Looking for an archtop with more ring and power

[digeorge]

Looking to purchase an archtop with more zing, enough to be able to make some Gypsy jazz tunes/runs stand out as well as the usual swing tunes. Good chordal character for comping would be nice too. I currently own a Godin 5 Ave Kingpin and a ES-335, which I run through Mesa Boogie Mark V25 or Fender Blues Deluxe. The Godin is nice, but it struggles to cut through, especially lower strings notes. The ES 335 is not appropriate for the material I’m rehearsing at the moment.

Can you recommend a louder archtop, possibly with P90 (definitely not floater) or inset HB? I hear good things about Eastman, Pearless, I know of a few models that Loar makes, but I read mixed reviews about the latter. The local music stores do not offer any variety of archtops. I’m even thinking to maybe move to a flattop if the right archtop doesn’t present itself soon. I’ve been reading the thread about the flattops where I got lot's of good ideas.

Thanks in advance

[Guitarbean25]

You should check out the competing threads on "Feel" for the final word on what you should get.

Jk

[christianm77]

Loar LH600, aftermarket pickup. My main gigging guitar.

Variable QC. Try before you buy.

[jads57]

Just a side note to add to whichever guitar you choose eventually. I replaced the standard wood bridge (not the base) on both my Benedetto Bambino (small laminate archtop) as well as the wooden bridge only on my Elferink Tonemaster carved archtop with a Compton Brass bridge. It absolutely increased sustain as well as percieved volume acoustically.

Brass Custom Bridge....Giving a more Jazzy Blues tone with good sustain. | Compton Compensated Custom Bridges

[christianm77]

Hmmmmmm, interesting

[neatomic]

yeah compton and tru-arc are the main contenders in that alternate materials bridge field..both came out of the gretsch forums..where the bigsby/bridge relationship is tricky

just make sure you get the correct radius to match the fretboard..

here's tim @ tru-arc

The Tru-Arc WebPage: no bells, no whistles

cheers

[mr. beaumont]

Op, you talking plugged in or unplugged?

[hot ford coupe]

Another thing you can do besides getting a metal bridge and saddle is putting in a brass nut. You'll get a ping that won't quit.

[christianm77]

Another thing you can do besides getting a metal bridge and saddle is putting in a brass nut. You'll get a ping that won't quit.

Man I would love an A/B vid. Just to check we are talking about acoustic (unplugged) sustain?

[digeorge]

Mostly plugged, but to retain the acoustic qualities if possible. Unplugged I'd use it for recording.

[DRS]

Mostly plugged, but to retain the acoustic qualities if possible. Unplugged I'd use it for recording.

Turn your amp up. If not enough buy a Twin Reverb. Cut through? Who's in your band?

[Grez]

Both of your current guitars have maple tops. I think the sound you're looking for comes from having a spruce top. Probably laminated spruce, not carved so you get most of the spruce tone with a little better feedback rejection.

[TedBPhx]

Both of your current guitars have maple tops. I think the sound you're looking for comes from having a spruce top. Probably laminated spruce, not carved so you get most of the spruce tone with a little better feedback rejection.

GB10 is bright and resists feedback. Not that great as an acoustic though. The Made in China GB10SE version can be had for quite bit less cash.

[Hep To The Jive]

Are you talking louder as an acoustic sound? I really doubt you can find an archtop with set in pickup that could be loud enough to play Gypsy jazz unplugged... Anyone?

I solved the problem by getting a resonator guitar, and putinng a humbucker on it when I need to plug in. But I already played a couple of gigs just acoustic with full band, and it was very liberating experience. I could even play solos and be heard!

If you consider a non archtop option, this could be a good one.

[hot ford coupe]

Man I would love an A/B vid. Just to check we are talking about acoustic (unplugged) sustain?

Acoustic or electric, I think it would work pretty well. The more metal you put on, the more it would approach a resonator guitar like the Dobro. The only other thing that would increase the sustain would be some kind of electronic solution. With electronics, you may be able to control the brightness. Just remember, I'm talking from theory not experience.

