Archtop Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Buying an archtop guitar is a more nuanced decision than buying a flat-top acoustic or a standard electric. The market is fragmented between fully acoustic jazz boxes, semi-acoustic instruments designed primarily for electric playing, and fully electric thinline archtops that happen to use the archtop construction method. Each category requires a different set of considerations. This guide covers the decisions in order.

Acoustic, Semi-Acoustic or Electric?

The first question is how you intend to use the instrument. A fully acoustic archtop guitar is designed to produce adequate volume without amplification — these instruments have larger bodies (16 inches and above) and are used for jazz rhythm playing, fingerstyle and contexts where a microphone or pickup is not practical or preferred. A semi-acoustic archtop has a hollow or partially hollow body and uses a pickup; the body contributes warmth and resonance to the amplified tone. A fully electric thinline archtop is almost entirely reliant on its pickup and electronics, with minimal acoustic contribution from the body.

Most players buying their first archtop guitar want the semi-acoustic style — a hollow or thinline body with a pickup, delivering the characteristic warm electric tone associated with jazz and blues guitar.

Body Size

Archtop bodies range from the large 18-inch orchestral models used by classical jazz players to the compact 13-inch thinlines used by electric players in live settings. For most players, a 16-inch or 17-inch instrument provides the best balance between acoustic volume and playability. The 16-inch body produces a full sound without being unwieldy, and the neck join and reach to the upper frets is manageable. Instruments significantly larger than 17 inches can be physically demanding for players with smaller builds.

Full Hollow vs Semi-Hollow

A full hollow archtop has a completely hollow body with no centre block. This produces the most acoustic resonance and the warmest electric tone, but it is more prone to feedback at high amplifier volumes. A semi-hollow instrument has a solid centre block running through the body with hollow chambers on either side, which reduces feedback significantly. The Gibson ES-335 is the most famous example of this construction. For players who work at moderate volumes in jazz or blues contexts, fully hollow instruments are fine; for players who need more volume or use significant amounts of gain, a semi-hollow or thinline is more practical.

New vs Used

The archtop guitar market has a healthy used sector. Vintage American archtops from the 1950s and 1960s are collectible and expensive; mid-range used instruments from reputable brands often represent better value than new equivalents at the same price. Checking a used archtop involves verifying the condition of the spruce or maple top (cracks, finish checking, any repair evidence), the neck set (the angle at which the neck meets the body affects playability and is expensive to correct), and the condition of the floating bridge and tailpiece.

What to Spend

Entry-level archtop guitars from Asian manufacturers start at around £300–£400 in the UK. Mid-range instruments from established brands — Ibanez, Epiphone, D'Angelico — range from £500 to £1,500. Gibson, Gretsch and Eastman instruments at higher price points deliver more consistent quality and better acoustic properties. Fully hand-carved boutique instruments cost significantly more. The biggest quality jump in the archtop market comes between the entry-level laminate-top instruments and the solid-top mid-range options.

For a full overview of the archtop's features and types, the overview guide covers the construction and history. For those starting out, the beginner's guide explains what to expect. For specific recommendations at each price point, the value guide has the full breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions