Hi Chris, 

The guitar arrived and everything was good, there were some delays in FedEx Norwegian office but this has been solved after some emails and contacting customer service in US.
I’m writing you only now to give a feedback because I’ve been on vacation almost a month and didn’t have chance to play guitar a lot right after I received it, I arrive at home only a week ago.
I had high expectations and I sold all other electric guitars to buy the Truxton.
I can tell you I’m very happy I did so and that the guitar is even beyond what I expected.
I love the neck, fretwork and finish are impeccable, the shape is exactly as I wanted. The guitar is light but very well balanced and comfortable to play both sitting down and standing. The design of the bridge is so good, a huge improvement over the classic design, right hand sits in a natural position and it’s very comfortable.
However the best thing is how it sounds: I love tweed amps (especially Deluxe, for recording) and I’m working on a project with a band for which I had clear in my mind the tone I wanted. The most amazing thing in my opinion is how my Truxton is retaining the classic Tele tone but improves it in many ways. In the past I struggled to cut through the mix with neck and sometimes even with middle position using my Deluxe, but this is not the case with Truxton: it cuts the mix, but retaining all the character of a great Tele. Middle position is great for funky and double stops, neck position is more open than typical Tele but still a Tele, it’s not too stratty. Not to mention the bridge position: perfect for riffs and lead lines.
It is really a great instrument, inspiring and made to play: intonation is excellent and soundwise it keeps all the good things of a classic Tele but improving it where is needed: the muddiness of neck pickup is removed and there is an excellent note separation playing chords, but the sound is not sterile at all,  there is character, it is accurate without being too hifi or cold, it’s difficult to explain.
Sorry for the long email but I just tried to express my impressions the best I can.
I’m very happy that I bought a guitar from you, it’s definitely a keeper and it will be played in all my present and future musical projects.

Luca

Chris, This K-Line kills! It’s a thrill ride! It’s exactly what I hoped it would be. It’s aggressive and delicate at the same time. Sounds great clean or dirty. Mad sustain. Flutey sounding neck pickup. Plenty of grunt in the middle and bridge positions. You can almost get an acoustic sound using the blender circuit. I’ve played real deal 50s and 60s Strats and recent team built Custom Shop Strats and this one stands right there with them.

The guitar is sweet Chris. The 4-way is killer as always. This guitar replaced a Melancon tele which was a great guitar, just not quite a traditional enough tele sound for me. Your tele is perfecto for that. I have a Gries 40watt Blackface-type amp and a Soultone 18/20 watt Marshall clone in an A/B/Y set up and the tele sounds GREAT through the rig. I also have one of your Daphne blue from a TGP member that I really love as well. Best I’ve ever played to tell you the truth.
It is better than the custom shop. Seriously. I mean, I hear the differences between the ash and alder, and the rosewood vs maple, but those differences aside, it sounds better. The blondes are just a touch fatter and sweeter than the tweeds, the whole package kills for cleans, and the overdrive is amazing. The ageing is exactly what I wanted. The trem is great. The look, the feel, the tone, everything about it is beyond my expectations. Expect a very good review over the weekend (after I ship to the guy who bought my custom shop ;-)) Thank you so much Chris!

I just want to say THANKS! and give you my first impressions. The sunburst is spot on. The painter really knew what he was doing. 3TSB is classic with a rosewood board. The finish is ‘played’ but not too worn. The neck size is perfect for my hands. The guitar weights about the same as my MIM Cray Strat (hardtail). Somewhere between 6.5 – 7 lbs. I raised the action up, a bit. Feels and plays incredible! Played it acoustically, for about an hour, and just had a big smile on my face the whole time 🙂 Rings like a bell! I will crank it up at the first opportunity, but I am sure it will sound awesome. You did good my friend. I think you have a future in guitar building. Shall I post a few pics on TGP

WTF ? How could you deliver such an instrument to my door step? How dare you craft such an amazing guitar that it almost brought me to tears! You should be ashamed! Seriously, the guitar is off the map. I got it today on my day off and played it unplugged for an hour then drove to our rehersal space and played it another 4. I a-b it with my other guitars… The neck is just perfect! I love the fret size the rosewood the tint of the maple headstock. The neck is a little fatter than my other guitars and is just sooo right! Every thing about it is right! Your guitar has become one of my most prized possesions! I may not be rich or famous, but today I am really happy! That black guitar is going to give me a lot of joy! Please keep my exact specs on file because I need to order a blonde backup soon! Also , I have an different guitar in mind, that I think You would have fun with. So I plan on two more!!!

