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Old 08-22-2019, 11:59 AM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Default New Era Crooked Star Owners-Any out there? Updated in Post #32.

ARK New Era Tony Klassen fans will know that the Crooked Star line started up by Tony in 2016 offers guitars based on his most popular models with more basic appointments with less bling, which allows him to sell these for about half the usual price of his regular New Era guitars. Tony has confirmed that there are 14 Crooked Stars out there. Would love for any other members of this small club to represent!

I am very grateful to Tony for starting up the CS line to give those of us of more modest means a chance to receive the benefit of his immense talents. Thanks, Tony.

I'll start things off with this recently purchased (from an AGF member) Senorita. Sitka top with Maple B/S.

This from Tony:
"I have a friend near by with a sawmill. Ample supply of Walnut, Cherry and Maple. This first guitar has Maple back and sides from a tree removed from downtown Lansing MI about 10 years ago. The bridge will be Osage Orange - North American ebony!"
Any other CS owners out there?
Just played a gig with it last night. Wonderful!


__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux

Last edited by bayoubengal; 09-06-2019 at 01:32 PM.
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  #2  
Old 08-22-2019, 02:38 PM
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No Crooked Stars for me but I have met Tony at Fur Peace Ranch and played two of his New Era guitars, a Larson super jumbo and a brazilian Senorita. I also got up close to Roy Bookbinder playing a couple of his signature models. Tony's a nice guy and I liked his guitars.
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  #3  
Old 08-22-2019, 09:39 PM
Ledgerock Ledgerock is offline
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I have a Crooked Star 0-18. It's a fantastic guitar!
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1984 Franklin OM
1999 Collings OM2H
2015 ARK New Era Recording Tone
2021 ARK New Era Ninita
2021 Martin 00-18
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  #4  
Old 08-22-2019, 10:04 PM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ledgerock View Post
I have a Crooked Star 0-18. It's a fantastic guitar!
Cool! Is this it?


__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #5  
Old 08-22-2019, 10:14 PM
Ledgerock Ledgerock is offline
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I think that one belongs to Kris Truelson, from Bill and the Belles. If you click the Crooked Star page on Tony's site, mine is the first one you see.
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1984 Franklin OM
1999 Collings OM2H
2015 ARK New Era Recording Tone
2021 ARK New Era Ninita
2021 Martin 00-18
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  #6  
Old 08-22-2019, 10:24 PM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ledgerock View Post
I think that one belongs to Kris Truelson, from Bill and the Belles. If you click the Crooked Star page on Tony's site, mine is the first one you see.
Gotcha. Maybe this one?
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #7  
Old 08-22-2019, 10:28 PM
Ledgerock Ledgerock is offline
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That's the one! I play it everyday and like it more all the time. Tony makes killer guitars. How is the Senorita? I haven't seen one in person.
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1984 Franklin OM
1999 Collings OM2H
2015 ARK New Era Recording Tone
2021 ARK New Era Ninita
2021 Martin 00-18
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  #8  
Old 08-22-2019, 10:40 PM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ledgerock View Post
That's the one! I play it everyday and like it more all the time. Tony makes killer guitars. How is the Senorita? I haven't seen one in person.
Great. Trying to get an Unofficial Registry going! I don't think I had yours in my count because I was looking at the CS Facebook Page and not the New Era site, and Tony has confirmed that there are 14 CS Guitars.

My Senorita edition has Maple B/S so the bass is not deep like a RW, but I found it to be surprisingly present. I was a little concerned because I once had a Larrivee Maple B/S that didn’t have enough bass, but it was an OM size so that probably made the difference. This guitar is very light and articulate along with a nice low end. I just played the Senorita at a gig last night (I had a K&K Mini installed) and I was very impressed with the tone and the playability. It also stays in tune better than any guitar I own. Very happy guy here.
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux

Last edited by bayoubengal; 08-26-2019 at 10:25 AM.
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  #9  
Old 08-26-2019, 10:27 AM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Tony has confirmed that there are 14 Crooked Star Guitars out there. Any more owners care to chime in?
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #10  
Old 08-29-2019, 11:51 AM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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So I have accounted for two more CS Guitars.
Ledgerock is correct that Kris Truelson, from Bill and the Belles owns this 0-18 (confirmed by Tony):

Well I can't believe it, but the next one to be listed is owned by me. This CS 17" Prairie State Style Jumbo came up for sale on reverb and I bought it:



I feel blessed to own 2 out of the 14 built so far (Senorita and Prairie State).

So here is the registry as of today:

Senorita (14 Fret)-bayoubengal
Prairie State Jumbo-bayoubengal
0-18-Ledgerock
0-18-Kris Truelson

Four listed and 10 to go.
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #11  
Old 08-30-2019, 11:51 PM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Well I can't believe it, but the next one to be listed is also to be owned by me. The same guy who sold me the CS 17" Prairie State Style Jumbo just sold me the CS Euphonon with Mahogany B/S.



So here is the registry as of today:

Senorita (14 Fret)-bayoubengal
Prairie State Jumbo-bayoubengal
Euphonon Mahogany B/S-bayoubengal
0-18-Ledgerock
0-18-Kris Truelson

Five listed and nine to go.
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #12  
Old 08-30-2019, 11:56 PM
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SalFromChatham SalFromChatham is offline
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Pat... you move quick! Congrats! You are cornering the market....
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  #13  
Old 08-31-2019, 12:09 AM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by themissal View Post
Pat... you move quick! Congrats! You are cornering the market....
Ha, Sal. It seems like it, doesn't it? I really only wanted a Euphonon (I thought). But when the Senorita came up for sale, I went for it because I respect Tony so much as a builder and thought there would not be other CS owners out there selling. Incredibly one guy owned both the Prairie State Jumbo and the Euphonon and at first was only going to sell the Jumbo. Then he changed his mind and sold me the Euphonon as well. Now I gotta sell three guitars.

IMHO the New Era Crooked Star guitars are incredible hand made guitars based on unusual classics (Bacon and Day, Larson Brothers and others) at a price point that is not in the stratosphere.
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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  #14  
Old 08-31-2019, 06:53 AM
Ernesto Ernesto is offline
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That's incredible, lucky you, congrats!

Could you tell us how the three (Señorita, Jumbo, Euphonon Round shoulder) compare?

Best wishes
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  #15  
Old 08-31-2019, 07:45 AM
bayoubengal bayoubengal is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ernesto View Post
That's incredible, lucky you, congrats!

Could you tell us how the three (Señorita, Jumbo, Euphonon Round shoulder) compare?

Best wishes
Ernesto, I will receive the Euphonon on Tuesday. I’ll post my thoughts on all three next week!
__________________
1974 Martin D-28 (A gift for my 20th birthday from Mom and Dad)
"Frankenstein" 1948 Gibson J-50 Body/1938 L-00 Neck
2008 Martin 000-18 Norman Blake
2006 Jubal Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Prairie State Jumbo
2016 New Era Crooked Star Senorita
2020 Iris Smeck
1972 Guild Killdeer F112-6 Part Deux
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