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Old 11-19-2017, 10:09 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
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Welcome to the forum...

A couple suggestions, depending on how much you're inclined to spend:
  • If you want to get into the archtop game on the cheap, the Godin 5th Avenue would my first choice. In spite of its all-laminated construction (not as detrimental to arched-instrument tone as to flattop - laminated Kay and Epiphone upright basses from the '30s/40s are highly prized by knowledgeable players for their tone, and command prices comparable to some carved instruments) it captures the archtop tonal vibe - punchy, throaty, and quick to respond, with the classic "bark" when set up as a comp box; one of these might be a good choice for a straight fingerstyle guitar - the body size and neck profile are virtually identical to the Seagull 16" mini-jumbo - but be aware that as with just about any other archtop, you'll need to set it up with medium-gauge strings in order to bring out the best tone. Although the comparably-priced (~$500) Loar LH-300 and Gretsch New Yorker boast solid tops there are no real tonal benefits IME, and the neck geometry on the former (very important on any archtop, BTW) can be iffy...
  • $1500-2000 gets you into fully-carved instrument territory - and while you can find some decent vintage player-grade 16" Gibsons and low- to midline New York Epiphones (the latter usually of better quality - and a great value by any reckoning in a vintage collectible American guitar) I'd be looking at one of the Eastman non-cutaway models, like this:

    https://www.soundpure.com/p/eastman-...15652057/18815

    The Loar LH-700 - a virtual line-for-line copy of a "Mother Maybelle" '20s Gibson 16" L-5 - might also be a good choice; be aware, though, that it boasts a period-correct chunky, thick. deep-V neck profile that might not be suited to your needs as a fingerstylist...
  • If you're in a position to spend $3000 or more - about what you'd sink into a good fingerstyle flattop from a major maker - you'll be getting into some of the nicer non-cutaway Big Band-era Gibson and Epiphone 17" comp boxes, as well as the occasional player-grade 18" Gibson Super 300 (think upsized L-7) or Epiphone Emperor; crack the $4000 mark and you might be able to commission a custom-build from an up-and-coming luthier, and $5000 will get you a built-to-order instrument from Mark Campellone...
There's an old saying in the legit drag-racing community: "Speed costs money - how fast you wanna go...?"
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