Does anyone own a Koll custom guitar? [Archive]

DestroyAllGuitars

09-23-2006, 03:16 PM

Saul Koll certainly ranks among the handful of truly exceptional top quality builders. His vision and abilities are almost limitless, his knowledge is encyclopedic, his instruments sound and play as good as it gets and comparatively, his prices are on the low side for builders of similar quality.

His build quality ranks with that of some of the great archtop and flat-top builders who are charging 5K to 20K to get into a guitar.

Jim Soloway

09-23-2006, 04:24 PM

Given his quality and hiow wonderfully musical his guitars are, I actually consider them to be quite a bargain.

joek86

09-23-2006, 05:58 PM

I have 3 of them! Saul builds a great looking, playing and sounding guitar that embodies the retro/modern vibe. He is fantastic to work with and has allot of heart and soul!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/joek86/L5Srevisited.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/joek86/krgDUO1105.jpg

The Root Beer colored one is my favorite, it is great looking and is the more versatile of the two. I have really bonded with this guitar, it's like my right arm at this point! The Goldtop is a custom that Saul did this year from an idea conjured up by Matte Henderson who also frequents TGP, I believe that he has the original prototype.

Joe

hemlock

09-23-2006, 05:59 PM

I'm expecting a very cool present sometime around my birthday or Christmas.

matte

09-23-2006, 09:41 PM

i'm pretty sure that YOU, sir, have the original prototype!
dt / spltrcl
u r correct, sir.

KRosser

09-24-2006, 03:14 AM

Yup....

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/krosser414/Rosserteles.jpg

joek86

09-24-2006, 04:46 AM

i'm pretty sure that YOU, sir, have the original prototype!
dt / spltrcl

Splatt and Matte, You are right! It says P1 on the headstock!

Hey Matte, I wish you would post a shot of your's, I would love to see how it came out!

Joe

TieDyedDevil

09-24-2006, 05:49 PM

Yah, I had Saul build what he later named the DL Thinline. Awesome guitar. I have a second one in the works.

gassyndrome

09-24-2006, 05:51 PM

JoeK86,

Do you have any gig pics of the Gold one? I'd really like to see what that design looks like when its actually hanging off someone! Beautiful axe :AOK

joek86

09-24-2006, 05:58 PM

JoeK86,

Do you have any gig pics of the Gold one? I'd really like to see what that design looks like when its actually hanging off someone! Beautiful axe :AOK

I don't have any of me playing it, but I will take some a post them.

It is actually very well balanced and ergonomicly correct, the only thing that takes some getting use to is the weight. My other Koll is chambered and is as light as a feather, so any normal solid guitar is noticably heavy. It fortunately is not as heavy as most of the LPs that I have tried and owned.

Joe

joek86

09-24-2006, 07:02 PM

saul has to
1)send me a pic
b)finish building it.

i know it'll be murder when he's done. novax board, trem!!!!, 7 string, staple p 90, strat middle pu, hum bridge.

WOW Matte, it's gonna be nutty, can't wait to see it!

Joe

matte

09-24-2006, 07:36 PM

WOW Matte, it's gonna be nutty, can't wait to see it!

Joeme 2.

webb

09-24-2006, 09:10 PM

i know it'll be murder when he's done. novax board, trem!!!!, 7 string, staple p 90, strat middle pu, hum bridge.

What trem are you using for this guitar?

Orren

09-25-2006, 01:16 AM

Count me among the Koll faithful! He made my Lefty MIDI Tornado (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=142880) and I've never looked back--its the best guitar I own, and we're already dreaming up the next one! :)

Orren

drezdin

09-25-2006, 05:41 AM

I'm waiting on one as well.

