#16
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I've been all over youtube listening to different samples and loved this one I found of a blackstone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHNgsWf8HLg Would love to find a good value, but need to be careful though not to fall in love with a guitar out of my price range, which tends to happen to me when I go "toy" shoppin' |
#17
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The Kalamazoo seems like my safest bet so far, but I'll try and see if there are any good options for blackstones - they seem to be rarer guitars.. or at least sold less frequently. which is probably a good sign. From the research I've found, the Cromwell seems to be basically the same as the Kalamazoo? Or very similar.. You're now the second person here to recommend me a Kay Television. I'll heed your advice though on really knowing it. I think there are some Kays at a shop where I live so I'll make sure to test those puppies out in person. I haven't tried the masterbuilts, but I think I'm way too obsessed with getting a vintage player at this point to purchase something brand new. A few years back, I picked up a reaaaaally old, unmarked spanish guitar in an antique store in Madrid a few years back for 50 euro that remains by far the best sounding instrument that I own. Lately, I'm just really into vintage instruments, their restoration, and in some cases, potential conversions. So when I played my buddy's archtop, I knew that would be my next target. Thanks again for the history lesson and great advice!! _________________ |
#18
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My approach is to scour local ads on craiglist ect., and visit shops nearby for anything I can hold and play nearby, while doing my homework on compelling finds online (post on forums>research models>ask seller good questions/audio samples>assess overall price value>ect.). There are a few sellers I've found that do such a good job that I'd be willing to pay a bit more knowing they're selling really quality guitars. Thanks for the feedback and I'll make sure to let everyone know what I end up getting! |
#19
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Good luck! |
#20
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I owned two ‘30’s Kalamazoo archtops that I could never bond with. Pressed tops made them sound a little thin to my ears, anyway.
A ‘30’s L-50 has a carved top and is a much better sounding guitar, IMO. If you are willing to settle for one with cosmetic issues (repaired cracks, stripped, refinished, overspray, non-original parts, etc.), you can end up with a good-sounding and playing archtop for under $1000. Insist on a no-hassle return policy if buying sight-unseen. And appreciate that most vintage archtops out there have something wrong with them that could benefit from the services of a good luthier. Setting an extra $200 aside for repairs is a wise move. Then you can be prepared to address anything that is wrong with the right guitar, or be pleasantly surprised if it is not needed!
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Neal A few nice ones, a few beaters, and a few I should probably sell... |
#21
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Remind me never to borrow one of your guitars...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#22
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__________________
An old Gibson and a couple of old Martins; a couple of homebrew Tele's |
#23
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Agreed. I own a ‘35 Kalamazoo KG-11 that is a keeper! That little thing is one of the loudest guitars I have ever played of any size.
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Neal A few nice ones, a few beaters, and a few I should probably sell... |
#24
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The thing that amazes me time and time again is that if you are a person who likes to play with a heavy hand, the ergonomics of an archtop, with the tall bridge imparting a "trampoline" feel to the strings, is so much better vs. a flattop. Combined with the broad usefulness of strummed/picked tones from right at the bridge to up the fretboard, I am inclined to agree with Ken Parker that archtops are the most versatile/dynamic acoustic design. The challenge is finding a voice that works for you. Old, cheaper archtops like my K'zoo can sound quite a bit different from high-end archtops. You have to figure out what you need.
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An old Gibson and a couple of old Martins; a couple of homebrew Tele's |
#25
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I came very close to taking this guitar home last October. However, money is tight and I don't need another guitar. This Weymann is beautiful to the eye and sounds and plays great. I'm sure they would deal with you on the price. I'm not affiliated in any way with the guitar or seller.
https://bernunzio.com/product/weymann-style-b-23995/ |
#26
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I've owned a Kalamazoo, unsure of the model, as well as two Patricians. Currently I have a 1948 Epiphone Blackstone that blows them away. You should dig into if the top is a pressed solid top or actually carved. It does make a big difference in the sound.
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#27
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You have to play them and hear them to know. I absolutely love vintage instruments - but I don't like the sound of a whole lot of vintage acoustic archtops. They sound nasal, thin, mid-rangey to me, I can't come to grips with that. Yet I keep looking, and I own a couple of them that I cherish for other reasons. when I made my first archtop, in a light modern style of construction, I started to hear the sound I wanted. My last two nailed it for me. My goal is very balanced and even from top to bottom, oddly more like a flat-top sound. Someone who cherished the sound of a 1930's Gibson or a small body Epiphone Olympic like Rawlings plays might not like mine at all.
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Brian Evans Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia. |
#28
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"I can sit here quietly and let you think I'm stupid or I can say something and confirm it for you." |
#29
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My 1938 Kalamazoo KG-31 has a wonderful full tone. Mahogany body and neck, short scale, no truss rod. They vary widely, but a strummy one like mine is excellent.
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An old Gibson and a couple of old Martins; a couple of homebrew Tele's |
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Tags |
archtop, buying used guitar, epiphone archtop, vintage acoustic |
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