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