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  #61  
Old 10-10-2013, 09:11 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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Yes it`s AMAZING!!!! around 30G`s! and a long wait.....
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  #62  
Old 10-10-2013, 09:13 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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And I will bet it sound`s as good as it looks...
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  #63  
Old 10-10-2013, 10:48 AM
Bluemonk Bluemonk is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronbo View Post
Kim Walker "Cremona"

Wow!! Now that is truly lovely....As a new archtop owner and player I have come to realize that Archtops are not just beautiful instruments, capable of making wonderful music but often beautiful works of art! I admit I am intimidated by expensive guitars, since I feel my playing abilities won't ever match the price tag, but guitars like this Cremona are things of visual beauty that I could see owning..who knows, maybe I could learn to play well enough to do it justice!

Ouch, that feels like GAS!
There happens to be one for sale at Luthiers Collection - the last one made in fact. Be prepare for sticker shock though.
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  #64  
Old 12-02-2013, 03:01 AM
Berny Berny is offline
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I was hoping this thread would give me some direction regarding my intended purchase of an electric archtop, possibly a Gretch or similar, but it would appear these types have no cred here at all sadly?
Oh well, I suspect I'll probably find what I'm looking for anyway.
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  #65  
Old 12-02-2013, 05:03 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quite the contrary - post a second thread over in the Electric Guitars forum detailing specifically what you're looking for and at what price, and we'll be more than glad to help...
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  #66  
Old 12-18-2013, 02:27 AM
croth croth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zabdart View Post
If you're going for tone, it's either a D'Angelico Excel or an early Gibson L-5.
If you're going for volume, it's a Stromberg Master 400.
For a combination of the two, it's probably the Gibson Super 400 (without the pickups).
Are you guys aware that D'Angelico's earliest guitars were his interpretation of the "early" Gibson L-5? The main external difference between his and an L-5 is that his lower bout is 16-1/2". These early D'A's were not given a name and so, today are known as "Snakeheads" (of course named after the shape of the headstock).

So, if you're looking for a one-man-luthier-made version of that coveted early L-5, try finding one of those Snakeheads.....if you can. I'm fortunate enough to own a 1935 Snakehead and it's my most prized guitar.

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  #67  
Old 12-18-2013, 02:43 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Classic early'60's 1-5/8" flat-C profile - the one everyone and his Uncle Louie claims is "unplayable"; didn't hurt Wes none...
Agreed - but these instruments were made as Rhythm guitars - bought by the dance/big band banjo players. Designed primarily for chopping closed chords.

It was a time when the guitar was as yet not considered a "lead" instrument. Think Freddie Green.
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  #68  
Old 12-18-2013, 03:00 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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The "Holy Grail" to use the OPs term simply has to be a 1925 -1935 16" Gibson L-5.

2. An early ('40s?) 17" pre-Gibson Epiphone Emperor.

3. Stromberg ('50s) 17 3/8" Master 400.

4. D'angelicos (master grade instrments - Excel or New Yorker ('30s-'60s)

Modern versions:

Collings AT-16, Slaman "1923 Project", Dana Bourgeois,

Then there is the electric stuff - don't know much about them - not my area of interest.
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  #69  
Old 12-18-2013, 02:30 PM
Archtop Guy Archtop Guy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
The "Holy Grail" to use the OPs term simply has to be a 1925 -1935 16" Gibson L-5.
2. An early ('40s?) 17" pre-Gibson Epiphone Emperor.
3. Stromberg ('50s) 17 3/8" Master 400.
4. D'angelicos (master grade instrments - Excel or New Yorker ('30s-'60s)
Sorry, James D'Aquisto needs to be on the very short list. His guitars were played by the greatest musicians of the time and have influenced every archtop made since then.
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  #70  
Old 01-03-2014, 09:38 PM
gregc gregc is offline
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I could die happily with a John Monteleone creation. I'm a fan-boy, no apologies. I just may commission one someday. I'd have to sell everything else, but it would be worth it. .... And he is local to me.
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  #71  
Old 01-04-2014, 07:16 AM
croth croth is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregc View Post
I could die happily with a John Monteleone creation. I'm a fan-boy, no apologies. I just may commission one someday. I'd have to sell everything else, but it would be worth it. .... And he is local to me.
I had the pleasure of seeing some of his work at the Met exhibit, Guitar Heroes, some time ago. While his work is too avant-garde for my more fundamentalist tastes, i can understand your desire. I would be more of a D'Aquisto guy, but even more so, a fan of the originator, a D'Angelico guy, of which I am lucky enough to own one of his original Snakeheads.

I like the work of several contemporary builders: Campellone, Solomon, Thorell, Benedetto, and Thornton to name a few. There are several others I've seen at the Woodstock Invitational; all great builders, none yet (with perhaps Benedetto) having achieved the fame and acclaim of Monteleone.

I do hope you achieve your dream.
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  #72  
Old 01-04-2014, 10:45 AM
gregc gregc is offline
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Thanks. Every builder you listed has my sincere admiration. We live in a lucky time. I am particularly fond of the 3 dominant Italian, NY builders you listed. Grail guitars, for sure.
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  #73  
Old 01-05-2014, 10:06 PM
murrayatuptown murrayatuptown is offline
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They're all gorgeous...

Monteleone (Mountain Lion in Italian?) certainly has some incredibly artistic ones, Benedetto has some beauties mostly in a traditional style, but he carves a little 'outside' at times.

Claudio & his wife Claudia Pagelli in Switzerland make some pretty artsy instruments too...no idea what they play like...saw one was $35k, so if I see liner notes on CD citing one was used, I'll get to hear one.

I just looked at the Pagellis again, and I was reminded of some modern artist - I actually started thinking Matisse, Picasso, etc.

I'm not sure if I've already said this (here), but in 1988 I saw a Picasso exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum, 13 rooms, 500 works. I lost count of how many Cubist guitars there were, shuffling along with the crowd. They began to appear humorous to me, or perhaps I was hallucinating by then.
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  #74  
Old 01-13-2014, 11:34 AM
s2y s2y is offline
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I'm about a month out from getting a Greg German 7 string. That's holy grail material for me.
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  #75  
Old 01-15-2014, 05:48 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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I don`t think there is a "Holy Grail" out there.
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