Small size archtop vs standard size archtop

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

A large headstock can be effective.

If your headstock is not up to snuff, you can always include a FatFinger.

[Woody Sound]

Here's a hand made 15" from Mark C.

Campellone Guitars - EP Series

[Klatu]

I have solid carved top 15" (Peerless), 16" (Hofner) and 17"(Heritage). The bass response improves with size, acoustic volume increases although in my case the 16" has a deeper body than the 17" so the difference is much less. There is a much bigger difference in volume between the 15" and the other two. These comparisons fade away when amplified and become all about the different pickups (all floating humbuckers) and the tone circuits of the guitars.

What model Hofner do you play? I ask because like you, I play both Hofner and Heritage guitars, and mine don't sound at all alike. I'd go as far as to say that my Jazzica is the brightest full depth archtop I own when played through an amp. It's far brighter than my Eastman John Pisano, which has a 16" lower bout with a thinner body depth than the Hofner.

[medblues]

What model Hofner do you play? I ask because like you, I play both Hofner and Heritage guitars, and mine don't sound at all alike. I'd go as far as to say that my Jazzica is the brightest full depth archtop I own when played through an amp. It's far brighter than my Eastman John Pisano, which has a 16" lower bout with a thinner body depth than the Hofner.

Hofner New President and a Heritage Johnny Smith (the one Max405 had on Youtube).

These clips are not too different from how mine sounds, mine is less bright to my ears:

[rio]

I wish I got 17' archtops earlier - I definitely find them to be the most comfortable ever since getting my L5. The size sitting down is perfect for me and my right arm over the body. When I had a GB-10 I was standing up more and the body size was great for that but it wasn't comfortable sitting down. I have had predominantly 16" guitars and thought I preferred them - they are certainly comfortable and when I got my Eastman in 2007 I had the option of a 16" or 17" and didn't even really try the 17" much because I thought I knew that I already preferred 16".

17" is bulky when standing for sure and I am glad I have 16" guitars for those circumstances but sitting down the larger body just puts it in a better place on my leg and agrees with the right arm more. I am 6' 1" by the way so not a ridiculously huge guy. I have never played an 18" and would love to try one some day

[Hammertone]

Small guitars with big sound? I recommend these:

16" wide, 3" rims, 25" scale:


16" wide, 3" rims, 26" scale:

[iim7V7IM7]

There is a speed of attack and focus to the timbre to a well made 16" archtop that I prefer to larger bodies. Bass response can be archieved by other means (top arch profile, bracing and rim depth etc.).

16" Lower Bout, 3" Rim Depth, 25" Scale...



16" Lower Bout, 3" to 4-1/8" Tapered Rim Depth, 25-1/4" Scale...

[r_cc_c]

Talk about small archtop.
Here is one from Victor Baker

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Small guitars with big sound? I recommend these:

16" wide, 3" rims, 25" scale:


16" wide, 3" rims, 26" scale:

Woah, you're going to need longer strings!

[ArchiMark]

Interesting to read the different viewpoints about size and sound.

Ten years ago I sold my '66 Epi Howard Roberts Custom 16" and then got a '51 Epi Triumph Regent '17" x 3-3/8" rims.

Had no issue adjusting to the larger size box. Was amazed at the difference in sound, tone, and volume with the Epi TR when played acoustically. The Epi TR seemed like it was amped even playing acoustically. And even more so, after it is played for about 5 minutes.

What I did have a difficult adjustment is with the longer scale length 25.5" vs 24.75" on the Epi HRC. Had not realized how much difference this would make in playing on the longer scale. I really struggled at first to adjust to the wider fret spacing at the upper end of the neck. Playing certain chords in the in this area was a real stretch of my fingers.
Now I'm used to it.

And btw, I'm only 5' 4" and don't have large hands.

Funny thing is lately I find myself intrigued by 18" archtops....

