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I've never owned one. A Gibson 330, Ephiphone Casino, ES125, or even a Collings City Limits Jazz (
). Now I think I'll have one made by Mr Wu or Yunzhi which means I get to specify many of the interesting bits. Probably 15" bout, carved mahogany B/S, spruce top, trapeze bridge. Like a skinny Benedetto. Maybe even a floating pickup. It may feedback in loud situations but I'm hoping it will be OK when volumes are moderate.
Was wondering if I could get some feedback from those that own a thinline archtop. What pickups do you like? I see lots of humbuckers and P90's. Assuming a 25.5 inch scale but would a bit shorter scale make sense in this sort of guitar? Was thinking about optimizing acoustic properties but then would it just feedback as bad as a standard archtop? Guess you would almost have to have a Collings to know since most others are tied down with built in pickups and laminates.
So.. a guitar that lives in the space in between a 335 and an acoustic archtop. Any thoughts?
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11-12-2017 10:50 PM
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I have some thinlines, and I have some preferences.
I prefer set in pickups, by far. There's just something about the sound of a pickup vibrating under vibrating strings that makes it much richer than what you get with a floating pickup. But YMMV. The acoustic properties of a thinline aren't quite perfect. Archtops are bright by nature, and thinlines are even brighter, with not a lot of bass response. There is no way around this that I know of, it's physics.
The Eastman T145 is somewhat close to what you describe, but it has differences - maple vs mahogany, and a set pickup. But it's a very nice guitar, and I don't know why it was discontinued.
The T146 is the successor, with a 16" bout. I'm happy with mine, although I play my Benedetto Bambino Deluxe more often.
I also have a couple of full-depth archtops, and I don't play them that often either. The thinlines are much more comfortable for me, and I'm not all that concerned with acoustic tone. I use an amp almost all the time, although they're acoustically loud enough for practice.
If I didn't already have plenty of thinline archtops, I would certainly consider having one built in China. Again, I wouldn't consider a floating pickup, but that's an entirely subjective opinion.
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Interesting. I wonder if you can hear the difference between a 16" and 15" bout on a thinline. Too bad I can't find one of the Eastman's locally to play. Would probably help figure out a thing or two. As for built in pickups that may be the way to go. A bit less feedback. This guitar will always be played plugged in but I like how a guitar with good acoustic properties sounds when amplified. Thanks Sgosnell.. very helpful insights.
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IMO, the acoustic properties of a guitar when amplified are enhanced by a set pickup, not by a floater. The floater just picks up the strings, and none of the acoustic character. The set pickup vibrates with the top, and gives a subtle richness because its position with respect to the strings changes as it moves under the vibrating strings. And I don't think a single set pickup affects the acoustic sound very much. A bridge pickup deadens it a lot, but just a neck pickup doesn't have much effect, IME.
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I have a VB Model 14 semi and like it a lot it's one my top two a rotate between. I don't think bout size plays into sound as much on a semi especially is a full center block. The guitar that has been intriguing me is that Heritage that Jordan Klemons plays I wish I know what model it is. It's body shape is like a small traditional archtop, but its a thin in depth. Don't know if it's hollow or some sort of center block. Sounds nice though.
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Looks like some version of the Heritage Roy Clark model.
Originally Posted by docbop
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i only have one that i would consider a thinline, and that's an elitist casino. and its glorious. i also have a gretsch 6118 and an elitist byrdland that sort of meet the description but not really. they are also glorious. i prefer the larger ones, myself but there is so much variation and opportunity within the format.
they all feedback. sometimes, like crazy. depends what you do to it. i wouldn't expect much in the way of acoustic properties from one and wouldn't let that factor into my decision, but they all put out enough sound for silent practice.
i tune down and use heavy, heavy ass strings and don't have a problem at will with strings, tuning or tension. even the byrdland works just fine with no real modification or issues. they have plenty of warmth, girth and chime. in fact, they all trend a bit bright general, but you can mitigate that with knobs and amps. but my next guitar would likely be a 25.5, just for variation.
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Speaking of thinlines, anyone had experience with Guild T100 or T50? I have it on my mind that if I ever need a hollowbody archtop again either of the two would be it. I don't think I ever go back to a full sized archtop- I'm spoiled by the tele!
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
Yes, that's what it looks like expect different markers on the neck and no Roy Clark signature. I like the spec's on the guitar. Thanks for ID'ing it.
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Gibson ES-125TDC
Epiphone Sorrento
Last edited by cosmic gumbo; 05-15-2020 at 02:43 AM.
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Are you sure? I have had that doubt in the past, and I'm having doubts if I'll go with a floater or a set-in pickup on a custom archtop (full-sie, either way). This Bernstein clip, wit a floater, has a lot of acoustic sound. Originally Posted by sgosnell
Maybe it's the camera, but on his records you still hear a lot of the acoustic sound.
(Sorry for deraioing the thread)
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My choices for thin arch top jazz guitars are many, from the experience of owning them.
