Good archtop guitar tone and volume unplugged.

[wengr]

Hello. I would be interested in suggestions for archtop guitar models that have relatively good volume and tone unplugged. Has to be 17" with a floater. I am aware of some various models that attempt to cross an archtop with a flat top. That's not what I'm interested in. So what typical 17" guitars with floaters are known for good acoustic volume/tone?

[guitar_65riff]

I have a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin p90
That lady is as loud as you need unplugged

Sounds good too

Hello. I would be interested in suggestions for archtop guitar models that have relatively good volume and tone unplugged. Has to be 17" with a floater. I am aware of some various models that attempt to cross an archtop with a flat top. That's not what I'm interested in. So what typical 17" guitars with floaters are known for good acoustic volume/tone?

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[rabbit]

I have one and like it:

A-150 Savoy in Blonde – Guild Guitars

[Rob MacKillop]

What's your budget? I play a Frans Elferink archtop, and can't speak highly enough of him as a maker. Checkout his website, ElferinkGuitars.com

[rabbit]

I also own a Godin 5th Avenue acoustic.

If you can find one (that's likely, though they no longer show up on Godin's site)
there's plenty of room for you to install a floater at the end of its elevated fretboard; only 16".

guitar_65riff is correct, plenty of volume.

[rabbit]

wengr,

If you haven't heard MacKillop's post playing that Elferink, you should search it up.

[nopedals]

Asking about acoustic tone and volume, and floaters, suggest to me that you want the floater mainly for amplification, but definitely want an acoustic that sounds sweet and loud when unplugged.

Godin, to my knowledge, does not make 17" or acoustic archtops. A Godin Kingpin might be loud (high frequency tones cut through the mix), but certainly does not have good acoustic tone. For that, you need a carved top acoustic. Get an old Gibson L7 or an Epiphone Triumph and a dearmond pickup. A current luthier carved top would be a good option, too, but usually more expensive.

[omphalopsychos]

I cast all my votes for a vintage archtop and a dearmond.

[guitar_65riff]

Asking about acoustic tone and volume, and floaters, suggest to me that you want the floater mainly for amplification, but definitely want an acoustic that sounds sweet and loud when unplugged.

Godin, to my knowledge, does not make 17" or acoustic archtops. A Godin Kingpin might be loud (high frequency tones cut through the mix), but certainly does not have good acoustic tone. For that, you need a carved top acoustic. Get an old Gibson L7 or an Epiphone Triumph and a dearmond pickup. A current luthier carved top would be a good option, too, but usually more expensive.

Acoustic tone on the Godin is extremely good for such a low cost archtop.

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[Gitfiddler]

Check out Heritage Eagle or Golden Eagle with a floating p'up.
Excellent acoustic volume and tone since they are basically designed after Gibson's L-5C.

[Longways to Go]

Good volume and tone unplugged.

My '34 L-7 delivers the goods. But it doesn't meet your 17" requirement. It's only 16 but who cares?

My Eastman 810 might fit, but I'm not sure on the measurements.
It's got lots of good acoustic tone too, but could benefit from a better pick up.

[rpguitar]

A 17" archtop with a floating pickup is almost always built with the intention to have good acoustic tone. Floaters are not commonly found on laminated instruments, although there are exceptions. And there aren't that many laminated 17" instruments.

Therefore any 17" archtop with a floating pickup is a candidate for you. You could also add 17" archtops that have no pickup (yet) but are capable of having one installed, should you be so inclined.

You'll need to look next at your budget, since that will become the limiting factor in your search. The Eastman Uptown AR-810 and AR-910 are good starts at the lower end of the 17" acoustic archtop price range.

[nopedals]

There are 17 inch guitars with floaters out there that are not true carved top acoustics; notably the 1990s to current epiphone zephyr regent. AFAIK Eastman is the only company that sells inexpensive 17 inch acoustic archtops.

[rpguitar]

True - I forgot about all of the pressed spruce top examples, like the cheap D'Angelico EXL-1 and its ilk. "Nice" sounding acoustically, but not a real acoustic guitar. Stick with a carved top for acoustic tone.

[TedBPhx]

My Washburn J600k is a 17” pressed spruce top with a floater. Sucks as an acoustic though.

[wengr]

Thanks for all the replies. Price is always a concern, but I'm willing to pay what's necessary if the guitar is really what I want.
I also should have stated in the op that I'm only considering carved spruce archtops.
I had not considered vintage acoustics due to an assumption that I could not get necks specs to my liking - maybe I need to reconsider that.
I'll play fingerstyle pieces usually with TI 13 flats.
Another way to present my question is: Hypothetically, if we had a gathering, and all brought our carved archtops with floaters, which builder or brands would stand out as giving the most enjoyable experience unplugged? I do realize that this won't necessarily translate into the best tone with an amp.

