Discussion:
In praise of Kinscherff Guitars
(too old to reply)
Chris Stern
2010-03-26 00:06:08 UTC
Permalink
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.

Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!

For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.

How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.

They are

2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.

2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.

2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!

2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.


So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.

The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!

The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.

The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.

The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.

That's it......anyone else going to add more.......

Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.

Chris
Misifus
2010-03-26 00:39:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
My High Noon Kinscherff is the finest guitar I own, and the finest I've
played.

-Raf
--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafiii
home: http://www.rafandsioux.com
donh
2010-03-26 01:03:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by Misifus
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not making
this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons, a
Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still have
it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45 years)
I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built by Jamie
Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one day
I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few notes
and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at the
2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar these
days except for those of us who know about his wonderful guitars.
Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built for them
PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send mp3's pictures
and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and play them. If
you want a guitar that you can't put down get a Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at the
TX gatherings too.
Chris
My High Noon Kinscherff is the finest guitar I own, and the finest I've
played.
-Raf
Raf,

I am greatly looking forward to the day we meet again, and our guitars do
too!
--
donh
donh at audiosys dot com
Cliff
2010-03-26 09:26:06 UTC
Permalink
Anybody reading this who is ............
........ in my neck of the woods you can come and
Post by Chris Stern
play them.
Chris....would love to try before i can't afford to buy.......
can you bring one or two of them down to the Marple Forces one night
when it's quiet there?
Do you play snooker !?
I'll ask Dave there which is a good nite....used to Weds. and
Sats.........

Cliff
Al Evans
2010-03-26 11:56:55 UTC
Permalink
In article
Post by Chris Stern
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars....
I'll testify to this.

My High Noon (Braz/Adirondack) is almost 8 years old now. I have three
other very nice acoustic guitars, not counting a couple of good ones
I've sold since getting my Kinscherff. I almost never play them. (Alec
has the Breedlove, so at least it gets played sometimes when he's not
working on Bach:-)

The thing is, I can sit down with my Kinscherff any time, and play and
play and never run out of sounds or ideas, never get bored, completely
lose track of time. No other guitar I've ever played carries me away
like that.

Jamie makes amazing guitars.

--Al Evans--
hank alrich
2010-03-26 15:34:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by Al Evans
In article
Post by Chris Stern
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars....
I'll testify to this.
My High Noon (Braz/Adirondack) is almost 8 years old now. I have three
other very nice acoustic guitars, not counting a couple of good ones
I've sold since getting my Kinscherff. I almost never play them. (Alec
has the Breedlove, so at least it gets played sometimes when he's not
working on Bach:-)
The thing is, I can sit down with my Kinscherff any time, and play and
play and never run out of sounds or ideas, never get bored, completely
lose track of time. No other guitar I've ever played carries me away
like that.
Jamie makes amazing guitars.
--Al Evans--
That's how I feel about my McCollum, and really, every one of Lance's
guitars I've played. But he's gone, dammit, and one of these days I'm
going to have to get a new axe that can't be sequestered under CITES. I
have a very short list of potential luthiers, and Jamie's name is on it.
Reality of $ may have me playing something from a factory, but man, am I
spoiled by my McC.
--
ha
shut up and play your guitar
http://hankalrich.com/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hsadharma
Mike Brown
2010-03-26 23:19:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by hank alrich
Post by Al Evans
In article
Post by Chris Stern
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars....
I'll testify to this.
My High Noon (Braz/Adirondack) is almost 8 years old now. I have three
other very nice acoustic guitars, not counting a couple of good ones
I've sold since getting my Kinscherff. I almost never play them. (Alec
has the Breedlove, so at least it gets played sometimes when he's not
working on Bach:-)
The thing is, I can sit down with my Kinscherff any time, and play and
play and never run out of sounds or ideas, never get bored, completely
lose track of time. No other guitar I've ever played carries me away
like that.
Jamie makes amazing guitars.
--Al Evans--
That's how I feel about my McCollum, and really, every one of Lance's
guitars I've played. But he's gone, dammit, and one of these days I'm
going to have to get a new axe that can't be sequestered under CITES. I
have a very short list of potential luthiers, and Jamie's name is on it.
Reality of $ may have me playing something from a factory, but man, am I
spoiled by my McC.
I suspect that all of us who have quality luthier built guitars that
really suit us feel that way. I have two Tim Wright guitars that really
ring my bells. It will be interesting to see how the Jack Spira compares
with them. I have a hunch . . . . .

