Campellone archtops
 

Rather than buy myself a second flattop guitar to complement my Taylor 512ce, I'm just starting to make some very tentative enquiries about ordering a guitar from archtop specialist Mike Campellone, based in Rhode Island:

www.campelloneguitars.com

I've read a few positive reviews on Harmony Central and I note that Mike gets a good, if brief, write-up in "Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia", but I was wondering if any forum members have had any hands-on experience of Mike's guitars. Thanks in advance for any comments.

Richard

I played his guitars at a guitar show in August. His standard model for about $3,600 sounds the same as his more expensive models that have more appointments. He will tell you that himself. His guitars sound very much like a good Gibson archtop (L5 or Johhny Smith). Gibsons are not consistent but if you buy from an individual guitar builder like him you will get a good one.

Hi Richard,

I've played several Campellones that have come through my local shop AcousticMusic.Org in CT.

Each one has been very impressive....I especially liked a 16" standard model with an 1 3/4" nut width. Very warm and responsive acoustic tone and the build quality is excellent. If the thing wasn't a flaming red cherry sunbrst I might have taken it home. I've played several of the 17" models and was similarly pleased with their nice necks and ease of play. He offers a choice of scale lengths and even body lengths as well as widths so keep that in mind. I've come to enjoy my 16" Gibsons with the short scales and Campellone can provide those kind of choices if you want.

I've got a bunch of vintage Gibson archtops that keep me pretty satisfied but the Campellones have been a temptation.

I think you'll do well with one!

Diane

Never had the privelege to play one. He is very well known in the custom archtop world, I believe has a guitar in the Chennery "Blue Guitar" collection (Millionaire guitar lover. Comissioned approx. 20 of the finest archtop builders to build him a guitar with a specific blue finish.) I doubt you could go wrong with one of his instruments.

Many thanks for that feedback, everyone. What's striking to me about the Campellone archtops is that not only does he have a pretty sound reputation (though he's not as high-profile as some archtop builders one could mention), but his prices are also quite reasonable by archtop standards (we all know that archtops command a premium). Mike's Standard guitars, with UK tax and import costs and so forth added on, still cost a little less than some of the UK Gibson prices I've seen. That doesn't make them especially affordable of course - I could buy two Taylor 414ce's for the same money. Furthermore there is a two-year waiting list (which does give me some time to build up funds though).

I'm genuinely starting to feel that life's too short for me to go after more than one flattop guitar (a sentiment which flies in the face of the hankerings of 99.99% of people on this forum :) ), and hence the archtop is starting to loom large in my sights.

Richard

Let my echo the sediment here, these guitar are great. That said you should be able to find a used one for a little less right now if you don't want to wait.

Mark has a solid reputation on archtop guitars,I own a Deluxe all accoustic and it is loud and punchy!

Last time I visited Mandolin Bros store they were unpacking a beautiful new 17" Campellone. They passed it around. It was great. Easily the equal to an L5.

That`s where I bought mine,I am 5 mins away from Stan Jay`s store....

It`s Mark Campellone,not to be nit picky..

This is an extremely old thread from 2004 - but, FWIW, Wolfe Guitars in Jupiter, FL has a used 2009 Campellone archtop in their store - http://www.gbase.com/gear/campellone...-2009-sunburst - asking $3700...

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/ge...bmu5oka_ss.jpg

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/ge...4hwzltt_ss.jpg

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/ge...ddhsymd_ss.jpg

http://cdn1.gbase.com/usercontent/ge...vqzxanc_ss.jpg

Enjoy!

That is a great carved top and back guitar for the money....Mark has been building archtops for 30 years..IMO he`s right up there near the top...

I've played two different Campellones both were killer, very light weight and resonant for an arch top guitar. You can't go wrong all the way around with one for sure!!! They compete well with the best of the best and the prices are great.

10/4 on that brother..

Campellones
 

I've tried a number Campellones . All were highly consistent and very enjoyable sound and feel wise. He is basically a one man shop after all. Best guitar for money in a high end all carved instrument IMO. He does build in the Gibson tradition. He'll tell you that as he did me on the phone. His guitars sound like a high end, modern Gibson L5 lets say. His necks tend to be a 'bit' bigger and rounder than some builders, but not a whole lot. Unless you're after a rareish spec of some sort consider buying used as well. I have an Andersen and would like a Campy at some point to compliment it. They are very different builds. Just my .02.