There are moments when even the most diehard Tele fan has to admit - nothing beats a great archtop.

There’s no denying it - more and more jazz guitarists are embracing smaller, more approachable guitars, with the Fender Telecaster often leading the charge. Players like Julian Lage and Bill Frisell have shown just how expressive and nuanced these instruments can be in a jazz context, and the trend shows no sign of slowing down.

Still, there are times when nothing beats the sound of a great archtop, whether it’s for the gig, a recording session, or the sheer joy of playing one. But let’s be honest: traditional archtops, much like big dreadnought acoustics, can be a lot to wrangle sometimes. From the body size to the string tension, they’re not always the most forgiving instruments to live with day-to-day.

That’s where Tim Bram comes in. Working out of Pasadena, MD, Tim has created something genuinely exciting: a Tele-sized archtop that blends the feel and comfort of a modern electric with the resonance, warmth, and tonal response of a classic jazz box. The results are stunning - visually, sonically, and most importantly, in how they play. The smaller footprint makes them incredibly approachable, and the sound is all there: full, articulate, and rich with character.

We don’t see many of these come through each year, so if the concept is speaking your language, now’s the time.