New Gibson Archtops?

**bananafist** · 10-06-2022, 08:09 AM

I wondered if any of those 'in the know' have any info on when/if Gibson may re-start building archtops again? The last I heard was an announcement of a planned announcement due in Spring 2023.
I'd really like to get hold of an L-5 signature or Lee Ritenour L-5 Signature, but I've had more luck locating the fabled hens teeth...

**vinnyv1k** · 10-06-2022, 11:56 AM

The Music Zoo told me the same. Gibson isn’t taking any archtop orders till mid 2023

**Greywolf** · 10-06-2022, 12:03 PM

While you can't get an L-5 you can get something very similar from Heritage, the Standard Eagle , I have one of their archtops and it is exquisite.

**Bluedawg** · 10-06-2022, 12:08 PM

Things that make you go "Hmmmm."

**tbeltrans** · 10-06-2022, 12:12 PM

Though I am certainly not "in the know", my thought is why not buy used? There seems to be a healthy used market and if you have to buy online, there are reputable dealers so you don't risk some remote buying disaster. Gibson has made lots and lots of archtops over the years, and not a small number of them seem to always be in transition on the used market.

Tony

**omphalopsychos** · 10-06-2022, 01:04 PM

They still make them. There was a brand new L5 wes at Dave's just a few weeks ago. $14k. yikes!

**Bluedawg** · 10-06-2022, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Though I am certainly not "in the know", my thought is why not buy used? There seems to be a healthy used market and if you have to buy online, there are reputable dealers so you don't risk some remote buying disaster. Gibson has made lots and lots of archtops over the years, and not a small number of them seem to always be in transition on the used market.

Tony

Very true. Gibson's biggest competition has long been their used guitars.

On the other hand, the new ones are more likely to be in a store where you can get firsthand experience with them before you buy. When you find a nice one it's hard to walk away from it.

A used one is more likely to be at someone's house on the other side of the country .. or world.

Or at least that's the way it used to be.

If they stick to custom orders only most will be sold to retail customers before they leave the factory.

A few stores will order them for stock, but most stores don't want one of these hanging around for years and then have to sell it at a huge discount.

And there will always be people who want their guitars new and shiny, and they are willing to pay the extra price.

**Bluedawg** · 10-06-2022, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by omphalopsychos

They still make them. There was a brand new L5 wes at Dave's just a few weeks ago. $14k. yikes!

I suspect the new ones we are seeing were ordered a couple of years ago.

I called the Gibson Garage to enquire about ordering an archtop from them and they were only taking orders for solid bodies.

If they are not taking new orders till 2023, they probably have a list of backorders they are trying to fill before they open up for more orders.

There seem to be rumors of new models as well.

**vinnyv1k** · 10-06-2022, 01:43 PM

From what I was told the Crimson facility is no longer in operation.
They are building very few archtops in the corner of their big Nashville building. Currently the only archtop being made is the L-5.
Gibson stopped taking orders when they hit a 2 year backlog from what I have been told.
My black 2022 L-5 had a 17 month wait.
When they closed the Memphis and Crimson factories that was the death of the Gibson archtop. Time will tell but I am sick of only seeing LP’s and SG’s.

**spencer096** · 10-06-2022, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

from what i was told the crimson facility is no longer in operation.
They are building very few archtops in the corner of their big nashville building. Currently the only archtop being made is the l-5.
Gibson stopped taking orders when they hit a 2 year backlog from what i have been told.
My black 2022 l-5 had a 17 month wait.
When they closed the memphis and crimson factories that was the death of the gibson archtop. time will tell but i am sick of only seeing lp’s and sg’s.

thisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

**hotpepper01** · 10-06-2022, 02:18 PM

Earlier this year I bought a brandnew Gibsom L5CES in ebony. When it arrived it came with a nasty, nasty crack in the top, running from the neck pickup to the bridge. What a bummer. Apperantly, it was shipped with the strings all tuned up to pitch and not loosened. I know, any good archtop with a solid top should be able to take the load of shipping with strings tuned. So, I believe there was a defect in the top already prior to shipment.
I got fully refunded in the end, but the Seymour Duncan Alnico V Phat Staple PUs that I ordered just to put into that mighty ebony L5, suddenly lost their purpose. I lost big money there.
Fortunatly, I was able to buy a lovely real good blonde 1977 vintage instead. I am happy with that one.

But still feel extremly bummed by not being able to complete my intended project of having a 2022 brandnew L5CES with custom shop SD Alnico V staple PUs in.

**Gitterbug** · 10-06-2022, 02:32 PM

The point of used Gibson archtops being the enemy of new ones is valid. Any idea out there of the "free float" of 175s and L5s hitting the market sooner or later? I'm 75 so my 2014 blonde ES-175 1959 VOS and pristine 2014 Sunburst Tal will eventually need a new home. They'd better be sold by me than my unknowledgeable heirs.

**Doctor Jeff** · 10-06-2022, 03:08 PM

I posted recently that a friend of mine with a Gibson dealership was told that new Gibson archtop production was pushed out to 2023, possibly with the 175. Will have to wait and see how things transpire.

