Archtops with higher fret access

[pingu]

looking at maybe getting one
(so i can play blues in F up at the 13th fret
etc etc)
and its got to be a full depth archtop

i only can think of an Ibanez Pm100
I want something a bit/lot more affordable
pm120 too thin for me
330 too thin also

not keen on the Hofner sound
no offence they’re beautiful
but not my taste

24.75” scale maximum

is is there anything else out there ?
(Apart from Howard Roberts 150 !)

should I just save up for a pm100 ?

[Cunamara]

Look for a used Paul Reed Smith Archtop or Hollowbody 1? My old guitar teacher had one of those and it had very good upper front access and an excellent neck. His other guitar was a Gibson Johnny Smith, which I preferred tonally but as I recall the PRS was pretty good. It wasn't thunky, though.

probably should put this in the gear forum, though, for a chance at more responses.

[mr. beaumont]

The Barney Kessel model definitely comes to mind...a Gibson might be out of your range, but a "lawsuit" era Japanese guitar might.

These were made with different types of neck heels though, so watch out. One design allows for much freer up neck access.

[John A.]

looking at maybe getting one
(so i can play blues in F up at the 13th fret
etc etc)
and its got to be a full depth archtop

i only can think of an Ibanez Pm100
I want something a bit/lot more affordable
pm120 too thin for me
330 too thin also

not keen on the Hofner sound
no offence they’re beautiful
but not my taste

24.75” scale maximum

is is there anything else out there ?
(Apart from Howard Roberts 150 !)

should I just save up for a pm100 ?

The Godin 5th Ave series guitars have very easy access to the upper frets because of the way they mount the neck. The fingerboard extension sits higher above the body than, say a 175, which makes the upper frets easier to get to, even on the non-cutaway version. Other than that, maybe a Gibson ES150DC -- these have the same body shape as a 335, but are full-depth. At a quick glance, prices seem to be similar to a PM100.

[deacon Mark]

My 2005 Frans Elferink Excalibur has the body joining the neck at the 15th fret. Most archtops this happens on the 14th fret and for that reason this guitar makes going up to the end of the fingerboard a piece of cake. I can work with in either case the 14th or 15th but this does sit nicely. Here is a photo. I might add that it is for sale I just have no posted it anymore at various places. But if you need access this does it.

[chasranney]

The Loar LH-350

The Loar LH-350-VS Archtop Guitar – The Loar Store

[pingu]

thanks all

of all the suggestions an
es150dc


would work great
but too much money for me

its where the heel starts to swell
is what’s important for me

godin and loar look like conventional
14th fret constructions

[pingu]

1147823[/URL]]My 2005 Frans Elferink Excalibur has the body joining the neck at the 15th fret. Most archtops this happens on the 14th fret and for that reason this guitar makes going up to the end of the fingerboard a piece of cake. I can work with in either case the 14th or 15th but this does sit nicely. Here is a photo. I might add that it is for sale I just have no posted it anymore at various places. But if you need access this does it.

beautiful guitar
but not in my price range

[pingu]

tel:1147807[/URL]"]1147807[/URL]]The Barney Kessel model definitely comes to mind...a Gibson might be out of your range, but a "lawsuit" era Japanese guitar might.

These were made with different types of neck heels though, so watch out. One design allows for much freer up neck access.

i see what you’re saying about the heels
some of them would work
(i do find them ugly though)

thanks for all the suggestions tho folks
i remember when those es150dc could
be had for a song
now everything old and gibson is crazy money

I’ll probably have to save up for a
beat up pm100

[pingu]

1147803[/URL]]Look for a used Paul Reed Smith Archtop or Hollowbody 1? My old guitar teacher had one of those and it had very good upper front access and an excellent neck. His other guitar was a Gibson Johnny Smith, which I preferred tonally but as I recall the PRS was pretty good. It wasn't thunky, though.

probably should put this in the gear forum, though, for a chance at more responses.

prs certainly has the upper fret access
i need but too expensive again

[John A.]

thanks all

of all the suggestions an
es150dc


would work great
but too much money for me

its where the heel starts to swell
is what’s important for me

godin and loar look like conventional
14th fret constructions

The Godins have the fingerboard elevated more than other guitars. It's kind of hard to explain, but the effect of it is that there's appreciably easier access to the upper frets than on a typical single cutaway guitar. I had the non-cut version, and didn't really miss having a cutaway because of this. Anyway, not trying to sell you on it, but if you have a chance to try one, you'll see what I mean.

[wzpgsr]

not keen on the Hofner sound
no offence they’re beautiful
but not my taste

There’s definitely a Jazzica sound, which is characterized by an upper-midrange plinkiness, but the Chancellor doesn’t really sound anything like it—aside from having the same pickup—and neither does the Verythin JS. I have no idea which models you’ve played, and I respect your opinion, but it may be worth sampling various non-Jazzica models if you haven’t already and can find local examples. The upper fret access is really great.

