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MISC ARCHTOPS (See also Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, etc.)
Bestler ES-175 Copy, (pic2), beautifully low action in a nice guitar for a sweet price This model is somewhat of a mystery as it has the lawfully-protected "Open-Book" headstock, which Gibson guards very closely, so my guess is it must have not been made for export (otherwise lawsuits would fly). Has all the other nice features including multi-ply body binding, bound F-holes, bound headstock, block inlays, gold hardware, tune-o-matic bridge with retainer wire, harp tailpiece, and single Venetian cutaway. Bridge pickup is replaced with a good sounding early mode GFS Retrotron, which was their version of a Filter 'Tron for "that Gretsch sound", very crisp and medium output. The stock neck pickup is thicker sounding and very warm and rich, and the two work very well together. Good quality hardware with sealed tuners, and fully adjustable bridge with a wooden bass and dead-on Gibson Tuneomatic style, complete with retainer wire. Overall very clean shape with the only notable flaws being (see pic) strap pin was relocated as well as the output jack. No biggie and a nice clean guitar that plays like a dream and sounds very good. $239.
Gretsch G6120SHP Brian Setzer Hot Rod - Hot Rod Purple, (front/back), (headstock), (HR Filter 'Trons), (case). Immaculate condition, perfect example of an early model Hot Rod and an excellent choice for the collector types who want new guitar appearance at a used guitar price. Brian has been playing the Hot Rod more and more, and evidence by his recent appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" where Brian strapped on a Hot Rod rather than his upscale signature model (pic here). This is a very cool model and the ultimate in simplicity, which is really an anomaly for Gretsch which are known for having more knobs and switches than you know what to do with. The Setzer Hot Rod is sort of their version of the Kramer Baretta with just a pickup selector and volume control. For a lot of players, what else do you need? This '03 model still featured the Hot Rod Filter 'Tron pickups as well as the G-branded Gretsch tuners. Other features include 1959-style trestle bracing, pinned Adjusto-matic bridge, Bigsby B6C Vibrato tailpiece, neo-classic thumbnail inlays, and the coolest finishes, in this case Hot Rod Purple. Killer setup, killer tone, and beautiful in its simplicity. Click here for Harmony-Central reviews, where 24 reviews rated this model scored an incredible 9.9 in the tone department and a 9.5 overall. With a list of $3600, these sell online at $2524 but this one is barely played, 9.9 condition, and better than $1000 cheaper at just $1499. Includes Gretsch case, certificate, and serialized factory hang tag/check list.
Gretsch G6122-12 Country Classic 12-String, (front/back), (headstock), (case/acc). Never retailed, offered unplayed and immaculate. I've never had one of these before and I wasn't even aware that they had made a Gent 12 until a few months ago. The Country Classic 12 is an update of their most popular Country Gentleman design, with that classic 12-string jingle-jangle sound that helped definite the 60's by such group as the Byrds. As one of Gretsch's Professional series, this guitar is very well made and is likely a better guitar than Gretsch made back in the 60's. The Country Classic 12 is a hollowbody double cutaway with all-maple construction, including arched laminated maple top with dual faux f-holes, maple sides and back, and 2-piece maple neck. Other features include dual Filter'Tron pickups, 3-way pickup switching, Volume 1, Volume 2, and Master Volume controls, 3-position toggle Master Tone switch, Standby switch, ebony fingerboard with neo-classic MOP side thumbnail markers, ebony-based 12-string Adjusto-Matic bridge, Gretsch G-Cutout Tailpiece, Gold hardware, and Grover Rotomatic tuners. Specs include 24.6" scale length, body is 17" wide and 2" deep, 1-11/16" nut width, 12" fingerboard radius, and 22 frets (plus zero fret). This guitar plays very nicely with low action and a nice light touch for a 12. Unplayed, first quality Gretsch and with a list price of $3075, nicely priced at $1850(HOLD-Jeff M 2/4). Includes Gretsch case, all paperwork, and ships in original box.