[zizala]

I like to play all the sizes but have yet to feel a need to go beyond 17".
Scalewise 25.5 seems to suit me best, but I'm adaptable if the guitar pleases me otherwise.

Back in 1932 there were choices like these to be made.....



1932 Broadway (a little over 16") and a '32 Zenith (13.5").
Both have 25.5" scales.

I'm comfortable playing either......and the one time I tried that little Zenith with a floating DeArmond the amplified sound was surprisingly good.....

[Alter]

I have 2 archtops, one is 17, one 16, and the smaller one is noticeably easier for me to play. Same goes for classical and acoustics, i prefer a slightly smaller body. I do think though that it may be easier to achieve a standard jazz tone with bigger bodies construction wise. Depends on the instrument and what you want out of it really

[destinytot]

I like to play all the sizes but have yet to feel a need to go beyond 17".
Scalewise 25.5 seems to suit me best, but I'm adaptable if the guitar pleases me otherwise.

Back in 1932 there were choices like these to be made.....



1932 Broadway (a little over 16") and a '32 Zenith (13.5").
Both have 25.5" scales.

I'm comfortable playing either......and the one time I tried that little Zenith with a floating DeArmond the amplified sound was surprisingly good.....

Beautiful.

[Archtop Guy]

If your headstock is not up to snuff, you can always include a FatFinger.

>Depends on the size of the"f"holes?

[Bluedawg]

I like to play all the sizes but have yet to feel a need to go beyond 17".
Scalewise 25.5 seems to suit me best, but I'm adaptable if the guitar pleases me otherwise.
.....

If we only stuck with what we need ... we wouldn't have all of these cool guitar pictures to look at.

[rlrhett]

I haven't experimented that much with small archtops, but I spent a few years obsessed with building little "parlor" guitars. IME the "boominess" or "bass" of a small instrument is dependent on the voicing of the top, not the size of the guitar. If you brace a small guitar like it was a dreadnaught you are going to have a harsh and brassy instrument. I have some very deep and resonant little guitars that are barely 13" at the lower bout and have a 24" scale length. OTOH, there is no doubt that the smaller guitars are not as LOUD as the bigger ones. Great for recording, playing through a mic, or practicing. The opposite of what you need if you are in a big band trying to play acoustically over a horn section. That is why in the 20's and 30's guitars got bigger and bigger. Not because tastes went to more bass in a guitar.

My current builds, and the guitar I play daily, is 20" long with a 16" lower bout and 25" scale length. That is my personal goldilocks.

[daveymo]

Ive played lots of different size guitars, and each one is so different, hard to make generalizations for sure
Holst Custom 14" Archtop 2018 ( VIDEO ) similar to | Reverb

[Drosemusic37]

Which guitars are these 13.5 and 14.5 archtops?

I've a very old & fragile 13-1/2" and a very old and fragile 14-1/2" archtop.

Yeah, they don't sound big, just nice in a small way. They feel great, small and light.
Lightness is a guitar virtue that turns me on. They tend to sound nice, too.

These are different, specialist items. Might take some patient snooping.

Best of luck.

[Printer]

Small guitars with big sound? I recommend these:

16" wide, 3" rims, 25" scale:


16" wide, 3" rims, 26" scale:

Who makes these?

Never mind, noticed the picture name.

[DougB]

My only fully hollow small sized archtop is my Ibanez AG86. It is under 16" and its size is disproportionate to its full acoustic influence on the sound. Compared to larger Ibanez I have it actually sounds better.

I don't think this is typical though, maybe I just got lucky, maybe it's the unique material mix of the bubinga over what appears to be mahogany but it is one I definitely am happy to have.

Sadowsky has at least 2 15 inch arch tops, nothing wrong with their tone.
George Benson also plays a 15 inch Ibanez.

Whatever works I say.

[DougB]

Holst Custom 14" Archtop 2018 ( VIDEO ) similar to | Reverb[/url]

Yes, but Stephen Holst is a magician with his builds !