Archtop

Gretsch G6128 Duo Jet With Bigsby Black, 2016

On June 29, 2022 /

Here’s a very clean, all original 2016 Gretsch G6128 Duo Jet in Black, with vintage-style Bigsby B3 V-cut tailpiece and Space Control bridge. This model uses the 1959 style electronics layout with two Filter ‘Trons – apparently not by TV Jones as there is no T designation – pickup selector, tone selector, plus individual and master Volume controls.

Used

Price: $2,900.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1947

On June 29, 2022 /

This Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe was built around 1947 based on the middle-position pickup type and location, control layout and the serial number. The serial is ‘75194’ with the 75 being a prefix for this model and the ‘194’ its production rank; this serial scheme was used from 1944 to 1950. The top is Laminate Spruce, the back and sides Laminate Maple and the neck a five piece layup of Maple and Walnut.

Vintage

Price: $2,450.00 CAD $2,599.00 CAD

Gibson Memphis ESDT-335 Figured Natural, 2012

On June 29, 2022 /

Here’s a very nicely figured and very good condition Gibson Memphis ESDT-335 in gloss natural finish, dated to Jul 11 2012 at the now-closed Gibson Memphis plant. The Gibson Memphis ESDT-335 is a slight variation on the standard ES-335, with the ‘ES’ standing as always for ‘Electric Spanish’. ‘Spanish’ refers to how the guitar is held and played, with one of the few other primary designations being ‘EH’ for ‘Electric Hawaiian’.

Used

Price: $4,299.99 CAD

Martin R-17 Archtop Guitar Natural Mahogany, 1937

On June 28, 2022 /

Listed from 1935 to 1941, the Martin R-17 was one of a few arched top, flat back models in the Martin catalog, featuring a Mahogany top, back and sides. Its sibling, the R-18, had a solid, shaped Spruce top with Mahogany elsewhere; Brazilian Rosewood was used for the head plate, bridge, and fingerboard. Early examples of both models used 12 fret necks but soon gained the more popular 14 fret configuration.

Vintage

Price: $3,250.00 CAD

Gibson Memphis ES-335 Block Markers Cherry, 2015

On June 14, 2022 /

This Cherry Red Gibson Memphis ES-335 dates to February 7, 2015 and was built at the now-closed Memphis plant. While that plant is closed, the ES-335 is still in production, but the ‘standard’ ES-335 comes with dot position markers; the block markers seen here are now found on the “Figured – Sixties Cherry” version. This example has a relatively plain top and back, but does not have the ‘P’ – for plain – designation in the model number.

Used

Price: $3,850.00 CAD

Heritage H-575 Antique Natural, 1994

On May 26, 2022 /

The Heritage H-575, built at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan takes visual cues from the classic Gibson ES-175, but there are major differences in construction and materials. When Gibson introduced the ‘ES’ or ‘Electric Spanish’ designation, archtops were the most commonly used models on bandstands because of their superior volume and projection.

Used

Price: $3,499.99 CAD

Harrison NJ Custom Archtop Guitar Natural, 2022

On May 26, 2022 /

Here is a brand new Douglas Harrison NJ Custom, with a carved Sitka Spruce top and flamed Big Leaf Maple for the sides, back and neck. Featuring a 16 inch wide body, this new Harrison NJ Custom also uses Macassar Ebony for the bridge, tailpiece, head plate, Laskin style arm rest, and a segmented sound port on the upper bass side. The frets are stainless steel medium jumbo, and it should be years before they require any service.

New

Price: $13,900.00 CAD

Gibson Memphis ES-339 Thinline Electric Cherry Red, 2013

On May 19, 2022 /

The Gibson Memphis ES-339 was built from 2007 until the Gibson Memphis plant closed in 2019, and the 339 is now built in Nashville with some small changes. In 1996, Gibson launched the short-lived ES-336, a scaled-down version of the classic ES-335. This model retained the key playability elements of the 335 in terms of scale length, fingerboard width and hardware selection.

Used

Price: $3,500.00 CAD

Gibson L-7 Archtop Guitar Sunburst, 1942

On May 13, 2022 /

The Gibson L-7 Archtop Guitar appeared in 1934 as a plainer, “workingman’s” version of the L-5, Gibson’s very popular archtop used by many artists including Maybelle Carter. Its first appearance in catalogs and price lists was during 1934. In 1928, the L-5 sold for around $275, which translates to around $4000 in current prices, so these were serious investments during the Depression years. This motivated Gibson to produce lower priced models like the L-7.

