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Author Topic: Decent cheap archtop  (Read 6455 times)

choucas09

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Re: Decent cheap archtop
« Reply #15 on: July 01, 2010, 01:33:32 PM »
The neck on the Broadway is a nice c shape and not as clubby as a 50's . It looked a huge and handsome guitar with the all blonde finish. Having said that the AK95 with the dark violin burst looks amazing.

Prawnik

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Re: Decent cheap archtop
« Reply #16 on: July 05, 2010, 11:35:47 AM »
Stupit question, but what is the difference between a recent production Epiphone Emperor and a recent production Epiphone Broadway?

tomjackson

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Re: Decent cheap archtop
« Reply #17 on: July 05, 2010, 11:53:31 AM »

I think the broadway is a little bigger and deeper, closer to the bigger Gibson archtops wheras the Joe pass is closer to an ES175.   

Epiphone's website is shitee for specs!

Fourth Feline

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Re: Decent cheap archtop
« Reply #18 on: July 08, 2010, 10:11:16 AM »
Sorry for joining this one rather late, but my recomendation would be the Ibanez AF75.

My own 'main' guitar has ended up being the Vintage VS575, as seen in my avatar - but that's mostly due to it being the only one with gold hardware to match my beloved B.K.P Manhattans. The VS575 has set up and settled in beautifully, but cosmetically, it required further spending to make it look as nice as the Ibanez looked straight out of the box.

For build quality and a lovely neck ( albeit that the criteria for 'lovely neck' is surprisingly hard to define  in words ) - the Ibanez Artcore series are winners.

The stock pickups of the Vintage VS575 were a little more subtle than the Ibanez, but both guitars deserved better pickups, as the bodies and potential intrinsic tonal attributes where being hidden by the stock pickups.

The Ibby is brighter , the Vintage sweeter, but if you want the best value for money and solid build quality, inlays and superior hardwear ( at the sub £300 mark ) - go Ibanez.

I tried Tanglewood for my '335' era and enjoyed it , until I realised that the above two eclipsed it.  So, in choice order :

1) Ibanez

2) Vintage

3) Tanglewood.

And of course the Eastmans and Peerless in first and second place respectively if you can afford them. Sadly I have neither tried or afforded them, but Choucas has confirmed that his Eastman 'El-Rey 2'  is all it is claimed to be - and more.

Cheers !  :)
« Last Edit: July 08, 2010, 10:18:04 AM by Fourth Feline »

Fourth Feline

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Re: Decent cheap archtop
« Reply #19 on: July 08, 2010, 10:23:01 AM »
A quick observational reprise regarding the Epiphones ( or any guitar / Archtop of course ) - remember to check the scale length, as the bigger bodied Epiphone archtops have a stiffer Fender like 25.5" scale - and others the softer feeling Gibson like 24.75" scale. The longer scale, bigger bodies being combined , due to the assumption that you might prefer an acoustically louder ' Big Band ' Era type instrument - that can take heavy rhythmic down strokes ( think Freddie Green ).

I prefer the 24.75" scale  for Jazz  - as smooth action encourages smooth playing ...  8)
« Last Edit: July 08, 2010, 10:28:51 AM by Fourth Feline »