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 benja23 |
Blazer & Henkes guitars |
Lead | |
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(03/28/08 10:33 AM) |
Hello
I know Willi is an active member of the forum but I'd love to hear from people who own or have played a BH guitar. Thanks in advance ! Ben Custom OM 28 Marquis madagascar
2006 D18 Authentic |
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FreeBlues |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/28/08 12:14 PM) |
I'll go first!
I have a "Baton Rouge" model, a near exact copy of a 1942 Gibson SJ in Brazilian and Alpine spruce, rosewood bridge and fretboard, sunburst, short scale. I have some photos originally taken by Willi if you are really interested. I have the guitar strung with mediums and mostly play it with a flatpick, generally with a small band or in acoustic jams. This thing is possibly the finest guitar I've ever played or owned! First, it is LOUD, very, very loud. At times too loud. Playing unamplified gigs it is just perfect, it will more than fill a room and often overpower two singers and one other guitar, or it would if I wanted it to. Everywhere I go I get compliments on the tone of this beast, mostly from non-guitar players who have never heard anything that sounded so good. Bandmates generally ask me to bring this guitar, they really love the tone. It is rich, powerful, full and with wonderful clarity and sustain. It sounds, well, like a 1942 Brazilian SJ! Fit and finish are as good as it can possibly be, attention to detail is flat amazing, right down to the 3-on-a-plate tuners that B&H have custom made to exactly match the originals. Playability is superb. (For reference, I also own a 1940 J-35 and these two guitars feel very similar in my hand, same vibe, same mojo, etc.) These guitars are not cheap by some standards but they are underpriced just the same. The woods, construction and TONE should command a much higher price. Oh yeah, throw in the fact that Willi is one of the nicest, best informed and most skilled guys on the planet and you end up with a killer guitar. Highly recommended. |
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meatandpotatas |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/28/08 1:08 PM) |
Quote:I think alot of us would like to see those! Please post 'em if it's not a hassle. And congrats on a great guitar - a used Baton Rouge showed up at Mass Street last fall that was the cause of much drool... James |
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Big Bad Bill 2 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/28/08 6:17 PM) |
Willi and Rudie are currently building a 000-45 for me, reading user reviews like these makes me even more excited about it.
There was also a discussion about B&H guitars over at the Collings forum, it's particularly interesting to see "sonoman" rave about his B&H OM (which he calls the Alien OM). |
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yiannis71 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/28/08 7:47 PM) |
While at their shop last May,i had the chance to play abit a customer's fancy Larson recreation.I had never played a Larson style before,so i wasn't familiar with their sound.That one had an Alpine top and flame maple back and sides.It was brought by a customer in the shop for a set up.It's owner had this guitar totaly abused!! While a new instrument it had a top that was deeply carved in by the heavy attack of the pick.Such a mess!!
The fit and finish were very good,the neck superb.The guitar was loud,clear and focused too.I'm not a maple guy,but surely it was a very good guitar. This is it:  I think that they rarely have any finished guitars in the shop available.When i was there,i saw 5-6 unfinished guitar bodies,some mahogany D's and fancy Larson style guitars. Willi had told me that Japenese guys prefer the fancy Larson style guitars while most of their Dreadnaughts go to U.S collectors and players. I placed an order myself: A shaded top '37 D-18 style guitar after Willi's excellent original one.One of the reasons i chose them for my "dream" pre-war D-18 is the fact that they're *extremely* knowledgeable one their craftmanship,they work on every small detail,and(didn't had the chance meeting Rudi in person,we just talked on the phone)they're great guys too. Regards, Yiannis |
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FreeBlues |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 12:19 PM) |
Quote: Two things. First, I bought the B&H Baton Rouge new from Mass Street last Spring, loved it. I hit a very difficult financial period in the Fall and placed many of my guitars up for sale, the B&H included. So, the guitar you were drooling over at Mass Street was mine. Fortunately for me, the guitar didn't sell and I had it shipped back to me in December. Know how you read threads where people report stupidly selling the best guitar they ever owned and now deeply regret it? I came close to being that guy! Here are some photos originally taken by Willi:   I've posted these and a couple more photos here |
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yiannis71 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 12:37 PM) |
Charlie,
I'm glad that you got it back.Boy,what a guitar!The brazilian back is spectacular. Can we have some audio clips,please? Regards, Yiannis |
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CBarclay |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 12:45 PM) |
That is a BEAUTIFUL guitar! Thanks for posting the pics.
2001 D-18VS 'Ruby'
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meatandpotatas |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 2:44 PM) |
Yeah, great guitar. Glad you were able to get it back. I was curious as to why a used B&H would be available, considering their reputation around here. I guess sometimes priorities have to change. Great that you got a second shot at this one!
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 guitarpath |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 2:55 PM) |
Gorgeous guitar, FreeBlues. I love a good dark sunburst. I haven't had the pleasure of playing a B&H yet, but I have heard nothing but exemplary things about them.
Alan
2005 Martin HD28 2007 Huss & Dalton TD-M Custom 1995 Collings D1SB |
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benja23 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/29/08 5:13 PM) |
They must be great !
Thanks for your help. Ben Custom OM 28 Marquis madagascar
2006 D18 Authentic |
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Rank Stranger |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(03/30/08 8:52 AM) |
What a beauty! Would love to play one.
RS D-28 1957
D-18 1960 |
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BHguitars |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/02/08 7:48 AM) |
Thanks all for the nice comments which I really enjoy to read.
