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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:57 pm
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Alex_Under wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
A Strat is what is is. What it is not is an archtop.


bshane84 wrote:
If it had an archtop, it wouldn't be a Strat. :shock:


Steve-oh-no wrote:
If a strat were archtop, it would not be a strat.


Lets say that this logic is right.
I'm just wondering, if an archtop strat IS NOT a Strat then what about HSS or HSH or HH Strats or 12-string strats or hardtailed or with an FR tremolo and locking nut. They are not Strats neither?
I 'm sure that when the first HSS strat came out there, there were people saying "This thing is not a Strat".

But what defines a Strat then?
If it's the philosophy behind the sound then an HSS Strat is not a strat. But then, any guitar with SSS PUs is potentially a Strat. So, this isn't a solid logic.

Is it the shape then? Is it the solid body? Is the neck radius etc?
I would like to know what makes a strat, STRAT.
:wink:


To steal a line from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, regarding the question "What is a Strat?", let's just say "I know it when I see it." :D

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:52 pm
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Other than Alain's gem I think the closest we'll see to an archtop "Strat" is the Stratacoustic-at least it has the Strat shape and a Strat neck.If they did make an archtop with a Strat shape I doubt they'd call it a Strat-maybe something like Stratarch but not just Strat.

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:11 pm
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In addition to my earlier post, an Archtop Strat just would not be possible since an Archtop is an amplified acoustic and a Strat is an amplified solid-body. (over simplified)

Ironically the Archtop was built to enable the guitarist to be heard back in the 20's, an acoustic guitar could deliver a sweet sound for the Jazz-crazed audiences, but could not project the sound to an appropriate level.
The Irony is that 30 years later, the solid body Strat was in response to an even greater demand in sound projection or loudness if you will, thereby replacing the Archtop, ( but not quite as completely as the Archtop replaced the Acoustic. ) :wink:

Also Archtops are built very much like an Acoustic. A top is glued to sides and back, and the top is interior braced both for sound as well as strenght, but a Strat is a slab or two to three pieces glued up.
Strats have thru body stringing, Archtops are predominantly set up with a high bridge not fastened to the top, and a trapeze tailpiece, F holes and a carved top, but the carved top must be carved on both sides of the top, as the inside of the top is outfitted with braces similar to an Acoustic's build. The amount of labor involved in building Archtops explain their high prices and the expertise, x-scuse me the level of artisanship required leaves Archtop building to only a handful of true luthiers. The many of the elite Archtop luthiers of today apprenticed with the masters. Looking at a D'Aquisto, Benedetto, today's luthiers like Matt D'ambrosio, ( I'm always in awe when I visit his shop in Pawtucket R.I.) these are all truly Custom Shop instruments worthy of detailed visual perusing and the aural discovery of a note or chord as it slowly decay's into silence.

For all of us who enjoy and gawk at masterful creations, the book " Handmade, Handplayed, The Art and Craft of Contemporary guitars by Robert Shaw is a Cornucopious Delight.

Enough said, I can hear Yawning from the bleachers :lol:

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 8:03 pm
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Well I was kind of playing around with "carved top" and "archtop" in my previous post. The builder is John Suhr (he made the carved top guitars for Mark Knoplfer at Pensa/Suhr back in the 1980s, and did a stint as a Master Builder at the Fender CS circa 1994/95 where he designed the Showmaster for Fender). John is doing an "archtop" strat-style - granted it is more of a "chambered" body with a carved top, but here is one of them from his site:

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:54 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
A Strat is what is is. What it is not is an archtop.

Why not--after all the Acoustisonic Strats are pretty cool.
http://www.fender.com.au/electricguitars/strats/deluxe/acoustasonic.php

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 12:28 am
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There were the D'aquisto FCS models in the 90's but in all honesty, I doubt anyone at the customshop would do an archtop semi- there is a skill in making them and the market lies with Gibson Custom :)

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:11 am
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Blertles wrote:
There were the D'aquisto FCS models in the 90's but in all honesty, I doubt anyone at the customshop would do an archtop semi- there is a skill in making them and the market lies with Gibson Custom :)

Greg Fessler is great in making Esprit (ex Robben Ford) models

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:00 am
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alainlafrance wrote:
If there were another one it would certainly look like mine

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Wow! Just awesome!!
Have you got any more pics of this?
i dont recall seeing it on guitar motel!!


I must be honest, i would like an semi hollow carved top strat too...
The closest i will get to this though is the carved top semi hollow tele bodyi suppose!
There is just no semi hollow carved top strat bodies made!


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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:58 am
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Norman86 wrote:

Wow! Just awesome!!
Have you got any more pics of this?
i dont recall seeing it on guitar motel!!


I must be honest, i would like an semi hollow carved top strat too...
The closest i will get to this though is the carved top semi hollow tele bodyi suppose!
There is just no semi hollow carved top strat bodies made!


Yes

http://guitarmotel.com/fender/43-strato ... rimson-red

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:01 am
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Thank You Alain :-)


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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:29 am
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Alain,

Another question for you!
Are both your thinlines hollow or are they chambered?

http://www.guitarmotel.com/fender/43-st ... rimson-red
http://www.guitarmotel.com/fender/43-st ... ine-blonde

The blonde one is just absolutely stunning!
i love the fingerboards binding and inlays!


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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:32 am
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Norman86 wrote:
Alain,

Another question for you!
Are both your thinlines hollow or are they chambered?

http://www.guitarmotel.com/fender/43-st ... rimson-red
http://www.guitarmotel.com/fender/43-st ... ine-blonde

The blonde one is just absolutely stunning!
i love the fingerboards binding and inlays!


Both are hollow body and there is a matching Tele for the crimson red one:
http://guitarmotel.com/fender/44-teleca ... telecaster

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Post subject: Re: what if there was a strat archtop?
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:32 pm
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I saw one, 1993 or so at Skip's Music in Sacramento, CA. It was a custom shop made Fender archtop prototype. quilted maple trans green top solidbody that had a router cut edge like a PRS custom with cream binding and was indeed an archtop as the body contour was carved like a Les Paul or PRS, though standard Strat shaped with a double cutaway. 3 singlecoil pups. I've never seen another since. They wanted $1200.00 for it and at the time was out of my price range. Now, it's priceless. One of a kind. I'd love to see that kind of guitar in the custom shop lineup again.


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