Roger Borys

[TFPainter]

I was just wondering if anyone had any experiences with his guitars.
Particularly his laminated archtops. I know they're held in very high
regard. I've never had the chance to play one....and they are almost
never available on the used market.

Just curious. Impressions??

Tom

[rhan...@gmail.com]

I believe you can search this group as there have been many posts on
Roger's guitars and also with dealing with Roger!
I have two Borys archtops -- one of which is the B120 model which has
the laminated top. I love that guitar and it's my "go-to" instrument
in most situations. It's a joy to play physically, and is one of the
most balanced (tonally) guitars I've played. Electrically, it has a
great big warm, even tone that makes you think it's a bigger
instrument. If you can find one for sale, I'd say look into it.
Ordering one from Roger can take close to two years to deliver and
Roger isn't well known for his communication and people skills!

Good Luck!

Russ
www.myspace.com/russhanchinjazzgtr
www.russhanchin.com

[rhan...@gmail.com]

Don't know if this is still available ... check it out.

http://www.archtop.com/ac_06borys.html

Russ
www.myspace.com/russhanchinjazzgtr
www.russhanchin.com

On Mar 8, 10:21 pm, TFPainter <painter1...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[chris...@freenet.de]

I once played the Borys guitar that Larry Koonse ownes which i believe
was also a B120. I can just repeat what Russ wrote. Very even and
balanced tone - amazing instrument.

chris

[billc...@hotmail.com]

Tom

I owned a Borys laminate guitar for while. 16" x 2 5/8" body. 24 3/4"
x 1 3/4" maple neck. Ebony board and bridge, built in KA humbucker. It
sounded and looked fabulous but for some reason I didn't bond with the
neck. Fairly quiet acoustically but still a very sweet tone. I know
others love them and I can understand why. If you listen to Larry
Koonse, Pat Kelley and Emily Remler's "East To Wes" album (I'm
assuming Emily played her Borys on this - it seems to be on the cover)
I think you'll hear quite a distinctive sound.

It was quite a different guitar to the old Gibson laminates I've
played - as you may know Roger worked with D'Aquisto and Roger's BG100/
B120 laminate shares some design similarities with D'Aquisto's
laminates, the Fender D'Aquistos and more recently the Sadowsky Jim
Hall, which I believe was based to some extent on Jim's D'Aquisto
laminate.

Bill

[mark cleary]

I have played a number of his guitars mostly the built in laminated
guitars or those not made of solid spruce. They are fine with
electricity but have no acoustic sound to speak of. Of the one or two
solid tops guitars I don't remember too long ago and must not have
grabbed my attention but that does mean anything.

Mark cleary

[l5c...@gmail.com]

I have a 1983 BG100, which is a 16" laminated guitar with Kent
Armstrong pickup, that I have owned for a number of years. It is a
beautifully made guitar and the size makes it very comfortable to
play. Although it does not have as big a sound as a full depth,
carved top archtop, it comes remarkably close, particularly in
situations where you're playing with a group. It's my favorite of all
the smaller size archtops that I've played.

[TFPainter]

Ok, I guess my motives may be a little obscured to those who don't
know........I build laminated archtops too.

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg45/painter1422/

I was just curious what separated a Borys from a classic or even new
Gibson. I suspect the Borys guitars are built somewhat lighter than
the current Gibsons (??)

If anyone out there that owns a Borys laminate could measure the top
thickness at the f-hole I'd be extremely grateful. I suspect it is
1/8" (??)

Tom

[Phil T]

In another recent thread I think somebody mentioned that Borys makes his
own plywood.

[Marty]

On Mar 10, 8:04 am, Phil T <va...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In another recent thread I think somebody mentioned that Borys makes his
> own plywood.
>

Roger does indeed make his own plates (I've mentioned before that
Roger's shop is down the road from my house, so I've hung out and
chatted with him a bit); he's written some papers about laminating
wood for guitars.

Marty

[dhn...@sbcglobal.net]

I also read somewhere that D'Aquisto used to buy top and back plates
from Borys...not sure how accurate that is. Peter Bernstein appears
to be playing a Borys in his "Live At Smoke" DVD.

Darryl

[Gerry]

Not my impressions but those of a friend that would prefer anonymity.
I've been very curious about the Borys guitars form many years. This is
an exact quote which I won't attempt to interpret:

> I had 2 Borys guitars - sold them both - those that bought them sold
> them. While I had them and was debating what to do with them 3 passed
> through Chris Mirabella's shop - all close to new and all either up for
> sale or with frustrated owners - bottom line--I've never played one
> that was completely satisfying.
>
> The Borys guitars were not even across the neck. They seemed to die in
> the 6-9th fret range on the upper 3 strings, just where
> you would want them to sing. Beautiful Sounding guitar
--
Dogmatism kills jazz. Iconoclasm kills rock. Rock dulls scissors.

[billc...@hotmail.com]

On Mar 10, 2:10 pm, dhn...@sbcglobal.net wrote:

> I also read somewhere that D'Aquisto used to buy top and back plates
> from Borys...not sure how accurate that is.  Peter Bernstein appears
> to be playing a Borys in his "Live At Smoke" DVD.
>
> Darryl

Roger told me he made plates for D'Aquisto. Unless my memory is
playing tricks on me I think I read somewhere that Roger also made
plates for Linda Manzer - I can't find where I read this though.

I believe Peter Bernstein's main axe is a Zeidler.

[Marc Why]

>
> I believe Peter Bernstein's main axe is a Zeidler.

Right; I think the labels on the head are similar. Whenever I've seen
a Borys in pics or live, I've thought, "Hey, is that a Zeidler?" (of
course the guitars look quite different between the two makers)

Marc