Kline Resto Update,,again

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 14 Oct 2015 7:57 pm

Hey Sonny...that's looking great!!... BTW, that 12 string Excel of yours, I rebuilt and it came out real good ..ended up selling it to Stevet in China. Adios...Larry

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 15 Oct 2015 6:28 am

Hey Larry,,,thanks,,good to hear from you,,,yes,,I'm in regular communication with Steve,,,he is looking forward to actually seeing and playing the Excel when he comes to the US next summer.

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 16 Oct 2015 4:28 am

Joe Kline wrote:Looking good Sonny,
As for the limitations of the Kline changer it is more limitations of the guy doing it. If you want 8 pedal and 8 or 9 levers It can become very challenging and take a whole day to add the last couple levers.

As some are saying you can 'borrow' holes from other strings as well as drilling holes below the springs.
You can route a rod through multiple yokes if they pull to the same pitch.

I have always been able to give customers all the pulls they want. Even though it can get tough! $:\$

Joe glad to see you posting. Are you saying when I order my new Kline I can get 8 pedals and 8 knees?

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 16 Oct 2015 4:29 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:Stylized "K" installed,,,ready to start underneath,,,
Someone (Kline owner) had asked me to make them a "K" and I forgot who it was???

Sonny it really coming together. That's going to be on sharp looing Kline, I like it.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 16 Oct 2015 9:35 am

Wow, you've been busy!

Nice axe.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 16 Oct 2015 9:52 am

"K" belt buckles!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 16 Oct 2015 10:42 am

bob drawbaugh wrote:
Joe Kline wrote:Looking good Sonny,
As for the limitations of the Kline changer it is more limitations of the guy doing it. If you want 8 pedal and 8 or 9 levers It can become very challenging and take a whole day to add the last couple levers.

As some are saying you can 'borrow' holes from other strings as well as drilling holes below the springs.
You can route a rod through multiple yokes if they pull to the same pitch.

I have always been able to give customers all the pulls they want. Even though it can get tough! $:\$

Joe glad to see you posting. Are you saying when I order my new Kline I can get 8 pedals and 8 knees?

We could only hope he would start building again. I would have to sell my body to get one.

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 17 Oct 2015 6:07 am

Richard Sinkler wrote:
bob drawbaugh wrote:
Joe Kline wrote:Looking good Sonny,

As for the limitations of the Kline changer it is more limitations of the guy doing it. If you want 8 pedal and 8 or 9 levers It can become very challenging and take a whole day to add the last couple levers.

As some are saying you can 'borrow' holes from other strings as well as drilling holes below the springs.
You can route a rod through multiple yokes if they pull to the same pitch.

I have always been able to give customers all the pulls they want. Even though it can get tough! $:\$

Joe glad to see you posting. Are you saying when I order my new Kline I can get 8 pedals and 8 knees?
We could only hope he would start building again. I would have to sell my body to get one.

Richard, I told my wife the same thing. I would sell my body for a new Kline. She just told me I would come up way short. $:\$

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 17 Oct 2015 10:07 am

" She just told me I would come up way short.",,,,Huuuummmm??? OK!,,,LOL

Maybe if I ever get this one finished,,,,and then finish the one I had started before I got into this restoration project, I'll have one to let go,,,,???

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 19 Oct 2015 10:03 am

Well, I'm now in the process of re-rodding this little jewel,,,and I must say,,,this is not for the faint of heart,,,or the impatient,,,LOL (I think it would be an advantage to have been very good at the kid's game of "pick up Sticks"),,LOL. It is a very rewarding challenge,,for me anyway. Of course I'm trying to make everything look very straight and neat,,,I'm not sure a Kline is supposed to look neat and straight under the hood,,,just supposed to function!! It helps tremendously that I happen to have an old tuning chart that Joe made me several years ago. Seems like the past few days my sciatica has been torturing me,,,not allowing me to stand on my feet for very long,,,oh well,,,just like eating an elephant,,,,one bite at a time,,,LOL

Actually I'm about 2/3 finished with the hook ups,,,can't say it's been a piece of cake,,,but not really all that difficult. I'm very pleased with the way it's going.

