Who makes a killer arch top?

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by Archtop Guy

You know about the archtop section of AGF, right?

Read some of the old posts here:

Acoustic Guitar Forum / Archtops

I certainly am! Thanks for the link.

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by SBAIC

HI Matthew

I know that you know, but check out the list here: http://sbaic.com/luthiers/ and hit the Archtop button for 38 great archtop builders that you can visit their websites & then see all in one place at one time, to judge for yourself. Come on by!

That's the ticket! Thanks.

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

+1 for the astonishing work of Cris Mirabella!

Man you know how to make a guy drool! Thanks for the clip. Wish I was in Berlin, but I think I've talked my wife into coming to Santa Barbara so hope to see you then.

[PeterF]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Fair enough! . Price will dictate a fair bit. The Monteleone won't happen.

I'll probably lean towards traditional maple and spruce, while looking for some non traditional designs. It must be an acoustic first, with a floating pickup only as a bonus.

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone, keep em coming!

+1 for Ken Parker. I'm not an archtop guy, but I love his designs! Unfortunately I have a feeling they may be in the mega-expensive class.

[colins]

Originally Posted by JamesO

Tom Bills makes some beautiful instruments and has quite a few videos and SoundCloud links on his site.

Matthew, as a fellow Baranik owner I also recommend you check out Tom's work. I have one of his G2S flat tops and I consider it to be unbelievably responsive and a work of art to look at, but also very warm and engaging. I can only image how good his arch tops would be and they may well also appeal to your Baranik side.

Second recommendation - Laurie Williams builds arch tops, as well as killer flat tops, mandolins, violins etc. I love the Williams flat top I just received; a great complement to my Baraniks. Happy to pick out some Aussie woods for you if you go with Laurie!

Cheers
Col

[CoolerKing]

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone.

[David Wren]

For my money, Douglas Harrison is one of the finest archtop builders around.
http://www.harrisonguitars.com

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by colins

Matthew, as a fellow Baranik owner I also recommend you check out Tom's work. I have one of his G2S flat tops and I consider it to be unbelievably responsive and a work of art to look at, but also very warm and engaging. I can only image how good his arch tops would be and they may well also appeal to your Baranik side.

Second recommendation - Laurie Williams builds arch tops, as well as killer flat tops, mandolins, violins etc. I love the Williams flat top I just received; a great complement to my Baraniks. Happy to pick out some Aussie woods for you if you go with Laurie!

Cheers
Col

Good call, Col! Laurie's work is stellar (at least visually, which is the only way I've been able to experience it).

[CoolerKing]

My current thinking is to try some extant work of the luthiers mentioned and keep you guys posted. Stay tuned folks for an update!

[kkfan]

Originally Posted by mikealpine

I'll throw Cris Mirabella into the mix. Amazing guitars.



http://www.mirabellaguitars.com/services.php

I would second that wholeheartedly. I heard a couple of Mirabella guitars acoustically (totally unamplified) and they were awesome! They sounded a LOT richer, warmer, and fuller than the Grimes and Benedetto models that I heard side-by-side in the listening room played by the same player.

[darylcrisp]

Mathew

check out The Podium:
http://www.guitarrodeo.com/catalogse...ult/?q=archtop

Jim Tordorf has sold archtops for a couple years and might have some good inside info for reasonable cost.

The Kennedy guitars(the OM's) are making quite a buzz in Jims area, so I would think the archtops are more than decent as well. If memory serves, Terry Kennedy is a retired orthopedic surgeon.

from a note at The Podium:
Terry Kennedy is building some of the finest guitars around. The OM style Kennedy guitars showing on our site have captivated, yes CAPTIVATED, some of the finest players who grace our shop with their attentions. It is quite a treat to have a "name" drop in, poke around the guitars for a while, then sit and play for an hour on one instrument. We get to hear super fine playing, live, and we are not at all surprised when these top-shelf players gravitate toward one or the other of the Kennedy guitars we currently have.

[CoolerKing]

Thanks guys. More drool-worthy options!

[kkfan]

Another "killer" archtop! [emoji4]

Scharpach Vienna Apex











http://www.scharpach.com/guitars/vie...e-vienna-apex/

[jt1]

My favorites are those by Kim Walker:

[Steve DeRosa]

Played a Triggs Master 400 cutaway at MandoBros about ten years ago that was the finest guitar I've ever encountered, period...