Slaman Guitars Barney Kessel Project.

**pubylakeg** · 11-18-2014, 08:28 AM

There's never any shortage of beautiful vintage style archtops over on Daniel Slaman's site, but this recent posting caught my attention. He's been commissioned to build a Barney Kessel laminated 17" ES350 type with all the Kessel appointments, CCp/up, dot fretboard, etc. And it's amazing.

Full details here:

The Barney Project - New Vintage Guitars

And VIDEOS !

Video Barney Project - New Vintage Guitars

**pingu** · 11-18-2014, 10:03 AM

now thats a guitar !
fab ....
I wonder how much that cost ?

**wintermoon** · 11-18-2014, 11:10 AM

cool, but I wonder how he gets away w/the moustache peghead w/out Gibson objecting.

**Little Jay** · 11-18-2014, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

cool, but I wonder how he gets away w/the moustache peghead w/out Gibson objecting.

All Daniel's guitars have the moustache head. I assume that Gibson does not find it profitable to file a law suit against a luthier that produces only small numbers of hand crafted and thus expensive guitars; that's a small niche that hardly presents a financial threat to Gibson?

**Woody Sound** · 11-18-2014, 11:57 AM

That is soooooooo cool...

**old tube** · 11-18-2014, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

cool, but I wonder how he gets away w/the moustache peghead w/out Gibson objecting.

He won't, if Gibson decide to do something about it. However, at least it doesn't have a "Gibson" Logo on it.

Beautiful guitar though. Slaman makes some beautiful reproduction archtops.

**wintermoon** · 11-18-2014, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Little Jay

All Daniel's guitars have the moustache head. I assume that Gibson does not find it profitable to file a law suit against a luthier that produces only small numbers of hand crafted and thus expensive guitars; that's a small niche that hardly presents a financial threat to Gibson?

interesting, but I know a couple luthiers who produced small amounts of guitars that were sent letters by Gibson w/a cease and desist order.

**mangotango** · 11-18-2014, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

cool, but I wonder how he gets away w/the moustache peghead w/out Gibson objecting.

Well, I note that, just like the original, the Gibson name isn't visible on that headstock......

**Jim Soloway** · 11-18-2014, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

cool, but I wonder how he gets away w/the moustache peghead w/out Gibson objecting.

That's pretty close to my first thought as well. I hope they don't give him a hard time about it. It's such a cool guitar and it really does sound like Barney's 350 (and I think it sounds just great in the videos).

**rsclosson** · 11-18-2014, 01:00 PM

One seriously beautiful guitar!! I have to admire Barney Kessel for not succumbing to the GAS we all seem to be victims of. He played his number one for virtually all of his career. (Yes, I know he had others, but he had one "number one")

**Archie** · 11-18-2014, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

That's pretty close to my first thought as well. I hope they don't give him a hard time about it. It's such a cool guitar and it really does sound like Barney's 350 (and I think it sounds just great in the videos).

Really? I felt massively disappointed in the end tone. The bass was way too thick, I suspect thats why it has round wounds on and not flats. I also found the trebles to be quite bright, too bright compared to the bass.

Basically you put flats on it and I think you'll be unimpressed because the bass will be a total mess.

Could be wrong but thats the impression I got.

**Jim Soloway** · 11-18-2014, 01:08 PM

No need to guess. the second video is with flats.

**Para** · 11-18-2014, 02:27 PM

Lovely guitar, I certainly wouldn't mind owning that.

**fws6** · 11-18-2014, 02:30 PM

I have visited Daniels shop twice, a very good luthier and the nicest person you will ever meet

no big objections to the sound either

**Jabberwocky** · 11-18-2014, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by fws6

I have visited Daniels shop twice, a very good luthier and the nicest person you will ever meet

no big objections to the sound either

Yeah, great guy. And wonderful archtops. I dig what he is doing to keep the CC pickups going into archtops that Gibson has all but forgotten. Can't order a new ES-350 with a CC pup from Gibson at all these days. Daniel Slaman makes the archtops that Gibson does not want to make.