Vintage

Price: $3,500.00 CAD

Gibson CS-336 P Compact Thinline Sunburst, 2004

On April 25, 2022 /

The Gibson CS-336 P is a plain-top version of the CS-336, which replaced the ES-336 (introduced in 1996)in 2001. The name change also indicated construction changes. The back, sides and body supports of the CS-336 is carved from a Mahogany blank, and a carved Maple top is placed on top.

Used

Price: $4,750.00 CAD

Guild Starfire III Thinline Cherry Red, 1964

On April 24, 2022 /

The Guild Starfire III Thinline first appeared in 1960, as a single-cutaway, thin but fully hollow archtop, with a Bigsby tailpiece – the Starfire II was the same guitar but with the Guild harp tailpiece. It was available with either maple or mahogany laminate body.

Vintage

Price: $2,150.00 CAD

Gretsch Tennessean 6119 Walnut, 1967

On April 22, 2022 /

Currently named the ‘Tennessee Rose’, the Gretsch Tennessean 6119 first appeared in 1958, and for 1961 gained the closed, thin ElectroTone body. Chet Atkins had been urging Gretsch to take steps to reduce feedback on their hollowbody designs, especially after Gibson introduced the center-block ES335 in 1958.

Vintage

Price: $3,250.00 CAD

Gretsch G6120 FTM Player’s Edition Orange, 2016

On April 20, 2022 /

This is a real treat – a Gretsch G6120 FTM Player’s Edition, with a spectacular flame maple body, string-through Bigsby, pinned bridge, and locking tuners! This is a seriously good guitar, and these modern examples are among the best Gretsch has ever produced. Gretsch introduced the 6120 in 1954 and it was an immediate hit, adopted by many of the top players like Chet Atkins and Eddie Cochrane.

Used

Price: $2,999.99 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Godin 5th Avenue Edition Speciale PT Indigo Blue, 2009

On April 14, 2022 /

The Godin 5th Avenue archtop model was introduced at the 2008 NAMM show, it was a surprise hit given that this type of guitar has been seen on fewer stages since the early 1960s. Since then, the 5th Avenue has been seen in a number of variations with different pickup configurations, with and without Bigsby True Vibrato tailpieces, with and without cutaways, and in a host of finishes. Seen here is the Godin 5th Avenue Edition Speciale PT sporting an Indigo Blue finish.

Used

Price: $999.99 CAD $1,250.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Epiphone Emperor Archtop Blonde, 1946

On April 6, 2022 /

From the days when giant archtops ruled the earth, the Epiphone Emperor was one of the largest at 18.5 inches across.

Vintage

Price: $6,500.00 CAD $8,400.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Gibson ES-175 Single Pickup Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1960

On March 31, 2022 /

Introduced in 1949 and until the introduction of Seth Lover’s humbucker in late 1957, the Gibson ES-175 Single pickup archtop electric sported a single P90 in the neck position. The Gibson ES-175 Single and Double pickup models went on to become a workhorse guitar, used on countless stages, studios and performances. It was discontinued in 2019 after a production run of 70 years.

Vintage

Price: $14,999.99 CAD $16,999.99 CAD

Eastman AR-503ce Cutaway Electric Archtop Sunburst, 2014

On March 17, 2022 /

This Eastman AR-503ce Archtop Cutaway Electric in sunburst, built during 2014 and in very good, clean condition. Generally positioned as a lower cost model, the Eastman AR-503ce uses a traditional full-depth single-cutaway design with arched solid, carved Spruce top, but with laminated Maple for the sides and arched back.

Used

Price: $1,450.00 CAD

Harrison GB Custom Sapele Pomelle, 2013

On March 7, 2022 /

Here we have a very nice Harrison GB Custom with Sapele Pomelle top, built at Douglas Harrison’s shop in Toronto Canada during 2013. Originally the outgrowth of a guitar custom built for the late Gary Benson, a well known Toronto jazz guitarist and educator, the Harrison GB has proven itself popular with an increasing number of players – including Harrison himself at his own gigs!

