Happy Thanksgiving from Fine Archtops

At Fine Archtops, we like to think of every one of you as family. We wish we could get each one of our luthiers, dedicated fans and followers together around a huge table and share in the joy of Turkey Day. While that's not quite possible, we can wish you a happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours. We hope you spend it with your closest friends and family surrounded with joy, love and music! In this blog, we're going to cover a couple of ways to enjoy your fine archtop guitar on Thanksgiving Day.

Play Your Archtop Guitar

Did we say, "play"? We meant "show off" your archtop guitar to all your closest friends and family! If you have an archtop guitar crafted by one of our expert luthiers, we know you have a fine piece of art. Show that bad boy off, which can be done by playing some beautiful music. There's no better time than when you have all your relatives gathered. Let them hear some of their favorite tunes, or serenade them with an original piece. However you choose to use your guitar on Thanksgiving Day, it will be sure to make your relatives a little jealous.

Be Thankful

This time of year we are reminded to be thankful for all we have. If you have the pleasure of enjoying Thanksgiving Day with friends and family, remember how lucky you are. The gift of music is also something to be very thankful for. Whether you love to play, or you'd rather listen, most of us can appreciate music in some way. Take a moment between the turkey and football to be thankful for all the good things going on right now.

                                                                                            

Are you looking for information on archtop guitar luthiers? Browse ourwebsite by clicking here, or give us a call at 612-366-7120.

Introducing Fine Archtops’ Newest Luthier: Scott Lawrence of D’Lorenzo Guitars!

Scott Lawrence, of D’Lorenzo Guitars, is FineArchtops’ newest luthier. Please help us to welcome him to the Fine Archtop family. Scott spent many years as a fretted instrument repairperson and also spent some time building and restoring furniture. He blends tradition and innovation and when you see the archtop guitars he creates, you will see why this description is apt.

When Scott Lawrence first started out, he focused mostly on flat top guitars. In 2003, he created his first archtop guitar. To gather get started, he looked to the Gibson ES-175. He modified the model a bit, by using a hand-carved spruce top instead of laminate. To learn archtop guitar building techniques, he used Bob Benedetto's book and DVD. He gathers continual inspiration from James D'Aquisto's archtop guitars.

Scott believes that taking risks is a necessary part of innovating. He continues to push the limit with his own designs to find the best kind of tone. He enjoys tones that combine warmth and sustain. His designs are absolutely stunning: custom cutaway profiles, a unique neck block design and flowing comma-shaped f-holes, and he uses non-standard tone woods like walnut, mahogany, cedar and rosewood.

He has two basic models that are available, but he is always willing to work with individual customers to make the archtop guitar of their dreams. One of his most popular models is the Blue Flame Electric Archtop, which has a great tone and is very affordable. The other most popular one is the New Concept Arch Top (NCAT), which optimizes acoustic tone, volume and sustain.

If you’re in the market for a custom archtop guitar, give Fine Archtops a call at (612) 366-7120 or visit our website.

Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Company Joins our Archtop Guitar Family

We are so pleased to announce another talented luthier has joined our Fine Archtops family. Chuck Sanzone owns Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Company in Stowe, Vermont. We welcome this new luthier to the Fine Archtops community and we encourage you to check out his work. Please help our new master craftsman feel at home!

Archtop Guitars

There are two models of archtop guitars available from Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Company. They include the Della Volpe (16 3/8") and the Carmella (15 3/8"). These fine hand-crafted instruments combine a traditional look with a modern day building approach. The result is a superb, lightweight guitar with a beautiful sound. There is a gallery showcasing some of Chuck's work.

Other Instruments

Chuck Sanzone crafts many fine instruments, in addition to archtop guitars. Some of his other exquisite work includes mandolins, flat top guitars, classic nylon-stringed guitars and lap steel guitars. We may be partial to archtop guitars, but we can recognize good work when we see it. More information about these instruments is on Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin's website.

Additional Information

You can contact Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Company by calling 802-999-1588 or contact them by email at sanzoneguitars@gmail.com. If you are interested in a one-of-a-kind guitar, you can set up an appointment with the company. Pricing information is detailed on the Sanzone Guitar & Mandolin Company's website.

