The Archtop Guitar Series
Traditional Archtops
Performer model:
My traditional archtop guitars feature hand carved and graduated tops and backs. Each plate is carved to get the most from the unique characteristics of that particular chunk of wood. Every Dragony guitar is made entirely by me in my one man shop. My focus is on playability and tone since, without that, nothing else matters.
WOODS: Backs and sides are made from high quality domestic figured maple. Both flame and quilt figures are available, with more highly figured wood available at extra cost. Necks are figured domestic hard maple with flame or birdseye figure. Bridge, tailpiece, fingerboard, pickguard and head stock face overlay are all ebony. The rear of the headstock is a multilayer veneer. The standard is black/white/black/figured maple, but other combinations available on request. Tops are available in Sitka, Engelmann, and Blue spruce.
STRUCTURAL DETAILS: An adjustable two way steel truss rod and carbon fiber reinforcement is standard. Standard scale length is 25â€. The standard top bracing pattern is an x-brace, but parallel bracing is available as an option.
| Traditional Archtop Guitar Base Prices | |
|---|---|
| Performer Acoustic Archtop Guitar | $5000 |
| Protégé Acoustic Archtop Guitar | $4300 |
| 7 or 8 String version | $ TBD |
| Upgrades to Traditional Archtops | |
|---|---|
| Highly figured back and sides | $200 – $1000 |
| One piece bridge | $200 |
| Ebony tailpiece (Protege) | $300 |
| Tone control | $50 |
| Tinted finish | $150 |
| Sunburst finish | $300 |
| Bound headstock | $50 |
| MOP dot position markers | $75 |
| MOP block position markers | $150 |
| Other inlay work | $ TBD |
FINISHING: Standard tuning machines are gold Schaller M6 with ebony knobs. On seven string guitars, Schaller M6 mini tuners are used to reduce weight at the headstock. The standard tailpiece is hinged, solid ebony. One piece (fixed) or two piece (adjustable) bridges are available. Standard binding is wbwb/ivoroid. The standard finish is clear nitrocellulose lacquer. Side marker dots are the only standard position markers. Abalone or MOP (mother of pearl) fingerboard and headstock inlays are available as an option.
Protégé model:
Guitars are also available at a slightly lower cost with a lower level of trim. This consists of single layer binding on the body, unbound fretboard, unbound f-holes, no veneer on the rear of the headstock and a metal tailpiece rather than hinged ebony. The wood for the back and sides is typically less figured than the Performer model.
Both models come standard with a suspended pickup and volume control, and both models are available in a 16†body size.
15″ Archtop
Blues Buddy model:
| 15″ Archtop Guitar Base Prices | |
|---|---|
| Standard 15″ Guitar (maple) | $4100 |
| Protégé 15″ Guitar (mahogany) | $ TBD |
| Upgrades to 15″ Archtops | |
|---|---|
| Highly figured maple back and sides | $200 – $1000 |
| Let in pickup with volume control | $300 |
| Tone control | $50 |
| Tinted finish | $150 |
| Sunburst finish | $300 |
| Multilayer binding | $200 |
| MOP dot position markers | $75 |
| MOP block position markers | $150 |
| Other inlay work | $ TBD |
| Ebony tailpiece | $300 |
This guitar is aimed at the more blues oriented player. The 15″ archtop is made with a deeper cutaway than the 17″ model for easier access to the high register.
It is available in the same woods as the 17″ model, or can be ordered with optional mahogany back, sides and neck. The standard tailpiece on these guitars is a metal trapeze style. Standard binding is a single layer ivoroid . This model comes standard with a suspended pickup and volume control. The optional let-in pickup features an ebony mounting ring. An adjustable two way steel truss rod and carbon fiber reinforcement in the neck is standard.
This model is also available with a thinner body depth by request — take a look at one of the “Hot Off the Workbench” instruments shown at left for an example.
All prices and specifications subject to change without notice. 6-31-07
