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Affordable archtops
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Wolfe Axe
Jul 13, 1999, 3:00:00 AM7/13/99
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I have been reading the posts about affordable archtops for quite
sometime with great interest. This is an area of great interest to
me, and I have been proactive in this area. I regret that many players
have "settled" for inferior guitars because the industry hasn't tried to
solve this quandry. Obviously a better instrument inspires us to play
& practise more, and price shouldn't necessarily determine tone.
Some good examples:
1. Gibson ES165. Same as ES175, but Gib. has taken advantage of
the historic" value" & artificially boosted the 175 price. Good for them,
if they can get away with it.
2. Heritage H575. Probably the best value in a carved body "electric"
jazz guitar. Used ones can be really "cheap", and new ones are
a terrific buy. I stock 'em in single p/u, dual p/u, spruce top, etc.
3. Heritage Eagle. 17" all carved mahogany body, 25 1/2" scale
great acoustic tone. Get it (as I do) w/ the better floating p/u, and
is as fine an instrument as anyones........$1600!!!
4. Heritage introduced a new 16" laminated body, Venetian cutaway,
dual p/u model at NAMM, dubbed the H516. Although I really liked
The guitar, I felt they slightly overpriced it at $2170 list/$1500
"street".
I have been lobbying them to lower the price & offer a sgl. p/u version.
I will post a follow-up after I increase this effort next week in
Nash-Vegas
NAMM show. This is a priority for that trip. This "plywood" archtop could
be an affordable option for a US made, Lacquer finished (7 coats)
"elec." archtop. I would like to see a "list" price of $1800w/ case.
5. My pal Dave Bunker ( The mad scientist of guitar design) has been
bending my ear for a couple of years now on this same subject. We have
had many long talks, based on my feeling that his PBC "Wishbone"
solid carved archtops are "GREAT" sounding affordable jazz guitars.
(BTW: I have several for sale at "cheap" prices now)
Dave has a prototype, and promises to send it to me soon. You can
see this effort at his web site: bunker-guitars.com
View the BAT375 guitar body. Its a 16" solid carved body with some
of Dave's (wierd Science) ideas.
I should have a "ballpark" price soon
sometime with great interest. This is an area of great interest to
me, and I have been proactive in this area. I regret that many players
have "settled" for inferior guitars because the industry hasn't tried to
solve this quandry. Obviously a better instrument inspires us to play
& practise more, and price shouldn't necessarily determine tone.
Some good examples:
1. Gibson ES165. Same as ES175, but Gib. has taken advantage of
the historic" value" & artificially boosted the 175 price. Good for them,
if they can get away with it.
2. Heritage H575. Probably the best value in a carved body "electric"
jazz guitar. Used ones can be really "cheap", and new ones are
a terrific buy. I stock 'em in single p/u, dual p/u, spruce top, etc.
3. Heritage Eagle. 17" all carved mahogany body, 25 1/2" scale
great acoustic tone. Get it (as I do) w/ the better floating p/u, and
is as fine an instrument as anyones........$1600!!!
4. Heritage introduced a new 16" laminated body, Venetian cutaway,
dual p/u model at NAMM, dubbed the H516. Although I really liked
The guitar, I felt they slightly overpriced it at $2170 list/$1500
"street".
I have been lobbying them to lower the price & offer a sgl. p/u version.
I will post a follow-up after I increase this effort next week in
Nash-Vegas
NAMM show. This is a priority for that trip. This "plywood" archtop could
be an affordable option for a US made, Lacquer finished (7 coats)
"elec." archtop. I would like to see a "list" price of $1800w/ case.
5. My pal Dave Bunker ( The mad scientist of guitar design) has been
bending my ear for a couple of years now on this same subject. We have
had many long talks, based on my feeling that his PBC "Wishbone"
solid carved archtops are "GREAT" sounding affordable jazz guitars.
(BTW: I have several for sale at "cheap" prices now)
Dave has a prototype, and promises to send it to me soon. You can
see this effort at his web site: bunker-guitars.com
View the BAT375 guitar body. Its a 16" solid carved body with some
of Dave's (wierd Science) ideas.
I should have a "ballpark" price soon
ANYWAY.....just some random thoughts . I'll see many of you this weekend
at the Philly mega-show. Please feel free to e-mail myself or Dave Bunker
with ideas or suggestions. I believe Dave is trying to produce a great playing/
sounding affordable archtop w/ all soild woods. Please let him know your
thoughts.
Thanks
Jay Wolfe, direct sales-Heritage, Godin, Holland,Naylor, vintage & pre-owned
guitars.
http://wolfeguitars.com
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