#1
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What archtop
If you had $6000.00 to spend on an archtop,what you you settle on? Gibson 17" Pre war L5, or any number of boutique builders....Thanks.
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#2
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For $6000 I would buy an Eastman, then take a nice vacation.
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"My opinion is worth every penny you paid for it." "If you try to play like someone else, Who will play like you". Quote from Johnny Gimble The only musician I have to impress today is the musician I was yesterday. No tubes, No capos, No Problems. |
#3
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I have the great good fortune to have a nice Eastman and a classic Epi Broadway and a modern handbuilt (none of which, arguably, I deserve), but six grand will buy a lot of guitar. I hear that 1930s walnut Epis can be pretty nifty, and I've always been curious about non-Artist Award A-model Guilds (and never seen one in person in 30 years of looking). But actually, I wouldn't know until I had a guitar in my hands whether it should join the herd.
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#4
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Campellone 17" Standard, built to order for $5200 - either he's living in a tent in a junkyard somewhere, or the other archtop makers are charging way too much (BTW, anyone else remember that guy from a few years back who said he couldn't build a plain-wood, dark flat-finish, unbound, L-37 size archtop for less than $6-7K )...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#5
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I love my little Weber Bitterroot with the mahogany back & sides but (if one could be found) I sure would like to try out a maple b&s model.
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#6
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Mark Campellone and Jim Triggs both turn in very highly regarded archtop instruments in that price range. The right Eastman could also fit the bill, at a savings as someone said, though I suspect it would be optimal to try out several in a major city and settle on the best among them. I played a Gary Zimnicki archtop a few years back, up for sale here, that was quite terrific! https://zimnicki.com/instrument/orchestra-archtop/ though at $9K it is above the range.
Someone also had a Dana Bourgeois archtop posted here with a clip that sounded great, and I believe had originally sold for around $4-5K, assuming you can find one. Wait, here’s one! (no financial interest): https://reverb.com/item/12180000-bou...xoChD4QAvD_BwE Last edited by Richard Mott; 08-05-2021 at 11:11 PM. |
#7
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what guitar
Steve: I had an all acoustic Campellone 17" deluxe cutaway, that I bought from Stan Jay, sold it a bought a 38 L5. Mark is at the top of his game....
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#8
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My 1953 Gibson L4C is a sweet guitar and has gone up in value since I bought it for $800 back in the 90s. For about the current price of an old L4C you could also get one of these Waterloo archtops but it won't appreciate in value like an old Gibson––my $800 archtop is now worth about 4K. And in terms of enjoyment it's priceless
https://www.waterlooguitars.com/wl-at/ Last edited by Al Acuff; 08-12-2021 at 09:59 AM. |
#9
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Much will depend on how you want to use it. Freddie Green or Django agressive pumping? Chord melody like Joe Pass?
Help us to help you with relevant suggestions. Daniel Slaman in the Netherlands has a wide range on offer |
#10
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L5 Wes Mo from 80/90s.. but your limit would probably not be enough for that
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#11
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I'm not an aficionado but I think I'd at least consider getting this one and spend the rest of the money on something else because you can never have too many guitars
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#12
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Quote:
While $6,000 while a fair sum of money, it is the very lower realm of a luthier made archtop. Mark Campellone makes wonderful archtops. They are derivative of a 1950s, parallel braced Gibson L-5. He has different levels of decoration and wood qualities that are used, but they are all have the same bones. His focus, building in batches vs one at a time, and having a shop on his own property have kept his prices sub-market. Personally, I find Mark’s instruments to be better electric instruments than acoustic instruments as I do with Gibson L-5s (except 1920s/1930s 16” models). Alternatively, you might consider buying a used archtop from reputable builders like Steve Andersen, John Buscarino, Bill Comins, Steve Grimes, Tom Ribbecke or Bryant Trenier.
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#13
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Quote:
I only play acoustic instruments, and have three archtops. I have three but can't justify them as I'm really not that good in playing them in the style they should be played. In 2007, i started jazz guitar lessons and my teacher had a '34 Gibson L-5 that i fell in love with, so I started to look at old Gibsons. I found this one in Seattle (a long way from London) and at a specialist archtop dealer. -cost me a lot - It really sounds like he ideal 16" rhythm box for the dance band music of the time. A year before that I found a '64 Harmony Monterey in showroom condition. I know it is a pressed top but still works very well for what it was designed for. My most recent purchase was an Eastman AR805 I'd had an Eastman AR805 e - but as I didn't want an electric, and it arrived is a very rosy finish, it wasn't quite what I wanted. This one is beautifully finished in all over sunburst, and has a far more open tonality, almost like a flat top.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#14
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Im a purist when it comes to Archtops and only an acoustic qualifies for that title imo.
the 1929 Stewart Archtop i restored meets all my archtop dreams. have had it appraised by 3 different places: $2000/ $8000/ and unable to assess. Probably not worth more than 2or 3 the highest intrinsic value is probably the birds eye maple front and back. but ive put close to $1500.00 total into now and its priceless to me... it will go to my Grand Daughter once im unable to enjoy playing it or looking at it. now... if i had $50,000 id get a signed L-5 Lloyd Loar 1924.
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Don 1929 SS Stewart Pro Archtop 1921 G Houghton Archtop Banjo 2007 George Rizsanyi Custom Maple Banjo Killer 2017 James Malejczuk Custom OM Black Limba 1980 Norman B50-12 Norman B-20 Recording King single 0 1996 Takamine 1967 Yam G-130 Melvina 1980s Seagull S6 Cedar 2003 Briarwood 1970s Eko Maple 1982 Ovation 2020 Fender Telecaster Mandolin Yam THR5A Sienna 35 Kustom |
#15
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Is the neck 1pc maple ?
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