Archtop

Gibson Memphis ES330 VOS Sunburst, 2013

On January 15, 2021 /

The Gibson Memphis ES330 VOS model is now discontinued, along with the Memphis plant, but is a great re-creation of a late 1950’s ES-330. Introduced in 1959, the ES-330 took visual cues from the new and very successful ES-335, but is uses a fully hollow body without a solid center block. A pair of under-wound P-90s provide great tone. Until about 1963, the ES330 and its cousin the Epiphone Casino set the neck joint at the 16th fret but subsequently the joint was shifted to the 19th fret, allowing easier access to higher frets.

Used

Price: $4,250.00 CAD

Vega C56 Archtop Guitar Natural, 1940

On December 21, 2020 /

Built to compete with the Gibson L-7 and Epiphone Triumph, the Vega C56 Archtop was built from the 1930s until 1950. It was was Vega’s most popular full sized guitar and featured a solid Spruce top with Maple sides and back, Mahogany neck and Rosewood fingerboard. Here we have a Vega C56 archtop in the natural finish introduced in 1940. The serial number is somewhat below other models known to have been produced in 1940, so there’s a possibility this example was built in 1939. The top is solid Spruce, likely Adirondack.

Vintage

Price: $1,850.00 CAD

Gibson ES225T Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1958

On December 16, 2020 /

Introduced in 1955 and built until 1959, the Gibson ES225T was one of the first three new Thinline guitars with the Byrdland and the ES-350T. The ES-225T had the lowest price of the three and used the Les Paul trapeze tailpiece. Most models sported a single P-90 pickup in the middle position, though from 1956 to 1959 the ES-225TD – thinline and double pickup – was available. Both of these versions were discontinued shortly after the 1958 introduction of the very popular ES-335 and ES-355; the ES-345 appeared in 1959.

Vintage

Price: $2,999.99 CAD

Hofner Verythin John Stowell Sunburst, 2007

On December 10, 2020 /

Based on the 1960s Verythin design, the Hofner Verythin John Stowell model was built until for a short time to around 200 pieces in Hagenau, Germany. This example, dating to April 13 2007 and signed by Master Luthier Thomas Stulheim features a German Spruce top and flame maple for the sides back and neck.Based on the 1960s Verythin design, the Hofner Verythin John Stowell model was built until from 2001 to 2008 in Germany. This was not a mass produced model and perhaps 200 examples were made.

Used

Price: $2,650.00 CAD

Gibson ES235 Gloss Cherry Thinline Electric Guitar, 2019

On December 8, 2020 /

Here’s a brand new model, the Gibson ES235 Gloss thinline arch top, flat back, solid center block electric in translucent Cherry! This is new for 2019 model from Gibson, and it has plenty going for it. Designed and originally built at the now-closed Gibson Memphis plant, this single cutaway, smaller body guitar is built in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s available in Ebony black, Cherry and Sunburst versions.

New

Price: $2,199.00 CAD

Harrison GB Custom Honeyburst, 2015

On December 3, 2020 /

The Harrison GB Custom has become a very successful instrument for jazz guitarists, and was developed with the late Gary Benson, a prominent Toronto player and teacher. This Harrison GB Custom features a Quilted Maple cap on a chambered Mahogany body and a Mahogany neck with a Maple-bound Ebony fingerboard fitted with Stainless Steel frets. The custom built tailpiece is also Ebony.

Used

Price: $5,250.00 CAD

Gretsch Anniversary 6118 Two Tone Smoke Green 1964

On November 30, 2020 /

Here we have a very nice Gretsch Anniversary 6118 in Two Tone Smoke Green, built during 1964 in Brooklyn, New York. The Gretsch Anniversary Models were introduced as lower cost versions of the popular 6120 during 1958 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the company’s 1883 founding. This Gretsch Anniversary 6118 dates to 1964 and is in very nice condition, with no binding deterioration. The Two Tone Smoke Green finish shows natural and expected lacquer checking but the colours are rich and vibrant with very little physical damage otherwise. This guitar appears to be all original, with one subtle modification – the black plastic pickup inserts have been removed and flipped to be all black, with the ‘Gretsch’ logo hidden and facing down.

