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1998 Gibson ES-165 Herb Ellis Signature Flame Maple/Flamed Maple
The Herb Ellis model celebrates the legendary guitarist who’s work is known to all archtop guitarists. The ES-165 is based on Herb’s 1949 ES-175 and this one from 1998 includes the fixed humbucker, which is no longer available on current model, and a gorgeous sunburst. This guitar is absolutely like new, kept in ‘out-of-the-box’ condition by it’s single owner. You need only listen to the clips below to understand how wonderful these guitars sound. This is a sweetheart.
Add to Compare1978 Gibson LC-5 Maple/Spruce
The Gibson L-5 model needs little introduction; players such as Wes Montgomery, Scotty Moore and Tuck and Patti have made the sound of an L-5 legendary. This beautiful example is an L5-C or Custom L-5 from 1978 and is in wonderful condition. It is completely original but for the pickguard and nut and has a recent refret done to perfection. So not only is this one look stunning, it plays exquisitely up the entire neck.
Add to Compare2007 Greenfield 15″ Archtop, Bigleaf Maple/European Spruce
Bigleaf Maple body, European Spruce top, 15 inches across the lower bout and rigged with a Kent Armstrong humbucker–this 2007 Greenfield Archtop is a sight to see. In hand, the smaller body feels extra comfortable; you can really snug up with this one in your arms. Ebony pickguard, bridge, and tailpiece provide some dark contrast to the honey amber hues present elsewhere. Michael has only ever offered a small handful of archtops–this is only the third we’ve ever seen–and we’re proud to offer this one to you now.
Other keywords: duane simpson, arched top, aaa, gotoh, 109
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.065 in Woods Spruce - European, Maple - Flame Add to Compare2009 Greenfield Black Cherry Archtop, Bigleaf Maple/European Spruce
The cherry on top really makes the dessert. This Black Cherry archtop from famed Montreal luthier Michael Greenfield was originally commissioned by Jacques-André Dupont for his Red Guitar Collection in 2009. As such, Michael gave this 17 inch archtop, built with a Super 400 in mind, a sienna red sunburst over the Bigleaf Maple back and sides and European Spruce top. Michael enlisted the enviable skills of inlay maestro Larry Robinson for the pinup girl and cherry inlays along the fretboard and headstock (inspired by a pinup girl-clad gum display rack Michael spied at a local restaurant). A Kent Armstrong Alnico 3 pickup is mounted to the Ebony pickguard, custom built for this guitar to match the fretboard radius and tighter string spacing.
Of tone, this Greenfield’s flavor avoids the saccharine maraschino cherry altogether, instead favoring the dark, complex palette of the morello cherry. Michael’s F holes have a wider aperture than the traditional L-5, so there’s a snappier and crisper response than the Gibson grandaddies. A slim 1 23/32” nut harkens back to the feel of a Super 400 and keeps the strings within easy reach of the player’s left hand for complex jazz chords and solo runs.
It’s safe to say, there’s not another Greenfield, let alone archtop, quite like the Black Cherry. Snag this delicious fruit while you can.Other keywords: lutherie, l5, big leaf maple, western bigleaf maple. naple, jazz box, gotoh
Here’s a link to Michael discussing this guitar with Premier Guitar at the 2009 Montreal Guitar Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W3WzCDVZ30
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2.063 in Woods Spruce - European, Maple - Bigleaf Add to CompareGreenfield Montreux Quilted Maple/Spruce
One of but a few, this sparkling green Montreux Archtop from Michael Greenfield is the pinnacle of contemporary archtop construction. If Michael’s hands have touched it, you know the guitar is going to be a knock-out–and this one fits the bill nicely. With gorgeous Quilted Maple back and sides and a Spruce top finished to an emerald hue, this guitar exudes an aura of originality and excitement. Unplugged, the voice is silky and expressive, with trebles that are well-balanced. When the custom-wound Armstrong pickup employed, that voice powerful and absorbing with amplification. Now, as you may know, Greenfield’s archtops are hard to come by. They have a notoriety that is due only in part to the fact that Michael doesn’t build them very often, but does so to his exacting standards. As such, the craftsmanship on this instrument is stellar, from the voicing of the top to the adjustable bridge (which works by using different included shims to raise or lower the string height) and the all-Ebony hinged tailpiece. This one has fallen into our lap, but it won’t be there for long. This is Paul Hinton’s personal guitar, and was played by Joe Finn before him, who called it the “Green Iguana.”
Follow the link below to hear Paul’s arrangement of “Georgia On My Mind” and “Misty,” where you can see for yourself how a big-bodied archtop from Michael Greenfield can manage to sound huge and intimate at the same time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjBbR84iO9M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kNkXKFTVbw
Follow the link below to hear Al Petteway’s take on this excellent instrument!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Spruce, Maple - Quilted Add to Compare2007 Gretsch Chet Atkins G6120 Maple in Orange!
Here we have a mint condition Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 from 2007. This is the modern version of the classic 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body guitar. It features a 16″-wide, 2.5″-deep full hollowbody, rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard with Neo-Classic “thumbnail” inlays, dual High Sensitive Filter’Tron pickups, Grover Rotomatic machine heads, Adjusto-Matic bridge, and Bigsby B6G vibrato tailpiece. The F-Holes are painted so this guitar will not feedback. It sports the Leather belly pad, a zero-fret for easy action and a switchable Mute lever that activates a foam mute for great Rockabilly sounds. Oh What Fun!
Add to Compare2005 Gretsch G6040 MCSS Synchromatic Curly Maple/Spruce
From Gretsch – “Cat’s Eye. The G6040MCSS is a customized version of the original 400C Synchromatic™ with the addition of a single “High Sensitive” Filter’Tron™ pickup in the neck position. With its select curly maple body and fine-grained spruce top- the G6040MCSS Synchromatic Cutaway revitalizes musical history. The edges of the body, fingerboard, headstock and pickguard are fully bound in extra wide black and ivory celluloid. Other fittings include the easy-playing, oval ebony fingerboard with extra-broad nickel silver frets, Chromatic™ tailpiece and Synchronized™ bridge.”
Add to Compare1955 Gretsch Country Club Cadillac Green
One of the most traditional of the Gretsch line, The 1955 Country Club 6193 was the first to sport the cutout G Tailpiece and it was also the first year for the Cadillac Green color. The tone of the DeArmond Dynasonic pickups on this guitar is amazing. The condition is excellent as is the playability, this is so much fun it should be illegal. We love it!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2 in Woods Acacia, Cadillac Green Laminate Add to Compare1967 Guild Bluesbird M-75 Mahogany/Spruce
The Guild Bluesbird is a great design that employs a hollow body design for light weight and tone. The big single coil pickups offer a screamin’ tone for blues or a clean punch for Jazz and other styles. This vintage Guild is in great shape, with restoration work performed by Gilbert Diaz one of Guild’s three amigos.
Add to Compare2013 Hahl Jazz Supreme de Luxe, Maple/Spruce
A veteran of the guitarbuilding field, German luthier Stefan Hahl has honed his skills across a wide range of instruments for over 20 years, and we’ve been fortunate enough to find ourselves with a crème de la crème archtop from 2013. This is Stefan’s Jazz Supreme de Luxe model, decked out with hand-carved, 60-year-old Alpine Spruce and figured German Maple, Bartolini humbucker (plus Big Tone bridge piezo and a stereo out), and a generous 17 inch lower bout. thin Nitro finish throughout for maximum resonance, EVO frets for longevity, and a custom Hoffee case for protection on those rare moments you won’t have this Hahl singing in your hands.
Other keywords: arched top, lutherie, luthier, boutique guitar, f holes, mop, fingerstyle, p/up, bartollini
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.125 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Alpine, Maple - European Add to Compare1993 Heritage Sweet 16, Maple/Spruce
This 1993 Sweet 16 from Heritage Guitars certainly is sweet, with 3o years of play time at time of publication — you can’t ask for a better “played in sound.” Gorgeously bursted Spruce and Maple, it looks as sweet as it sounds and feels. Don’t just take our word for it, listen for yourself!
Other keywords/misspellings: Lutherie, luthier, jazz, hollowbody, archtop, humbucker, 16″, J01001
Add to Compare2011 Heritage Super Kenny Burrell, Maple/Spruce
The folks at the Heritage Guitar Company have been hard at work in the old Gibson buildings of Kalamazoo for decades now, building incredible electrics and archtops to compete with the best out there. We recently landed a 2011 Super KB (Kenny Burrell) that is a 100% testament to that statement: this guitar is a fabulous example of Maple, Spruce, and sweet, sweet Jazz tone. Twin humbucking pickups, 18 inches across the expansive lower bout, and a sharp Florentine Cutaway come together in a tasteful, natural finish package. Carved Spruce top with parallel bracing is paired with nicely figured Maple back and sides (and neck, and pickguard) and adjustable finger tailpiece.
These beauties are built in very limited batches, and this is the first time we’ve seen one in a while. Snag it while you can!
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, kb model, gibson guitars, arch top, jazz box, jazz guitar, groverAdd to Compare2012 Heritage Super Eagle ACB, Maple/Spruce
2012 Super Eagle from the fine folks at Heritage Guitars—yes, please! This is a dynamite jazz box that’ll handle rock and blues with aplomb. Maple back and sides paired with a carved Spruce top, humbuckers, and Bigsby tailpiece for all the warbling vibrato and dive bombs you can shake a pick at. This Super Eagle is a big boy, make no mistake: 18 inches at the lower bout—and that translates to a big voice with sweet resonance for all the registers. In great shape from toe to tip, this Heritage Super Eagle is itching to keep crooning; snag it while you can!
Other keywords: kalamazoo, gibson, electric guitar, arch top, archtop, jazz box, grover, duane simpson
Add to Compare2005 Hofner Jazzica Custom Laminated Maple/Engelmann
This is the Custom Jazzica archtop guitar from Hofner Guitars of Germany. It features a unique body design that tapers 2 inches from the tail to the neck joint giving it a full body sound but remaining easy to hold. The 16″ lower bout and solid Engelmann Spruce top give it a wonderful response and it sounds great plugged in or acoustically. This is a very cool model from Germany’s top maker of electric guitars, Hofner.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.69 in String Spacing 2.06 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Maple Add to Compare2009 Holst 16 Inch Archtop Laminate Maple/Laminate Maple
If you’re looking for a Jazz box ideal for gigging, the Holst 16″ Archtop is definitely worth considering. With a smaller-than-average Maple body, this Holst has all the warmth and round tonality of a full-size Jazz box, but the more compact and comfortable feel of a semi-hollow body. Amped up with an ES-175 Humbucker pickup perfect for fingerstyle, this guitar really lets those 6 and 13 chords ring in all their complexity–and the wider neck with 1 13/16″ nut makes fingering complicated shapes that much easier.The voice is warm and expressive, with lots of drive. Trebles silky smooth; basses clean and articulate. If you’re looking for the big, round sound for fingerstyle Jazz in a more manageable package, try this Holst 16″ Archtop on for size. This guitar also comes with an extra bridge and saddle, and a TKL hardshell case.