The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 03-18-2019, 08:33 PM
usb_chord's Avatar
usb_chord usb_chord is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,627
Default Franklin OM (Nick Kukich) Review

With all the Franklin fanfare lately, I figured this was a great time to jump on the bandwagon. I grabbed this incredible guitar about a year ago, but I’ve never really given it its proper AGF due. My curiosity about Nick’s instruments was piqued back in 2005 or so. I was in Robin’s old shop (Guitar Gallery) out in Nashville auditioning a Goodall when she grabbed the Franklin off the rack and said, simply: “You’ll like this.”

Boy oh boy was she right! Although the price of the guitar was no where near anything I could afford, the sound, ease of response and overall “quiet” aesthetic really, REALLY appealed to me. Here’s a direct link to that old listing - http://www.guitargal.com/products/fr...-sale-2010-koa

That guitar languished there for a few years - I know, because I checked pretty often! That jumbo, I believe is a classic example of why people shouldn’t assume that a guitar is a dud or something merely because it has been in the market a long time. Especially in this buy/sell climate.

Anyways, as I started getting more experience with solo-luthier built guitars, I fell off the deep in pretty quickly; I was buying, selling and seeking out to play all sorts of things - From Ervin Es and Jeff Ts to Kim Ws and pre war Martins.

At some point amidst the debauchery, I found this thing. A Franklin OM in German Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood, built in 2008. Here’s what Paul Heumiller over at Dream Guitars said about it -

" One of the best OMs out there. I love the way it plays and sounds. If you like that classic Martin sound, you'll most likely love this one. I've long been a fan of Franklin guitars. This OM is one of the very best I've ever played by Nick Kukich. It has an unbelievable bass response and big, juicy trebles, that I personally love. I'm not sure how such a big voice comes out of this guitar, some wonderful magic going on under the hood! "

It’s all true. Nick is building some of the most incredible sounding guitars known to mankind. I’ve compared it to everything, and it’s hard to understand why Nick isn’t able to charge over 30k for one of these things with an accompanying wait-list decades long. This guitar (and quite a few others I’ve played of his) are certainly worth it. I mean, if I could afford it and had to pay that kinda money to get a guitar that sounds like this one, I absolutely would.

I don’t know how he does it, but he’s doing it and if you’re a fan of stupidly great sounding OMs and Jumbos, you really owe it to yourself to consider him for your next commission.















Last edited by usb_chord; 03-27-2019 at 05:25 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-18-2019, 09:01 PM
rick-slo's Avatar
rick-slo rick-slo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 17,172
Default

Here ya go (and for less than I expected for this maker and the woods used)

https://www.guitargal.com/products/f...CABEgK2cfD_BwE

__________________
Derek Coombs
Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs
Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs

"Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love
To be that we hold so dear
A voice from heavens above
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-18-2019, 09:26 PM
usb_chord's Avatar
usb_chord usb_chord is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,627
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick-slo View Post
Here ya go (and for less than I expected for this maker and the woods used)

https://www.guitargal.com/products/f...CABEgK2cfD_BwE

Well, I already have one (as described above) but someone should buy it!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-18-2019, 10:59 PM
Diamondave's Avatar
Diamondave Diamondave is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Venice CA
Posts: 2,576
Default

NICE....!!! Play it and love it...!!! Go Franklin...
__________________
onedayatatime
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-19-2019, 06:48 AM
massimo massimo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Roma
Posts: 372
Default

Here we go. Fantastic guitar...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg FGFranklinGuitar-5 ridotta.jpg (23.1 KB, 733 views)
File Type: jpg FGFranklinGuitar-4 ridotta.jpg (16.5 KB, 730 views)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-19-2019, 06:54 AM
massimo massimo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Roma
Posts: 372
Default

more of it...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg FGFranklinGuitar-10 ridotta.jpg (37.6 KB, 731 views)
File Type: jpg FGFranklinGuitar-12 ridotta.jpg (25.0 KB, 728 views)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-19-2019, 08:20 AM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: North of the Golden Gate, South of the Redwoods, East of the Pacific and West of the Sierras
Posts: 10,571
Default

Congrats! That is one beautiful guitar.

Best,
Jayne
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-19-2019, 08:39 AM
usb_chord's Avatar
usb_chord usb_chord is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,627
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by massimo View Post
more of it...
WOW!! This is absolutely gorgeous. Is this a cuban mahogany? What's the top wood? What do you think of it?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-19-2019, 10:51 AM
massimo massimo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Roma
Posts: 372
Default

The top is Carpathian, back and sides are figured mahogany (not Cuban).
1 13/16 nut and 2 5/16 string distance at saddle- I commissioned it like this because I only play fingerstyle.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-20-2019, 05:36 PM
iim7V7IM7's Avatar
iim7V7IM7 iim7V7IM7 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: An Exit Off the Turnpike in New Jersey
Posts: 5,152
Default

Thanks for sharing your “Franklin” story Brian.... Nick no doubt builds some profoundly good guitars.
__________________
A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings…
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-20-2019, 08:39 PM
justonwo's Avatar
justonwo justonwo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,120
Default

Great story, Mr. Chord. Glad you're enjoying this killer new guitar!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-21-2019, 08:32 AM
Deft Tungsman's Avatar
Deft Tungsman Deft Tungsman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 915
Default

Thanks for sharing your experience. I love the understated looks. It must be hard to put down. Very cool case, too. Congratulations, dude!
__________________
____________________________________________
1922 Martin 0-28
1933 Martin 0-17
1974 Alvarez/Yairi CY120
2010 Baranik Parlor
2013 Circa OM-18
2014 Claxton OM Traditional
2014 Blackbird Rider
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-21-2019, 08:35 AM
Deft Tungsman's Avatar
Deft Tungsman Deft Tungsman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 915
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick-slo View Post
Here ya go (and for less than I expected for this maker and the woods used)
I'm speechless. Great score !
__________________
____________________________________________
1922 Martin 0-28
1933 Martin 0-17
1974 Alvarez/Yairi CY120
2010 Baranik Parlor
2013 Circa OM-18
2014 Claxton OM Traditional
2014 Blackbird Rider
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-21-2019, 09:51 AM
massimo massimo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Roma
Posts: 372
Default

Usb chord,
wonderful guitar, and that Brazilian looks stunning
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-21-2019, 11:05 AM
usb_chord's Avatar
usb_chord usb_chord is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,627
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deft Tungsman View Post
I'm speechless. Great score !
Oh, I didn't realize that was your guitar, Derek! Congrats on that one. Looks exceptional. Deft, how's that Claxton? That's such a cool wood combination.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Custom Shop

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:16 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=