This Archtop Guitar is Stunning

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00:00 - My 1937 Epiphone
02:17 - Archtop versus Flattop
04:07 - Orville Gibson
05:50 - Epiphone
06:47 - Other American Archtops
07:06 - Conclusion

[@MarySpender]

Archtop players - where y'all at? 🎸 First 1000 People to sign up get *50% off Fingerstyle Guitar - Mary's Method* bit.ly/3pAesoe

[@RickMolloy]

I have a recording king arch top from the 30s and love it. There's nothing like it

[@Richhhi]

I play an Epiphone Century Masterbilt, that is nowhere near as old as yours. I bought mine about 6 years ago when Epiphone stated making them again. I love it.

[@jazzdirt]

Present!... Epi Elite (first series, [the good one]), a few Gretsch Electromatics with Bigsby, A hand build Gretsch prototype with tear shaped soundholes (electric guitar, but it also sounds so nice if you use it without an amp...)

[@BrianSmith-me9cy]

Checking in: a blonde Epiphone Joe Pass that I play almost every day.

[@brianbarnett7452]

I bought an arch top Kalamazoo Gibson in Spain in about 1965. It looked very similar to your Epiphone, with the same bridge and tailpiece, and was being played in a bar with money being collected in it. I stripped it down to the beautiful mahagony and spruce and French polished it, also making a case. The number on the back of the head is 1170 and I presume it is from the 1930's. One of my sons is a good guitarist and I gave it to him a few years ago. I am from north London and live in the states and consider guitars and books to be sacred objects. I also wonder about the preious owners and how it made its way to Spain. Thank you for your presentations and I wish you continued success. All the best. Brian Barnett.

[@elightkeeper]

Rare arch top guitar owner here. I have a 1935 Gibson L-30 and I’m lucky to know some of its history. Back in July 2021, when you were still doing “guitar stories”, I sent you one with a pic. These old guitars are incredibly special, even if they can’t do the heavy lifting anymore. It’s like they hold the vibrations of music once played as well as the memories of the hands that once held them. ❤

[@alanbudgen2672]

I also have an L30. I don't know her history, but she's in great condition and plays and sounds amazing.

[@5slide]

Another Gibson L-30 owner here, mine is a 1939/40 I believe. There's a video of it on my channel. It's one of my favourite acoustics.

[@Particulator]

I learned to play guitar on my dad's old yellow archtop guitar which also had an arched fret board. That thing was so hard to play. I don't know what he did with it and wish he was still around to tell me where it is, it was so beautiful. I remember being around 4-5 years old standing in the doorway of my parent's bedroom listening to him playing and singing.

[@chrisgoulding4892]

I bought a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin a few years ago. It gets played most days and sounds great both plugged in and unplugged. Not rare by any means but a great sounding, very playable instrument. Its quite a pretty thing too, even has a heart shape in its rosewood grain. Takes pride of place in my lounge. As you can possibly tell, I love it❤

[@gavinsolomon2711]

Excellent info, thanks for that Mary. Pitched at just the right level, with just the right tone. A beautiful guitar, and a beautiful album, by the way!

[@craighanham8120]

Received your Album a couple of days ago. Great listening. Keep up your excellent work Mary. Thank you :)

[@mhoop1]

What a lovely video. Makes me appreciate my late '90's Gibson 135 a little more!

[@haraldbrunsting7595]

Not a guitar player myself, but on hearing you play several different guitars you use, I love it the most when you use this 1937 Epiphone

[@0228mustang]

I could listen to Mary talk for hours...so soothing!

[@michaelenosmusic]

David Rawlings who plays with Gillian Welch, I believe, solely plays an Epiphone Olympic.

[@davideriksen9086]

His is something like a 1935.

[@chrisgunn121]

Thank you Mary for your eloquent and informative description of your beautiful Arch Top and the history behind their creation. She sounds amazing within Your hands, please look after Her and help preserve Her for future finger pickers.

[@jeffreyjkkelly2520]

Awesome. I have a 1938 Gibson L5 original natural finish, original white pickguard. We are one family owner inherited from my great Uncle Tony, who was a professional jazz guitarist in New York City in the 30s and 40s. I still have the receipt from the New York Band Instrument Co. and original case. Walter Carter looked it up on the Gibson ledger and it's an early 1938. Sounds great!

[@davidbishop7181]

I have an Epiphone Emperor from the same year, Mary. The old Epiphones are spectacular!

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

My oldest guitar is a 59 Harmony Monterey tenor, made just a few months before I was born in December of that year. My father's father bought it new, so I'm the 3rd owner. Such a magnificent vintage tone.

