{"id":1719,"date":"2018-01-25T10:58:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/?p=1719"},"modified":"2018-01-26T16:27:23","modified_gmt":"2018-01-26T23:27:23","slug":"my-koentopp-chicagoan-by-bobby-broom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/my-koentopp-chicagoan-by-bobby-broom\/","title":{"rendered":"My Koentopp \u201cChicagoan\u201d, by Bobby Broom"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Bobby Broom<\/strong><\/p>\n

In all my years of guitar playing, I\u2019ve never owned a Gibson L5, though they\u2019ve often been viewed as the holy grail of instruments for the jazz guitarist. \u00a0\u00a0By the time I could afford it, owning one wasn\u2019t that important to me. \u00a0Frankly, I\u2019d had two different companies\u2019 L5 versions and felt they sounded great (just as good as the real thing, frankly) and they suited me just fine. \u00a0\u00a0I also thought, \u201cWhat if Wes, Kenny Burrell, Hank Garland, etc., hadn\u2019t played them? Would they be as popular?\u201d \u00a0Of course, they were played and popular for good reason, but I\u2019ve heard some of these same great players on other axes sound… just like themselves\u2026 great!<\/span><\/p>\n

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My desire to <\/span>play<\/span><\/i> a fine instrument evolved slowly over the years. \u00a0I went from wanting an instrument with certain specific appointments, to one with more rich sound qualities. \u00a0I began hearing my modern day peers with these lush sounds, filled with character and nuance and I felt that what I was articulating could be enhanced and amplified further on an instrument that would accept, translate and project the nuance and depth of expression that was coming through my fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter Dan Koentopp. \u00a0I\u2019d heard about the luthier who made an instrument for (jazz, solo guitar whiz) Andy Brown, so I talked to Andy about the possibility of Danny making me one. \u00a0What I definitely wasn\u2019t interested in was an expensive museum piece that I wouldn\u2019t want to take out of the house. \u00a0Or a cold feeling and sounding instrument that was supposed to be great because a popular maker built it. \u00a0I\u2019ve played some of those and I also know that some people are into making that kind of acquisition for the purposes of collecting. \u00a0\u00a0I got together with Danny when he still had his shop in Chicago, just before he moved to California. \u00a0We talked, he watched and listened to me play, measured my then current instrument and determined, \u201cI think I can do something for you.\u201d \u00a0I believed he could too because of our conversation and how he responded to what I told him I was looking for. \u00a0I also believed he had heard me via my records and understood, from that standpoint as well, how my sound could be enhanced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, his calendar was full of orders into the following year, so I\u2019d have to wait. \u00a0But in between then and when he got started building my guitar, we talked more via phone and met again, this time on the West coast, where he measured and watched me play one more time. \u00a0There are certain ways in which he varied my Koentopp \u201cChicagoan\u201d particularly for me. \u00a0Those changes were discretionary choices he made as both a luthier and artisan and as a music and guitar listener and lover. \u00a0\u00a0He also understood what I wanted to sound like, respected that and took on the challenge of helping me to achieve it. \u00a0\u00a0He prioritized an issue as ethereal (and technical) as making the bracing of the arch top conducive to my essential sound and style, rather than adhering to current trends, or his own preconceived ideas about the sound of \u2018his\u2019 guitar. \u00a0Seemingly much more mundane, but surprisingly crucial to my physical playing style, was the forgoing of the customary pick guard on my axe. \u00a0Like I said, he\u2019d watched me play and saw that, because of the way I braced my picking hand with my unused fingers, the pick guard was more of an obstacle than anything else. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bobby with his Chicagoan<\/p><\/div>\n

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And so finally, during the summer of 2015 she arrived! \u00a0\u00a0All at once, there was a very comfortable and familiar feeling in playability and sound, but there was also something excitingly different and new in its sound. \u00a0\u00a0Not the brand spanking, stiff off the rack, characterless kind of new, but a rich, yet to be explored, inviting depth. \u00a0\u00a0Not to mention the absolute beauty of the craftsmanship. \u00a0One of my favorite visuals is the halo-like, tiger grain binding bordering every curve of the body, neck, headstock and F holes. \u00a0All that I was looking for is there, physical beauty and sonic clarity and personality, as though the notes have layers\u2026 character! \u00a0Suffice it to say that during the first week, the reactions I got from people were clearly in response to me playing my new Koentopp \u201cChicagoan.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0Musicians that know my sound (mainly ones that play other instruments) noticed the new evenness throughout all ranges, clarity and projection that I was getting. \u00a0\u00a0Non-musicians (audience members) showed their appreciation simply by applause. \u00a0In fact, I swear the applause was coming with more regularity! \u00a0\u00a0I wondered how much my newfound enthusiasm \u2013 in response to me really enjoying what I was hearing and therefore, perhaps, playing with a different zeal \u2013 factored in to the responses I was getting. \u00a0\u00a0Ultimately it didn\u2019t matter. \u00a0With the Koentopp the process and the end result were \u201call good.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m happy that in my career I\u2019ve been able to realize a personal sound and style, to finally envision it being met with a stellar sounding instrument and that Dan came along when he did. \u00a0Everything I imagined and tried to describe that day a few years ago at Dan\u2019s Chicago shop have been realized in my instrument. \u00a0It\u2019s crazy that it sounds exactly like me\u2026 but somehow, better \u2013 more refined and defined. I can plug into virtually any amp and get a super-pleasing perspective of my own sound. \u00a0With the Koentopp the physical and aural rewards of playing are truly rewarding and inspiring for me to hear!<\/span><\/p>\n

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