Used

Price: $4,250.00 CAD

Harmony Comet Electric Guitar, Trans Red

On February 22, 2022 /

The Harmony Comet Semi-Hollowbody in Trans Red represents the very first semi-hollow electric guitar in our lineup of cherished musical instruments, inspired by the original Harmony H72 of the ’60s. This double cutaway guitar has an immaculately carved genuine mahogany top and back for warm, well-rounded and acoustic-like tone. The addition of a center block minimizes feedback, and the long-tenon set neck construction increases sustain.

New

Price: $1,999.00 CAD

Eastman T59 V Thinline Archtop Electric Antique Varnish

On February 8, 2022 /

The Eastman T59 V is a take on one of the most successful and influential of Ted McCarty’s innovations, the thinline, semi-hollow archtop electric guitar. Around 1957, Gibson was looking to update its product line to address a number of issues, one of which was the rise in amplified stage volumes causing feedback. While the engineering team is credited with most of the design, it was apparently president Ted McCarty’s idea to put a solid Maple block through the center of the guitar.

New

Price: $2,279.00 CAD

Gibson ES-137 Thinline BlueBurst, 2006

On February 1, 2022 /

Introduced in Nashville during 2002, the Gibson ES-137 thinline is intended to combine two of Gibson’s most successful designs – the resonance of the thinline archtop ES models, and the solidity of the Les Paul classic. However, this instrument is thicker than a thinline model, and uses mahogany instead of maple for the center block. Bringing together the Florentine cutaway, arch top body with the solid mahogany center block, and using most of the hardware from a Les Paul including the pickups, tune-a-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, the ES-137 thinline is a very versatile guitar.

Used

Price: $3,750.00 CAD

Gibson Byrdland Thinline Archtop Electric Natural, 1976

On January 28, 2022 /

The Gibson Byrdland appeared in 1955 as a custom order for Billy Byrd and Hank Garland. These two were top Nashville session guitarists who wanted full archtop tone, but in a more comfortable thinner body and a shorter scale length – 23.5 inches, rather than Gibson’s standard 24.75 inches – to allow easier access to complex chords fingerings. The Byrdland was the first of Gibson’s thinline archtop guitars, with many more to follow. The design was so successful that it was quickly promoted to production status.

Vintage

Price: $8,500.00 CAD

Hofner Gold Label Club Bass NOS Red, 2015

On January 25, 2022 /

Here’ s a new, old stock 2015 Hofner Gold Label Club Bass in solid red! The Club Bass is also known as the 500/2 – the 500/1 is the iconic violin shaped ‘Beatle Bass’. This is a ‘Gold Label’ model, one of a limited edition in custom colour. These models are built at the primary Hofner plant in Hagenau, Bavaria and are not always easy to find available for sale.

New

Price: $4,200.00 CAD

Gibson ES-275 Thinline Archtop Cherry, 2016

On January 20, 2022 /

Here’s something rare and discontinued from the now-closed Memphis plant, the Gibson ES-275 thin hollow body archtop in classic cherry lacquer. The Gibson ES-275 was new for 2016 and The Twelfth Fret received and sold one of the few in Canada. It’s a fully hollow, laminate maple body with a pair of longitudinal braces and f-holes. The neck is mahogany with rosewood fingerboard.

Used

Price: $5,250.00 CAD

Guild X-500 Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1960

On January 4, 2022 /

Here’s a beautiful piece of functional art – from 1960, a Guild X-500 Archtop electric in original condition and very playable! The Guild Guitar company was formed in New York 1951 by jazz guitarist and musical retailer Alfred Dronge and George Mann, ex-Epiphone executive. Most of the staff were also ex-Epiphone employees who did not follow the company from New York to Philadelphia, a move sparked by a four-month strike.

Vintage

Price: $5,500.00 CAD

Gibson ES-350T Thinline Archtop Electric Wine Red, 1978

On December 22, 2021 /

The Gibson ES-350T (or ES-350TD to the early 1960s) is a thin-bodied, single cutaway fully hollow archtop electric built from 1955 to 1963 with a 23.5 inch scale length, and from 1977 to 1993 with a 25.5 inch scale. It started as the full-bodied, single-cutaway, 25.5 inch scale length single P-90 ES-350 Premiere in 1947. The ES-350 models were used by a number of top artists in the 1950s, most notably Chuck Berry. At introduction in 1955, the Gibson ES-350T shared several things with the also-new Byrdland, particularly the 23.5 inch scale length.

