My Archtop Music Room

[musicofanatic]

I always enjoy seeing someone with an Anderson guitar. Steve and I went to a luthiery school in Arizona back in the 1970s, and became good friends. I guess I was Steve's first "endorser", as I was the only professional musician Steve knew when he was first starting out and trying to gain visibility for his work and he made a nice guitar for me. I am extremely proud of how well he has done in the world of guitar building and proud to have him as a long-time friend.
Additionally, I too have a blonde 1951 Epiphone Triumph Regent. What is the pickup arrangement you have on yours? Thanks!

 

[Stuball48]

If I walked into your music room, I would be afraid of moving - in n fear of knocking one off its stand. But I could stand still a long time since my head rotates and I could look look look.

 

[Rich Cohen]

I always enjoy seeing someone with an Anderson guitar. Steve and I went to a luthiery school in Arizona back in the 1970s, and became good friends. I guess I was Steve's first "endorser", as I was the only professional musician Steve knew when he was first starting out and trying to gain visibility for his work and he made a nice guitar for me. I am extremely proud of how well he has done in the world of guitar building and proud to have him as a long-time friend.
Additionally, I too have a blonde 1951 Epiphone Triumph Regent. What is the pickup arrangement you have on yours? Thanks!

It's a Biltoft single coil "Charlie Christian" pickup. Here's the link:
http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windows/sc_ccWin.html

 

[musicofanatic]

It's a Biltoft single coil "Charlie Christian" pickup. Here's the link:
http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windows/sc_ccWin.html

Thanks. Quoting info from his website: "CC-Rider pickup dimensions; the pickup requires a cavity ~ 0.850” deep". Does this mean your pickup is cut into the top of the guitar?

 

[shihan]

A while ago, I bought a ‘55 Gibson GA-9 from another LTG member. Money very well-spent. It brings out an authentic tone from a Franz or P-90 pickup, IMO. No pedals allowed!

I quite agree. My X-500 into either my Gibson GA-20T or Gibson Scout is the business. Very underrated amps.

 

[bobouz]

I’ve never been much into the “birth year guitar” thing, but suddenly that ‘51 Epi Triumph seems to be pleasantly residing in my mind. Love the CC pickup, too!

Edit: Thought I’d throw in a pic of my only true acoustic archtop, a 2014 (Fender) A-150b Savoy. It’s rather unique feature is the X-braced solid-spruce pressed top. The acoustic tone reminds me a lot of a 1930’s X-braced Wards-by-Gibson I had many moons ago, with a carved solid-spruce top. A nice entry gateway guitar into the wonderful world of acoustic archtops!

 

[Rich Cohen]

Thanks. Quoting info from his website: "CC-Rider pickup dimensions; the pickup requires a cavity ~ 0.850” deep". Does this mean your pickup is cut into the top of the guitar?

No, actually. I checked and it's floating. Here's the description on Pete Biltoft's website. It doesn't mention cutting the top:

"Charlie Christian" style single coil pickups The V V G CC-Rider delivers BIG and clear vintage tone! These pickups have an unslotted mild steel blade polepiece, twin bar magnets (your choice of AlNiCo-II, AlNiCo-III, AlNiCo-V or ceramic-8; one set will be installed as shipped and one extra set of magnets will be included) and vintage cloth covered output leads. These pickups are often installed in the neck position to Tele style guitars, lap steel guitars and jazz boxes. The CC-Rider pickup is available with beveled tops in BWB, WBW, faux tortoise shell. The CC-Rider may be purchased as a single or in calibrated RWRP sets. These pickups ship with two complete sets of magnets; please read the description on the order page for a full description of the magnet types available.

 

[musicofanatic]

I’ve never been much into the “birth year guitar” thing, but suddenly that ‘51 Epi Triumph seems to be pleasantly residing in my mind. Love the CC pickup, too!

Yeah, I was unaware of the concept until maybe 5 years back, when I started seeing others leaning that way. Over the many years as a full-time musician, I have somewhat randomly bought and sold at least 100 vintage (pre-1970) guitars. Now I feel I have a focus in my search and acquisition process, and while I occasionally stray outside of my defined parameters, I now seek some sort of '55 Guild. (at present I have a Fender bass, Telecaster and Deluxe 8 steel guitar, Martin D-18, Gibson ES-295 from 1955).

 

[Rich Cohen]

Hey, Boubouz, here is the jazz guitarist, Tim Lerch, playing my '51 Epiphone Triumph Regent with the Biltoft single coil pickup. He is the previous owner.

 

[F30]

Great set of sweet Jazz boxes! Thanks for sharing.

 

[bobouz]

Hey, Boubouz, here is the jazz guitarist, Tim Lerch, playing my '51 Epiphone Triumph Regent with the Biltoft single coil pickup. He is the previous owner.

Rich, that’s just a gorgeous guitar, tonally & visually!

 

[Rich Cohen]

Isn't it! Acoustically and electronically, it is outstanding. Also, the cutaway model is much rarer than the full bodied model. If it's your birth year guitar, and you at some point in the future want to own it, let me know. My approach to guitar owning is that they pass through my hands, as long as they pass to deserving players who will honor them. I think Rich Peterson has a similar approach, as do many of our fellow LTGers.

 

[gilded]

I like them all, Rich. But tell me about the Charlie Christian type pickup on the Triumph. I don't see the mounting screws, so I assume it's not a Gibson. I know Llolar does a Charlie, for example. How does it sound? What amps do you use it with?

 

[Rich Cohen]

Gilded,
I'll make a recording tomorrow. I use a Rivera Jazz Suprema 55-15, with two channels and lots of EQ settings. It's huge. Do look at the video I posted earlier. It shows the pickup. It's a floater.

 

[bobouz]

If it's your birth year guitar, and you at some point in the future want to own it, let me know. My approach to guitar owning is that they pass through my hands, as long as they pass to deserving players who will honor them.

Thanks so much for entertaining that possibility. In retirement, I would need to sell a few before considering another purchase, which I’m currently not of a mind to do, but you never know!

 

[Neal]

Gilded,
I'll make a recording tomorrow. I use a Rivera Jazz Suprema 55-15, with two channels and lots of EQ settings. It's huge. Do look at the video I posted earlier. It shows the pickup. It's a floater.

I recall Rich lugging that Rivera into a few open mics here in Charlottesville. It is a beast.

 

[gilded]

Thanks, I look forward to hearing the recording, gilded.