[rpguitar]

This is good. But it opens up the field so much that you'll need to limit your choices by something, such as the neck specs you mention. Also, what are your favorite recorded tones? There are some classic voicings to choose from - Gibson, D'Aquisto, Benedetto for example. Most guitars are takes on those basic flavors.

With fingerstyle and flatwounds, maybe you're looking for an X-braced modern sounding guitar, for example. But maybe you have heard some mid-century Gibsons that float your boat.

Does country of origin matter? Do you wish to include or avoid Chinese instruments, focus on U.S. origin, or European, etc.? Another factor to limit the list. Stock/vintage or bespoke/made to order?

"Willing to pay what's necessary" but up to a limit of any kind - $5k, $10k?

[wengr]

This is good. But it opens up the field so much that you'll need to limit your choices by something, such as the neck specs you mention. Also, what are your favorite recorded tones? There are some classic voicings to choose from - Gibson, D'Aquisto, Benedetto for example. Most guitars are takes on those basic flavors.

I think the Benedetto camp would be most appropriate for what I wish to do.

With fingerstyle and flatwounds, maybe you're looking for an X-braced modern sounding guitar, for example. But maybe you have heard some mid-century Gibsons that float your boat.

I like mid century Gibson tone for single note work, but yes - X braced modern sound is what I'm after. With good volume and tone quality unplugged.

Does country of origin matter? Do you wish to include or avoid Chinese instruments, focus on U.S. origin, or European, etc.? Another factor to limit the list. Stock/vintage or bespoke/made to order?

"Willing to pay what's necessary" but up to a limit of any kind - $5k, $10k?

I'm open on country of origin. For example, I have an Eastman John Pisano model, and I am kind of impressed with it's unplugged volume, so eastman is definitely worth considering. I really like the looks of the Comins classic, and I spoke with Bill, and sampled some guitars. Beautiful instruments, but they did not seem to be what I'm after in this regard.
I guess with my limited exposure, the most appropriate guitar I have come across was a Campellone. That seemed to be tonally in the direction I'm thinking. And I would assume Benedetto, but I have never touched a Benedetto guitar.

[Rob MacKillop]

wengr, I don't mean to be pushy, but you really should consider Frans Elferink, who will make you what you want. His website is Elferink Guitars - custom made handcrafted archtop guitars

Here is my all-acoustic Elferink archtop, recorded with just a mic and a little bit of reverb, Gibson XH pick. Admittedly mine is an 18", though it doesn't feel big, just comfortable, in fact. Though based in Holland, he has sold many guitars to players in the States. He also makes his own pickups, or will attach whatever you specify. Mine does not have any pickups - I have no need for them.

[sgosnell]

Benedetto makes wonderful guitars, but not cheaply. Their cheapest carved-top with a floater is the Fratello at $21k, and AFAIK they don't cut their prices at all. If you're looking for the Benedetto/Eastman style (Eastman copies Benedetto, from Bob's book) for a reasonable price, consider ordering one from Mr. Wu in China. Carved top, to your specs, for $1500 and up, depending on bling.

[omphalopsychos]

Given your tonal preferences, I would also recommend Andersen for the modern X braced archtop sound. A fellow member here has one of the old metropolitan specials, and it is something else. Really blows me away how responsive and easy to play that instrument is. If you're looking at Campellone and Benedetto then Andersen should be in your budget.

[ESCC]

I have an Eastman AR910CE 17" and I am very pleased with its acoustic tone and volume. I replaced the pick-up with a KA hand wound 12pole, which is excellent. I am not foolish enough to compare it to a Benedetto or for that matter a Gibson JS, but I do encourage you to play one, if something happened to mine, I would replace it. This is it before the pick-up replacement.

[rpguitar]

Just to be clear, by mentioning Benedetto I was not necessarily implying to buy an actual Benedetto. I mentioned it as a school of archtop design and voicing, like Gibson, that has inspired many builders to produce a similar sounding (and sometimes looking) instrument.

[deacon Mark]

I think the Benedetto camp would be most appropriate for what I wish to do. I like mid century Gibson tone for single note work, but yes - X braced modern sound is what I'm after. With good volume and tone quality unplugged.
I'm open on country of origin. For example, I have an Eastman John Pisano model, and I am kind of impressed with it's unplugged volume, so eastman is definitely worth considering. I really like the looks of the Comins classic, and I spoke with Bill, and sampled some guitars. Beautiful instruments, but they did not seem to be what I'm after in this regard.
I guess with my limited exposure, the most appropriate guitar I have come across was a Campellone. That seemed to be tonally in the direction I'm thinking. And I would assume Benedetto, but I have never touched a Benedetto guitar.

My 18 inch Elferink is for sale and at a good price. See the for sale section I might as well give it a try but it is an 18 inch monster and sounds like it too. Very nice plugged in with the real KA PUP.

[wintermoon]

I borrowed a friends 17" Eastman because I had a gig in Miami and didn't want to fly w my vintage L-5.
That thing was plenty loud, it held up nicely playing duos w a guy on a grand piano in a hotel lobby.