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I’m looking for recommendations for acoustically resonant archtops under $2k (preferably under 1500). Seems like a carved top would be best, but I’d be interested in hearing recommendations for laminates and pressed solid tops too. I haven’t loved the Loars I’ve tried. Eastman, Peerless Imperial, Hoffner Jazzica are all on my list. Anything else I should consider? I am a lifelong guitar player who has only flirted with jazz, but I’m ready to commit. PS I realize there have been a number of threads on this topic, but they’re pretty old and the quality of some imports seem to have improved over the last 5-10 years.
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07-01-2018 01:02 PM
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I asked this same question 4-5 years ago and received excellent advice. Buy a used Heritage Eagle. Ended up exceeding my budget by a few hundred dollars, but have never regretted it. Now the import experts can chime in..,
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I agree. A Heritage Eagle is an excellent guitar. It tends to be a bit under-valued...good for the buyer. It is well made and sounds great.
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In addition to a Heritage Eagle, take a look at their H575 model. It too is a solid (maple) carved archtop, but similar size to an ES175.
Both are fantastic bang-for-buck on the used market.
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Used Heritage and Hofner archtops are excellent value and can certainly be found in your budget range. There is a significant difference between the feel of a 17" archtop (like the Heritage Golden Eagle) and a 16" archtop (like the Heritage H-575, some of which can be found with spruce tops). Hofner Jazzicas and New Presidents are both excellent values as new or used guitars - both just under 16" wide, with carved spruce tops.
You say you are a lifelong guitar player, so I'll assume that you'll consider other key factors on your own, like scale, neck size/shape, frets an so forth. FWIW, the Hofners have a 25 1/4" scale. Here's a Jazzica for sale on this forum that is a laughably excellent deal:
1996 Hofner Jazzica Special 1,500.00 price drop ....
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Wow, lots of love for the Heritage Eagle. Love their story, and the Golden Eagle really fits the bill, but I haven’t been able to find one under 2000. I’ll keep looking and try not to jump on an Eastman 810 or something like that.
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The Jazzica special is laminate top I believe. Holding out for the custom.
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Ok, now I see a few Eagles in my price range. Any opinions about floating vs fixed pickup. I am inclined to go for floating because I’ll play a lot acoustically (comping behind singer/fiddle/horns in an informal setting). The fixed HBs seem to be a little cheaper.
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As I recall... I had to sell a spare amp (or two) to make the deal happen. It’s worth holding out for something built in Kalamazoo... (or Germany).
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Eastman will be your only real choice at that price and youy won't do better.
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I second the recommendation for the eagle. In fact, you can probably find an Eagle Classic (vs. the eagle) in the $2000 ball park. Worth the little bit of extra in my opinion.
BTW: Make sure you like the sound of a floater. I tried to like it, but ended up preferring a mounted pickup vs. floater. There is still good inherit qualities with a mounted pickup on a solid top guitar. My solid top guitars with mounted pickups for my taste do not give up the qualities I look for and they have a great tone and project nicely acoustically. Maybe not as loud but still a sweet voice.,
If you decide to go with a floater on the heritage, I would recommend looking up Kent Armstrong for an upgrade to the heritage floater pickup. He puts his new pickup inside the heritage pickup frame, so it doesn't change the look, sends you back the original pickup, all for about $125 dollars. He makes a floater I could live with and regret parting with a non cutaway golden eagle I used to have (referred to as the black tie affair on other threads).
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You need to distinguish between the Eagle, the Eagle Classic, and the Golden Eagle. They are three different models, three different prices. You can find Eagles...the least expensive, yet fully carved 17" model...for $2,000 or less. The Eagle, either with mahogany or spruce top, is a nice archtop.
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Gibson L-50
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I have a Heritage Eagle with a floating pickup... and I had Kent Armstrong wind me a new paf. It sounds fantastic and I’m glad I did it. The floating pickup yields more of the acoustic sound of the instrument, but is also more susceptible to feedback than a fixed pickup. Because it rests on the soundboard it is more sensitive to the natural resonances of the guitar. The fixed pickup is more electric sounding and less prone to feedback.
The carved solid spruce soundboard with a floating pickup produces (in my opinion) a beautiful, almost pristine, resonant tone. It just gets a little trickier in an amplified environment.
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Heritage is great in that range but so is Eastman. Eastman has been doing almost everything right and is making some amazing instruments. My 2005 805ce, while not my main axe anymore, has served me well and is still one of my favorites and also has one of the best necks I’ve ever played on. Students who have gotten Eastmans also had great necks - if playability is important I would at least check them out and you get the benefit of great guitars to go with those great necks.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Barboy, I have a 2005 Jazzica custom that I would sell for $1,600. Mint condition, carved spruce top, natural finish, sounds and plays great.
PM me is you are interested and I can send pictures and details.
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If acoustic sound is your goal, an old epiphone triumph, or even an L7 is in your budget with a little patience. Then you have a no excuses great acoustic. You won't be bugged wondering what the next step up is (the next step up is more bling, not better sound). Lots of good pickup options for a great acoustic.
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I should have added that some folks gotta have cutaways. This greatly increases the price, which is a good thing for those of us that don't care about them. It makes intrinsically great guitars affordable. Once again, if your focus is on acoustic sound, noncuts have more internal volume and consequently sound a bit better. The plinky notes above the 15th fret are out of reach, though.
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I don't think a Heritage Eagle can compete with an Eastman for acoustic volume, but ICBW.
Last edited by Woody Sound; 07-02-2018 at 01:28 PM.
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I have an Eastman AR503CE (carved spruce top) that I have strung with '12s Phosphore Bronze
If you want to play acoustically, that is a way to go; like that it barks nearly like a flattop ! And it is well under your budget limit.
I also have an Heritage Sweet16 (carved spruce top and maple back, with a floater) that I have strung with TI JS112 so I can play plugged in, or not. But may exceed your budget.
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I’m with you there. Non cutaway is fine for my purposes. Even preferable.
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There are a couple of non-cut Eastmans on ebay/Reverb right now. Worth a shot.
Originally Posted by Barboy07079
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That Eagle Classic sounds outstanding, IMO. Very Herb Ellis meets Barney Kessel--to my ear.
The sunburst is to die for. Nobody was spraying sunbursts better than Heritage in that period right around the turn of the century.
That's a great electric archtop guitar.
If you want an acoustic archtop, however, you might enjoy an Eastman more. The ones I've played are as described by others above.
I would be surprised OTOH if any archtop is going to be truly superior to the Heritage shown above as an electric jazz machine unless you spend $4-5K.
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As an old guy, I had to think about that for a moment. Originally Posted by Greentone
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With that said, I’m going to second the recommendation of an Epiphone Triumph if you want a 17”. It would probably take some patience, but they can be had in your price range. Originally Posted by Barboy07079
If you’d like something a little smaller, Epi Blackstones can fantastic. I even have a 1938 Epi Olympic that I would sell you for far under $2K. It sounds better than any Eastman I’ve ever played. It’s a 15 1/4” guitar and has mahogany sides and back with a carved spruce top. Add a DeArmond pickup and you can do a lot.
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