Vintage Archtop Acoustic and Electric Guitars

We are a part of eBay Affiliate Network, and if you make a purchase through the links on our site we earn affiliate commission.
The archtop is a class of steel-stringed guitar, acoustic or electric, with an arched top similar to a violin’s. Often sporting a pair of f-holes instead of a single, round sound hole, archtops were popular with jazz, blues, and country...
Continue reading
The archtop is a class of steel-stringed guitar, acoustic or electric, with an arched top similar to a violin’s. Often sporting a pair of f-holes instead of a single, round sound hole, archtops were popular with jazz, blues, and country musicians, and are widely associated with music of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. Gibson is considered the inventor of the archtop guitar, if not the archtop stringed instrument, which, of course, goes back centuries. Acoustic Gibson archtops from 1902 to the mid-1920s such as the early O and L models are collected more for their historical value than their sound quality. Gibsons from the second half of the 1920s through the early 1930s are somewhat better regarded, especially guitars with f-holes. But the best acoustic Gibson archtops are the prewar models, including the Super 400s and the L-5s, particularly those with cutaway bodies and natural finishes. Prewar Gibson electric archtops are some of the most sought-after electric guitars around. Especially prized are the ES-150 (introduced in 1936, it had a sunburst finish) and ES-250 (a bit bigger than the 150, it was introduced in 1939 and was offered in sunburst or natural). Postwar models that fetch high prices include the L-5CES and Super 400CES, both of which were introduced in 1951 and are still in production. Of the more recent electric Gibson archtops, the acoustic Citation with humbucking pickups from 1969 is revered for its gold-plated hardware and fleur-de-lis inlays. Though best known for its flat-top acoustic guitars, Martin made a few acoustic archtops in the 1930s, and an even smaller number of electric archtops in the early 1960s. Acoustic models include styles C (1931), F (1935); and R (1932); electrics were released in the F (1961) and GT (1965) series. Sure they are Martins, but archtops are not what Martin fans and collectors are looking for, or what the company did best, so prices for the instruments reflect their lukewarm demand. In 1939, Gretsch...
Continue reading

Best of the Web

Vintage Guitars Info
This great reference site features detailed sections on vintage guitar makers, including Gibson,...
Vintage Guitar and Bass
Want to see all the old brochures and ads for your favorite vintage axe? Check out this great...
Most Watched

Best of the Web

Vintage Guitars Info
This great reference site features detailed sections on vintage guitar makers, including Gibson,...
Vintage Guitar and Bass
Want to see all the old brochures and ads for your favorite vintage axe? Check out this great...