Advice for ordering custom archtop??
Mark Guest
I'm taking the plunge and having an archtop built for me to my specs, within
reason. Any advice from those who have been through this process will be
appreciated. The luthier is in another state, so I won't be watching over
his shoulder while he builds it. I plan to take a trip to Gruhn's or
Mandolin Bros. to play a variety of neck shapes. The luthier has a large
number of vintage measurements on file. More than I have played or owned.
Pat, I am following your lead and keeping my old shoes so I can pay for this
baby! That and selling off a few more guitars and amps.
All input appreciated,
Mark Guest
JAlbin1916
The most important thing is to have a third party do a "permanent beta test" of
a fully constructed and functioning prototype of your custom-made axe. This
unbiased tester can, over the the course of several years of careful
examination, determine the instrument's strengths and weaknesses and give
valuable feedback throughout the construction of the "production" version. At
great personal sacrifice, I am willing to carry out this responsibility for
you, and will even waive my customary fee :)
-John
Nuke "hatespam" to reply
Martin Bick
If you're going the acoustic carved-top route, I like 17" body that is
3" thick with 25" scale. I've had a few higher-end 16" acoustic
archtops made and while perhaps more comfortable to play, I much
prefer the unamplified tone of my 17" which I would describe in a word
as more stout and less shrill. I'd only go for a 16" if I were having
the pickup built-in (and likely wouldn't go for a carved-top unless
maker was very modestly priced).
I'm very happy with the handmade Kent Armstrong floating pickup but
haven't tried many others. I'd suggest getting a tone pot if it is
not standard and having it mounted on thumbwheel below pickguard (I
like volume pot on the top of the pickguard). Also let the luthier
know what specific string set you use and have him set your guitar up
with them.
BTW, I've become partial to the type of archtop guitar neck with
1-3/4" nut that is sort of wide and flat, what John Buscarino calls
the "Wes Montgomery" feel. I would not hesitate to re-order that neck
profile from him. However, last year I when I placed an order for a
Bory's "Deluxe" laminate archtop I resisted the urge to have him make
me a similarly shaped "Buscarino" neck. I simply told him what my
preferences were and that his standard neck profile would suffice.
Martin
On Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:51:40 -0500, "Mark Guest" <MGu...@Muni-Net.com>
George4908
>reason. Any advice from those who have been through this process will be
>appreciated.
My own experience with luthier Brad Nickerson was great, but the key for me was
having played several of his guitars, including one of his that I already owned
(bought from the original owner). So I knew what he was capable of, in terms
of tone and build quality, and had a very high level of confidence going into
the project. I'd also met him and found him to be extremely knowledgeable (he
teaches courses in archtop building) and easy to work with. I was ordering a
different guitar than the one I owned, in fact a model I hadn't played. So I
basically just described what I had in mind as best I could, then got out of
the way. I also sent a picture of a guitar finished in the exact sunburst
color I had in mind. I didn't want to micromanage the process, figuring he'd
know what he's doing far better than I could tell him. He called a few times
during the building process with a question, when something came up that we
hadn't discussed, and explained the choices, and he updated me on the status as
it was nearing completion. The finished guitar was dead perfect and he nailed
the sunburst exactly. Maybe I'm lucky, but if I had to do it all over again, I
wouldn't do anything different. The key is knowing what you want -- and being
confident you're working with a luthier who knows how to deliver it. I've been
fortunate to play numerous archtops by many of the current builders, and there
are several I wouldn't hesitate to work with (price notwithstanding!).
ddinc
you know in a while. Rule number one, don't think
about it or it will never get here. The other thing is that
a brand new guitar will sound a little shrill when you get it.
I had a Martin HD-28 Cutaway made that sounded dull.
It takes a good month or two of playing and breaking
in to get the really good tones to come out. The HD-28
now has the beautiful Martin Herringbone tone.
Mark Guest <MGu...@Muni-Net.com> wrote in message
news:8bgo3j$3sc$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm taking the plunge and having an archtop built for me to
my specs, within
> reason. Any advice from those who have been through this
process will be
Glenn
Martin Bick wrote in message <last year I when I placed an order for a
>Bory's "Deluxe" laminate archtop I resisted the urge to have him make
>me a similarly shaped "Buscarino" neck. I simply told him what my
>preferences were and that his standard neck profile would suffice.
>Martin
Hey Martin,
What is the standard scale lenght and width of the neck on a Borys?
Glenn
Michael Gallagher
: What are your general specs? Floating pickup?
: I'm very happy with the handmade Kent Armstrong floating pickup but
: haven't tried many others. I'd suggest getting a tone pot if it is
: not standard and having it mounted on thumbwheel below pickguard (I
: like volume pot on the top of the pickguard).
Is this just a regular tone pot with a thumbwheel or is it a special type of pot? I have an old Epi with the tone pots drilled through the pickguard and am ahving trouble finding a case thaht doesn't put pressure on the pickguard when it is closed. Any idea where to purchase these pots or what values work best? When i roll my tone control down there is a drop in volume.
Thanks!
mtg
Also let the luthier
: know what specific string set you use and have him set your guitar up
: with them.
