ShortScale.org

I've been dilly-dallying about posting this (though I've been quite excited). I was contacted through YouTube about 6 weeks ago by a luthier out of Washington named Kurt Schoen. He builds very unique cigar-box resonators and guitars out of found and salvaged wood. In any case, he said he had been experimenting with single-PUP Danelectro style guitars and noticed a demo I did of my '57 U1. He asked If I'd be interested in trying one of his U1 prototypes and possibly doing a demo or 2 for YouTube. I jumped at the chance, naturally, so he built me a guitar and sent it off!

The body is hollow black walnut - neck is 5-piece walnut/maple, ebony board, with a fixed trussrod



The side binding is hand-tooled and stitched leather - it's really remarkably attractive IRL.


Serial #5


It's definitely an unusual look - really off-handed and rough. What's remarkable is how much it has grown on me already.


The neck is absolutely orgasmic - perfectly straight and beefy. Sound isn't quite as nice as my U1 (not as loud), but it is very clear and chimey. It's extremely resonant - a full pound lighter than my U1 and you can really hear how little internal structure there is. The bridge (no good picture) is totally non-adjustable - it's a hand carved piece of ebony mounted on walnut. It's kind of interesting - you have no control over the action or intonation. Both are perfect, but the lack of option is disconcerting at first. It's been an interesting experience, and overall I've really enjoyed it.

Still not sure if this is for-keeps or not. In all the emails and phone calls we've exchanged he has never once mentioned returning it. I don't want to offer to return it and give him ideas . I've decided I'm not giving it back unless he asks for it - after 6 months, I'll assume it's mine. Greedy, greedy, greedy.

That is totally awesome. The back story, the instrument, the builder.

A+ Thread.

I really like the look o that one. Wonderful grain. I dig the black lipstick pup too.

in all ways awesome.

wow. thats amazing.

post demos as soon as you can!

Mo Rawka wrote:wow. thats amazing.

post demos as soon as you can!

Demos will hopefully start this weekend - I've got a big paper for my senior capstone thingy, but nights are free.

The side binding is fuckin awesome!

I like it a lot.

http://www.schoenguitars.com

Good website too.

UPDATE!

No demos as of yet, but for good reason. I started having some trouble with the bridge last week, the type of thing that needs a bit of luthiery to fix. Plus the output from the PUP was just too low to get a good sound. I emailed Kurt and gave him some of my notes, which were received very enthusiastically. I basically said I didn't want to put up a demo if the guitar wasn't sounding its best (plus this is a prototype).

He got back to me a bit later, saying he'll start working on another prototype with a tune-o-matic bridge and different PUP. I'm hanging on to this one for now, and the new one will be sent my way once it's done! He also gave me the go-ahead to tweak the bridge and such myself.

This fellow is really great.

he sounds like a nice chap, but assuming he's giving you free guitars seems a bit cheeky on your part. i'd feel uncomfortable in your position if it was something i wanted to hang onto and the guy's out of pocket as a result. if you don't want to keep it, send it back.

stewart wrote:he sounds like a nice chap, but assuming he's giving you free guitars seems a bit cheeky on your part. i'd feel uncomfortable in your position if it was something i wanted to hang onto and the guy's out of pocket as a result. if you don't want to keep it, send it back.

I HOPE it's free, but I really don't expect it - more of a fantasy. He told me to hang onto this one for now, so that's what I'm doing.

fuckin sexy

pickup looks huge. love the setneck.

what is the status on this, william?

Bridge is screwy still - grabbing tools to fix it when I go home this weekend. I need to talk to him about when/if he wants it back. Haven't emailed in a couple weeks, so I assume the deal is the same as it was then.

Honestly, my life is swamped right now (HA!). One of my scholarships was pulled, so I'm looking at $15,000+ to finish 12 credits. The car got thrown on top of that, plus a super-tight series of deadlines on my senior research project. College is not going well for anyone, so it's also been daily fights with most of my friends as they take their personal problems out on eachother. Basically, life sucks and it's drilled into our heads daily that unless we "distinguish ourselves" in college the job market is grim.

This should go in the pub, actually...

shhh. no one will notice.

hope everything turns around. please update accordingly.

i may have missed, but did you ever demo?

Will, this is all amazing!

Will wrote:One of my scholarships was pulled, so I'm looking at $15,000+ to finish 12 credits.

And how much do you think this guitar might fetch on ebay?