Vintage

Price: $3,750.00 CAD

Gibson ES350 Electric Archtop Sunburst 1951

On November 29, 2020 /

Here’s a real beauty – a Gibson ES350 Electric Archtop built during 1951 at the historic Parsons Street shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ES-350 was built from 1947 to 1956, and for 1957 received a thinner body and new name – the ES-350T, the T standing for Thinline. This model was played extensively by top artists like Barney Kessel, Chuck Berry, B B King and Tal Farlow. At its 1947 introduction, the Gibson ES350 was named the ‘ES-350 Premiere’ and was a full body, single cutaway archtop with a single P-90 pickup in the neck position. For 1949, it received a second pickup. Construction was typical of Gibson’s electric archtop production, with Laminate Maple for the top, sides and back, part of an attempt to reduce feedback at stage volumes.

Vintage

Price: $8,995.00 CAD

Epiphone Zephyr Deluxe Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1947

On November 26, 2020 /

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: $2,950.00 CAD

Gibson ES125TDC Thinline Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1969

On November 10, 2020 /

Here’s an always-fun guitar – a Gibson ES125TDC thinline cutaway archtop electric guitar with a pair of P-90’s and several upgrades! As stock, the Gibson ES125TDC – ES stands for Electric Spanish (as opposed to Hawaiian) and the TDC initials expand to Thinline, Double Pickup and with a Cutaway has a pair of P-90 pickups with black plastic ‘Dog Ear’ covers, indicating the screw tabs used to mount the cover and pickup to the guitar top.

Vintage

Price: $2,750.00 CAD

Gretsch Chet Atkins 6122 Country Gentleman Thinline Archtop Walnut, 1963

On October 15, 2020 /

Here we’re looking at a Gretsch Chet Atkins 6122 Country Gentleman built during 1963, the same year as Harrison’s. This fine example is in very good condition, and is original except for the addition of a Gibson style, gold plated tune-o-matic bridge in place of the rocking bar bridge. The finish is worn on the neck where it’s been played – the frets are original and have expected wear – but the guitar has been well cared for and the finish is in overall good condition.

Vintage

Price: $6,500.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Godin Montreal Premiere Supreme Thinline Flame Top Sunburst, 2013

On September 30, 2020 /

Here’s a beauty – a Godin Montreal Premiere Supreme thinline archtop electric, with Flame Maple top and back and Trestle-style Spruce bracing. The Godin Montreal Premiere Supreme is a compact, thin body single cutaway archtop guitar.

Used

Price: $1,695.00 CAD

Guild GSR X180 Archtop Electric Blonde, 2013

On September 28, 2020 /

Here’s a wonderful rarity and a natural blonde, a Guild GSR x180 archtop electric with a Spruce laminate top, dating to 2013. GSR stands for Guild Special Run, and this example is number 11 of 20 built. Originally, acoustic archtop guitars used solid, carved Spruce tops paired with solid, Maple for the sides and hand carved back. However, once pickups and amplifiers became more available and standard equipment, it was discovered that the tonal subtleties of the solid Spruce top could be overwhelmed by feedback.

Used

Price: $3,250.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Carvin SH550 Thinline Electric Guitar, 2003

On September 2, 2020 /

The Carvin SH550 thinline archtop electric is still available from the successor to Carvin – Kiesel Guitars, run by descendants of Lowell Kiesel, founder of Carvin. Based on a carved Flame Maple top on a chambered Mahogany back with Mahogany neck and Indian Rosewood fingerboard, this is a very nice guitar aimed towards jazz players. This Carvin SH550 dates to around 2003 based on the owner’s recollection. Precise dating information is not available.

Used

Price: $1,750.00 CAD

Eastman T486B Thinline Archtop Electric Vintage Red

On July 13, 2020 /

The Eastman T486B Thinline is an excellent take on the classic semi-hollow design introduced by Ted McCarty, president of Gibson, with the 1958 ES-335. Like most other versions of this design, the Eastman T486B uses pressed Maple Laminate for the top, back and sides, with a Maple block running down the center of the body. The top has a pair of F holes, and here they are bound. On the Eastman, the neck is Maple with a bound Ebony fingerboard sporting Split Block Parallelogram inlays (similar to an ES-345).

