First electric for an acoustic guy....suggestions

avantgarde · #1 09-08-2010, 08:53 AM

So, I recently "plugged in" my acoustics and found a whole new world. I am really enjoying it. I only play for myself and play pretty much 100% in DADGAD and only improvise......new age jazz fusion if I had to put a label on it.

My next step was to sit down at the local GC and try a hollow body archtop Epiphone, list was a half grand. I loved it. So, I want an electric guitar and I really like the hollow body archtops.

I'm only going to play for myself, laying on my bed with a small amp, just like I do with the acoustics. Would love some direction as in best bang for the buck type archtop electrics, that aren't junk and sound great.....up to a grand and a half. Thx in advance for any suggestions.....bob

rbachman · #2 09-08-2010, 08:57 AM

If you loved the Epiphone ... Go for it !!

What model was it?

avantgarde · #3 09-08-2010, 09:06 AM

I don't even know what model it was, but I think I'm going to investigate a little. Preliminarlily I like the heritage and look of the D'Angelico guitars. I am going to check them out next. Any comments on the D'As?

Tahitijack · #4 09-08-2010, 09:43 AM

The D'Angelico New Yorker is a very fine guitar. You might check your bank account before playing one. They have a price to match their tone. Jazz guitar player Norman Brown plays one. Nice...very nice.

mr. beaumont · #5 09-08-2010, 09:52 AM

A D'Angelico ain't gonna cost you 300 bucks.

The cheapest archtops that are decent are the Ibanez's--you can get into one for under 400 bucks. Do some research, they have about 5 different models all named very similarly with A K or G, and then a #. Look for one with a deeper body depth for more acoustic sound. I had an Epiphone Emperor regent I never bonded with--pretty to look at, but just a budget guitar in disguise that suffered from a lot of the failings of budget guitars (and mine was supposed to be a "good" Korean model)

If you can save a little more, the Godin Kingpin single pickup model can be found for around $XXX now, and it's a very cool instrument--IMO--much "plainer" than the glossy Ibanez's and Epihones, but better on every level in terms of tone and playability.

And then there's vintage "Chicago" guitars--Kay's and Harmonys. Some are utter garbage, and it's a MUST to play before you buy, but they pop up on craigslist every now and then, and a good one is a dreamy guitar--I found my old Kay for $XXX, with a floating DeArmond guitar mic. It has a spruce top and maple back and sides and a BIG ol' body, which means it has a lot of acoustic sound--and the pickup sounds great as well. At least do a cursory c-list glance, if you can, just to see what's out there--otherwise, the new options are fine.

my two cents.

avantgarde · #6 09-08-2010, 07:45 PM

Mr b-

Thx for the informative overview, very helpful..... yeah after some quick looking I see that I'm probably over the grand mark for what strikes my fancy visually anyway. What about these D'As that they are making now. Not the hand made ones of yesteryear, but the overseas factory made ones now. They look great. But what do they sound like and what about build quality and playability. Actually I'll tell you tomorrow because I'm going to ride my bike up to Rudy's tomorrow and play some of them. Sounds like fun!

kscobie8 · #7 09-08-2010, 10:14 PM

Check out the Agile and Douglas guitars at Rondo music's website. Cheap, quality guitars. The dirty secret of these guitars is that some of them are 100% the same as the chinese epiphones, sans brand labeling. Worth a look.

http://www.rondomusic.com/
http://www.rondomusic.com/coolcatprestvintstoptail.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/wno675so.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/WNO630BR.html

Bel isi,
-kyle

mr. beaumont · #8 09-09-2010, 08:45 AM

If you have a grand to spend, seriously consider a vintage Gibson ES-125-- There's still a bunch around in good shape (because they were workhorses) and they've got a lot of that "mojo" that can't can't be quantified, and a wonderful pickup (original P90) that can. They pop up in the 900-1200 range often...You want an old one--deeper body.

The modern D'Angelicos are a lot of gloss and fancy, built on a decent but not spectacular guitar. They're worth the money you pay for them, but they're not a deal--does that make sense? If you want an Asian made instrument, Eastman does a much better job, IMHO (but for more bucks, too)

Another Asian option is The Loar-- I played one that I thought was quite well done, but I've heard others complain about QC issues. Caveat Emptor.

And then, also right at the tip top of your price range if not slightly more, are vintage Guilds. Do some ebay searching--The Guilds are extremely high quality, and have been forgotten a bit...which is a shame...wait, no it's not!!!! Just don't tell anybody.

An old X-175 can be had as low as $1200, and it is more guitar that 5 new model D'Angelicos.

I guess what I'm saying in a round about way, is don't skimp on an archtop. I did, and learned the hard way. It'll be a whole new world, and you'll think nothing of your Ibanez or whatever until you play a good archtop, and then, you'll see what I mean about "all gloss, no heart."

avantgarde · #9 09-09-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

If you have a grand to spend, seriously consider a vintage Gibson ES-125-- There's still a bunch around in good shape (because they were workhorses) and they've got a lot of that "mojo" that can't can't be quantified, and a wonderful pickup (original P90) that can. They pop up in the 900-1200 range often...You want an old one--deeper body.