I have two K-Lines. Both are quite possibly the best playing guitars I own right now. Chris is certainly very talented at the art of crafting guitars. First, the setup is impeccable. It has a comfortable neck up and down the fretboard and his attention to detail there makes it an easy playing instrument. The finish is some of the best nitro and relic work I’ve seen. Chris just has a knack for seeing what wear looks and feels natural. He has obviously spent time around vintage guitars. Chris’ formula of wood and Lollar pickups are a definite winner in my book and anyone who has played a ton of strats off the wall (Custom Shop or not) and one of Chris’ K-Lines, will notice a difference in feel and in sound. They simply do not compare most of the time. The bottom line is that Chris’ custom guitars represent a ridiculous value and I couldn’t be happier with the way my custom guitars came out.

At this point I’ve played enough guitars to be beyond the typical honeymoon syndrome, so when I say this is the best guitar I’ve ever owned, I really mean it. The build quality is perfect, playability is great, trem is smooth – tone is so glassy – perfet strat bell tones! I’m glad I got the blend, really adds some versatility to the guitar. The silent plate allows me to use this guitar with a lot of gain without the noise, very happy with it. Did you weigh it? Seems very light.
Also, the neck is perfect – I’ve been searching for something like this for the last 10 years – huge and round with a dark board. The aging is way beyond my expectations, you could not have done a more tasteful job.
Not sure what else to say other than thank you so much for building me such a great guitar for such a reasonable price.

Hi Chris; I just have to tell you yet again how pleased I am with my guitar you made for me. I remember that you were concerned about the stability of a highly flamed neck when I requested that as part of thebuild. The neck has been fine all this time and the guitar holds intonation extremely well. I use the trem kinda like Jeff Beck. Not dive bombs so much as a bit of vibrato on my passages. That includes pulling up and going down. I get to practicing or warming up for recording and realize sometimes I play hard for 30-40 minutes non stop. The gtr just won’t go out of tune. I’m sure part of that is the 11-50 strings I use, but this is the most stable one I’ve ever had. And the tone is breath taking. I continue to be very happy about this guitar. I know you’ve seen my posts about this gtr, but thank you. Thank you. Thank you! From the bottom of my now 56 year old heart. Ha! Have a great 2009 and keep ‘em coming!

Chris, got the new guitar today. This guitar is unbelievable!! Don’t get me wrong, I expected this guitar to be incredible. However, it far exceeded any previously concieved expectations I had. Thank you so much for helping me with this instrument and the extraordinary build. I can’t believe how well you interpreted my ideas and thoughts into the design and build of this instrument down to every last detail. This is by far, one the best electric guitars I have ever played or owned!!! It fits me like a glove. It’s perfect. Thank You.

Hey Chris, I love the guitar. The 3 tone burst is beautiful in the closet classic finish. I love the neck. I can get the action lower than factory specs without any fret buzz or degradation of tone. The lollar pickups are absolutely killer. Incredible glassy tones from the blonde neck and almost humbuckerish attack and tone from the special in the bridge. The tremolo is set up perfect at the perfect height for playing Beckish style licks. I own Custom Suhr guitars and high end Fender Strats and I have to say that the first guitar I go to is the K-Line. Oh and by the way Chris is really easy to talk to and very humble. Any custom guitar builder must have the knack for creating a guitar to compliment the individuals style and tone. Chris has got it down right to the last detail!!!!! Fantastic job Chris!!!! I will be talking to you in the future about another with a mini-humbucker in the neck. : )

Hope this email finds you well. I truly love my Truxton and can’t thank you enough. It’s fantastic, inspiring, and feels like a guitar I’ve owned for years. You are really great at what you do. My best complement will be that you can expect another guitar order from me in the coming months – either a Texola or another Truxton.

I have had a few days to play the guitar you built for me and I have to say I am really impressed with this guitar, it sounds fantastic and is really easy to play. The neck is perfect and this thing sounds amazing plugged into my Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special. I have owned a few Fenders in my day and this is even better than my EJ strat that I currently have. Great job! Thanks!