New

Price: $1,725.00 CAD

SS Stewart Model 4024 Archtop Guitar Sunburst, 1930s

On June 3, 2020 /

Here’s a lovely piece – from the early 1930’s, an SS Stewart Model 4024 archtop guitar, built by either Regal or Harmony and sold through Buegeleisen and Jacobson, owners of the Stewart brand. The SS Stewart company, named for Samuel Swain Stewart was a major producer of banjos between 1878 and 1904, and was bought by B&J (Buegeleisen and Jacobson) a few years after Stewart’s death. Over the years, B&J shifted to producing mostly guitars with the brand, had many companies build the actual instruments including Chicago Musical Instruments, who also built Harmony, Kay, and Silvertone brands.

Vintage

Price: $1,499.99 CAD

Eastman T64V P90 Bigsby Thinline Hollowbody, Amber Antique Varnish

On May 19, 2020 /

Built on the concept of the thin bodied yet fully hollow archtop electric guitar, the Eastman T64V delivers the tone, feel and look of early 1960s models. Gibson produced the first of these in 1959 with the ES-330, and in 1961 extended the design to their Epiphone line as the ES-230 Casino. That model was quickly picked up by British players including Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison who used theirs on many hits.

New

Price: $2,650.00 CAD

Eastman T59 V Thinline Archtop Electric Antique Varnish

On May 18, 2020 /

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: $2,180.00 CAD

Gibson ES175 Single Pickup Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1966

On May 12, 2020 /

One of the classic musical workhorses, the Gibson ES175 single pickup guitar made its debut in 1949 with a P-90 at the neck, with the pickup updated to the all-new humbucker in 1957. In 1952, the ES175D (for Double pickup) appeared, with a second pickup in the bridge position. These guitars were immediate hits with professional players and serious amateurs in many genres – Jazz, Pop, and Country were the most common and the ES-175 was a standard for jazz players from its introduction until being recently discontinued.

Vintage

Price: $4,375.00 CAD

Douglas Harrison CJ 16 Archtop Guitar, 2019 – With New Video!

On May 5, 2020 /

Here’s an excellent brand new Douglas Harrison CJ 16 custom archtop guitar, in Spruce and Red Maple with a Lollar Gold Foil pickup! The Harrison CJ 16 is a single-cutaway, 16 inch wide archtop with hand-carved top and back plates, as suggested by the ‘CJ’ for ‘Classic Jazz’ name. Top quality Spruce and Red Maple are used for the body, and a three-piece Maple neck carries a Macassar Ebony fingerboard. The body, neck, headstock and pickguard are bound with Roasted Maple, and the bridge and tailpiece are Macassar Ebony.

New

Price: $10,900.00 CAD

⚌Reduced‼ Thomas Ribbecke Halfling Archtop Guitar Red Sunburst 2009

On April 16, 2020 /

This 2009 Thomas Ribbecke Halfling archtop guitar was built especially for the 2009 Montreal Guitar Show, as an entry into the Red Collection grouping. It’s built with a carved Spruce top, carved Spalted Flame Maple back and matching sides, and Maple neck with an unbound Ebony fingerboard. The neck is a multi-scale with the center of its length being about 26 inches. There’s a large round soundhole on the top located on the upper bass bout next to the fingerboard and Bartolini pickup. Ebony is used for other components including the bridge, pickguard, tailpiece and truss rod cover. Mother of Pearl is used for the headstock Ribbecke and Halfling logos.

Used

Price: $9,500.00 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

Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean 6119 Thinline Electric Walnut, 1966

On April 2, 2020 /

Here is a Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean 6119, dating to December of 1966, before the July 31 1967 sale of Gretsch to the Baldwin Piano Company. Introduced in 1958 and built until 1980, the Tennessean started as full size, hollow body and single-pickup, plainer version of the 6120. For 1961, however, Gretsch made dramatic changes to many models and the 6119 gained the new, sealed ElectroTone body and a pair of new single coil HiLo’Tron pickups.