Ibanez GB10 - smaller very comfortable body, TWO floating pickups (on the older models very much like an older Gibson Johnny Smith pickup in sound)
Gibson Byrdland - thin L5 with a slightly shorter scale that makes those hard to play chords easy. The newer models the neck has a more normal width. The older ones, I've had a few, the neck was too narrow and my hand would sorta fall off the strings. Buyers alert: if you can find an Epi Elitist Byrdland DO check them out, they're one of the best deals out there, word going around the campfire is this model hurt the sales numbers of it's pricier Gibson counterpart and was pulled. Made at the Terada factory the fit and finish is stellar.
Eastman T14X models - I owned a T146smd (spruce top, maple back, double pickup). Great guitar with a floating tailpiece (not a stop tail), all hollow. Less than two inch thick body depth. Great unplugged and lush plugged in. Love them. I think they stopped making them. Very nice and fairly affordable.
Gibson Rosewood Crest - yeah thinline 330 style guitar, fully hollow body. The floating pickups (I believe Johnny Smith) are mounted to the top via little wood supports, not cut into the top. With that hollow body and floating pickups touching the top it's got a very flexible tone. MINE I got for a steal, but it was modded... the original owner removed the original pickups and had the top cut (pro job) and Duncan pickups installed. It sat under a bed some 30 years until his son's friend listed it on eBay. Definitely a keeper and if you find one in a shop at least try it out. By virtue of the limited numbers made and the fact it's a Brazilian Rosewood body it's pricey.
Those are my picks
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I'm not sure of much. All I have to go by is my experience, admittedly more limited than many here. But my experience and understanding of physics tell me that's the usual situation, although every guitar is different and will have a different sound from every other, subtle or gross. And our definitions of acoustic sound may not be identical. My individual preference is for a set in pickup, and everyone else is free to use whatever they prefer.
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internet high five! Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
though honestly, they are and aren't the best deal. they aren't in the sense that they still sell for about what they sold new, in that 1800-2200 range. they are in the sense a gibson version only goes for $4-6000 more, for whatever reason. love mine to bits- it may be my most underrated guitar.
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It's called a Heritage Academy Custom (Ant. Nat. ????) Originally Posted by docbop
That's what the sticker inside says, not sure what the Ant Nat part is about... if anybody knows and can fill me in I'd love to learn more about her. She's the only guitar I've ever purchased where I broke my rule about never buying without playing first. I was really craving a semi hollow (had been playing solid bodies and full size archtops for a while and wanted to find something more in the middle... best of both worlds). I had a budget and was constantly hitting up stores but not finding anything that really hit home. Saw this girl on eBay and it came in far enough under budget that I figured - worst case scenario - if it was all messed up, I'd still have some headroom to take it to my guy and have her fixed up. Showed up and was in near perfect condition.
She reminds me of the size and weight of a nice les paul. I love her. She can fit in with straight ahead, modern, blues, funk, rock, fusion... hell I used to tour with an afrobeat orchestra and a southern rock, Americana group and she got a lot of stage time (though the strat worked better for both of those groups).
She doesn't replace my hand-carved, full size archtop... not even close... different universes. But much more versatile... and she doesn't break twice a year when the weather changes. So....
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?That stands for Antique Natural... Heritage makes some great g-tars
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Ooooooohhhhhhhh.... nice! Thanks Mike! That makes sense. And yes... agreed!!!!
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Thanks for the model name. I like it for same reasons you do, it's a midpoint between solid body and full archtop so would be very comfortable for practicing and transporting. Dig your music and lessons.
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> Guild T100 or T50
If you are talking vintage, bear in mind that the necks will be a little bit smaller than a Gibson; 1 5/8 inch nut instead of 1 11/16. Better to get the earlier ones with the Franz pups.
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Thanks for all the feedback. While I should probably just get a used Eastman what's the fun in that? Looks like..
- Carved spruce top
- Solid Mahogany B/S
- Single set in humbucker
- Mahogany neck
- 15" bout, nitro finish, 44mm nut, ebony or maple binding (when I figure out a color)
Hopefully will land in between a full up archtop and a 335. Or it will sound like a 335 but feedback like an archtop. We'll see.
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Gotta admit 1 5/8 is pretty tight. Part of the reason to order one from China is to get a 44mm (1.73 in) nut width and the profile Wu/Yunzhi use on their archtops. Near perfect for me. Originally Posted by nopedals
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Oh that I know, and it's a big part of why I love early Guilds. Narrow necks is the strong preference , so Gibson is not even an option Originally Posted by nopedals
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Have you considered the Eastman El Rey 4?
25" scale, 1 3/4" nut, C profile, mahogany neck back and sides and a solid carved spruce top, 16" lower bout. Surprisingly feedback resistant. One of mine is pictured below. It has a floater but if I had to do it again, I would have gone with a built in pickup.
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Funny you mention the T-100. I was going to look at a '62 T-100 that's for sale right around the corner from me in Boston this past weekend but I couldn't get over there. Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
It's all original, Brazilian fretboard and original single coil pickup (but not the normal P90) for $999. It looks really nice!
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Wow... that's a beauty! Originally Posted by rob taft
Have you considered the Eastman ElRey 4? 25" scale, 1 3/4" nut, C profile, mahogany neck back and sides and a solid carved spruce top, 16" lower bout. Surprisingly feedback resistant. One of mine is pictured below. It has a floater but if I had to do it again, I would have gone with a built in pickup.
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