Got a chance to play the tele with my band today, I.e. I got a feeling for how it actually performs. I believe that you only get this when you play in a live situation. So, here’s the verdict:
First of all, the K-Line is way better than any regular Fender tele. In order to get something like this from Fender, you’d have to pick the best stuff from Fender Custom Shop, but they can’t deliver according to my desired specs.
I own other high end guitars, a PRS Single cut, a PRS SC245 and a Ruokangas v.s.o.p, and soundwise the K-line stands up to all of these guitars. I.e I get a rich, dynamic sound, with beautiful overtones. Most important, I get all this without loosing clearity, which is what I believe separates high end from low end guitars. I’m also impressed with the neck – my low action doesn’t make the strings rattle at any fret. The only thing that worries me is that it’s possible to get such a great guitar for reasonable money, hopefully I can raise money to get another before everyone else discovers K-Line and the prices go up ,-) Cheers

Just want to thank you for making an awesome guitar. The ash body with a killer rosewood neck is not only spanky, but also has some serious warm tones… Wonderful “angelic chimes” from the 4th and 2nd position…Man, since I bought this guitar, I can’t seem to put it down. This guitar has inspired me to play more and is perfect/ versatile for all types of music…… More and more, I find myself just plugging straight in and letting the K-Line ring and sing; No effects needed, just the sound of a true 60’s guitar. Now, I am just waiting for my second K-Line to be built. I am excited!! Thanks!

Chris, this guitar is sick. The neck is massive and the whole thing sounds like a tree with strings on it. I’ve a/b’d it with several teles already, including a Chad Underwood, a 4k Masterbuilt Tele, and a couple of others. They all sounded plinky compared to this… the K-line just has that WOOD sound to it… a certain body/girth to all the notes (the high ones are fat, the low ones are woody and punchy, not plinky). The difference is there whether it’s plugged or unplugged. Great job with this thing.

Dear Mr. Kroenlein, This past week I traded in my beloved Throbak Classic combo (only 28 ever made!) for one of your strats. I had visited Garret Park guitars a couple months back and could not put your guitar down. After much deliberation, I decided I must have it. I’ve gotta say, I am absolutely thrilled I did. I am amazed at this tone monster. The neck is perfect, and after a quick string change (I play .008’s), I have never felt more comfortable playing. I’m really astounded at the quality and attention to detail. Perfection! I used to play an hour a day, but now I just can’t put it down. I’ve literally had 30+ strats and always had to do some modifying to get them playable. I’ve had to do nothing to this guitar. I’m so impressed. I really can’t wait to get another. Quite fine work, sir.

And good lord Chris…what a beauty. you absolutely NAILED the color. Nailed it. With a little white showing…just a tad of checking..the wear is authentic. Gorgeous. Amazing. and the color of the neck-exactly what I wanted. It’s a thing of beauty. plays, sounds and looks like exactly what I had in mind. Better than any CS Fender I’ve ever played, thats for sure. Thank you so much for making me my new number one. I am a K-line fan and supporter here on the west coast and will do my best to get you whatever business I can. You rule.

I let it sit one day and BAMMM!!! The guitar was tuned, action low, ringing and singing for several hrs straight! Its amazing how a new guitar can spark new cool riffs and decent ideas for songs…Too bad I could not record, by tomorrow it will all be forgotten..Anyway Chris, the alder and maple was a perfect balanced for what I wanted. Enjoy the season with love ones and will talk next year.

After playing my new guitar so much I almost forgot to write you and tell you I had actually received it and to thank you for your great guitars! This thing is amazing. The guitar just resonates so well acoustically. It almost sounds like an acoustic guitar. The balance and weight is perfect, just an all around great guitar! Thanks again and I’m sure we’ll be talking again in the future!
Best,

Hi Chris, sorry for the late reply-
Just wanted to say thank you so much for the new guitar, it is everything I hoped for. The build is amazing and the tone just sings. The blend control between the bridge and neck pickups works really well (thanks for your suggestion on this). Having only gigged it a couple of times it is getting great reviews and interest from other players. I’m already thinking about the next project and will call you in the future.
Many, many thanks.

Well, it’s been nearly two years and I should have sent this letter much sooner…talk about procrastination.
Anyway, I have to say that I still can’t find a guitar that I like better than the “T-Style” you built for me. You nailed it – just absolutely nailed every detail I asked for. The bone nut on this thing is nothing short of amazing – never ever a single tuning issue and I don’t bother putting any type of lube on it. I’ve been playing since the mid “70’s” and I’ve never seen anything like it. The playability has spoiled me terribly. I can’t seem to get a guitar set up this well no matter what I try. It’s held up extremely well, no adjustments needed whatsoever, no fret sprout, no electronics issues, nothing. Most importantly, it rocks while still maintaining that T-Style flavor!
I have nine guitars here in my room. They’re all over the place in various stands, cases, etc. but this one is sitting right next to me within arm’s reach where it always is and has been for nearly two years now. Thanks for doing such an awesome job on it.
Regards,
Keith

Okay Chris, be afraid, be VERY afraid. You just might have created a monster here! I cannot begin to tell you how much I love my new K-Line!!! I have a dozen other guitars and have been playing for over 25 years. And, this is it. This guitar is perfect for me!!
I really want to thank you for being so flexible when it came to the exact specs I was after. And, I can’t tell you how impressed I am with your craftsmanship. I really couldn’t be happier! 🙂 I am certain that this won’t be my last K-Line!
Thanks so much again.

