Eastman Ar403ce vs Ar503ce?

[Lkdog]

I know one has laminate top and the other solid carved top.
What is difference in actual tone?

Other options I am looking at are a Japanese Burny Es 175 clone locally,
and a modded Korean Epiphone Broadway.
All of these are in the $800-1000 range.

I want warm woody 60's soul jazz tone with some slight hair like early Burrell and Wes.
Not a heavily rolled off tone.

[339 in june]

I have a 503, and I love it
But I wouldn't call its sound "warm woody"; It's more on the bright side. I mainly use it unplugged for practicing, and strunged with Phosphore Bronze, it barks !
Never played a 403, so can't compare.

I have an Epi Broadway too, Unsung (Korea) made
I had to put some 14's strings on it to make it sound "good", and it is now closer to what I'd call a warm woody sound. Plugged in, that is, because acoustic sound is very poor.

Very different guitars
Do you know what kind of mods were made to the Broadway ?

[Jimmy blue note]

I think you should go the laminate built in pickup route and find the actual pickup that has the sound you need. Don't discount feel, and try what you can, return it if necessary. You want something that will inspire you and we can only get you in the vast general ballpark. Nothing anyone here can advise you on can show you what you will fall in love with through your own playing.
Early Kenny and Wes sound is a delicate combination of guitars, pickups, amps and recording technology that inspired them to play in a way, with a touch you won't have.
Find a great feel, make the adjustments and mods you need to in order to please your ear and practice until you can play content convincingly. The guitar will be a part of that. You're buying inspiration, not an ideal of somebody else's sound. Just ask how many members here have the exact equipment their idols have and still can't be satisfied.

I recommended the laminate because it seems to me to be the option of greatest possibilities. That's just my opinion though.

[StefanoGhirardo]

I have a 503.
It's bright and with a fairly powerful acoustic sound, a little nasal and ringing, it has a very analytical sound, in which the individual notes of a chord each stand out individually. These characteristics are faithfully rendered by the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup.
I also wouldn't say it lends itself to a warm woody 60's soul jazz tone.

[Lkdog]

I have a 503, and I love it
But I wouldn't call its sound "warm woody"; It's more on the bright side. I mainly use it unplugged for practicing, and strunged with Phosphore Bronze, it barks !
Never played a 403, so can't compare.

I have an Epi Broadway too, Unsung (Korea) made
I had to put some 14's strings on it to make it sound "good", and it is now closer to what I'd call a warm woody sound. Plugged in, that is, because acoustic sound is very poor.

Very different guitars
Do you know what kind of mods were made to the Broadway ?

Thx.
The Broadway has Seth Lovers in it.

[Lkdog]

I think you should go the laminate built in pickup route and find the actual pickup that has the sound you need. Don't discount feel, and try what you can, return it if necessary. You want something that will inspire you and we can only get you in the vast general ballpark. Nothing anyone here can advise you on can show you what you will fall in love with through your own playing.
Early Kenny and Wes sound is a delicate combination of guitars, pickups, amps and recording technology that inspired them to play in a way, with a touch you won't have.
Find a great feel, make the adjustments and mods you need to in order to please your ear and practice until you can play content convincingly. The guitar will be a part of that. You're buying inspiration, not an ideal of somebody else's sound. Just ask how many members here have the exact equipment their idols have and still can't be satisfied.

I recommended the laminate because it seems to me to be the option of greatest possibilities. That's just my opinion though.

Thanks. Good insight.
I really am an archtop novice.

The clips of the 403ce sound great to me but they are hard to find.

[Lkdog]

I have a 503.
It's bright and with a fairly powerful acoustic sound, a little nasal and ringing, it has a very analytical sound, in which the individual notes of a chord each stand out individually. These characteristics are faithfully rendered by the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup.
I also wouldn't say it lends itself to a warm woody 60's soul jazz tone.

Thanks.

[RJVB]

I recommended the laminate because it seems to me to be the option of greatest possibilities.

Probably as much opinion as fact: if you're looking for an electric guitar in the 1k$ range there is little point in paying more for a carved top.

Would a Gretsch New Yorker (G9555) give the sound you want?

[Lkdog]

Would really want something with a cutaway.

Kind of narrowing it down to the AR403ce or the Japanese Burny Es 175 clone for now. Both laminates.
I had a deal for a Korean Ibanez PM20 that fell through.

I just don't know enough about archtops to invest in a more expensive one right now.

I played a friends '59 VOS ES 175 and it was good, but I was not really that crazy about it.
I had a dual pickup ES 175 from 1998 around for awhile also. It was good, but again was not wowed by it.
Neither of the Es 175's seemed like they would be worth the high price tag of $3k used
I also had an Ibanez Af105 awhile back. Too bright.

[John A.]

I’ve played both. The 503 has a fairly loud acoustic voice and is very bright sounding plugged in. The 403 is not as loud acoustically (though still surprisingly loud for a lam top and thin body) and warmer sounding plugged in. Playability, fit, and finish seemed identical to me.

It’s hard to say which would get you closer to early KB or Wes sounds since there’s a lot more to it than the guitar. Probably the warmer tone and softer attack of the 403 is a little better sound for that though (even though both mainly played carved top guitars).

[chasranney]

I've had an AR403 for a few years and like it very much. I think it's a perfectly fine place for an archtop novice to start.

Flatwound strings will help get you a little closer to the tone you seek. Good luck!

Thanks. Good insight.
I really am an archtop novice.

The clips of the 403ce sound great to me but they are hard to find.

[2bornot2bop]

I wouldn’t classify the 503 as NOT being warm. It depends on the pickup you have in it, and more importantly, strings.

Check this out from an esteemed forum member!

[chris32895]

The AR403CE would be so much better if they did NOT have those stupid dot inlays on the fretboard!

[RJVB]

The AR403CE would be so much better if they did NOT have those stupid dot inlays on the fretboard!

You mean you prefer a classical guitar?

I know "acoustics" exist without dot markers but I don't think I've ever seen an electric that doesn't have them. And that's understandable IMHO: it's much easier to do without for your own playing than to see quickly where someone you're playing with is at on his/her fretboard.

[chris32895]

You mean you prefer a classical guitar?

I know "acoustics" exist without dot markers but I don't think I've ever seen an electric that doesn't have them. And that's understandable IMHO: it's much easier to do without for your own playing than to see quickly where someone you're playing with is at on his/her fretboard.

Most Eastman guitars I see do not have inlays and I much prefer it that way. The AR503CE discussed here does not have them so why the AR403CE does is beyond me. I find inlays can tend to influence my playing into boxy shapes. Side markers are OK, though.

However, it's not just that it has inlays, it's that the inlays are dots. Dot inlays look out of place and cheap to me on an archtop.

[mickmac]

I have both 403 and 503.. The 403 might be a little less prone to feedback . These are wonderful guitars ,fine qualty.Very comfortable to hold and light . a little under 6 lbs.. mickmac

[RJVB]

Dot inlays look out of place and cheap to me on an archtop.

Good, so you'll leave me that original L5 if ever we run into one

I doubt this has any effect on sound though so let's keep it at that.