Check the bridge fit, Mike, especially if you moved it from its its original location; FYI a poorly-fitted bridge base is probably the biggest tone-sucker in the archtop world, and while it sounds like the previous owner put a lot of bucks into meaningless bling I'm willing to bet that he/she overlooked the one detail that would make the guitar sound as good as it looks. Do a check by sliding the corner of a piece of looseleaf paper around the edges of the bridge base, and if you can get 1/32" or more underneath at any point you need to bring it to an experienced archtop tech (many guys who know their stuff when it comes to flattops/electrics don't know what makes an archtop tick) or a violin luthier (the procedure for fitting a violin-family bridge is virtually identical) - I think you'll notice a major improvement in tone...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
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