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 22 Oct 2015 11:29 pm

I have never found any limitations in setting up a Kline other than the obvious. Kline's are all-pull so, no, they are not raise-predominant although they can be set up that way if desired. You can load a Kline up to the gills. One of the things I like about them is that if you have more than one pedal or KL pulling to a common note, you can connect each pull to a common pullrod which is next to impossible on most guitars save for rack-and-barrel types and ShoBud 2-hole pullers. Even then, the latter is hard to tune whereas the Kline is tuned just once and all common pulls are right there!!! Kline's seem to be unaffected by temperature changes. Ditto on Joe building again. Could he sub-contract the work? These are monster guitars....try to find anyone who has ever worn out a Kline!!!
Nice work, Sonny, and glad to see you went with the nitrided ejector pin axle. It'll still be on size when your grandkids have gray hair as the "skin" on these pins is right at 80 and 82 Rockwell C. The surface is also roller-burnished.
PRR

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 24 Oct 2015 6:02 am

Well said Paul, regarding the capabilities and quality of Klines,,,and I appreciate the kind words from you,,,and Joe! I was almost finished with the rodding when Joe pointed out a couple of things I'd done that, even though they worked, would have limited other factors,,,soooo,,,back to zero,,,I really wanted all new rods anyway so I'll just start back with new ones. I appreciate all the help Joe and Paul have given,,,,virtual gold mine of information and advice for this old five and dimer!!!!

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 8 Nov 2015 6:57 pm

Hi Sonny ,
When you start re rodding your Kline and you get deeper into it , I'm gonna pick your brain for some setup idea's ....I figure by then , you'll be either well versed in the mechanics of the Kline , or stark raving mad !!....

The wonderful job you are doing on yours has given me the inspiration to do mine !! ... Thanks for the follow ups on your progress ......GOOD ON YA !!....Jim

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Nov 2015 6:08 am

bob drawbaugh wrote:
Richard Sinkler wrote:
bob drawbaugh wrote:
Joe Kline wrote:Looking good Sonny,

As for the limitations of the Kline changer it is more limitations of the guy doing it. If you want 8 pedal and 8 or 9 levers It can become very challenging and take a whole day to add the last couple levers.

As some are saying you can 'borrow' holes from other strings as well as drilling holes below the springs.
You can route a rod through multiple yokes if they pull to the same pitch.

I have always been able to give customers all the pulls they want. Even though it can get tough! $:\$

Joe glad to see you posting. Are you saying when I order my new Kline I can get 8 pedals and 8 knees?
We could only hope he would start building again. I would have to sell my body to get one.

Richard, I told my wife the same thing. I would sell my body for a new Kline. She just told me I would come up way short. $:\$

That's Ok. Being a keyless guitar, it is short too.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 9 Nov 2015 6:43 am

So much for all the debate on keyed v. keyless - in the end it all comes down to length

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 9 Nov 2015 11:17 am

i fantasize about customizing a nice compact 12 string into my ultimate steel.
with all due respect for the builders and rebuilders out there, i'm still watching to see who comes up with a steel that they 'actually' use to make their own personal musical mark with.
i think a kline can do it. but it also takes a player who can deliver the goods.
tom brumley with his 11 string and randy beavers with a 10 string with his special tuning inspire me.

the bottom line is , 'wow, that guy is playing some great stuff'...

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 9 Nov 2015 1:01 pm

niiiiiiice...can't wait to see it when it gets done ....

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 10 Nov 2015 2:21 am

Just listen to some of the "Kline" work done by the late Jeff Newman on a Kline S-12. I was fortunate to have seen Jeff perform on a Kline several times over the years....it's some awesome stuff.
PRR

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 10 Nov 2015 3:26 am

Ian Rae wrote:So much for all the debate on keyed v. keyless - in the end it all comes down to length

Does this mean that size isn't everything?

This is beautiful Sonny, the brightwork, especially the tailpiece, and the inlay....

Recently a Moyo came up - very short - and it's said that the mechanics looked Kline-ish. Must be something to it.

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 11 Nov 2015 5:25 pm

Paul Redmond wrote:Just listen to some of the "Kline" work done by the late Jeff Newman on a Kline S-12. I was fortunate to have seen Jeff perform on a Kline several times over the years....it's some awesome stuff.
PRR

Paul, I agree. I heard him do some great stuff on his kline. I heard him do Amazing Grace on it one time. I think he used every string and pedal on the guitar. It was truly amazing.