Any of you play an archtop instead of a semi acoustic at gigs?

seachto7

Played a few archtops today out of curiosity. Played like an electric guitar,as in, felt like an electric guitar, but sounded like a semi acoustic through the PA.

Mainly play electric, and find it easier to play electric, so pondering on whether to sell the semi acoustic, and go for an archtop for gigs...

KeithTS

This one is very simple really. If you like its sound, its right for your music and it plays well then there is no reason not to get it.

Personnally I like my acoustics to sound on the brighter end, especially at gigs as it sits in the mix well with synths and bass. In my experience archtops thend to have a much warmer tone, great for comping with jazz and playing some nice warm lead stuff but I never found they sat well for bashing out chords. I don't have a huge amount of experience with them though so don't let that throw you off.

seachto7

I wouldn't be playing jazz on them at all, should have mentioned that. It would be chords, picking, and leads.

martinedwards

by semi do you mean electroacoustic? as in a regular acoustic with a pickup?

I have an archtop acoustic that I hardly ever play but several regular electro acoustics that I play the life out of.

totally agree with Keith though

if YOU like it and it makes the sounds you like, then go for it!

seachto7

true true