MJRB
R McAlister
2010-03-26 23:03:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
Jamie is indeed a great guy and a very talented luthier. He's
one of my favorites and I always look forward to visiting with
him whenever we get a chance. If my chosen career path could
afford me one of his guitars, I'd be on his list in a heartbeat!

In this brutal economy, often our own guitars become our
competition. If someone is looking for a Kinscherff, they quite
possibly could find one used for less money that ordering a new
guitar. His guitars may be selling better tan he realizes, but it's
not helping him, unfortunately

I wish Jamie well and hope that his work load picks up
soon....he definitely deserves it.
Chris Stern
2010-03-28 18:36:38 UTC
Permalink
And if I ever buy another guitar not built by Jamie.......it will be a
McAlister!


unless I steal Ray Boyce's......
unknown
2010-03-28 22:20:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
And if I ever buy another guitar not built by Jamie.......it will be a
McAlister!
unless I steal Ray Boyce's......
Go ahead, steal Ray's, that makes mine less of a
target. <g>
rayboyce
2010-03-30 04:39:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
And if I ever buy another guitar not built by Jamie.......it will be a
McAlister!
unless I steal Ray Boyce's......
Wanna really teach me the blues? Or just wanna see an old man cry?
David Hajicek
2010-03-31 02:45:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by rayboyce
Post by Chris Stern
And if I ever buy another guitar not built by Jamie.......it will be a
McAlister!
unless I steal Ray Boyce's......
Wanna really teach me the blues? Or just wanna see an old man cry?
Don't you have to suffer to learn the blues? ;>)

Dave Hajicek
j***@charter.net
2010-04-02 00:44:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
And if I ever buy another guitar not built by Jamie.......it will be a
McAlister!
unless I steal Ray Boyce's......
Wanna really teach me the blues?  Or just wanna see an old man cry?
Don't you have to suffer to learn the blues?  ;>)
Dave Hajicek
OK, I'll pipe in as a Kinscherff fanatic and afficianado. I, like
Chris Stern, own 4 Kinscherff guitars. At one time, I had six, count
'em, SIX of Jamie's fine guitars. I was indeed the Guinness Book of
World Records holder of having the most Jamie guitars at any time. I
have since pared down the herd and have four that I wouldn't part with
unless push came to shove..............Three are High Noons with
varying top and back and sides, and one Concert that has the most
beautiful Southwestern desert theme inlays on the fingerboard, along
with the Barbed Wire rosette (with 14K gold barbs) and a white and
black Mother of Pearl sun peghead inlay. All are stunning and
magnificent sounding guitars. My first Jamie guitar is a Koa/
Adirondack that I traded an Olsen for in 1999. I got the Jamie guitar
plus a nice chunk of cash to boot in the transaction. That guitar
remains my "go-to" instrument and is very wide open and wonderful
sounding, whether strummed loudly or fingerpicked.

I would have to say that the economy has dealt a great many luthiers a
cruel blow since guitars are in fact a luxury item, and probably costs
months of income to the average Joe. Compound that with the fact that
higher end factory instruments (ala Taylor R, etc.) are at or close to
the same price range. Then throw in the used guitar factor and I
would imagine as Roy eluded to that it makes for a conundrum of being
able to sell guitars. I wonder how the stratospheric guitars like
Traugott's, etc. are doing since they are $20K+ in price.
Discretionary income has become necessary income. I haven't purchased
a new guitar in years, mostly because I couldn't want for anything
more than I have with Jamie's guitars.

That said, if you have the where-with-all to buy a brilliant, 100%
handmade acoustic guitar, you couldn't do better than Jamie's in my
opinion. While he is indeed a close friend after 11 years of knowing
each other now, I do have a discerning ear and truly love what
Kinscherff guitars deliver sonically.

Keep pickin' and grinnin'

Jim
Chris Stern
2010-04-02 01:56:49 UTC
Permalink
Yes, I count Jamie as a close friend too. Oddly enough like Jim I sold
an Olson SJ and bought 2 of my Kinscherffs with the money I made. Much
as I loved the Olson it wasn't played anywhere near as much as all my
Kinscherffs.

When I got my first High Noon I called Jamie up and asked where he
built his guitars from....."My soul" was his reply. And that is
exactly it about Jamie's guitars, you can hear his soul coming
through. When asked what music I'm listening too I just answer
KInscherff guitars, because that is what I am hearing far more often
than recorded music.

The acquisition of the Troubadour has led me into DADGAD in a much
bigger way than ever before and the original High Noon sounds really
full in open G or D. They are all guitars you don't want to put down.