I just want to send you a note about the guitar. Since I got it, I have not been able to put it down. I don’t know what kind of magic you used to make the guitar but it sounded great and a pure joy to play. I don’t think I’ve played my guitar like that since I was 12, which was when I started learning guitar.
The guitar has a great tone and sustain. It just sounded like everything is resonating nicely together even when the guitar is not plugged in. I usually play through a lot of pedals but I found myself wanting to hear the clean sound of the guitar instead. This made me realize why I use so many pedals to begin with. It’s because I feel like the guitar won’t sound as good without them. It wasn’t until I played the K-Line that I realize I don’t need to use all the effects if the guitar sounded good to begin with. I might pair down my pedals to just overdrive and delay. I also really like the firebird pickups…thanks for the suggestion!
Another thing I want to point out is the intonation. Remember how I told you that I tune my guitar in 5th’s with a low C and you told me that the San Bernardino might not be the right guitar for the tuning? For the very first time, I was able to get the perfect intonation for the low C. I only had to move the saddle back a few millimeters and there’s still plenty of room. The highest string for my tuning is a G (above guitar high E). Normally the string just sounded thin and weak because it’s stretched to its maximum capacity. Since the guitar is so resonant, the high G string sound as full as the lower strings. The San B can definitely handle weird tunings. It could probably be tuned to low B without a problem.
All in all, I’m very happy with the guitar. The search is over, K-Line is definitely “it” for me. When I find something good, I usually get two of them. So I’m already thinking about getting another K-Line…just as soon as I decide what color I want. Thank you again for being kind enough to build me the guitar. I’ll be in touch for another one.

The Texola arrived, from Sound Pure, last night. You are really doing it right!
First thing that struck me is the guitar is pretty light, but very solid. The neck is fantastic. The detail is best I’ve ever seen – fret ends are smooth, edges of the board feels great. Neck does play like its broken in. ave owned, at various times, Anderson, Fender CS, PRS, Guild, Grosh — this one beats them. My #1 is a PRS Swamp Ash (maple bolt on with rosewood board) which I’ve played the heck out of for the last 7 years. Yours feels that good.
I think the Kleins are going to be great. Neck (Firebird) seems like it will actually be very useable for rhythm. All three positions very workable.
In terms of looks — you really got the “aging” right. The guitar does not look like it’s “trying too hard”. It just looks and feels right. Personally, wouldn’t ever find myself playing a “relic”, just don’t get it. Again, you’ve truly figured out how to do it in a way that is natural and doesn’t scream, or even suggest, “Hey, look at me! I’m old!”.
Anyway, yes, am in the halo state. But, there are guitars that show up and after 10 minutes of playing, you know if it’s going to work out or not. Definitely a keeper.
Finally, Ross at Sound Pure provided outstanding service.
Am certain I’ll be back for a Springfield. Thanks for all of your help!

I’ve just purchased a ‘Blackie’ Springfield K-Line guitar from Tonedoctor in Peterborough, UK. All I can say is Wow! I played it a few times before purchasing it but when I couldn’t get to sleep at night thinking about it I just knew I wouldn’t get any rest until I did, so today I did, aah, peace at last. Keep up the good work Chris and I wish you all the very best, all players should try your wonderful guitars!

Sorry, it took a few days to send you this email. Birthday extravaganza and all. More on that in a moment. She arrived on thurs., as scheduled. I only had about an hour with her until today, all day!! It looks beautiful!! when it hasn’t been it my hands I just stare at her. The burst is amazing, photos don’t do it justice. The finish and aging look great. She just screams 70’s!! It truly looks 40yrs. old. Now, the neck, Wow! It feels amazing. I love the rolled edges, I love the way it sits in my hands, my fingers just wrap around it effortlessly. Unplugged, you really notice the different tones from the neck and the body. Nice smooth highs from the neck, I’m really happy we went with the rosewood. Just great round goodness from the body, nice and full, with great sustain. Sound jumps from the woods. And, It’s setup perfect. I thought I might need to have my guy take a look, due too shipping, weather, no need. Tone, I don’t know what too say? Tone Monster, the combination of tones is incredible! The Lollar Regal is a beast!! Both PU’s are great, You get great clean tones, round and smooth and crazy growl. Thank you Chris, you really have made this a great experience. I honestly can say this is one of my best purchases ever, and I’m not just talking about guitars. I look forward too a lifetime bond with this guitar. I just feel sorry for my others.
Thanks!

