Steve DeRosa |
01-31-2018 07:46 PM |
Godin 5th Avenue acoustic - street price ~$550 - and if you need plugged-in capability there's the single P-90 Kingpin version for ~$100 more. If you've ever played a Seagull you'll find a lot to like - same neck/body size as their mini-jumbos, with the usual attention to QC and playability; only caveat here is that you'll need to set them up with heavier strings from the get-go - archtops need more string tension to properly drive the top, and unless you're going to play Gypsy jazz exclusively the factory-installed 12's (11's on the electric version TMK) aren't going to cut it. I'd suggest a set of Martin Retro MM13 monels: enough tension to get some real tone but with a "slinkier" feel than PB mediums, and magnetic so they'll work with a pickup - and since these were the go-to string for many '30s/40s players you'll get a real vintage vibe as well. If you need something more electric there's the Godin CW II, a single-cut twin P-90 jazzbox in the mold of the early-50's ES-175/Epiphone Zephyr; although it'll give you classic jazz tone in spades - TMK Tony Bennett's guitarist has been using one on tour for a couple years now - it's also versatile enough to cover anything short of death metal, and might be a good choice if you're going to be plugged-in all the time...
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