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Which Archtops will fill a room unamplified?
Having recently been introduced the archtops by you folks on this forum, I'm intrigued. I plan to play a few this week for the first time. I'm looking for an instrument to play solo fingerstyle American Songbook tunes such as "The Way You Look Tonight," which I've just started to learn.
I'm wondering one thing: Are there archtops that produce enough volume to play acoustically without amplification? I'm looking not only for specific model recommendations, but more broadly, for the general characteristics of particular archtops that would make them loud enough to fill this niche. Don't get me wrong: I'm happy to get an archtop with electronics and amplify it, but I'd love to have the option not to.
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2012 Martin 000-42 - Sitka/EIR 2015 Santa Cruz Custom 000 - Sitka/EIR 2013 Taylor Custom GA - Cedar/Maple 2019 Taylor 522ce V-Class 12-Fret - All Mahogany 2021 Rainsong V-OM 1000-NSX - Spruce/Carbon Fiber 2008 Fender Stratocaster 70s Reissue (Natural) |
#2
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Any archtop that's worth it's salt should be easily audible in any acoustic situation. That said, the bigger the body, the more volume.
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#5
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I'll just add, your approach to playing and the guitar's setup makes a big difference in how well it projects.
These videos are invaluable: |
#6
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Thanks to you archtop guys for enlightening me. I must say, however, I'm playing solo guitar, not rhythm guitar, so I'm looking for a guitar that by itself will fill a room with American Songbook classics.
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2012 Martin 000-42 - Sitka/EIR 2015 Santa Cruz Custom 000 - Sitka/EIR 2013 Taylor Custom GA - Cedar/Maple 2019 Taylor 522ce V-Class 12-Fret - All Mahogany 2021 Rainsong V-OM 1000-NSX - Spruce/Carbon Fiber 2008 Fender Stratocaster 70s Reissue (Natural) |
#7
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That's so interesting. What a cool choice of songs!! I think that although archtops are rarely used for fingerstyle playing, they are an EXCELLENT choice for it. Archtops tend not to have a lot of sustain, but are very articulate and punchy. That's exactly the combination you want for fingerpicking. You don't get the flab and overtones and reverberation you do with, e.g., some dreadnoughts. I think to get a good loud one, you may want to get one with a full 25.4" scale. Lots of archtops are short scale guitars, and that helps jazz fingering of course, but it doesn't drive the bridge, and thus the top, as hard. A large-bodied one helps too. Certainly a carved top rather than a laminated top, but that's obvious. Try normal phosphor bronze strings -- certainly not jazz flatwounds. (I'm not sure whether having big f-holes helps, but I actually think I read that it does not -- the f-holes apparently don't work exactly like the soundhole on a flattop.) The only thing that archtops don't really work well for is strumming. If you're going to do Eagles covers, get a flattop! They just don't have the overtones to hold chordal sounds the way you want. Plus, a hard-strumming player could possibly bonk a floating bridge out of place -- which would be bad. Personally I think acoustic archtops -- i.e., those without magnetic pickups -- are the coolest thing since sliced bread!!!
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And I thought, "I've fiddled all night, and lost! You were good, hillbilly ... but you've been bossed." - Mountain Whippoorwill (Or, How Hillbilly Jim Won The Great Fiddler's Prize), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
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I however do agree with you on this! |
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Life is good! |
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__________________
2012 Martin 000-42 - Sitka/EIR 2015 Santa Cruz Custom 000 - Sitka/EIR 2013 Taylor Custom GA - Cedar/Maple 2019 Taylor 522ce V-Class 12-Fret - All Mahogany 2021 Rainsong V-OM 1000-NSX - Spruce/Carbon Fiber 2008 Fender Stratocaster 70s Reissue (Natural) |
#11
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There's a lot of misinformation on the web about archtops--and in this thread!
Here's what you need to know... An acoustic archtop can actually be quite versatile. But not all are the same...some will sound better than others "strummed," others will be better at barking out a swing rhythm. Generally, size and bracing has a lot to do with this...but there's always exceptions. The amplified tone of an archtop with a magnetic pickup may be nothing like it's acoustic voice. Many people pick up an acoustic archtop and expect a dark, mellow tone...and get the opposite! Strings matter too. So, let me first ask what your budget is, then ask for a few examples of archtop tones you like...then I can actually give advice on what guitar can "fill a room" for ya. |
#12
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In production guitars there's the Gibson Super 400 and Heritage Super Eagle, both of which are "officially" cataloged as electrics but can be made to order as full acoustic instruments (I've played examples of both); in addition, nearly all of the small-shop/individual archtop makers will build you an 18-incher to order for an upcharge ($300-2000+ depending on whom you choose) over their 16"/17" guitars, and Jim Triggs includes a 19" Stromberg 400 tribute in his regular lineup that IMO is perhaps the ultimate archtop guitar. Finally, if you're willing to take a bit of a gamble Yunzhi will custom-build you a hand-carved instrument to order for the price of a laminated upscale Yamaha/Ibanez or low-end Eastman jazzbox; many of the regulars on the Archtop forum have bought them sight unseen (type in "Yunzhi guitars" in the Search box), and while there may be some minor issues in terms of refinement (usually nothing that a first-class setup job can't fix) I've yet to hear anyone complain about their tone. Just for the heck of it, back in April I requested a quote on a Super 400-style 18" non-cut with a few custom appointments (neck width/contour, string spacing, inlay, fret type/width/height), and they came back with a figure of well under $1100 with HSC; at that price you almost can't afford not to own one if you're an archtop lover, and but for some long-needed house repairs that since turned into emergencies (with the additional expense implied) I'd be sitting here playing one right now as we speak...
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#13
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Amen to that! That's a great price for that guitar too. I was (and am) very, very tempted. I just bought another used guitar in the same price range. I can't afford yet another one, and I don't think I'm willing to part with the one I just bought. But man, I would LOVE to play that big booming guitar!
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#14
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Hey backdrifter! That Epiphone is right here where I live on Staten Island,I was thinking about giving the guy a call a playing it....Brian....It`s a good price for that Epi....
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#15
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I have no illusions that I'm a super guitar player, but at least I can find my own videos, and it seems to line up with what you do, There are lots of acoustic archtop and American Songbook examples on my channel. BTW, although I've only played acoustic arctops for thirty years, much less than Mr.DR's sixty years, I'm not yet a convert to 18" guitars. 16" or 17" have been working out just fine for me. I've played lots of Super 400's and haven't found one that spoke to me like my L-5's. Just me, I guess. But keep an open mind. We don't all agree on this one. |
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acoustic, amplification, archtop |
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