[@warrenpuckett4203]

I have a 1942 But the tailpiece wood is brittle. I would replace it with a metal tailpiece. It is 5 years older than I am.

[@barrydlive4602]

❤ Brilliant episode Mary, thanks, for all you do and share !

[@user-RollyS]

Another archtop manufacturer is a Canadian company, GODIN Guitars. I used a GODIN 5th Ave Kingpin II for years. I now have an EPIPHONE ES 339 PRO as my "go to" because of shoulder problems with large body guitars. Love the sound of your EPI, it's very rich and full. Love your new songs!!!

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

Great guitar. Love vintage instruments. Rock on 🤘

[@bradsimpson7369]

Thank you for the history of the archtop! Besides an acoustic violin, I play a Hofner 500/1 bass and love the sounds of the archtop instruments. There are so many wonderful instruments out there to explore sound and music on. All the best!

[@anthonypawelek6298]

After seeing your unboxing of this guitar I had to get an arch top. I do have a Gretsch and a Epiphone Century. But I wanted an acoustic and vintage. I look on line and found a Gibso L48 at Norm's rare guitars. One of the best things I've done. I can't tell you how much joy this guitar brings me.

[@stevegroves]

This purchase of yours back then made me a subscriber Mary, its now in a good home with someone whom will love it and play it.

[@keeganitreal]

Such a great mix of beautiful guitar sounds and very interesting guitar facts in every video. Love this channel. Keep up the good work Mary 👏

[@ingraban98]

I loved the cut to the Lucille and back with the guitar changing in the background. Top editing 🙂.

[@theTenorDrummer]

You mic'd it up really well, sounds great

[@gnmatsu]

Love it. So interesting. Thanks so much.

[@pbrecipe2443]

cool finger snap edit!!!

[@TheTobesOfHades]

I love old guitars! It looks and sounds beautiful. Thank you.

[@maxs.3238]

What a beauty. Theres just something about old archtops that is inspiring. I'm lucky to own a Framus 5/51 studio, made in December 1960, a tiny parlor sized archtop. With the small body size it has a really special sound even among other archtops, i absolutely love it. Great video and playing, as always

[@donaldbutcher1260]

Thanks for the history lesson Mary. I have owned a few Epiphones although none were vintage like your '37.😊

[@that44rdv4rk]

I like it. Sounds almost exactly like my mid 50s ES-125 if I don't plug it in. Nothing beats that floating bridge for quickly fixing intonation with different string gauges.

[@John_2Much_Coffee]

Hello Mary . Glad to see this guitar again. Love its tone and look. I have an Epiphone Century. I love its very unique sound and tone. Cheers

[@trevorburch3421]

May I gently suggest that Lloyd Loar be mentioned in your list of originators, as, in 1922 he was hired by Gibson to re-invent the Gibson line, notably with the L5 which, along with others, is among the most prized archtops of all!

[@ross9581]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you!

[@dumpywhite]

I have a Gretsch I got from a thrift shop that’s a beautiful jade green colour and it’s the reason I’m in absolute love with arch top guitars. It’s a joy to play and its bixby is fun to muck around with.

[@josefinacupido9872]

Great info thank you Mary amazing history & all things music! 🎶

[@Chris_Blackstock_Music]

Love the sound.

[@peterhogarth3974]

Lovely to see & hear you playing your Epiphone. Such a lovely sound. I fell in love with archtop guitars when I bought a 1936 levin model 6 Dansant some years ago. Sadly I had to sell it five years ago when I lost my job, I was gutted!. Since then things have picked up and I managed to find a 1951 model 6 Levin Dansant. I´m really lucky , I now live in Norway.. My neighbour is one of the best guitar doctors in Norway and has become a wonderful friend. He has repaired and rebuilt the 51 Dansant. Fixing cracks, restoring and resetting the neck, sanding a radius into what was a flat fretboard, refreting it, new tuners, a new pick guard. he's also added a Full Monty P90 neck pickup and an LR Baggs T bridge pickup, toggle switch, volume, tone and sweep pots.I decided to put GHS brite flat strings on it which has worked well. It´s become my go to guitar, great acoustic or through one or two amps. A boss acoustic singer and a Fender tweed blues deluxe reissue.The range of tones is amazing. Have great fun with your Epiphone I look forward to hearing it on more of your tracks. 😄

[@inthinair548]

Stay awesome Spender! 🎸

[@brentsmithline3423]

Great tone....