Quote:Yiannis, If you allow I'd like to add some words about the "angel" guitar since this one is very special. I know you understand about it and how it can happen guitars and especially this one get wears. I posted a little about the "Angel Guitar" at Dario's thread. We built this guitar about ten years ago for a friend who is a professional guitarist with a very popular German pop band. He's a great guitarist and musician. However, if you see them playing you understand why this guitars has got playing wears. Their show is like a big party and they are always sold out. They play on open air stages mainly. This guitar has seen rain, lots of sunlight of course but even snow as they played on the occasion of the ski son opening in Austria in December. They said it was snowing heavily and the snow came from the side across the stage and the guitar actually was covered with snow while the gas heaters heated their backs. The finish of the guitar is checked and it sounds actually like a vintage guitar. It probably was played even more than some old guitars. It has had several refrets meanwhile (with frets totally worn down) and I guess it was played more than I ever played the guitar at all during the last thirtyfive years. As we built this guitar we were aware how it was going to be used and we were fine with it since we definitely want our guitars to be played. And we are very prowd to see this beauty played on stages in front of young people. It's not like a Takamine or any other guitar we see on the big stages. It's a top-of-the-line guitar also featuring one of the nicest pearl inlays I probably ever made. It is an angel standing upon the third fret above a dragon. The dragon is spitting fire against the angle but the angel only is smiling at the dragon. We all love this guitar and we always will be happy to see it in the future played in the same way no matter how deep the wears might become. If it will be worn down in the end we will build a new one and this one might be displayed at the local museum for the pleasure of the many fans they have including us. All the best, Willi |
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Davids Harp |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/05/08 2:09 PM) |
Okay well you should probably put a bigger pick guard on it, next time you send it out.
 David
Harp, a J-40, perfect and beautiful/Arts & Crafts 2/J-18M/1935 R-17/000C-16 dovetail/000-16 dovetail/1944 0-18/1944 0-17/1965 00-21NY/00C-16FMBUAE/Guild F112-N-T/The Harp Collection of Old Plastic Ukes |
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BHguitars |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/06/08 4:41 PM) |
No kidding, David. That's what the owner wanted us to do and we had a hard time to convince him that the play wears at his guitar are OK (in some way) and we should leave the guitar the way it is. This was some years ago and he's still trying to improve his right hand style in return. Anyway, there's nothing to be improved from my point of view. But thoughts on a Lester Flat style pick guard actually were around.
Willi |
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benja23 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/06/08 5:08 PM) |
I think it's great he plays the guitar a lot ! What I don't understand is the scratches on the left side of the fingerboard? How does he do that?
 Ben Custom OM 28 Marquis madagascar
2006 D18 Authentic |
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Will015 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/06/08 8:48 PM) |
Willi,
What's the name of the band the angel guitar tours with. They look like a great deal of fun. Thanks, Will |
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Frank Wek |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/07/08 5:57 AM) |
Hi everybody, this is my first post here and it seems fitting that it is about my favourite guitars in the world: Blazer & Henkes. I have played dozens of them and own two myself (next ear it will be three!)
The reason for this is that I come from Tübingen and have known Rudi for most of my guitar-playing life. His old workshop was on my way to school so I passed it everyday and when he moved from the basement to the top floor I could watch all the new guitars in the window. At that time I wasnt really interested in acoustic guitars (I was raised on Blues and Rock) but I became interested in Jazz and every once in a while there was an archtop hanging in the shop window the just looked great! At that time Willi started to work in the workshop (I hope my memory is correct). Fast forward: When Willi and Rudi opened the new workshop they invited me and many of their friends and customers who also brought incredible vintage guitars to the shop. At this day the acoustic guitar bug bit me and I spent a lot of time at the shop just playing the guitars and getting accustomed to the sounds of different makers, sizes and woods and asking millions of questions. It took some time to realize that the two were such extraordinary builders. Since I had known them for so long I always had taken them and their guitars for granted and only when I really checked out their guitars side by side with excellent vintage guitars I realized how special they really were (and of course still are!) In 2001 finally a dream came true when Rudi built me an extraordinary archtop guitar from some very old wood that has a set in Pickup and yet has a great acoustic sound. I could watch the whole process starting from the design, picking out the wood, shaving the neck, putting it together and finally waiting an (for me) endless time for that damn laquer to dry! My second guitar was finished in 2004 and is a Selmer-replica which I use for my Django- Band. You can hear it on my Website hotclubharmonists.de/mp3/Hungaria.mp3 Willi and Rudi really are scholars on the subject of acoustic guitars and also on the music that is related to these guitars. Willi made me familiar with Norman Blake, Tony Rice and many other guitarists most of you probably know very well but which to me (coming from a Jazz-direction) were not familiar. It is always a pleasure to hear Willi play some old fiddle tunes with the fantastic sound he has! Rudi is into Western-Swing and old Blues. So the my next guitar will be an AJ similar to the one in the current thread in the Vintage guitar section and of course I really am looking forward to it! Need I say that I feel extremely lucky to have them in half an hour walking distance from my home and to call them my friends? Frank |
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FoolForWood |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/07/08 7:40 AM) |
Welcome, Frank!
And yes, lucky you are.  Henk |
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BHguitars |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/07/08 8:52 AM) |
A big welcome, Frank!
A pleasure to hear some of your delicate gypsy style playing at this forum. Many thanks for your nice introduction and for your kind words. I would add it's our pleasure having you as friend and customer in our town. Ben and Will, There are only poor quality videos available - here is a TV report made for the German television about their party events. But you can get an idea what they are doing. They mainly tour in Germany. Willi |
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yiannis71 |
Re: Blazer & Henkes guitars | ||
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(04/07/08 12:50 PM) |
Frank,
Welcome! Thanks for sharing your story with us. Regards, Yiannis |
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