Budget acoustic archtop?

[mr. beaumont]

You'd have to take my word for it, but the difference is remarkable.

I'm speaking from experience with a 600. I will not speak on the 300 series, I've only tried a few of the electric models from that series...and I was NOT impressed with the quality or tone.

[ThatRhythmMan]

I'm still a firm believer in playing an individual guitar, especially in the acoustic realm. They are made out of wood that was once parts of living and growing individuals after all.

I've played some carved top guitars that were real stinkers, totally dead. On the other hand my Gibson solid formed sounds fantastic acoustically, better than the majority of carved top guitars I've played, IMO. I also have a 1936 off brand Gibson made archtop (Henry L. Mason) that should be a pressed top, not carved, based on the model that I almost guarantee would knock your socks off.

[lammie200]

Personally I think that there are too many factors at play to say that solid woods are better than laminates. Thicknesses, hardware, blocking, bracing, etc. all come into play for me. The Godin Jazz that I have is a laminate guitar. It sounds like a Martin acoustic unamplified. I am not joking. Someone put a lot of thought into the acoustic aspects of it and used laminates for a floater. Go figure.

[Hammertone]

...Look, anything short of a carved, solid top archtop just isn't going to be in the same league acoustically as a carved top guitar. ...
Whether it's a Godin, a Guild, a new Epiphone, a Gretsch, an Ibanez... you're just not going to get orange juice from an apple. Carved top = acoustic archtop guitar. Anything less than a carved top = something less than an acoustic archtop guitar.

I generally agree, but I've always used the "management by exception" approach. There are a few acoustic archtops with solid spruce, pressed tops, that sound pretty good. Gibson's solid pressed top (and solid pressed back) 17" archtop is one of them.

There were many 16" solid spruce pressed-top archtop guitars built in the '30s by Gibson, and many more built by Harmony and Kay into the 1960s. Most of them do not have the goods, but every once in awhile I encounter one that does.

The Germans built many 16" solid spruce pressed top archtops and a few 17" solid spruce pressed top archtops after the war and into the 1970s, all with laminated back plates. Every once in awhile, I encounter one that has the goods.

Roger offered a 17" solid spruce pressed top version of its Junior model, designed specifically for Boosey & Hawkes, that usually sounds great - some of these have solid pressed backs, some have laminated backs.

They are out there.

[rabbit]

Take a look; this guy treated me right on my L-50:

1964 Epiphone Zenith Guitar

Edit:

I've no idea if the Zenith's top is carved or not.

[John A.]

Another under $1k Solid Spruce top, lam sided acoustic consideration...
Epiphone Masterbuilt DeLuxe.
Epiphone Masterbilt De Luxe | eBay

So, I actually played one of these ("DEluxe") last week, as well as the "Zenith". The Deluxe was surpisingly good. Signficantly lounder and closer to sounding like a legit acoustic archtop than any of the other pressed top guitars I've tried. Nice lookin' too. I still haven't been able to get my hands on Loar, but would really like to compare the two. The Zenith sounds pretty crappy.

John

[MushCreek]

I should have updated this thread. I recently bought a '96 Epi Emperor Regent, from one of the guys on here. The fact that it was local was a big factor, as I really wanted to see it and play it before buying. It's in excellent shape, I'm happy with the sound, both plugged and unplugged, and I felt the price was fair (and within my budget!). I posted a separate 'NGD' thread with a pic.

[2bornot2bop]

I don't understand the number of members who have interest in sampling a Loar 600 or Loar 700 who can't find a local instrument to sample. It's very simple. You buy one of the many available on Reverb or Ebay from a seller with a return policy. Doing so allows one to return the guitar should it not be to your liking.

I've said this many times before - I've owned guitars costing 8 times the cost of a Loar 700, but none as rewarding. These guitars are legit. Listen to Jeff, he knows the value of a Loar.

I'd not invest in a lower end $500 Loar when I can purchase a Loar LH700 for a few dollars more, or a LH600 for even less.

Besides, the LH600 and LH700 have a higher finish quality than the lesser models. If you want an electric, simply install your pickup of choice to a pickguard and you're set.

I've got a Loar LH650 I'd be willing to ship/loan to anyone for a tryout. I also own a Loar LH700.

[Naquat]

Bop, if one is spending a few thousand $ on a guitar I can see your point. However if one is looking for a guitar for $1500 or less I can see the hesitation of not wanting to spend $50 - $100 Each way to audition a guitars.

[2bornot2bop]

Bop, if one is spending a few thousand $ on a guitar I can see your point. However if one is looking for a guitar for $1500 or less I can see the hesitation of not wanting to spend $50 - $100 Each way to audition a guitars.

Absolutely true. But every guitar is available to sample. I've been curious too...about an embarrassing number of guitars that were not available locally. The problem with remaining "curious" is that it gets one no where, and can prevent one from experiencing an otherwise great guitar.

This guitar is available for anyone to "sample." It's stock except for it's Bill Gagnon African Blackwood bridge.

[Naquat]

Bop, that's a gorgeous guitar, love the finish. I'm not big on inlays or a lot of flash so I like the "dot" look and the clean setup.

[2bornot2bop]

Bop, that's a gorgeous guitar, love the finish. I'm not big on inlays or a lot of flash so I like the "dot" look and the clean setup.

