Gagnon Archtops

**sbeishline** · 07-13-2022, 10:19 AM

Just curious if anyone owns any Gagnon archtops? I don't recall seeing his name mentioned much in the discussions about boutique guitars on here.

GnJ had one in stock at the time I went for my visit, and recall it being one of the better playing instruments of all the guitars I picked up.

**Woody Sound** · 07-13-2022, 10:29 AM

Never played one, but they're supposed to be fantastic.

**sgosnell** · 07-13-2022, 01:16 PM

I guess I need to get out more. Never heard of them.

**2bornot2bop** · 07-13-2022, 01:56 PM

Bill Gagnon was a great luthier. I ordered several African Ebony bridges from him while he was in business. I would think there are several owners here, however this place has thinned out with past members no longer here.

**Jabberwocky** · 07-14-2022, 12:10 PM

Archtop Guitar

Take a gander.

**Telerious** · 07-15-2022, 02:35 AM

A friend here on the forum saw this thread and having heard me wax-on about my '04 Gagnon Devant, sent me a link. I am delighted to share pics and my experience both ordering and taking delivery of my Devant Custom. I had played one other of Bill's Devant guitars at a shop north of Seattle probably in about '02. I stumbled on that guitar, really enjoyed playing it but held off. It was BTW a rosy honey red as I recall, and quite compelling to hold and look at. It had a KA floating pickup, and I knew that if I got a carved top, I would order one with sunken pickup. I wanted a big L5 style instrument that could be played hard, feel lively and respond well to fingerstyle. I am a classical player and love to engage any guitar I play as an acoustic instrument.

Coincidentally, bassist Chuck Israels who was my colleague and friend had just about that time placed an order with Bill for this instrument. He was visiting my studio and picking up my 63 175 and realized that a 16" body might be a better fit for him. So with these beautiful woods already chosen for Chuck, I took his order over, letting Bill know that I wanted to spec parallel bracing, a beefy neck, and beautiful warm "golden honey" finish. My instrument has a decent acoustic voice but really shines plugged in and played at low or higher volume. The KA 12 pole is just so responsive!

Bill was very attentive to my wishes during the planning and building phase. He was particularly eager to get the finish as I wanted it. I remember him phoning to let me know how excited he was at what he'd achieved. I was too when the guitar showed up at my door. I later went to visit his shop and found Bill to be very welcoming, and quite humble, describing himself as a perennial student of building. His considerable talent and skill as a builder is evident in his work. My guitar has remained very stable for 18 years through regular playing, gigging and periods where it sits in the case. I wish he'd stayed at this longer, but feel very fortunate to have my Devant Custom. It's nice to read the favorable comments here above!

**sbeishline** · 07-15-2022, 12:48 PM

Thanks for posting- great to hear your story. Did he fully retire from building?

**Telerious** · 07-15-2022, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by sbeishline

Thanks for posting- great to hear your story. Did he fully retire from building?

My pleasure. I lost touch years back sadly, and when I went to see what he was up to, realized he'd closed shop. Shop was located outside Portland in Beaverton, Oregon.

**2bornot2bop** · 07-15-2022, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Telerious

My pleasure. I lost touch years back sadly, and when I went to see what he was up to, realized he'd closed shop. Shop was located outside Portland in Beaverton, Oregon.

A real bummer that he had to close. The last bridge that I ordered from him was back in 2014.

**Joe Carlson** · 07-16-2022, 04:37 PM

Here's the ad from when I bought mine a few years ago.

2002 William Gagnon DeVant E Slimline Prototype Archtop | Reverb

There isn't a ton of info out there on Gagnon guitars that I could find.

**sbeishline** · 07-16-2022, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Carlson

Here's the ad from when I bought mine a few years ago.

2002 William Gagnon DeVant E Slimline Prototype Archtop | Reverb

There isn't a ton of info out there on Gagnon guitars that I could find.

Wow! Thanks for sharing, Joe. Beautiful machine. That abalone inlay work is remarkable. How does it play and sound?

**Joe Carlson** · 07-18-2022, 01:10 PM

The guitar plays great, really easy to play. The craftsmanship is impeccable, really a beautiful instrument. It could probably use a setup and a little fret dressing, but I haven't found a local luthier I trust just yet.

More most gigs I play it is actually too nice, I bring a cheap D'Angelico or my old Joe Pass Epiphone unless I know there will be sufficient stage room to store the guitar in a case on the breaks.

The sound here is not great, but this is a covid era livestream we did shortly after I got the guitar:

**sbeishline** · 07-18-2022, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Carlson

The guitar plays great, really easy to play. The craftsmanship is impeccable, really a beautiful instrument. It could probably use a setup and a little fret dressing, but I haven't found a local luthier I trust just yet.

More most gigs I play it is actually too nice, I bring a cheap D'Angelico or my old Joe Pass Epiphone unless I know there will be sufficient stage room to store the guitar in a case on the breaks.

The sound here is not great, but this is a covid era livestream we did shortly after I got the guitar:

Fantastic. Great sound and playing!