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From my searching it seems like most quality acoustic archtops are either good and very affordable (Loar, Eastman) or exceptional and highly collectible (vintage L5s, luthier builds). I would love a high quality acoustic archtop (or floating pickup) that’s better than the Eastman variety but still within the sub-$5k range. Either new or not. Willing to search and wait around for it but not really sure what makes, models, and years to be on the lookout for. Thanks for any recommendations!
Ps - Maybe goes without saying, but looking for something for jazz and swing. So 14” or round hole archtops are not really what I’m looking for even though they can fall in that price range!
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02-13-2024 06:27 PM
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A Campellone standard would just fit into your price range. They may be mid-tier pricing, but they're top quality performance. You'll find a lot of love for Campellone on this forum. The more expensive models just add more bling, but all the guitars have the same bones.
No affiliation but here's a used one on Reverb for about $4,800.
Campellone Standard | Reverb
Another direction would be to look for some of the Gibson, Epiphone, or Gretsch archtops from the 40s-50s that weren't exactly the top of the line models (Gibson L-50 for example). There are lots of those in the $3000 range. Even an L-7 could come in under $5,000.Last edited by andrew; 02-14-2024 at 02:59 PM.
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Check out Holst guitars. These are wonderful luthier built guitars and reasonably priced. He makes laminated and carved. I have a laminated and really like it.
Last edited by Prossi@cozen.com; 02-14-2024 at 02:19 PM. Reason: Left info out
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Get a vintage Gibson L7 or Epiphone Broadway.
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Check out Brad Goodman at goodmanguitars.com High quality very reasonably priced archtops. He’s been flying under the radar for years.
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Originally Posted by noober
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Originally Posted by noober
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If you mean better sound, that’s more a matter of difference than hierarchy. Carved Eastman acoustic archtops sound more like Benedettos than they sound like the big classic Gibsons etc of the ‘60s and later. Either you love the sound or you don’t - but I don’t think you can generalize that the sound of carved Eastman guitars is better or worse than that of any other line of similar guitars even well above $5k. I had an L50 for years that had one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard from a guitar. I liked the sound as much as or more than most other carved archtops I’ve had, which includes a ‘34 L5 and an L5CN I bought new in 1970. None sounded objectively better than the rest, but I liked some more than others and the battered L50 was one of my all time favorites.
Don’t mistake fancy for better. I agree that there’s an elegance to the L5s, Campellones, D’As, Grimes etc of the world that makes them more exciting to look at, hold, and admire. But that doesn’t make them objectively better as guitars. I love the plain and simple look of the basic American Archtops and would gladly play one with no binding or embellishment at all. They sound and feel great - but so do my Eastmans for half the cost.
I suspect there are more than a few luthiers out there with small shops turning out wonderful basic archtops at reasonable prices. But you have to find them. I’ve stumbled across a few over the years, like Ed Foley in NJ. He was at a Philly guitar show years ago and made wonderful flattops that were alive and exciting to hear, see, and play. They were also well inlaid and beautiful. But it’ll take some leg work and elbow grease to search and find makers like this and to determine that what they make is what you want.
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Is Ed Foley the "E.A. Foley" you can find on Reverb?
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Originally Posted by jim777
I just checked his website. The telephone number is a Newark NJ area code. I also searched E A Foley on Reverb and it appears to be the same Ed Foley from the text in the ads. If it's the same guy and guitars, anyone who wants a dread, OM etc should check these out. I think they're among the best guitars I've ever played for sound, feel, and build quality. I'm not into ornate decoration, but he'll make you whatever you want.
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Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
I’ve played a number of Gibson and Epi archtops in the 3-5k range, and was sadly unimpressed with the ones I found (I think several were L48s) - I felt like a less expensive Eastman sound and play way better. I live in the south and don’t have access to that many good ones to try out, short of traveling or ordering blindly. Eastmans are great but I was hoping there was a next step up before getting to the really high end stuff.
As far as “better” for me - acoustic volume and projection is important, and so is playability and setup. I care less about bling and usually prefer looks of less elaborate guitars.
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
Last edited by daverepair; 02-16-2024 at 10:23 AM.
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Originally Posted by daverepair
I’ve played a 1930s 14 or 15” Zenith, really fun guitar but seemed too quiet. Did they make those guitars you listed in bigger sizes? Am I wrong to assume a 16 or 17” would be a louder and better move for acoustic?
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If Johnny Smith is what you're after, a Guild Artist Award might fit the bill. Johnny Smith had signature guitars with three different brands (first Guild briefly, then Gibson for a long time, and finally Heritage). The Artist Award model was essentially the Johnny Smith signature model without his name on it. There's one on archtop.com right now for $4995.
I'm also surprised to see that no one has mentioned Heritage yet. Definitely some very nice guitars on par with modern Gibson offerings. Look for one of the variations of an Eagle with a floating pickup. I don't mean to start any fights, but in general the advice is to go 90s or early 2000s, as that seems to have been their "best" era. You'll definitely be able to pick one up under $5k.
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One Epiphone model that hasn't been mentioned is the Devon. They can be very, very good. I'd be looking at this for $1800.
Epiphone Devon Sunburst 1955 | Reverb
I absolutely adore my 53 Triumph Regent, have done many engagements with it. No pickup just place a mic in front of it and go!
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Originally Posted by andrew
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Originally Posted by andrew
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Personally, I would advise my close friends to stick with Gibson/Epiphone from 30's or 40's. In your price range:
Gibson: L10 or L7 (stay away from L48, L50, etc. they're garbage)
Epiphone: Anything 16" or above. Deluxe, Broadway, Triumph
I never considered a Gretch from that time period but, I played one from late 30's right next to Epi Deluxe from same period and preferred the Gretch. Who knew. More work needs to be done here.
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Originally Posted by pawlowski6132
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Originally Posted by noober
While it did sound very good acoustically, it was no match for my 53 Triumph Regent.
I'm not a very technical guy, however there is something about old wood that just makes seasoned Archtops sing. IMHO of course. To the OP, you simply cannot go wrong with a AA, however I would not expect it to compete acoustically with a well kept 70 or so year old instrument.
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Originally Posted by SierraTango
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Originally Posted by noober
can't compare them
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Guild AA guitars have always been less than I expected. I owned 2 at various times and while good guitars, acoustically they were less many, through an amp fine. Having owned 2 GJS and now I have a Heritage JS, they are far more oustanding guitars in all respects. The AA does win points for general overall looks and playability but acoustically no match for other carved tops guitars. My Barkers smoke then in the dust.
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