Members Daryl Chaney Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 Saw The National last night, they were amazing, drums were mixed way too low for everything but the quietest of songs, but i managed to get over it and enjoy the show. The two Dessner's have some of the best guitar tones i've heard in a good while. The bass was fantastic too, massivley chuncky and woody, loved it. Anyway, i've had major GAS for an archtop for a few years now, and seeing the national last night (all guitarists used archtops for most of the gig) i've fallen over the edge and I must get an archtop now ! I've made a list of all the archtops i can afford that seem to be decent quality. Anyone have any advice for me ? make, models, etc. :poke: Keeping this to the effects forum, cause the other forums have strange people there! gainsters and the like. heres what i've been looking at. Prices below. I've listed them in my preference (looks, percieved mojo) GRETSCH G5120 ELECTROMATIC LTD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeartfeltDawn Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 Right, I'd sort them into 'big body archtops' and 'thinline' guitars. The Casino would be my choice out of those as I love 335-styled guitars. The Viking looks good. I'm not a fan of the Ibanez Artcore series and the Gretsch ones are totally overpriced. The best bang for buck in terms of sound and construction are the original Guild by DeArmond range. The pickups are superb and you won't find anything in your list above that has pickups of a similar quality. Check out the DeArmond T-400, Starfire, Starfire Special and X-155. The X-155 has DeArmond USA Goldtone pickups and comes in at under Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members veil Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 more pictures please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tenoken Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 I want one of those turqouise Casino's, bay-beh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dr.Picklebottom Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 Archtop's = GASthe ' used in the thread title indicates that archtop owns 'equals gas'. ' is used to indicate ownership or possession. i assume this is an error but typically one would err on the side of convenience or ease. in this instance you seemed to have gone out of your way to make an error. please advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Daryl Chaney Posted November 2, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 Archtop's = GAS the ' used in the thread title indicates that archtop owns 'equals gas'. ' is used to indicate ownership or possession. i assume this is an error but typically one would err on the side of convenience or ease. in this instance you seemed to have gone out of your way to make an error. please advise. lol. error . Archtops = GAS I just checked out reviews for all these guitars, and basically theres no "bad guitar" in this bunch....leaving work now will post later on, cheers for input already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeartfeltDawn Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 Here's some nice links then: DeArmond T-400 - http://www.robwesley.com/guitars/listings/Dearmond%20T-400%202000/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 if your looking at the Casino, you should throw a Godin Flat 5 in the mix too. I have owned a handful archtops and semi archtops over the past 5 years and the Godin Flat 5 is the winner in terms of build quality, versatility, and comfort level. The 16" board is killer for fingerstyle, jazz, shredding and very comfy on the hands; body is super comfortable (big ole archtops are hard on the shoulder and neck); top is solid not ply; 5 way has a whack of variety in it from Jazz to county to classic rock to fusion shred; high level of quality without the premium name markup. They sound great clean but LOVE a little dirt!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Destructobot Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 I WANT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members homestar_kevin Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 definetly casino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Daryl Chaney Posted November 2, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 if your looking at the Casino, you should throw a Godin Flat 5 in the mix too. I have owned a handful archtops and semi archtops over the past 5 years and the Godin Flat 5 is the winner in terms of build quality, versatility, and comfort level. The 16" board is killer for fingerstyle, jazz, shredding and very comfy on the hands; body is super comfortable (big ole archtops are hard on the shoulder and neck); top is solid not ply; 5 way has a whack of variety in it from Jazz to county to classic rock to fusion shred; high level of quality without the premium name markup. They sound great clean but LOVE a little dirt!!! Wow the Godin Flat 5 is WAYYYY out of my budget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 cool. Wow the Godin Flat 5 is WAYYYY out of my budget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeartfeltDawn Posted November 2, 2007 Members Share Posted November 2, 2007 You pay for the Gretsch name. From memory, and my memory is {censored}e today, their top of the range guitars are made in Japan now yet still cost the earth compared to other Japanese makes. If an Edwards ES-335 can cost under Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Daryl Chaney Posted November 3, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 You pay for the Gretsch name. From memory, and my memory is {censored}e today, their top of the range guitars are made in Japan now yet still cost the earth compared to other Japanese makes. If an Edwards ES-335 can cost under Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HeartfeltDawn Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 I wouldn't say it's better than the Casino, it's just different. PM'ed you back and I'm readying some pictures right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members iodine74 Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Heineken Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 Just for the record, since i have had some arch-top gas myself lately, aren't the Casino's all hollow-bodied? As in a great clean Jazz guitar but a squealing pig with some Rock dirt going on? I'm searching in something more like a Gibson ES-335 clone myself with the center woodblock that improves sustain and reduces squealy noises. Like the Epi dot or Sheraton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members star0nfire Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 Not a "true" Archtop, but I'm gonna buy one of these soon, I hope: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fadedjoy Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 i'm hoping to get a casino next month Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elxchino Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 I don't know about you guys, but the PRS Archtop w/ piezo tickles my fancy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pascal Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 I wasn't able to resist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MathiasWilliam Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 i Accidentally voted the Gretsch G5129, i also vote Gretsch G5120:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MegaTom Posted November 3, 2007 Members Share Posted November 3, 2007 I'm also going to say that you should make an effort to check out a used DeArmond. I've owned three DeArmonds, and they were all fantastic instruments. Can't be beat for the money. Two of my three were archtops. My first one was a Starfire Special, which is the clone of a Guild Starfire III... single cutaway w/ Bigsby tailpiece and single coil De Armond 2k pups. My current one is a Starfire Custom, which is kinda like a Guild Starfire IV... double cutaway w/ a trapeze tailpiece and Gold Tone humbucking pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaSkip Posted November 4, 2007 Members Share Posted November 4, 2007 I wasn't able to resist The Eastmans' that I've had a chance to play were fantastic. Great value for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members songsforbears Posted November 4, 2007 Members Share Posted November 4, 2007 Have you looked at the Epiphone Sheraton? Same price, but with humbuckers and much more aesthetic detail. I played it side-by-side with a Casino and it WILL be my next guitar. Only problem is it's not fully hollow, there's a block down the center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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