JingleJungle

09-30-2006, 08:44 AM

Italy is waiting for TWO (2) 'glides to be delivered by november this year, just in time for the yearly guit show in Milano, where they're gonna rub shoulders with some other purty six stringies from Germany and Finland ;)

Needless to say, 'Ole Europey folks are quite curious and excited at the same time :)

JJ

matte

10-01-2006, 08:15 AM

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931222.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931227.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931230.jpg
http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931233.jpg

joek86

10-01-2006, 05:08 PM

Matte,
That guit is totally outrageous, I have never seen anything like it ! No wonder it has taken so long to build!

Nice wood too, what is it?

Joe

patchesprescott

10-01-2006, 06:35 PM

after looking at those pics of Matte's guitar in progress

All i can say is "wow....."

man - there are so many innovations on that thing, i don't even know where to start

i looked at the picture three different times and noticed something different and unusual each time

that trem cavity is absolutely crazy - i think that is Saul's own design, right?

nuts

apples

oranges

and raisins

Saul is as amazing of an artist, visionary and luthier as he is a cool guy and a pleasure to work with - he is always up to the challenge that's fer sure

drezdin

10-01-2006, 08:56 PM

I can't wait to see what Mr. Koll comes up with for the trem! What's the hole in the side for?

Blunder

10-02-2006, 12:32 AM

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/Blunder1/duonado.jpg

T-bone

10-02-2006, 05:35 AM

Saul is the man! I love my Koll!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/Stv/KollFront.jpg

drezdin

10-02-2006, 07:00 AM

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931230.jpg

Hey, I think mine might be in there

Thor

10-02-2006, 09:02 AM

Matte - are you going to have it finished in inca silver to match the Steven's les plank? (any progress pics on that one?).

Very cool stuff indeed.

Cheers,

Ed.

PS if you need any babysitting for any of your "other childern" when these new babies arrive - I'm always available ....

erksin

10-03-2006, 11:37 AM

Saul is the man! I love my Koll!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/Stv/KollFront.jpg

Very cool guitar - how do you like the Z-90/Electroflux combination?

Aruntang

10-03-2006, 12:12 PM

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL898/463210/12985076/191931230.jpg

Mine is the first one on the rack behind Matte's guitar!:D
Korina chambered body with Spruce top and korina neck with rosewood fingerboard. Rosewood bridge and Lollar imperials will be rounding out the guitar. Can't wait!

drezdin

10-03-2006, 12:38 PM

Not sure, but I think mine is the last one in the rack.

T-bone

10-04-2006, 04:37 AM

Very cool guitar - how do you like the Z-90/Electroflux combination?

The 2 work well together! I pretty much stay in the middle position(both on). Deep, chimey and sweet:AOK

Guitar James

10-04-2006, 06:04 AM

Do i spy a Klein type electric in the back there? Does Saul build guitars like that? Looks pretty cool.

Unburst

10-04-2006, 10:58 AM

Do i spy a Klein type electric in the back there? Does Saul build guitars like that? Looks pretty cool.

I see a pic of an Ovation Breadwinner hanging up there and a Klein-esque body.

Saul does make these occasionaly, he built a spectacular one for Elliot Sharp.

http://www.kollguitars.com/upload_images/994359157.jpg

Guitar James

10-04-2006, 11:05 AM

I see a pic of an Ovation Breadwinner hanging up there and a Klein-esque body.

Saul does make these occasionaly, he built a spectacular one for Elliot Sharp.

http://www.kollguitars.com/upload_images/994359157.jpg
That is one funked up looking axe, but in a good way. Very cool.

BrendanP

10-12-2006, 02:22 AM

I should own one. Before I heard of Koll guitars, I saw a lefty TV Yellow Glide Jr. in a local used guitar shop for $650. I did the old "I don't need more guitars" mantra and didn't even touch it. I came home and kept thinking about it, so I did some research and decided to take a closer look the following weekend. The next day someone one on a "lefty" guitar forum was raving about the great score he got on a Koll. Rrrrr.....

Mrgearguy

10-12-2006, 09:27 AM

Koll is one of the few guys doing his own thing. Can't say enough good things about these designs. I have to get one, the question is, how dou you decide which one?

