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I'm in the market for a new archtop and want to find the best bricks and mortar store in the country to test drive a number of models. I live in a mid-sized city, but other than Guitar Center (which has nothing) there are few options. I'm willing to travel, so I'd appreciate suggestions as to where I might go for the best selection. I want to play it before I buy it. Thanks.
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09-14-2013 10:20 AM
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I'm going by reputation here, but in the New Jersey/New York area, you'd find Guitars n Jazz in Summitt, NJ, Golden Age in Westfield, NJ, Mandolin Brothers on Long Island and Rudy's in the city itself.
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Another place to consider is Bernuzio's in Rochester,NY. Many people here can attest to how well they've been treated and they have a great selection of instruments.
I just bought an Eastman from Lou at Guitars N Jazz and he was a pleasure to deal with. I was looking for a very specific instrument and he delivered.
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times have changed. not many archtops in inventory just sitting there waiting to be played.
that said, you have some good advice above. however, don't be surprised if its largely brand driven/limited. (Eastman comes to mind).
another thing to consider is one of those large guitar shows. there you can see and play a number of new and vintage instruments. I've done that, then ordered a new one based on what I liked abut a used one. worked out fine.
you can also visit a luthier like Benedetto and play one of his guitars on site, and then order one.
finally, luthiers/guitar makers' web sites usually list their dealers, or "super" dealers in the case of Gibson. you can then call them for a targeted evaluation.
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I've been in Mandolin and Rudy's recently and those are two good shops. Also Loudlow Guitars (Village) has plenty of nice archtops... Guitars N Jazz is for sure excellent given the website. So that might be a good area... The first three are easily reachable using metro (and ferry / bus for Mandolin). I am not so sure about Guitars n Jazz.
Originally Posted by goshawk
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Golden Age is directly across the street from the train station in Westfield.
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Want to second the recommendation of a visit to Howard Paul at the Benedetto factory in Savannah GA. The personal tour and wonderful selection of guitars to try are well worth the airfare. I love my Bravo Deluxe. Check out the website.
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+1. It's about a 30 minute trip from Penn Station. This is my #1 must-stop place when in NYC. Guitars N' Jazz is also good, as is Rudy's in Soho. Originally Posted by RoyaleT
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Elderly Instruments in MI. Check out their website, there's usually a bunch of nice vintage and new archtops.
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You don't say what your budget is, but if you want to spend $3,000+ for a guitar, it's probably worth it to spend a little more and take a trip to NYC. The list of stores in this thread is a good one, but I'd add Sadowsky to the list. There are lots of great guitars to check out in the NYC area, and you can spend your evenings in the Village checking out some of the best jazz in the world.
If you want to spend less than $1,500 - $2,000, the trip to NY would eat up your whole guitar budget. In that case, it's probably best to do your research and take a leap of faith. Most of the online stores will give you on over-the-phone description of the guitar, which may help. The better ones have very good descriptions online.
Good luck with your choice. Hope you find the love of your life.
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There is also Lark Street in Teaneck, NJ. A trip to the NYC area is a great bet, and you could plan a fun itinerary over a few days to visit all of these stores:
NYC
Rudy's
Mandolin Brothers
Retrofret
Sadowsky
NJ
Lark Street
Golden Age
Guitar's 'n' Jazz
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I second the recommendation for Elderly in Lansing. Great place to buy, sell and swap. They also stand behind their warranties. They are the largest Martin dealer. This means you can always find a quiet "acoustic" room to tryout an archtop in. On more than one occasion I bumped into world renowned guitarists as well. Worth the trip.
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Dave's Guitars in La Crosse, WI.
davesguitar.com
Possibly the largest Gibson inventory in the world, as well as Fender, Gretsch, PRS. And of course his unbelievable collection, which alone is worth the trip. Great staff, too.
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Dave's looks like heaven! Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
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+1 for Dave's. A remarkable place! Dave's collection is stunning, and Dave and his people are great to work with. I have purchased a Gibson ES 355 Block and a Fender Twin Reverb from Dave, both used. When I bought the Twin, I spent nearly a full day just trying out different guitars through the amp. They very responsive & accomodating, but also gave me the space to just play and demo at my leisure. They even brought me a cup of coffee! Dave's collection is a must see.
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I gotta plug a couple of local guys near me. J Hale, which may not have a lot in stock, he can get a lot. And a very nice guy to do business with. Also, a store that doesn't get any attention around here, Cream City Music in Brookfield Wi. (a suburb of Milwaukee) They have a good on line presence and usually have a great selection. They have a ton of nice guitars, including archtops and vintage guitars and amps. Very nice guys to deal with.
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I agree on both counts, Miken. Jeff Hale is a good guy.
Where are you located? I'm in Green Bay.
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Reading all of these responses/recomendations reminds me of something interesting. It seems that most of the straighter jazz guitar places are near the ny area. But I have heard that for the more modern rock/fusion trends, the places are on the west coast. Yes, no?
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