Best Sellers
Top products on Reverb over the past 90 days
Best Sellers in Acoustic Guitars - Archtop
- 1
Vox VGA-3PS Giulietta Acoustic Archtop with Built-In Electronics
10 available from $499.99 - 2
Gibson L-50 F-Hole 1935 - 1971
30 available from $1,250This long-running Gibson archtop went through several design changes in the '30s and '40s including changes in hardware and body dimensions. Like other Gibsons, there was also some inconsistencies in production during World War II. From 1949 onward, the model stayed large the same.
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Years of Production: 1935 - 1971 - 3
Harmony Broadway H954 Sunburst
8 available from $200The Broadway was a long running Hamrony archtop. The Broadways had a two-tone sunburst finish with artificial wood grains etched on. Most did not have truss rods, though some late examples did.
Years of Production: 1932 - 1972
Body Style: Archtop
Wood Composition: Solid birch body
Design Elements: Herringbone binding, f-holes, trapeze tailpiece, dot inlays, tortoise pickguard - 4
Harmony Monterey H950 Redburst
10 available from $200The Monterey was a series of auditorium-sized acoustic archtops made by Harmony. Harmony made a number of variations on the Monterey with different hardware components and finishes from the '30s all the way to 1974.
The H950 was one of the most widely distributed Monterey models and featured a distinct redburst finish. The Monterey was also produced with a set of rarer Colorama finishes which are slightly more valuable.
Years of Production: 1932 - 1972
Body Style: Archtop
Wood Composition: Solid birch body
Design Elements: Painted white binding, f-holes, trapeze tailpiece, dot inlays, black pickguard - 5
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection De Luxe Classic
3 available from $845The Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection De Luxe Classic captures the timeless cool which made Epiphone a household name and combines it with modern appointments and construction for today's players. Crafted with components like a solid spruce top with longitudinal bracing, solid mahogany body, and C-shape mahogany neck, this resurrection retains the full, plucky tone of the original. Rounded out with an eSonic HD preamp and Shadow NanoFlex HD undersaddle pickup, the De Luxe Classic is the perfect union between antique tone and contemporary functionality. - 6
The Loar LH-700
4 available from $1,699.99The Loar LH-700 is a professional-grade archtop acoustic guitar with premium features and appointments. Finely crafted with a hand-carved AAA-flamed spruce top, AAA maple back and sides and figured maple neck, the LH-700's stylish looks are bested only by its sound and playability. The LH-700 boasts the iconic sound of 1920s archtops, with great projection and a beautifully dry sound, making it a favorite amongst professional jazz guitarists and archtop enthusiasts. - 7
Gibson L-3 1902 - 1925
11 available from $2,850Part of the L series, the L-3 evolved from a circular to an oval soundhole starting in 1928. This guitar has an arched Spruce top with Birch back and sides.
Years of Production: 1902 - 1925 - 8
Gibson L-7 1935 - 1956
16 available from $2,750 - 9
Godin 5th Avenue Acoustic Archtop
2 available from $800The 5th Avenue Archtop Acoustic features a fully hollow 16" Canadian Wild Cherry body with a Silver Leaf Maple neck. It has a unique 24.84" scale length, with a feel in between that of a Gibson and a Gretsch.
Years of Production: 2008 - present - 10
Gibson TG-50 1934 - 1957
3 available from $1,750 - 11
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection De Luxe Acoustic/Electric Guitar Vintage Natural
2 available from $550 - 12
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection Zenith Classic Acoustic/Electric Guitar w/ F-Holes Vintage Sunburst
One available for $865 - 13
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection Zenith Classic Acoustic/Electric Guitar w/ F-Holes Vintage Natural
One available for $555 - 14
Gibson L-1 Archtop 1902 - 1925
13 available from $2,000 - 15
Gibson L-48 1958 - 1971
8 available from $1,549 - 16
Harmony Archtone H1215 Sunburst
5 available from $289
Years of Production: ca. 1950s - 17
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection De Luxe Acoustic/Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst
2 available from $749 - 18
Gibson L-30 1935 - 1943
9 available from $1,200 - 19
Kalamazoo KG-21 1935 - 1943
3 available from $999.95 - 20
Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection Zenith
2 available from $850Bringing together a vintage aesthetic with modern construction, the Epiphone Masterbilt Century Collection Zenith calls back to the company's origins with the build and features demanded by today's players. The Zenith is the parlor-style body entry in the series and sports a solid spruce top with traditional longitudinal bracing, mahogany body, and aged nickel trapeze tailpiece to nail the tone and feel of a vintage instrument. If you're in need of some amplification, no sweat: the Zenith's eSonic HD preamp and Shadow NanoFlex HD undersaddle pickup allow you to plug and play whether you're at home or on the stage. - 21
Harmony Archtone H1214 Ivory 1957
One available for $995
Years of Production: ca. 1950s - 22
The Loar LH-600
7 available from $850 - 23
Gibson L-5 1939 - 1958
11 available from $5,995Originally built by legendary Gibson luthier, Lloyd Loar, the Gibson L-5 is an extremely collectible acoustic archtop. The earliest L-5s are the most prized, but later examples like those from the '50s are still very highly regarded instruments. Starting in 1939, a cutaway version was produced which lasted until 1982.
