A better (acoustic) L5 clone than Loar for under 5k?

**tfling** · 12-24-2019, 11:39 AM

I recently picked up another Loar Lh-700, and while it sounds pretty good - it needs a fair amount of work in terms of setup, re-gluing frets etc. it was not shipped properly and I believe this had a negative effect on the guitar

I am looking for alternatives before dumping money into getting the LH-700 sorted out. I want that classic acoustic L5-ish bark. 16” body, parallel braced, all solid.
I have looked at the DuPont Lloyd but have not found any reviews.

are there other builders out there that make an L5 inspired guitar for ~ or under $5000

I would be selling and downsizing a fair bit of gear to fund the purchase and I want something high quality.

Thanks in advance

**Longways to Go** · 12-24-2019, 11:41 AM

Get an L-7. Well within your budget. Mine was under $3K. You won't be disappointed.

**Doug B** · 12-24-2019, 12:18 PM

Eastman Guitars???

**Dennis D** · 12-24-2019, 12:37 PM

I agree with the L-7 suggestion..I own 2 and like them....However I am not sure how long it's been since Gibson made a 16 inch L-7 ( '30's, 40's ?? )....So you'll have those availability and inevitable condition issues to contend with.....and then there's always getting the seller to agree on a price...

So -- after years of trying to find an L-12, and tiring of jumping through the hoops, I've ordered one of these.......You'll come in under $5000. , if you exclude the electronics. You can get it built as 16 in., and get a lifetime instrument !!......just MHO

Standard Series | MCampellone.com

(( PS. I'll have pictures to post here soon - -wait 'til you see mine !! ))

Good luck !!!

**Hammertone** · 12-24-2019, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by tfling

I want that classic acoustic L5-ish bark. 16” body, parallel braced, all solid. ...[ ]...an L5 inspired guitar for ~ or under $5000

Originally Posted by Dennis D

...I've ordered one of these.......You'll come in under $5000. , if you exclude the electronics. You can get it built as 16 in., and get a lifetime instrument !!......just MHO
Standard Series | MCampellone.com ( PS. I'll have pictures to post here soon - -wait 'til you see mine !! ))

Good luck !!!

Exactly what I was going to recommend. Under $5,000. $4,995, actually. Mark responds to his customer's needs, and builds his archtop guitars on a continuum from "very acoustic" to "very electric." If you want him to build you a guitar with lots of acoustic responsiveness, just ask for it. I play a 16" and a 17" Campellone and both of them are wonderful, VERY acoustic archtop guitars.

Mark does not make a copy of the 16" L-5, but is willing to tip the ol' Hatlo hat in that general direction, as he did here with this non-cutaway 16" Standard, although I suspect the wood on this one involved an upcharge:

**FredH** · 12-24-2019, 08:59 PM

I would look at L7 C reissues, well under your budget if you can find one. They stopped making them in 2011, I think.

Or better yet, try to get an original L7. Check out Reverb. I have a 68 L7 C with a kent armstrong floater and its a nice acoustic guitar.

Good luck with your search.

**archtopeddy** · 12-24-2019, 09:26 PM

Around here, we tend to think "Charlie Christian" when we think of Daniel Slaman, but he also makes excellent acoustic archtops. I remember talking with the late Dudley Hill who played one with Pearl Django. He loved his acoustic Slaman archtop. Anyway, I don't know how much it costs but Slaman's "1923" model sure looks interesting!

**archtopeddy** · 12-25-2019, 02:38 AM

Just found a writeup on archtop.com that indicates the Slaman 1923 was going for more than $11,000. I guess that puts it out of reach for your budget...

**stevus** · 12-25-2019, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by tfling

I recently picked up another Loar Lh-700, and while it sounds pretty good - it needs a fair amount of work in terms of setup, re-gluing frets etc. it was not shipped properly and I believe this had a negative effect on the guitar

I am looking for alternatives before dumping money into getting the LH-700 sorted out. I want that classic acoustic L5-ish bark. 16” body, parallel braced, all solid.
I have looked at the DuPont Lloyd but have not found any reviews.

are there other builders out there that make an L5 inspired guitar for ~ or under $5000

I would be selling and downsizing a fair bit of gear to fund the purchase and I want something high quality.

Thanks in advance

A great alternative to the suggestions made would be a Japanese archtop built by Shiro Tsuji. In Tokyo I have tried his Gem-B model, similar to the one in the first video below. It is a fabulous guitar. On Reverb there is one for sale within your budget. Actually all Tsuji archtops are great instruments, fully handmade. See the videos below.

**Stringswinger** · 12-25-2019, 03:41 PM

A 16 inch L-7 is the closest you will come to a 16 inch L-5. If that Eddie Lang sound is what you are after, IMO, only a 16 inch L-5 or L-7 will nail it.

