Kevin Kopp Guitars Bozeman Mt. ????????

[suburude63]

Has anyone ever played or know anything about Kopp guitars??? I heard a rumor he worked for Gibson in there custom shop ???

 

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[Guest]

Has anyone ever played or know anything about Kopp guitars??? I heard a rumor he worked for Gibson in there custom shop ???

 

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I've known Kevin for many years now; he's a good guy' date=' and indeed used to work in the Custom Shop when it was located on the 2nd floor above the shop there. A number of the other regulars here know him too.

 

He now produces guitars under his own name, from his own workshop near central Bozeman, and excellent instruments they are too.

 

You'll see his website here.

 

Fred

[suburude63]

 

I've known Kevin for many years now; he's a good guy' date=' and indeed used to work in the Custom Shop when it was located on the 2nd floor above the shop there. A number of the other regulars here know him too.

 

He now produces guitars under his own name, from his own workshop near central Bozeman, and excellent instruments they are too.

 

You'll see his website here.

 

Fred

 

 

Thanks Fred! Have you played his K 35?? suburude

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

They look like fine guitars. In fact, they look like Gibson's. Understandable if he used to work for the Custom Shop.

 

My immediate question when I saw them was, "Couldn't he come up with his own designs?"

 

The open book headstock? The moustache neck bottom (where it meets the sound hole. (very J200 like)

Bodies and pickguards that look like an AJ? The butterfly Dove/Doves in Flight look-a-like?

 

They may look and even sound dazzling, but they are not very original.

I'm not trying to knock the man's work, he does appear to be quite the artisan and craftsman, but those were my initial impressions.

[Taylor Player]

They look like fine guitars. In fact' date=' they look like Gibson's. Understandable if he used to work for the Custom Shop.

 

My immediate question when I saw them was, "Couldn't he come up with his own designs?"

 

The open book headstock? The moustache neck bottom (where it meets the sound hole. (very J200 like)

Bodies and pickguards that look like an AJ? The butterfly Dove/Doves in Flight look-a-like?

 

They may look and even sound dazzling, but they are not very original.

I'm not trying to knock the man's work, he does appear to be quite the artisan and craftsman, but those [i']were [/i]my initial impressions.

 

 

Maybe he tried and found that there is no way to improve perfection!

[Modac]

The Gibson designs have been copied by lots of people. That's because lots of people want guitars that look like Gibsons----and sound something like pre-war and wartime Gibsons---which some of the more heavily built Bozeman remakes most certainly don't. That's why Gibson now makes the Legend and True Vintage series---to not only recapture the basic look, but to recapture some of that unique tone.

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

I'm sure my review is somewhat unfair. I have never heard of Kopp before this thread. Would like to own one?

I have no doubt. I like a lot of bling on a guitar if it still sounds great. They look solid and probably have a sound and price tag to die for. I do wish him all the success he can handle. I would be a bit more impressed if his designs were original. I would love to hear one in the hands of a skilled player.

[onewilyfool]

Let's just put it this way......there are a LOT of luthiers out there who make their living by making Martin and Gibson guitars......some even BETTER than Martin or Gibson....lol.......but I digress.....to copy is one of the greatest compliments....

[Guest]

I don't want to speak out of turn here -- this is Gibson's Forum after all -- but I will say that Kevin used to (perhaps still is? -- don't know...) be a CF Martin Warranty guy for the area too, and did repair work thru and for Music Villa, the local 5-star Gibson dealer, which is also, incidentally, a great shop to see and know about.

 

I think Kevin, along with John Walker, another former Custom Shop luthier, represent a very high degree of the art, with a lot of vintage and new "Gibson-infused" concepts both in their build design, and in the tonal zone that their guitars occupy. Also obviously, taking in design cues from others, like Martin, I would say. Every one of these people, I believe, adds their own personality to their guitars. Kevin really strives for excellence, and based on my own expereince, and that of others who have played his guitars, I'd say he achieves that goal consistently.

 

There are others who build credible Gibson tonal-clones, including Aaron Cowles in Kalamazoo, who builds his 'Jubal' brand of flattops much in the vein of the Gibsons of yore.

 

Fred

[rar]

Fred's comments are right on the mark. I've played a few of Kevin's guitars, including a K-35, and they're great. While the tone is Gibson-influenced, he's not trying to build guitars that sound exactly like the "corresponding" Gibsons (either vintage or modern). Much the same goes for John Walker. For example, I've played a Braz/Adi Clark Fork -- his AJ-like model -- that was a truly wonderful guitar, but it didn't sound anywhere near as Gibson-ish as either of my AJs. There are a few luthiers around in the business of attempting to duplicate classic Gibson tone, but that's not the business these guys are in.

 

-- Bob R

[BigKahune]

My immediate question when I saw them was' date=' "Couldn't he come up with his own designs?" The open book headstock? The moustache neck bottom (where it meets the sound hole. (very J200 like)

Bodies and pickguards that look like an AJ? The butterfly Dove/Doves in Flight look-a-like?[/quote']

 

If it sounds great and plays great, I'm in.

 

Well... on a design level, I wouldn't be in if it looked strange in shape or color. But Gibson looks are fine with me.

[Rambler]

Psst. You can sample a few J35 knockoffs here. http://www.thepodium.com/c-103-slope-shouldered-dreadnoughts.aspx

[Modac]

you know what really bugs me?....when I listen to a sound clip of a really desirable guitar that looks like an old Gibson, or even a Martin----and the guy plays some delicate, wussy, new agey-sounding piece, that gives you no idea whatsoever of what the guitar's dynamics are like. Man that ticks me off.

[ajsc]

you know what really bugs me?....when I listen to a sound clip of a really desirable guitar that looks like an old Gibson' date=' or even a Martin----and the guy plays some delicate, wussy, new agey-sounding piece, that gives you no idea whatsoever of what the guitar's dynamics are like. Man that ticks me off.[/quote']

 

 

I never really thought about that,,,but it's very true!!

[Rambler]

Point taken, Modac. Greg Boyds shop also posts some clips that are more on point. No Kopps right now, but some John Walkers, another Gibson man out on his own.

 

http://gregboyd.com/instruments.html?family=Guitars&sound=Acoustic&maker=John%20Walker

[Modac]

Thanks, JK....I was just venting a bit. The guy at Dream Guitars gets it....he plays fruitcake songs on fruitcake guitars, and cool songs on cool guitars.....;o))

[suburude63]

They look like fine guitars. In fact' date=' they look like Gibson's. Understandable if he used to work for the Custom Shop.

 

My immediate question when I saw them was, "Couldn't he come up with his own designs?"

 

The open book headstock? The moustache neck bottom (where it meets the sound hole. (very J200 like)

Bodies and pickguards that look like an AJ? The butterfly Dove/Doves in Flight look-a-like?

 

They may look and even sound dazzling, but they are not very original.

I'm not trying to knock the man's work, he does appear to be quite the artisan and craftsman, but those [i']were [/i]my initial impressions.

 

 

John Walker makes Gibson look alikes so does Santa Cruz and Collings. But thats were it "like" ends! The sound is completely different. Merrill makes a J 45 that sounds just like a 1946 J 45 but about $10000 lighter in price ! Nothing really new under the Sun except in sound. suburude