[@rogerbranton1752]

I recieved my physical copy of Super Sexy Heartbreak and am terribly excited about that! I feel happy to support what I deem to be some damned fine KZbin content. I'm sure I posted some comment when you posted about getting that awesome Epiphone. It's a real treasure! love & support to you & your admireable endevours, Mary! ❤❤

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Mary I had an L30, which mysteriously "disappeared ". Putting a mic anywhere near it recorded beautifully. Enjoy your wonderful instrument. Reminds me a lot

[@JurBols477]

Hi Mary, great to see you give a lot of love to your Epiphone Olympic Sunburst - it really does fit your style of playing. I took a long time choosing an electric archtop and I settled with a Godin Montreal Premier in desert green with the Seymour Duncan P-rails - I love playing it every day.

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

Thats such a stunning guitar, I love archtop acoustics

[@4absentfriends]

I own a Gibson 1960 archtop and luv the sound it produces.

[@r0bfleming]

My signed cd arrived today! Great work, sounds great. KZbin is great but I'm an old school cd fan. 😁

[@adamcone6856]

It sounds incredible.

[@willmcbride4435]

I believe that unboxing was the first Mary Spender video I saw. I thought, “Now who’s this?” But I quickly liked your style and delivery. I’m glad I stuck around! Cheers!

[@ralfklonowski3740]

Apparently , we are back to getting one Mary Spender video almost every day. You ARE spoiling us. Not that I'm complaining; no, no. Beeing spoilt is extremely enjoyable until reality strikes back,. so please keep going. Greetings from Germany and thanks for the album! I'm listening to it every day.

[@mark.guitar]

Beautiful guitar. Lovely collection you have Mary. I have an Eastern European plywood "Radiotone" f-hole acoustic from 1926(ish). It was a total wreck with the neck like a banana and the top not entirely part of the body when I got it. It has been a challenge and a joy to make it playable once more.

[@DoubtYourOwnShadow]

Nice looking guitar 😊😊

[@davemclaughlin2305]

Great job!

[@stephenlamb4704]

Hi Mary, I love your Epiphone Archtop. I own an Epiphone Zenith Masterbilt Archtop. I have had this for about 18 months, a beautiful guitar to play, naturally it has a trapeze bridge. The tone is so full, naturally due to it's size. The Epi is also Electro Acoustic, and also has a tuner. The tuner controls are situated underneath the lower F hole. I have recorded with it. It is a beautiful feeling guitar.

[@pvtts05]

I recently built my own archtop based on a 1937 Epiphone Spartan. Really cool yours is still played.

[@mrflippant]

I started playing guitar in high school jazz band, and my teachers were a classical guitarist who had studied with Christopher Parkening, and an old jazz guitarist who had been close friends with Les Paul. So, suffice it to say, playing finger style on an arch top is very much my thing. Cheers Mary!

[@retired4365]

I have a 1960s archtop like that, sounds so good. ❤😂❤

[@emergencyremedialtruth8593]

I am in love with that old Epiphone gorgeous.

[@donwilson3880]

I have my Dad’s 40s era Martin Archtop guitar. Beautiful sound.

[@barbaraanneneale3674]

You are so lucky to have such a beautiful sounding Instrument!

[@OutRAjious]

When I was 15 I found an old Kalamazoo in a Watford shop with my Dad… I remember it having a lump of carbon as it’s single neck pick-up …. worn down on the table side … the best sound I ever heard and been missing it ever since ..

[@christopherrice6804]

Another archtop lover here! My first was a ~1970 Univox Barney Kessel copy followed by a 1957 Gibson L-48, both bought when I was 18. The feel and sound helped define me as a player and I've owned quite a few wonderful archtops since then. The current favorites are a 1935 Gibson L-7, a 1965 Gibson ES-175, and a 1967 Epiphone Broadway.

[@danthedem]

I love archtops! They have a certain special voice, depth to them. I have 3 Gretsches, 2 Les Paul Standards, a Hofner Contemporary Bass, a few PRS's (which have arched tops/violin carves), and an Epiphone ES-335. They're just another tool to find one's voice and add a little something to a mix.

[@markstallmann5377]

Have a lovely Gretch from the same era! That Epi sounds wonderful!

[@alanbudgen2672]

Sounds very nice. I have a Gibson L30 from around 1939. It's similar to the Olympic, being a smaller bodied cheaper models. The L30 was the original Lucille that BB King raced back into the burning bar to rescue... later models were the 335. She's a beauty in amazing condition.