Vintage

Price: $3,950.00 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

Hofner Club 40 Thin Archtop Electric Guitar Natural, 1957

On March 23, 2020 /

The Hofner Club 40 was built from around 1953 until the early 1960’s, distributed by Selmer in the UK and very popular with skiffle groups and players, including both John Lennon and George Harrison. At this time, Hofner guitars were built in Bubenreuth, Bavaria. Bearing similarities to violin bass construction, the Hofner Club 40 features a sealed, hollow body, with a solid Spruce top and Maple for the sides and flat back. The body is bound with black and a white/black purfling layer.

Vintage

Price: $2,750.00 CAD

Harrison GB Custom Redwood Burl Top, 2017

On March 18, 2020 /

Here is a lovely Harrison GB Custom Redwood Burl top thinline archtop, built in Toronto during 2017 and based on a design for the late jazz artist Gary Benson. Douglas Harrison has been building arched top guitars for some years now and his GB Custom has been very popular, with most I have seen being true custom models, with varying tops and hardware configurations.

Used

Price: $4,900.00 CAD

Harrison GB Spruce Top Thinline Archtop Amber Tint, 2007

On January 16, 2020 /

This Harrison GB Spruce top thinline archtop electric in a lovely Amber tint, built during 2008 at Harrison’s shop in Toronto, Canada. The Douglas Harrison GB thinline archtop guitar has proven very popular with jazz guitarists. Designed with – and originally for – the late Gary Benson and built in Toronto, Ontario, the Harrison GB uses a carved solid spruce top on a chambered back. The neck has a compound radius, from 12 to 16 inches.

Used

Price: $4,299.00 CAD

Eastman AR810 CE Archtop Electric Classic Finish, 2005

On December 2, 2019 /

The Eastman AR810 CE , for Cutaway Electric, is one of the best deals for a traditional arched top guitar with solid carved Spruce top and Maple back, and Venetian cutaway. If you are looking for a decent jazz box, your search may be over. Here we’re looking at an Eastman AR810 CE, built during 2005 at the Eastman plant outside Beijing. These are great instruments, and this one is no exception.

Used

Price: $2,100.00 CAD

Eastman 405E Archtop Electric

On October 19, 2019 /

Tags: archtop, Eastman, electric, P-90

This cool Eastman 405E is similar in construction to the Eastman 403CE, the 405 is a non-cutaway archtop with a 16 inch body and a P-90 pickup. Eastman Strings is one of the largest producers of archtop instruments in the world, including violins, cellos and other related instruments. Archtop guitars are a natural fit for them.

New

Price: $1,325.00 CAD

Levin 335 M2 Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1962

On October 9, 2019 /

The Levin 335 M2 was a very popular guitar in Europe, featuring a carved Spruce top, arched Maple back and a pair of deArmond DynaSonic Pickups – just one on the M1 model. Levin also offered the 335 as a fully acoustic model. Levin Instruments was founded in 1900 by Herman Carlson Levin. Levin was born in Sweden, apprenticed with a furniture maker and moved to the United States in 1887. After some carpentry work, he found a position in a guitar factory in 1888 but after three years started an independent company in New York City.

Vintage

Price: $1,450.00 CAD

❌SOLD❌ Douglas Harrison GB Custom Thinline Archtop Sunburst, 2019

On June 26, 2019 /

Here is a brand new Douglas Harrison GB Custom with bookmatched, flame Maple top and sunburst finish! Douglas Harrison builds the GB Custom, named after the initial model built for the late Gary Benson, at his shop in Toronto. The GB Custom is a very popular model and shows off Harrison’s skill.

New

Price: $6,999.99 CAD

Gretsch G5622T Electromatic Center Block Double-Cut with Bigsby, Georgia Green

On October 11, 2018 /

The new Gretsch G5622T Electromatic® Center Block Double-Cut with Bigsby® in a Georgia Green metallic finish, sporting Super Hilo’Tron™ pickups features a chambered spruce center block for dynamic resonance, high gain power and lightweight comfort. As part of the Electromatic line, the Gretsch G5622T is built in Korea by Samick, with great results. The build quality, fit and finish and fretwork are all top notch.

