Vintage Archtop Acoustics

Greg

So I spotted a couple of Vintage Gibson Archtop Acoustics on GT. One for 4k and one for 9k which I sadly missed.

The one for 9k was a L-48 with a DeArmond floating pickup, looked super kickass! It's the lower end of the spectrum, but 9k for a 1938 Gibson seemed a fair price.

Bummed that I missed it.

Anyone got opinions on these types of guitars?
Micing them up?
Pickups?
Tone and Volume of them?
Strings?
Plectrums?
Other options in the same vein?

Anyone got one in Cape Town that I could come jam on for some pondering?

WORD

I'll just leave this L-5 here....

Bob-Dubery

Vintage archtops, really good ones, are for some reason much cheaper than flat tops and electrics. Check out George Gruhn's web site and you'll see a significant difference in pricing.

Don't necessarily need to put pick ups on them. Listen to some recent Gillian Welch. David Rawlins is Welch's musical sidekick, and he plays 30s Epiphone archtops which
a) are surprisingly cheap
b) ring like a bell.

NB! Epiphone was a brand all it by itself back then: Not Gibson's budget line.

Greg

HOLY POOP: http://www.gruhn.com/features/AR4277.html

Greg

X-rated Bob wrote: Vintage archtops, really good ones, are for some reason much cheaper than flat tops and electrics. Check out George Gruhn's web site and you'll see a significant difference in pricing.

Don't necessarily need to put pick ups on them. Listen to some recent Gillian Welch. David Rawlins is Welch's musical sidekick, and he plays 30s Epiphone archtops which
a) are surprisingly cheap
b) ring like a bell.

NB! Epiphone was a brand all it by itself back then: Not Gibson's budget line.

I think I'm looking for a Gibson L-50. That sort of price range is more achievable for me.

I know there are also super cheap ones, Harmony, Hofner, Kay, that sort of stuff. Anywhere to look for that sort of thing?

His Epiphone really does sound so nice:

=

Bob-Dubery

Down at the saner end of their catalog, Gruhn's have a '42 L50 for $1650.

Greg

Saw that :X

Keira-WitherKay

if you want an L50 get hold of ronnie from all bang and strummit in jhb (sure he will ship it ) i was in his shop yesterday , he just sold my '55 gibson LG3 for me and he has a pretty mint L50 from 40's (he did tell me but i forget which year) and speak to him about price.... but his initial asking price was pretty fair .... and i'm sure he is negotiable ... but act quickly ... i gave him my vintage 50's gibson acoustic and an old hofner archtop to sell and he moved both in no time.... so if you serious call him soonest as theres always demand for these gems especially if they in good condition , call ronnie at allbang and strummit on 0824131486 .....

and i did play on it and it sounded as good as they do ....... just remember an L50 is the budget archtop of the 40's so don't expect the sound of say an L5 but they still have plenty mojo and at a fraction of the price ...

Greg

Keira WitherKay wrote: if you want an L50 get hold of ronnie from all bang and strummit in jhb (sure he will ship it ) i was in his shop yesterday , he just sold my '55 gibson LG3 for me and he has a pretty mint L50 from 40's (he did tell me but i forget which year) and speak to him about price.... but his initial asking price was pretty fair .... and i'm sure he is negotiable ... but act quickly ... i gave him my vintage 50's gibson acoustic and an old hofner archtop to sell and he moved both in no time.... so if you serious call him soonest as theres always demand for these gems especially if they in good condition , call ronnie at allbang and strummit on 0824131486 .....

and i did play on it and it sounded as good as they do ....... just remember an L50 is the budget archtop of the 40's so don't expect the sound of say an L5 but they still have plenty mojo and at a fraction of the price ...

Thanks Keira! I know Ronnie at all bang. I'm heading up to JHB in July so I could probably put a deposit on it or something and pick it up then.

Will SMS him now!

kapepper

i have a 1956 L 48, and i am very happy with it

i use a heavier string like 11's but that is personal preference....

i also tend to play it more with a plectrum to create some volume.....

Keira once played it, her style, and it sounded even better ?

vic

That 48 is a great looker Kapepper. ? Congrats.

Chabenda

A beaut Kapepper - Jealaaaaas!!!

Greg

That L-48 is excellent!

Give me a ring if you ever get board of it...

se7ent7

I inherited a (50s?) L-50 from my grandfather's sister.

Unfortunately someone installed a dodgy looking P90 in it, and the butterbean tuning knobs have disintegrated but otherwise it's in fair nick for it's age.
Gets that tone Buddy Guy gets on Blues Singer. Especially with pure nickel strings

Greg, I'm in stellenbosch if you want to come and check it out sometime, let me know
(it's not for sale though ?

Attila

se7ent7 wrote: I'm in stellenbosch if you want to come and check it out sometime, let me know
(it's not for sale though ?

Free Beer... then ?

Greg

se7ent7 wrote: I inherited a (50s?) L-50 from my grandfather's sister.

Unfortunately someone installed a dodgy looking P90 in it, and the butterbean tuning knobs have disintegrated but otherwise it's in fair nick for it's age.
Gets that tone Buddy Guy gets on Blues Singer. Especially with pure nickel strings

Greg, I'm in stellenbosch if you want to come and check it out sometime, let me know
(it's not for sale though ?

Awesome! Will drop you a message when I get back from JHB!

kapepper

se7ent7 wrote: I inherited a (50s?) L-50 from my grandfather's sister.

Unfortunately someone installed a dodgy looking P90 in it, and the butterbean tuning knobs have disintegrated but otherwise it's in fair nick for it's age.
Gets that tone Buddy Guy gets on Blues Singer. Especially with pure nickel strings

Greg, I'm in stellenbosch if you want to come and check it out sometime, let me know
(it's not for sale though ?

pics?