Found the prior post:

New Gibson archies?

**Arnesto** · 10-06-2022, 03:24 PM

There are only epiphones available

**Woody Sound** · 10-06-2022, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Greywolf

While you can't get an L-5 you can get something very similar from Heritage, the Standard Eagle , I have one of their archtops and it is exquisite.

Sounds like the op is looking for a smaller 15”-ish guitar.

**Hammertone** · 10-06-2022, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

....Time will tell but I am sick of only seeing LP’s and SG’s.

Gibson / Heritage / Eastman current and future strategy:

**Hammertone** · 10-07-2022, 02:00 AM

I call the photo "The Lonely Explorer."

**Jimmy blue note** · 10-07-2022, 02:42 AM

When I was a repairman at a guitar store that had a Gibson dealership a few years ago, I got to know the Gibson rep, and of course I received everything that came from them. It was enough to absolute quell any desire or fantasy about getting a new Gibson built. Archtops and flattops (originating from different facilities) had one thing in common: Beautiful design and presentation, abyssmal workmanship if you knew your craft and looked at the internal details.
One girl had ordered a custom built guitar in white. She'd waited years. I unboxed it (some of the best packaging I've seen, I'll admit) and my first impression was Uh Oh. My second was Oh No! Start with splotchy bush league colour which looked dubiously applied and was still soft enough to leave permanent scarring with ANY handling, and it went down hill from there. Sound? Let's just say I know guitars well enough to know it'd take a huge amount of thrashing for a very long time before there was any chance of the sound opening up.

Not too long later, a beautiful burst L-5 came in. Eye candy but outrageously overpriced for the overbuilding. Obviously not tap tuned. Totally bait for the display case, not even competitive among the sea of new Asian handbuilt market, small independent luthiers and easy vintage market.
One common mistake luthiers make in their 'teeth cutting' phase is overbuilding. Nobody wants to take too much wood off because you're flirting with losing all your work if you remove even the tiniest amount of wood past the critical sweet spot. So why these stupid self destructive mistakes?
After talking to the Gibson rep, seeing their work, knowing their history and knowing my lutherie, one thing I had to conclude: Nobody is watching the shop. In other words, if your master luthiers aren't building at the facility, where does that skill go? If your band is not giving you work... and it moves to a different city, say, what would you do?

Gibson. Pushing the envelope when it comes to their big question: How much will the unknowing public pay for a headstock?
Just WHO is building archtops when a guitar company decides there's no place for skilled luthiers?
I asked the Gibson rep that very question. All I got was a sad eye roll.

**Gitterbug** · 10-07-2022, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

I call the photo "The Lonely Explorer."

Aha! In the upper left corner. Where's the photo from?

**bananafist** · 10-07-2022, 05:31 AM

Gitterbug - I'm the OP, I'm 78, and don't plan to sell my guitars yet, despite arthritis trying to stop me playing. I'd still like a smaller bodied L5.

I've also been looking at AJL guitars Nuages model (15"wide) in Finland. His build quality is good and that guitar is loud acoustically and beautiful to look at. Just the lead time that makes me hesitate. Check out his website AJL-Guitars | Nuages 15"
He also builds a 17" full size L5 style.

Thanks for all the comments, observations and updates, guys.

**jads57** · 10-07-2022, 08:26 PM

With the plethora of great luthier’s nowadays, especially Mark Campellone, why worry about buying a new Gibson Archtop? I really like the last Crimson Series under the direction of Phillip Wharton especially.
But that said, Mark Campellones offerings are equally that level if not even better. And way more affordable,especially used!

**Woody Sound** · 10-07-2022, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

I call the photo "The Lonely Explorer."

Good eye Hammer. How'd it make it into slot #2?

**Jimmy blue note** · 10-07-2022, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by jads57

With the plethora of great luthier’s nowadays, especially Mark Campellone, why worry about buying a new Gibson Archtop? I really like the last Crimson Series under the direction of Phillip Wharton especially.
But that said, Mark Campellones offerings are equally that level if not even better. And way more affordable,especially used!

It was Campellone specifically that I had in mind when I said there are alternatives out there. Campellone and Guild (Westerly) shadow and at the same time outshine the Iconic Gibson in many ways.
Of course it's personal, and yup, I love vintage Gibson, but honestly, the things people loved about Gibson in their heyday, those things are alive and thriving in a shop with an active luthier at the top of his game sharpening his craft with each and every guitar. Lots of other really great guitars out there but Campy's got something. I scored a 17" and then got a 16" for the shop. I do so wish he would build a 7 string though.

**Hammertone** · 10-08-2022, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note

....Gibson...: Beautiful design and presentation, abyssmal workmanship if you knew your craft and looked at the internal details. ...

Bummer for you. I've had excellent luck with used, carved Gibson archtops. My last one was a 1995 L-5WES, a fantastic guitar. Only ever encountered one serious dud of an L-5CES, from sometime in the 1970s. I've had excellent luck as well with used Gibson Custom Shop Les Pauls as well. Something about a Bell curve, perhaps?