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Hi,
Just doing a little reconnaissance on this Guitar.
I am NOT the type of guy who goes to a music store and sits down and plays a bunch of guitars, especially ones that I cant afford to buy. But one day about 2 years ago I was at GoldenAge Fretted Instruments and the owner -John Reynolds, asked me if I want to try this rather odd guitar. It was a 16" thinline version of the Halfling. I remember picking it up and playing a chord acoustically and immediately thinking it was plugged into an amp somewhere. I thought there was no way a guitar this small could sound this big, with full mid's and lows. The guitar immediately found its way into my bucket list and the vivid memory of playing it has never left me.
I was wondering if there are any owners here on the forum. If so, I'd love to hear your opinions about this incredible guitar.
Thanks in advance,
Joe D.
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11-22-2016 11:33 AM
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Mark Kleinhaut | Jazz Guitarist
Mark posts here occasionally and you can hear him play his Halfling on numerous videos.
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Yes, I do listen and drool over him playing that guitar. He is a beautiful player with such a gentle touch, yet that guitar just picks up every sweet note he plays. Love it!
Originally Posted by rpguitar
Thanks RP.
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paging Jabs....
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I've been emailing him.
I don't think he loves me anymore..
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Mark Kleinhaut can give a far better account of the RGC Halfling in his capable hands than I can, wintermoon
I understand Jack Zucker aka Agent Smith had one at one point.
I have a 2014 Halfling Jazz of Western Red Cedar and Wenge. It is the last of the RGC Halflings. A doctor from San Diego was selling it. Nobody seemed interested in it and so I made on offer on it. I can't do any better than this photo shot by RGC so it will have to do.
I don't know if it sounds like a cross between a flat top and an archtop but it sounds very nice, like a steel string traditionally braced classical guitar with a short sustain, a round bloom to the notes, very versatile for the fingerstylist. I find it very comfortable. Not a strummer, by any means. I can't imagine using it 4 to the bar, chunking chords. Not that kind of guitar.
At the time when I was buying the WRC/Wenge, the 100th Halfling came up for sale on ebay. It belonged to a player in Hungary. I remembered this one. It was finished by Tom Ribbecke and it was put up for sale used by Lou of Guitars N Jazz for $3900. I had no money then. It had suffered a few long lacquer checks and dings since Lou sold it. I was talking to the Hungarian seller at the same time and got it down to $3600. I don't see it now so he may have sold it.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 11-22-2016 at 02:26 PM.
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Jabs still loves me..
Thanks bud.
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Jabs is the Siri of the JGF.
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Max405,
I also played a Halfling at John Reynolds store. To me -it felt a bit off balance weight wise - yet I think Tom captured the essence of his intent with warm bass and somewhat thick highs.
I think it might of even had a bolt on neck like the Solomon Phidelity- but not 100% sure - it was a while ago.
I wasn't completely blown away by the concept , but I would love to reassess another one today.
If you buy one let me know.
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Ha Ha Ha.. Yes he is. He and Neatomic. Hey what happened to Neatomic? Originally Posted by QAman
I definitely will. The one I played was not a bolt on, for sure. And frankly it wasn't setup for me but it left a mark on me. Originally Posted by QAman
I listened to an interview with Tom Ribbecke this morning. He really is a brilliant guy. And one hell of a player too. He really opened up about his ideas, what motivates him and mentioned John D'Angelico several times. He is very kind to a lot of artists and was complimentary toward many of piers. Seems like a very cool guy. He reminds me of an old Friend of mine, Jim Kaufmann. Jim taught me the art of lapidary and really had a positive impact on my life.
I'd like to own one of his guitars. I think the Karma would be right..
JD
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The Halfling is a dream guitar for me, and I can't imagine ever spending the money to make that dream real.
The only "budget" guitar in the ballpark is the Tacoma AJ22 / AJ28 and I am lucky to have one. Even in that somewhat diluted iteration, the single-soundhole-on-the-upper-bout design really works. Bottom, sustain, clarity . . . everything that this sorry guitarist could ask for in this price range.
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I met Tom at the California NAMM show in 1993. He had just incorporated the carbon fiber material into the fingerboard. Great guy - very personable .
He is innovative with lots of ideas on Archtop construction. I think a custom build would be a very enjoyable process - but not sure if you'd have any body parts remaining after funding it. Lol !
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Every time I hear Mark Kleinhaut play his Jazz model on this forum, I want to run out and buy one. Thank the Lord they are not readily available. The times I hear them in other player's hands, my ardor generally cools down. Not to take anything away from Jack Zucker who I think is a great musician but in my opinion this guitar doesn't fit his playing style. Now on a ES-175, Jack's all over it.
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Sam, I would consider the Tacoma. I've also thought of having Mr Wu make me a similar guitar. Thanks for telling me about how good the Tacoma is. I've often wondered about that. Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
You ain't kidding bro. Originally Posted by QAman
I do think it suits my style very well. But then again, I likes me 175 too.. Originally Posted by rob taft
JD
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Neatomic and I are never seen in the same room together. Originally Posted by Max405
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Well, we need you both and we are glad to have at least one of you here. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
But #10, if you are lurking, get back here soon. We miss you buddy.