Chris
Tom from Texas
2010-03-27 00:16:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Aaaaaah so, Grasshopper, I have an early Kinscherff (0164) that's the
Concert (I don't believe he makes that model anymore) with Indian Rosewood
and Sitka. Sold my '95 Martin 000-28 after that cause I just didn't need it
and it wasn't getting played. And I really loved that Martin. To get the
Kinscherff, I traded a Santa Cruz 000 12 fret that was IR and Adirondack.
The Kinscherff I have just is in a higher league.

And NO, Chris, you can't have it! Cea will get it when she pries it from my
cold, dead fingers. (Did I just write my own obituary/death warrant?)
--
Tom from Texas
(The Tom Risner Fund for Deserving North Texas Guitarplayers is not liable
for any slander, hurt feelings, pointless moaning, or achy-breaky heartache
any post under this name should cause. Yall want easy cash or sympathy...
ye can kiss my grits!!)
madgamer2@teranews.com
2010-03-27 00:44:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tom from Texas
Aaaaaah so, Grasshopper, I have an early Kinscherff (0164) that's the
Concert (I don't believe he makes that model anymore) with Indian Rosewood
and Sitka. Sold my '95 Martin 000-28 after that cause I just didn't need it
and it wasn't getting played. And I really loved that Martin. To get the
Kinscherff, I traded a Santa Cruz 000 12 fret that was IR and Adirondack.
The Kinscherff I have just is in a higher league.
And NO, Chris, you can't have it! Cea will get it when she pries it from my
cold, dead fingers. (Did I just write my own obituary/death warrant?)
Better increase the beer ration for Moose & Spike and hire them for
guard duty.

Larry (2 customs and adding another)Akin
rayboyce
2010-03-30 04:44:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Also, for the record, if I could afford another instrument, Sato's
Kinscherff C-model is probably the best all-round stage/performance guitar
I've ever gassed for. Perfectly appointed, gorgeous eye-candy, and
strong/smooth in tone.
Robert Harding
2010-03-30 16:44:10 UTC
Permalink
On Mar 29, 11:44 pm, "rayboyce"
Post by rayboyce
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff.  As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir  When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir  Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir  Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Also, for the record, if I could afford another instrument, Sato's
Kinscherff C-model is probably the best all-round stage/performance guitar
I've ever gassed for.  Perfectly appointed, gorgeous eye-candy, and
strong/smooth in tone.
That one IS a bell ringer!
hank alrich
2010-03-30 20:24:27 UTC
Permalink
On Mar 29, 11:44 pm, "rayboyce"
Post by rayboyce
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Also, for the record, if I could afford another instrument, Sato's
Kinscherff C-model is probably the best all-round stage/performance guitar
I've ever gassed for. Perfectly appointed, gorgeous eye-candy, and
strong/smooth in tone.
That one IS a bell ringer!
I've met that guitar, and it is lovely to look at a to hear.
--
ha
shut up and play your guitar
http://hankalrich.com/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hsadharma
Misifus
2010-03-30 21:37:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by rayboyce
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Also, for the record, if I could afford another instrument, Sato's
Kinscherff C-model is probably the best all-round stage/performance guitar
I've ever gassed for. Perfectly appointed, gorgeous eye-candy, and
strong/smooth in tone.
I, too, have played it and it's a dandy.

-Raf
--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafiii
home: http://www.rafandsioux.com
j***@gmail.com
2016-03-30 13:25:32 UTC
Permalink
Hi Chris,

You don't actually have the complete European collection...I have a High Noon model (Adirondack and exceptional EI rosewood) here in Ireland.

Wonderful guitar, but, incredibly, I am thinking of selling it (to do up house). It is, frankly, too good for me. I find it almost intimidating at times...

Best wishes from Ireland,

james
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Tom from Texas
2016-03-30 20:44:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
Chris's post is six years old but still valid to this day. I am waiting for a Kinscherff that Jamie is making for me and hopefully will be ready soon. I'd think a dozen times before selling one of Jamie's guitars. They are amazing.

Tom from Texas
Al Evans
2016-03-31 11:44:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tom from Texas
Chris's post is six years old but still valid to this day. I am waiting
for a Kinscherff that Jamie is making for me and hopefully will be ready
soon. I'd think a dozen times before selling one of Jamie's guitars. They are amazing.
Tom from Texas
My Kinscherff High Noon is almost fourteen years old now, and still gets
played pretty much every day. It always seems to have a bit of new music in
it.

