Approaching the Acoustic Archtop Guitar

Demonstration of some different ways to pick and strum an acoustic archtop guitar to get different tones. I'm playing a 1935 Gibson L-12, recorded with a Shure KSM32 mic to a Presonus Firestudio Project into an Apple MacBook. No effects of any kind were used.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roger
• Placer
• Acoustic
• Archtop
• Guitar
• Jazz
• Gibson
• L-5
• L-7
• L-10
• L-12
• L5
• L7
• L10
• L12

[theFLIGHT84]

hi! I want to buy an acoustic archtop guitar, like yours, with a good sound, very 60's!

my budget is round 300 euros.

which model do you think is good for me?

thank you!

bye :)

[rpguitar]

@theFLIGHT84 - I think the best model for you would be a "save more money" model. Sorry. I don't mean to be flippant, but it's true. This is a vintage archtop made of all solid, hand carved woods. You will need at least $1,000 USD to approach this league (with a used Loar or Eastman).

[jagermeister5]

amzing sound. how much they go for?

[rpguitar]

@jagermeister5 - Oh, they're all over the place, and people try to get exorbitant prices too - usually not successfully. Let's say between $3K-$5K for an L-7 or L-12 in really nice condition, with "issues" causing the price to be less. That's just a range. And L-5's are always more expensive, rarely under $5K.

[edisonphonographfan]

Hey i collect and play old guitars usually stella's and concertones and parlor guitars and I have been looking for an archtop guitar and found one for 100 bucks its not cracked and the neck isn't warped its just dirty and sitting in the back of a junk store but it has no brand and idk if its a good idea to buy it its just what I want but i was concerned about the brand the headstock doesn't look very fancy and i would love your opinion on this thanks!

jonathan

[rpguitar]

@edisonphonographfan - Well, let's be honest - you're asking someone who plays $5K vintage Gibsons and orders custom made archtops. I wouldn't touch a $100 no-name junk store guitar. But if that's your thing, go for it. It will either be a piece of junk, or it will have some character after a good polish and setup. Not a big risk at least.

[EpiphoneArchtopLover]

Playing an acoustic archtop made me a better overall player. There's definitely a different technique to playing a flat top :)

[Lalairu]

Hello! I want to buy a second acoustic guitar, and I like archtops a lot. I'm going to save moneym and I don't want to spend more than about 500 euros (if it costs 550 I'll buy it xD). Can you give me any advice? I dont want to buy a Gibson or a vintage model you know XD Nice guitar :D

[trv16gel]

nice microphone!

[TheBloodswordsman]

I just looked at this vid for a bit of research, but damn those were sweet sounds.

[nutmegger1957]

good foundational lesson for folks at that level. Valid statements and good demonstration. Nice Archtop, too!! If you were in my neck of the woods, we'd have some fun Jamming...........Cheers!

[fretcom]

Luv the video on archtop approach. Your voice sounds just like the actor Richard Dreyfuss. Just sayin'...

[Giaco54]

Gibsons are amazing - period and you're spot on about the approach having a profound effect on the sound - that looks to be in amazing condition for the age -

nice..

[jagermeister5]

@rpguitar thank you!