Why do archtops cost so much?

[wierdOne]

Originally Posted by Coke_zero

How many hours are we looking at for a professional luthier to carve an archtop?

It all depends on the skill of the luthier... some guys have made so many archtops that they can carve a top in minutes... but... that's just the beginning... the devil is in the details...

[Teleplucker]

It all depends on what the guitar was designed to do... There are some archtops that are, to me, MUCH sweeter sounding than any flat top..... but... they cost upwards of 30 g's..

like this one..

Doug Wamble playing a Ken Parker Archtop


That is a great playing and a great sounding guitar.