We got the guitar Friday and played it all weekend, and it is unbelievable. You did everything we asked and did it perfectly. It plays amazing unplugged and plugged in. The color and finish was spot on. Thank you!!!! I am already trying to talk my wife in to letting me get a Springfield. I usually get my way so we’ll see how that goes. Thanks again.

I’ve been playing the heck out of it this weekend, and it really sounds fantastic. What really strikes me is how notes just seem to leap out of the amp – it’s incredibly alive when it’s played – a real sense of immediacy. Hard to describe, but I love the way it responds.
Also, I have had a lot of fun with the tone controls and how they interact with pickups. That neck pickup is just cool as heck. I was doing my weak attempt at “Sleepwalk” and it just sounds so lush (cranked a bit of reverb on that as well!). You drop it down to the neck+bridge and you’re living the dream hacking away at Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall (with a switch to neck for solo). Just really appreciate the kind of diversity of tones the guitar is ready to give you.
I’ll stop now, but thank you again for creating such a beautiful guitar – I truly love it.
Thanks again, Mark
PS: Already wondering about a shell pink with a dark rosewood board. Make it stop!!!

Many thanks!
I must tell you this is the finest guitar I’ve ever had the experience of playing! You truly nailed it on the 12th fret upwards. The tone and intonation have opened up a new world of possibilities.
When I sell off a couple of Fenders that I’m unhappy with, I’ll contact you to purchase your S-Style model.
Thanks again for making this a great experience.
Best wishes,

just wanted to apologize for not writing this email sooner, but I couldn’t put this new guitar down! You absolutely nailed it. The color and relic is perfect and looks amazing. The pickups sound great and produce a variety of great tone. I could go on and on, but anyways, the guitar is awesome. I’m still thinking about what I want to do on the next one, but I will be making up my mind here before too long. And then my dad is going to be getting with you about one of the KL guitars. So, chalk us up for at least 2 more! Thanks again.

A marvelous LPB Springfield came to me via USPS today. Traded a Lentz to Distinctive Guitar for one of yours. Turns out to have been a VERY smart move on my part. Guitar plays great, sounds terrific, and I LOVE the slightly more narrow bridge spacing you use — no E strings falling off the board! Was concerned that the neck profile might not be beefy enough, but it’s one of those “play it and forget about it’ profiles that feels real natural. Consider me a very happy K-Line owner! Thanks!

having spent a bit of personal time with the new guitar now, I’d just like to say a big thanks once more. Ordering a custom guitar can sometimes be a bit of a risk as it might just not be the nirvana you’d hoped it would be when it turns up. Having other guitars from you kind of reduced that doubt as I love all of them. However, you’ve produced for me THE instrument that most musicians can spend a lot of time & money trying to put together. It looks beautiful, but it’s certainly not skin deep. The thing plays like a dream, rings out played unamplified but having played it out last night at a jam night through an amp I was just blown away by its tone. The pick ups in this guitar just sing. Oh & I love the white side dots on the neck & they definitely do their job in a dark room. It’s far exceeded my expectations and like all your guitars I have, the quality of craftmanship & materials is outstanding. I’ll sign off by wishing you well and sincerely hope that a whole lot more lucky people get to experience & own your instruments. It’s been and will continue to be a pleasure doing business with you. Cheers!

So, while I realize that I am still in the midst of my honeymoon phase with my San Bernardino, I would like to give a review of my impressions of this fantastic instrument so far. To start with, my initial impression was one word: WOW! This guitar is what I have been looking for. I have played countless guitars by all the big name companies, as well as many from the boutique manufacturers. No guitar that I have picked up has played better, sounded better, and felt more perfect than my San Bernardino. From the first chord, I knew that I had found the perfect foil for my beloved Telecaster. My San Bernardino has an Ash body and a Rosewood fretboard. For pickups I opted for Lollar P-90s. I also made two other changes to the more standard specs by changing out the typical tune-o-matic bridge in favor of a Schaller Roller Bridge, and by including a Bigsby B5 and a Vibramate for easy hassle free changes. The combination of Ash and Rosewood is perfect. The clarity and punch of Ash and the warmth of Rosewood combine for a clear yet warm guitar. It manages to keep from being overly harsh. With the Bigsby the sustain is unmatched by anything I’ve played previous. Both single notes and chords ring out without ever seeming to completely die out. Removing the Bigsby sacrifices a bit of sustain but what it loses in sustain it replaces with a more snappy, expedient attack on notes and chords alike. I love thin skin nitro finishes on my guitars, and Chris, you did not disappoint. I did take some fine steel wool and knock a bit of the finish off of the neck to expedite the process of breaking the neck in a bit. I could not be happier with this guitar. The looks are classic and familiar yet just different enough to know that I am playing something completely different. From Fender-y spank to Gibson-esque grit this guitar covers all the bases. I cannot thank you enough for a smooth transaction, and an easing of my mind with purchasing a guitar sight unseen. I cannot recommend your guitars highly enough. Thanks again!