: BTW, I've become partial to the type of archtop guitar neck with
: 1-3/4" nut that is sort of wide and flat, what John Buscarino calls
: the "Wes Montgomery" feel. I would not hesitate to re-order that neck
: profile from him. However, last year I when I placed an order for a
: Bory's "Deluxe" laminate archtop I resisted the urge to have him make
: me a similarly shaped "Buscarino" neck. I simply told him what my
: preferences were and that his standard neck profile would suffice.
: Martin
: On Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:51:40 -0500, "Mark Guest" <MGu...@Muni-Net.com>
: wrote:
:>Hi all,
:>
:>
Scott Krohn
That might reveal something to the builder regarding how
sensitive to make the instrument.
Heavy Touch vs Light Touch. ...
I've read to do this and have done this with a builder who is making
an instrument for me. That builder thought that it was a good idea.
Scott
"Mark Guest" <MGu...@Muni-Net.com> wrote in message
news:8bgo3j$3sc$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
Pat Smith
Which builer did you pick?
My only advice is to pick a builder whose guitars you like the sound of. It
rarley works to pick a builder and tell him/her that you want such and such a
sound. Most all makers have a sound in their head that they try to acheive and
that's what they build, they can't help it Well I guess I have 2 more cents to
throw in, and that is to think long and hard about what you want the guitar to
do. We all love the feel of a booming acoustic intrument in our hands, but, in a
gigging situation these sorts of guitars howl like crazy. So then people take
these guitars and stuff the body with old socks or balloons or they plug the
sound holes. If you want a guitar to play with a band then consider that.
We are really in the golden age of Arch top building, there are so many fine
makers. And by the way I broke down and finally did buy another pair of shoes (
thanks to my loving and supportive wife) Of course I couldn't part with my $17
pay less tennys.
Best
Pat
P.S. A quick ad for my builder of choice Jim Mapson www.archtops.com
Martin Bick
net=3> wrote:
>
>Martin Bick wrote in message <last year I when I placed an order for a
>>Bory's "Deluxe" laminate archtop I resisted the urge to have him make
>>me a similarly shaped "Buscarino" neck. I simply told him what my
>>preferences were and that his standard neck profile would suffice.
>>Martin
>
>Hey Martin,
>What is the standard scale lenght and width of the neck on a Borys?
>Glenn
>
>
>
1-3/4"@nut and 24-3/4" scale length on 16" x 2-3/4" deep body.
Martin
Peter Morgan
B120 Deluxe with the laminated maple top that I bought about 12 years ago. While
I love it, I wish I had a carved top archtop. I would also get the 17 inch
bout. What's the use of having an archtop if you can't hear it unamplified. I
played some archtops last weekend at the Dallas Guitar Show. If only I had about
six grand. BTW, what does a Borys go for nowdays.
Peter
Martin Bick wrote:
> What are your general specs? Floating pickup?
>
> If you're going the acoustic carved-top route, I like 17" body that is
> 3" thick with 25" scale. I've had a few higher-end 16" acoustic
> archtops made and while perhaps more comfortable to play, I much
> prefer the unamplified tone of my 17" which I would describe in a word
> as more stout and less shrill. I'd only go for a 16" if I were having
> the pickup built-in (and likely wouldn't go for a carved-top unless
> maker was very modestly priced).
>
> I'm very happy with the handmade Kent Armstrong floating pickup but
> haven't tried many others. I'd suggest getting a tone pot if it is
> not standard and having it mounted on thumbwheel below pickguard (I
> like volume pot on the top of the pickguard). Also let the luthier
> know what specific string set you use and have him set your guitar up
> with them.
>
> BTW, I've become partial to the type of archtop guitar neck with
> 1-3/4" nut that is sort of wide and flat, what John Buscarino calls
> the "Wes Montgomery" feel. I would not hesitate to re-order that neck
> profile from him. However, last year I when I placed an order for a
> Bory's "Deluxe" laminate archtop I resisted the urge to have him make
> me a similarly shaped "Buscarino" neck. I simply told him what my
> preferences were and that his standard neck profile would suffice.
>
> Martin
>
> On Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:51:40 -0500, "Mark Guest" <MGu...@Muni-Net.com>
Martin Bick
wrote:
>I was about to say go ahead and splurge and get a carved top. I have a Borys
>B120 Deluxe with the laminated maple top that I bought about 12 years ago. While
>I love it, I wish I had a carved top archtop. I would also get the 17 inch
>bout. What's the use of having an archtop if you can't hear it unamplified. I
>played some archtops last weekend at the Dallas Guitar Show. If only I had about
>six grand. BTW, what does a Borys go for nowdays.
I've heard that price for Borys B120 Deluxe is currently $4,400.00.
Roger offers generous deducts for single-line binding and no fretboard
inlay.
Pat Smith
because I was just so darned clever. To make a long story short. I got A new
pair of shoes My $17 Pay-Less tennys were a bit worn to go with the tux. And I'm
wondering what builed you picked?
And then I included my ad for
Jim Mapson.....www.archtops.com
Congrats Mark, keep us all posted on new developments
Best
Pat.