--Al Evans
Steve Daniels
2016-04-01 01:54:33 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 31 Mar 2016 06:44:38 -0500, against all advice, something
Post by Al Evans
Post by Tom from Texas
Chris's post is six years old but still valid to this day. I am waiting
for a Kinscherff that Jamie is making for me and hopefully will be ready
soon. I'd think a dozen times before selling one of Jamie's guitars. They are amazing.
Tom from Texas
My Kinscherff High Noon is almost fourteen years old now, and still gets
played pretty much every day. It always seems to have a bit of new music in
it.
I've got a High Noon, ser. #202




It's not for sale.
Tom from Texas
2016-04-01 17:09:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Steve Daniels
On Thu, 31 Mar 2016 06:44:38 -0500, against all advice, something
Post by Al Evans
Post by Tom from Texas
Chris's post is six years old but still valid to this day. I am waiting
for a Kinscherff that Jamie is making for me and hopefully will be ready
soon. I'd think a dozen times before selling one of Jamie's guitars. They are amazing.
Tom from Texas
My Kinscherff High Noon is almost fourteen years old now, and still gets
played pretty much every day. It always seems to have a bit of new music in
it.
I've got a High Noon, ser. #202
It's not for sale.
Have you considered a donation to The Fund? Moose and Spike can be there SOON.

Tom from Texas
k***@yahoo.com
2016-07-28 21:20:34 UTC
Permalink
I have a Kinscherff (RK) High Noon from 1990.
How so early you ask? I actually have the first High Noon model.

My Names Shaun Young lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rockabilly trio
High Noon.

I commissioned Jamie to build a jumbo that looked like my 68 Gretsch Rancher
but actually sounded good.
We talked about sounds and he decided the 16" bout would cut through the Telecaster and Upright Bass better than a 17" jumbo.
The guitar is basically a rancher copy orange with the western inlay and all.
It has a wonderful flamed maple back and spruce top and of course sounds like angels singing.
After the successful build of my copy rancher 16" jumbo Jamie started building the High Noon model using all the things he had done to mine minus the Gretsch accouterments of course!
The guitar has been all over the world, played at Carnegie Hall and beat and banged on worse that I care to admit and it still sounds better and better.
I've pretty much retired it except for special occasions when High Noon reunites to play festivals and such.
Al Evans
2016-07-29 14:01:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by k***@yahoo.com
I have a Kinscherff (RK) High Noon from 1990.
How so early you ask? I actually have the first High Noon model.
My Names Shaun Young lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rockabilly trio
High Noon.
I commissioned Jamie to build a jumbo that looked like my 68 Gretsch Rancher
but actually sounded good.
We talked about sounds and he decided the 16" bout would cut through the
Telecaster and Upright Bass better than a 17" jumbo.
The guitar is basically a rancher copy orange with the western inlay and all.
It has a wonderful flamed maple back and spruce top and of course sounds
like angels singing.
After the successful build of my copy rancher 16" jumbo Jamie started
building the High Noon model using all the things he had done to mine
minus the Gretsch accouterments of course!
The guitar has been all over the world, played at Carnegie Hall and beat
and banged on worse that I care to admit and it still sounds better and better.
I've pretty much retired it except for special occasions when High Noon
reunites to play festivals and such.
How cool! I've sent a copy of this post to Jamie, along with a link to a
picture of it I found on the web.

Loading Image...

--Al Evans
Geoff
2016-11-03 15:34:35 UTC
Permalink
I was looking on the net to try and find the mad enthusiast who first turned me on to Jamie Kinscherff's guitars, at the Cheltenham (UK) guitar show. And it mus presumably be you, Chris!

Impressed by the sound, the look and the meticulous construction of the two guitars Chris brought along, I hunted high and low before finding a 2005 Brazilian/Adirondack High Noon on US eBay. Made a deal and, because I was due to visit the US soon after, had it sent to where I was staying and proudly brought it back to the UK that July...as a retirement present for myself!

It looks stunning, but more importantly the sound and volume was a revelation. However, it's not been without its problems. It has developed the merest whisper of a hump where the neck/fingerboard meet the body and the saddle has to be set higher than ideal as a result.

Suffice to say that I don't NEED another guitar after this one....but I've hankered after another Kinscherff... So last week, I managed a really good deal on an earlier Rosewood/Spruce High Noon (1995). No aerospace X-bracing-with-holes but it still sounds full, clear and loud. And I just sat there developing musical ideas...as I did the previous time!

