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Kinman Blueprint Stratocaster

Summary
Manufacturer URL http://www.kinman.com/
Features 9.0 (2 responses)
Sound 9.5 (2 responses)
Action, Fit, & Finish 9.0 (2 responses)
Reliability/Durability 9.5 (2 responses)
Customer Support 9.5 (2 responses)
Overall Rating 10.0 (1 response)
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Product: Kinman Blueprint Stratocaster
Price Paid: 760 (euros) used
Submitted 01/02/2003 at 03:46pm by bruno objoie
Email: b<dot>objoie at wanadoo<dot>fr

Features : 9
An Australian made strat type guitar, with 3 Kinman single coils and active electronics. The only differences are the pickguard, with a slight different shape than a strat, and the paint neck. Very well balanced, a light too.

Sound : 10
The big surprise about this guitar is the sound: You pick this one, and you think: "okay, this is one more strat, what interest?"
Well, first of all, it's sounds right even unplugged. In my experience, an electric guitar is first of all a guitar.
And it has to sounds right, with full balance and sustain before you plug it. The Kinman is powerfull, rich, it's got everything.
Once you plug in, then you got an other surprise: it's dead quiet, and when you play, it's unbelievable: the sound is rich, with great bass, clear highs, each chord is full and equilibrated.
You can play classic rock, blues, funk, top 40, even metal, it works!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Everything was right, nothing to say

Reliability/Durability : 10
Everything is done for years!
The only thing you will have to change are strings.

Customer Support : 10
I've mailed to Chris Kinman to ask him several questions, and I've got my answers very quickly. You can contact him very easily at Kinman.com
Unfortunately, he doesn't built guitars anymore, but his pickups are quite interesting.

Overall Rating : 10
I'm playing for more than 20 years, and I've owned and played more than 40 guitars, a lot of strats among them.
I use Vox AC30 amp, some overdrive, fuzz, and distorsion if needeed, and a POD for home practice. This kinman is just the right thing is you like that strat tone, and hate bad strats for the same reasons.
And bad strats are legion!
I think that this Kinman is close to what a perfect strat should be.
I you can put your hands on one of these beautiful instruments, don't pass by: just try it, you won't regret the experience!


Product: Kinman Blueprint Stratocaster
Price Paid: Australian $1,200
Submitted 09/11/1999 at 09:16pm by Simon

Features : 9
Made in Queensland Australia by Renowned Pickup designer and manufacturer Chris Kinman (www.kinman.com).The guitar was purchased from Steve Cockings' Guitar World in Sydney 1990.Price Aust$1,200.00. When I first saw a Kinman "Blueprint" series Stratocaster, I was amazed at the beauty and finish.The body is two piece ash, lock jointed together,the neck a lovely subtle curly maple with rosewood fretboard, medium size Dunlop frets.The synthetic finish is Chris' own mixture, which produces a soft, slippery feel, you just want to keep holding it.The body is a pale sea foam green, with contours and proportions that make the guitar just become part of you.
The sound is classic vintage Stratocaster, and I am soon to upgrade the pickups to Chris' new totally noisless set, thats right, totally noisless.Check out the rave reviews on Chris Kinmans' website.
I also own a similar Kinman Blueprint Stratocaster in Magenta, a bright scarlet/ red color, which is just awesome.These guitars are the result of small scale manufacture, and will rate highly next to any similar product.I have played Tom Anderson strats,Fender custom shops and Valley Arts, the Kinmans are right up there, and have that light, resonant vintage feel and sound.

Sound : 9
Enough said in previous Paragraph Other Gear- Fender "30" valve with EV12L speaker Laney VC30 Fender Dual Showman Jands Axe box.2 x 12 JBL Sealed /open Kittyhawk Quattro Valve Preamp BBE Korg A3

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Gorgeous

Reliability/Durability : 9
Never failed me yet

Customer Support : 9
Chris Kinman no longer makes guitars, only pickups.he will however service any problems if they arise.He is easy to get in contact with.

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