Archtop Acoustic Guitars

An archtop acoustic guitar is an acoustic guitar with a rounded (or, “arched”) top more akin to a violin, rather than a traditional flat top. Typically, the top or front of acoustic archtops are carved from a single piece of wood or two pieces that are bookmatched and joined together for a seamless look. Their backs are often arched as well, and they often have f-holes rather than traditional round sound holes in the middle of the body, also like a violin.

Archtop acoustic guitars are a versatile instrument, but are most popular in jazz and country music. They’re also good when you need a lot of volume—archtop acoustics are often louder than even a dreadnought acoustic guitar.

When compared to dreadnought guitars or parlor guitars, archtop acoustic guitars are often louder with a more significant low end.

The standard archtop acoustic guitar has a body width of about 16 inches, but there are several smaller options for players who don’t want such a large guitar. You might also look for an archtop acoustic that has less depth than a standard acoustic—but remember: but the thinner the body, the less volume you’ll be able to get from the instrument when it’s unplugged. This is fine if you plan on amplifying your archtop acoustic, but it’s something to keep in mind.

To exclusively browse archtop acoustic guitars near you, reference the list of top cities and countries available on Reverb to search within a desired location. You also can review shipping details within an item’s “Shop Policies” section.