Preacher Will

For an acoustic archtop you're better off with a carved top for the same reasons that you'd want a solid top over a laminated one in a flat-top guitar. With the widespread availability of CNC machines in the guitar making industry, carved archtops are becoming more readily available at affordable prices. An electric archtop is a different horse altogether and many will suggest that, in that application, a lam top is superior. Most high-end electric jazz boxes are lam tops because the solid top is too lively and creates ungodly feedback.