Who makes a killer arch top?

[Roadrunner]

Kim's arch tops are unbelievable. Most people that get a chance to play mine is so intimidated by it they are afraid to touch it. It is fun to watch them stand and stare at it.

[iim7V7IM7]

This is my 16" archtop made by Pennsylvania luthier Bill Comins. It has a Carpathian Spruce top, Bigleaf Maple back and sides, 25" scale, 1-3/4" nut and 2-1/16" string spacing. Bill has just begun a second project for me...

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by Bluemonk

Owning one myself, I can vouch for John's judgment.

And by the way, I know someone who is (or was) selling one (not me). I can put you in touch if you're interested. I don't know how much he's asking, but I can assure you it ain't gonna be peanuts!

For sure, a very large bag of peanuts.

Bruce, I really like that vibe. Depending on the rotation of the Earth's crust and the phase of the Moon, I might delay buying anything until Santa Barbara. If that's the case I'll try and play a few of your guitars. Actually, even if that's not the case I'm going to play them

[drive-south]

No one mentioned Mark Campellone. Another fine archtop builder and his guitars are really a great value as well.

www.mcampellone.com

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by jt1

My bad. You asked who makes a killer archtop. Kim made killer archtops but, as far as I know, is no longer taking orders for archtops.

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

...Perhaps we can go over there and kidnap him.

There was this fat guy where I used to live who could make things happen - how soon do you want your guitars, fellas...?

[lizzard]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

There was this fat guy where I used to live who could make things happen - how soon do you want your guitars, fellas...?

LMAO - Thank you for this. It is (hopefully) a fun post - But ... I'm just sayin....

[iim7V7IM7]

There are of course MANY archtop luthiers beyond the list of 53 US and Canadian based luthiers listed below (from Europe and Beyond…), but this a pretty good list for those who in North America and are interested to start a search. You’ll see some luthier names that may be familiar here who you may associate with flat top guitars but they also make archtop guitars. Others may not be familiar names who specialize in archtop guitars and occasionally also make flat tops. I divided the list into 4 regions geographically: US WEST, US MIDDLE, US EAST and Canada.

US WEST: (14)

Aaron Andrews
Andrews Guitars
Washington
http://www.andrewsguitars.com/Andrews_Guitars.html

Steve Andersen
Andersen Stringed Instruments
Washington
http://www.andersenguitars.com/

Mark Blanchard
Blanchard Guitars
California
http://www.blanchardguitars.com/

Tim Frick
Frick Guitars
California
http://timfrickguitars.com/

Steve Grimes
Grimes Guitars
Hawaii
http://www.grimesguitars.com/

Stephen Holst
Holst Custom Stringed Instruments
Oregon
http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/

Howard Klepper
Klepper Guitars
California
http://www.klepperguitars.com/

George Leach
Phoenix Guitar Company
Arizona
http://www.phoenixguitarco.com/

Harvey Leach
Harvey leach Custom Inlays and Guitars
California
http://www.harveyleachinlays.com/

Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis Guitars
California
http://www.michaellewisinstruments.com/

James Mapson
Mapson Guitars
California
http://www.mapsonguitars.com/

Ted Megas
Megas Guitars
Oregon
http://megasguitars.com/

Tom Ribbecke
Ribbecke Guitar Co.
California
http://www.rgcguitars.com/

Bruce Sexauer
Sexauer Guitars
California
http://www.sexauerluthier.com/

US MIDDLE: (11)

Tom Bills
Tom Bills Custom Guitars
Missouri
http://tbguitars.com/

Greg German
German Guitars
Colorado
http://germanguitars.com/

Dan Koentopp
Koentopp Guitars
Illinois
http://www.koentoppguitars.com/

Stephen Marchione
Marchione Guitars
Texas
http://www.marchione.com/

Bill Moll
Moll Custom Instruments
Missouri
http://www.mollinst.com/

James Murphy
JW Murphy Guitars
Michigan
http://www.jwmurphyguitars.com/

Kevin Pederson
Perderson Custom Guitars
Iowa
http://pedersoncustomguitars.com/

Tim Reede
Tim Reede Guitars
Minnesota
http://www.reedeguitars.com/index.html

Ryan Thorell
Thorell Guitars
Utah
http://www.thorellguitars.com/

Jim & Ryan Triggs
Triggs Guitars
Kansas
http://www.triggsguitars.com/

Gary Zimnicki
Zimnicki Guitars
Michigan
http://www.solomonguitars.com/

US EAST: (19)

