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  #1  
Old 08-01-2008, 08:55 PM
Kitbuqa Kitbuqa is offline
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Default Your favourite archtops

Hi fellows, I was curious about getting an archtop later.

I was wondering what your favourite archtops are or any recommendations.

Doesn't matter if you once owned, it gassing after it or own it !

And...this thread is worthless without pics.
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  #2  
Old 08-01-2008, 09:09 PM
D. Churchland D. Churchland is offline
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I like Ken Parker's work alot, and alot of the early Gretsch archtops

Ken's website

http://www.kenparkerarchtops.com/
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  #3  
Old 08-01-2008, 09:42 PM
Howard Klepper Howard Klepper is offline
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This is my favorite archtop, and my favorite guitar. I built it for myself a few years ago.





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  #4  
Old 08-01-2008, 09:44 PM
Ken C Ken C is offline
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Always, I have to ask, "Favorite for what music?" <g>

For plugged-in, 1950 Honky Tonk, I dearly love my Kay Catalina with floating DeArmond p.u. slid up to the end of the fretboard. Round nickel wound T-I Jazz Bebop strings.


For general thump and attack, the DeArmond X-155 is nice with the two p.u.s. Round nickel wound T-I Jazz Bebop strings.
(Friend Bill Zombeck playing it.)


For general barre and choppy chords, I like my Harmony arch top...bronze strings/ no p.u. (Friend Stan Milam playing it.)


For 1920-1939 songs, I prefer my G-40 Maccaferri. Pearse silk and steel mediums. (Friend Al Sato playing it.)


For accompanying other people, I like my Harmony tenor arch top. With its CGDA and four strings, that is a wide range with lots of room in the middle for other instruments.


Ken C.
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  #5  
Old 08-01-2008, 10:12 PM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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I ain't never played one but I am guessing if I did a 1940s Stromberg Master 400 would be my favorite.

Until then my 1930s Kay Kraft "Venetian" will have to do.



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  #6  
Old 08-02-2008, 07:07 AM
KPV KPV is offline
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I love archtops. I really don't have a favorite. Currently I have one, a Hofner Jazzica Custom with hand rubbed violin finish that I'm quite happy with. I'd also like to try a new Godin 5th Avenue. And, I've been gassing for an Epiphone Emperor Regent as well. I like the floating, single pickup arrangement on archtops the best.

Here's my Hofner...

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  #7  
Old 08-02-2008, 07:08 AM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Default An archtop that does bottleneck/fingerstyle.......

..........can be seen by fast-forwarding to the 3:40 mark of this youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Gho...eature=related

A description and demonstration will answer the the question!

Enjoy.

HE
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  #8  
Old 08-02-2008, 08:06 AM
strangeman strangeman is offline
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Well, I've played a few of these at Michael Lewis' shop while he did some repair work for me. Pretty amazing...flawless workmanship. I don't know enough about archtops to make camparisons, but every one I played was a fine guitar.

Michael Lewis Archtops
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  #9  
Old 08-02-2008, 08:27 AM
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Livingston Livingston is offline
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Here is my current (electric) archtop:



It is a custom guitar made by Steve Holst. It has laminated top and back plates (pressed by Steve), mahogany neck, ebony fret board, and koa binding. The body has a 16" lower bout with a 2.75" depth. It has a hand wound Kent Armstrong PAF style pickup.

I'm extremely happy with my Holst but if I were to buy another guitar down the road, I have had my eye on this one (Ribbecke Halfling):

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Old 08-02-2008, 09:06 AM
815C 815C is offline
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I picked up this Gibson Wes Montgomery Custom Shop L-5 three years ago and plan on keeping it. Very very nice.

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  #11  
Old 08-02-2008, 09:12 AM
weatherford weatherford is offline
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Another GORGEOUS guitar, Howard! I would like to play it someday!!

If I had the money, I'd probably commission one by Ken Parker - I like his philosophy. Just not his prices!
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  #12  
Old 08-02-2008, 09:20 AM
brahmz118 brahmz118 is offline
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I've fallen in love with acoustic archtops. Here's a low-quality picture of my Verri:



Would love to have one of these, by Bill Comins:



I like the simple geometry of Bryant Trenier's Magnolia Classic series:



For something more modern, I like Josep Melo's designs:



Here's one by Linda Manzer that almost looks too nice to play:

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  #13  
Old 08-02-2008, 09:37 AM
Kitbuqa Kitbuqa is offline
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Theres just something about the nostalgic old world finery and bling of archtops thats just so **** attractive.

I can't wait to start looking for custom archies in the next few months!
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  #14  
Old 08-04-2008, 04:00 PM
jimmy bookout jimmy bookout is offline
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Here is my Comins Classic, built in 1997. 18 inch European Maple back and sides (size and wood were both options), X braced sitka top, 25" scale, bound "Chuck Wayne" pickguard (also an option). The tailpiece is not stock, the Baggs Hex pickup needed grounding and I didn't want to modify the Comins tailpiece. I think this was the first lefty that Bill built (the guitar is #55).
Bill Comins is a good guy and a great builder. His guitars are beautifully made and the sound is very fine. Bill is also still fairly reasonable price wise (I do smile when I look at my bill of sale from 1997, however!). I strongly recommend considering him when you want to pull the archtop trigger. I don't play this guitar out a great deal but had always dreamed of owning a handbuilt archtop as they are visually so compelling. This is the ONE guitar I own that my wife recognizes when I play it around the house (it is nicknamed "Big Blonde", not a very original name, but a correct moniker).

BTW, the "other" guitar is a 1993 Collings 000-2H, which is a pretty snappy guitar itself! I don't have a picture of the Comins by itself.

Jimmy
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Last edited by jimmy bookout; 08-04-2008 at 08:54 PM.
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  #15  
Old 08-04-2008, 05:19 PM
phil_harmonic phil_harmonic is offline
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I like my Samick JZ-4. If price is an issue consider one of these. If not, Gibson, Eastman, Herritage, etc.

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/samick.html
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