The modern D'Angelicos are a lot of gloss and fancy, built on a decent but not spectacular guitar. They're worth the money you pay for them, but they're not a deal--does that make sense? If you want an Asian made instrument, Eastman does a much better job, IMHO (but for more bucks, too)

Another Asian option is The Loar-- I played one that I thought was quite well done, but I've heard others complain about QC issues. Caveat Emptor.

And then, also right at the tip top of your price range if not slightly more, are vintage Guilds. Do some ebay searching--The Guilds are extremely high quality, and have been forgotten a bit...which is a shame...wait, no it's not!!!! Just don't tell anybody.

An old X-175 can be had as low as $1200, and it is more guitar that 5 new model D'Angelicos.

I guess what I'm saying in a round about way, is don't skimp on an archtop. I did, and learned the hard way. It'll be a whole new world, and you'll think nothing of your Ibanez or whatever until you play a good archtop, and then, you'll see what I mean about "all gloss, no heart."

Mr B....thx so much great advise! I will look for an older ES125...sounds perfect for me....thx again!

avantgarde · #10 09-10-2010, 04:23 AM

thx to Mr. Beaumont I've found the type of archtop that I now have GAS for....a Gibson ES125 deep body. Preferably a 40's or 50's, but a good one from the 60's will do as well. Anyone have one that they want to sell or horse trade for?....thx...bob

Herb Hunter · #11 09-10-2010, 05:12 AM

I don't know if Heritage Guitars makes an ES-125 equivalent but you might want to have a look at their hollow body guitars. If you're unfamiliar with the company, some of their employees used to work for Gibson and formed Heritage Guitars in the old Gibson Kalamazoo factory when Gibson moved production to Nashville.

http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/hollowbody.html

GibbyPrague · #12 09-10-2010, 05:42 AM

I dont have too many suggestions as I only played a Les Paul ... but do want to say 'what an impressive acoustic guitar collection ' ! Wow. How do you decide what to play ..? :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantgarde

So, I recently "plugged in" my acoustics and found a whole new world. I am really enjoying it. I only play for myself and play pretty much 100% in DADGAD and only improvise......new age jazz fusion if I had to put a label on it.

My next step was to sit down at the local GC and try a hollow body archtop Epiphone, list was a half grand. I loved it. So, I want an electric guitar and I really like the hollow body archtops.

I'm only going to play for myself, laying on my bed with a small amp, just like I do with the acoustics. Would love some direction as in best bang for the buck type archtop electrics, that aren't junk and sound great.....up to a grand and a half. Thx in advance for any suggestions.....bob

mr. beaumont · #13 09-10-2010, 08:02 AM

I'm proud to have led avantgarde down the dark path of archtops...

But I'm warning ya bro--archtop GAS is brutal. You'll want a cutaway soon, and eventually a two pickup model, and then you'll NEED an all acoustic archtop...and one with a floating pickup...and then maybe a gretsch--something with a bigsby, for sure, definitely a few old Kays and Harmonys, maybe a...

oh, and onemore thing...

When you get it, maybe try some flatwounds, if you're gonna plug the guitar in a bit. Remember that it will sound nothing like all those nice flattops, the tone will be midrangey, with little sustain, lots of "bark" if you ply some 3rd/7th only freddie green chords on the inside strings, and lead lines will actually cut through and be heard...It's a whole different world.

avantgarde · #14 09-10-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaylorPrague

I dont have too many suggestions as I only played a Les Paul ... but do want to say 'what an impressive acoustic guitar collection ' ! Wow. How do you decide what to play ..? :-)

I'm in guitar heaven......I actually like each one of the guitars that I have. I could live with any one of them if I had to. I've found that they are all different and I try and allow each one of them to nudge me in a certain playing direction.....it's my harem.

avantgarde · #15 09-11-2010, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I'm proud to have led avantgarde down the dark path of archtops...

But I'm warning ya bro--archtop GAS is brutal. You'll want a cutaway soon, and eventually a two pickup model, and then you'll NEED an all acoustic archtop...and one with a floating pickup...and then maybe a gretsch--something with a bigsby, for sure, definitely a few old Kays and Harmonys, maybe a...

oh, and onemore thing...

When you get it, maybe try some flatwounds, if you're gonna plug the guitar in a bit. Remember that it will sound nothing like all those nice flattops, the tone will be midrangey, with little sustain, lots of "bark" if you ply some 3rd/7th only freddie green chords on the inside strings, and lead lines will actually cut through and be heard...It's a whole different world.

Yes, you really did send me to the dark side......after brousing all the vintage Gibson models, I've really fallen head over heels for the ES175's....the look, the double pickups.....the look....the look. I have a few of them on my radar and hopefully will be showing pics of my new 175 within a day or two! BTW, if anyone has a 175 that they would like to trade up or down with a guitar in my signature then let's discuss....thx...bob