Waterloo archtop
 

Aside from the action being too low on the treble side, this really sounds amazing in hands of someone who knows how to drive it.

Julian has an odd take on everything he does, but he can do it nonetheless.



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Hi Howard, thanks for this.
I'm trying not to be interested in the Waterloo archtops - despite becoming very fond of my Waterloo WL-12.

BTW - been reading your bio on your website. Similar ages, similar history (although I'm a Brit), and also left handed!

Hi Andrew,
Yeah, we're both old.

When people ask me if I'm left handed I reply "No. I write with my left hand."

The Waterloo archtops really do have a strong attraction on all levels. Luckily I own a 1930 Gibson L-5, so I don't have to entertain the thought of another archtop purchase.

Regards,
Howard

I'm glad your handwriting wasn't ruined like mine was - I had a beautiful left handed script before I started school - where they beat me for using my left hand - so now I write with y right hand but even I can't read it! (should have been a doctor!) I've got a '34 L-4 (with f-holes - '35 model)

Andrew,
There weren’t any nuns in our Hebrew school, thankfully:-)

My condolences, truly.

Best,
Howard

I was just talking about that "conversion therapy" recently. My older brother went through same. Some "good old days" experiences are best left behind. Anyway, that's a topic for Open Mic, mebbe.

Back to the Waterloo...glad I'm undeserving enough to ignore its obvious charms.

Mr. Lage's formidable chops notwithstanding (do we call that style psycho-Manouche...?), when I consider that a mere $500 more gets me this all-handcarved beauty:

https://themusicemporium.com/new-arr...ntage-sunburst

- or this, if you're a fan of smaller-bodied archtops:

https://themusicemporium.com/guitars...herry-sunburst

- I personally find it hard to justify the asking price for a plain-jane, flat-back, latter-day rendition of an entry-level '30s instrument, regardless of who made it...

Campellones are awesome in the bang for the buck category, but $500? Look again.;)

The Waterloo sells for $4500...

The Campellone Standards sell brand-new for $4995 each, according to the website...

When I was in school (long before the days of Common Core Math), we learned that $4995 - $4500 = $495 - $5 short of $500, and close enough to use the $500 figure as a valid difference estimate...

Peace out...

Hey Steve,
Perfect logic.

In other news......Did you ever work out 'Deep Purple' by Nino Tempo & April Stevens?

Have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Howard

The bitter irony was that my first Prep school, wasn't connected to any religion - just the notion that being left handed was "wrong."
Once I managed to convince my parents they took me away from the school and sued them. They lost! That was how it was in 1953.

OUCH!!!

That is bitter beyond belief.

I would resubmit that suit retroactively. There's got to be some malady you're suffering from that can be tied to coerced dexterity reassignment.

Howard

..., and the 1960s and even in the last decade in the US. I hear about teachers supposedly still pushing right-handedness in some parts of the country. I had to sit on my left hand in Kindergarten, so I know the drill.

I didn't go to court over it, but I did get an arch top guitar. Don't know how to put a picture in the post, but here is a link to one picture of this new toy.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/V5ncoRe1BAFNaXwR7

Looks like an Emerald Kestral. Wondering how you like the acoustic sound?

It shines in two ways so far that I have found acoustically.

For chunka chucka with a pick or finger strumming, it can cut through loud and clear keeping the rhythm loud and clear as needed. No amp needed. It's has a tangy almost harsh sound that is perfect for keeping time in a group.

I think I like it more for finger style (think Wes Montgomery sounds, but acoustic only). I have been fiddling around with various tunes and chords of a few jazz standards. It has full and beautiful tones with either delicate picking or finger style, and I have been playing whatever tunes come to mind. I would have to amp it if I was playing like this on a stage, but for doodling on the couch it's awesome.

Julian Lage is one of those guys that makes me want to throw my guitars out the window. Having said that I'm not crazy about the sound of that guitar - not ideal recording conditions for sure but still....
Very interested in that emerald archtop and how it sounds, especially acoustically) - I was a CF guitar owner for a period (composite acoustics gx)

There's a thread on the Emerald Kestral in the carbon guitar section.

Lage's playing seems almost effortless. I know that he's put years to get to the level he is today, so I keep plugging away an hour or two at a time.

I was interested in the Kestrel too. I was in Ireland last year and dropped by Alistair's factory (3 times). I almost bought a guitar they had in stock before I left, but after some soul searching I decided to go for a custom. I played almost the entire range of guitars they had available in their showroom and found the ones I most wanted to take with me were in no particular order the X20-12, Synergy and Kestrel. I suck at Jazz chording and knew that could keep me busy for a while, so after negotiating with Alistair for close to half a year we went with the Kestrel that you see linked.

I come from a horn background and my primary instrument is trumpet. I can somewhat play another dozen instruments and got an X20 (6 string) back in 2013. I have been enamored with CF guitars ever since.

The Kestrel has two distinct acoustic sounds that I like. One is light jazz chording shapes with fingers and enough fingerpicking of a melody in between to get to the next chord. The other is moderate to hard strumming to keep the rhythm going in a small ensemble. I tried to take the melody in that small ensemble too with the Kestrel. It was OK - actually better than the X20, but I have to work on my technique a bit more.

I doubt I'll be bringing it by to see you anytime soon since you live some 9,000+ miles away (15,000 km). You might want to talk to lat18 about the Kestrel. I believe he has a Loar 700 too and played the Kestrel for a few days this past summer. I still need to work more on set up and will be telling why at some point (just cosmetic reasons), but it's definitely not the same as an older L-7. I can't say whether it's better or worse. If I had to choose between the two as I was running away from a fire, I'd be more likely to grab the Kestrel. I'll have to compare side by side to be more sure and may have an Epiphone I can borrow instead if I play my cards right.

If you are interested enough, I would do what lat18 did and order a stock one. Try it for a while and then send it back if you don't want to keep it. I had the advantage that I played the two that were sitting in Ireland, so I knew the sound was good enough. Is it the sound I'm chasing? I don't know, but the vote's still out.

Hi Howard, just caught up with this. Couldn't help laughing. As my Dad was the last to go 35 years ago, and I have no idea who the owner of the school was and can't even find the building on google maps I doubt I could trace them.

Any other reviews on this Waterloo?

I hope practice and talent aren’t required to play this well.

Agreed the treble action was a bit low. Seems like he wanted to make a few statements that were subdued.