No more Sadowsky LS-17?

**Woody Sound** · 12-13-2021, 12:57 PM

It looks like they killed the LS-17, I wonder why? That leaves just the Jim Hall and SS-15 (and the semi) for archtops.

Archtops - Sadowsky Guitars

**Jim Soloway** · 12-13-2021, 01:54 PM

My guess is that they just can't get supply.

**Greentone** · 12-13-2021, 07:26 PM

Jim's probably correct. However, it's getting tougher by the day to sell archtops generally and larger archtops specifically as the jazz guitarists who popularized them pass away.

**sgosnell** · 12-13-2021, 09:10 PM

Sadowsky just gave both Frank Vignola and Jimmy Bruno their own personal models. They've been using them on Frank Vignola's Guitar Night at Birdland for the past month or so. It really changed Frank's sound. He's always had a trably, stringy sound, and with the Sadowsky he sounds much fatter and darker. Jimmy, OTOH, sounds more like Frank used to. Perhaps new models are coming from Sadowsky. The Vignola model really sounds good, at least in Frank's hands. Ken Smith also plays there regularly, and also plays a Sadowsky. Roger has been in attendance every week.

**Fusionshred** · 12-13-2021, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Sadowsky just gave both Frank Vignola and Jimmy Bruno their own personal models. They've been using them on Frank Vignola's Guitar Night at Birdland for the past month or so. It really changed Frank's sound. He's always had a trably, stringy sound, and with the Sadowsky he sounds much fatter and darker. Jimmy, OTOH, sounds more like Frank used to. Perhaps new models are coming from Sadowsky. The Vignola model really sounds good, at least in Frank's hands. Ken Smith also plays there regularly, and also plays a Sadowsky. Roger has been in attendance every week.

Wouldn’t Jimmy be using one of his (now discontinued) Jimmy Bruno Models?

**sgosnell** · 12-13-2021, 09:36 PM

Dunno. I haven't seen him play that guitar before. Several artists went through a Sadowsky phase, including Jimmy and Howard Alden, and Bucky Pizzarelli very briefly. Howard went back to Benedetto after playing the Sadowsky for awhile with the headstock logo covered in tape. Jimmy want back to Benedetto and then Comins, which he has been playing for awhile. But suddenly he has a new Sadowsky (maybe an old one, I don't know) and is raving about it, as does Vignola. That's all I know.

**Fusionshred** · 12-13-2021, 10:06 PM

I had one if the first Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno models when they came out. Then I had the opportunity to buy a prototype that Jimmy had and gave to Rich Raezer with two pickups. After Rich passed, I bought the guitar and some proceeds went to his family.

they were both phenomenal instruments.

I’ve also had the SS-15 and semi hollow. All top notch.

I invested a lot in Roger’s guitars. Being relatively close to the shop made a day off very expensive! I was supposed to get the semi hollow prototype but some guy named John Abercrombie snatched it!

**kevmoga** · 12-14-2021, 09:58 AM

Pics can be found here:

Peter Bernstein Sits-In with Frank And Jimmy at Birdland - Jazz Guitar Today

New Photos from Guitar Night at Birdland! - Jazz Guitar Today

**Woody Sound** · 12-14-2021, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Jim's probably correct. However, it's getting tougher by the day to sell archtops generally and larger archtops specifically as the jazz guitarists who popularized them pass away.

I have been using 15-inchers for several years now. Even gave up on 16 inchers for my right shoulder.

**sgosnell** · 12-14-2021, 11:21 AM

Smaller guitars cause me to hunch over too much. Deep guitars are uncomfortable to play. My personal preference is for 16-17" thin guitars, no more than 2.75" in depth. That's my compromise, but others certainly compromise in other details. Plenty of choices available.

**Woody Sound** · 12-14-2021, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

My guess is that they just can't get supply.

But no supply issues for the other 3 models?

**Sam Sherry** · 12-14-2021, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Smaller guitars cause me to hunch over too much.

You're many times more guitarist than I, but I use a strap whenever I play FWIW.

"No hunching!"

**Greentone** · 12-14-2021, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Smaller guitars cause me to hunch over too much. Deep guitars are uncomfortable to play. My personal preference is for 16-17" thin guitars, no more than 2.75" in depth. That's my compromise, but others certainly compromise in other details. Plenty of choices available.

For just these reasons I find my Heritage Super Eagle most comfortable.

**entresz** · 12-14-2021, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Smaller guitars cause me to hunch over too much. Deep guitars are uncomfortable to play. My personal preference is for 16-17" thin guitars, no more than 2.75" in depth. That's my compromise, but others certainly compromise in other details. Plenty of choices available.

I agree. I find a 16/17'' guitar to be pretty much the perfect size. Anything less isn't comfortable when I sit to play.
I have an old Levin archtop that's 16 1/2'' wide about 2.5'' deep, it's one of the most comfortable archtops I've used.

**sgosnell** · 12-14-2021, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

You're many times more guitarist than I, but I use a strap whenever I play FWIW.

"No hunching!"

The first part is untrue. I have a strap on many of my guitars, but I'm basically lazy, and either don't bother with the strap if there is one, and certainly I rarely bother to move a strap from one guitar to another which has none. I do have a MUNDO GUITAR SUPPORT – Mundo Music Gear, and it does work well, but again, I'm lazy and seldom bother to use it, unless I'm going to be playing that guitar for an extended period. The easiest solution for me (not the cheapest, obviously) is to use a guitar of the proper size for me. And for me, that's a 17" relatively thin archtop. Mine is 2.75", and that's about the maximum thickness I want to play. YMMV.