Artinger Hollow Bodies

[IbanezAS100]

So, there's one of these babies for sale in the UK which is pretty rare...a lot of cash but not a bad price considering exchange rates etc....it could be a good deal for someone (just to give you an idea a Collings SoCo is £5k, a Sadowsky Semi would cost about £3.2 to import).

So has anyone tried them? I'm not in the market myself as I've got a similar semi on order with a luthier but I like his design ideas and I've read rave reviews on construction, playability etc but not many comments on Jazz tone...

[kris]

So, there's one of these babies for sale in the UK which is pretty rare...a lot of cash but not a bad price considering exchange rates etc....it could be a good deal for someone (just to give you an idea a Collings SoCo is £5k, a Sadowsky Semi would cost about £3.2 to import).

Artinger Hollow Body Electric guitar Jazz Rock D`Angelico Benedetto Gibson PRS | eBay

So has anyone tried them? I'm not in the market myself as I've got a similar semi on order with a luthier but I like his design ideas and I've read rave reviews on construction, playability etc but not many comments on Jazz tone...

Expensive.

[IbanezAS100]

Expensive.

Sure, but they might be worth it for someone...it's a personal, relative thing isn't it? Kind of like tone...

I'm just curious if this model in particular (Venetian Hollow) which I really like the look of, is in the same ballpark as other high end smaller bodied hollows (Sadowsky SS-15 etc)...seems like more and more luthiers are moving in that direction.

[mangotango]

Mmmm, hear what you say, but that £3,750 ($5,929 at todays RoE) is a lot for a guitar that may not be everyone's cup of tea (certainly not mine).

For that amount, I can call Sadowsky today and buy this over the phone:

A714

for $4,275 (£2,690) and book a flight (next cheap deal to JFK in a couple of weeks, £364/$579 with Virgin). Would guess that one night in the Big Apple and the transport/import duty on my new Sadowsky shouldn't be more than the £690/$1,097 balance; so I get a night out in Noo Yawk Siddy watching some cool jazz act, and come home with the guitar that would be top of my current wish list, for my troubles.

And if I had that much money to spare for a guitar, that's exactly what I'd do.

But, each to their own.

[Soco]

They are not really expensive considering that Matt Artinger builds these all by himself. I have tried three different Artingers and they where all great playing and sounding guitars I liked them better than any Sadowsky's I have tried.

[IbanezAS100]

Mmmm, hear what you say, but that £3,750 ($5,929 at todays RoE) is a lot for a guitar that may not be everyone's cup of tea (certainly not mine).

For that amount, I can call Sadowsky today and buy this over the phone:

A714

for $4,275 (£2,690) and book a flight (next cheap deal to JFK in a couple of weeks, £364/$579 with Virgin). Would guess that one night in the Big Apple and the transport/import duty on my new Sadowsky shouldn't be more than the £690/$1,097 balance; so I get a night out in Noo Yawk Siddy watching some cool jazz act, and come home with the guitar that would be top of my current wish list, for my troubles.



And if I had that much money to spare for a guitar, that's exactly what I'd do.

But, each to their own.

Each to their own indeed...and what you're describing is a great scenario...but I'm not defending the guitar's value or anything (although it might well be justified), as stated above I'm not even looking to buy. My solution is closer to home-a trip to Scotland where my luthier is based is even cheaper (although a night out in Aberdeen admittedly doesn't compare with New York)!

So, before we get carried away with value and personal likes/dislikes, if anyone's tried them , do share please...

[IbanezAS100]

They are not really expensive considering that Matt Artinger builds these all by himself. I have tried three different Artingers and they where all great playing and sounding guitars I liked them better than any Sadowsky's I have tried.

Thanks for the info Jostein. Have you tried any full hollow ones like the one in the OP? And by the way, the guitar I've commissioned will be heavily influenced by the SoCo-I tried one a few months ago and it was mind-blowingly good, but I'd have to wait a long time for that £5K to accumulate...

[mangotango]

Each to their own indeed...and what you're describing is a great scenario...but I'm not defending the guitar's value or anything (although it might well be justified), as stated above I'm not even looking to buy. My solution is closer to home-a trip to Scotland where my luthier is based is even cheaper (although a night out in Aberdeen admittedly doesn't compare with New York)!

So, before we get carried away with value and personal likes/dislikes, if anyone's tried them , do share please...

Absolutely, and it wasn't intended as anything other than a kind of "if I had that much money for a guitar, this is what I would do" daydream. And you're right, a visit to your favourite luthier will cure most ills on the "wish list" front.

Mind you, Big Apple vs. Granite City......I've heard that those nights out in Aberdeen can occasionally be a bit.....lively, let's say.

[IbanezAS100]

Absolutely, and it wasn't intended as anything other than a kind of "if I had that much money for a guitar, this is what I would do" daydream. And you're right, a visit to your favourite luthier will cure most ills on the "wish list" front.

Mind you, Big Apple vs. Granite City......I've heard that those nights out in Aberdeen can occasionally be a bit.....lively, let's say.

True...thankfully when I go there to collect my guitar I'll be busy playing it/admiring it and hopefully doing the Whisky Trail tour-my luthier is 5 miles from the Macallan distillery...

by the way, your dream semi-hollow is indeed a wonderful guitar..one of my students has one so I get to play it often...

[Soco]

Thanks for the info Jostein. Have you tried any full hollow ones like the one in the OP? And by the way, the guitar I've commissioned will be heavily influenced by the SoCo-I tried one a few months ago and it was mind-blowingly good, but I'd have to wait a long time for that £5K to accumulate...

One of the ones I have played was a semi-hollow, the other two where hollow, but the design was different. It was his standard double cutaway shape.One of them was all mahogany, one-pickup fully hollow. Very warm sounding and traditional sounding. The other hollow-body was a spruce top mahogany back and sides. It was more in the the ballpark of a PRS hollowbody spruce(which I own) or a PRS archtop, but with it's own sound.I have seen other Artinger singlecut's but they looked different than in the OP. Regardless I would be hesitant buying a guitar for that much unless I could try it out first. Artingers quality is top notch, but it would be hard to know exactly how much you'd like it until you try one out.
The good thing about Collings is that they are out there and can be tried out. That's what I did with my Soco. I got it in 2008 and it has been my main guitar ever since. The best thing I ever did gear-wise was to get this guitar. Every Collings I have played(including their acoustics) have been killer-and I have played many. Now I am looking into maybe getting a Collings Eastisde lc to add to my arsenal. I would be more than happy to play and own an artinger, Matt Artinger is a great guy who is really on top of things. So many great choices out there.

[mangotango]

True...thankfully when I go there to collect my guitar I'll be busy playing it/admiring it and hopefully doing the Whisky Trail tour-my luthier is 5 miles from the Macallan distillery...

by the way, your dream semi-hollow is indeed a wonderful guitar..one of my students has one so I get to play it often...

5 miles from the Macallan distillery? Rude not to drop in then!!

And the Bruno...one day it will be mine. Ohhh yes, it will be mine. Mwahahaha (and such).

[Jim Soloway]

Matt Artinger is considered to be an exceptionally talented and innovative builder. Yes, his guitars cost a lot of money but they are priced similarly to other builders of his stature. That doesn't mean it's necessarily the right guitar for you or that you need a guitar of that value play well, but the price is appropriate for what it is.

[IbanezAS100]

One of the ones I have played was a semi-hollow, the other two where hollow, but the design was different. It was his standard double cutaway shape.One of them was all mahogany, one-pickup fully hollow. Very warm sounding and traditional sounding. The other hollow-body was a spruce top mahogany back and sides. It was more in the the ballpark of a PRS hollowbody spruce(which I own) or a PRS archtop, but with it's own sound.I have seen other Artinger singlecut's but they looked different than in the OP. Regardless I would be hesitant buying a guitar for that much unless I could try it out first. Artingers quality is top notch, but it would be hard to know exactly how much you'd like it until you try one out.
The good thing about Collings is that they are out there and can be tried out. That's what I did with my Soco. I got it in 2008 and it has been my main guitar ever since. The best thing I ever did gear-wise was to get this guitar. Every Collings I have played(including their acoustics) have been killer-and I have played many. Now I am looking into maybe getting a Collings Eastisde lc to add to my arsenal. I would be more than happy to play and own an artinger, Matt Artinger is a great guy who is really on top of things. So many great choices out there.

