Mid level acoustic archtop

[SierraTango]

That guitar is a real beauty.Is the neck Brazillian Rosewood ?

Thank you, it's really a wonderful guitar. I'm no expert, however my understanding is that most of the Rosewood used on Epiphones at that time came from Brazil. Some of the old ads mentioned this as well.

[Archie]

An acoustic Archtop isn’t just one thing.

You have more or less a scale based the era it was made.

Early acoustic Archtops up till the 60’s (ish) have a more focused projecting sound that gives them volume and bite but not always tone, if by tone you’re looking for something more modern.

On the other end, you have a Guild AA which was designed from Johnny Smiths Artist Award. That guitar although acoustic was designed to be an electric guitar and thus you have the birth of acoustic ‘electric’ sound. That’s just a term I’m making up but it should make sense.
You could thunk of it as acoustic Archtops that sound more mellow, have leas projection and are more suited to the thicker, warmer, bob sounds that usually rely on less attack.

Acoustic archtops that fall into this category are:

Guild AA
Gibson LC (post 70’s)
Heritage Johnny Smith
Gibson Johnny Smith
L7 (post 70’s)
Benedetto’s

and many more who I don’t recall or haven’t played.

So if you want something that barks, buy a pre 70’s acoustic, like a thin top Gibson L7 or an epiphone etc…

if you want a mellower more bop sound, buy a post 70’s Guild, Gibson, Heritage JS etc..

Not a hard and fast rule, just a general one. For example an Ibanez 2471 is mellow but an FA-800 is really snappy and bright. Both are from the late 70’s.

[noober]

So if you want something that barks, buy a pre 70’s acoustic, like a thin top Gibson L7 or an epiphone etc…

if you want a mellower more bop sound, buy a post 70’s Guild, Gibson, Heritage JS etc..

Makes a lot of sense. Would something like a Guild AA also be adept for swing chunking through 3 note chords? I’m hoping to get that sweeter JS tone but also suspect I’d be doing a good bit of that swing style rhythm too.

[pawlowski6132]

Makes a lot of sense. Would something like a Guild AA also be adept for swing chunking through 3 note chords? I’m hoping to get that sweeter JS tone but also suspect I’d be doing a good bit of that swing style rhythm too.

I say no.

Prolly want a prewar acoustic.

Then get a DPA mic if necessary.

[Archie]

Makes a lot of sense. Would something like a Guild AA also be adept for swing chunking through 3 note chords? I’m hoping to get that sweeter JS tone but also suspect I’d be doing a good bit of that swing style rhythm too.

It will do a better job than many but there are better suited guitars for that job.

You mean Freddy Green stuff? Then I would look for something pre 1960’s.

your price range limits you to pre 60’s or post 60’s anyway so helps narrow things down.
That being said pre 60’s stuff is getting pretty expensive now.

A 50’s L7 might do a fair job but an pre 1955 Epiphone would likely be best and more affordable