new red-line 45

[markwillplay]

OK, I know this is a gibson forum but I also know you guys and gals love your short scale slopes. Steve Smith at Cumberland Acoustic http://redlineresophonics.com/ has been making J-45 type guitars called rl- 45's and I heard some really great things from a couple of folks who played them....so I jumped on the chance to get one made at a GREAT price. I sent him the neck profile of my OJ and requested that he make the body slightly shallower than a normal 45 would be (comfort comes first the older I get). I think we were both a little worried that the shallower body would rob of power but he has played it and says it sounds great. Of course I am sure it is tight as a tick but time will take care of that. Great guy to work with. I should get it next week. Will come with KK alredy installed. My OJ has a little brother...cousin . Has carpathian spruce top and of course, hog back and sides.. 13/4 nut width. My pic is too large. I would love to share a photo if someone could tall me how to do it (yes, I am challenged.

[jgwoods]

I've had a Redline RL-45 for almost a year now. Mine is number 4 or so. It's in it's case buried right now as we do some construction in the room or I would check the serial number. I got it last April. Basically a j-50 clone as mine has a natural top. Steve told he studied a number of the best J-45 he could find around Nashville, then braced his like the best. I give it high marks for performance, great playability, excellent volume and in your face mahogany tone. I wouldn't call it refined. It's loud and cuts real good. The price was right too. It splits time with my Guild GSR-F40 and both split time with my main instruments- Mandolin and banjo.

 

If I were buying a guitar today I would buy from Steve, or from Lawrence K Brown who is making some wonderful guitars for great prices. Seeing these guys work leaves me wondering what the high price luthiers do that makes their instruments worth more.

 

[retrorod]

OK, I know this is a gibson forum but I also know you guys and gals love your short scale slopes. Steve Smith at Cumberland Acoustic http://redlineresophonics.com/ has been making J-45 type guitars called rl- 45's and I heard some really great things from a couple of folks who played them....so I jumped on the chance to get one made at a GREAT price. I sent him the neck profile of my OJ and requested that he make the body slightly shallower than a normal 45 would be (comfort comes first the older I get). I think we were both a little worried that the shallower body would rob of power but he has played it and says it sounds great. Of course I am sure it is tight as a tick but time will take care of that. Great guy to work with. I should get it next week. Will come with KK alredy installed. My OJ has a little brother...cousin . Has carpathian spruce top and of course, hog back and sides.. 13/4 nut width. My pic is too large. I would love to share a photo if someone could tall me how to do it (yes, I am challenged.

Thanks for the link! I have been hankering for a round-neck reso. I will delve into their site, Rod

[vincentw]

cool, thanks for posting!

[markwillplay]

great news. Shucks, I should have gotten white knobs

 

I have a pic to post. Anyone tell me how to do it? Maybe it will post if I make smaller???

[markwillplay]

[retrorod]

OK, I know this is a gibson forum but I also know you guys and gals love your short scale slopes. Steve Smith at Cumberland Acoustic http://redlineresophonics.com/ has been making J-45 type guitars called rl- 45's and I heard some really great things from a couple of folks who played them....so I jumped on the chance to get one made at a GREAT price. I sent him the neck profile of my OJ and requested that he make the body slightly shallower than a normal 45 would be (comfort comes first the older I get). I think we were both a little worried that the shallower body would rob of power but he has played it and says it sounds great. Of course I am sure it is tight as a tick but time will take care of that. Great guy to work with. I should get it next week. Will come with KK alredy installed. My OJ has a little brother...cousin . Has carpathian spruce top and of course, hog back and sides.. 13/4 nut width. My pic is too large. I would love to share a photo if someone could tall me how to do it (yes, I am challenged.

Nice guitar Mark

I hope this isn,t a dumb question...But...how did you accurately send him the neck profile that you wanted?

 

If I ever get a custom built guitar, I would love to duplicate my favorite neck profile.

....And since you have recieved the guitar, is it the neck profile that you desired?

Oh yeah...what does it say on the banner logo?

Thanks, Rod

[markwillplay]

Hey Rod, I have not recieved the guitar yet so fingergers are crossed. He did say one of his workers thought it was a bit clubby so that tells me that it is probbly dead on. His nrmal neck profile is a little thin for my taste and right up most folks alley. My OJ neck is a more full V (sort of soft V) and most people think it is a little full for them. I used this tool that looks like a comb with metal teeth that moved. YOuput it on the neck and press until youget to the fretboard or to the fret. I did this and then traced it at the 1st, 3rd, 5th 7th and maybe 12th fret. Then he took those drawings and designed the profile. He has played it and says it is little fuller than his normal profile but does not feel clubby to him (he is a little older than his helpers). The banner says "take your playing to the limit"

[markwillplay]

got a chance to play my new sweetie yesterday. When I opened th4e case, I almost did not recognize the guitar. It is true what they say about sunbursts. Pictures just can't give you the true image...I was thrilled. The outer was not as dark as it looks in the picture and the cross over was really gentle (where one color goes to the other). Needless to say, I absolutely love this burst. It is a very nice change from my pre war closed dark one on my OJ. The neck profile was not quite exactly like my OJ with a little less of a V and more of a round (maybe like mine but a hair more shoulder) and I like it. It brought back memories of an older Hummingburd I played one time that had a full profile but less V. Very comfy. When I hold this neck, it fills my hand nicely but allows me to still get my thumb over if I need to. The fret work and finish was outstanding. Here is the best part, when I held it to play, I could tell that it was a hair shallower (like I ordered it) and it did indeed make a difference in comfort. My shoulder will love me for it down the road. Always good when a decision is the right one and when I strummed the guitar I knew I had made the right one. This guitar is tight of course (my Gosh it is brand new off the bench) but the tone is there. It has that fairly dry midrange gibson vibe going on with maybe a little more note seperation (articulate). From behind it, it held it's own with my OJ and that is saying something because my OJ has mids out the ying yang and has been played.....uhhh...a lot. I can't hear that the guitar suffers tonally from being shallower, and even if it is not quite as full in the lows as a full depth dread, the lows are there and I know from experience that they will come with playing. The highs and mids better be there in the beginning and they are. I believe that this guitar will record very well. Anyway, Steve has done a great job on this guitar and I suspect that his other 45's which are full depth and have a slightly smaller neck will really appeal to anyone who thinks they want a short scale slope that has the gibson vibe to it. I normally don't care about scratches and things like that but this guitar is one that when I finally scuff it and put some miles on it, I may cringe...just looks so good to me now. Maybe I should have gotten him to distress it as I am notorious for banging new instruments into something on the gig(ha ha ha ha ha) Have not plugged her in but KK is KK and I have no doubt that the shallower body will only help it in live settings that are loud. That has been my experience with guitars that were a little shallower than full depth dreads matched with the KK mini. The guys at Red-line are great to work with and stand behind their guitars. I hope to be able to post some sound clips eventually and maybe steve will put them on his website. At these prices, I have not played a guitar that was as good and his guitars will compete with any of the boutique guitars (imho).

[retrorod]

Thanks Mark, for the update! I know of the profile tool of which you speak. Great Idea! Do they use Nitro-cellulose lacquer finish? That may take some time to harden, but is a great finish. I like a chunky neck also. I don,t have large hands, but it makes it more comfortable for fretting with my style of playing.

Go on and break her in....Congrats!

[onewilyfool]

Great guitar...congradulations.....may I ask how much these go for????