Looking for information on high-quality handcrafted archtop guitars? Browse our website, or give us a call at 612-366-7120.

Great American Guitar Show

This weekend is the Great American Guitar Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. It's taking place Saturday, November 9, and Sunday, November 10. The event is hosted by Bee-3 Vintage. For all the specifics, please visit their website.

At this mega guitar show, people will be able to buy, sell and trade guitar-related items. There will be hundreds of dealers, builders, collectors and manufacturers converging on Oaks, PA. Items available include new, used, collectible and vintage guitars, amps, effects and accessories.

If you're looking to trade your unused gear, or acquire hard-to-find items, this is the show for you. This is one of the largest guitar shows on the East Coast, where the selection and deals will amaze you. You'll have the opportunity to check out some big name guitar companies, as well as smaller boutique guitar makers. Don't miss out on the fun!

Are you going to be in attendance? Let us know on our Facebook page or send us a Tweet! We'd love to see pictures or hear your story.

For all the latest news on archtop guitars please visit our website.

Calling All Guitar Enthusiasts! Join Us at the Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase

Take a road trip and head up to the Bearsville Theater and Utopia Soundstage in Woodstock, N.Y., Oct. 25-27. Some of the Fine Archtops luthiers will be at the Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase to display their finest work. Because there will only be 50 exhibitors and two venues total, this is a great chance to see these luthiers at their best. Only acoustic instruments will be shown – everything from classical guitars to banjos, ukuleles and more. And if you want to play one of these instruments, quiet rooms will be available, so you’ll be able to hear what you’re playing!

If you’re interesting in learning more about guitars, tuning, finger-picking and more, sign up for a workshop or clinic. They are only $35 per person and your payment is due at the door.

And for you history buffs, there will be a special exhibit of antique, historic, rare, contemporary and vintage instruments. Even if you’re not a history buff, there is plenty more to see and hear. Live music and demonstrations round out the weekend’s events. There is definitely something for everyone at this fun and casual event!

The Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase begins on Friday, October 25 with the Tonewood Festival. Admission is free and the event runs from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Utopia Soundstage Vendors Annex. And on Saturday and Sunday, the showcase’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $20 a day or $30 for both days.

And, of course, Fine Archtops is always around to answer any questions you may have or if you would like to purchase one of our quality hand-crafted guitars. You can visit us at www.FineArchtops.com.

Music to Your Ears at Fine Archtops Thanks to Carbonaro Guitars

For more than 30 years, Robert Carbanaro has been making guitars that are unique and beautiful. His journey as a luthier started in San Francisco on Haight Street, an area that has been known for its music and culture for decades. You him and many other talented luthiers at Fine Archtops. Each luthier is a master of their craft and each instrument they create is truly a work of art. These guitars not only play exquisite music, but they are also stunning to look at. Robert Carbanaro takes pride in every guitar he crafts and his attention to detail shows in every single one.

Robert Carbanaro is one of the best luthiers in the business, making hand-crafted archtop and flattop guitars. His guitars will inspire you to play the best you can, and every time you pick up your instrument, you will have a magnificent piece of art in your hands as well. You can find more details about him and his workmanship at FineArchtops.com.

You can make beautiful music with one of Robert Carbanaro’s hand-crafted guitars no matter how long you have been playing. Even for the most seasoned guitar enthusiasts, these guitars will enhance your musicianship, and you will be able to play melodies and tunes that will be music to your ears (and your audience’s) for years to come.

Get more information about Robert Carbanaro and his splendid guitars through Fine Archtops. Here you will find a link to his website that will provide ordering information and more. Robert Carbanaro is in talented company: FineArchtops.com also has a slew of other luthiers who make guitars that are just as gorgeous as his are. Get everything you need to play music at this site: amplifiers, speakers, stands, cases and more!

Going to Guitarlington 2013? Send Us Your Pictures

Are you one of the lucky attendants to this year’s Guitarlington 2013? The event runs Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, and many of our awesome archtop guitar luthiers will be in attendance.

