Peter Hopkin's fascination with the carved archtop began in 1973, when his father built a Gibson A-5 mandolin.
"I was in awe of the process, of the fact that he could take a solid piece of wood and, with his hands, create a musical instrument of such sublime beauty!"
Today, Peter continues to impart that reverence for the creative process into each one of his hand-crafted archtop guitars.
Starting with select spruce and maple tonewoods, he begins to draw out the tonal qualities unique to the carved archtop, finished with the understated elegance of fine ebony, abalone and mother of pearl. "The most important consideration has to be tone, that balanced blend of a rich, deep bass all the way through to a clear, ringing treble. Once you've achieved that, when you combine it with the classic lines of the traditional archtop, that's the ultimate guitar!"
DAG REPRESENTS CUSTOM COMMISSIONS FOR THIS BUILDER!
DAG represents custom commissions for Peter Hopkins. We can only handle a limited amount per year and they are on a first come-first served basis with typical wait times ranging from 6 to 10 months. If interested please call for a preliminary discussion in regard to the guitar you'd like to have Peter build for you. If scheduling permits and it's an instrument that Peter is interested in building, we will proceed to the next step and have you consulting directly with Peter to work out all the fine details, as well as pricing and deposits, before the build commences.
All woods, whether Sitka spruce sound boards, "big leaf" maple backs and sides, or Eastern maple necks are hand selected for colour, figure and grain, and then seasoned in the workshop until ready for use.
Tops and backs are carved, scraped and planed to exacting tolerances and then further hand-tuned to ensure optimum resonance and tonality in each individual guitar.
A Hopkins archtop guitar embodies the essence of the early hand-carved, hollow body design. With the focus on structure, acoustic quality and impeccable finish rather than adornments and ornamentation, Peter Hopkins' instruments are compelling in their visual beauty, and commanding in their performance.
Hopkins Contessa
The Contessa is the distilled essence of the classic archtop guitar. Unadorned and understated, it's elegant simplicity, sensuous edges and purity of form allow the senses to appreciate the downright sexiness of a hand carved archtop guitar. It's visual purity is echoed by the purity of tone. Clean, rich tonality springs forth in both acoustic and electrified configurations.
The Marquis is the distilled essence of the classic archtop guitar. Unadorned and understated, it's elegant simplicity, sensuous edges and purity of form allow the senses to appreciate the downright sexiness of a hand carved archtop guitar. It's visual purity is echoed by the purity of tone. Clean, rich tonality springs forth in both acoustic and electrified configurations.
The Monarch is an up to the minute take on the archtop's art deco heyday. Impeccably executed from it's multi layered fine line binding to it's crown motif inlays, it is a head turning, ear opening show stopper.
The Monarch Regal makes a bold visual statement to match the boldness of its tone. Dramatic art deco tailpieces and pickguards feature 5-ply fine line binding and gloss lacquer finish.
Hopkins
