unlucky .... thats the only time
i've heard of an Ibanez neck warping !
current AfJ95 has a spruce lam top and a
mahog/maple/mahog neck ...
but you maybe don't want to go there !
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You might be able to find a used Holst or Painter to your specs. Or if you're not in a hurry, Steve Holst will build anything you like. He built me a spruce top laminate that I love. He's a great luthier and a nice guy to work with.
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contact grez..he's a forum member here..builds 3ply all spruce laminate tops...
posted this clip in another thread just yesterday, but..it's good stuff
cheers
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