[@waygone6657]

I remember the unboxing on this one. It is great to see it cleaned up and in service. I have six guitars that I play regularly. It's not because I'm rich or really cool, it is because they are not co-located. My two favorites are archtops. One is an Orange Gretsch Electromatic hollow body, and the other is an early 1960s Harmony F hole acoustic. Besides the unique sound, they are more comfortable for me to hold and that of course makes playing more enjoyable. 🙂

[@VilleHalikka]

Hi Mary! I have also archtop from 1937. It's a Gibson FDH. Gibson only made 123 FDH's in Kalamazoo factory for a London guitar shop Francis, Day & Hunter. I have serial number 120, in beautiful condition, one of the last ones they made. Greetings from Finland!

[@garycoates4987]

I have a whole bunch of archtop guitars , my oldest acoustic archtop is either my gretsch model 30 or my Harmony built Supertone, both are from sometime in the mid 1930s, the gretsch is basically their less ornate copy of a Gibson L-5 . My desert island guitar is also an archtop a 1961 Gibson es125t electric thin line guitar, my dad bought it in the 80s in a pawn shop and I "borrowed" it soon after and couldn't let it go so he just said "it's yours now" and I love it so much

[@andyjaehrling3588]

Great video! I play and record with a 1937 Slingerland May-Bell Style 76 (round soundhole), on which I installed a floating CC pickup.

[@GaryArmstrongmacgh]

I ended up with my Grandpa Armstrong's 1949 L50 Gibson archtop. Recently put some Ernie Ball electric flatwounds on it. It sounds gorgeous! I don't dare take it it out in public for fear of it getting stolen. It also has it's original D'Armand pickup my Grandpa put on it. Everything's original on it except the tuners. Those didn't survive. Your's is gorgeous Mary! It looks very similar to mine. Sounds similar too. Great playing!

[@rodriguez63]

Very cool...thanks

[@tahoemike5828]

The first time I really noticed an acoustic archtop, and wondered what it was, was when I saw Dave Rawlings playing with Gillian Welch. I just looked and sounded so different.

[@AlainGuindon]

I have a 1946 Gretsch Synchromatic 100, a 1953 Gibson ES125, and a 1981 Blonde ES335.

[@joermnyc]

D’Angelico innovated a lot, and his original guitars are so beautiful they were the highlight of an exhibit on the art of guitars at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in NYC about 12 years ago.

[@samuelhatman8995]

Mary... Thank you for the email... your album is on the way! The photo side by side of L1-L2-L3 guitars is invaluable to me. Thanks for the excellence you always provide. Sincerely, Sam. The Gibson kid from 1964. I think I'll go play mine right now.

[@jllewi]

I just got out my 1947 L-12P to play some tunes today. Good to see archtops on the web.

[@sjazzp]

Lovely story Mary, it was great to know that this super sexy guitar made it to your album. By the way, in these days a couple of popular brands that offer archtops are Eastman and Ibanez.

[@jkruppa]

I have an Olympic from 1941 that a friend recently restored. Sweet little archtop, fun to play.

[@petset77]

Thanks for the video. That certainly is a beauty!! The solid spruce sounds amazing through decent headphones. I have a newer 1954 Gibson ES125, not as nice sounding acoustically with its laminated top, but the original P90 pickup sounds great plugged in. I also have a 1965 Epiphone Texan flat top which sounds great with the mellow old spruce, much better than my newer Taylor. ....Your playing is very nice. It's so much more interesting than typical Travis (or other) picking because it's unique. Thanks again for the video. Take care.

[@custa73burner]

I play a modern slim archtop modelled after a Taylor T5. Pretty little instrument that also sounds good having an electric pickup and a piezo under saddle for both electric and acoustic style sound.

[@Skipster18]

I've got a '45 Epiphone Spartan and feel just as you do. This guitar has been well played and loved with the neck finish worn through long ago. I very much feel like the latest in a long series of caretakers and I plan to eventually pass it off to the next in good shape. For me the value of this guitar far exceeds the going market rate. It's the guitar I reach for every day.

[@fordsrestorations970]

What tha , how in the world did I miss this.... anyways I'm watching it now and I have played these guitars before a long time ago mellow and sweet... they have their place for sure... thanks Mary

[@fordmi79]

I play a 1955 Gibson ES-175. It’s a very rough players grade guitar so I had no qualms about making it a main/normal use guitar for years. I’ve since backed off from playing it as much, but I still love the thing and play it from time to time. Then, similar in age but not an arch top, I have a 1938 Martin 0-17 that I play sometimes. It’s also a bit rough, so I’m considering having a pickup installed so that I can gig with it.

