#1
|
|||
|
|||
Holy Grail of Archtops?
Which one do you believe is the Holy Grail?
__________________
Faith FJ. Lowden F23CFF |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
There is no one answer, of course. If we stick to acoustic only archtops, the original 16" Gibson L-5 is my first choice. For electric, a cutaway D'Angelico New Yorker with a floating DeArmond 1100 wouldn't be too shabby. Or maybe a 1939 Gibson Super 400N with the same pickup. If we get into celebrity guitars, Wes Montgomery's L-5 would be kinda nice (but I'd still prefer Eddie Lang's circa 1929 L-5!).
__________________
Pre-War Guitar Co. Model D and OM-2018 1928 Gibson L-5 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
My bucket list: 1940 D'Angelico New Yorker (natural) 1941 Epiphone Emperor Soloist 1939 Gibson Super 400PN 1923 Gibson "Loar" L-5 1949 Gretsch Synchromatic 400 (natural/tortoise binding) 1960-66 Guild Artist Award 18" 1950 Stromberg Master 400 cutaway Choose one - if you can... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Collings 16", round holed L-4s = way better than the ever popular L-00s and Nick Lucas guitars; L-5, any walnut carved Epiphone. I am going to go with Collings.
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
D'Angelico
D'Aquisto Monteleone |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Stromberg Master 400.
Brad
__________________
Guild F212: 1964 (Hoboken), Guild Mark V: 1975 (Westerly), Guild Artist Award: 1975 (Westerly), Guild F50: 1976 (Westerly), Guild F512: 2010 (New Hartford), Pawless Mesquite Special: 2012, 90s Epi HR Custom (Samick), 2014 Guild OOO 12-fret Orpheum (New Hartford), 2013 12 fret Orpheum Dread (New Hartford), Guild BT258E, 8 string baritone, 1994 Guild D55, Westerly, 2023 Cordoba GK Negra Pro. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
It depends...
On the player, their style of play...
Assuming we're talking acoustic (being the nature of the forum). Do you play rhythm in a band in high volume situation? Perhaps a parallel braced, non-cutaway, 3-1/2" deep, 18" lower bout with a long scale instrument is the ticket. Perhaps you play solo guitar, in quiter environment and a smaller, x-braced instrument with a cutaway and a shorter scale is your "holly grail"? The popular answer would be something made by John D'Angelico or Jimmy D'Aquisto. I honestly feel that we live in an age where there are many talented Archtop luthiers that will craft your "holy grail". For me, I can't imagine being happier with an Archtop than with what I have. My $.02
__________________
A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… Last edited by iim7V7IM7; 08-31-2013 at 09:10 AM. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I already own mine. It's got my name inlaid on the head stock.
__________________
Ceci n'est pas une pipe bebe. Youtube France (Film Musique & Fantomas) --- Guitars: (2007) big Vietnamese archtop; (1997) Guild F65ce, (1988) Guild D60, (1972) Guild D25, two other Vietnamese flat-tops and one classical. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
The instruments being built by John Monteleone are some of the most expensive and revered right now. I've had the pleasure of visiting Monteleone's shop and playing a few of his guitars; wow is about the only word to describe them...
__________________
https://www.itzkinguitars.com |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I'd personally go for one of Ken Parker's...
just astonishing...
__________________
www.michaelwattsguitar.com Album Recording Diary Skype Lessons Luthier Stories YouTube iTunes Guitars by Jason Kostal, Strings by Elixir, Gefell Mics and a nail buffer. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Ken Parker wins, absolutely cutting edge.
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
If you're going for tone, it's either a D'Angelico Excel or an early Gibson L-5.
If you're going for volume, it's a Stromberg Master 400. For a combination of the two, it's probably the Gibson Super 400 (without the pickups). |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Same one; sweet guitar both acoustic and plugged, and it kinda punches a 747-sized hole in the current '1-3/4" or nothing' neck width argument...
|
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Wider or narrower?
__________________
Chris _____ Guild '56 A-50, '57 CE-100, '60 X-150, '62 F-20, '64 Mark II, '65 SF IV, '75 F-112, '75 Mark IVP, '90 Pilot, '93 X-500, '97 Bluesbird Acorn House Guitars Parlor #1, Butternut Deuce, Rounder, Kulakeiki G&L '93 Legacy Lute '03 Lyn Elder |