Stefan Sobell has been building archtop guitars from his workshop in the north of England since the early 1980s, and his instruments enjoy an excellent reputation among connoisseurs. This is one of the very first, built in 1983, just two years after Sobell completed his first archtop.

A Sobell archtop from 1983 is certainly not an everyday sight, and this guitar deserves the attention of any serious lover of handcrafted instruments.

Stefan Sobell builds guitars from his workshop in the north of England, and his archtops enjoy an excellent reputation among connoisseurs. Sobell completed his first archtop in 1981, inspired by his beloved 1931 Martin C1. This example dates from 1983, making it one of the earliest archtops to leave the workshop. The basic design of his archtops hasn't changed significantly over the years, which speaks volumes about how well-thought-out it was from the start.

The carved German spruce top combined with the solid mahogany back and sides gives this guitar its own distinctive tonal character. Sobell's archtops don't sound like a typical archtop: they have the expected attack, but are also clear and full with good sustain, suitable for both fingerstyle and pick playing. The compound-radius ebony fingerboard provides comfortable playability across the entire neck, and the refretted finish makes it play like new again.

The guitar is in very good condition. There are two professionally repaired cracks on the back of the body that have since been refinished and are barely noticeable at first glance. Otherwise, there are no significant signs of wear, and the guitar looks remarkably clean for its age. The guitar comes with a TFOA passport and comes in a hardshell case.

Consignment.