If you’re going, we’d love to see your photos! Either share them on our Facebook page or tweet them to us @finearchtops.

In other Guitarlington news, the great Bob Benedetto will be displaying his latest build, the 45^th Anniversary Cremona Archtop. A traditional 17” pure acoustic archtop carved from the finest European tone woods and amazing detail in the inlays, headstock and every other area. Check out pictures on our News & Events page. 

Mark Bailey’s Kithara Archtop Guitar

Kithara. It was the crème-de-la-crème instrument of its time. Now, the name has been put to good use by luthier Mark Bailey. Watch and listen:

 

Mark’s Kithara is a guitar worthy of the name, as Mark explains:

 …a guitar worthy of the name…that’s what I wanted to make  

The Kithara is the flagship model of the Bailey collection – a modern take on the traditional archtop design. If you are a soloist then you will appreciate the Kithara as the cut away allows full access to the higher frets.  

Passion, tradition and technology combine to create what I believe to be the most beautiful guitars in the world  

The ultimate guitar… 

The Kithara is absolutely stunning. Check out pictures of it and get ready to salivate.

Richard Heeres Guitar in the Making

Richard Heeres is one of the esteemed luthiers we have the pleasure of working with here at Fine Archtops. He is native to the Netherlands, and about 50% of the guitars he creates are custom requests by archtop lovers around the world. He specializes in archtop guitars, but also creates Flamenco, Nylon Jazz and Classical guitars. You can click here to learn more about Richard Heeres' guitars.

Richard Heeres Guitar Photos

In a recent update from Richard Heeres, we received some exclusive photos of Heeres crafting an archtop guitar. We wanted to share those photos, and a little background, with you.

It all starts off as raw materials. It's hard to believe something so simple will eventually become such a masterpiece. Pictured below are two pieces of wood that will be used in the creation of this archtop guitar.

Truing the materials used in the guitar making process is important to the finished product. Taking some time to make sure everything is level and even in the beginning can help in the long run. In this photo, Heeres is truing what will become the back of the guitar. 

Finally, the guitar starts to take shape! In these photos, Heeres has begun to roughly cut out the pieces of the archtop guitar. In the first photo, Heeres is cutting out the shape of the guitar, and in the second photo, the piece is on a carving machine for further refinement.

Next, the use of a finger plane helps put the "arch" in archtop guitar. Due to the fact that it's so small, it can do some very intricate work. Talented luthiers, like Heerse, use the finger plane to touch up aspects of the guitar by hand.

If you're looking for more information about Richard Heeres and archtop guitars, please visit our website!

Jim DeCava & Michael Coppola

We recently received an update from Jim DeCava, which included the following note from guitarist Michael Coppola:

In 1986, I came up with the idea for an eight-string guitar with higher strings between the 4th and 5th to be able to play piano chords and harp-type lines (like Lenny Breau harmonics). I went to James DeCava with this idea and have had, over the years, three eight-string guitars made by him.
 By the year 2000, I added another string and had five different nine-string guitars made by Jim. We call the first of these "the Hydra" named after the nine-headed monster of Greek mythology. This year, I came up with an idea to have an archtop nine-string guitar made in the style of the Howard Roberts by Gibson and other companies. I further decided to have a lower register/longer scale on this instrument. I've had the guitar about a month and have been toggling between 2 different tunings
1.       All strings down a fifth (low note A)
2.       All strings down a fourth (low note (B)
 In either case, the guitar has an amazing richness for solo jazz gigs, and my singers are in love with it! We call this new beast, "The Hydra Roberts."

Here’s Jim and Michael with the Hydra Roberts:

And here’s Tommy Emmanuel playing around with the Hydra Roberts while Michael looks on:

Mark Lacey's Guitars for Rich Shapero

There are beautiful guitars, and then there are beautiful guitars. At Fine Archtops, we are lucky have such a talented pool of luthiers. They all create masterpieces as part of their livelihood and Mark Lacey is no exception. His fine guitars have been played and commissioned by great guitarists, most recently Rich Shapero. This isn't the first time Lacey has built a guitar for Shapero. These beautiful works of art are just an example of all the fine work Lacey does.