[hot ford coupe]

Edit 1 minute later: Oh fud. If I looked at the post just above this one, I wouldn't have posted this.

[digeorge]

Turn your amp up. If not enough buy a Twin Reverb. Cut through? Who's in your band?

Lap Steel/Ac guitar, Fiddle, and bass. Currently most rehearsals are with the lap steel and fiddle player. The Fender is quite loud actually, that's not the issue I think. It's either the type of strings of the quality of the Godin P90. Anyhow, I'd like to focus on higher quality 1920s style archtop or something else modern, but more ringy. Here's a clip of the amplified sound I'd like to get close to:

[digeorge]

Both of your current guitars have maple tops. I think the sound you're looking for comes from having a spruce top. Probably laminated spruce, not carved so you get most of the spruce tone with a little better feedback rejection.

I will definitely keep this in mind. You have any make/models you'd suggest?

[mr. beaumont]

Lap Steel/Ac guitar, Fiddle, and bass. Currently most rehearsals are with the lap steel and fiddle player. The Fender is quite loud actually, that's not the issue I think. It's either the type of strings of the quality of the Godin P90. Anyhow, I'd like to focus on higher quality 1920s style archtop or something else modern, but more ringy. Here's a clip of the amplified sound I'd like to get close to:

I fail to see how you can't get that sound out of the Godin and a tube amp. I think you just want a new guitar.

[christianm77]

Vintage Gibson ES125's can be had for about the same as Eastman, no?

[sgosnell]

I think you just want a new guitar.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[oldane]

Cutting through is at least as much about guitar setup, playing style and amp settings as it is about the specific guitar.

Louder acoustic sound: Use an acoustic guitar, heavy roundwound strings, high action - and dig in. You know, like Freddie Green and all the other old big band guitarists who had to make themselves heard with 12-13 horns. Be prepared to grow thicker callouses on your fingers and greater muscular strength before you get used to such a setup. Freddie Green used to carry a tennis ball all the time so he could give his finger strength a workout even when he didn't have his guitar with him.

Louder amplified sound: Turn up the amp volume - maybe also increase the treble and roll back the bass to cut through better. Your Godin should be able to handle that satisfactory. If I remeber correctly, it's fitted with a P90, so it should have good clarity in the bass.

[digeorge]

Cutting through is at least as much about guitar setup, playing style and amp settings as it is about the specific guitar.

Louder acoustic sound: Use an acoustic guitar, heavy roundwound strings, high action - and dig in. You know, like Freddie Green and all the other old big band guitarists who had to make themselves heard with 12-13 horns. Be prepared to grow thicker callouses on your fingers and greater muscular strength before you get used to such a setup. Freddie Green used to carry a tennis ball all the time so he could give his finger strength a workout even when he didn't have his guitar with him.

Louder amplified sound: Turn up the amp volume - maybe also increase the treble and roll back the bass to cut through better. Your Godin should be able to handle that satisfactory. If I remeber correctly, it's fitted with a P90, so it should have good clarity in the bass.

Agree to all points. I think the issue is the P-90 which tends to produce rather mid-rangy sound. I've tried it with several different picks, changed hand position, finger style only, and I was able to find a few good spots. Still it feels better when played unlugged, especially with GHS white bronze. If don't get a chance to play-before-buy this fall, I'd probably try to add a floater or some other style pickup to capture the acoustics better. Also, the P90 rattles quite a lot, so that's another issue that needs to be addressed.

I see that a guitar with archtop playability with open sound is not readily available, but I'll keep looking.

[Scotto]

Have you looked at the Gretsch G2622... Played one the other day and it sounds like something you might be describing.

[2bornot2bop]

Then you'd have loved this guitar I had the opportunity to experience for a bit, that was a hollow body custom that sold for a song, and didn't play or sound like any 335 style I've previously owned.

Why didn't I buy it? Stupidity, what else!