Buying a Loar is like buying an Eastman archtop or an Altamira Gypsy guitar. At some point you will want to trade up. Get the right vintage Gibson and you will be set for life (not that has ever stopped many of us from wanting/buying more guitars).

**jads57** · 12-25-2019, 03:48 PM

The good news is there a lot of good choices for $5 k and under.
Mark Campellone is a great choice in the used dept.
Eastman 810CE is a hit and miss venture. The newer usually the better,but they tend to have thin tops and backs.

Franz Elferink makes great Archtops in the old world traditional way. Thicker carved plates which produce more minds. Occasionally a used Elferink is for sale as,well.

**wintermoon** · 12-25-2019, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

A 16 inch L-7 is the closest you will come to a 16 inch L-5. If that Eddie Lang sound is what you are after, IMO, only a 16 inch L-5 or L-7 will nail it.

Buying a Loar is like buying an Eastman archtop or an Altamira Gypsy guitar. At some point you will want to trade up. Get the right vintage Gibson and you will be set for life (not that has ever stopped many of us from wanting/buying more guitars).

Correct, and make sure you pick near the bridge

**BigMikeinNJ** · 12-25-2019, 05:17 PM

Definitely Campellone
heres brother Joe DeNisco absolutely killing it on a Standard I lent him for a while

joe rules !!!

https://youtu.be/

**Max405** · 12-25-2019, 10:12 PM

Thank you Mikey.
Yes my vote would be a brandy new Campy for $4995.
Also, worth a look is the Matt Cushman masterpiece, with a sound hole in the upper bout, bass side.
FOR-SALE
$3500..
Beauty.
Joe D

PS, Mikey the sound hole on this would make this guitar a VERY welcome addition to the Hale collection, fro sho..

**Dennis D** · 12-26-2019, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

A 16 inch L-7 is the closest you will come to a 16 inch L-5. If that Eddie Lang sound is what you are after, IMO, only a 16 inch L-5 or L-7 will nail it.

.........Were 16 in. L-7 necks susceptible to being ' baseball bats' ? My 36 L-7 -- 17 in. is fine, but I never could find a 16 in. L-7 to try. I played all the period 16 in. models I could, and found an L-4, and also a vintage Nick Lucas, and both had basically unplayable necks, for me anyway. If they'd have had the same neck as my 30's L-7 they'd have been fine.
And what always scared me about 16 in.. L-7's was that they used the Lucas inlays which reminded me a lot of those others I'd tried and just couldn't ever use.
I even settled in on a 16 in. L-12, but those were even harder to locate.

Good luck again to the op.

.

**Longways to Go** · 12-26-2019, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Dennis D

.........Were 16 in. L-7 necks susceptible to being ' baseball bats' ? My 36 L-7 -- 17 in. is fine, but I never could find a 16 in. L-7 to try. I played all the period 16 in. models I could, and found an L-4, and also a vintage Nick Lucas, and both had basically unplayable necks, for me anyway. If they'd have had the same neck as my 30's L-7 they'd have been fine.
And what always scared me about 16 in.. L-7's was that they used the Lucas inlays which reminded me a lot of those others I'd tried and just couldn't ever use.
I even settled in on a 16 in. L-12, but those were even harder to locate.

Good luck again to the op.

.

My 34' Nick Lucas L-7 has a wonderful neck. Soft V and thick, but so easy to play.
And for reference, I hate the Loar V neck.

**Dennis D** · 12-26-2019, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

My 34' Nick Lucas L-7 has a wonderful neck. Soft V and thick, but so easy to play.
And for reference, I hate the Loar V neck.

Well I'll be......Makes me wonder even more now what I'd have gotten on an L-12 if I'd ever found one....

**BigMikeinNJ** · 12-26-2019, 09:53 PM

I did locate and study that Cushman build thread. I’m still thinking about the red Campy 18 incher at Music Zoo and spoke with Mark today about it.

every year around New Years I help some poor creature find a furever home. Today it was helping my ex acquire this gorgeous 8 week old chihuahua.

guitars aren’t everything

Big

A better (acoustic) L5 clone than Loar for under 5k?-a3a54bab-0bbb-430a-a62a-fa9d2e188215-jpg

A better (acoustic) L5 clone than Loar for under 5k?-a3a54bab-0bbb-430a-a62a-fa9d2e188215-jpg

**Woody Sound** · 12-27-2019, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Doug B

Eastman Guitars???

Pretty sure Eastmans are x-braced. Different sound. Not better, worse, just different.

**plinko** · 12-27-2019, 10:54 AM

There's this on reverb. At 18" it's way too big a guitar for me, but I own 2 Molls and can't say enough good things about his guitars. It was selling at bernunzio's a bunch of years back and they made a youtube video of it playing both acoustic and plugged in:

Bill Moll 18 Inch Classic Archtop Non-Cutaway 2004 Natural | Reverb