SO, are we near a tipping point to start a European/UK fan group??

Geoff
Post by Chris Stern
In 2005 I spent a day playing a ton of acoustic guitars at Mandolin
Brothers. One guitar stood out. It was a Kinscherff High Noon in
Madagascar/Adirondack. I couldn't put it down. From memory the price
was above $7,000 and I couldn't afford it. I had pictures of that
guitar on my computer desktop for months until it was sold. I saw a
header on this newsgroup around the same time along the lines of "I
played the best guitar I've ever played today" and before I opened the
email I knew which guitar it would be about AND IT WAS! I am not
making this up.
Having owned some truly great guitars in my time, including 2 Olsons,
a Tippin (still have it), Lowdens, Martins Taylors, a Granata (still
have it) Gallaghers, Larrivees a Gibson J50 and many others (over 45
years) I now own, as well as the Tippin and Granata, 4 guitars built
by Jamie Kinscherff. As far as I know I have the entire European
collection!
For me, this is the end of the search. Jamie KInscherff is a genius at
building guitars but outside of Texas is hardly known and for some
reason his guitars are not selling.
How I got them is a long story involving luck, friends, and some deep
breaths.
They are
2003 High Noon (SJish) EIR/Adir When I got this guitar (May 2007) I
couldn't put it down and played almost all night the first time.
2006 High Noon Mad/Adir Got this Jul 2007 and was bitterly
disappointed at first. Compared to the first High Noon and the one of
similar construction I had played at Mando Bros it sounded awful. I
could not envisage it playing in to anything like a comparable sound.
2007 High Noon 12 string Mahog/Adir Ordered after Lance McCullom told
me how wonderful Jamie's 12 strings were/are. It's AMAZING!
2007 Troubadour (Gibson L00 ish with 24.9 scale) EIR/Adir. I first
played tis at Hill Country Guitars in Wimberley in October 2007 and
fell in love (I have witnesses). Amazingly in Oct 2008 it was still
there and a deal was done.
So, what can I say about them? Well, the disappointing Mad/EIR got a
lot of bashing in open G and D, as Al Evans said, "Bash hell out of
it!" and I did. It didn't seem to be making much of a difference and I
talked to Jamie about drastic action being taken such as having a new
top put on. It got left for a few months hanging on my wall and one
day I took it off, more to dust it than anything else, played a few
notes and WOW! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! It had quietly opened up on
it's own.
The original 2003 High Noon got written about as the best guitar at
the 2007 Cheltenham Acoustic Guitar show. Can't argue with that!
The 12 string gets better and better and even manages to stay in tune.
The Troubadour, well, all I can say is that two friends of mine, both
professional players, one the owner of my former Olson SJ and the
other, the owner of the Sobell that Martin Simpson played before he
went and ordered his first, both put the Troubadour in the same league
as their guitars. (Also the 2003 HN, they haven't played the others).
If I had to pick one guitar to take with me to heaven it would be the
Troubadour.
The point of writing this? Jamie seems to have gone off the radar
these days except for those of us who know about his wonderful
guitars. Anybody reading this who is considering having a guitar built
for them PLEASE think about a Kinscherff. I, and others will send
mp3's pictures and if you are in my neck of the woods you can come and
play them. If you want a guitar that you can't put down get a
Kinscherff.
That's it......anyone else going to add more.......
Oh yes and the spin off is that I've made a ton of great friends at
the TX gatherings too.
Chris
l***@gmail.com
2017-09-01 17:57:59 UTC
Permalink
I just got a used high noon. I am looking for a clear pickguard. Taylor sells one, do you know if it will fit or do you have a link to one that you used?

https://www.taylorguitars.com/taylorware/pickguards/pickguard-static-universal

Also, does anyone know what gauge strings are standard on a high noon? I have played Elixir polyweb lights on my Guild for years.
Al Evans
2017-09-02 11:35:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by l***@gmail.com
I just got a used high noon. I am looking for a clear pickguard. Taylor
sells one, do you know if it will fit or do you have a link to one that you used?
https://www.taylorguitars.com/taylorware/pickguards/pickguard-static-universal
Also, does anyone know what gauge strings are standard on a high noon? I
have played Elixir polyweb lights on my Guild for years.
Those should be fine. My High Noon is 15 years old now. I still think it's
the best guitar ever. I used Elixir Nanoweb lights for a long time, now use
Martin Lifespan SP Cleartone mediums. Jamie normally ships them with
lights.

--Al Evans

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