Years of Production: 1939 - 1958
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Design Elements: F-holes, bound fingerboard, block inlays
Notable Players: Maybelle Carter, Lee Ritenour, Wes Montgomery - 24
Harmony H1407 Patrician Natural 1962
2 available from $359.99The Patrician was a long standing series of Harmony Archtops. Of the Patrician line, the H1407 is the most common.
Years of Production: 1940 - 1971 - 25
Gibson L-50 F-Hole 1932 - 1934
2 available from $2,999 - 26
Gibson L-4 14-Fret 1928 - 1934
6 available from $5,112.33Gibson has used the L-4 moniker on a number of different style guitars over the years starting in 1912. The original L-4 was an acoustic archtop with an oval sound-hole and elevated pickguard. By 1928, the design had changed to a more circular sound-hole with a 14 frets clear of the body. The model changed again when F-holes were introduced in 1933, before the L-4 eventually morphed into an electric archtop as the L-4CES starting in 1958.
Years of Production: 1928 - 1934
Unique to this Year: First year with unbound fingerboard.
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Design Elements: Round sound-hole, trapeze tailpiece, single-bound top and back, 14 frets clear of body - 27
Martin C-1 Round 1931 - 1933
4 available from $2,150 - 28
Martin R-18 Archtop 1934 - 1945
2 available from $2,075Martin produced the R-series of archtops from 1932 to 1942. These guitars failed to earn much attention from players in their day, though are well-regarded by some modern collectors. The R-18 was the first entry in the R-series. Initially, the top was arched with bracing, but by 1937, the R-18 used a carved top.
Years of Production: 1932 - 1942
Wood Composition: Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Rosewood fingerboard
Design Elements: F-holes, dot inlays, 4-ply top binding, 14 frets (clear of body) - 29
Gibson L-4 F-Hole 1935 - 1936
4 available from $5,500 - 30
Gibson L-48 1946 - 1957
13 available from $1,395The Gibson L-48 was introduced after World War II as a simple archtop acoustic. There was some variation as to the wood used on the body through the '40s. Other changes to the wood composition occurred in 1952 and 1957.
Years of Production: 1946 - 1957
Design Elements: Kluson Deluxe tuners, dot inlays, sunburst finish, F-holes - 31
Epiphone Olympic Sunburst 1935
2 available from $1,099 - 32
Gretsch New Yorker Sunburst 1949
5 available from $539.40Also known as Model 6050, the New Yorker was a 16-inch non-cutaway acoustic archtop. While the headstock shape and badging changed over the production run, the scale length and body did not. It was available only in a sunburst finish with a tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard. These guitars are not highly sought after compared to other Gretsch acoustic archtops.
Years of Production: 1949 - 1970
Wood Composition: Single-bound Spruce top, single-bound Rock Maple back/sides, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. - 33
Gibson L-Junior 1919 - 1926
One available for $4,380.44 - 34
Epiphone Zenith Sunburst 1939
3 available from $783.89 - 35
Martin R-18T Tenor 1934 - 1941
One available for $3,500Martin produced the R-series of archtops from 1932 to 1942. These guitars failed to earn much attention from players in their day, though are well-regarded by some modern collectors. The R-18 was the first entry in the R-series. Initially, the top was arched with bracing, but by 1937, the R-18 used a carved top.
Years of Production: 1932 - 1942
Wood Composition: Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Rosewood fingerboard
Design Elements: F-holes, dot inlays, 4-ply top binding, 14 frets (clear of body) - 36
Gibson L-3 1926 - 1933
4 available from $1,800 - 37
Epiphone Triumph Natural
4 available from $2,000The triumph was built by Epiphone up until the Gibson takeover of the company in the late '50s. This guitar was also produced with a cutaway as the Triumph Regent. The Triumph was made with both natural and sunburst finishes (though the natural examples usually go for more on the used market).