Thanks, I love the finish over the SB models because it displays the grain, and the look is more of an Amber.

These "natural" LH650's are hard to find as you very rarely see one up for resale. I've been blessed to snag two of them in natural. This guitar is strung with TI Bebop 14's and its acoustic volume is still very good.

[savofenno]

So, I actually played one of these ("DEluxe") last week, as well as the "Zenith". The Deluxe was surpisingly good. Signficantly lounder and closer to sounding like a legit acoustic archtop than any of the other pressed top guitars I've tried. Nice lookin' too. I still haven't been able to get my hands on Loar, but would really like to compare the two. The Zenith sounds pretty crappy.

John

I bought a DeLuxe Masterbilt 2 weeks ago. It surprised me. Positively.

[gvurrdon]

Apologies for the thread resurrection, but this has been an interesting read and I wondered if anything has changed since 2017. Is it still the case that for a decent, purely-acoustic, archtop for < £1000 a Loar is probably the best answer? E.g. The Loar LH-600 VSB – Thomann UK
Or, has anything else appeared recently?

Also, I have been browsing old 1950s archtops on Ebay and Reverb. There are some nice-looking ones from time to time but it's hard to find something that isn't affected by at least one of:

1. No/fixed truss rod.
2. Tatty appearance.
3. Obvious faults.
4. No return policy or difficult/expensive return, too far away to inspect in person.

...and I also don't have a feel for what might originally have been of decent quality.

[GuyBoden]

£132 + Postage

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009560072791.html?

[gvurrdon]

£132 + Postage

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009560072791.html?

Thanks, I didn't know about those. But, I have already got one of these: Hollow Body :: G2420 Streamliner™ Hollow Body with Chromatic II, Laurel Fingerboard, Broad'Tron™ BT-3S Pickups, Aged Brooklyn Burst
...and, I'm specifically interested in a purely acoustic archtop, which, if I am to have an acoustic guitar, would be what I would want.

[garybaldy]

I believe Sigma are doing a sort of 'loar' line.

[Hammertone]

Apologies for the thread resurrection, but this has been an interesting read and I wondered if anything has changed since 2017. Is it still the case that for a decent, purely-acoustic, archtop for < £1000 a Loar is probably the best answer? E.g. The Loar LH-600 VSB – Thomann UK
Or, has anything else appeared recently?
Also, I have been browsing old 1950s archtops on Ebay and Reverb. There are some nice-looking ones from time to time but it's hard to find something that isn't affected by at least one of:
1. No/fixed truss rod.
2. Tatty appearance.
3. Obvious faults.
4. No return policy or difficult/expensive return, too far away to inspect in person.
...and I also don't have a feel for what might originally have been of decent quality.

There are plenty of excellent German acoustic archtops in the UK for under £1000. Given that you "don't have a feel for what might originally have been of decent quality" why not speak to a few retailers and get then to supply you with a "decent, purely-acoustic" archtop guitar to play, with a 72 hour approval window? Easy to do - rural England is not far from urban England.

[gvurrdon]

I believe Sigma are doing a sort of 'loar' line.

Thanks. I found this on their site: SATA-400 - Sigma Guitars - Legendary Acoustic Guitars

[gvurrdon]

... why not speak to a few retailers and get then to supply you with a "decent, purely-acoustic" archtop guitar to play, with a 72 hour approval window? Easy to do - rural England is not far from urban England.

The thought had occurred to me to contact UK Guitar Shop | Used Guitar for Sale Uk | Guitar Specialist of Furch, who are not too far away, though I don't think they have anything suitable in stock at the moment.

[GuyBoden]

The thought had occurred to me to contact

UK Guitar Shop | Used Guitar for Sale Uk | Guitar Specialist of Furch, who are not too far away, though I don't think they have anything suitable in stock at the moment.

In the UK, "Back Alley Music" Mold have a new acoustic Archtop Eastman AR610 CS for £1700

I've bought from the shop before. The owner can play Jazz guitar.
Link Here: Eastman AR610 CS

[Woody Sound]

In the UK, "Back Alley Music" Mold have a new acoustic Archtop Eastman AR610 CS for £1700

I've bought from the shop before. The owner can play Jazz guitar.
Link Here: Eastman AR610 CS

I had one of those, AWESOME archtop. My right arm just can't handle those big boys anymore.

[Chris236]

Hands down, the Epiphone Triumph. Not a ‘budget’ guitar by any means given it’s a vintage, high quality, American made instrument using all solid, hand carved woods, it’s unbelievable people would consider anything else at the price these are going for.

[Doctor Jeff]

Too lazy to see if I replied back in 2017, but I have a nice Harmony Brilliant Cutaway (1964). It's a pressed top. The workmanship is excellent, and as good as any other manufacturer making similar guitars at the time. Acoustically it's great, but I added a Dearmond RC1000 to mine in a minimally invasive way to be able to amplify it.

We all know the issues with used Harmonies and the fact that their budget models were pretty lower shelf, but their top models were very good. If you can find one in good condition it will be a lot cheaper than a Gibson or Epiphone from the same era.

Like this one, for instance...

Just a moment...

[DRS]

Aria made some nice hollow body guitars around 2000. I hade a Aria FA71 with a floating pickup. Great guitar for around $500