The Rhapsody Archtop

Base Price: $12,500.00

 THE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS NEW MODEL WAS TO MAKE IT AS LOUD ACOUSTICALLY AS POSSIBLE. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS I BORROWED SOME DESIGN TIPS FROM MY RHAPSODY FLAT TOP. THE STARTING POINT WAS MAHOGANY FOR THE BACK AND SIDES AND SPRUCE FOR THE TOP. THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE BEEN USING MAHOGANY FOR THE ARCHTOPS INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL HARDWOODS AND I AM IN LOVE WITH WHAT THE MAHOGANY BRINGS TO THE TABLE TONALLY. ALSO WITH A FLAT TOP IN MIND I MADE THE SIDES THICKER, I USED MAHOGANY FOR THE NECK, I USED FORWARD FACING X BRACING WITH AN ADDED TREBLE BAR AND BECAUSE OF THE NEW DESIGN FEATURES DECIDED TO USE THE RHAPSODY HEADSTOCK SHAPE. IT IS STILL AN ARCHTOP AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD STILL HAVE A PICKUP SO I CHOSE MY Signature HUMBUCKER WHICH is custom wound for me and has that nice fat, warm jazz tone. ACOUSTICALLY IT CAN COMPETE WITH ANY FLAT TOP FOR VOLUME. THE HIGHS ARE SWEET, THE LOWS ROBUST, AND THE MIDRANGE IS FAT, SILKY AND WARM. PLUGGED IN YOU GET THAT TRADITIONAL ARCHTOP TONE WITH FAT MIDS AND PLENTY OF PUNCH. ADD IN THE SIMPLE ELEGANCE OF THE DESIGN AND THE SUPERIOR PLAYABILITY THAT I STRIVE FOR ON ALL MY GUITARS AND THIS ARCHTOP IS A SURE WINNER.



SPECIFICATIONS

BODY WIDTH:         16"

BODY DEPTH:         DEPTHS  FROM 2 3/4" TO 3 1/4" Tapered Sides (may vary slightly)

NECK:                      One Piece Mahogany or Sapele. 1 3/4" OR 1 11/16" NECK WIDTH. CUSTOM WIDTHS AVAILABLE NO CHARGE

BODY WOOD:         magogany or sapele

TOP WOOD:            SITKA SPRUCE.  Carpathian spruce $300

SOUND HOLE:        STANDARD SCROLL F-HOLES  

CUTAWAY:              SINGLE VENETIAN

SIDE PORT: OAK LEAF $100

FINISH:                   HIGH GLOSS NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER IN NATURAL

BINDING:                MATCHING WOOD BINDING AND PURFLING. EXOTIC OR HIGHLY FIGURED $350

FINGERBOARD:     BLACK OR MACASSAR EBONY  

SCALE:                    25"   22 FRETS

INLAYS:                  upon request and priced accordingly

FRETS:                    NICKEL SILVER.   STAINLESS STEEL $300

PICKGUARD:          BLACK OR MACASSAR EBONY.  

TAILPIECE:             BLACK OR MACASSAR EBONY.  

TUNERS:                GOTOH DELTA SERIES WITH EBONY, SNAKEWOOD OR GOLD BUTTONS

TRUSS ROD:          TWO WAY ADJUSTABLE

PICKUP:                 BUSCARINO SIGNATURE FLOATING HUMBUCKER

BRIDGE:                 BLACK OR MACASSAR EBONY

controls: volume, bass, treble concealed underneath pickguard

CASE:                     tkl. crossrock fiberglass lite flight $300. HOFFEE CARBON FIBER $1,200

STYLE:                   STANDARD 6-STRING. 7-STRING $800

non refundable $1,000.00 DEPOSIT REQUIRED