New

Price: $1,099.00 CAD

Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic Thinline Archtop Electric

On December 21, 2017 /

The Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic Thinline Archtop Electric is a semi hollow, dual pickup, 22 fret electric thinline guitar, featuring arched top and flat back, bent sides, gold plated hardware and a 648mm (25.5 inch) scale.
With the Starplayer TV Phonic in an all-over bright Venetian White we are continuing our vision of truly independent hardware design. As the first model in our Starplayer TV line it features our new spectacular ‘Phonico’ pickup covers and the 4-way rotary pickup selector placed at the cutaway.

New

Price: $3,849.00 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

Duesenberg Fullerton TV

On February 4, 2016 /

Tags: archtop, bigsby, Catalina Blue, Duesenberg, electric, Fullerton, Fullerton Elite, Fullerton TV, guitar, metallic, Plek, thinline, trem, TV, vibrato

The new Duesenberg Fullerton TV is named after two things – their new US office in Fullerton, California and Gibson’s vintage TV white finish.

New

Price: $3,599.00 CAD

Hofner 500/2 Club Bass

On July 21, 2014 /

Tags: bass, club bass, Hofner bass

Based on the Club guitar, the Hofner 500/2 Club Bass was introduced in 1965 and built to 1970. It was never as popular as its cousin the 500/1 violin or ‘Beatle Bass’, but its more traditional single cutaway guitar shape perhaps works a bit better without a strap.

New

Hofner HCT500 1 SB Violin Bass Contemporary Beatle Bass

On September 13, 2013 /

Tags: Hofner

We’ve just received a shipment of CT basses including the Hofner HCT-500 1 SB, great reproductions of vintage Hofner instruments!

New

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

Eastman AR371 CE – Sneak Preview!

On December 16, 2011 /

Tags: Eastman, Hollowbody

The Eastman folks just dropped by with a brand-new model, the AR-371 CE and it looks, plays and sounds great.

New

Price: $1,350.00 CAD

❌ NO LONGER AVAILABLE ❌ Epiphone Casino ‘Inspired by John Lennon’ Sunburst

On October 24, 2011 /

Tags: discontinued

The Casino was very important in the Epiphone line during the 1960’s, and was introduced to compete with the Gibson ES-330. In 1965, a member of an obscure band known as “The Beatles” – Paul McCartney – began using one for studio work – and John Lennon and George Harrison got theirs in 1966. This tobacco sunburst model became Lennon’s main guitar, and was later sanded and refinished natural. A few years ago, Gibson released two US-made versions of this guitar, in sunburst and natural (as the “Revolution” model) in a total production run of 1,965 pieces, and now has released the “Inspired by John Lennon” versions, which are much more affordable, yet still really good instruments.

New

Hofner 500/1 – 62 Reissue Violin Bass

On April 20, 2011 /

Tags: bass, Hofner

Based on Paul McCartney’s 1962 Violin Bass, the Hofner 500/1 62 Reissue bass has delighted Hofner aficionados by replicating details of the original.

New

Eastman John Pisano AR680CE Jazz Guitar

On December 18, 2010 /

Tags: Eastman archtop & thinline

World renowned jazz guitarist John Pisano personally designed his signature Eastman John Pisano AR680CE model from top to bottom with all of the features he ever wanted in a guitar. John collaborated with noted pickup designer Kent Armstrong to design a humbucking pickup that covers the complete tonal spectrum and makes this guitar sound as good plugged in as it does acoustically.

New

Eastman AR805-CE Jazz Guitar

On December 18, 2010 /

Tags: Eastman archtop & thinline

Not satisfied that the Eastman AR805CE is one of the most popular jazz guitars in North America … the folks at Eastman keep asking for feedback from dealers & players … and keep IMPROVING it!!! This latest version has all of the great acoustic sound that we’ve come to expect from this model, with an added Johnny Smith style suspended neck pickup with adjustable pole pieces (gets perfect string-to-string output) as well as a volume AND tone control mounted on the edge of the pickguard! Add Eastman’s rich “Classic” lacquer finish and some very classy ebony appointments and this becomes an unbeatable guitar for that jazz standard repertoire!

New

(Discontinued) Eastman T145 SM

On December 18, 2010 /

Tags: Eastman archtop & thinline

The T 145 is the ideal club jazz guitar; Small comfortable body: fully carved top and back with plenty of acoustic volume yet small enough internal displacement to make it useable on stage without the troublesome feedback issues associated with full body archtops.

New

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