A Stroup Archtop Guitar is one of the most versatile guitars available. You can play all types of music with it - with or without amplification. It has the best qualities of both an archtop and flattop. It has custom Martin-style scalloped braces, pioneered and perfected by C.F. Martin. I absolutely love the archtop, and I've been a flattop lover forever, but they don't hold a light to the solid wood handcarved archtops. They are a delight in every way.