Advice needed - Smaller Archtop

**rdwhitti** · 02-19-2018, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

Easy. ES 339 which is only 13 inches. The playability is amazing. I swapped out the neck pick up for Jason Lollar Charlie question now it’s basically a jazz box.

I realize that Gibson gets criticized a lot, but they really hit it out of the park with the ES 339.

I just sold an ES 339 (Epiphone version) partly because I didn't like the slim neck and partly because of the weight (it felt heavier than it actually was for some reason). I fell in love with it 2 years ago at the store, but I guess time changes things.

**rdwhitti** · 02-19-2018, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

I couldn't agree more with "it's always the depth." An ES-175 can feel like a handful, owing to its 3-1/2" depth, even though it's only 16" across the lower bout.

OTOH, a Heritage Super Eagle at 18" is a breeze to play, owing to its 3" depth, shorter body (compared to a Super 400) and overall carve. I get completely lost in the music when playing the Super 400. My deeper 16" and 17" guitars seem constantly to remind me that they are "out there" on my knee.

Anyone else notice this?

Yes I think you are exactly right. I have never played a 17" or 18" but expect that they would be manageable if thin enough.

**sgosnell** · 02-19-2018, 07:23 PM

According to Tommy Duncan, Time Changes Everything.

**Doublea A** · 02-19-2018, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

epiphone les paul standard florentine

cheers

I have one of these and I love it !!
Very Versatile guitar

**Greentone** · 02-19-2018, 09:24 PM

I meant to say that I get lost in the music when I play the Super Eagle.

**Headshot** · 02-19-2018, 11:43 PM

I also just picked up the Epi ES-Les Paul in Wine. Love it...about to put 12 flats on it this week.

**Cunamara** · 02-20-2018, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by rdwhitti

Well now I am really confused. I have been going off the Ibanez website which lists my guitar body depth as 3 5/8" but I just measured it with a tape measure (edge of body at lower bout not including arch) and it measures 2 3/4"! So how exactly is body depth measured?

IIRC, Ibanez measures their guitars at the thickest point of the body- so the middle of the arch- while almost everyone else measures the depth of the sides. Then you alsomhave to add the bridge height to reach the strings with your picking hand, and the neck is of course also further away than with a solidbody electric.

Are you playing seated with the guitar on one leg, seated and holding it classical style, playing standing with it on a strap, seated with a strap and the guitar sort of off to one side like Joe Pass or Peter Leitch? Or? I find that each guitar of mine has a most comfortable way to be held and they are all different.

FWIW I would consider your Ibanez to be a small or compact archtop. My main archtop is 17" wide, 3" deep at the sides and that is to my mind a "standard" sized archtop. My first archtop, which I've had over 30 years, is an Ibanez GB10 which is smaller than yours. Great sounding, comfortable guitar to play standing, a bit too small sitting down.

Re: the Tele comment. It's de rigeur around here. My Teles are also great, enjoyed just as much as every othre guitar I own and more than some, but they aren't archtops. In a ruthlessly logical world, Teles would be the One Guitar to rule them all. It's not a ruthlessly logical world, thank the whoozit.

**Namelyguitar** · 02-20-2018, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by rdwhitti

Well now I am really confused. I have been going off the Ibanez website which lists my guitar body depth as 3 5/8" but I just measured it with a tape measure (edge of body at lower bout not including arch) and it measures 2 3/4"! So how exactly is body depth measured? If I include the depth of the arch it may add up to a little over 3 inches; if I measure from the bottom edge (not the arch) to the top of the bridge it is probably the full 3 5/8". So now I don't know who to believe for body depth.

Could somebody here list some body depths of guitars that they own? For example, a Casino/ES330/ES335, an AR403SE, AR37xSE, ES175, ES175T, whatever you have? Thanks.

And please indicate how you measured, if it was on the edge of the body or something else.

The depth spec. Is based on the max depth! The depth is not the same from the bout to the middle of the body.

**rdwhitti** · 02-20-2018, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

IIRC, Ibanez measures their guitars at the thickest point of the body- so the middle of the arch- while almost everyone else measures the depth of the sides. Then you alsomhave to add the bridge height to reach the strings with your picking hand, and the neck is of course also further away than with a solidbody electric.

Are you playing seated with the guitar on one leg, seated and holding it classical style, playing standing with it on a strap, seated with a strap and the guitar sort of off to one side like Joe Pass or Peter Leitch? Or? I find that each guitar of mine has a most comfortable way to be held and they are all different.

FWIW I would consider your Ibanez to be a small or compact archtop. My main archtop is 17" wide, 3" deep at the sides and that is to my mind a "standard" sized archtop. My first archtop, which I've had over 30 years, is an Ibanez GB10 which is smaller than yours. Great sounding, comfortable guitar to play standing, a bit too small sitting down.

Re: the Tele comment. It's de rigeur around here. My Teles are also great, enjoyed just as much as every othre guitar I own and more than some, but they aren't archtops. In a ruthlessly logical world, Teles would be the One Guitar to rule them all. It's not a ruthlessly logical world, thank the whoozit.

Yes that is confusing when everybody seems to have different methods of measurement. It would be one thing if archtops were readily available everywhere and it was easy to try out different models (may be somewhere is like that?) but around here that is just not the case. Anyway, I have the AR403 on the way and I am sure I will like it.

