Archtop

Forster Archtop Guitars – Handmade, modern, unmistakable

Handmade. Modern. Unmistakable.

WHAT IT IS

The Forster archtop is a modern take on the jazz guitar. It’s lightweight, responsive carved archtop guitar. Designed not to imitate vintage instruments, but to stand alongside them. This is not a factory-built reissue. It’s a new voice in the archtop world.

WHY YOU NEED IT

It started almost by accident. A new design that ended up with a feel and tone all its own. It’s become a modern classic. A semi-acoustic archtop that actually has sustain.

The most popular version is the Charlie model — an elliptical soundhole archtop with:
• A carved European spruce top.
• A shallow maple body.
• A long mahogany neck for balance and feel.

It’s articulate, warm, and beautifully clear — a serious semi-acoustic for serious players.

WHAT YOU GET

A fully hand-carved, lightweight archtop guitar.
Refined tone and clarity.
Built to order with premium materials.
Custom detailing and finish options available.
A guitar you won’t outgrow and won’t need to upgrade.

WHAT MY CIENTS KNOW

They know that every instrument comes with a Lifetime warranty. That these aren’t mass-market jazz boxes. They’re masterful guitars built one at a time, with the goal of making something that actually sings when you play it.

HOW MUCH IT COSTS

From US$12,000
Includes a full custom build, premium tonewoods, and personal updates throughout the build.

HOW TO BUY

If you’ve been searching for a handmade archtop that stands apart from the rest, I’d be happy to talk.
Use the form below to tell me what you’re looking for. I’ll reply personally, and we’ll figure out if this is the right fit for you.

This design has so many benefits for the player – the sustain of an electric guitar coupled with the broad tonal range and resonance only possible from an acoustic instrument. Add to this great access to the upper frets, a compensated zero fret and saddle making for super accurate intonation over the whole fretboard.

This "long neck" design is a total rethink of how archtop guitars work, there is nothing quite like this around anywhere.
Charlie head
Charlie back
charlie - a modern archtop guitar
oscar - modern archtop guitar headstock
Charlie - a fine archtop guitar
Charlie spruce top
Charlie Archtop Guitar
charlie - handmade archtop guitar
charlie - maple archtop
Modern Guitar
oscar - fine archtop guitar headstock
Charlie maple back

  • Material

    Soundboard: Carved European spruce.

    Back and sides: carved maple, many upgrades available.

    Neck: New Guinea rosewood, mahogany or flame maple.

    Fretboard and bridge – Sri Lanka ebony or rocklite ebano.

  • Hardware

    Tuners - Gold Gotoh 510.

    Handmade lacquered brass neck hardware.

    Handwound alnico pickup.

    Paper in oil capacitor.

    Highly polished Evo Gold fretwire

    Nut and saddle - polished bone.

  • Dimensions

    max body width: 390mm
    body length: 490mm
    depth: 110mm
    nut: 44mm
    bridge spacing: 57mm
    scale: 630mm or custom