Archtops with floating pickup

[Hanske]

Hello gents,

I humbly seek Your advice on a matter I'm currently trying to decide. I'd like to purchase a full solid 17' archtop with a floating pickup, so Gibson Johnny Smith would seem a logical choice. However I'd love to get a natural finish guitar (my 69' L5 CES is sunburst) and custom build guitars (particularly Hopkins guitars) have much nicer wood. Do you have any experience sound and playability wise and which option would you prefer and why? I.e. wait for a natural Gibson Johnny Smith or get a custom built natural archtop?

I'll be grateful for any advice and insight re this difficult choice.

Cheers

Jan

[Easy2grasp]

If you can find a D'Angelico NYL-2 from the late '90's or early 2000's I think you will be very happy. My 1999 NYL-2 is the Custom model that has a carved top (CNC probably) as opposed to the pressed top on the regular model. Both would be great builds from that era of Vestax Terada.

[Gitterbug]

If you have the money to spend, by all means. However, a Korean Emperor Regent from the 1990s is up to a Vestax D'A NYL-2 for all practical purposes, except the looks. With upgraded PU (I haven't found it yet) and perhaps the rest of electronics, you'll have an optimum solution for acoustic/electric jazz sound and feedback resistance. Just an opinion.

[Sam Sherry]

Hello gents

Hello Jan!

I humbly seek Your advice on a matter I'm currently trying to decide. I'd like to purchase a full solid 17' archtop with a floating pickup, so Gibson Johnny Smith would seem a logical choice. However I'd love to get a natural finish guitar (my 69' L5 CES is sunburst) and custom build guitars (particularly Hopkins guitars) have much nicer wood. Do you have any experience sound and playability wise and which option would you prefer and why? I.e. wait for a natural Gibson Johnny Smith or get a custom built natural archtop?

It's not about logic.
It's not about what anybody but you wants, and it can be entirely subjective.
Folks' experience here is helpful and we love to talk about archtops . . . but nobody here knows what you like or how much what you like matters to you.

Do you like skinny necks with a long scale? Do you like full-depth bodies? Guild Artist Award comes to mind.
Do you like wider necks with a medium scale and medium-depth body? Gibson Johnny Smith or Bendetto are pretty sweet.
Do you like medium neck, full-depth laminated body, short scale? Find a Gibson ES-165 with a floater.

Do you want to spend $750? Scout a used Epiphone Emperor.
Do you want to spend $7500? So many choices, so little time.
Do you want to spend $75,000? You can score an original John D'Angelico and a Ken Parker to keep it company.

Don't know what you want? Play a bunch.

And again, welcome here!

[Hanske]

Hi everybody, thanks for your time and advice.

I am fully aware that every guitar has its own mojo and everyone has a different taste. I don't expect anybody to provide me a totally objective and accurate answer as to what is the best guitar in the world. That's why I asked for your experience and impressions of (presumably) many guitars, that people around here own and play.

Re the size and budget: I like the body size and neck of my L5, which is the (usually) hated slim 1969 type, I believe its 1 9/16 or 1 10/16 nut width (a bit wider would be probably nice, but not with a "chunkier" neck profile). I don't want a laminated guitar, its just my personal taste, my father has 175 in his collection, fine guitar, but I want a carved top and back.

Basically GJS is what I seek, however given how very few are available in natural finish, I started to wonder, whether some customs (like the Hopkins, or some of your suggestions), which are similar in size and setup (x bracing, floating pickup, etc.) would not work as well, albeit with aesthetically nicer wood. That was the core of my original question. Also there are very few vintage GJS in Europe, so I can't rly try every guitar I'd potentially like, since the seller is often located in the USA.

I know the prices of GJS and am aware that custom guitars will cost some serious money as well, however I don't want to spend more than 10k USD, unless the guitar is a total no-brainer or a miracle instrument.

Jan

[sgosnell]

Look around for a used Campellone. It may be exactly what you want. Or Mark can build one to your preferences, if you have a couple of years to wait. I have no opinion on a Hopkins, because I've never seen or heard one, AFAIK.

[medblues]

Oskar Graf Archtop 2006 | The Fellowship of Acoustics | Reverb

Elferink Moderne 18” 2018 Natural archtop | Larry's | Reverb

Benedetto Manhattan from 2000 in natural finish with case. | Reverb

[Hammertone]

Oskar is guitar royalty. I recommend taking a trip to visit that guitar.

[ccroft]

This ain't too shabby either.

[John A.]

Not a prestige, collectible, or custom option, but Eastman makes a 17" x-braced carved top with a floater in natural finish (ar910ce) or with a dark finish (ar810ce). They're pretty easy to find in Europe (easier than a Johnny Smith, anyway), and a lot cheaper. If nothing else, it's worth checking out for the sake of comparison. A guy I play with regularly has a 910, and i think it sounds really nice (though a brighter, more acoustic sound than a GJS).

[skiboyny]

I have no knowledge of Hopkins guitar but no help there. If you love the Gibson sound stick with Gibson. You might keep your eye open for a L-5 Premiere. The only word of caution about the Johnny Smith is the neck is a 1 3/4 and while they can be on the slim side, that's still a lot of real estate as compared to your current guitar. Neck feel can be an important consideration.

[QAman]

Hi everybody, thanks for your time and advice.

I am fully aware that every guitar has its own mojo and everyone has a different taste. I don't expect anybody to provide me a totally objective and accurate answer as to what is the best guitar in the world. That's why I asked for your experience and impressions of (presumably) many guitars, that people around here own and play.

Re the size and budget: I like the body size and neck of my L5, which is the (usually) hated slim 1969 type, I believe its 1 9/16 or 1 10/16 nut width (a bit wider would be probably nice, but not with a "chunkier" neck profile). I don't want a laminated guitar, its just my personal taste, my father has 175 in his collection, fine guitar, but I want a carved top and back.

Basically GJS is what I seek, however given how very few are available in natural finish, I started to wonder, whether some customs (like the Hopkins, or some of your suggestions), which are similar in size and setup (x bracing, floating pickup, etc.) would not work as well, albeit with aesthetically nicer wood. That was the core of my original question. Also there are very few vintage GJS in Europe, so I can't rly try every guitar I'd potentially like, since the seller is often located in the USA.

I know the prices of GJS and am aware that custom guitars will cost some serious money as well, however I don't want to spend more than 10k USD, unless the guitar is a total no-brainer or a miracle instrument.

Jan

Hanske- you might want to contact Bryant Trenier in Uzes France. He will build you a gorgeous blonde version of a Gibson Johnny Smith , and likely within your price target. He made one a few years ago for another forum member, and he loved it.

Tell him I sent you his way .....he's a good friend.



Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk