School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Sanford

Sanford

New member
Lately I've been listening to some old jazz with swinging rhythm work and have worked up a serious jones for an archtop F-hole acoustic. It seems that the usual online retailers will only list one or two models in the $5k range, all the rest have humbuckers in them. Does anyone know of a place that sells an "every day man" priced one? I'm thinking significantly less than a grand. I'm not hung up on brand names, and having a cutaway isn't absolutely necessary.

Thanks


(Beandip?)
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

There's a lot to choose from. I like full hollowbodies myself, and use them in place of an acoustic. Better action and you don't have those awful schreechy strings.

Ibanez has some hollowbodies, like the AF series. The AF105 is a washed blonde single Venetian cutaway, with gold hardware. The AF75 is the same shape in a thinline in several colors, with chrome.

Epiphone has the Joe Pass jazz box, the gold top ES295, and the Casino (a hollow 335 with P-90's). Two Epi's that are out of production now, that you might pick up used: an ES-5 (triple P-90's), and the Sorrento (single Florentine cutaway with twin P-90's).

Washburn makes an ES175 copy called the J-3 (twin HB's), and Dean has a similar shaped one, the Palomino with triple P-90's.

Samick & Hamer also make a few deep hollowbodies.

Put in a pair of American-made PAF's or P-90's, and you've got a nice sounding guitar, amplified or unplugged.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

You could also look at the Godin 5th avenue... sweet guitars for the price.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

For under a grand, you might be able to find an old Epi or Guild acoustic archtop. For the big body chop rhythm stuff, one of the old spruce top 18" Kays or Silvertones would do the trick. I see these going for around 300-500 bucks, but you need to check the top and neck joint...
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

ES350 said:
For under a grand, you might be able to find an old Epi or Guild acoustic archtop. For the big body chop rhythm stuff, one of the old spruce top 18" Kays or Silvertones would do the trick. I see these going for around 300-500 bucks, but you need to check the top and neck joint...
Click to expand...

Man, 18" lower bout? That's huge, like holding a life raft. I think "16 is probably the limit for most players to use comfortably, especially for a 3 1/2" deep hollowbody. You get a small neck (14th fret juncture) with almost all of them, and oversize bodies aren't needed with amplification being what it is these days.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Godin 5th and there's a Gretsch that looked real sweet too, both around 600...liked the Godin quite a bit. Haven't tried the Gretsch though.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Archtops are generally constructed out of two materials, traditionally speaking. Maple, and spruce. Now, when you're dealing with instruments in this price range, don't expect solid wood construction all the way around.

With the spruce tops, they're generally solid with a laminated maple body all away around. Maple or mahogany neck, rosewood or ebony fretboard with an ebony bridge. Now, with the information you've gathered being an electric guitarist and picking apart the tone of solid bodies, this information would lead you to believe that this would be a very bright instrument. WRONG. They're extremely tight and focused sound, great for cutting through the mix in a big band situation (what they were meant for).

That said, I second the Godin 5th Ave. I second any mention from Godin acoustics. They're absolutely amazing quality that cannot be beat by anyone else in their price range, period. They're very vintaged voiced. I find them to be a nice mix between a Martin D and a Gibson slope shouldered.

Their quality is outstanding, and can't be beat by anyone in the price range (except when you start getting into the Artist and Mosaic series). The craftsmanship is mind blowing. The only thing I've ever HAD to do to my Seagulls (I've owned a few, and worked on dozens) was round off the fret edges just a tad. But I believe that's due more to the fluctuating humidity and temps of Texas than anything else.

When it comes to archtops, the lighter braced the better. Their bracing are actually more of "tone bars" than anything else, since the bulge of the top is what fights the string tension. Take a peek inside with a mirror, and find one that isn't braced with huge thick strips. They should be sculpted and rounded off, and not squared. I also prefer an ebony bridge to a rosewood as it adds more definition to the mix, and a bit more top end that the guitar naturally lacks. If I'd like a little more pronunciation in the mix, I'll cut out slots of the bridge, add bone inserts for where the string rests, and call it a day.

Even more so with acoustics than electrics, go out there and play every single one you can get your hands on. You think there's differences between electrics of the same model? Try acoustics. Consecutive serial numbers can sound WORLDS apart.

If you'd like some heavy recommendations on certain brands and models in a specific price point, let me know in this thread. I'd be more than happy to help.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

blueman335 said:
... and oversize bodies aren't needed with amplification being what it is these days.
Click to expand...


I do believe the OP said acoustic, and the Super 400, the Strombergs, and the big Epi's ruled the roost for laying down the chop...the Kay/Silvertone option is one way to get into a vintage big box without paying five figures. Big necks, high action, heavy strings is what works for this style, if you are going strictly acoustic.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Thanks for all the cool info! I was looking at strictly acoustic, mainly for around the house playing. That Godin 5th Ave seems right up my alley. I haven't run across anyone in San Antonio who stocks any acoustic archtops in their stores, but I'll keep looking around. I'm sure there's a couple places I've missed. I don't mind ordering something online, but I'd like to at least play on a few examples first.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Sanford said:
Thanks for all the cool info! I was looking at strictly acoustic, mainly for around the house playing. That Godin 5th Ave seems right up my alley. I haven't run across anyone in San Antonio who stocks any acoustic archtops in their stores, but I'll keep looking around. I'm sure there's a couple places I've missed. I don't mind ordering something online, but I'd like to at least play on a few examples first.
Click to expand...

Any Godin dealer can order one for you. Actually, Seagull has a program with their higher end stuff to allow for kind of a demo. The store order's the guitar on loan, Seagull sends it out, you try it, if you don't like it, the store sends it back. Find a smaller dealer, and he'll be more likely to work with you.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

These archtops by Loar go for $900 new, and they have been getting good reviews from retailers of nice acoustic stuff. Hand carved from all solid woods, including a solid spruce top. Nitrocellulose finish. Get yourself a floating neck humbucker to put on if you need electric, and you'll be set.

http://guitarhut.net/loar_guitar_lh_600_vs.htm

loar%20guitar%20004_edited-1_small.JPG



Ibanez has at least one acoustic model below a grand, but the one I tried sounded like a strung 2x4.
 
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Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Save your money & buy a solid top guitar. If you want one that is totally acoustic, the solid tops will sound better. If you want a vintage guitar look for a Gibson L48,or L50. These were considered lower "budget" guitars back in the 50's, but they are better then anything new you would buy today (in the same price range). If you get one that is need of some cosmetic attention they may be willing to sell it for less then a grand.

Instruments to look for would be Epiphone, Gibson, Guilds, Etc. The pure solid tops can be fitted with a "floating" pickup that mounts on the pickguard. This will allow you to amplify it if you choose, but for optimum sound you will need to install metal "magnetic" strings. Traditional archtops are usually strung with acoustic or Phosphor bronze strings. The pickup won't work with these. A nickle string would be advisable.

http://archtop.com/
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Sanford said:
Lately I've been listening to some old jazz with swinging rhythm work and have worked up a serious jones for an archtop F-hole acoustic. It seems that the usual online retailers will only list one or two models in the $5k range, all the rest have humbuckers in them. Does anyone know of a place that sells an "every day man" priced one? I'm thinking significantly less than a grand. I'm not hung up on brand names, and having a cutaway isn't absolutely necessary.

Thanks
Click to expand...


This is my every-day man's f-hole guitar !


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=godin+5th+avenue+guitar&search_type=&aq=1&oq=godin+5th


Comes in three fantstic colours, and you can get it with ot withOUT a P90 in the neck.
Comes at a great price too !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpyWLrxEuX0 - good review !

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=godin+5th+avenue+kingpin&search_type=&aq=f


Good Luck



James
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Sanford said:
Thanks for all the cool info! I was looking at strictly acoustic, mainly for around the house playing. That Godin 5th Ave seems right up my alley. I haven't run across anyone in San Antonio who stocks any acoustic archtops in their stores, but I'll keep looking around. I'm sure there's a couple places I've missed. I don't mind ordering something online, but I'd like to at least play on a few examples first.
Click to expand...


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/godin-guitars?N=100001+202897

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/compare?base_pid=500320&base_pid=518494


James
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

It's funny: I do some searching and find only expensive models, then I ask the question here and then it seems like the places I just looked have what I was looking for. I should learn to internet better. Thanks again for all the replies.
 
Re: School me on Acoustic Archtop F-Holers

Bludave said:
Save your money & buy a solid top guitar. If you want one that is totally acoustic, the solid tops will sound better. If you want a vintage guitar look for a Gibson L48,or L50. These were considered lower "budget" guitars back in the 50's, but they are better then anything new you would buy today (in the same price range). If you get one that is need of some cosmetic attention they may be willing to sell it for less then a grand.

Instruments to look for would be Epiphone, Gibson, Guilds, Etc. The pure solid tops can be fitted with a "floating" pickup that mounts on the pickguard. This will allow you to amplify it if you choose, but for optimum sound you will need to install metal "magnetic" strings. Traditional archtops are usually strung with acoustic or Phosphor bronze strings. The pickup won't work with these. A nickle string would be advisable.

http://archtop.com/
Click to expand...

Solid tops...like the Godin 5th ave, that has the tone of these older archtops you mention (when they're opened up), but better playability, manufacturers warranty, and easier to find?

I've always appreciated your comments, hell you helped me out with tons of advice years ago, and this time I say Sanford should go for the 5th Ave.
 
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