**rdwhitti** · 02-20-2018, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Namelyguitar

The depth spec. Is based on the max depth! The depth is not the same from the bout to the middle of the body.

Yes, very confusing how different manufacturers seem to use different measurements.

**jads57** · 02-20-2018, 08:27 PM

Mint 2016 Gibson ES-275 Faded Red with Upgrades

**rdwhitti** · 02-23-2018, 01:33 PM

The Eastman is on the truck for delivery today. From what I have read of the nitro finish I should give it time to acclimate to the room while still in the case for a while before opening it, correct? This is the first instrument that I have had with a nitro finish, and apparently Eastman uses a very thin nitro at that, so I don't want to damage it. I am reading also that it should be kept in the case (closed) whenever I am not playing it, correct? I will wrap the foam on the stands in my music room with old t-shirts, is that what everybody else does for nitro?

Update: It just arrived and the box says "Don't Open for 24 Hours".

**ESCC** · 02-23-2018, 02:35 PM

I play an Eastman AR910ce and an ES175cc, both are 3+" in width - two very different guitars and I love their differences.
I sincerely hope you enjoy playing and hearing your Eastman as much as I enjoy mine, if something happened to it, I would replace it!

We'll learn more in 24 hrs.

**sgosnell** · 02-23-2018, 04:26 PM

If a guitar arrived at my house, I would open it immediately, because the difference in temperature between outside and inside isn't more than a couple of degrees, and hasn't been for more than a week.

But the weather is not as nice everywhere.

**Cunamara** · 02-23-2018, 04:41 PM

Expecting a report tomorrow!

**rdwhitti** · 02-23-2018, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

If a guitar arrived at my house, I would open it immediately, because the difference in temperature between outside and inside isn't more than a couple of degrees, and hasn't been for more than a week.

But the weather is not as nice everywhere.

I have always done exactly that, but this is the most expensive guitar I have ever owned and the first nitro finish ever, so I want to do things right. Yes I know many people here would not call it expensive but for me it is.

**lammie200** · 02-23-2018, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by rdwhitti

I have always done exactly that, but this is the most expensive guitar I have ever owned and the first nitro finish ever, so I want to do things right. Yes I know many people here would not call it expensive but for me it is.

I haven't done it but you could spoon the box at night to warm it up if you have the room

Can't wait to see what you have (tomorrow.)

**rdwhitti** · 02-24-2018, 05:35 PM

I opened it just long enough to get some pics and to tune it up. The fit and finish are absolutely beautiful! In the short time I had to play it is sounded wonderful but maybe too bright with the rounds that are on it now; the description said that were 12's (Cleartone) but they feel lighter like maybe 10's? Anyway I will give them a good tryout before maybe trying flats to see the difference.

I would love to play it more but other duties call. Hopefully I get a good chance to try it this evening.

**johnnyjazz** · 02-24-2018, 07:31 PM

Wow, congrats, i have never tried an Eastman but that looks the dog,s.

**rdwhitti** · 02-24-2018, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by johnnyjazz

Wow, congrats, i have never tried an Eastman but that looks the dog,s.

Neither had I but I had always heard good thing about them.

**rdwhitti** · 02-24-2018, 09:57 PM

Well I just had my regular practice with it and love it! It feels so light and comfortable, and the neck is not thick and not thin but just right so far, between my fat neck Ibanez AFJ95 and the extra slim Epiphone ES339 that I had, just a little thinner than my MIM Strat. It has a very woody acoustic sound with the round wound strings that will take some getting used to but is great for now; I may eventually put on flats when these wear out. I think I will message the seller about what kind of strings are on it; the ad said 12s but they feel more like 10s to me, and play very easily.

BTW I am using an iPhone tuner because the one that I have been using is a clip-on Snark. Are clip-ons safe for nitro finishes if I just leave it on long enough to tune and then wife the headstock? I am more comfortable using the clip-on but don't want to mar this beautiful finish.

**sgosnell** · 02-25-2018, 11:41 AM

Clip-on tuners are fine with nitro. I leave one on my Eastman for several days sometimes, sitting in the practice room. I have several, of different brands, and none affect the finish at all.

**rdwhitti** · 02-25-2018, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Clip-on tuners are fine with nitro. I leave one on my Eastman for several days sometimes, sitting in the practice room. I have several, of different brands, and none affect the finish at all.

That's good to know, thanks. Do you leave the guitar out on a stand? If so do you have the foam wrapped?

**sgosnell** · 02-25-2018, 04:34 PM

It's mostly on a wall hanger. It has some sort of synthetic covering, I'm not sure what. It's a standard wall hanger sold everywhere. Nitrocellulose isn't nearly as delicate as you seem to think. It's pretty robust for the most part. Most stands, hangers, etc that are for sale are designed to be safe for nitro, because if they do harm it, sales will cease.

**rdwhitti** · 02-25-2018, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

It's mostly on a wall hanger. It has some sort of synthetic covering, I'm not sure what. It's a standard wall hanger sold everywhere. Nitrocellulose isn't nearly as delicate as you seem to think. It's pretty robust for the most part. Most stands, hangers, etc that are for sale are designed to be safe for nitro, because if they do harm it, sales will cease.

Actually most guitar stands that I have seen advertised warn against use with nitro finishes. Even Hercules has a footnote saying to never store a guitar with nitro finish on their stand but to put it in its case. And many have said that even the expensive Gibson stands that are claimed to be safe can cause damage. Of course this is all hearsay from others.