Archtop Guitars

There are a lot of great archtop guitars out there. Especially from the boutique guitar makers. My favorites, in no particular order are:

- Schaefer

- Triggs

- Campellone

These builders just make magnificent guitars. The tone, playabilty, fit, and finish is just incredible. While costly, these guitars are a work of art and are really suited to be legacy guitars and family heirlooms to be passed on from generation to generation.

In terms of corporate builds, Gibson is still the undisputed leader. Their history and commitment to the archtop is unmatched. Who hasn’t drooled over an L5. L4, Le Grande, or Tal Farlow. They are all just absolutely wonderful guitars and are consistent year after year. Other great commercial archtops include Guild (USA models), Heritage (ex-Gibson employees from Kalamazoo, MI) and Eastman. I played a Guild X-175, as well as a Heritage Sweet 16 that were just marvelous. Absolutely wonderful guitars.

My favorite commercial builds are:

- Gibson

- Guild

- Heritage

- Eastman