Vintage

Price: $4,500.00 CAD

American Archtop 7-String Dream Natural, 1999

On December 9, 2021 /

Next is an American Archtop 7-String Dream fully hollow archtop electric model in Amber tint, built during 1999 at Stroudsburg PA, just north of Nazareth where American Archtop now operates.

Used

Price: $3,999.99 CAD

Collings I35DLXS Thinline Custom Single Pickup Cherry, 2008

On October 8, 2021 /

Here’s a real beauty – a Collings I35DLXS Thinline Custom with a carved, solid Flame Maple top and single Lollar Imperial pickup in the neck position. This wonderful example was originally custom ordered through The Twelfth Fret during 2008, and has been used professionally. An interesting note about its use and condition is that it’s really only been used in a seated position. Collings supplied a pair of strap pins, which are in the Ameritage case, but as part of the custom order did not drill holes for them or install them.

Used

Price: $5,750.00 CAD

Eastman Romeo SC Thinline Archtop Electric, Red Burst

On June 14, 2021 /

The Eastman Romeo SC is a new limited edition thinline and largely hollow archtop electric design by Otto D’Ambrosio at the Eastman Custom Shop in California. Intended as an imagining of what ‘The Telecaster of the Archtop World’ would be, the Romeo started with defining its balance and player’s hand positions. The body is fairly small at 14.75 inches across, and the ‘Single Cut’ design gives plenty of access to the fretboard.

New

Price: $2,530.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Gibson Super 400 Acoustic Archtop Sunburst, 1937

On June 8, 2021 /

The Gibson Super 400 strode above most others when giant archtops roamed the earth, and is still one of the largest production guitars made. Making its introduction in 1934 as the ‘Super L-5 Deluxe’, the non-cutaway model was quickly joined by a cutaway model, initially named the Super 400 P for ‘Premiere’. The ‘400’ designation was originally a reference to the price. These were top of the line for acoustic archtop guitars, and were played by many top artists – Merle Travis being one.

Vintage

Price: $9,999.99 CAD

Kay ‘TrueTone’ Speed Demon K573 Thinline Sunburst, 1962

On April 6, 2020 /

Beyond the TrueTone name, this is a Kay K537 model, with an arched top and back body made of laminated Maple, a bolt on Maple neck with bound Rosewood fingerboard and brass frets, floating Rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece, and Kluson Deluxe single-line tuners. The original pickguard is intact and included.

Vintage

Price: $999.99 CAD

Eastman MDC805 Mandocello Classic Finish

On March 31, 2020 /

The Eastman MDC805 Mandocello is a wonderful, rich sounding instrument that works well as a solo, ensemble or accompaniment instrument in a wide range of styles and genres, from Celtic to Classical, Latin and back again. The Mandocello had been in existence for some centuries in Europe, beginning with flat back and then bowl back. However, in 1905 Orville Gibson’s company began producing mandolin family instruments, including Mandocello models that drew from his blending of violin and guitar concepts.

New

Price: $2,759.00 CAD

Passing Through- 2016 Douglas Harrison GB Custom Archtop Guitar

On December 22, 2016 /

Tags: archtop, chambered, electric, gary Benson, GB, guitar, Harrison, jazz, made in Canada, The Twelfth Fret, thinline, www.12fret.com

This brand-new Douglas Harrison GB Custom thinline, chambered archtop guitar is just passing through, and we had to show it off.

New

SOLD!!! Harrison 17 Maple Archtop 2003

On February 11, 2013 /

Tags: archtop, Harrison

Extreme good looks, high grade woods, top notch craftsmanship, smooth playability and excellent tonal quality, what else can I say about this Harrison archtop. Oh yea …. it is in near mint condition and comes with a Calton hardshell flight case!!

Used

Eastman AR 503

On January 2, 2012 /

Tags: archtop, Eastman

Eastman makes some of the best-value jazz boxes around, and the Eastman AR 503 is a prime example. It plays and sounds great, and wouldn’t look out of place anywhere.

New

Price: $1,840.00 CAD

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