Kokomo Music - Home Page

LUTHIERS' PAGE:

Even though the bulk of Kokomo Music guitars are vintage instruments used to capture vintage sound, we are interested in the development of new instruments that have that sound as well. Thus we are adding a new section to our website for luthiers who build such instruments.

Hoeg Graphite Resonator Guitars.

Master luthier Rich Hoeg has developed two extraordinary resonator guitars modeled after the National “Style O” and “Tricone” designs. The bodies are made of graphite, which has less weight, and is much more responsive in volume and tone, than the traditional nickel/silver, steel or brass bodied types. They are very dynamic and “touch sensitive” with amazing sustain, and yet they sound traditional. He plans to go in production this year, and already has many orders. In conjunction with Kokomo Music, Rich is coordinating the recording of numerous artists on the two prototype guitars. Will Bernard, Adam Levy, Duck Baker, Ken Emerson, Gary King, Todd Swenson, Henry Cooper, Phil Emerson, Henry Kaiser and others are anticipated to be on this unique Kokomo Music CD. The completed tracks sound great!

(Click on the guitar image to view enlarged
pictures and detailed information)

To listen to preliminary cuts using the one or both of the Graphite Guitars click on the song you desire from the list below:
     Monterey   Ken Emerson on the 2003 Hoeg Tricone Resonator Prototype
     Indiana   Duck Baker on the 2003 Hoeg Singlecone Resonator Prototype
     Shortnin Bread/Goin Up the Country   Ken Emerson on the 2003 Hoeg Tricone Resonator Prototype and Gary King on the 2003 Hoeg Singlecone Resonator Prototype

Nash Contemporary "Vintage" Guitars.

Nash '62 Burst Strat

The names "Bill Nash" and "Nash Guitars" are coming to the forefront to identify really cool "beater" guitars! In his home shop in Olympia, Washington, Bill is producing some of the best sounding, and best vintage-looking, Strat-style and Tele-style instruments on the market; and at very affordable prices. Through his "Timewarp Series", Bill's goal is to bring all the vintage vibe, looks and feeling at a price that you do not have to be a rock star to afford. His guitars also offer some of the more modern features, but without sacrificing the authentic look of the originals. A multitude of aging methods brings the most authentic looking relic guitars available, with 3 aging levels: "Church Gig - Played soberly only on Sundays for the last 40 years", "Workingman - Very well used and loved. Lots of time on the road. Moderate wear overall"; and "Louisiana Roadhouse - Very well used, subject to some abuse and environmental stress."

For an extrordinarily comprehensive interview of Bill covering most all aspects of his guitar experience, philosophy, products, and production please read The ToneQuest Report article which has been reproduced on this site at Nash Guitars. The Report is published monthly by Mountainview Publishing, Decatur, GA, and is a galaxy of guitar data. It is on the web at www.tonequest.com.

Hoeg Telecaster Style Guitars.

Rich Hoeg is also building custom handmade Telecaster style guitars using feather-weight hard figured swamp ash for the bodies – some with sound chambers. The necks are made of highly figured curly maple, with beautiful Brazilian rosewood fretboards if desired. He has enough materials to make about 150 instruments. His first production guitars are already being used professionally. The right woods do make a difference! It has always been Phil Emerson’s opinion that Tele’s are one of the best – if not be best – electric solidbody jazz guitars ever made. For example, Howard Roberts 1960's recordings are well-known, and most people think his wonderful “woody “ traditional jazz tones were only from his Epiphone "Howard Roberts", or his black Gibson customized "ES-150". The fact is he used very heavy gauge flat wound strings, which often caused his archtops problems, so he would finish the sets or sessions with a Tele using the same heavy-gauge flatwounds. It’s almost impossible to tell the difference. In the early 1970's Danny Gatton used a Tele with a homemade Charlie Christian bar pickup in the neck position. Phil was there and heard this guitar in small clubs around D.C. The tone was completely that of a traditional jazz guitar.