I got a chance to play one of these
http://www.iwantguitars.com/store/?product=9605
this weekend.
Holy Cow!
This is a top notch guitar, easily the equivilant of models costing 2 or 3x as much.
I know this is definitely not in everyone's price range, but it has made me seriously consider not continuing to save up for a vintage L-5.
Gibsons in this price range are still laminate backs and sides. This is all real wood . . . and if you play them side-by-side you can hear the difference unplugged and plugged.
Seriously worth consideration if you're looking for a new top-end archtop.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- HST