Finally a chance to plug in and play. Even with high expectations, I am delighted! The middle pickup / wiring provide tele, strat and new tone versatility with overall voice, playability and fit / finish superior. That said, it is hard to leave the bridge pickup which is quite special on this wonderful guitar. Thanks again, my friend, for your support, responsiveness and a superlative instrument!

So the kids are in bed this Christmas eve and I’m in the bedroom playing my awesome Olympic white Springfield… and it occurs to me to let you know how this guitar is the best purchase I’ve ever made. Played it every single day since it got here (unless I was out of town) and loving every minute of it. Plays like a dream and makes me a better player. I really appreciate all the love and sweat you put into your work Hope 2015 is fully of much health, happiness, and prosperity for you and your family.

Just wanted to take a real quick break from playing it to let you know the Truxton arrived safe and sound. Wonderful. Awesome. Most excellent. Fantastic. The weight is perfect. I love the punch and resonance of the guitar. The neck shape is also perfect. I was a little concerned here, but as soon as I picked it up my hands felt right at home. Just elfin’ great! Now back to playing! See you at NAMM in two weeks. Thanks!

I received the used K-Line guitar we have been discussing…..Can honestly say this is one of the best guitars I have ever owned! Can not put it down and believe me I have a ton of real vintage guitars including my 51 Nocaster etc…..This guitar is a blast of fun to play and takes me back to the real 56 Esquire I passed on many years ago, sounds just like it, I still remember that guitars unique acoustic quality….My non musical girlfriend, a Rick Springfield fanatic, even stated “Wow that things really rings!”… And it looks like the 56 I missed so many years ago…Plus this has an extra pickup to boot for creating longer lasting smiles on top of it…That 56 guitar was $5,000 and not a day goes by that I don’t either kick myself or think about that guitar…! I no longer need to do that because my K-Line is so close its scary…and without the scary price tag!
I can not wait to get a bunch of guitar from you…Thank you for all your wonderful help and for making such incredible guitars!

