![godin 5th avenue kingpin vs gibson es 125 godin 5th avenue kingpin vs gibson es 125](https://th.static-thomann.de/thumb/thumb600x600/pics/bdb/209636/16423636_800.jpg)
Höfners can be great or meh… you need to do a lot of research on the model you have under your eyes. D'Angelico EXL-1: I tried one, it was very beautiful but also sounded dead acoustically I would not expect either to have a very good acoustic sound given the price point and construction, but if you can try one do so! Gretsch – I have not tried the New Yorker or the Synchromatic. I am a fan of Epiphone, but those I played sounded dead acoustically – totally overbuilt and overfinished. Epiphone Masterbilt (modern production). Among the modern production ones, it's the one I'd get if I could not put my hands on a Loar Guild Savoy: very beautiful, reasonable acoustic tone, comes with a reissue DeA which sounds good. None of the other competitors you're considering has a carved top and this has an impact on both acoustic timbre and volume. I think it's best possible shape for playing four-to-the-bar and soloing à la Charlie Christian, but you may think otherwise! Note of caution: true to their being replicas of 1920s L-5s, these Loars have big, big V necks. It's head and shoulders above all its competitor as an acoustic archtop, and can be electrified no problem with a DeArmond (reissue Rhythm Chief, or better still for Western swing an old "Guitar Mike" FHC). You might be able to find a used one in your budget. Your #1 option is, in my view, a Loar LH-600 or LH-700. I play in a big band and have done a pretty thorough research. carved top) however, there's also a version with that nice DeArmond monkey on a stick pickup. Never had a chance to try the modern Gretsch New Yorker, but it is said to be acoustically inferior to the Loar (pressed vs. I have the black version, and didn't like the matte finish, so I polished it up with car polish, has a nice, "greasy" vintage semi-shine now (I guess you might to that to the Epis, too, but I hated each of the three examples I picked up instantly, so I never got the urge.) Rather thin neck - but with very pronounced shoulders - it's very much a D shape rather than a V or C. I guess the liveliness comes from the super-light construction the top (3 layer laminate) has to be the thinnest I have ever seen on any archtop, the whole guitar is feather-light (exactly what you want with an acoustic). The Godin is a different animal - much quieter unplugged, and with even less bass (acoustic archtops are all about midrange, and don't have a lot of bass - and the Godin has less) but it feels super-lively and resonant, almost as much as a flattop and that lively, resonant, rich tone also shines through plugged in it's probably my most "acoustic" electric guitar, perfect for 1940s/50s jazz/blues/swing tone - it really captures that ES-150/125 with P90s vibe. However, the Loar has a huge neck with a hard V profile, and very wide string spacing (both at the nut and at the bridge), you better make sure you like that oh, and mine came with rather bad fretwork (but no finish flaws, which other users sometimes seem to have). I also have a Godin Kingpin (2x P90, cutaway), and a Loar LH 300.Īcoustically, the Loar is hard to beat - loud & projective (if you use the correct strings - at least 12s and roundwounds, like they used in the 30/40s, not flatwounds, like they used for electric bebop playing). Seems like opinions about those Epi Masterbilts vary - I hated all 3 that I tried (one was the largest size one, the other where the mid-size ones, can't remember the model names) - VERY quiet for an acoustic archtop, and the sound doesn't have the midrange "chunk" required for swing/jazz rhythm chording they sounded more like cheap, quiet flattop acoustics (and there really isn't a lot of arch to the top, anyway). So, my recommendation is try the Epi, you may like it Don't know why but is one of those guitars that you know is going to get old and better. My friend even sold the Gibson and got one too. Sounds good unplugged and even better plugged. the biggest neck I have ever played but comfortable. Nice finish, PERFECT finish, no flaws at all, nice chunky C neck. I am not very happy with my Epiphone experience and was reluctant to play it but I did. and then come to an Epiphone Zenith Masterbilt Classic. Some German made, even a sixty something Gibson from a friend. I had to electrify it so I sold it and got a flat top with a preamp I have a 6120 and wanted to like the Gretsch, but the Loar was better.
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I liked the feel and the tone much better than the Gretsch. I played a Loar LH-300 I liked and bought it. I can tell you about the ones I have tried and owned.