[@ddwym]

Owner of an absolute one-of-a-kind archtop guitar here. It was made by an Italian immigrant to New York City named David B. Porrazzo in 1935, who seemed to have gotten his start making mandolins, later making the switch to archtops. Apparently he would rub raw egg white into the wood to preserve his guitars. Mine, in particular, has a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, an X-bracing, unusually for an archtop, and apparently for his guitars as well, since others I have been able to find have ladder bracing.

[@jazzdirt]

In the studio where I used to work I had a pretty similar guitar, similar age, but a Höfner, not an Epiphone... I personally have a few archtops.. Epiphone Elite (first series), Some Gretsch-es, one of them a hand build prototype..

[@liquidmeme6019]

thank you for the history

[@markbrown8666]

Thanks of this fascinating history!

[@gingeoram]

This was interesting. You do these history videos very well. I enjoy your playing and I like that guitar. It sounds similar to the 1935 Epiphone Olympic that Dave Rawlings played on most of his concerts and recordings.

[@buzzbomb67]

I have a 1930s Gretsch 35 (I think), which is quite wonderful. Bought it as a basketcase, and had it restored. Unfortunately, we painted it the wrong style of sunburst … did the standard style, then when I looked it up, its a triple burst. Frankly the triple burst is kinda weird looking, and it looks better with the regular sunburst, but still…

[@MattyK-USA]

Hi, Mary! Thanks for letting us all have another peek at that lovely guitar. The additional history was very enlightening as well! As a person who grew up very near Westerly Rhode Island here in the States, I feel it my duty to mention Guild Guitars and their wonderful archtops as well (admittedly they were predominantly electric models). It is wonderful to see Guild return from obscurity after the buyout, to once again making premier products! Unlike Gibson, they didn't lose the recipe 🤷‍♂😬🙂

[@RocktCityTim]

I waffled on the rereleased Masterbuilt a few years back - nursing that wound still.

[@Mr.Potato1962]

You Make it Sound Good , This Guitar as a Unique Sound and I Like It...

[@jesseterpstra5472]

Hey, Mary, just wondering... for a fully acoustic arch top (as in not semi hollow electric), what do you prefer? Humbucker, condenser mic inside, or piezoelectric?

[@guywolff]

I have a Kay Professional (circa 1932 ) with wonderful "Peaarl of Toilet seat "on its peghead . It is so full of a treble voice it was meant to take on the 4 string banjo sitting right next to it in the band .. ONe of the most interesting of the early musicians to take up the original Lowd Loar Gisbon L5 s was the Great Maybelle Carter who played that guitar through most of her long life (adding one or two for family use on stage ) .. SHe basically was the beginging of what we call Country Western today ... :)

[@mrparlanejxtra]

It is a lovely instrument

[@howardowens721]

My primary guitar currently is a Guild T-50 Thinline. I also have a Guild Starfire III and a Prestige NYS Deluxe.

[@user-qu6ks1nd6d]

I have and play a Gretsch G5034TFT. I enjoy the tremmolo with which it is equipt very mutch.

[@damnyankeex1]

Greetings Mary! I recently bought my first archtop. I’m not a jazz player as what style these guitars are commonly used to play. It’s a used D’Angelico EXL-1. Single cutaway with a pickup. I wanted a non cutaway model but didn’t want to spend the money on a new Guild T-50 which is what I would have gotten. I got a great deal on my D’Angelico. It came strung with flat wound strings as jazz players prefer. I’m going to put round wounds on it. I’m going to play a combination of folk, Americana and country.

[@garvdarb]

I have a Archtop, Arthur Hansel, built in Toronto Ont, Canada. It will be 75 years old this Nov 2023. I just brought it out of its case for this week's Jam session and The Wreck of The Edmond Fitzgerald.

[@lazydada1062]

I have a Gretsch archtop, and I love it

[@OutRAjious]

A friend had a les paul shaped but hollow bodied f-hole Silvertone guitar…. it was also one of the best, almost totally unknown now ..

[@kennethhymes9734]

I have the same model. More dinged up. The low strings played with fingers above the seventh fret are a revelation which permanently changed my approach to the acoustic guitar. Cellos. There is a need for more attention to lower dynamic techniques on guitar, there is so much poetry in these types of instruments beyond django and bluegrass and acoustic jazz and songwriters.

[@soypablo64]

Love me some archtops! I have a 1932 Olympic that I bought sometime in the '90s -- it is somewhat smaller than yours and not in as good condition -- mostly just a wall guitar now. I also have a pre-1960 Harmony Archtone painted flat black with a dogear P-90 added in for a little fun; a 2016 Epiphone Inspired by Century '66, sunburst with a P-90 also; and a black Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin P90 (yep, I sense a theme here...)