Best archtops?

Russell Letson

I Googled a bit, and the latest Martin Taylor artist-branded guitar* would seem to be made by Fibonacci--the "Martin Taylor JOYA" model. I notice that while it is a solid-carved instrument, it is also described as being "Assembled and Hand-Finished in the UK," and exploration of the company's website reveals that the actual carving of body and neck is done in Korea, where previous Taylor-branded models from Peerless were produced. The build formulas are similar: 15-inch slim-body with a Kent Armstrong floating pickup--an up-market version of a small-body electric jazz guitar. I wouldn't expect it to have the same kind of acoustic voice as even a 16-inch orchestral archtop in the Gibson/Epiphone vein.

* Signature models with his name go back at least 20 years.

pmg

I urge anyone contemplating any expensive guitar to try before you buy. Listening on YouTube is OK - but not close to actually having the instrument in your hands and into an amp of your liking. My Super 400 is not loud acoustically - but was not purchased for that purpose. It has the warmest, fattest sound of any amplified archtop that I have played/owned. I play with a pick and the Super 400 can be adjusted to sound as if I were playing with thumb (like Wes). I rarely gig with it however since I am paranoid about getting it dinged - and there is usually a guy in every audience who wants to play it. I do electric jazz gigs with a '93 single pick-up Wes Montgomery L5 reissue that was my "go-to" archtop before the Super 400 entered my stable.

For further background on the Super 400, I highly recommend Tom Van Hoose's terrific book "The Gibson Super 400: Art of the Fine Guitar" which is filled with a lot of eye candy as well as some great history on this model.

Bones

Hey pmg, what is the height of the sides on your 400 including the binding?

thanks

pmg

18" x 21 3/4" x 3 3/8" body. Neck is 25 1/2" scale.

Bones

cool thanks for the info pmg!

What year is it?

pmg

1998

terrassier

I have seen a LOAR LH700 for sale at a good price ...... anyone any experience of these ? It would be played acoustic for la pompe etc - too far away to try it unfortunately so it would be a punt.

Russell Letson

I have a 600--the 700 is the next model up--that has a respectable traditional-archtop voice. I don't know that it would be my first choice for gypsy rhythm--it's maybe a bit bright and brassy--but individual guitars are going to differ. There's nothing wrong with the Loar line in the bang-for-the-buck department, though.

terrassier

Thanks for the feedback - I wondered if they might be a bit like you describe tone wise - will keep looking - i keep seeing the odd vintage hofner etc but none close enough to try unfortunately.

No rush - I have some decent guitars - just not a nice acoustic archtop

rgrice

Update in this thread. Got a nice used Eastman 610 pimped up the way I wanted. Dearmond pickup, Kluson Tailpiece. Love it. A little rattling that I can’t locate. In the pickguard somewhere.