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  #1  
Old 08-23-2016, 06:41 AM
OddManOut OddManOut is offline
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Default Archtop Recommendation

Please recommend and archtop in the $1000-$1500 range.

Where are some good sites to find archtops for sale?

Thank you!
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  #2  
Old 08-23-2016, 08:39 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Loar LH-600/700
Eastman 500/600 Series
Gretsch Synchromatic 400
(discontinued but may still be available as NOS)
D'Angelico EXL-1A
Epiphone Century Series
Used '30s-50s Gibson/Epiphone 16" acoustics
(L-48/50; Zenith, Blackstone, Spartan, etc.)

Loar/Eastman/D'Angelico/Epiphone Century are available through many of the major dealers; you'll have to do a Google search for a new Synchro 400 (there may be some used ones on Reverb/eBay). Check with the vintage specialists (Elderly, Gruhn, Norman's, Retrofret, archtop.com, et al.) for their current stock of Big Band-era comp boxes, or have them put your name on a list for when the one you want comes in...

Hope this helps...
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  #3  
Old 08-23-2016, 12:00 PM
OddManOut OddManOut is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Loar LH-600/700
Eastman 500/600 Series
Gretsch Synchromatic 400
(discontinued but may still be available as NOS)
D'Angelico EXL-1A
Epiphone Century Series
Used '30s-50s Gibson/Epiphone 16" acoustics
(L-48/50; Zenith, Blackstone, Spartan, etc.)

Loar/Eastman/D'Angelico/Epiphone Century are available through many of the major dealers; you'll have to do a Google search for a new Synchro 400 (there may be some used ones on Reverb/eBay). Check with the vintage specialists (Elderly, Gruhn, Norman's, Retrofret, archtop.com, et al.) for their current stock of Big Band-era comp boxes, or have them put your name on a list for when the one you want comes in...

Hope this helps...

Many thanks for the info!!!
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  #4  
Old 08-24-2016, 06:15 AM
k_russell k_russell is offline
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Guild's A-150 sells for about 1150.00. I got mine for a little less than that. Despite some minor adjustments, I'm happy with how it sounds and I find it easy to play.
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  #5  
Old 08-24-2016, 05:56 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OddManOut View Post
Please recommend and archtop in the $1000-$1500 range.

Where are some good sites to find archtops for sale?

Thank you!
Believe it or not, https://www.archtop.com/.

You might not find anything in your price range, but poke around for an education...

Last edited by Rudy4; 08-24-2016 at 06:07 PM.
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  #6  
Old 08-28-2016, 07:54 AM
LesRose LesRose is offline
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Gretsch makes a good arch top, we have had great experience with them. They have their own sound which is a bit unique, but we do enjoy them.
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  #7  
Old 08-28-2016, 08:58 AM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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I would love to try some of the new Epiphone Century Masterbilts, especially the two round soundhole models. You could, of course, also go my normal route which is to buy used. I routinely see guitars such as 1960s Guilds go in the $1100 to $1600 range.
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  #8  
Old 08-29-2016, 12:42 AM
Spook Spook is offline
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https://yunzhimusic.en.alibaba.com/

http://www.yolandateam.com/

There are a lot of Yunzhi / Mr Wu reviews online. For a $1000-$1500 you can get something used (not a bad plan..) or made out of pressed laminates which will suck as an acoustic instrument. Or you can get a solid wood top and back hand carved guitar made to your spec's.
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  #9  
Old 08-29-2016, 06:24 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spook View Post
...There are a lot of Yunzhi/Mr.Wu reviews online. For $1000-$1500...you can get a solid wood top and back hand carved guitar made to your specs.
Great for us, Spook - we know exactly what specs to ask for, and I've had a prewar Emperor-style 18-inch non-cut on my GAS list for a while - but the OP doesn't have that level of knowledge/experience...
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  #10  
Old 08-29-2016, 06:55 PM
Spook Spook is offline
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A good point Steve.. but he could do a lot worse than the standard Benedetto 17" in spruce/maple with a neck width to match his favorite flat top. Sometimes it seems kind of an unreal deal.. but did I really have to buy six of them over time?
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  #11  
Old 10-23-2016, 03:57 PM
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Da Sugarbear Da Sugarbear is offline
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Thumbs up Peerless consideration

I bought a Peerless 17" Monarch (solo Humbucker pickup) as well as the slightly narrower Peerless Tonemaster (dual Humbucker pickups) from Guitarsnjazz in New Jersey. I've had the Monarch about a year and a half and based on how much I enjoy it, I ordered the Tonemaster and received it yesterday... These guitars are in the $1,100 to 1,450 range and excellent value in my opinion... If you call Lou, tell him Karl says howdy!
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  #12  
Old 10-26-2016, 09:34 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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If you can save you money and buy a USA made archtop,L7 Gibson maybe?
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  #13  
Old 10-26-2016, 12:56 PM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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You can score a used Gibson L-50 for less than your price point.
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  #14  
Old 11-03-2016, 04:11 AM
Jabberwocky Jabberwocky is offline
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www.myjazzhome.com

www.larkstreetmusic.com

www.gryphonstrings.com

www.bernunzios.com

www.gbase.com

www.elderly.com

www.guitarsnjazz.com

www.archtop.com but do your research. Some have reported dissatisfying experiences. The proprietor overlooks things sometimes...YMMV.

At the OP's price point, Guitars N Jazz is a safe bet. Lou will guide you in the right direction.

Last edited by Jabberwocky; 11-03-2016 at 04:20 AM.
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  #15  
Old 11-13-2016, 08:31 PM
M Hayden M Hayden is offline
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Eastmans with inset pickups are usually great.

That said, I use a (gasp) Ibanez AFJ-81 single pickup jazz box for live playing. Works great and sounds fine through a small vintage Fender tube amp.
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