The_Sentry Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Some comments based on what I've seen marketed, what's come out (or was introduced) at around the time of the Les Paul Ultra II, and the argument of "Hey, what's the future like for archtops?" Some thoughts, and questions: 1. Would a nanomag acoustic pickup work well with an archtop since even the thinlines have more acoustic qualities vs. the solid bodies, even the chambered models like the Ultra II? 2. The Epi Active pickups that have been developed allow the user to either go with a full active pickup (ala EMG's), or they can put the pickups into a passive mode to pick up the more natural sounds as influenced by the guitar itself. How would these play out in an archtop? Would it be worth it to have a guitar that sounded like a classy archtop, but then could go Active for a killer rock sound? 3. I've read about the modified and new and improved Epiphone bridges. (I even ordered a variant of this for my Custom from Tone Pros.) Shouldn't this be part of the package? 4. Looks-wise: In another thread, there was a bit of debate about a Dot vs. a Dot Studio. Why not take a Studio model, and paint it black with it bursting into the natural top? (include black hardware, and a plexi pickguard, and it would probably look a lot different than most of the archtops available in the market.) Or if the Plexi doesn't grab you, then make a pickguard out of that Prophecy finish so the archtop still looks like an archtop, but with a little...zazz. So...seriously....I know a lot of innovations and marketing is made towards advancing more technological features on the solid bodies, but don't the archtops (particularly the thinlines) have an advantage here since they are already open and chambered, and ready for a wide variety of tones and sounds? Combine this with the new Epi Actives....hey, call me crazy, but a guitar that could really offer a wide variety of sounds....well, all I can say is that maybe the thinlines have an advantage over the solid bodies in this regard. So, between these thoughts....hey, why not a Prophecy Archtop? I'm thinking this is a guitar that might be a "one guitar" you could do at a show and dial any sort of tone out of....ranging from full acoustic, to vintage tones ala BB King, to full shredding ala Metallica... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msuspartansfan Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Yes, I'm quite sure Epiphone's R&D department will rush into producing a semi-acoustic for metal heads. Brilliant idea, I'd put money on it being almost as popular as those stunning studios that change colour when you move them. Maybe they could put that wonderful green/blue paint on your new invention. Steller idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted August 31, 2008 Author Share Posted August 31, 2008 Yes' date=' I'm quite sure Epiphone's R&D department will rush into producing a semi-acoustic for metal heads. Brilliant idea, I'd put money on it being almost as popular as those stunning studios that change colour when you move them. Maybe they could put that wonderful green/blue paint on your new invention. Steller idea.[/quote'] Hehehe. WEll, maybe not. Still though, even folks who play normal rock and roll typically shift it into major overdrive for leads. It would be nice to actually see if a thinline could outdo some of the solid body guitars in terms of versatility..... EDIT: I was also going to add in terms of the looks department....yeah, the Active pickups all have the dull black covers. Why is this? In fact, couldn't you go with a white pearl scheme on those pup covers that matched the fret markers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 A dot ultra EX? SO, you want a black(or cherryburst, rootbeer if we're super lucky) quilt maple top, semi-hollowbody conscruction, with active pickups that also can run passive, an acoustic pickup, all at once? I mean, it sounds like a cool idea, really. I'd honestly say epi would have more luck with a goth dot to test the waters a bit first. Same price as dot studio, normal pups, uncovered, black hardware, one inlay on the fretboard and a heastock inlay, and MAYBE do a limited run with a b-700 bigsby. If they did that, they could test the waters for the same kinda players who may want the dot ultra EX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Sentry Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 A dot ultra EX?SO' date=' you want a black(or cherryburst, rootbeer if we're super lucky) quilt maple top, semi-hollowbody conscruction, with active pickups that also can run passive, an acoustic pickup, all at once? I mean, it sounds like a cool idea, really. I'd honestly say epi would have more luck with a goth dot to test the waters a bit first. Same price as dot studio, normal pups, uncovered, black hardware, one inlay on the fretboard and a heastock inlay, and MAYBE do a limited run with a b-700 bigsby. If they did that, they could test the waters for the same kinda players who may want the dot ultra EX.[/quote'] That's pretty keen. Something else also came to me today. After hearing that the LP Chameleon's were MD'd, I started to wonder what it might look like with a worn brown, black, or cherry color bursting into that bronze/salmon flip flop that changes color depending on how much light it's refracting. A Bigsby would be keen though. And even an all black goth dot would be cool. I'm just wondering if a guitar like this could one-up something like an Ultra II as it might have the potential for another "gear" or sound between the Epi actives, an acoustic pickup, and all on a thinline archtop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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