Eric Aceto
Ithaca Stringed Instruments
New York
http://ithacastring.com/

Carl Barney
Carl Barney Guitars
Connecticut
http://www.barneyguitars.com/

John Buscarino
Buscarino Guitars
North Carolina
http://www.buscarino.com/

Mark Campellone
M. Campellone Guitars
Rhode Island
http://www.mcampellone.com/

Bill Comins
Comins Handcrafted Artisan Guitars
Pennsylvania
http://www.cominsguitars.com/comins-handcrafted/home

Kevin Cronin
Cronin Archtops
Massechusetts
http://croninarchtops.com/index.html

Stuart Day
Stuart Day Guitars
Pennsylvania
http://www.stuartdayguitars.com/

Otto D’Ambrosio
D’Ambrosio Guitars
Rhode Island
http://www.dambrosioguitars.com/index.php

Frank Finocchio
Finocchio Guitars
Pennsyvania
http://www.finocchioguitar.com/2014/

Mark Lacey
Lacey Guitars
Tennessee
http://www.laceyguitars.com/

Bernie Lehmann
Lehmann Stringed Instruments
New York
http://www.lehmannstrings.com/

Rick McCurdy
McCurdy Guitars
New York
http://www.mccurdyguitars.com/

Gary Morturo
Mortoro Guitars
Florida
http://www.mortoroguitars.com/

Chris Mirabella
Mirabella Guitars
New York
http://www.mirabellaguitars.com/

John Monteleone
Monteleone Guitars
New York
http://www.monteleone.net/

Ken Parker
Ken Parker Archtops
Massachusetts
http://www.kenparkerarchtops.com/

Chuck Sanzone
Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Co.i
Vermont
http://www.sanzoneguitars.com/Sanzon..._Co./Home.html

Erich Solomon
Solomon Guitars
New Hampshire
http://www.solomonguitars.com/

Bryant Trenier
Trenier Guitars
New York
http://trenierguitars.com/

Dale Unger
American Archtop
Pennsylvania
http://www.americanarchtop.com/

CANADA: (9)

Mario Beauregard
Beauregard Guitars
Quebec, Canada
http://beauregardguitars.com/

Oskar Graf
Oskar Graf Guitars
Ontario, Canada
http://www.grafguitars.com/

Michael Greenfield
Greenfield Guitars
Quebec, Canada
http://www.greenfieldguitars.com/

Doug Harrison
Harrison Guitars
Ontario, Canada
http://harrisonguitars.com/Introduct...tionindex.html

Michael Heiden
Heiden Stringed Instruments
British Columbia, Canada
http://beauregardguitars.com/

Peter Hopkins
Hopkins Guitars
British Columbia, Canada
http://www.hopkinsguitars.com/index1.html

Benoit Lavoie
Benoit Lavoie, Luthier
Quebec, Canada
http://www.benoitlavoie.com/ZEng_Index.htm

Linda Manzer
Manzer Guitars
Ontario, Canada
http://www.manzer.com/guitars/

Wyatt Wilkie
Wilkie Stringed Instruments
British Columbia, Canada
http://wilkiestringedinstruments.com/

[CoolerKing]

That list has grown since the weekend Bob--thanks for compiling!

[Martin Keith]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I know the OP has seen this, but others may not have. I made this for an art exhibition it is currently showing in. This is a traditional sounding guitar carved entirely with hand tools. The finish is "oil varnish" and the tailpiece is unique. As it happens, I made a second redition of the idea which is more delicate.

Hi Bruce,

What was/is your feeling about the results of the cable tailpiece?
I've had many chats with the violin/upright bass guys about this, but the mechanics of guitars are so different.

I'm using a rigid wooden tailpiece, but anchored to the guitar with a synthetic Vectran fiber rope, so it has a much more flexible point of attachment compared to the typical hinge.
Similar idea, I guess, but not quite to the extent of your cable approach.

Would love to know if you had any conclusions or guesses about its effect vs. a standard tailpiece.