Brief History of Mark Lacey

Lacey studied and began building instruments at The London College of Furniture and Interior Design. Since then, he has worked all across the world from Norway to California. Early in his career, Lacey worked primarily repairing guitars, until he broke out on his own in 1988 and opened a custom guitar shop in Los Angeles. He currently lives in Nashville and works from home. Over the years, he has repaired instruments for many notable musical acts, such as Pink Floyd, U2 and Paul McCartney, among others. For more information about Lacey, you can visit his website.

Orpheus Model for Rich Shapero

The photos below are of two 17 inch Orpheus Models that were crafted for Rich Shapero. Shapero is a writer and musician who focuses on creating entrancing works. He has both visual and musical art available on his website. He focuses on making his thoughts and passions available for other like-minded individuals. To create his beautiful music, he needs a beautiful instrument. That's where Lacey comes in. Lacey worked to create and make a couple of guitars for Shapero. At Shapero's request they were created in vibrant colors.

To read more about all of our luthiers, including Mark Lacey, please visit our website.

Stephen Marchione Featured in Article

On June 11, luthier Stephen Marchione was featured in an article published in the Houston Chronicle's music section. The article, written by Robert Stanton, features Machione's early years and creative process. It's always excited for Fine Archtops to see one of our own in the news.

The article was written after an in-depth discussion with Marchione. He describes what goes into making one of his masterpieces, as well as how he learned to make them. He is a true craftsman and a master of his art. He's designed and created guitars for some of the finest in the business. Paul Kogut, a New York jazz guitarist composer was quoted in the article as saying:

"His guitars are special because it's a combination of the craftsmanship, and the materials are top-notch," he said. "And he's studied the whole tradition of guitar   building, even going back to studying violin techniques, drawing on centuries of knowledge."

Congratulations to Stephen Marchione on such a fantastic write up. To read the complete article, please Click Here.

To find out more about Stephen Marchione, please visit FineArchtops.com today.

Samois Archtop Guitar by Nigel Forster

Luthier Nigel Forster has made his name known by creating innovative, unique archtop guitars. His notoriety for being one of the most creative luthiers continues with his latest creation, Samois, which features a long-neck design in order to respond to the demands of today’s players.

Here’s Giles Strong demonstrating on the Samois:

Nigel had the following to say about the video:

I've known Giles for years, and he's always been a great player. I was really glad he came over to demonstrate my latest archtop guitar - Samois. The guitar is a new variation on my "Charlie" jazz guitar design. It features a lovely Bearclaw European spruce soundboard married to a cocobolo body. The neck and fretboard are 1 piece solid Indian rosewood. The pickup is a handmade AlNiCo III Kent Armstrong humbucker and the strings are D'Addario jazz light nickel.

For all of Nigel’s comments, click here.

Luthier Highlight: Dan Koentopp

Dan Koentopp is the owner of KoentoppGuitars in Chicago. He made his first guitar when he was 14-years-old in his parent's basement. By the time he was in college, he had created six instruments, three of them being archtop guitars. After that, Koentopp worked for a couple of years with violin maker Michael Darnton. There, he recalls learning the craft of string instruments, the true ancestor of the archtop guitar. His heart always laid with guitars, which he every day continues to produce and perfect. He is known around the world for pouring his creativity into his legendary archtop guitars.

Commitment to Excellence

It is apparent to anyone who sees an archtop guitar crafted by Dan Koentopp that attention to detail is a top priority. His fine craftsmanship is exemplified in the archtop guitars he sells. Each guitar is a work of art, as well as a means of making art. Customers and other archtop guitar luthiers rave about the quality of the guitars Koentopp produces. They say he not only creates great sounding guitars, but great looking guitars as well. He is truly a master of the phrase, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” He is a leader in his craft, but continues to improve and make adjustments all the time.

Recent Project: Chicagoan

In one of Koentopp's blogs, he covers how the Chicagoan logo came to be. In a recent email, he shared with us some stunning photos of that very guitar. The photos clearly display the level of craftsmanship Koentopp possesses. Thank you, Dan, for sharing these photos with us and we are excited for more in the future!