Jabbs, I think your collection has too many Halflings in it and not enough Heritage Johnny Smiths.
L,J
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So I saw the name John Reynolds of GAFI. I have an experience to share here. A few years ago I was interested in a 2002 Mckerrihan Monk. I spoke to John about the guitar several times and it was a great price so after a few days decided to pull the trigger on it. I called him and told him to ring it up, gave him my cc info and address, etc. and that was that. After a couple days, no word. I called and asked if he was able to ship ok. He said that he had a problem in that it got really cold in his shop that night and the guitar suffered a catastrophic crack in the top...the guitar was a total loss. He went on about how the guitar was a consignment and he was hopeful his insurance would cover it, etc. I felt terrible for him. He apologized and the deal was failed. About a year ago, the exact same guitar showed up on Guitars-n-Jazz website for sale...crack free. No mention of a top crack repair, nothing. Guitar was described here as being mint. I compared the pics from John's ad to the pics from this one. (The nice thing about custom guitars is that the flame on the backs is like a fingerprint.) It was clearly the same guitar. I was shocked that I had apparently been flat out lied to and deceived by Mr. Reynolds. I sent him an email letting him know that he had been caught and that I would share my experience at every opportunity...hence, this post. He did not respond. I suspect he got a better offer for the guitar after he sold it to me...watch out for this guy....
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Jwild,
I really hope that at some point he reaches out to you and you guys are able to talk this out. This business is too small (and shrinking) and you really can't hide from situations like that. When you have a family to feed, it's not a good idea to build a bad reputation. I can tell you it gets cold here in Jersey some of those guitars in his shop are right against the front glass.
I've seen guitars with almost identical flame. I pray he didn't lie to you.
JD
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The same for Frank Zappa and Leon Redbone. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
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Are they still being made? I searched Google and couldn't find the Ribbecke Guitar Co. Did he retire and close down his website?
Any thoughts on how this compares to a Steve Andersen Oval hole archtop?
I'm looking for something to play finger-style Jazz on and this seemed very interesting. The prices I see used are somewhat reasonable for a builder's guitar. Does anyone know the specs? Is it all carved or partly laminate?
Unfortunately, no store near me has one so the only way I can hear one is on YouTube.
Any thoughts on the guitar?
Thanks,
Charley
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Paul Asbell is another Ribbecke player worth checking out Paul Asbell | Blues, Jazz, and Americana Guitarist
If you're on Facebook, you might try getting in touch with Tom that way. I'm pretty sure he's still building, but perhaps fewer instruments than he used to.
Best wishes for finding the guitar that's right for you!
PK
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Ribbecke Guitar Company was owned by Daniele Ribbecke, Tom's daughter. She closed it to devote time to her children. I bought one of the last RGC Halflings by way of a San Diego doctor. The bass side is a flat top whilst the treble side is a carved top. Thus, Halfling. The sides and rim are solid maple usually. Mine is made of Wenge with a solid cedar top.
Tom Ribbecke makes the Halfling today starting at $24000. The Steve Andersen Oval is a traditionally carved archtop guitar.
The RGC Halfling is nice if you can find it.
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2009 one owner model on Reverb:
Ribbecke Halfling | Reverb
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---- Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
I have some follow up questions if that is ok with you. I searched online and can't find any information. The RGC website is not available.
- Is the back solid or laminate? I am not sure what you meant by "rim".
- What is the difference between the RGC Halfling and the Tom Ribbecke one? $24k vs $6k is a huge difference
- Is the RGC Halfling made by a single person or is it more of a "factory" guitar worked on by many?
- USA made or?
- Any thoughts on the sound quality? I plan to use it for finger-style Jazz
Its hard deciding on a guitar you never heard or based on listening to YouTube videos.
Thanks much for any help you can provide
--Charley
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Rim: Sides of the guitar.
Back is solid wood, not a laminate.
RGC is a small workshop made up of a few of Tom's assistants. How many? I don't know. Tom did paint a few of the RGC guitars himself and probably had a hand in their construction. As for the price difference, I guess it was Tom's way of making his RGC design affordable and accessible without diluting the cachêt of his own name. As a custom Halfling made by Tom Ribbecke specifically for the client he charges a bespoke price. The bespoke Halfling has much nicer choice of wood and any type of finish.
As for sound quality I point you to Mark Kleinhaut and his many Youtube videos. It was Mark who turned me on to the Halfling.
That $6500 2009 Halfling on Reverb is pretty keenly priced. I paid $5000 for mine used in 2015. It carried a price of $8000 originally. They don't come up for sale too often. I would not mind having another one but in spruce and maple.
This is the one I bought from Dr Rickards:
2014 Ribbecke Halfling - price lowered to $5000 - The Acoustic Guitar Forum
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