As an aside, the Gibson Custom Shop showed off a 2013 L-5CES Natural with a CC pickup on its FB page last year. I asked Gibson which of its dealers had it for sale and met with stony-walled silence. Not once but twice, the second query being about five months later. Gibson couldn't be arsed to even let me know know where to buy it. I asked my Gibson dealer to ask Gibson about it. No luck either. Haven't seen it listed for sale anywhete. That is where Daniel Slaman comes in.

I just have to be willing to get over the Gibson logo on the headstock.

**Archie** · 11-18-2014, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

No need to guess. the second video is with flats.

Actually I can't say anything, whats the point?

He uses strings that are too thin, plays it like its a flat-top acoustic. The amp sounds awful and the pick-up way too bright. Theres almost no mids in this recording at all lol. It sounds like a box.

But I bet it sounds great in the right hands, with the amp set up nicely and some good quality recording techniques. Oh and some more preferable stings.

So I will no longer pass Judgement until I get one, or someone posts a better demo

**Franz 1997** · 11-18-2014, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

Actually I can't say anything, whats the point?

He uses strings that are too thin, plays it like its a flat-top acoustic. The amp sounds awful and the pick-up way too bright. Theres almost no mids in this recording at all lol. It sounds like a box.

But I bet it sounds great in the right hands, with the amp set up nicely and some good quality recording techniques. Oh and some more preferable stings.

So I will no longer pass Judgement until I get one, or someone posts a better demo

But you did say something...

Daniel usually uses 12s or 13s on his guitars. The sound may not be great, but it's not as bad as all that - what are you listening on- a laptop speaker?? What probably doesn't help is that he's not a jazz player, he's a classical player, or was.
He is also fond of demo-ing guitars through a vox ac4. But there aren't too many great luthiers who are also great jazz players..

The CC pickup is quite bright - just listen to Kessel's recordings

**Jehu** · 11-18-2014, 05:53 PM

I'd prefer that ES-250 copy in the background!

**feral guitar** · 11-18-2014, 07:28 PM

couldn't find a price but looks real expensive.
his cheapest guitar is 5k+ and it goes up to 10k

**Archie** · 11-18-2014, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Franz 1997

But you did say something...

Daniel usually uses 12s or 13s on his guitars. The sound may not be great, but it's not as bad as all that - what are you listening on- a laptop speaker?? What probably doesn't help is that he's not a jazz player, he's a classical player, or was.
He is also fond of demo-ing guitars through a vox ac4. But there aren't too many great luthiers who are also great jazz players..

The CC pickup is quite bright - just listen to Kessel's recordings

I meant in reference to me not being able to get fair shot at hearing it, in a better setting.

I then wanted to explain why.

**rpguitar** · 11-18-2014, 08:04 PM

That's a lovely looking L-5CC but it weighs 8.3 lbs.! Might as well play a Les Paul.

Personally I've found Slaman's work among the most GASworthy in all of guitardom, especially the ES-250 models.

**pingu** · 11-18-2014, 08:04 PM

Ive got to stay off that slaman site
his stuff is tooo gorgeous !

its like the my 'dream' gibson custom shop

**Greentone** · 11-18-2014, 08:12 PM

The Barney Project is a NICE guitar. I passed on a single pickup, first year ES350 about 20 years ago and I am still mad at myself. I could have installed a CC in it and been off and running.

I think Gibson refrains from pursuing Slaman for the same reason that Fender doesn't go after Bill Nash, whose headstocks are exact replicas of Fender's--i.e., small scale size. If it were Ibanez...different story.

**Jabberwocky** · 11-18-2014, 08:18 PM

$14915.00. Is that MSRP, MAP or street? I will wait for my dealer to get one because I can work with him on the price. Wildwood, not so much. Thank you for the heads-up. I don't check out Wildwood much. Still blanching at the price. Won't some kind person buy it and sell it to me used for $7000? I don't mind a few scratches.

Or, to stay relevant to this thread, order a Slaman ES-250 copy for half of what Gibson is charging. The Gibson logo isn't worth the extra freight to me unless I can find it used. There was a used Slaman ES-250 copy, all solid carved wood, for sale at Joe V. in 2012/2013. Price? $5000.