I am an addict for a good guitar. I have been lucky to attain a few in my life. They are tools. They are friends. They collaborate with me on different projects, they help coax things out of my hands and heart. I am an addict for a good guitar.
My friend, George Burrows, contacted me while I was on tour with Cornmeal about an interview his site conducted with Chris Kroenlein, the owner/builder of K-Line Guitars. I might have heard the company name before, but didn’t really know much about them. George said that after the interview with Chris, they were really hoping someone would test out one of his instruments and write a review. I jumped at the chance. I spoke to Chris on the phone briefly that day. Gave him my address and phone number, and the day I got home from tour there was a beautiful sea foam green Truxton waiting at my house for inspection and review.
I have to say, after I spoke to Chris, I did a little bit of research on his company. I learned about his guitars, learned about the pickups used, the particulars of the body styles and builds. There is a current trend in the market of people making boutique guitars based on famous body shapes. I have learned of a few companies like this recently. Grosh, Nash, Fano are all companies making boutique built guitars based on old-school Fender specs and trying to get away from the mass-produced instrument. I have played a few, and while I have liked some, nothing has ever grabbed me as a “must have.” The boutique builds I have played haven’t swayed me to make that jump in price from a stock, assembly-line Fender to a boutique build. My world changed when I met this guitar that was waiting for me after two weeks on the road.
For those who might have seen me in Magic Box or Backyard Tire Fire, you know that I have a deep love for the Les Paul. They fit my hands well. I love the sound they make, they stay in tune. I have a few, they have been my main live guitar for years. What you probably don’t know is that I also have a deep love for Telecasters. On Magic Box shows, I usually have at least one in the arsenal. Sometimes it is a 76 Telecaster Deluxe, sometimes it is my 07 G&L Classic ASAT. Telecasters have been in my life for a long time. I have used them a ton in the studio, on gigs and for demos around the house. A good Tele is a versatile tool. It can create a bunch of different sounds without manipulation. These days I have been longing for another decent Tele style guitar for my arsenal. Recently I let go of a Fender 52 Telecaster Reissue. I loved the sound but never bonded with the neck. My guitars are here to be played. If one doesn’t feel good after a few years of trying to get to know it, it needs to get into someone else’s hands who will truly appreciate it.
The K-Line Truxton is a Telecaster shaped body. An American classic. When I spoke to Chris, I told him my love of a Tele-style guitar, and he told me about the Truxton. We both agreed that he should send me a stock Truxton. Chris can accommodate all kinds of different customizations, different pickups, etc. But we both thought for the sake of review, he should send out a stock model.
As happy as I was to see my family when I got home from tour, I was just as happy to see that box sitting in the foyer waiting for me. After some hellos and loading gear, luggage into the house, I quickly made my way to taking a look at the guitar. Right out of the box it was simply one of the most beautiful electric guitars I have seen. The finish was fantastic. I am not into relic’ing guitars (the process of making them look aged when they are new). This guitar looked like it had been relic’d a little (more on that in a minute). It was the first time I had seen a relic job that I thought was not only tasteful, but downright beautiful.
While I have some nice instruments, some of the truly amazing vintage stuff is out of my price range. But I have gotten to play some really cool vintage instruments in my time. One was a legendary 1960 Les Paul Burst. Unreal guitar. I have a few beautiful Les Pauls — nothing in the same boat as this thing. It had an overall presence that just came with being a 50-plus-year-old guitar. The other was a 1960 Fender Esquire. From the moment I had it in my hands, I realized I was in the presence of greatness. The build, the feel, the atmosphere it created was magical. These types of vintage instruments will never be in my arsenal. They were fun to play, but sort of like an intimate visit with a museum piece. At the end of the day, you know you have to give it back.
I laughed out loud as I picked the Truxton out of the case. It had the closest feel to that 1960 Esquire I have ever felt. New guitars don’t feel this good. It’s not that they are bad — I have a ton of them — but this guitar felt like it had been played and well maintained for 50 years. It had age, it had wisdom, it had experience. It was light but not too light. There was a balance in the weight of the guitar. That is really important to me. Some guitars have a section where you can feel an imbalance. Usually, it is the bottom of the body pulling down the rest of the guitar. The majority of this guitar’s weight felt like it came from the neck. Because of that you have this fully balanced instrument. It sits comfortably on your lap. It also is really comfortable when connected to a strap. This might sound like a minuscule detail, but for me it isn’t. A really well balanced guitar is something to treasure.
The neck has some serious meat to it. I am used to big necked Les Pauls; the Truxton’s neck isn’t that big. It isn’t a baseball bat. But it also has room, it has comfort when moving around and bending strings. There are places to go and easy roads to get there. The neck felt nicely worn. The edges of the neck into the fingerboard are nicely rolled, giving a really nice feel. I cannot say enough good about the neck on this instrument. It seems to taper up a bit, meaning it gets a little wider on the higher frets. It does it in a very subtle fashion. Adding just a little more space as you get higher up so your fingers aren’t crammed while chording or bending. The finish of the neck is something to savor, too. It is not a high-gloss coat, it doesn’t get sticky. It had a nice, understated finish. It is not a dull or matte finish. But it is also not a high gloss finish. It feels like a well worn, well maintained neck.
I plugged it into a late 60s Princeton I own and just listened to it. Again, I had to laugh. There is a resonance to this guitar unlike anything new I have heard. Chords ring and linger, notes come up to the surface, shine and then fade like sunset. Total joy. I played around, I tried to find sweet spots and was baffled and pleasantly surprised to realize the whole neck was a sweet spot. The model that was sent to me has Klein Pickups in it. I know that K-Line also uses Lollars, great pickups as well. I have to say that the Klein Pickups in this guitar are a perfect marriage with its alder body. The neck pickup was really woody sounding but clear and airy. It never gets woofy or muddled in bass. The middle position is pure butter. Most surprising to me was the bridge. I feel like most modern strat or tele style guitars have bridge pickup sounds that are too bright, they pierce. The bridge position of this guitar has a brightness to it, but it also has some serious midrange that balances out the highs. It never sounds shrill. This is not just a sign of good pickups. This is a sign of good wood. This is also the sign of a builder who takes the time to really sound out and spec a guitar. Someone who wants an instrument to reach its full potential in every aspect.
I spoke to Chris a few days and a few gigs after having the guitar in my possession. What I found fascinating was he had no real big secrets to unveil. There was no special sauce in the mix. For him it is a matter of building a quality, consistent instrument. He says he builds about 100 a year. I asked him about the differences between boutique builds verses assembly line. He didn’t badmouth assembly line guitars at all. He didn’t knock any major corporate guitar facility at all. In fact, he pointed out those places still make some good guitars. But, what he did say was that being in charge of every aspect of building a guitar lets him dedicate a special attention to each instrument that can get lost in a factory. He spoke of how he picks the wood of each body, how he carefully finds a neck to fit the body and how each neck joint is a little different to accommodate the nuance between the neck and body. I enjoyed learning about his process, but more importantly, hearing the pride in his voice as he spoke of his process. The man truly loves guitars and loves what he does for a living.
Oh yeah, as far as the relic’ing. I had mentioned to him that I was not one who was really into relic’ing guitars, but I thought that he did a really tasteful job of making this guitar look worn in. He said that this is his guitar and it has been around for a few years. He then explained to me that while he might have helped this guitar to look a little aged, the reality is that it’s aging like an old-school guitar because of the grade of nitrocellulose used. Whereas most companies these days are using plasticizer in their finishes, he is using old-school nitrocellulose. No plasticizer. Not only does it bring out the warmth in the wood on the instrument. It also ages and checks like the old instruments.
Last night I had Dave Nelson, guitarist from Heartsfield and Dick Smith, over. After handing him a beer, I handed him the Truxton plugged into the Princeton. As soon as he hit that first E chord his face lit up and he laughed, “This this is incredible.” Like me, he had problems putting the guitar down. I feel like that is one of the highest compliments a guitar player can give to a guitar or guitar company. We are fortunate to get to play and own a lot of instruments. We pass them around at parties, we talk of them all the time. It is a truly special instrument to break through that foundation of pleasantries and hook a player. It is a truly special instrument that looks lonely sitting by itself. Throughout my conversation with Dave, if he didn’t pick up this sea foam green Truxton, I did.
Keith Richards once said that the electric guitar was one of the few inventions that came out perfect from its inception. There was no room to improve, it was already perfect. The Truxton is based on old-school principles. It is based on the tradition of building a beautiful beast. I think the main obstacle for a company like K-Line is proving to people why they should pick up their boutique builds. On the surface, people might think, “it looks like another Telecaster” or strat or whatever. But this guitar is so much more. It is more than a tool, it is an absolute joy. All you have to do is put it in your hands to find out.

