Moving to an Archtop

[louparte]

I record with my arch top more than any other guitar I own.
Mostly I use it plugged in though.

It's the biggest guitar I own too. The lower bout is just shy of 18".
The depth is about 4 1/2 inches. F-holes are over-sized too.

It's a little wider than a J-200 in the lower bout and almost as deep.
It's the loudest arch top I've played acoustically. But I keep electric
strings on it for recording. That dampens the volume a bit.

Here is a size comparison with an auditorium-sized & a small dread cutaway.





I play it on several songs on my Youtube page.

This will give you an idea of what it sounds like plugged in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL0ItVXin8I

Or in a larger orchestral setting -- that guitar always sounds right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz6oKwsKR2c

[RobertForman]

very good, thanks for the youtube Lou

[Steve DeRosa]

Who's the maker, Lou - there's some glare in the photo so I can't make out the headstock inlay. Looks like an interesting piece: 1-7/8" neck unless I miss my guess (those Guilds were 1-5/8" as I recall, and I'm assuming the dread is 1-3/4"), I always liked the idea of a deeper body (TMK the current Gretsch Synchro 400 non-cut is the deepest RPO acoustic instrument at 3-1/2"), and IMO 18-inchers are the the ultimate archtops. I'd be very interested in checking one out, if I can find one - neck's a bit wide for my taste (I'm strictly an early/mid-60's guy in that department) but if the tone is all you say it is I'd gladly work around that...

[gregsguitars]

We have seen a resurgence in archtops as of late as well and think that they may be making their "second" round in players circles. They were of course very popular back in the day and it's nice to see more players rediscovering them.

[RobertForman]

a resurgence indeed, and they aren't just for jazz, here's a clip my wife and I recorded the other day, enjoy https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=3&theater

[L50EF15]

Not just for breakfast anymore... kinda like orange juice. Anyway, I'll post pics of mine shortly.

[upsidedown]

I recently picked up an Eastman AR605. I was away with no access to it for a week, so it's still brand new to me. Currently in the process of getting to know its sound, deciding on the bridge height, etc. It came with D'Addario EXP 16s, which at this particular point, I find a little bright for my taste. It could be the Eastman has a different sound altogether, and that I'm chasing my tail, but I like that "crisp, dry, woody" sound you hear about ad naseum . So I'm going to keep looking till either I find it, or realize I never will.

Based on a recommendation from a forum member, I'm going to try a set of Pyramid Western Folk strings on it. But I'd be open to string suggestions from archtop aficionados as well.

I'm repeating myself, but here's my new archtop;

[louparte]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Who's the maker, Lou - there's some glare in the photo so I can't make out the headstock inlay. Looks like an interesting piece: 1-7/8" neck unless I miss my guess (those Guilds were 1-5/8" as I recall, and I'm assuming the dread is 1-3/4"), I always liked the idea of a deeper body (TMK the current Gretsch Synchro 400 non-cut is the deepest RPO acoustic instrument at 3-1/2"), and IMO 18-inchers are the the ultimate archtops. I'd be very interested in checking one out, if I can find one - neck's a bit wide for my taste (I'm strictly an early/mid-60's guy in that department) but if the tone is all you say it is I'd gladly work around that...

Who's the maker? Mr. Binh on Guitar Street in Saigon. That guitar cost me $225 new. It's the first one he ever made. I still haven't seen another like it.
Today it would go for about $300 new. I bought mine 6 years ago. A friend of mine and I went to his shop last month. Binh said he'd make
him one for $300. That's with no pick-up.

I remember the day I bought it, a Japanese shopper warned me,
"The F-holes are too big...".

I bought it anyway. Later that day, an Aussie cursed at me for getting it before he could. I bought it early afternoon.
He planned to come in & buy it in the later afternoon.

After I modded it out, replaced a neck binding, added Schallers, a Kent Armstrong mini-humbucker, pick-guard & knobs, I'm still in <$500.

It's solid Spruce top & solid Mahogany back & sides.

The name on the head-stock is my name.

That Guild started with the 1 5/8" nut. I had Mr. Binh widen it.
I think you may be right about the arch-top nut. It's wider than 1 5/8".
But I never measured it though.

The neck gets a little thick & chunky as it nears the joint above the 12th fret.

IMO, arch-tops need a magnetic pick-up. Arch-tops are Jekyll/Hyde guitars. Without a pick-up, you miss out on the Hyde part.

[Spook]

Originally Posted by louparte

<snip>
IMO, arch-tops need a magnetic pick-up. Arch-tops are Jekyll/Hyde guitars. Without a pick-up, you miss out on the Hyde part.

That's quotable Lou..

[jimmy bookout]

I love archtops, there is something so elegant about them and good archtops are so nicely balanced.

My Eastman Pagelli PG2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwSIXrfMqA4

Jimmy

[Spook]

Originally Posted by jimmy bookout

I love archtops, there is something so elegant about them and good archtops are so nicely balanced.

My Eastman Pagelli PG2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwSIXrfMqA4

Jimmy

Jeez.. that Pagelli sounds amazing. What did you record it with?

[blue-wily-fox]

I like that old-timey plunky sounds of the old Kays...here's a '40's Kay I'm playing for fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l__NVNXnljM

[jimmy bookout]

Originally Posted by Spook

Jeez.. that Pagelli sounds amazing. What did you record it with?

Thanks.
I recorded it with a Zoom Q2HD, using the mic's on the Zoom. NO effects/eq, and the guitar is not plugged into an amp.

In regards to strings, I've messed with several sets (including several PB's) and I found I like D'Addario Pure Nickel EPN21 (12-51). These strings are very warm.

Jimmy