Cheers,
Martin

[CoolerKing]

Let's throw Martin Keith's auriole design in for very cool flat top with an Archtop flare!

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Martin Keith

Hi Bruce,

What was/is your feeling about the results of the cable tailpiece?
I've had many chats with the violin/upright bass guys about this, but the mechanics of guitars are so different.

I'm using a rigid wooden tailpiece, but anchored to the guitar with a synthetic Vectran fiber rope, so it has a much more flexible point of attachment compared to the typical hinge.
Similar idea, I guess, but not quite to the extent of your cable approach.

Would love to know if you had any conclusions or guesses about its effect vs. a standard tailpiece.

Cheers,
Martin

We do make a big deal in the violin/bass world about how the the tailpiece is hung, and indeed, you don't see much hoopla about it in the the guitar world. I do mess around with basses quite a bit, and have changed the hanging system on several hundred at this point, making virtually all of the customers happy. . . In both directions, rigid to flexible and flexible to rigid. There isn't that much that can be easily and/or cheaply changed on a bass, and people are dying to make some difference. Personally, it is too subtle for me to hear the difference in virtually all cases. On a bass I prefer a cable hanger because it is strong, easily adjusted for length, and takes little time to fabricate.

The implementation on my guitar came to me out of a dead sleep after several days of wondering how I would handle it this time. Most of my earlier guitars use a carved ebony tailpiece hung on a brass fabrication. This allows easy string change, looks very cool, works just fine, but has little adjustability. The cable system looks even cooler, also allows easy string change (one at a time), has height and length adjustment, and couldn't be easier to make. While I am unlikely to make an different type of tailpiece for this guitar, and thus am unable to make real comparisons, I expect I would fail to hear the difference. The difference I scan hear is from trying the 4 differnet heights the cable can be hung at. This varies the pressure on the bridge and can change the sound from relatively light and springy to quite solid and punchy, not unlike going from extra light to medium strings on a flat top. I am loving this guitar. I will get it back from the exhibition on Monday, and it will be Christmas all over again.

Merry Christmas!!!

[drive-south]

I like the tailpiece system on Ken Parker's archtops. Very innovative and minimalist. Ken likes his guitars feather light and his archtops weigh as much as a potato chip.

[CoolerKing]

Originally Posted by drive-south

I like the tailpiece system on Ken Parker's archtops. Very innovative and minimalist. Ken likes his guitars feather light and his archtops weigh as much as a potato chip.

They look like they'll float away.

[Stixx]

I am surprised no one has mentioned that Bill Collings has been building Archtops for some time now and they are not only well done but command a pretty high price. I play so little arch top i just use an old solid wood Chinese job which is by no means tone rich or outstanding but is well done , but Bill Collings Arch tops are some of the finest I've ever seen anywhere and are very conservative. Not an art piece but a real typical Collings approach to building an honest tried and true representative of the species.

If they are anywhere NEAR as good as his Mandolins , I am sure i would love to play one someday. I know there is nothing fancy about the design and I appreciate those who like to push the envelope and try to be innovative but in my experience The Collings guitars really are wonderful guitars and hold their shape and tone and resale better than most and I would trust his Arch tops would as well or he wouldn't be able to get the kind of money he does for them .

[kkfan]

Originally Posted by Stixx

I am surprised no one has mentioned that Bill Collings has been building Archtops for some time now and they are not only well done but command a pretty high price. I play so little arch top i just use an old solid wood Chinese job which is by no means tone rich or outstanding but is well done , but Bill Collings Arch tops are some of the finest I've ever seen anywhere and are very conservative. Not an art piece but a real typical Collings approach to building an honest tried and true representative of the species.



If they are anywhere NEAR as good as his Mandolins , I am sure i would love to play one someday. I know there is nothing fancy about the design and I appreciate those who like to push the envelope and try to be innovative but in my experience The Collings guitars really are wonderful guitars and hold their shape and tone and resale better than most and I would trust his Arch tops would as well or he wouldn't be able to get the kind of money he does for them .

Now that you mention it, yes, I think Collings makes killer archtops. From what I understand, he doesn't take new orders at the moment, but from time to time, you get them used. In fact, there's an AT-17 for sale right now at the Collings forum. I am not affiliated with the seller.

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/...6/m/8320010186