I have never visually inspected an arch top guitar. One thing I know is that the bridge is fundamentally different from an ordinary guitar. The arch top has a setup very similar to a violin. The bridge is a comparatively tall structure by comparison. It is held in place on the soundboard surface by down bearing alone (not glued). By analogy, it has been well understood for a couple centuries that gluing the bridge on a violin destroys the sound. Another feature is that the string on an arch top is not attached at the bridge but to a free anchor suspended from the rim of the guitar. I have heard both observations about arch tops. Some say they have better sustain and others say the opposite. I have also heard that arch tops are more brilliant and cutting than an ordinary guitar. My own belief is that the effect of gluing a bridge makes for a stronger coupling resulting in a quicker energy loss form the string and a sharper attack. I would imagine that the arch top has a sharper attack but that it is much less severe from what it would have been had the bridge been glued. It's hard to say. ,.,.,,,.,,,,,,.,.,,,.,,,,,,,.,,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,, ,,,.,.,.,., Michael J. Wathen Phone: 513-556-9565 Piano Technician Fax: 513-556-3399 College-Consevatory of Music Email: Michael.Wathen@UC.Edu University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH 45221-0096 http://www.uc.edu/~wathenmj/
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