Archtops

[rsm]

haven't had an archtop discussion in awhile.

I sold my D'Angelico EXL-1 awhile back, and came close to buying a D'Angelico Excel Style B a few times.

I have my 1937 Harmony Cremona V:

I can't justify the price, but Gibson custom shop did an L-5 Shark run awhile back. At the top of my Archtop GAS list:

 

[VonBonfire]

That shark looks incredible. I think the ones to think about getting are the Gibsons and for the small makers, Campellone. I believe Mark is retiring and is about all done building any more guitars so it seems likely that prices on his stuff will begin to rise. Don't quote me on that since he's a one man operation and I suppose can do whatever he wants whenever he wants to but that has been the rumor over at JGF.

His Cameo model is basically the pinnacle of his line. Amazing guitars.

https://www.mcampellone.com/models/

 

[Meanjoegreene]

Killer guitars

Off topic but I just recently got into resonators for blues slide. Like archtops having different guitars for different styles will make us better all around especially when they force you to play way, way different

 

[VonBonfire]

Killer guitars

Off topic but I just recently got into resonators for blues slide. Like archtops having different guitars for different styles will make us better all around especially when they force you to play way, way different

What resonators are you liking? I've had a couple including a pretty sweet National Tricone but tbh since I don't get big into the slide stuff I just like a good jumbo flattop for blues so eventually I sold the National and gave the cheap-o Recording King spider bridge away to someone who expressed interest in guitar.

 

[Meanjoegreene]

I got a cheap-o to try that I’m returning…an Ortega with a biscuit bridge. It’s not bad but sounded too much banjo

So I ordered a tricone from Royall. It’s a copper cutaway that will hopefully be a tad more guitar than banjo. The Ortega wasn’t too bad and let me know that I really enjoy that style of playing.

 

[VonBonfire]

I got a cheap-o to try that I’m returning…an Ortega with a biscuit bridge. It’s not bad but sounded too much banjo

So I ordered a tricone from Royall. It’s a copper cutaway that will hopefully be a tad more guitar than banjo. The Ortega wasn’t too bad and let me know that I really enjoy that style of playing.

The biscuits are pretty short sustaining and banjo like.

Be interesting to hear how the Royall is. Back when I was into resonators the only affordable option on the tricones were the Regals and they were hit or miss. The misses were real bad too, no volume, like a tin can with strings across it. IME the dobro branded stuff like the houndog and some of the others were real nice. Nationals are great of course but prices there are through the roof....

 

[GuitarVacation]

Dave Rawlings and his little Epiphone Olympic got me really wanting an acoustic archtop. He’s such a cool player and that guitar sounds so good and unique.

Needless to say, those Epiphone Olympics used to be junk guitars, even when they were new (1930’s) they were the bottom tier student guitars. Now they are sought after and $$$.