The AGF "All things acoustic archtop" thread

[iim7V7IM7]

Hi,
This is my archtop, a Heritage Sweet 16 that I had custom build 11 years ago. It has a 16' lower bout, an x-braced spruce top and a 2-3/4" deep flamed maple body and is 2-3/4" deep with a 25.5" scale with an ebony fingerboard, ebony finger rest with volume and tone control and a Florentine cutaway. A very comfortable instrument to play due to its modest size and depth, yet it has wonderful acoustic properties.





It came with an HRW Floating pick-up which I never really liked the tone plugged in with. About 4 years ago, after auditioning a number of other floaters and speaking to a few pro players (Henry Johnson and Vince Lewis) who had solved the same issue; I made the difficult decision to send the instrument back to Heritage and install a full-sized humbucker. This of course meant routing the top which scared me to death. Heritage routed the top and installed a humbucker on a mount ring on their 4-point mounting system. Unlike a normal pick-up mount it only touched the top on 4 small bushings at the corners of the mount ring. The pick-up held in the ring above the top by about 1.5 mm. This minimizes the dampening from the pick-up. I am happy to say that it sounds great (both plugged in and acoustically). Floaters never sound the same as a full sized humbucker.



You can see how they routed by ebony finger rest to fit the pick-up ring.


You can see how the ring is above the top.



A couple of other things that I have done over the years is put a strap mount on the angled heel of the neck. This helps the instrument hang comfortably when I play standing with a strap. It works very well.



I also found a guy to make a nice custom truss rod cover.


Heritage is a wierd company with know how second to none and who is capable of making fabulous instruments. They also are an incredibly inconsistent company who can let lots of quality problems out of their shop (another instrument I had from them) which is a shame. My Sweet 16 is a fantastic archtop. I have brought it with me to a number of shops that deal in small manufacture archtops and honestly, while it is not the prettiest; it is as good sounding an instrument as I have played.

:-)

Bob

[brad4d8]

Here's a link to my Artist Award from when it was at archtop.com:
http://www.archtop.com/ac_75AA_409_.html
One of these days I'll have to take some pictures of my Metro B. It was made by (or at least distributed by) Bacon and Day and has a sweet vintage sound, not unlike David Rawlings old Epi.
Brad

[B Chas]

Backdrifter, you've sold or traded some wonderful guitars. I love the look of that Bourgeois.

Here's a couple of pics of my 1954 Gibson L-50.

[ac319]

Harmony H1457 1960 with a 1 3/4 nut width, solid maple back and sides, and solid spruce top. Brazilian rosewood fretboard, I think the markers are "pearloid" but I do love the block markers. This guitar plays great with super low action. It is the first guitar I purchased 5 yrs ago. Others have come and gone, this one always will stay:


I sent pics to the harmony guitar guys site and it is also featured there. The funny thing is the guy who owned it before me also sent pics to that site so it is on there a few times. This is the link:

http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=80

My guitar is in row 3, the one with the green wall behind it (5 pics) and the last 4 pics in row 4 are also my guitar but those pics submitted by the previous owner.

The second pic is what it looks like now with finish wear on the trebble side from aggressive strumming. I don't have the other guitars it is pictured with any more.

[zombywoof]

Gotta a few around. I prefer the round soundhole archtops to the f holes though.

A ca. 1933 May Bell (made by Slinglerland) all mahogany slothead concert size archtop. Nice features for a bottom of the food chain guitar - bound neck and soundhole, pearloid pickguard and bone saddle floating bridge.


A mid-1930s Kay Kraft. Spruce top and birch body. Sexy Oahu headstock. One of the last made with the Zorzi adjustable neck which still works like a dream.




Another 1930s Kay Kraft - a slothead "Venetian."

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by B Chas

Backdrifter, you've sold or traded some wonderful guitars. I love the look of that Bourgeois.

Hi B Chas, good to hear from you, it's been a while!

Yes, I am very blessed to have owned so many great instruments. Every once in a while I'll want to kick myself for selling some of them (the 1933 L7 comes immediately to mind, the Bourgeous too, but not quite as much). But, I don't ever keep a large collection. I typically have 3 or 4 choice instruments, and when I'm ready for something new, I'll sell one and replace it with something else on my "wish list". I would never have been able to try all of the wonderful instruments that I have if I had kept everything that I've owned. And I've been very lucky - I seem to have dumb luck with great deals and rare instruments just falling into my lap. I certainly can't complain about it!

That L-50 of yours is a stunner! Is that a Fishman transducer bridge pickup on it? The Bourgeois had one of those and I liked it a lot.

Enjoy her in good health!

[jimmy bookout]

I'm in on an "acoustic archtop" thread. Nothing better than some archtop porn so here are mine:

First, my Comins Classic (which I sold a few years ago). 18" body, European Maple back and sides.




And my current archtop: Eastman Pagelli PG2:

[Glennwillow]

Man, Backdrifter,

Those are some seriously gorgeous archtops! Very nice photos!

I was wondering why you would part with that Gibson L7 until I saw the Benedetto. Wow!

I loved the photo of Howard's L-5 and all the cool guitars on Kitchen Guitar's post, too.

- Glenn

PS: Geez, I missed all the great photos on the 2nd page! All beautiful guitars!

[backdrifter]

Hi jimmy,

Nice guitars! Comins is one of the luthiers on my short list. How did you like it, and if I may ask, why did you sell?

Thanks!

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Man, Backdrifter,

Those are some seriously gorgeous archtops! Very nice photos!

I was wondering why you would part with that Gibson L7 until I saw the Benedetto. Wow!

Thanks, Glenn! Unfortunately, there is trouble in paradise. I was just sitting here writing the reply above about the Comins when I heard a very loud noise and looked over to see that my Benedetto had exploded. Seriously. Took some photos and am starting a new thread on it. This is going to suck.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Thanks, Glenn! Unfortunately, there is trouble in paradise. I was just sitting here writing the reply above about the Comins when I heard a very loud noise and looked over to see that my Benedetto had exploded. Seriously. Took some photos and am starting new thread on it. This is going to suck.

Oh, that's awful! What a shame...

[backdrifter]

Thanks Glenn, I appreciate the sentiment. Here's a link to the thread I started for anyone that wants to commiserate with me or offer opinions on why this may have happened.

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=244310

[B Chas]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Hi B Chas, good to hear from you, it's been a while!

That L-50 of yours is a stunner! Is that a Fishman transducer bridge pickup on it? The Bourgeois had one of those and I liked it a lot.

Enjoy her in good health!

Thanks Ben. I believe it is a Fishman, it does sound really nice. The pics were when I first got it, before cleaning it up a bit.

I read your thread about your Benedetto, what a freak accident! Although quite a bummer, hopefully if you can replace or repair the tail piece, it should be as good as before. And I’ll be it sounds wonderful.

[jimmy bookout]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Hi jimmy,

Nice guitars! Comins is one of the luthiers on my short list. How did you like it, and if I may ask, why did you sell?

Thanks!

Bill Comins is a GREAT builder and I would not hesitate to get another guitar built by him. I sold mine because of shoulder issues I developed over time and the size of the guitar (18"). That said, I had that guitar for 15 years and loved it, one day I will order another guitar from Bill (but a smaller body this time).

Jimmy

PS. I replied to your thread about the Benedetto, I think you will be up and running in no time!

[backdrifter]

Ahh, that makes sense. I didn't realize your Comins was an 18 incher - I bet it had tone for days! The Pagelli is gorgeous too - I've never played one, but would love to!

(and thanks for your words of kindness regarding the Benedetto!)