Klein & Kauffman Model 376 - Sitka Spruce & Brazilian Palisander #376-184

Few names in modern lutherie carry the creative weight of Steve Klein and Steve Kauffman. Klein’s career has been defined by a willingness to rethink the guitar from the ground up, exploring the relationship between architecture, ergonomics and sound with a sculptor’s eye and an engineer’s curiosity. His revolutionary acoustic and electric instruments have influenced generations of builders, while remaining among the most recognizable and uncompromising designs ever created. Steve Kauffman brought his own extraordinary craftsmanship and musical intuition to that vision, beginning a partnership that has endured for decades. Together, Klein and Kauffman have created instruments that feel less like variations on tradition and more like an entirely original school of guitar making.

The Model 376 represents a fascinating new chapter in that history. Brand new to the Klein & Kauffman lineup, it distills the pair’s unmistakable design philosophy into a smaller, more conventionally approachable form. Its compact body is paired with a 14 fret neck joint, offering comfortable access and a familiar relationship between player and instrument. A symmetrical bridge replaces the more radical forms associated with earlier Klein designs, while the less extreme headstock break angle and Honduran Mahogany neck bring an elegant sense of restraint. The result is not a departure from Klein & Kauffman, but a thoughtful refinement of their ideas, shaped for players who admire their singular work while desiring a more traditional physical vocabulary.

An aged Sitka Spruce top gives this guitar a beautifully seasoned appearance, its warm golden color set against the dark, dramatic richness of Brazilian Palisander back and sides. The Palisander displays sumptuous chocolate and reddish brown hues, with flowing black grain that gives the instrument a sense of depth and movement. Fully mitered English Holly body bindings create a crisp, luminous border, complemented by understated Black, Maple and Black top purfling. An English Holly rosette brings another quiet flash of contrast to the soundboard, allowing the natural materials and sculptural silhouette to remain at the center of the design.

The Honduran Mahogany neck is fitted with an Ebony fingerboard, while the newly symmetrical Ebony bridge lends the top a poised and balanced appearance. Ebony veneers the face of the headstock, with Brazilian Palisander reserved for the rear, creating a refined transition between the dark front plate and the richly figured body. Chrome Gotoh 510 tuning machines complete the instrument with smooth performance and a clean contemporary finish.

With its 25.5 inch scale length, 1 3/4 inch nut width and 2 1/4 inch bridge spacing, the Model 376 offers generous room for articulate fingerstyle playing while retaining the power and clarity of a full scale instrument. At 4 pounds 6 ounces, it feels substantial without sacrificing the intimacy expected from its smaller body. Supplied with a deluxe hardshell case, this inaugural Model 376 is a beautifully resolved meeting of innovation and familiarity, carrying the remarkable legacy of Steve Klein and Steve Kauffman into genuinely new territory.

Other specifications Include:

• Aged Sitka Spruce Top
• Brazilian Palisander Back & Sides
• Honduran Mahogany Neck
• Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge
• Fully Mitered English Holly Body Bindings
• Black/Maple/Black Top Purfling
• English Holly Rosette
• Ebony Headstock Front Veneer
• Brazilian Palisander Headstock Rear Veneer
• Gotoh 510 Chrome Tuning Machines
• Deluxe Hardshell Case
• 25.5" Scale Length
• 1 3/4" Nut Width
• 2 1/4" Bridge Spacing
• 4 lbs 6 oz
• #376-184

For more information about the Klein & Kauffman 376, please contact us.

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