Body Style: Archtop
Years of Production: 1931 - 1958 - 38
Harmony Archtone H1213 Sunburst 1966
3 available from $320 - 39
Harmony H1407 Patrician Natural 1954
3 available from $750 - 40
Epiphone Broadway Sunburst 1947
4 available from $2,850The Epiphone Broadway originally had a Walnut body, but switched to Maple in 1939. This was one of Epiphone's original archtop models before being bought by Gibson. Specimens with a natural finish can fetch $200 - $300 more.
Not to be confused with the Broadway Regent (with a cutaway) that debuted in 1950, or the later electric archtop model launched in 1958.
Years of Production: 1931 - 1958 - 41
Gibson L-37 1935 - 1941
3 available from $1,849.99 - 42
Gibson Style U Harp Guitar 1902 - 1927
8 available from $5,995A truly legendary piece of gear, the Gibson Style U Harp was one of the company's first ventures into uncharted design territory. The forerunner to the double-neck guitars which would appear half a century later, the U Harp combined 10 sub-bass strings and six in standard tuning along with a spruce top and birch body for a lush sound in an unprecedented package. A collector's item in every sense of the term. - 43
Gretsch 6021 Town & Country Natural
3 available from $2,500Gretsch produced some guitars under the Bacon Belmont brand name for catalog distribution in the '50s. This model is virtually identical to the Gretsch 6021 Town and Country.
Body Style: Flattop jumbo
Wood Composition: Spruce top, Maple back and sides - 44
Epiphone Triumph Sunburst
5 available from $1,995.99The triumph was built by Epiphone up until the Gibson takeover of the company in the late '50s. This guitar was also produced with a cutaway as the Triumph Regent. The Triumph was made with both natural and sunburst finishes (though the natural examples usually go for more on the used market).
Body Style: Archtop
Years of Production: 1931 - 1958 - 45
Epiphone Zenith Archtop Sunburst 1951
One available for $2,250 - 46
Guild A-50 Cordoba
One available for $1,400 - 47
Gibson Super 400 1934 - 1955
11 available from $9,500 - 48
Martin C-1 F-Hole 1932 - 1942
3 available from $4,850The Martin C-1 was an archtop acoustic guitar with a solid Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. This model featured a round sound hole from 1931 - 1933, while an F-hole model debuted in 1932 and became the standard appointment until production ended in 1942.
The round hole specimens (of which only 449 were made) are slightly more valuable than the F-hole specimens (786 made).
Gibon archtops are generally thought to be superior to the Martin archtops of this period.
Years of Production: 1932 - 1942 - 49
Gibson Style O 1902 - 1907
One available for $20,000 - 50
Gibson Super 300 1948 - 1958
One available for $7,850 - 51
D'Angelico Excel Sunburst 1947
One available for $28,999 - 52
Gibson L-75 F-Hole 1934
One available for $4,543.16 - 53
Martin F-1 1941
One available for $7,270.88Like the Martin R-series, the F-series was a short-lived series of archtops with F-holes produced by Martin in the years before World War II. The F-1 had a carved top and a back arched with bracing. Like other Martin archtops, the F-series never gained the popularity of Martin's flattop instruments.
Years of Production: 1940 - 1942
Wood Composition: Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Ebony fingerboard
Design Elements: F-holes, dot inlays, arched back (with bracing), multi-bound top and back - 54
Gibson L-3 1926 - 1933
One available for $3,275 - 55
Gibson L-10 1929 - 1934
One available for $9,500The Gibson L-10 was a 16" archtop for the first 11 years of its production run and then increased in size to 17" for the remainder of its production, with newly introduced X-bracing.
Years of Production: 1923 - 1934 - 56
Harmony Broadway H955 Sunburst
4 available from $399The Broadway was a long running Hamrony archtop. The Broadways had a two-tone sunburst finish with artificial wood grains etched on. Most did not have truss rods, though some late examples did.
