-
Originally Posted by Ol' Fret
What a terrific list (slightly edited and reformatted)!
It's remarkably easy to make purchasing decisions that have nothing to do with the functional qualities of the items purchased, and it's difficult to be aware that one is doing that. Reading these could help increase awareness.
-
05-31-2024 11:35 AM
-
I was at the Gibson Garage store in Nashville a couple of weeks ago and asked about archtop production.
I was told that Gibson sold most of the stuff needed to make archtops when the new ownership took over.
Allegedly, the new archtops that have been quietly showing up the last few years were made from older bodies that were made before they sold off the archtop stuff.
Recent factory tour videos have hinted that Gibson wants to bring back the archtops, but we'll see.
Lots of great boutique builders out there making archtops, but the ones with good reputations have waiting lists to get on their waiting lists. Ordering from one of the lesser-known builders may get you good results, but it can be risky.
Fortunately, there's still lots of used archtops on the market worth having.
-
Is it though? (As in, nothing in the same class produced more locally?) Originally Posted by jim777
Japanese cars (and bikes) have a bit of reputation here that they're very reliable nowadays, but you also really don't want them to break down because there will be no gestures or anything. Seen that with both a Suzuki or Yamaha MC and a Toyota of people I've known, which broke parts (piston, drive shaft) you don't expect to break at the mileage they had.
-
Anyone know where Gibson's archtop equipment ended up? Originally Posted by Bluedawg
-
That somewhat contradicts what I was told by a Gibson Exec. I mean the part about the equipment being sold off. Originally Posted by Bluedawg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan
That's good to hear.
I'm guessing that the Gibson Exec knows more about this than a Gibson Garage sales dude ... I hope
It would be fun to go back there and look into custom ordering an archtop.
They had some nice figured maple and koa on display that you could hand pick for your "Made to Measure" Les Paul order. Maybe someday it will be L5s or 175s.
They said if you order your Made to Measure guitar through the Gibson Garage they can get it to you in about 6 months, as opposed to 12 to 16 months for a dealer order.
-
Well... that would pretty much explain ALL consumerism lol. Originally Posted by Ol' Fret
-
Hey, that's actually a good idea. Originally Posted by pawlowski6132
There's nothing wrong with Gibsons or Epiphones, but then there's nothing wrong either with most of all the other makers out there - among them the ones you mention. There's a great variety to choose from these days. That can only be a benefit for us - the customers. The many makers sharpens the competition between the makers meaning better instruments at better prices (for us). That you haven't heard about them says nothing other than just that, you haven't heard about them. However, they are familiar names to most of the followers of this forum.
-
Lawson-Stone is right. Gibson doesn't really make archtops anymore. But thats ok because there's probably enough old ones out there for every jazz guitarist who has gigs to play one. Jazz guitarists are a dying breed and we pass around the same vintage guitars which will be around for centuries.
The "weird brands" you listed seemed to be mostly luthier built archtops right? These are right on the money for jazz guitar, they are very close to being the same thing as a vintage gibson or epiphone, just newer wood. I own 2 vintage gibson archtops but I would not say no to a newer luthier built guitar. These new guitars are in the tradition of gibson, epiphone, d'angelico, and d'aquisto for the most part. Maybe a few small tweaks.
When I saw the title of the thread I thought you were referring to people playing run of the mill solid body guitars and calling it jazz, like telecasters and strats. To me that is the strangest trend in the jazz guitar world. The luthier trend totally makes sense, they are taking the place of Gibson, as Gibson has opted out. Nothing wrong with that.
-
Why not just get a real Gibson from the time period you want and the model you want? Originally Posted by garybaldy
-
Even is someone gave me a new Acoustic Archtop custom made by Gibson. I would sell it and get a used one from the golden era of archtop building. Why wouldn't you???? Originally Posted by Bluedawg
-
Gibson guitars from the golden age of archtop building are old. They are expensive, and insurance premiums are going up. Their parts will wear out; replacements might be expensive. They might be structurally weakened by age. Their value might not last much longer, because of these factors and reduced demand. They are not objectively better than newer archtops, so why take the risk?
-
The question was just out of interest. I personally would rather an old Gibson even though they are tough to find over here in UK, much more expensive than in the US and what with very few sellers bothering with CITES. (See my recent thread on that). Originally Posted by pawlowski6132
Just wondering as an aside - will people still want Stradivarius violins or will they be happy with new, or carbon fibre or IR?
-
If I could afford them I'm happy to take the risk. They are particularly nice to have and play! Originally Posted by Litterick
-
You are just wrong. No way else to put it. Originally Posted by Litterick
-
Not everybody wants a Gibson L5
Depends on your style and the way you play.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Besides which not all old Gibsons are good instruments. according to Peter Bernstein his old L5 was a bit of a dog, and moving to the Zeidler (then a not well known maker) was a huge step up.
Even the ones that are have quirks. And then the more recent Gibsons can be a bit meh. It’s not a guaranteed good time. I like my 175, but it’s a character.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Not being objectively better (as in demonstrably so with quantitative criteria) doesn't mean they can't be subjectively nicer. It's hard to tell from recordings alone, but most of the early 16" L5s sound about as nice as I can imagine a steel-strung guitar to sound, with a mellowness and depth that is often just not there in newer instruments. Originally Posted by Litterick
The same applies to bowed instruments. You can like the sound of a "new" violin, but most of them will have that auditory new smell for quite a while. Around 2 decades, judging from the 2 instruments from the early 80s that I have owned (not as the original owner so it could have been shorter).
What people are we talking about here? (And who wouldn't want a real Strad to fall in his/her lap if you can sell it and not have to work the rest of your life anymore? Originally Posted by garybaldy
)
-
Not everyone needs one (or more) but they may still want one (or more). Originally Posted by Christian Miller
-
The Accord is as much or more of an "American car" as you can get these days, basically. (Here in the US, anyway). They are designed and built in Marysville Ohio using 90% US sourced parts. I would have bought a diesel VW, having fallen completely in love with the Estate I had for a month in Ireland, but I think we all remember how that played out! Originally Posted by RJVB
I've owned a half dozen Honda motorcycles (and BMWs) and a few Japanese cars. I would take a Japanese motorcycle over any other, and I feel the same way about the cars. I think that may change going forward with electrics, as the drive trains will give everyone a fresh start, but I just don't trust American cars anymore at this point. The last time I let my Cadillac SRX sit for two weeks it had let maybe 3 gallons of water leak into the back seat through the fully closed sunroof.
All of that said, I would absolutely buy another Corvette. But that would not be remotely a logical choice at all
-
Do we? I own the Skoda version of one of those, a 2009 which I've kept out of the dieselgate recall for good reason. From time to time it blows an injector, and there are some other expensive known issues that will probably bite me again but those still don't cost as much as a new car will cost me. And I can get well over 900km on a single tank with my driving style. Originally Posted by jim777
MCs are like Corvettes and ditto cars IMHO, for pleasure. If you want something "reasonable", practical for everyday, you get a scooter with a plaid ("softtop"). If pleasure is the goal there are very few Jap bikes that would do it for me as I'm not a crotch rocket squid. I know, the Japs also do US-style cruisers almost better than HD and Indian do, but in that department I'd get a late model "real" Guzzi California, the version with the Tonti frame. Almost got me one actually, when my own Guzzi was stolen from a workshop (but found again within the window before insurance would have paid out).I would take a Japanese motorcycle over any other
Hah, the front doors on my Octy aren't exactly watertight either...The last time I let my Cadillac SRX sit for two weeks it had let maybe 3 gallons of water leak into the back seat through the fully closed sunroof.
EVs ... last time I discussed those with the owner of a local workshop who was replacing that last blown injector he didn't have a good word to say about them. Claims they'd spell the end of businesses like his. I tend to believe him, too.
Brave new world ... where we drive cars that don't require maintenance, but how do we manage when they do break down?
Oh, I think it's perfectly logical, perhaps even justifiable. Reasonable is another can of worms...All of that said, I would absolutely buy another Corvette. But that would not be remotely a logical choice at all
-
Where are you in Europe if you don't mind me asking? Originally Posted by garybaldy
I'm heading there in a few weeks. In fact, there's a good change I'm bringing my L5 to a friend in Paris.
-
I can relate actually. I'm selling my L5. I'm not crazy about it but, I've played some that I wish I had. Originally Posted by Christian Miller
A friend of mine gave me his Gibson Johnny Smith and bought a Zeidler. He loves that guitar and is a one-guitar and he plays out 3-4 times a week regularly.
-
Yeah, I lusted over Gibson and Epiphone archtops my whole life. I bought these and consider them trophy guitars but, don't always play them for various reasons. Originally Posted by garybaldy
-
What kind of L5 is that if I may ask? My Pavlovian reaction Originally Posted by pawlowski6132
to some L5 models might be strong enough to lure me to Paris even if it's just to look/hear one in the flash (hands on my back like my mom taught me)
Reply With Quote
Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
Today, 05:20 AM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos