Click Here to Send a Donation

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Jeff, I doubt the statement "Made in USA" had any bearing as to export. If I am correct, all Gibson products bore that statement. The guitar you are purchasing is excellent and I know you will enjoy playing it. There was a time when most all Hawaiian rhythm players used arch top guitars on stage. This is a rare sight nowadays which makes me wonder, where the heck all those arch tops ended up ?

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Jeff,
I agree with Keoki about the "Made in USA". I used to work at Elderly Instruments in the late 70's early 80's and saw tons of Gibsons. I'm pretty sure the majority of them were stamped that way.

Welcome to the archtop camp. You can get a lot of different sounds out of these instruments. They look cool too.

Here's my new infatuation (I'm seriously considering getting this guitar!).
http://www.dangelicoguitars.com/index.cfm/Fuseaction/guitars/SubFuseAction/det ail/Name/nyl2c.htm

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 24 November 2003 at 02:30 PM.]

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Moved from No Peddlers to Music.

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I only have an inexpensive Raven RM 680 http://store.yahoo.com/ravguitar/ravrmnat.html . The wood, including the top, is all laminated. My guitar does not have the whammy bar shown in the picture. (The company is trying to apeal to the rockabilly crowd rather than the serious jazz players.) This guitar is 16 inches rather than 17, and only 2&3/4 inches deep. Being used to a Tele, I find the smaller size more comfortable to play.

I've recorded with it and taken it to clubs, and it does what it's supposed to. It feels and sounds good, and while it's not an exquisite guitar, it is a practical and inexpenseve (and replacable) instrument for a working player who wants a hollow body guitar for gigging and recording.

Here is a close up of the guitars. http://store3.yimg.com/I/ravguitar_1766_1129451

If I were to buy a high end archtop, I'd buy an Eastman. http://www.eastmanguitars.com/ / This company is very quickly gaining a reputation of building some of the finest arch tops available today. The fact that they are priced far below quitars of similar quality makes them even more attractive. I think I would buy one with an oval sound hole rather than the F hole models.

If I owned one of these, or something of similar quality, the only time I'd ever take it to a gig would be if it was the only instrument I playing, and then, it would be in the case, and by my side whenever it was not in use.

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 25 November 2003 at 02:31 AM.]

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Gerald I think you should punch in "add to cart" and go for it!!! Just don't tell your wife till it arrives!!
Bill

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Thanks for the tip on Eastman guitars. Very impressive. (so many instruments, so little time)

Ron

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Brian Beebe · From: Atlanta, Ga. 30214

Jeff, I have owned many archtops including vintage Gibsons and Epiphones. I don't recall any Gibsons having 'Made In USA' stamped on the headstock except ones made after 1970. Is it possible the 1948 L-7 you describe was re-necked after the 1960s?
Brian

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Brian Beebe · From: Atlanta, Ga. 30214

Jeff, how right you are. I have never seen 'Made In THE USA' and perhaps it was reserved for exports. My book on vintage guitar dating does say that some Gibsons had 'Made In USA' on the headstock as early as the 1950s. I would call George Gruhn in Nashville. He would probably know the story. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving. Brian

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

"Export sales" are those sales of goods outside of a country, it's territories, or it's possessions. Since Hawaii was annexed to the United States in 1898, and became an official territory in 1900, any United States goods sold in Hawaii after that time wouldn't have been classified as "imports".

In addition, it's the exporter (who's not necessarily the manufacturer) who bears the responsibility for marking an export item with the country of origin. In many cases, items that are not "manufactured for export" still wind up being sold as such. Exporters are required to conspicuously mark or label every item. Sometimes, the marking looks like it's been done by the manufacturer, when in reality, the mark was applied by the exporter.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 30 November 2003 at 01:04 PM.]

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

This thread inspired me to pick up my Raven archtop and play it for a while. I have to say that while it's not quite in the same league as Gibson or Heritage, it really is a very nice guitar.

As I said earlier, it's laminated rather than solid wood. (As are the lower priced Gibsons like the ES-175.) But it is nevertheless a thoroughly professional grade instrument thata is more than adaquet for either gigging or recording. If I may make am analogy, The Benedetto's Eastmans and D'Angelicos are Rolls Royces, The Gibson's and Heritage are Lincolns or Caddys, and the Raven would be a Honda or Toyota. Not luxurious, but it takes you where you want to go.

These guitars sell for around $500. A Benadetto costs somewhere around $10,000, and even a laminated Gibson costs over $2,000.

This company fills the need for a decent, professional quality guitar at a price that a woeking musician can afford. I'm quite happy with mine, and I would recommend this guitar to anybody who wants an archtop but doesn't want to spend a lot of money ro get one.