Great stuff and yes, the best part is that there are lots of choices and all these luthiers are all pushing the envelope. Each one has dealt with the challenge of providing archtop tone in a different/more versatile/modern package and it's fascinating...i did a lot of research before finalising the spec for my guitar and it's practically endless with Collings, Sadowsky, Moffa, Victor Baker, C P Thornton and many others...and definitely borrowed ideas from most of them...

Thanks for the insight and hope you get the Eastside soon

[IbanezAS100]

Matt Artinger is considered to be an exceptionally talented and innovative builder. Yes, his guitars cost a lot of money but they are priced similarly to other builders of his stature. That doesn't mean it's necessarily the right guitar for you or that you need a guitar of that value play well, but the price is appropriate for what it is.

Indeed Jim, that is also my view and I think it's great. Your designs are fantastic too (although I understand you're not involved in building any more)... a less cumbersome, ergonomic instrument that still provides a warm tone seems to be the way forward and it's brilliant that there are many luthiers pursuing that...

[Jim Soloway]

Indeed Jim, that is also my view and I think it's great. Your designs are fantastic too (although I understand you're not involved in building any more)... a less cumbersome, ergonomic instrument that still provides a warm tone seems to be the way forward and it's brilliant that there are many luthiers pursuing that...

That's always been my objective: a warm clear tone from a more comfortable and durable guitar. BTW, I'm not quite as removed yet as I thought I'd be. I guess it gets pretty deeply into your blood. No real details yet, but I have a couple of prototypes that I'm working on.

[pantz]

That's always been my objective: a warm clear tone from a more comfortable and durable guitar.

You did well. I LOVE my Swan LN-6 (old one, I guess the body style is more like the modern Gosling) - a pleasure to play and the most comfortable guitar I own.

[Jim Soloway]

You did well. I LOVE my Swan LN-6 (old one, I guess the body style is more like the modern Gosling) - a pleasure to play and the most comfortable guitar I own.

Thanks. It's always great to hear that from someone who's actually playing one of our guitars. Despite selling about 350 guitars over the years, I never made a whole lot of money at it so most of the satisfaction has come comments like that.

[PTChristopher]

[Ibanez AS100] >>> smaller bodied hollows (Sadowsky SS-15 etc)...seems like more and more luthiers are moving in that direction.

I do not know if it will be an enduring trend, but it sure is where it's at right now. And what a constellation of designs and sounds there are. Everything from barely past a semi-hollow to some really very acoustic designs.

[Jim Soloway] >>> Despite selling about 350 guitars over the years, I never made a whole lot of money at it

Glad that you have found satisfaction in it nonetheless.

It is sometimes a pain to think that I can make easily 4X (or more, really) the $$$ by designing and building a custom built-in something-or-other vs. a guitar. Weird sometimes. Not that I make a huge amount as it is, but that small-builder guitar making can be pretty tough on the wallet.

I'm looking forward to seeing your new design and protos, will you post them here?

Chris

[Jim Soloway]

[Ibanez AS100] >>> smaller bodied hollows (Sadowsky SS-15 etc)...seems like more and more luthiers are moving in that direction.

I do not know if it will be an enduring trend, but it sure is where it's at right now. And what a constellation of designs and sounds there are. Everything from barely past a semi-hollow to some really very acoustic designs.

[Jim Soloway] >>> Despite selling about 350 guitars over the years, I never made a whole lot of money at it

Glad that you have found satisfaction in it nonetheless.

It is sometimes a pain to think that I can make easily 4X (or more, really) the $$$ by designing and building a custom built-in something-or-other vs. a guitar. Weird sometimes. Not that I make a huge amount as it is, but that small-builder guitar making can be pretty tough on the wallet.

I'm looking forward to seeing your new design and protos, will you post them here?

Chris

Sure. They're probably about 10 weeks out at this point. I suspect that some folks might be a bit surprised/disappointed by how conservative they are visually but they represent what's in my head these days and I don't think anyone else is building anything quite like them right now.

[IbanezAS100]

Sounds great Jim,definitely keep us posted....

Cheers for the comments everyone...