Kline Owners-Stand and Be Counted

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 5 May 2009 4:29 am

Here a pic of Will Roger's guitar..

Des Hetherington · Post by **Des Hetherington** » 5 May 2009 10:25 pm

hmmmmm they just dont look right,

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 6 May 2009 4:49 am

They look perfect!

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 7 May 2009 7:06 pm

Amen!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 8 May 2009 6:56 am

I still want to know how many Joe built! Anyone???

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 8 May 2009 12:41 pm

Master Joe Kline and one of his tools!!
I have an S10U and an S12U Kline. Playing Klines since '77. Gerry[/img]

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 8 May 2009 1:19 pm

GREAT PIC!

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 8 May 2009 3:01 pm

Thanks John...I have the evil twin of your all white one...it's the only all black one Joe made, and according to him, will ever make. Legs, end plates,rods,screws, pedal rack,knee levers...etc...he said it was a real PITA!! I haven't found any black strings yet!!

Gerry

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 8 May 2009 3:59 pm

Hey Gerry,,great pic,,good to see what Mr. Joe looks like. How old is that picture? Do you have any idea how many guitars he built?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 8 May 2009 4:20 pm

Gerry! It's so wonderful to hear you chime in! I had such a great time trading licks with you at Don's store! I'm very happy to hear from you!

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 8 May 2009 7:30 pm

John and Sonny..
Here are a few more I hope you enjoy...
...and speaking of Don...also a better shot of Joe pickin' with his computer...
...and my BLACK U12......Ummm..as for dates...ahhh, I think early this millennium or there abouts...I'm not a very good record keeper, sorry.... Gerry

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 11 May 2009 5:43 am

I had always pictured Joe as an older man,,,,he looks like he should still be building guitars!!!!!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 12 May 2009 11:45 am

HE SHOULD STILL BE BUILDING GUITARS

Sorry for the shouting, but I want Joe to hear me.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 13 May 2009 5:35 pm

Do you think Joe would have one of these he could sell me? Just the piece with the pickup cavity.

What's the best way to reach him?

Thanks
Dave

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 13 May 2009 7:16 pm

Dave, I'm not sure how to reach Joe anymore...unfortunately I haven't seen him in a few years. Dave Decker did some repair work for my Kline a couple years ago; he used to work with Joe and may still have some parts access through Hummingbird Music...http://www.hummingbirdmusicstudio.com/main.html

Paul Redmond · Post by **Paul Redmond** » 13 May 2009 11:42 pm

IMO the Kline is still a very viable guitar in today's marketplace. At one time, Joe was intent on selling all the tooling involved in producing these fine guitars, and then everything seemed to go hush-hush and little more was heard about it.
If Joe is living in seclusion and doesn't intend to build another Kline, I would beg of him to re-consider the sale of the instrument/tooling to others who desire to keep this phenomenal legacy alive and well.
There's too much water over the dam and under the bridge to look the other way. This guitar blazed a trail in steel guitar history and the fortunate few who still own and play Kline guitars can attest first-hand as to the integrity of these instruments. I would hope that Joe would consider the re-start of the production of these guitars...maybe by someone other than himself...and make someone "a deal they can't refuse".
Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but this tremendous instrument should not be allowed to fall into the history books forever.
PRR

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 14 May 2009 3:40 am

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 14 May 2009 4:55 am

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 14 May 2009 5:20 am

Nick, since you have some pretty strong opinions about the Kline, I assume you have played a few of these guitars and have some personal knowledge of them. Besides the looks of the keyless, in which areas did you find them lacking? Interestingly, one thing I've noted is that when Klines come up for sale, they don't last long. Must be non-Nashville buyers who land them.

I went back and read your first comment, Nick; I aguess this answers myfirst question about the amount of first-hand experience you've had with Klines:

So what is a Kline? Where are they made and have they been around for awhile? It's a very unusual looking guitar but I'll bet they sound good.

I suggest you give one a try with an open-mind; you might be pleasantly surprised. Thanks, steve t

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 14 May 2009 6:19 am

Around here Kline's fall in about the same catagory with the Wilcox & Lamar's or other various homebrew makes.

Nick let it be known that builders like Chet Wilcox and Lamar will not appreciate your statement.
Let alone all the builders that try their best to build their dream guitar.
We all know that IYO there is only one steel guitar brand and that is Emmons.
The Kline guitars are innovative and they were well ahead of their time.

Through the years most of the well known Nashville session players have recorded on Emmons, Sho-Bud, Franklin, & Zums etc.

Well.....good for them but you seem to forget that there is only a hand full of these session players.
Because of those session players playing a Emmons, Sho-Bud, Franklin, Zum automatically means that everybody should play one of these?

I think you never played the newer Wilcox or a Lamar steel.....right?
Don't judge a book by it's cover Nick.
It seems that you don't know what you are talking about.
Thank God you are not a record producer....

Ron

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 14 May 2009 6:31 am

Around here Kline's fall in about the same catagory with the Wilcox & Lamar's or other various homebrew makes. At a well known steel shop in this area you hear alot of chuckles when you mention Kline, so they aren't really recognized as a top shelf namebrand. And as I've mentioned before, I personally don't like Keyless!
Through the years most of the well known Nashville session players have recorded on Emmons, Sho-Bud, Franklin, & Zums etc. You hardly ever hear of a Kline Steel in Nashville. I guess it's kinda like comparing a Gibson ES-335 to a Harmony Rocket.

Thanks for reminding me why I don't live in Nashville.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 14 May 2009 6:37 am

Nashville???,,is that the place that used to be famous for country music???

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 14 May 2009 7:14 am

Interesting. I have always wanted a nice lacquer finish Kline. Every time one comes up I don't have the money on hand.. I came really close on that green one that Dave Z got, but he beat me to it! Some funny comments on here, both intentional and unintentional.

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 14 May 2009 7:17 am

I'm only guessing but I believe these pics of Joe are about 20 years old. Late 80's? Am I way off? Great shots. Thanks for posting. Don

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 14 May 2009 7:15 pm

Actually the fotos are within the last 7 or 8 years.
...and guys, try not to get too upset with someone that doesn't appreciate the Kline guitar...they are not for everyone...there are a lot more Budweiser drinkers in the world than those who understand the taste of "homebrew"..I too tend to chuckle a lot when I think of my Kline so we have that in common. It seldom stays on any shelf tho, top or bottom, as I play it every day!! I don't know if this is true, but I heard that Emmons once said it was one of the two best steels he ever played...but what would he know...he's a Nashville guy, isn't he?