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Hand Made Guitars by Luthier Dan Koentopp

The 2019 “Prototype” BlueLine

 

The first time I wired up a set of Ron Ellis’ pickups into one of my Koencasters I was blown away… I immediately called Ron up and said “Why can’t there be a floating archtop pickup that captures the same experience?” What I hear in Ron’s pickups is a sense of truth; clarity and accuracy, without being harsh or coloring the guitars voice in an unnatural way. In 2019, I built this modest BlueLine guitar, one without any bling, and something of a breadboard that I could hand to Ron so he could essentially have fun with and be inspired to create something special and that he did! This was also the first guitar I finished with an oil varnish finish and since then, all but one has followed suit. (Click here to view some videos of this guitar being played at the 2022 Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival)

 

 

Specifications

  • 16.25″ Lower Bout, 3″ depth
  • X Braced
  • Romanian Spruce Top
  • Figured Romanian Maple Back and Sides
  • One piece Maple neck
  • Unbound body and fholes
  • 1.73″ Bone Nut Width
  • 12″ Fingerboard Radius
  • 25.25″ scale
  • Palisander Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Side position markers in mop
  • Headstock veneers in Rosewood
  • Carved Rosewood Tailpiece
  • Carved and compensated, adjustable Rosewood bridge
  • Very first Ron Ellis floating humbucker
  • Volume knob on top of pickguard with stealth tone knob beneath
  • Waverly Tuners with Ebony buttons
  • Oil varnish finish

 

The “Prototype” Blue Line (#066)

 

#066 BlueLine Front

 

Close up of cutaway horn, pickguard, and Ron Ellis floating pickup

 

#066 back in perspective

 

Unbound fhole

 

#066 Blue Line back in Romanian Maple

 

Top in Perspective

 

Detail of Rubbed varnish on neck

 

The prototype Ron Ellis floating humbucker

 

Detail shot of Ron’s humbucker

 

Signature through fhole

 

Rear headstock veneer in Palisander Rosewood

 

Carved tail piece and bridge in Palisander Rosewood

 

 

 

 

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