The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Sharing a new and very meaningful acquisition. 95% of the people in my life don't know about archtop guitars, so have to share it with the few that appreciate it.

    2/4/78 - This is one of two 7 string guitar's Koontz built. Single-scroll headstock design with abalone inlay work.O
    val hole is fitted with the unique sound-hole closure mounted in a track - same has he had done for Pat Martino. Built for Jack Cecchini and carefully cared for.

    I'm going to take it to a local luthier - a great builder and restorer of guitars, Danche Guitars - and have him work through it with a fine-tooth comb. It plays remarkably well and the sound is balanced and orchestral, however it does show a bit of it's age and has a few minor cosmetic details to attend to. The pickup was built by Sam and isn't working - I'm sure an easy fix just result of old wires.

    That's about it. Hope everyone is enjoying their evenings.


    Attached Images Attached Images Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-img_3525-jpg Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-img_3528-jpg Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-img_3527-jpg Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-img_3526-jpg Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-img_3531-jpg 

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Thanks for sharing. A unique piece of guitar history. May she inspire your playing for many years to come!

  4. #3

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    Very interesting! Can you tell us more about the unique soundhole enclosure?

  5. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
    Very interesting! Can you tell us more about the unique soundhole enclosure?
    Certainly - I’ll send a few pics of it. Haven’t actually pulled the whole thing through myself yet. I know it’s a carved piece of ebony and effectively reduces feedback


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  6. #5

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    Fantastic. Didn't know he had built 7s.

  7. #6

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    Fantastic!

    A friend and ex music partner of mine has a 17" Koontz flattop. It is far and away among the richest sounding flattop guitars I have ever heard or played.

  8. #7
    Very cool! Any chance you have pictures to share? Never seen a Koontz flat top. Wish there were a catalogue of what he built - but there is no info on him at all.

  9. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by timc100
    Sharing a new and very meaningful acquisition. 95% of the people in my life don't know about archtop guitars, so have to share it with the few that appreciate it.

    2/4/78 - This is one of two 7 string guitar's Koontz built. Single-scroll headstock design with abalone inlay work.O
    val hole is fitted with the unique sound-hole closure mounted in a track - same has he had done for Pat Martino. Built for Jack Cecchini and carefully cared for.

    I'm going to take it to a local luthier - a great builder and restorer of guitars, Danche Guitars - and have him work through it with a fine-tooth comb. It plays remarkably well and the sound is balanced and orchestral, however it does show a bit of it's age and has a few minor cosmetic details to attend to. The pickup was built by Sam and isn't working - I'm sure an easy fix just result of old wires.

    That's about it. Hope everyone is enjoying their evenings.



  10. #9

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    Sam Koontz 17" 7 String-elfstone-croppedimage_16-jpg
    Quote Originally Posted by timc100
    Very cool! Any chance you have pictures to share? Never seen a Koontz flat top. Wish there were a catalogue of what he built - but there is no info on him at all.
    Not the best photo of the Koontz. More of a "hippie" document. My friend with the Koontz in the middle. Me to his left (your right) with another handmade flattop (NBN, out of Longmont, Colorado, and lots of hair.

  11. #10

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    Just plain WOW! That’s a fabulous find. Please share pics with us after its R&R.

  12. #11

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    Didn't that come out of the Howard Krive collection? He was a good friend of mine and mentioned that he had Jack's Koontz. He also said it was one of the best sounding ones in his collection [I think he had around 30 Koontz guitars, not to mention at least another 100-125 by other makers, many he purchased from me] I know the Koontz he bought from me was one of the very last Sam made, one of only 2 guitars I've ever sold that I wish I had back.

  13. #12

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    Love Koontz's stuff. It's part of my guitar hunting dreams to own one.

    I played a Harptone once and it was the best acoustic jumbo I'd played. It was like an orchestra.

    I know they weren't made by Koontz but there is a strong link to him, so I can only imagine the sound f his Archtops.

    You lucky boy.

  14. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by wintermoon
    Didn't that come out of the Howard Krive collection? He was a good friend of mine and mentioned that he had Jack's Koontz. He also said it was one of the best sounding ones in his collection [I think he had around 30 Koontz guitars, not to mention at least another 100-125 by other makers, many he purchased from me] I know the Koontz he bought from me was one of the very last Sam made, one of only 2 guitars I've ever sold that I wish I had back.
    To my understanding the 1st 7 string is in the Krive collection. This was owned by Jack till I bought it from him 2 weeks ago (I’ve been a student of 6 years). The Cecchini Koontz in that collection is a massive f hope archtop with a big mandolin-like curl and it’s red. It has a crack in transport to Chicago - Jack had it sent back then Sam passed and somehow it never got back to him.

    This guitar here sounds like it was made around the time the Wayne Westley Johnson f-hole oval guitar was made given some of the details he describes. I know Jack had said that Sam really outdid himself on this effort - and I can see why. It’s really wild.


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  15. #14

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    this is the one he bought from me


  16. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
    Very interesting! Can you tell us more about the unique soundhole enclosure?
    Hey Rob - this needs to be worked with a bit, think after all those years it’s not been moved around much - Jack said he never had to use it - but here is an example. It’s a pretty tight fit against the sound hole. When I take it in to be worked on I’ll have them smooth out the tracks.




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  17. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by wintermoon
    this is the one he bought from me

    Beautiful - I’ve watched that video many times. Sorry you had parted with it - that’s tough. As you can see from the final picture in my original post, I have another Koontz of that big 18” deluxe f-hole style. It’s an earlier build based on the headstock and tailpiece.


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  18. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by timc100
    Beautiful - I’ve watched that video many times. Sorry you had parted with it - that’s tough. As you can see from the final picture in my original post, I have another Koontz of that big 18” deluxe f-hole style. It’s an earlier build based on the headstock and tailpiece.


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    the only reason I sold it to him is he had to have it. he called every day and kept upping the price until I couldn't justify keeping it any longer.
    but he was a great guy, every time he'd buy a guitar from me I'd drive it to his house, he'd put it inside and then he'd treat me to his favorite Thai restaurant.

  19. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by wintermoon
    the only reason I sold it to him is he had to have it. he called every day and kept upping the price until I couldn't justify keeping it any longer.
    but he was a great guy, every time he'd buy a guitar from me I'd drive it to his house, he'd put it inside and then he'd treat me to his favorite Thai restaurant.
    Interesting - that’s how you grow a specialised collection I suppose. Have to know .. what was the other guitar you regretted selling?


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  20. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by timc100
    Interesting - that’s how you grow a specialised collection I suppose. Have to know .. what was the other guitar you regretted selling?


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    One owner '39 Gibson Super 400 w orig leather case and cover.

  21. #20

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    Great looking guitar, and lucky you! I've played 7-string guitar off and on for over 13 years. I'd love to have an archtop 7-string, but with the exception of a few Ibanez models that are no longer made (the AFJ957 [only a so-so archtop], and the AF207 [very rare on the ground]), the Schechter Jazz 7 semi-hollow body (only made in 2000, and I sadly had to sell the two I had, because I was broke), and the long out of production Gretsch George Van Eps, they are very much rare, and expensive birds.