Brand: Paquet Guitars
Instrument Categories: Archtop, Electric, Guitars, SOLD
Built in Montreal, the Paquet Esperanto 18 Archtop guitar is a full size model with hand carved top and back, large soundholes in the upper bouts and a Kent Armstrong pickup.
This example was built during 2018 at Paquet’s shop in a suburb of Montreal. It is in very good condition, with one small finish chip to the back of the neck.
The Paquet Esperanto 18 X-braced top is carved Cedar and the guitar is built to allow the top unrestricted vibration. The soft Maple used for the sides, back and neck are from one tree and have been curing since 1998. The sides are double walled, Maple and Pine, with a thickness reaching nearly 1/2 inch, providing stiffness and support for the top and back. The neck and sides are connected in the Spanish style, most often found on Classical and Flamenco guitars. The sides fit into slots on the sides of the heel, bringing them together in one tight unit. There is no dovetail joint, as is ‘traditional’ on archtop guitars.
Wenge is used for the fingerboard, pickguard, headstock overlay and backstrap, with the tailpiece being a mix of Wenge and Maple.
The bridge used is an interesting Jimmy D’Aquisto design, with height adjustment provided by a wedge. This delivers direct transmission of string vibration through the bridge to the top and very easy adjustment.
For electronics, a gold plated Kent Armstrong pickup is mounted to the fingerboard tag, with the controls on the pickguard. The output jack is at the tail block. Tuners are gold-plated Grover Sta-Tite open gear models.
The original hard shell case by TKL is included.
Steve Paquet has been playing, teaching, repairing and building guitars for decades in the Montreal area. He also performs and records.
- Model: Esperanto 18
- Year: 2018
- Finish Gloss Sunburst
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: 1801, built during 2018 near Montreal, PQ
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 13/09/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 5.192lbs 2.36kg
- Scale Length: 25.5in 647.7mm
- Nut Width: 1.75in 44.45mm
