{"id":2694,"date":"2023-01-05T12:43:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T19:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/?p=2694"},"modified":"2023-02-27T17:11:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T00:11:41","slug":"a-blue-line-prototype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/a-blue-line-prototype\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2019 &#8220;Prototype&#8221; BlueLine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The first time I wired up a set of Ron Ellis&#8217; pickups into one of my Koencasters I was blown away&#8230; I immediately called Ron up and said &#8220;Why can&#8217;t there be a floating archtop pickup that captures the same experience?&#8221; What I hear in Ron&#8217;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. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Hf8u65PxF5o?t=80\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Click here to view some videos of this guitar being played at the 2022 Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xC523w2hjIk\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Specifications<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">16.25\u2033 Lower Bout, 3\u2033 depth<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">X Braced<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Romanian Spruce Top<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Figured Romanian Maple Back and Sides<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">One piece Maple neck<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Unbound body and fholes<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">1.73\u2033 Bone Nut Width<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">12\u2033 Fingerboard Radius<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">25.25\u2033 scale<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Palisander Rosewood Fingerboard<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Side position markers in mop<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Headstock veneers in Rosewood<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Carved Rosewood Tailpiece<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Carved and compensated, adjustable Rosewood bridge<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Very first Ron Ellis floating humbucker<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Volume knob on top of pickguard with stealth tone knob beneath<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Waverly Tuners with Ebony buttons<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: center;\">Oil varnish finish<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2697\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2697\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2697\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series-720x555.jpg 720w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series-1000x771.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series-768x592.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series-1536x1184.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/66-Series-2048x1579.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2697\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The &#8220;Prototype&#8221; Blue Line (#066)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2708\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2708\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2708\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Front-Perspective-1362x2048.jpg 1362w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2708\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">#066 BlueLine Front<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2701\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2701\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2701\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/062-fingerrest.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Close up of cutaway horn, pickguard, and Ron Ellis floating pickup<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2704\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2704\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2704\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-perspective-1362x2048.jpg 1362w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2704\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">#066 back in perspective<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2707\" style=\"width: 489px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2707\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2707 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"479\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2707\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unbound fhole<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2703\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2703\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2703\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Back-close.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2703\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">#066 Blue Line back in Romanian Maple<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2705\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2705\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2705\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-Perspective.jpg 1450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2705\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Top in Perspective<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2710\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2710\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2710\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel-720x478.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Neck-and-heel.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2710\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Detail of Rubbed varnish on neck<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2709\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2709\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2709 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn-720x479.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Horn.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2709\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The prototype Ron Ellis floating humbucker<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2711\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2711\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2711\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup-720x479.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Pickup-Closeup.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2711\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Detail shot of Ron&#8217;s humbucker<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2706\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2706\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2706\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture-720x479.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Fhole-signiture.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Signature through fhole<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2712\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2712\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2712\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-1021x1536.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock-1362x2048.jpg 1362w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/066-Rear-Headstock.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2712\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rear headstock veneer in Palisander Rosewood<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2700\" style=\"width: 730px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2700\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2700\" src=\"http:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tailpice-479x720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tailpice-479x720.jpg 479w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tailpice-665x1000.jpg 665w, https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/tailpice.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2700\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carved tail piece and bridge in Palisander Rosewood<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; The first time I wired up a set of Ron Ellis&#8217; pickups into one of my Koencasters I was blown away&#8230; I immediately called Ron up and said &#8220;Why can&#8217;t there be a floating archtop pickup that captures the same experience?&#8221; What I hear in Ron&#8217;s pickups is a sense of truth; clarity and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[35],"tags":[65,92,95,84,113,41,38,67,24,18,20,101,97,71],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2694"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2694"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2755,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2694\/revisions\/2755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koentoppguitars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}