January 2009 \ Features \ Builder Profile \ 5 Tele-Style Builders You Should Know

5 Tele-Style Builders You Should Know

by Adam Moore

We talk to Ron Kirn, Rick Kelly, Chihoe Hahn, Bill Crook and Jay Monterose about building boutique Tele-style guitars.
Premier Guitar January 2009
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There’s a lot of talk of change this year, and that’s all fine and good, but some things should just stay the same. One of those is a 1952 blackguard Telecaster. Capable of covering jazz, blues, rock and everything in between with a distinctive bite, Leo Fender’s Telecaster proved that planks of wood could indeed sound musical. Comprised simply of an ash body and major-league worthy neck, this guitar was nothing other than a workhorse; its construction and modular nature made it a natural choice for active musicians. And although it would (temporarily) be eclipsed by its space age brother starting in 1954, the Telecaster has always retained a devoted cadre of loyalists who have prized the instrument for its clarity and uncompromising honesty.

While time and skyrocketing vintage markets have taken the number of original blackguards in the wild to new lows—with the remaining likely sitting behind glass or vault doors—a still-going-strong boutique world is ensuring that these guitars are available for a new generation, or an older generation just looking to relive the glory days of instrument design. Fortunately for buyers, a competitive marketplace and expanding supply options have brought about better materials, higher quality, myriad options and bearable prices. There’s now really no reason not to have a good sounding, well built Tele-style guitar in your arsenal.

This month, we sat down with five small builders— Bill Crook, Chihoe Hahn, Rick Kelly, Ron Kirn and Jay Monterose—who all specialize in Tele-style guitars, and asked them about their approach to building and just what separates their guitars from the rest. And even though Tele-style guitars are fairly straightforward in nature, we found five different answers, each with their own dream of the ideal Tele-style guitar. So whether you’re looking for an “art-quality” instrument to call your number one, or you just need another Tele to fill out your closet, we’re betting you’ll find a builder here to call.

Hit Page 2 for the first of our five builders...

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Comments

 (111 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Slim
on 09/22/2009 		Where is Stephen Talkovich? His T style creations are incredible!
SZywick
on 07/25/2009 		Has anyone ever heard of a Triumph tele-style guitar? Grover machine heads, single-coil bridge and neck pickups, volume and tone control, and a three position switch. Black solid body, black pick guard, rose wood fret-board
ComeCleanJay
on 04/06/2009 		If Jay Monterose is such a stand-up guy (nobody said anything negative about the quality of his work), why doesn't he or any of his faithful defenders post a telephone number where he can be reached and a legitimate business address for Vintique?
Wilson
on 04/06/2009 		Joker, you are a moron. If you can find me the kind of Tele that Rick Kelly hand-made for me exactly to my specs out of 100-year old ash and maple with Lindy's and a tweed case for $500, I'll take 100 of them. He charged like $1,300, and I felt like I was robbing him. I have Gibsons, Fenders, Martins and a bunch of other stuff, and his has a special place in my heart and on my wall. With what they charge for the equivalent, Fender can bite me and so can you.
mark
on 03/28/2009 		joker its called free market economics. i paid 3k for my crook and it was worth it. it was a mutually agreed upon price. should bill sell them for 900 bucks just because he is a nice guy. quit your government job and join the private sector. supply and demand baby
Brian
on 03/27/2009 		Bill Crook builds amazing guitars. I've got three Crooks- 2 teles and a Strat and they are anything but typical. As far as price, they are worth every penny. You pay more than you would for a Fender off the rack, but you get what you pay for. His attention to detail is amazing. I'll put those guitars up against anything offered by anyone out there.
Chris
on 03/16/2009 		Carmine Street Guitars is the nicest place on Earth that I know of. The only word I can think of at the moment is Lothlorian, which maybe close. There's a wide, odd, aura around it, and inside a conflation of energy where beauty, history, field, memory, aging in the brandy sense, and tranquility are observed but aren't once discernable. It's a heavy and not commercial feeling. And then old Treebeard is there and the feeling is plain and you see you're standing in a prehensile castle. "Instead of reading, talking, laughing just feeeeling!"
zane
on 03/13/2009 		yep Jay Monterose stole money from me too... he's a freaking thief!!!
Mike
on 02/11/2009 		http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/stratoca ster-discussion-forum/7272-gone-done-ron -kirn-build.html and http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/stratoca ster-discussion-forum/760-lets-build-one .html?highlight=kirn for ron kirn tbh.
Mike
on 02/11/2009 		Ron Kirn seems to be the best guy here, and from the forums I go on it seems he is fully legit and passionate, just cause some of the others on this list are rip off merchants, don't put down Kirn.



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