TaronKeim

10-12-2006, 09:37 AM

I've got a Tele built by Saul... hands down the best ash body I've ever seen or felt... resonates forever after even a light strum, gorgeous lightly birdseyed maple neck with a highly birdseyed maple board. The neck is small C to a light V and feels just perfect in my hands, has a 7-way switching system with Tele Bridge, Strat Middle and the new Lollar Firebird mini-hum (chrome cover) in the neck which sounds just like a super fat standard Tele neck... she is my number one. Big props to Cliff C. for hooking me up with such a gorgeous beast.

-TJK

Terry McInturff

10-12-2006, 02:49 PM

These look fabulous and it is obvious that we have a good builder here who isnt afraid to think outside the box. Just the kind of person to keep the electric guitar alive, well, and growing.

Im looking forward to meeting him someday.

Jack Briggs

10-12-2006, 03:58 PM

Ahh, yes, Terry. Saul is a class act, indeed! Met him back at NAMM and have spoken with him on the phone since.

TaronKeim - I couldn't have said it better about Lollar's Firebird Mini. I tried a pair in one of my mahogany Avatars and, if I wasn't looking down at it, I'd have sworn it was a Broadcaster!! Some of my favorite pups right now are those FB minis.

Terry McInturff

10-12-2006, 04:34 PM

Great suggestion re: on the Firebird Mini....havent heard one yet but am ordering one tomorrow to try in the neck position of a TerryCaster that I'm building for myself.

I had an all original 1964 Firebird V for a few years that was way more "cool" than it was "good". Factory black finish. I would have loved it if the neck had not been overcarved at the factory...really narrow at the nut, way below spec. The bridge pup wasnt happening but the neck pup ruled.

My guitar log tells me that 4 really good 'birds crossed my bench in 1990/91, when I was doing restoration work in Philly and then Chicago. Overall, my log tells me that I have only worked on seven original reverse 'birds. Why so few?

Apparently, my fave was a '64 Firebird III. Among other things I wrote "want to know more about this set of pickups but can't" meaning that I could not de-solder the units in order to examine them more closely. Can't just go breaking solder joints on old guitars! :)

Hopefully the Lollar units have that magic! I have no reason to doubt that they do, especially if Jack thinks so highly of them!

Jack Briggs

10-12-2006, 04:40 PM

Terry McInturff

10-12-2006, 05:01 PM

Thanks Terry. Even though tastes in pickups are very subjective, Lollars newest creations (or recreations) are better than what he's done prior, IMHO. His Firebird pups will really make you question whether you are actaully playing a 'bucker equipped axe! And yes, I had an old roomie that had 3 original reverse Firebirds, and personally I never cared for the sound of any. It may have been due to the neck-through contruction, however!:AOK

I do hope that I am not helping to "hijack" a great thread devoted to a talented fellow artisan!:(

I do find things to adore about Firebirds but as I have already noted I do not have much experience with them compared to even pre-war Martin products. Weird.

Interesting to see the various things that Gibson did with that pup chassis. For instance, the EB-3 bridge pup. One of my "guilty pup pleasures", if there is such a thing.

I play bass like a guitarist, not well, do not flatter the material, and I am the only one that wants to hear me "riff" on bass, especially playing an EB-3 on the bridge pup thru a Marshally amp. The "kid" in me still wants to sound like Jack Bruce (ala West, Bruce & Laing "Why Dontcha" lp) when I play bass.

Firmly back to Koll...I'm outta here at last!

Terry

54GT

10-12-2006, 05:40 PM

These are my two. Great quality, great tone, and Saul is one of the true gentlemen out there.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k257/54GT/2Kolls3.jpg

matte

10-12-2006, 05:47 PM

splatt turned me onto saul's work a few years ago. mister koll is an extraordinary human and luthier with an exceptional lutherial vocabulary (that spans from a d'a uke to my l5ster novax trem guitar and all points in between).

