Marchione Guitars

[marcwhy]

Yeah, very nice, @CharlesC!

[stevus]

Here is a quick clip of my 15" recorded on my phone. I am plugged into a Henriksen with just a little volume on it. It's a pretty incredible sound for a 15" archtop IMO.

Congratulations, you must be very happy with that guitar, small, lightweight, great sound and playability.

[Woody Sound]

Mark Whitfield used one (a red one) back in the late 90's/early 2000's. It certainly looked and sounded beautiful.
I had no idea they were that expensive, though (probabily not back in those days?), obviously not for everyone's pockets!
As a musician, I would not spend more than 3000 (dollars or euros) for a guitar. Endorsers and famous, accomplished guitarists can have them for little money. The only ones who are ok with spending tens of thousands are collectors, I guess...

[jorgemg1984]

Here is a quick clip of my 15" recorded on my phone. I am plugged into a Henriksen with just a little volume on it. It's a pretty incredible sound for a 15" archtop IMO.

It sounds great, congrats. BTW, which Henriksen model? Thanks!

[CharlesC]

It sounds great, congrats. BTW, which Henriksen model? Thanks!

Thanks! It's a Henriksen Blu 10, great amp. I have a good video of me playing this guitar on a trio gig through a mic'd deluxe reverb. I'll post a clip once I get it split up by the tune we are playing. I have to say, I have owned several nice archtops over the years. (all 17") While they were all nice, this one is probably the most balanced across all registers. There isn't a compromised note on the fretboard. I am also not at the mercy of the room to EQ. I felt like sometimes I would sacrifice the tone I wanted with the EQ to get feedback under control. That's not the case with this guitar. Thanks again!

[D'Aquisto Fan]

Here is a quick clip of my 15" recorded on my phone. I am plugged into a Henriksen with just a little volume on it. It's a pretty incredible sound for a 15" archtop IMO.

Fabulous tone and wonderful playing, Charles! I've had my hands on that guitar. It is indeed excellent!

[CharlesC]

Fabulous tone and wonderful playing, Charles! I've had my hands on that guitar. It is indeed excellent!

Thanks Michael!

[jads57]

So to my ears the smaller 15” Marchione sounds excellent,but definitely has a Brighter Modern Tone than say the Gibson voiced instruments we all grew up with. Not a bad thing just a different voicing.
Would love to hear it compared both acoustic and electric to say the Lee Ritenour L-5C 15” Gibson or other well know luthiers similar size builds.

[CharlesC]

Can't stop listening to the Complete Full House Recordings. I played through this one with my cup of coffee this morning. Here is I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face on the Marchione. Tried it with my thumb, better grab the pick next time lol.

[CharlesC]

Okay, now with a pick.

[D'Aquisto Fan]

Okay, now with a pick.

Both renditions sound great, Charles! As does the Marchione!

[wintermoon]

sounds great and nice playing, thanks for not rushing the tempo....

[CharlesC]

Both renditions sound great, Charles! As does the Marchione!

Thanks Michael!

[CharlesC]

sounds great and nice playing, thanks for not rushing the tempo....

Thank you!

[CharlesC]

Had someone ask if I could record it unplugged (acoustic)...here you go. I cut out a section, didn't want to put everyone through listening to the entire piece again. LOL. I play plugged in 95% of the time. The first two were through a Henriksen Blu 10. Btw, that's Billie wondering around behind me.

[D'Aquisto Fan]

Had someone ask if I could record it unplugged (acoustic)...here you go. I cut out a section, didn't want to put everyone through listening to the entire piece again. LOL. I play plugged in 95% of the time. The first two were through a Henriksen Blu 10. Btw, that's Billie wondering around behind me.

The acoustic sound is very good, Charles! Thanks for posting!

[CharlesC]

Just transcribed P.B.'s intro on My Ideal. I dig this one. I believe it's on his ES-175.

[joman50]

me three and I live in TX.

[joman50]

I think he picked that neck for a nice contrast when compared to the 5A maple back,

[joman50]

I'm going with Austin builder Ed Schaefer for a 17". He's from the Ribbeckke school of lutherie. His builds are more affordable but he's not cheap.

[jads57]

And unless you are lucky enough to have large income stream, most players will never even be able to try a Marchione.
And that seems unfortunate because they do tick the right boxes for me,even esthetically.
But to pay 3 to 5x’s the entry price of other equally talented luthiers seems like a fool’s errand.

Would be great to understand what actually justifies the asking price? And I don’t mean because he can,but in terms of work involved,actual other reasons that make sense.

[Gustavo Eiriz]

And unless you are lucky enough to have large income stream, most players will never even be able to try a Marchione.
And that seems unfortunate because they do tick the right boxes for me,even esthetically.
But to pay 3 to 5x’s the entry price of other equally talented luthiers seems like a fool’s errand.

Would be great to understand what actually justifies the asking price? And I don’t mean because he can,but in terms of work involved,actual other reasons that make sense.

I tried one of this Marchione guitars in an store in japan. It was around 25k at the time (6 years ago i think).
Didnt like it (considering the price). Acoustically was very nice, and the amplifed tone wasnt my type at all. I like L-5 Wes, and i dont move up from there, nothing beats it in amplified tone, obviously this is my taste.
Now acoustically was a very nice instrument, but so it is a good Campellone or a Citation.
I dont like it aesthetically either.

Justifying the asking price is non-sense for a non 1st necessary good (like lets say food or medicine or education). If the luthiers wants to charge that and someone is willing to pay for that is ok. Crafting an Stradivari didnt implied far more labour than a good luthiers today violin, and it cost more than 50 times more. Even musicians and listen cant pick them in a blind shootout.. So, a lot of hype is everywhere, also in guitars.

[jads57]

So was it bright sounding say like the Benedetto or even Eastman Archtop. They have thinner carved plates than say a Gibson L-5 or a Johnny Smith.

[Stringswinger]

Well if you buy a car for 40K (average price of a new car) and drive it for 10 years, you will be lucky to sell it for 10K, thereby losing 75% of it's value over 10 years. If you buy a Marchione guitar for say 30K and play it for 10 years, I bet you will not lose 75% of it's value.

[jads57]

And there’s the odd boutique builds,whether D’Aquisto,Dumble,Klon Centaur, that become incredibly collectible. And of course it’s contingent on mostly famous players.

Im just interested in trying one out to see.Ive been lucky enough to try Buscarino,Campellone,Comins,Megan’s,Benedetto, D’Aquisto,Gibson,Guild,Heritage,and so many others as well.
Ive found they fall into basically two categories as far as overall tonality. Either more pronounced mids or less mids ala flat top response. And probably due to mainly thickness of carved plates and bracing X or Parallel.
Of course,there a thousand other variations as well such as body size,depth,woods,etc!