A lightweight, Tele-inspired archtop from Tim Bram - beautifully built, incredibly playable, and rich in classic jazz tone.

In recent years, more jazz and roots players have gravitated toward smaller, more manageable guitars, with the Fender Telecaster often leading the charge (we see you, Bill Frisell and Julian Lage). While we love our Teles as much as anyone, there are times when nothing beats the warmth, depth, and vibe of a great archtop.

But let’s be honest: traditional archtops can be a lot. Physically large, high string tension, and not always the most forgiving instruments - even for seasoned players.

Enter Tim Bram, a Pasadena, MD-based luthier whose Tribute model has completely reimagined what an archtop can be. His concept? Marry the form factor of a Tele-style guitar with the soul of a vintage archtop. The result is something truly special: smaller, lighter, and far more playable, but with all the tone, resonance, and nuance you’d expect from a full-bodied jazz box.

The build quality is exceptional, the neck is effortlessly comfortable (again, think '50s Tele), and it has that rare thing we’re always chasing: a voice that draws you in and keeps you playing. This guitar doesn’t just check boxes, it makes music.

Tim’s builds are limited, and we don’t expect to see many of these each year. If the concept resonates with you the way it did with us, don’t wait. It’s everything a modern archtop should be.