David Doggett · Posted 1 Dec 2003 9:40 am

If a Raven is a Honda or Toyota, then I guess my '60s Kay is a Hugo. Or maybe it doesn't even qualify as a car. Maybe it's a Schwinn. But like all arch tops it seems to have good mids and highs, and not much bass. It also has a longer neck and high action. So I put some heavy strings on it and tune it to open C for when I feel like singing an Elmore James song. I can't reach that high D like he does. P.S. I don't do this in public.

JERRY THURMOND · From: sullivan mo u.s.a.

I have a 1947 L 7 gibson in my store for sale it was made in Kalamazoo Michigan, they or good archtop guitars the one I got has a Dearmond pick pick up build in. Never heard of any that old made for Export, but who knows. Jerry

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Mike, have you gone to John Pisano's Guitar Night., as it's held once a week in your neck of the woods?

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Mike, I brought this topic up on this thread as I also think highly of the Eastman.

About a month ago, I received a card in the mail advertising "Guitar Night at Birdland" with John Pisano & friends.

I never heard of him before, but the card had a photo of a gray haired seasoned looking guitarist with a very nice looking archtop. And with an Italian last name, I figured that I couldn't go wrong by showing up.

This was one fine show. There must have been 10 guest jazz guitarists from the area. Jimmy Bruno, Jack Wilkins, Ron Afif, Steve Herberman, Tony de Rosario, etc....all these guys were great and each one brought their own style to the table.

There were a variety of guitars that evening and I thought one of the best one's with the most pleasing tone (to me) was the custom that John Pisano played. I was floored when I found out, at the end of the first set, that it was an Eastman guitar and was made in China!

During the break between sets, people were trying this guitar. This seemed to be an in crowd of jazz enthusiests who knew one another.

What I didn't know was that John Pisano was Joe Pass's accompanying guitarist for 35 years, as well as a session man with a lot of credentials. That explained why the late Joe Pass's wife was there and Tal Farrow's wife were there. George Bensen was also there, in the audience but deferred from playing. He only wanted to hear Jimmy Bruno, an amazing player from Philadelphia, who tore up the place.

John was also joined by his wife, Jeannie on vocals, and together they make up "The Fyling Pisanos." Jeannie has a voice with a 4 octave range that goes right through you like the wind chill factor.

If I were still living in So. Cal, my Tue nights would be....a feeding frenzy at Tito's Tacos in Culver City, and then onto Spazio's in Sherman Oaks for John Pisano's Guitar night. I'd be playing some gassing, I mean passing notes myself.

Sorry to hijack your thread Jeff.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 December 2003 at 08:16 PM.]

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Jeff-I had a Gibson L-7 new, and I ordered it with a Pickguard pickup.

So that nothing touched the guitar and kept that great accoustic sound for when we got off the bandstand and strolled and played requests.

We played dinner houses, me and a great violinist,(Juliard Graduate) Who played everything from "poet and peasant oveture" to "Smoke gets in your eyes". I learned a lot from him.......al

>>>
I had a lot of compliments on the sound of that guitar I never should have sold it and my wife still reminds me of my mistake.

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Howard, That evening sounds like a guitar freak's dream. I wish I could have been there.

Spazio's is rather pricy. Mike and I only had a couple of orange juices, and the bill was 20 bucks. As much as I'd like to support the Tuesday guitar nights, I can't afford those kinds of prices.

I'd love to own an Eastman, but I'm not a jazz guitarist and an instrument of that quality would be wasted on me. My Raven is more than adaquet for my purposes. Like I said, it's not a luxury guitar, but it does what it's supposed to do. It plays well, sounds good, and doesn't cost a lot.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

I don't play standard guitar either. I just love great sounding, well made instruments, and can certainly appreciate the talented luthiers who build them and the artists who play them.

Yes, that's the drawback with jazz clubs, they are expensive. I guess they must charge these prices to survive, and the musicians must live also. Birdland charges $25-$35 music charge (depending on who's playing) and a $10 minimum at the tables. I pick and choose my concerts carefully. This one was a whim, and there was no charge for the 2nd set. I got a lot of music for my money that night.

seldomfed · From: Colorado

Cool guitar Jeff!
After spending time with Gerald, Mr. Zinn, et. Al. in HSGA the last few years, I got the archtop bug so I recently got a Stromberg Montreaux. The 'blem' model was $900. It's a wonderful archtop for the money. Affordable, sounds good and very playable. It compares well to other Korean made guitars in the $600-900 range - and it looks cool! Blemished inventory is $300 off regular price! I only found on little thing - no big deal, can't even hardly see it.

After I got it however - I walked into a store and saw the new Tacoma archtops.
Cool stuff -see the model AJF28C on their web page. Better yet, try one.
It's quite surprising - and affordable.

Too many choices.

Chris

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com