TaronKeim

10-12-2006, 07:29 PM

TaronKeim - I couldn't have said it better about Lollar's Firebird Mini. I tried a pair in one of my mahogany Avatars and, if I wasn't looking down at it, I'd have sworn it was a Broadcaster!! Some of my favorite pups right now are those FB minis.

Same deal with me... the clarity blows my mind... and when driven hard, the top end smooths out instead of getting extra spikey like I find with some P90s and Mini-hum pick-ups.

Good ears Jack:D

-TJK

P.S Love the looks and wood selection for those Classics you're doing, if I hadn't put all my eggs in one basket for a modern jazz box, we might be talking:D

57special

10-12-2006, 09:02 PM

Matte,
Is that a Seymour Duncan Alnico pup? With 7 square magnets, yet? If not I would appreciate info on the builder. I'll pm, also.

matte

10-12-2006, 09:23 PM

Matte,
Is that a Seymour Duncan Alnico pup? With 7 square magnets, yet? mj(one of the greatest humans that g*d put on this earth) @ duncan made me that pickup. i had legs put on it so that it would sit in a hb pu ring. sd is now offering the staple p90 as well as the d'armond old school gretsch pu in the sdcs.

57special

10-12-2006, 09:29 PM

mj(one of the greatest humans that g*d put on this earth) @ duncan made me that pickup. i had legs put on it so that it would sit in a hb pu ring. sd is now offering the staple p90 as well as the d'armond old school gretsch pu in the sdcs.

Didn't know if there was a new player in the staple pup game. Still only SDCS, i guess. I believe they did the pups for the Historic 54 customs, also.

Karmateria

10-15-2006, 04:26 PM

mj(one of the greatest humans that g*d put on this earth) @ duncan made me that pickup. i had legs put on it so that it would sit in a hb pu ring. sd is now offering the staple p90 as well as the d'armond old school gretsch pu in the sdcs.

That's really cool! Duncan gets the short end of the stick with the "boutique" crowd sometimes which is so unfair and just wrong. Here's a guy who pretty much (along with Larry DiMarzio) put the aftermarket business on the map. Seymour along with MJ are hand winding pickups every day in the duncan shop and between them have more experience than all the other newbies combined. In a blindfold test I'd wager that the SD pickups would stand up against anything.

Matte, you have a lot of street cred, and I'm glad to see that you aren't afraid to go with something that isn't the latest fad builder.

Karma

matte

10-15-2006, 05:18 PM

That's really cool! Duncan gets the short end of the stick with the "boutique" crowd sometimes which is so unfair and just wrong. Here's a guy who pretty much (along with Larry DiMarzio) put the aftermarket business on the map. Seymour along with MJ are hand winding pickups every day in the duncan shop and between them have more experience than all the other newbies combined. In a blindfold test I'd wager that the SD pickups would stand up against anything.

Matte, you have a lot of street cred, and I'm glad to see that you aren't afraid to go with something that isn't the latest fad builder.

Karma
been onboard with duncan since "94 and they treat me very well. i get whatever i need whenever i need it. they even made a cover for the 7 string staple. how cool is that. great company/great product.

ford

10-16-2006, 10:54 AM

Those are some sweet looking guitars... I really love stuff that is just slightly different from the norm...

rock
bford

These are my two. Great quality, great tone, and Saul is one of the true gentlemen out there.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k257/54GT/2Kolls3.jpg

mude

12-02-2006, 03:13 PM

Here is a Tornado that I like. Lousy picture. Great guitar.

Lollar P90s. Hipshot. Giddy up.

Evan.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL628/2686344/5366479/210084679.jpg

ToneGurus

12-18-2006, 11:40 AM

http://www.tonegurus.com/robertorose.jpg

16 1/2" bout, 2 1/2" thick, 25 1/2" scale. '59 profile neck, 10-14" radius, Brazilian board, 6155 frets, Kent Armstrong handmade adjustable floating single, ebony tailpiece and guard.

Should be easier on my shoulder and arm than my L5. Actually a different deal all together, with the floater, etc.

Mike