[Hammertone]

...not keen on the Hofner sound
no offence they’re beautiful
but not my taste

24.75” scale maximum

Later New Presidents have a 22 fret neck as opposed to a 24 fret neck as found on the Jazzica and the older New Presidents. That changes the sound a bit. 17" fully carved Chancellors also have 22 frets and sound different from their smaller siblings. I was going to suggest you try any of those, or consider a Hofner with a different pickup or pickups - I've installed floating pickups from Benedetto, Buscarino, Dearmond and Shadow on Hofner archtops. However, all of these Hofner archtops have a 25 1/4" scale, so ... nevermind ...

Yeah, the 16th fret neck/body joint is really quite brilliant.

In the world of deep-bodied, hollow archtops, I've also seen various Victor Baker archtops with the 16th fret neck/body joint. Here's a small carved one for sale with a 25" scale:
Victor Baker Jazz guitar model 14, 2016 | Boneworks Guitars | Reverb

Steve Holst will build you one, or you can buy one used - he's also worked with extended access neck joints. Here's one for sale right now, but with a long scale:
Stephen Holst 15" Asymmetric Archtop | Rocca Guitars, LLC | Reverb

Fibertone is making some interesting archtops with carbon fiber. Here's one that might fit the bill:
Fibertone SC 15 2020 Unidirectional carbon fiber | Rok 's | Reverb

Plenty more out there, I'm sure, including some with 15th fret neck joints.

[Woody Sound]

beautiful guitar
but not in my price range

The Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno model also has a 15 fret neck, very easy to play in F, especially with the smaller body. You might be able to snatch one for around $3k if you're patient and negotiate a bargain.

Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno - Google Search

[dconeill]

... but not in my price range

So what is your price range?

It would have helped, perhaps, with suggestions if you'd actually said what your range is, rather than making vague allusions about it.

[Woody Sound]

So what is your price range?

It would have helped, perhaps, with suggestions if you'd actually said what your range is, rather than making vague allusions about it.

Kudos to you for using that right word.

[pingu]

up to about £500

[Cunamara]

Maybe a used Chinese-made GB10? My MIJ GB10 has good upper fret access. In that price range I know of no 3" depth archtops with what you're looking for.

[marcwhy]

So what is your price range?

It would have helped, perhaps, with suggestions if you'd actually said what your range is, rather than making vague allusions about it.

Right!

[dconeill]

up to about £500

Sorry to say so, but I think £500 isn't nearly enough for what you seem to have in mind.

Maybe for £1500 or £2500 there'd be something that would suit you.

The closest guitars I can think of that are even remotely what you're looking for, and close to your price range, would be the Ibanez AG95 (£474 by conversion from Sweetwater price, without a case) or GB10EM (£510 by conversion). If you could accept a thinner body maybe the Ibanez AS or AGS lines or the AMH90 (US$700) would serve.

[pingu]

1148024[/URL]]Sorry to say so, but I think £500 isn't nearly enough for what you seem to have in mind.

Maybe for £1500 or £2500 there'd be something that would suit you.

The closest guitars I can think of that are even remotely what you're looking for, and close to your price range, would be the Ibanez AG95 (£474 by conversion from Sweetwater price, without a case) or GB10EM (£510 by conversion). If you could accept a thinner body maybe the Ibanez AS or AGS lines or the AMH90 (US$700) would serve.

sadly
I think you’re right
one of these would be ok
if it was hollow body
17th fret body join would give me the room
up there i want tho
AGS73FM | AGS | HOLLOW BODIES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

i might try one out anyway and see if it’s got
enough hollow body resonance going on
but I kinda doubt it ....

[pingu]

Thanks everyone for the roundup
of all the options

[dconeill]

... if it was hollow body
17th fret body join would give me the room up there i want tho ...

The Ibanez AMH90 might suit you at US$700 without case. It's not semi-hollow like a Gibson ES-335; it doesn't have a full-length centerblock. Instead, it has two small soundposts to support the bridge mounting (studs through top) but is otherwise hollow. I don't own one, but I've played one at a store; it has a nice open sound, somewhat similar in character to an ES-330 with humbuckers. It would be on my shortlist if I needed another guitar.

[pingu]

1148169[/URL]]The Ibanez AMH90 might suit you at US$700 without case. It's not semi-hollow like a Gibson ES-335; it doesn't have a full-length centerblock. Instead, it has two small soundposts to support the bridge mounting (studs through top) but is otherwise hollow. I don't own one, but I've played one at a store; it has a nice open sound, somewhat similar in character to an ES-330 with humbuckers. It would be on my shortlist if I needed another guitar.

that might just do it .....
thanks so much Dc !

was it loud enough acoustically to
practice without an amp late at night ?

[Joeontheguitar]

The PM2 also has pretty good upper fret access. Used you could find one around 700 euro I think.
You won't find a PM100 under 1400 I'm afraid. On average they go for 1800-2200