1997 Guild Starfire III, (front/back), (headstock/neck), (case). What a beauty! Stunning condition, and another fine example of a Westerly RI Guild semi-hollowbody. They must have done a lot of Starfires this year; this is the 3rd '97 I've had in the past few months but definitely the nicest of the bunch in terms of sheer beauty. Beautifully flamed maple top and back, finished in blonde, make this a real looker and the most consistent flame out of the last dozen Starfires I've had. First introduced in the 1960 as an evolution of the T-100 Slim Jim, the Starfire, with its arched top and back semi-hollowbody has been the choice of some notable players such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Tom Fogerty, Randy Johnston - even Glen Tipton of Judas Priest. Features include single Florentine cutaway maple body with solid ash center block, one-piece Mahogany neck is 1-11/16" wide at nut, multi-ply body binding, bound neck, rosewood fretboard with Mother-of-Pearl dots, Guild SD-1 humbuckers, 24-3/4" scale length, Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, Grover tuners, and inlaid pearl Chesterfield and Guild logo. This is a finely crafted archtop in immaculate condition with a very nice setup and quality tone. In my opinion, it's at least as good as a Dot reissue and at around $1K less, a much better value, just $1350. Includes similarly clean original case with manual/warranty, and hangtag.
2006 Ibanez Artcore AFS75TD-SV Hollowbody, (front/back), (headstock), (detail-finish&binding). Never retailed and immaculate with plastic still on pickguard and pickups. Ibanez has a long history of building quality archtops and the newer Artcore series continue that tradition with prices that are unprecedented in name brand archtops. The AFS75D features all-maple body with mahogany neck in a set-neck design, ACH-1 and ACH-2 humbucker pickups, nickel and chrome hardware, rosewood fretboard with large frets and excellent quality pearloid inlays, multi-ply bound body, bound neck, bound headstock, bound f-holes, pearloid headstock logo, nickel plated VBF70 Bigsby-style vintage vibrato, ART2 roller bridge. The fit and finish on this guitar are truly remarkable, on par with guitars at 3X the cost. From the perfectly applied silver flake finish, to the binding, to the immaculately inlaid pearl block fretboard inlays, this guitar shows remarkable quality for the money. The IBZ ACH pickups were designed specifically for their archtop models and are very good at reducing feedback and allowing higher gain than many stock pickups. With a $533 list, these sell online for $399 but this one's immaculate and unplayed, with a setup that's inevitably better than factory, for just $339(SOLD-Scott 1/15).
ca. 1951 Gretsch New Yorker 16" Acoustic Archtop, (pic2), (pic3), (pic4). "As is" special! Can't be set up with low action without some serious neck work so I'm offering this "as is" for the slide player or someone who plays only cowboy chords (action at 12th fret). Other than the action, this guitar is quite intact without extraneous rattles and no breaks, with a cool "Blind Willie Lemon" tone that's well suited for delta blues. I don't a lot about this model other than it has rather austere cosmetics for a Gretsch, with a painted on logo but it does feature a bound neck and body, and block fretboard inlays. Fretboard is Brazilian rosewood, which is a cool feature any day, and what appears to be original tortoise pickguard. Finish has a wonderfully aged patina, typical with nitro finishes (body pic) including nicely yellowed binding that's in remarkably nice shape for a 50's Gretsch. Serial 4779 stamped inside F-hole which should date it to '51. I'm into it for $400 and after talking to my luthier it's not going to be cost effective to make it a killer Spanish style player thus it's offered as is for $450.
2005 Gretsch 5129 Electromagnetic Hollowbody, (front/back), (headstock), (side). My favorite of the Electromagnetic Hollowbody series, thanks to a pair of great USA DeArmond 2000 single coil pickups. Features include maple body and neck, bound body front and back, US DeArmond 2000 pickups, bound neck, Bigsby licensed B700 tremolo, neo-classical thumbnail inlays, 1 11/6" nut, 16" body that's 2.5" deep, parallel tone bar bracing with sound post, Pearloid headstock inlays and black headstock overlay, knurled strap pins, and black plexi pickguard. This model sells new for $769 ($1100 list) but this one is "as new", only played a few hours and is in factory fresh condition. Note that the protective foam under the bridge will be removed prior to shipping. With a killer setup, quality tone, and Gretsch vibe, this is a great guitar for $569. These ship from the factory without case but I have a nice TKL hardshell case (pic here), with plush maroon lining and arched top, available for $75 if desired. Note that I have the 5120, in black or orange) with Gretsch humbuckers on my Archtops page for $450.
