1. The Gear Page is run by musicians for musicians. We listen, we learn and if we misstep we are not afraid to do the right thing. We proposed some changes to the Emporiums. Based on feedback from members, we have decided to not go ahead with those changes. However, it has also highlighted that we need some community input into what is working and what is not working for members here. Primarily focused on the Emporiums, we'd like input on your thoughts about TGP and how things work in the Emporiums for you and how you'd improve them. The discussion thread on the is here!

    Dismiss Notice

Kinman guitars

Discussion in 'The Small Company Luthiers' started by BoyMambo, Sep 11, 2004.

  1. Sep 11, 2004 #1
    BoyMambo

    BoyMambo Member

    Messages:
    336
    Joined:
    May 13, 2002
    Location:
    Sydney
    I was in a guitar shop the other day and they had three Kinman made guitars, a strat and two teles. They were in a display case, and all I was told was how valuable they were. Has anybody seen or played a Kinman made guitar, it is the same Kinman as the pick up guy?
     
    BoyMambo, Sep 11, 2004
    BoyMambo, Sep 11, 2004
    #1
  2. Sep 11, 2004 #2
    mountain blues

    mountain blues Member

    Messages:
    5,063
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2002
    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, CA

    Yes, they are made by Chris Kinman of Kinman pickups. I'm not sure how many guitars he has made—I don't think it is that many—but it is part of what contributes to his overall prowess in designing pickups and knowing guitars intimately.
     
    mountain blues, Sep 11, 2004
    mountain blues, Sep 11, 2004
    #2
  3. Sep 12, 2004 #3
    jokerjkny

    jokerjkny Member

    Messages:
    9,590
    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2002
    omfg,

    i want one.
     
    jokerjkny, Sep 12, 2004
    jokerjkny, Sep 12, 2004
    #3
  4. Sep 12, 2004 #4
    muddy

    muddy Member

    Messages:
    5,719
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2003
    Location:
    nyc
    chris told me he made quite a few guitars when he was located in sydney. it was a local biz, but from all accounts, they were highly sought after.


    ml
     
    muddy, Sep 12, 2004
    muddy, Sep 12, 2004
    #4
  5. Sep 13, 2004 #5
    fernmeister

    fernmeister Member

    Messages:
    32
    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2004
    One of the few things I regret was passing up a kinman axe for Au$575 about 15 years ago. It was a lovely instrument.
     
    fernmeister, Sep 13, 2004
    fernmeister, Sep 13, 2004
    #5
  6. Mar 16, 2006 #6
    paul dowley

    paul dowley Member

    Messages:
    1
    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2006
    Yes it is, i have a kinman telecaster guitar green in colour, white scratch plate silver hardware, 3 pickup config in mint condition I purchased nearly 20 years ago, and yes they are vary nice to play. Serial no: 401001, I think trying to remember am at work at the moment. The guitar is signed and dated by Chris Kinman under the neck where it bolts onto the guitar body. Have no idea it's worth, anyone have any idea?
     
    paul dowley, Mar 16, 2006
    paul dowley, Mar 16, 2006
    #6
  7. Mar 17, 2006 #7
    BoyMambo

    BoyMambo Member

    Messages:
    336
    Joined:
    May 13, 2002
    Location:
    Sydney
    Varies on model, originality, condition and playability. But in the end the replacement cost far exceeds the price you will get when you sell. I was offered a mint one for $1500 (AUD) but I have also seen well played ones for the same and they have just both sat in the shops for a year or more.

    Should be a great guitar keep it. But if you want to sell and you are based in Sydney, send me a message or email.
     
    BoyMambo, Mar 17, 2006
    BoyMambo, Mar 17, 2006
    #7
  8. Mar 17, 2006 #8
    mezcalhead

    mezcalhead Member

    Messages:
    268
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    Location:
    Lancs UK
    A friend of mine from school used to work in Kinman's store in South Brisbane, and owned one of his strats, a really nice guitar. They had quite a good rep, but I don't think Kinman is making guitars these days, though I could be wrong.
     
    mezcalhead, Mar 17, 2006
    mezcalhead, Mar 17, 2006
    #8
  9. Mar 19, 2006 #9
    Seegs

    Seegs Member

    Messages:
    10,108
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2004
    Location:
    Germany
    Yes it is and yes he did...he used to have several different models...

    his workhorse being the Blueprint strat style guitar and the Top of the line Icon series...I think he made about 200 Blueprints and quite a bit fewer Icons...

    Before Chris got into the passive noise canceling pu's I was in Brisbane on business and wandered into the Guitar Center Southbank...this shop was formerly owned by Chris and I walked out with a Blueprint and actually met Chris who was gracious enough to take me on tour of his factory in Moorooka after which I ended up ordering a custom made strat style Icon by him...

    I ended up playing the Icon exclusively for about 6 or 7 years when I decided to quit playing strats and moved on to teles...I eventually sold them both but the Kinmans didn't seem have much value outside of Australia where they are revered...

    The Blueprint was a nice guitar but nothing really extraordinary but the Icon was something special...

    I had a hard time selling both of them and took quite a beating on the used market...

    Chow,
    Seegs
     
    Seegs, Mar 19, 2006
    Seegs, Mar 19, 2006
    #9

Share This Page