Finding the right archtop for me

[dallasblues]

Hey guys.

Every October, we have the massively huge guitar show in Arlington, Texas. This year, I'm really thinking about finding the right archtop for my ears, hands, and heart. I've been selling gear and saving my nickels and dimes and think I'm ready to take the plunge. My budget is between $3-5k. So far I'm considering a few models, such as Gibson ES-175's, 295's, 350's, Epiphones, and Guilds. I have long fingers and really prefer a fairly chunky neck. How are the necks of some of the Guild archtops? Would they fit the bill?

Thanks!

 

[kakerlak]

Hey there and welcome!

I grew up in Ft. Worth. Is the Arlington show getting to the point that it rivals the Dallas one these days?

Anyway, I haven't had my hands on any 50s Guilds, but there are some cats here who own them and I'm sure can chime in. The 60s-90s ones I've played have a sort of middle of the road neck -- not super flat/thin like the "60s" profile on some Gibsons, but not at all chunky and not particularly wide. My '94 X-700 is a great carved top guitar and its neck is a bit fuller/rounder than the 60s and 70s Guilds I've owned and played. Still, it's not crazy thick like a 50s Fender neck shape or an old non-trussrod guitar, if that's what you're after.

Bottom line is probably pick 'em up and play 'em (half the fun of a guitar show anyway). I can say that every Guild I've played has been a nice playing, well made, good sounding guitar, so, if it feels right, the rest ought to fall in line. They're also a relative bargain, compared to Gibsons.

Happy hunting!

 

[Walter Broes]

Hey Dallasblues,

With that budget, you should be able to get something really nice. From my own experience, it seems like Guild archtops kind of followed along the same lines Gibsons did : generalising, it does seem as if necks got slimmer as time progressed.

The 50's examples I've played had fairly chunky necks, not that dissimilar to Gibsons of the period, my own early 60's archtops have necks that are either kind of "medium" size, or fairly slender.

 

[kakerlak]

Hey Dallasblues,

With that budget, you should be able to get something really nice. From my own experience, it seems like Guild archtops kind of followed along the same lines Gibsons did : generalising, it does seem as if necks got slimmer as time progressed.

The 50's examples I've played had fairly chunky necks, not that dissimilar to Gibsons of the period, my own early 60's archtops have necks that are either kind of "medium" size, or fairly slender.

Yeah, Walter's right; with that budget, you can get a really killer guitar (especially if you're not shopping Gibson :lol: ). It's also enough outlay that you shouldn't compromise on something you're not in love with.

$3-5k puts you in the range of lots of very, very well made modern boutique brands, too, though those tend to me more on the "jazz guitar" side of the spectrum. I'm guessing, from your handle, avatar and the list of Gibson models you're considering, that you're looking for a big monster of a rock, rhythm and blues guitar. Walter certainly "gets by" with his stable of old singlecoil Guilds and, truth be told, if I wasn't so damned attached to the guitars I own, I'd probably sell off some and go hunting for a 50+ y.o. Guild myself... (It is probably the very first thing I'd track down and by if I won the lottery!)

 

[Walter Broes]

with that budget, you can get a really killer guitar (especially if you're not shopping Gibson

Hey, if your budget strechtes to 5K, you can get some awesome Gibsons for that - a friend of mine just got a "player" (lots of finish damage, but guitar is great) early 50's full body Gibson ES350 for under $3000 - and you can get 50's ES175's and similar for that kind of money too.

 

[dallasblues]

Hey there and welcome!

I grew up in Ft. Worth. Is the Arlington show getting to the point that it rivals the Dallas one these days?

Anyway, I haven't had my hands on any 50s Guilds, but there are some cats here who own them and I'm sure can chime in. The 60s-90s ones I've played have a sort of middle of the road neck -- not super flat/thin like the "60s" profile on some Gibsons, but not at all chunky and not particularly wide. My '94 X-700 is a great carved top guitar and its neck is a bit fuller/rounder than the 60s and 70s Guilds I've owned and played. Still, it's not crazy thick like a 50s Fender neck shape or an old non-trussrod guitar, if that's what you're after.

Bottom line is probably pick 'em up and play 'em (half the fun of a guitar show anyway). I can say that every Guild I've played has been a nice playing, well made, good sounding guitar, so, if it feels right, the rest ought to fall in line. They're also a relative bargain, compared to Gibsons.

Happy hunting!

It's funny that you said that you grew up in Ft Worth. It looks like you live in Oklahoma now. Well... It's the opposite for me. I grew up in Oklahoma, then moved to Texas.

The Dallas show is still really big. But I think the Arlington show might be just as big now. The big difference is that the Dallas show has LOTS of shows and clinics by really big name artists. The Arlington show is really all about the buying/selling/trading of guitars, basses and amps.

 

[dallasblues]

Hey Dallasblues,

With that budget, you should be able to get something really nice. From my own experience, it seems like Guild archtops kind of followed along the same lines Gibsons did : generalising, it does seem as if necks got slimmer as time progressed.

The 50's examples I've played had fairly chunky necks, not that dissimilar to Gibsons of the period, my own early 60's archtops have necks that are either kind of "medium" size, or fairly slender.

Yeah, Walter's right; with that budget, you can get a really killer guitar (especially if you're not shopping Gibson :lol: ). It's also enough outlay that you shouldn't compromise on something you're not in love with.

$3-5k puts you in the range of lots of very, very well made modern boutique brands, too, though those tend to me more on the "jazz guitar" side of the spectrum. I'm guessing, from your handle, avatar and the list of Gibson models you're considering, that you're looking for a big monster of a rock, rhythm and blues guitar. Walter certainly "gets by" with his stable of old singlecoil Guilds and, truth be told, if I wasn't so damned attached to the guitars I own, I'd probably sell off some and go hunting for a 50+ y.o. Guild myself... (It is probably the very first thing I'd track down and by if I won the lottery!)

To tell you the truth... I've always leaned towards the traditional blues side of guitar playing. But I've also played a lot of rockabilly, country, and roots rock. Currently, I'm studying jazz and have found myself immersed in it. I guess I'm really just looking for an archtop that can cover the jazz I'd doing now as well as the T-Bone Walker type of blues I often play.

 

[Walter Broes]

To tell you the truth... I've always leaned towards the traditional blues side of guitar playing. But I've also played a lot of rockabilly, country, and roots rock. Currently, I'm studying jazz and have found myself immersed in it. I guess I'm really just looking for an archtop that can cover the jazz I'd doing now as well as the T-Bone Walker type of blues I often play.

I think for those styles, a big old laminated archtop with P90's would be exactly what the doctor ordered, whether it's a P90 Gibson like a 50's ES175 or ES350, or a Franz pickup Guild X500, X175, or CE 100D. And if you're not looking for "collector clean/mint" guitars, all of those are within your budget. Happy hunting!