My Springfield arrived and it sounds and plays great.   The neck is so smooth and the pickups work really well with the alder body wood you use.   I’ve tried a lot of different Fender Strats and many come off muddy when playing the low E and A notes but not your guitar.
Great work!  I will enjoy it forever.

I have just recently purchased, from NStuff Music, a new old stock (demo) 2014 Springfield guitar, in a olympic white closet classic finish, rosewood board, with Lollar Dirty Blonde pickups. And yes, I am very impressed with this guitar! The playability is second to none, so easy and effortless to play. The fit and finish is impeccable, and of course the Dirty Blonde pickups are to die for. The fret work is flawless! I am a older player and have owned most all of the high end boutique & custom shop guitars. I think this Springfield is not only the best in its price range but also better then some guitars priced even higher. It has the modern tweaks for great playability tone, and sustain But still looks and sounds vintage, like the guitars I grew up with.
Well done Chris.
Regards,

I just wanted to take a moment and offer my sincere gratitude for this K-Line Texola I purchased.
I came back to guitar after a long break (graduate school, marriage, birth of my daughter) and for the last few years since returning I’ve tried a bunch. American made Fenders, Gretsch, Godin…I’ve gone through a handful, and while some of them have been nice Guitars apparently I was missing that “something else”.
The Texola brings that something else. Every time I hold it and play it I feel totally connected to the instrument and it feels “right” which I haven’t experienced with any guitar to this point. There’s a line between good and great and your work has certainly taught me that lesson.
The neck feels wonderful, full and comfortable. The Pickups compliment each other very well (I’ve had trouble enjoying the bridge on a Tele w clean sounds as I found them to be to thin and shrill, but the Lollar is fantastic).
The relic’ing is tasteful and not overdone—it feels natural. An old friend.
I’m not the type of person that keeps or collects multiple guitars—I’ve been on a search for “the one” and this guitar checks every box.
I’m truly in love with it.
Thank you for your hard work—
Best wishes,