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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. |
#2
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Here ya go (and for less than I expected for this maker and the woods used)
https://www.guitargal.com/products/f...CABEgK2cfD_BwE
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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 |
#3
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Quote:
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#4
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NICE....!!! Play it and love it...!!! Go Franklin...
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onedayatatime |
#5
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Here we go. Fantastic guitar...
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#6
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more of it...
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#7
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Congrats! That is one beautiful guitar.
Best, Jayne |
#8
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WOW!! This is absolutely gorgeous. Is this a cuban mahogany? What's the top wood? What do you think of it?
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#9
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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. |
#10
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Thanks for sharing your “Franklin” story Brian.... Nick no doubt builds some profoundly good guitars.
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#11
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Great story, Mr. Chord. Glad you're enjoying this killer new guitar!
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Circa OM-30/34 (Adi/Mad) | 000-12 (Ger/Maple) | OM-28 (Adi/Brz) | OM-18/21 (Adi/Hog) | OM-42 (Adi/Braz) Fairbanks SJ (Adi/Hog) | Schoenberg/Klepper 000-12c (Adi/Hog) | LeGeyt CLM (Swiss/Amzn) | LeGeyt CLM (Carp/Koa) Brondel A-2 (Carp/Mad) |
#12
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Thanks for sharing your experience. I love the understated looks. It must be hard to put down. Very cool case, too. Congratulations, dude!
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____________________________________________ 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 |
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I'm speechless. Great score !
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____________________________________________ 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 |
#14
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Usb chord,
wonderful guitar, and that Brazilian looks stunning |
#15
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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.
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