Years of Production: 1940s - 1950s
Body Style: Archtop
Wood Composition: Solid birch body
Design Elements: Herringbone binding, f-holes, trapeze tailpiece, dot inlays, tortoise pickguard - 57
Martin F-7 1936
2 available from $6,000 - 58
Gibson L-1 F-Hole 2018
One available for $2,799 - 59
Kalamazoo KG-31 1935 - 1943
3 available from $1,097 - 60
Kalamazoo KG-32 Oriole 1940 - 1943
2 available from $2,800 - 61
Gibson L-75 1932 - 1939
One available for $4,250 - 62
Gibson L-4 12-Fret 1912 - 1927
9 available from $2,500 - 63
Gibson L-12 1935 - 1955
2 available from $6,400 - 64
Kalamazoo KG-22 1933 - 1943
2 available from $1,500 - 65
Gibson Super 400C 1970 - 1983
One available for $11,127.85 - 66
Gibson L-50 1932 - 1934
4 available from $2,600This long-running Gibson archtop went through several design changes in the '30s and '40s including changes in hardware and body dimensions. Like other Gibsons, there was also some inconsistencies in production during World War II. From 1949 onward, the model stayed large the same. While most L-50s have F-holes in the body, some of the earliest models used a round soundhole instead.
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Years of Production: 1932 - 1934 - 67
Harmony H1407 Patrician Natural 1946
One available for $1,173.63The Patrician was a long standing series of Harmony Archtops. Of the Patrician line, the H1407 is the most common. It featured an arched Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides on a bound, 41 inch long, 16.25 inch deep body.
Years of Production: 1940 - 1971 - 68
Gibson Super 400C 1949 - 1969
7 available from $10,355.10 - 69
D'Angelico New Yorker Natural 1948
2 available from $29,500John D'Angelico built 1,164 guitars between 1932 and his death in 1964. His major designs include the Excel and New Yorker, which many collectors rank as some of the finest archtop guitars ever built. Valuation on rare vintage archtops such as the New Yorker is done on a very case-by-case basis. Because the market is so specific and small, no two guitars can be accurately priced exactly the same. Many D'Angelico guitars have suffered from binding deterioration, and those with replaced binding are less desirable than others. The large-bodied New Yorker featured multi-binding on its pickguard and f-holes, and ranks as the most valuable D'Angelico.
Years of Production: 1936 - 1964
Unique to this Era: D'Angelico switches to a stairstep-style tailpiece in 1943. By 1949, most Excels are built with a cutaway.
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Wood Composition: Curly Maple back and sides, Spruce top
Design Elements: Multi-bound pickguard, f-holes, split block inlays, stairstep tailpiece, multi-bound top - 70
Gibson L-47 1940 - 1943
One available for $2,999 - 71
Epiphone Zenith Sunburst
One available for $1,699.99The Zenith was an acoustic fully-hollow archtop originally introduced in 1931. The model underwent a redesign in 1958 when Epiphone fell under the control of Gibson.
Wood Composition: Spruce top, Maple back and sides, Mahogany neck, Rosewood fretboard
Years of Production: 1931-58, 1958-69 (under Gibson) - 72
Epiphone Devon Sunburst 1955
2 available from $2,299.99Beginning in 1949, Epiphone New York made the Devon as a non-cutaway archtop. The Devon was offered in sunburst and then in blond starting in 1954. The Devon was discontinued when Gibson purchased Epiphone in 1957.
Years of Production: 1949 - 1957
Unique to this Year: Introduction of metal headstock logo plate.
Body Style: Archtop acoustic
Wood Composition: Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Rosewood fingerboard
Design Elements: Single-bound pickguard, f-holes, oval inlays, nickle-plated hardware - 73
Gibson L-2 Archtop 1924 - 1926
One available for $1,900 - 74
Gibson L-5 1922- 1933
One available for $150,000The original, all-acoustic non-cutaway Gibson L-5 set a template that influenced jazz archtop design for decades after its debut in 1923. It originally had a 16" wide body, switching over to a larger 17" width in 1935. The earlier, 16" specimens are more highly sought after.
The 1932 model is one of the last years to have the smaller body. Some came with a standard trapeze tailpiece, while others had a Kaufman vibrola tailpiece. Having one or the other does not affect a specimen's market value.
Years of Production: 1922 - 1933 - 75
Gibson L-5 1934 - 1938
9 available from $3,078.46The Gibson L-5 is one of most iconic acoustic archtop guitars ever made. An important dividing line in its history is 1934, when the body enlarged from 16" wide to 17" wide. Some 16" models continued in production, and the earlier smaller bodied specimens are considered more valuable.
Years of Production: 1934 - 1938 - 76
Harmony Monterey H950 Redburst
2 available from $190