Ibanez Artstar AF-120, (pic2), (headstock). The big daddy and a very good quality full body archtop (16" lower bout, over 2.5" depth). This Artstar series changed the guitar market, offering unprecedented quality archtops at very reasonable prices. The AF-120 features a very comfortable Artstar neck with medium frets, body is a classic Spruce top over Maple back and sides, excellent sounding pickups with a Super 58 bridge and Super 58 neck. Cosmetic features include multi-ply binding on body, neck, and headstock, fretboard inlays with a pearloid block and center stripe of Abalone, trapeze tailpiece and gold hardware. Wonderfully low action on this guitar and tone wise, this guitar is a total winner. With these Super 58 pickups it sounds very much like an old Gibson 175 and the acoustic tone, likewise, is well-rounded for a hollowbody with good sustain. Includes original Ibanez case in fair condition (latches/hinges work fine) with plush lining and blanket covering. This guitar has been lovingly played for around 7 years and exhibits normal signs of use, primarily gold wear but no major issues such as cracks or repairs. It's one of the nicest archtops I've had for under a grand and has been professionally played and maintained since new. I consider it an excellent value in a Jazzbox for $599.
Tokai ES-335 Copy, (front/back), (headstock). Excellent quality imported Dot copy. This is a recent model but Tokai's quality today seems to be as good as it's been for the last few decades, which is top notch. Plays fantastic with very low action and bends true and easy. Fit/finish are excellent as well. I'm not up on my overseas factories, but this guitar impresses me twice as much as Epiphone. Beautiful condition, perefect frets, and an excellent semi-hollowbody for $475. Includes the common "pleather" gigbag.
1965 Harmony Truetone, (pic2), (headstock). Wonderfully preserved example, from Spring of '65, from the days when most of these were sold through mail order companies like Sears & Roebuck. These were definitely a case of style over substance with painted on flamed maple, inlays, and binding, but it's actually a nice sounding archtop with a rich tone that's clear with no rattle or nasty overtones. Exceptionally clean condition, very much an "under the bed" guitar with the only real flaw is a small finish chip in the middle of the back, visible in pic2 above. Has a very chunky V-neck, common on these older Harmony's so if you have small hands you should pass on this one. I don't know why there are no longer any inexpensive USA archtops being built today - I don't think you can touch one for under $2K. Back when this one was built, it was probably a $38 guitar. For a very playable USA vintage archtop in this condition, it's a pretty sweet deal at $299.
1960's Sorrento Hollowbody, (pic2), (pic3), (pic4). "Lawsuit" headstock! A real "under the bed" beauty and a good quality Japan archtop. What sets this apart from its near pristine condition, is the Gibson "open-book" headstock, which was a no-no in terms of import shortly after this model was imported, the superb action - many of these don't have the best necks and are best used for slide guitar, and the obvious beautiful condition. No player's wear, very little finish checking, finish shines like new - a solid 9+ condition. A pair of single coil pickups sound very good and aren't prone to feedback with moderate gain settings. Just a sounding, killer playing vintage Japan hollowbody and quite a find in this condition. Vintage Japan guitars finally started taking off a few years ago but they're still quite affordable especially when you consider they can be had for LESS than new Korean Epi's, Deans, Samick, etc. $379 takes this one.
Teisco Del Ray EP-8T hollowbody (pic2), (pic3). Thinline hollowbody electric. Needs some attention. , Cracks visible in the pics are just lacquer cracks (i.e. finish checking) and are not in the wood. Gretsch bridge used for photo's only and is NOT included. You will need to supply a bridge. Make it your next project for $75/as is.
Washburn Oscar Schmidt OE-30 Semi-Hollowbody, NOS 2004 model, an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a decent ES-335 style for under $200. Factory setup left something to be desired but we touched up the fret ends and tweaked it all around. The result is an excellent playing guitar with good sounding Washburn 400-series pickups; quality Grover tuners keep it in tune. Never retailed and better than new since it'll be ready to play right out of the box. Lists at $349 but this one with a pro-setup is just $199.
